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"Let Ghek drop behind to your side," said Tara, "and fight with you"

"There is but roole blade in these narrow corridors," replied the Gatholian "Hasten on with Ghek and win to the deck of the flier Have your hand upon the control, and if I co cable you can rise at my word and I can claes first into the enclosure you will know that I shall never come, and you will rise quickly and trust to the Gods of our ancestors to give you a fair breeze in the direction of a more hospitable people"

Tara of Helium shook her head "We will not desert you, panthan," she said

Gahan, ignoring her reply, spoke above her head to Ghek "Take her to the craft moored within the enclosure," he commanded "It is our only hope Alone, I may win to its deck; but have I to wait upon you two at the last moment the chances are that none of us will escape Do as I bid" His tone was haughty and arrogant-the tone of a man who has commanded other men from birth, and whose will has been law Tara of Heliu either conored, but with all her royal pride she was no fool, and she knew thehis life to save hers, so she hastened on with Ghek as she was bid, and after the first flush of anger she smiled, for the realization cah untutored warrior, skilled not in the finer usages of cultured courts His heart was right, though; a brave and loyal heart, and gladly she forgave him the offense of his tone and ave her sudden pause Panthans were rough and ready h command, so it was not the note of authority in the fellow's voice that see else-a quality that was indefinable, yet as distinct as it was farandsire, Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Heliurandfather, Mors Kajak, the jed; and in the ringing tones of her illustrious sire, John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom, when he addressed his warriors

But now she had no ti, for behind her came the sudden clash of arms and she knew that Turan, the panthan, had crossed swords with the first of their pursuers As she glanced back he was still visible beyond a turn in the stairway, so that she could see the quick swordplay that ensued Daughter of a world's greatest swordsman, she kneell the finest points of the art She saw the clumsy attack of the kaldane and the quick, sure return of the panthan As she looked down from above upon his almost naked body, trapped only in the simplest of unadorned harness, and saw the play of the lithe muscles beneath the red-bronze skin, and witnessed the quick and delicate play of his sword point, to her sense of obligation was added a spontaneous admission of admiration that was but the natural tribute of a woman to skill and bravery and, perchance, soth