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"The Hall of Chiefs," whispered one of her guard, evidently noting her interest There was a note of pride in the fellow's voice and soreat doorway into the chae, square room in which a dozen mounted warriors lolled in their saddles

As U-Dor and his party entered the room, the warriors came quickly erect in their saddles and formed a line before another door upon the opposite side of the wall The padwar co theuard

"Send one to O-Tar announcing that U-Dor brings two prisoners worthy of the observation of the great jeddak," said U-Dor; "one because of her extreliness"

"O-Tar sits in council with the lesser chiefs," replied the lieutenant; "but the words of U-Dor the dwar shall be carried to hiave instructions to one who sat his thoat behind him

"What manner of creature is the male?" he asked of U-Dor "It cannot be that both are of one race"

"They were together in the hills south of the city," explained U-Dor, "and they say that they are lost and starving"

"The woing in the city of Manator," and then they spoke of other s of the palace, of the expedition of U-Dor, until thethe prisoners to hih a reat council chamber of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator, beyond A central aisle led fro at the steps of a reat throne-chair Upon either side of the aisle were ranged rows of highly carved desks and chairs of skeel, a hard wood of great beauty Only a few of the desks were occupied-those in the front row, just below the rostrum

At the entrance U-Dor disuard about the two prisoners ere then conducted toward the foot of the throne, following a few paces behind U-Dor As they halted at the foot of the aze of Tara of Heliuure of thepresence trapped in the barbaric splendor that the Barsooe man, the perfection of whose handsome face was estion of cruelty ilance to assure the least observing that here indeed was a ruler of ht worship but not love, and for whose slightest favor warriors would vie with one another to go forth and die This was O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator, and as Tara of Heliue a certain ade chieftain who so virilely personified the ancient virtues of the God of War