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"Hold, just O-Tar!" cried U-Dor "There be yet another to be judged Let us confront him who calls himself Turan with these his fellows before they die"

"Good!" exclai half way down the steps "Fetch Turan, the slave!"

When Turan had been brought into the chamber he was placed a little to Tara's left and a step nearer the throne O-Tar eyed hily

"You are Turan," he asked, "friend and companion of these?"

The panthan was about to reply when Tara of Helium spoke "I know not this fellow," she said "Who dares say that he be a friend and companion of the Princess Tara of Helium?"

Turan and Ghek looked at her in surprise, but at Turan she did not look, and to Ghek she passed a quick glance of warning, as to say: "Hold thy peace"

The panthan tried not to fathom her purpose for the head is useless when the heart usurps its functions, and Turan knew only that the woh he tried not even to think it his foolish heart urged but a single explanation-that she refused to recognize him lest she be involved in his difficulties

O-Tar looked first at one and then at another of theether?" he asked of U-Dor

"No," replied the dwar "He who is called Turan was found seeking entrance to the city and was enticed to the pits The followingI discovered the other two upon the hill beyond The Gate of Ene padwar, "for this Turan inquired ofthat they were his friends"

"It is enough," stated O-Tar, "all three shall die," and he took another step doard from the throne

"For what shall we die?" asked Ghek "Your people prate of the just laws of Manator, and yet you would slay three strangers without telling theht," said a deep voice It was the voice of U-Thor, the great jed of Manatos O-Tar looked at him and scowled; but there ca the deh you shall die anyway," cried O-Tar, "that all three are convicted of Corphalism and that as only a jeddak may slay such as you in safety you are about to be honored with the steel of O-Tar"

"Fool!" cried Turan "Know you not that in the veins of this woreater than yours is her power in her own land? She is Tara, Princess of Heliuhter of John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom She cannot be a Corphal Nor is this creature Ghek, nor aht to be heard and to be believed if I may have ith the Princess Haja of Gathol, whose son is my fellow prisoner in the pits of O-Tar, his father"