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"Stay!" he cried, "or the woman dies, for such is the coain fall into your hands"

Gahan stopped But a few feet separated him from Tara and her captor, yet he was helpless to aid her Slowly the warrior backed toward the open doorway behind hiht, but the warrior was a powerfulseized her by the harness from behind was able to hold her in a position of helplessness

"Saveme to a fate worse than death Better that I die nohileenemies in defense of my honor"

He took a step nearer The warrior esture with his sword close to the soft, smooth skin of the princess, and Gahan halted

"I cannot, Tara of Helium," he cried "Think not ill of reat is hter of Heliurin upon his lips, backed steadily away He had almost reached the doorhen Gahan saw another warrior in the cha borne-a felloho moved silently, almost stealthily, across the marble floor as he approached Tara's captor fro-sword

"Two to one," thought Gahan, and a grim smile touched his lips, for he had no doubt that once they had Tara safely in the adjoining chamber the tould set upon him If he could not save her, he could at least die for her

And then, suddenly, Gahan's eyes fastened with a felloho held Tara and was forcing her to the doorway He saw the newcomer step almost within arm's reach of the other He saw him stop, an expression of reat sword swing through the arc of a great circle, gathering swift and terrific ht backed by the brawn of the steel thews that guided it; he saw it pass through the feathered skull of the Manatorian, splitting his sardonic grin in twain, and open him to the rasp upon Tara's wrist the girl leaped forward, without a backward glance, to Gahan's side His left arm encircled her, nor did she draay, as with ready sword the Gatholian awaited Fate's next decree Before the the blood from his sword upon the hair of his victis those of the Jeddak's Guard, and so his act was inexplicable to Gahan and to Tara Presently he sheathed his sword and approached them