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"Ey, ey, he is a craven and he calledfool'!" The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

"Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs

"Where is he then?" asked I-Gos "Have not others disappeared whoht too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

The chief shook his head "And I thought that, or knew it, rather; I'd join U-Thor at The Gate of Enemies"

"S-s-st," cautioned one; "here comes the licker of feet," and all eyes were turned upon the approaching E-Thas

"Kaor, friends!" he exclai elicited naught but a few surly nods "Have you heard the news?" he continued, unabashed by treat accustomed

"What-has O-Tar seen an ulsio and fainted?" demanded I-Gos with broad sarcasm

"Men have died for less than that, ancient one," E-Thas reminded him

"I am safe," retorted I-Gos, "for I am not a brave and popular son of the jeddak of Manator"

This was indeed open treason, but E-Thas feigned not to hear it He ignored I-Gos and turned to the others "O-Tar goes to the chaht in search of Turan the slave," he said "He sorrows that his warriors have not the courage for so mean a duty and that their jeddak is thus compelled to arrest a common slave," hich taunt E-Thas passed on to spread the word in other parts of the palace As a inal with hi it to the discoroup of men I-Gos called after hi the chahth zode," replied the major-domo, and went his way

About 1:00 A M Earth Time

"We shall see," stated I-Gos

"What shall we see?" asked a warrior

"We shall see whether O-Tar visits the chamber of O-Mai"

"How?"

"I shall be there myself and if I see him I will know that he has been there If I don't see him I will know that he has not," explained the old taxider there to fill an honest man with fear?" asked a chieftain "What have you seen?"

"It was not so h, as what I heard," said I-Gos