myself within the sheltering shadows of the un-
lighted third floor.

Fortunately the room I had selected was unten-
anted, and creeping noiselessly to the corridor
beyond I discovered a light in the apartments
ahead of me. Reaching what appeared to be a.
doorway I discovered that it was but an opening
upon an immense inner chamber which towered
from the first floor, two stories below me, to the
dome-like roof of the building, high above my
head. The floor of this great circular hall was
thronged with chieftains, warriors and women,
and at one end was a great raised platform upon
which squatted the most hideous beast I had ever
put my eyes upon. He had all the cold, hard,
cruel, terrible features of the green warriors, but
accentuated and debased by the animal passions
to which he had given himself over for many years.
There was not a mark of dignity or pride upon
his bestial countenance, while his enormous bulk
spread itself out upon the platform where he
squatted like some huge devil fish, his six limbs
accentuating the similarity in a horrible and star-
tling manner.

But the sight that froze me with apprehension
was that of Dejah Thoris and Sola standing there

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