the day at the palace, and when I had enlightened
him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah
Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled
him with dismay.

"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impos-
sible! Why no man in all Helium but would pre-
fer death to the selling of our loved princess to
the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost
her mind to have assented to such an atrocious
bargain. You, who do not know how we of
Helium love the members of our ruling house,
cannot appreciate the horror with which I contem-
plate such an unholy alliance."

"What can be done, John Carter?" he con-
tinued. "You are a resourceful man. Can you
not think of some way to save Helium from this
disgrace?"

"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab
Than," I answered, "I can solve the difficulty in
so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal
reasons I would prefer that another struck the
blow that frees Dejah Thoris."

Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke.

"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?"

"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me
only because she is promised to Sab Than."

-271-