A Princess of Mars

But my entrance was not to be so easily accomplished. The guardsman

stepped before me, saying, "No one comes from Than Kosis without carrying an order or the

password. You must give me one or the other before you may pass."

"The only order I require, my friend, to enter where I will, hangs at

my side," I answered, tapping my long-sword; "will you let me pass in

peace or no?"

For reply he whipped out his own sword, calling to the others to join

him, and thus the four stood, with drawn weapons, barring my further

progress.

"You are not here by the order of Than Kosis," cried the one who had

first addressed me, "and not only shall you not enter the apartments of

the Princess of Helium but you shall go back to Than Kosis under guard

to explain this unwarranted temerity. Throw down your sword; you

cannot hope to overcome four of us," he added with a grim smile.

My reply was a quick thrust which left me but three antagonists and I

can assure you that they were worthy of my metal. They had me backed

against the wall in no time, fighting for my life. Slowly I worked my

way to a corner of the room where I could force them to come at me only

one at a time, and thus we fought upward of twenty minutes; the

clanging of steel on steel producing a veritable bedlam in the little

room.

The noise had brought Dejah Thoris to the door of her apartment, and

there she stood throughout the conflict with Sola at her back peering

over her shoulder. Her face was set and emotionless and I knew that

she did not recognize me, nor did Sola.

Finally a lucky cut brought down a second guardsman and then, with only

two opposing me, I changed my tactics and rushed them down after the

fashion of my fighting that had won me many a victory. The third fell

within ten seconds after the second, and the last lay dead upon the

bloody floor a few moments later. They were brave men and noble

fighters, and it grieved me that I had been forced to kill them, but I

would have willingly depopulated all Barsoom could I have reached the

side of my Dejah Thoris in no other way.

Sheathing my bloody blade I advanced toward my Martian Princess, who

still stood mutely gazing at me without sign of recognition.

"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me in

my misery?"

"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend."

"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, "and

yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not--it cannot be--no,

for he is dead."

"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. "Do

you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of

your chieftain?"