A Princess of Mars

Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the winding runway

which led to the second floor, and entering a great chamber at the

front of the building was greeted by the frenzied Woola, who threw his

great carcass upon me, nearly hurling me to the floor; the poor old

fellow was so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me, his

head split from ear to ear, showing his three rows of tusks in his

hobgoblin smile.

Quieting him with a word of command and a caress, I looked hurriedly

through the approaching gloom for a sign of Dejah Thoris, and then, not

seeing her, I called her name. There was an answering murmur from the

far corner of the apartment, and with a couple of quick strides I was

standing beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks upon an

ancient carved wooden seat. As I waited she rose to her full height

and looking me straight in the eye said: "What would Dotar Sojat, Thark, of Dejah Thoris his captive?"

"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I have angered you. It was furtherest

from my desire to hurt or offend you, whom I had hoped to protect and

comfort. Have none of me if it is your will, but that you must aid me

in effecting your escape, if such a thing be possible, is not my

request, but my command. When you are safe once more at your father's

court you may do with me as you please, but from now on until that day

I am your master, and you must obey and aid me."

She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that she was

softening toward me.

"I understand your words, Dotar Sojat," she replied, "but you I do not

understand. You are a queer mixture of child and man, of brute and

noble. I only wish that I might read your heart."

"Look down at your feet, Dejah Thoris; it lies there now where it has

lain since that other night at Korad, and where it will ever lie

beating alone for you until death stills it forever."

She took a little step toward me, her beautiful hands outstretched in a

strange, groping gesture.

"What do you mean, John Carter?" she whispered. "What are you saying

to me?"

"I am saying what I had promised myself that I would not say to you, at

least until you were no longer a captive among the green men; what from

your attitude toward me for the past twenty days I had thought never to

say to you; I am saying, Dejah Thoris, that I am yours, body and soul,

to serve you, to fight for you, and to die for you. Only one thing I

ask of you in return, and that is that you make no sign, either of

condemnation or of approbation of my words until you are safe among

your own people, and that whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they

be not influenced or colored by gratitude; whatever I may do to serve

you will be prompted solely from selfish motives, since it gives me

more pleasure to serve you than not."