"Begone, but

instead of the light of the gardens of Issus let you serve as a

slave of this slave who conquered you in the prison on the Isle of

Shador in the Sea of Omean. Take him away out of the sight of my

divine eyes."

Slowly and with high held head the proud Xodar turned and stalked

from the chamber. Issus rose and turned to leave the room by

another exit.

Turning to me, she said: "You shall be returned to Shador for the

present. Later Issus will see the manner of your fighting. Go."

Then she disappeared, followed by her retinue. Only Phaidor lagged

behind, and as I started to follow my guard toward the gardens,

the girl came running after me.

"Oh, do not leave me in this terrible place," she begged. "Forgive

the things I said to you, my Prince. I did not mean them. Only

take me away with you. Let me share your imprisonment on Shador."

Her words were an almost incoherent volley of thoughts, so rapidly

she spoke. "You did not understand the honour that I did you.

Among the therns there is no marriage or giving in marriage, as

among the lower orders of the outer world. We might have lived

together for ever in love and happiness. We have both looked upon

Issus and in a year we die. Let us live that year at least together

in what measure of joy remains for the doomed."

"If it was difficult for me to understand you, Phaidor," I replied,

"can you not understand that possibly it is equally difficult for

you to understand the motives, the customs and the social laws that

guide me? I do not wish to hurt you, nor to seem to undervalue

the honour which you have done me, but the thing you desire may not

be. Regardless of the foolish belief of the peoples of the outer

world, or of Holy Thern, or ebon First Born, I am not dead. While

I live my heart beats for but one woman--the incomparable Dejah

Thoris, Princess of Helium. When death overtakes me my heart shall

have ceased to beat; but what comes after that I know not. And

in that I am as wise as Matai Shang, Master of Life and Death upon

Barsoom; or Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal."

Phaidor stood looking at me intently for a moment. No anger showed in

her eyes this time, only a pathetic expression of hopeless sorrow.

"I do not understand," she said, and turning walked slowly in

the direction of the door through which Issus and her retinue had

passed. A moment later she had passed from my sight.

CHAPTER X

THE PRISON ISLE OF SHADOR

In the outer gardens to which the guard now escorted me, I found

Xodar surrounded by a crowd of noble blacks. They were reviling

and cursing him. The men slapped his face. The woman spat upon

him.

When I appeared they turned their attentions toward me.

"Ah," cried one, "so this is the creature who overcame the great

Xodar bare-handed. Let us see how it was done."

"Let him bind Thurid," suggested a beautiful woman, laughing.

"Thurid is a noble Dator. Let Thurid show the dog what it means

to face a real man."

"Yes, Thurid! Thurid!" cried a dozen voices.

"Here he is now," exclaimed another, and turning in the direction

indicated I saw a huge black weighed down with resplendent ornaments

and arms advancing with noble and gallant bearing toward us.

"What now?" he cried. "What would you of Thurid?"

Quickly a dozen voices explained.

Thurid turned toward Xodar, his eyes narrowing to two nasty slits.

"Calot!" he hissed. "Ever did I think you carried the heart of a

sorak in your putrid breast. Often have you bested me in the secret

councils of Issus, but now in the field of war where men are truly

gauged your scabby heart hath revealed its sores to all the world.

Calot, I spurn you with my foot," and with the words he turned to

kick Xodar.

My blood was up. For minutes it had been boiling at the cowardly

treatment they had been according this once powerful comrade because

he had fallen from the favour of Issus. I had no love for Xodar,

but I cannot stand the sight of cowardly injustice and persecution

without seeing red as through a haze of bloody mist, and doing

things on the impulse of the moment that I presume I never should

do after mature deliberation.

I was standing close beside Xodar as Thurid swung his foot for the

cowardly kick.