Without appearing in any undue haste, I

nevertheless soon found an excuse to depart and at once made my way towards my

own quarters, moving in a leisurely and unconcerned manner and humming, as was

my wont (a habit which greatly irritated Ras Thavas), snatches from some song

that had been popular at the time that I quit Earth. In this instance it was

"Oh, Frenchy."

I was thus engaged when I met Yamdor moving hurriedly along the corridor leading

from my apartment, in company with two male slaves. I greeted him pleasantly, as

was my custom, and he returned my greeting; but there was an expression of fear

and suspicion in his eyes. I went at once to my quarters, opened the door

leading to the chamber formerly occupied by Valla Dia and then hastened

immediately to the apartment of Ras Thavas, where I found him conversing with

Yamdor. I rushed in apparently breathless and simulating great excitement.

"Ras Thavas," I demanded, "what have you done with 4296-E-2631-H? She has

disappeared; her apartment is empty; and as I was approaching it I met Yamdor

and two other slaves coming from that direction." I turned then upon Yamdor and

pointed an accusing finger at him. "Yamdor!" I cried. "What have you done with

this woman?"

Both Ras Thavas and Yamdor seemed genuinely puzzled and I congratulated myself

that I had thus readily thrown them off the track. The master surgeon declared

that he would make an immediate investigation; and he at once ordered a thorough

search of the ground and of the island outside the enclosure. Yamdor denied any

knowledge of the woman and I, at least, was aware of the sincerity of his

protestations, but not so Ras Thavas. I could see a hint of suspicion in his

eyes as he questioned his body servant; but evidently he could conjure no motive

for any such treasonable action on the part of Yamdor as would have been

represented by the abduction of the woman and the consequent gross disobedience

of orders.

Ras Thavas' investigation revealed nothing. I think as it progressed that he

became gradually more and more imbued with a growing suspicion that I might know

more about the disappearance of Valla Dia than my attitude indicated, for I

presently became aware of a delicately concealed espionage. Up to this time I

had been able to smuggle food to Valla Dia every night, after Ras Thavas had

retired to his quarters. Then, on one occasion, I suddenly became subconsciously

aware that I was being followed, and instead of going to the vaults I went to

the office, where I added some observations to my report upon a case I had

handled that day. Returning to my room I hummed a few bars from "Over There,"

that the suggestion of my unconcern might be accentuated. From the moment that I

quit my quarters until I returned to them I was sure that eyes had been watching

my every move. What was I to do? Valla Dia must have food, without it she would

die; and were I to be followed to her hiding place while taking it to her, she

would die; Ras Thavas would see to that.

Half the night I lay awake, racking my brains for some solution to the problem.

There seemed only one way – I must elude the spies. If I could do this but one

single time I could carry out the balance of a plan that had occurred to me, and

which was, I thought, the only one feasible that might eventually lead to the

resurrection of Valla Dia in her own body. The way was long, the risks great;

but I was young, in love and utterly reckless of consequences in so far as they

concerned me; it was Valla Dia's happiness alone that I could not risk too

greatly, other than under dire stress. Well, the stress existed and I must risk

that even as I risked my life.

My plan was formulated and I lay awake upon my sleeping silks and furs in the

darkness of my room, awaiting the time when I might put it into execution. My

window, which was upon the third floor, overlooked the walled enclosure, upon

the scarlet sward of which I had made my first bow to Barsoom. Across the open

casement I had watched Cluros, the farther moon, take his slow deliberate way.

He had already set. Behind him, Thuria, his elusive mistress, fled through the

heavens. In five xats (about 15 minutes) she would set; and then for about three

and three quarters Earth hours the heavens would be dark, except for the stars.

In the corridor, perhaps, lurked those watchful eyes. I prayed God that they

might not be elsewhere as Thuria sank at last beneath the horizon and I swung to

my window ledge, in my hand a long rope fabricated from braided strips tom from

my sleeping silks while I had awaited the setting of the moons. One end I had

fastened to a heavy sorapus bench which I had drawn close to the window. I

dropped the free end of the rope and started my descent. My Earthly muscles,

untried in such endeavours, I had not trusted to the task of carrying me to my

window ledge in a single leap, when I should be returning. I felt that they

would, but I did not know; and too much depended upon the success of my venture

to risk any unnecessary chance of failure.