ANOTHER CHANGE OF NAME

Turan dashed himself against the door of his prison in a vain

effort to break through the solid skeel to the side of Tara whom

he knew to be in grave danger, but the heavy panels held and he

succeeded only in bruising his shoulders and his arms. At last he

desisted and set about searching his prison for some other means

of escape. He found no other opening in the stone walls, but his

search revealed a heterogeneous collection of odds and ends of

arms and apparel, of harness and ornaments and insignia, and

sleeping silks and furs in great quantities. There were swords

and spears and several large, two-bladed battle-axes, the heads

of which bore a striking resemblance to the propellor of a small

flier. Seizing one of these he attacked the door once more with

great fury. He expected to hear something from I-Gos at this

ruthless destruction, but no sound came to him from beyond the

door, which was, he thought, too thick for the human voice to

penetrate; but he would have wagered much that I-Gos heard him.

Bits of the hard wood splintered at each impact of the heavy axe,

but it was slow work and heavy. Presently he was compelled to

rest, and so it went for what seemed hours--working almost to the

verge of exhaustion and then resting for a few minutes; but ever

the hole grew larger though he could see nothing of the interior

of the room beyond because of the hanging that I-Gos had drawn

across it after he had locked Turan within.

At last, however, the panthan had hewn an opening through which

his body could pass, and seizing a long-sword that he had brought

close to the door for the purpose he crawled through into the

next room. Flinging aside the arras he stood ready, sword in

hand, to fight his way to the side of Tara of Helium--but she was

not there. In the center of the room lay I-Gos, dead upon the

floor; but Tara of Helium was nowhere to be seen.

Turan was nonplussed. It must have been her hand that had struck

down the old man, yet she had made no effort to release Turan

from his prison. And then he thought of those last words of hers:

"I do not want your love! I hate you," and the truth dawned upon

him--she had seized upon this first opportunity to escape him.

With downcast heart Turan turned away. What should he do? There

could be but one answer. While he lived and she lived he must

still leave no stone unturned to effect her escape and safe

return to the land of her people. But how? How was he even to

find his way from this labyrinth? How was he to find her again?

He walked to the nearest doorway. It chanced to be that which led

into the room containing the mounted dead, awaiting

transportation to balcony or grim room or whatever place was to

receive them. His eyes travelled to the great, painted warrior on

the thoat and as they ran over the splendid trappings and the

serviceable arms a new light came into the pain-dulled eyes of

the panthan. With a quick step he crossed to the side of the dead

warrior and dragged him from his mount. With equal celerity he

stripped him of his harness and his arms, and tearing off his

own, donned the regalia of the dead man. Then he hastened back to

the room in which he had been trapped, for there he had seen that

which he needed to make his disguise complete. In a cabinet he

found them--pots of paint that the old taxidermist had used to

place the war-paint in its wide bands across the cold faces of

dead warriors.

A few moments later Gahan of Gathol emerged from the room a

warrior of Manator in every detail of harness, equipment, and

ornamentation. He had removed from the leather of the dead man

the insignia of his house and rank so that he might pass, with

the least danger of arousing suspicion, as a common warrior.

To search for Tara of Helium in the vast, dim labyrinth of the

pits of O-Tar seemed to the Gatholian a hopeless quest,

foredoomed to failure. It would be wiser to seek the streets of

Manator where he might hope to learn first if she had been

recaptured and, if not, then he could return to the pits and

pursue the hunt for her. To find egress from the maze he must

perforce travel a considerable distance through the winding

corridors and chambers, since he had no idea as to the location

or direction of any exit. In fact, he could not have retraced his

steps a hundred yards toward the point at which he and Tara had

entered the gloomy caverns, and so he set out in the hope that he

might find by accident either Tara of Helium or a way to the

street level above.

For a time he passed room after room filled with the cunningly

preserved dead of Manator, many of which were piled in tiers

after the manner that firewood is corded, and as he moved through

corridor and chamber he noticed hieroglyphics painted upon the

walls above every opening and at each fork or crossing of

corridors, until by observation he reached the conclusion that

these indicated the designations of passageways, so that one who

understood them might travel quickly and surely through the pits;

but Turan did not understand them. Even could he have read the

language of Manator they might not materially have aided one

unfamiliar with the city; but he could not read them at all

since, though there is but one spoken language upon Barsoom,

there are as many different written languages as there are

nations. One thing, however, soon became apparent to him--the

hieroglyphic of a corridor remained the same until the corridor

ended.

It was not long before Turan realized from the distance that he

had traveled that the pits were part of a vast system

undermining, possibly, the entire city. At least he was convinced

that he had passed beyond the precincts of the palace. The

corridors and chambers varied in appearance and architecture from

time to time. All were lighted, though usually quite dimly, with

radium bulbs. For a long time he saw no signs of life other than

an occasional ulsio, then quite suddenly he came face to face

with a warrior at one of the numerous crossings. The fellow

looked at him, nodded, and passed on. Turan breathed a sigh of

relief as he realized that his disguise was effective, but he was

caught in the middle of it by a hail from the warrior who had

stopped and turned toward him. The panthan was glad that a sword

hung at his side, and glad too that they were buried in the dim

recesses of the pits and that there would be but a single

antagonist, for time was precious.

"Heard you any word of the other?" called the warrior to him.

"No," replied Turan, who had not the faintest idea to whom or

what the fellow referred.

"He cannot escape," continued the warrior. "The woman ran

directly into our arms, but she swore that she knew not where her

companion might be found."

"They took her back to O-Tar?" asked Turan, for now he knew whom

the other meant, and he would know more.

"They took her back to The Towers of Jetan," replied the warrior.

"Tomorrow the games commence and doubtless she will be played

for, though I doubt if any wants her, beautiful as she is. She

fears not even O-Tar. By Cluros! but she would make a hard slave

to subdue--a regular she-banth she is. Not for me," and he

continued on his way shaking his head.

Turan hurried on searching for an avenue that led to the level of

the streets above when suddenly he came to the open doorway of a

small chamber in which sat a man who was chained to the wall.

Turan voiced a low exclamation of surprise and pleasure as he

recognized that the man was A-Kor, and that he had stumbled by

accident upon the very cell in which he had been imprisoned.

A-Kor looked at him questioningly. It was evident that he did not

recognize his fellow prisoner. Turan crossed to the table and

leaning close to the other whispered to him.

"I am Turan the panthan," he said, "who was chained beside you."

A-Kor looked at him closely. "Your own mother would never know

you!" he said; "but tell me, what has transpired since they took

you away?"

Turan recounted his experiences in the throne room of O-Tar and

in the pits beneath, "and now," he continued, "I must find these

Towers of Jetan and see what may be done toward liberating the

Princess of Helium."

A-Kor shook his head. "Long was I dwar of the Towers," he said,

"and I can say to you, stranger, that you might as well attempt

to reduce Manator, single handed, as to rescue a prisoner from

The Towers of Jetan."

"But I must," replied Turan.

"Are you better than a good swordsman?" asked A-Kor presently.

"I am accounted so," replied Turan.

"Then there is a way--sst!" he was suddenly silent and pointing

toward the base of the wall at the end of the room.

Turan looked in the direction the other's forefinger indicated,

to see projecting from the mouth of an ulsio's burrow two large

chelae and a pair of protruding eyes.

"Ghek!" he cried and immediately the hideous kaldane crawled out

upon the floor and approached the table. A-Kor drew back with a

half-stifled ejaculation of repulsion. "Do not fear," Turan

reassured him. "It is my friend--he whom I told you held O-Tar

while Tara and I escaped."

Ghek climbed to the table top and squatted between the two

warriors. "You are safe in assuming," he said addressing A-Kor,

"that Turan the panthan has no master in all Manator where the

art of sword-play is concerned. I overheard your conversation--go

on."

"You are his friend," continued A-Kor, "and so I may explain

safely in your presence the only plan I know whereby he may hope

to rescue the Princess of Helium. She is to be the stake of one

of the games and it is O-Tar's desire that she be won by slaves

and common warriors, since she repulsed him. Thus would he punish

her. Not a single man, but all who survive upon the winning side

are to possess her. With money, however, one may buy off the

others before the game. That you could do, and if your side won

and you survived she would become your slave."

"But how may a stranger and a hunted fugitive accomplish this?"

asked Turan.

"No one will recognize you. You will go tomorrow to the keeper of

the Towers and enlist in that game for which the girl is to be

the stake, telling the keeper that you are from Manataj, the

farthest city of Manator. If he questions you, you may say that

you saw her when she was brought into the city after her capture.

If you win her, you will find thoats stabled at my palace and you

will carry from me a token that will place all that is mine at

your disposal."

"But how can I buy off the others in the game without money?"

asked Turan. "I have none--not even of my own country."

A-Kor opened his pocket-pouch and drew forth a packet of

Manatorian money.

"Here is sufficient to buy them off twice over," he said, handing

a portion of it to Turan.

"But why do you do this for a stranger?" asked the panthan.

"My mother was a captive princess here," replied A-Kor. "I but do

for the Princess of Helium what my mother would have me do."

"Under the circumstances, then, Manatorian," replied Turan, "I

cannot but accept your generosity on behalf of Tara of Helium and

live in hope that some day I may do for you something in return."

"Now you must be gone," advised A-Kor. "At any minute a guard may

come and discover you here. Go directly to the Avenue of Gates,

which circles the city just within the outer wall. There you will

find many places devoted to the lodging of strangers. You will

know them by the thoat's head carved above the doors. Say that

you are here from Manataj to witness the games. Take the name of

U-Kal--it will arouse no suspicion, nor will you if you can avoid

conversation. Early in the morning seek the keeper of The Towers

of Jetan. May the strength and fortune of all your ancestors be

with you!"

Bidding good-bye to Ghek and A-Kor, the panthan, following

directions given him by A-Kor, set out to find his way to the

Avenue of Gates, nor had he any great difficulty. On the way he

met several warriors, but beyond a nod they gave him no heed.

With ease he found a lodging place where there were many

strangers from other cities of Manator. As he had had no sleep

since the previous night he threw himself among the silks and

furs of his couch to gain the rest which he must have, was he to

give the best possible account of himself in the service of Tara

of Helium the following day.

It was already morning when he awoke, and rising he paid for his

lodgings, sought a place to eat, and a short time later was on

his way toward The Towers of Jetan, which he had no difficulty in

finding owing to the great crowds that were winding along the

avenues toward the games. The new keeper of The Towers who had

succeeded E-Med was too busy to scrutinize entries closely, for

in addition to the many volunteer players there were scores of

slaves and prisoners being forced into the games by their owners

or the government. The name of each must be recorded as well as

the position he was to play and the game or games in which he was

to be entered, and then there were the substitutes for each that

was entered in more than a single game--one for each additional

game that an individual was entered for, that no succeeding game

might be delayed by the death or disablement of a player.

"Your name?" asked a clerk as Turan presented himself.

"U-Kal," replied the panthan.

"Your city?"

"Manataj."

The keeper, who was standing beside the clerk, looked at Turan.

"You have come a great way to play at jetan," he said. "It is

seldom that the men of Manataj attend other than the decennial

games. Tell me of O-Zar! Will he attend next year? Ah, but he was

a noble fighter. If you be half the swordsman, U-Kal, the fame of

Manataj will increase this day. But tell me, what of O-Zar?"

"He is well," replied Turan, glibly, "and he sent greetings to

his friends in Manator."

"Good!" exclaimed the keeper, "and now in what game would you

enter?"

"I would play for the Heliumetic princess, Tara," replied Turan.

"But man, she is to be the stake of a game for slaves and

criminals," cried the keeper. "You would not volunteer for such a

game!"

"But I would," replied Turan. "I saw here when she was brought

into the city and even then I vowed to possess her."

"But you will have to share her with the survivors even if your

color wins," objected the other.

"They may be brought to reason," insisted Turan.

"And you will chance incurring the wrath of O-Tar, who has no

love for this savage barbarian," explained the keeper.

"And I win her O-Tar will be rid of her," said Turan.

The keeper of The Towers of Jetan shook his head. "You are rash,"

he said. "I would that I might dissuade the friend of my friend

O-Zar from such madness."

"Would you favor the friend of O-Zar?" asked Turan.

"Gladly!" exclaimed the other. "What may I do for him?"

"Make me chief of the Black and give me for my pieces all slaves

from Gathol, for I understand that those be excellent warriors,"

replied the panthan.

"It is a strange request," said the keeper, "but for my friend

O-Zar I would do even more, though of course--" he

hesitated--"it is customary for one who would be chief to make

some slight payment."

"Certainly," Turan hastened to assure him; "I had not forgotten

that. I was about to ask you what the customary amount is."

"For the friend of my friend it shall be nominal," replied the

keeper, naming a figure that Gahan, accustomed to the high price

of wealthy Gathol, thought ridiculously low.

"Tell me," he said, handing the money to the keeper, "when the

game for the Heliumite is to be played."

"It is the second in order of the day's games; and now if you

will come with me you may select your pieces."

Turan followed the keeper to a large court which lay between the

towers and the jetan field, where hundreds of warriors were

assembled. Already chiefs for the games of the day were selecting

their pieces and assigning them to positions, though for the

principal games these matters had been arranged for weeks before.

The keeper led Turan to a part of the courtyard where the

majority of the slaves were assembled.

"Take your choice of those not assigned," said the keeper, "and

when you have your quota conduct them to the field. Your place

will be assigned you by an officer there, and there you will

remain with your pieces until the second game is called. I wish

you luck, U-Kal, though from what I have heard you will be more

lucky to lose than to win the slave from Helium."

After the fellow had departed Turan approached the slaves. "I

seek the best swordsmen for the second game," he announced. "Men

from Gathol I wish, for I have heard that these be noble

fighters."

A slave rose and approached him. "It is all the same in which

game we die," he said. "I would fight for you as a panthan in the

second game."

Another came. "I am not from Gathol," he said. "I am from Helium,

and I would fight for the honor of a princess of Helium."

"Good!" exclaimed Turan. "Art a swordsman of repute in Helium?"

"I was a dwar under the great Warlord, and I have fought at his

side in a score of battles from The Golden Cliffs to The Carrion

Caves. My name is Val Dor. Who knows Helium, knows my prowess."

The name was well known to Gahan, who had heard the man spoken of

on his last visit to Helium, and his mysterious disappearance

discussed as well as his renown as a fighter.

"How could I know aught of Helium?" asked Turan; "but if you be

such a fighter as you say no position could suit you better than

that of Flier. What say you?"

The man's eyes denoted sudden surprise. He looked keenly at

Turan, his eyes running quickly over the other's harness. Then he

stepped quite close so that his words might not be overheard.

"Methinks you may know more of Helium than of Manator," he

whispered.

"What mean you, fellow?" demanded Turan, seeking to cudgel his

brains for the source of this man's knowledge, guess, or

inspiration.

"I mean," replied Val Dor, "that you are not of Manator and that

if you wish to hide the fact it is well that you speak not to a

Manatorian as you did just speak to me of--Fliers! There be no

Fliers in Manator and no piece in their game of Jetan bearing

that name. Instead they call him who stands next to the Chief or

Princess, Odwar. The piece has the same moves and power that the

Flier has in the game as played outside Manator. Remember this

then and remember, too, that if you have a secret it be safe in

the keeping of Val Dor of Helium."

Turan made no reply but turned to the task of selecting the

remainder of his pieces. Val Dor, the Heliumite, and Floran, the

volunteer from Gathol, were of great assistance to him, since one

or the other of them knew most of the slaves from whom his

selection was to be made. The pieces all chosen, Turan led them

to the place beside the playing field where they were to wait

their turn, and here he passed the word around that they were to

fight for more than the stake he offered for the princess should

they win. This stake they accepted, so that Turan was sure of

possessing Tara if his side was victorious, but he knew that

these men would fight even more valorously for chivalry than for

money, nor was it difficult to enlist the interest even of the

Gatholians in the service of the princess. And now he held out

the possibility of a still further reward.

"I cannot promise you," he explained, "but I may say I have heard

that this day which makes it possible that should we win this

game we may even win your freedom!"

They leaped to their feet and crowded around him with many

questions.

"It may not be spoken of aloud," he said; "but Floran and Val Dor

know and they assure me that you may all be trusted. Listen! What

I would tell you places my life in your hands, but you must know

that every man will realize that he is fighting today the

greatest battle of his life--for the honor and the freedom of

Barsoom's most wondrous princess and for his own freedom as

well--for the chance to return each to his own country and to the

woman who awaits him there.

"First, then, is my secret. I am not of Manator. Like yourselves

I am a slave, though for the moment disguised as a Manatorian

from Manataj. My country and my identity must remain undisclosed

for reasons that have no bearing upon our game today. I, then, am

one of you. I fight for the same things that you will fight for.

"And now for that which I have but just learned. U-Thor, the

great jed of Manatos, quarreled with O-Tar in the palace the day

before yesterday and their warriors set upon one another. U-Thor

was driven as far as The Gate of Enemies, where he now lies

encamped. At any moment the fight may be renewed; but it is

thought that U-Thor has sent to Manatos for reinforcements. Now,

men of Gathol, here is the thing that interests you. U-Thor has

recently taken to wife the Princess Haja of Gathol, who was slave

to O-Tar and whose son, A-Kor, was dwar of The Towers of Jetan.

Haja's heart is filled with loyalty for Gathol and compassion for

her sons who are here enslaved, and this latter sentiment she has

to some extent transmitted to U-Thor. Aid me, therefore, in

freeing the Princess Tara of Helium and I believe that I can aid

you and her and myself to escape the city. Bend close your ears,

slaves of O-Tar, that no cruel enemy may hear my words," and

Gahan of Gathol whispered in low tones the daring plan he had

conceived. "And now," he demanded, when he had finished, "let him

who does not dare speak now." None replied. "Is there none?"

"And it would not betray you should I cast my sword at thy feet,

it had been done ere this," said one in low tones pregnant with

suppressed feeling.

"And I!" "And I!" "And I!" chorused the others in vibrant

whispers.