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"
Have I denied this?" demanded O-Tar.
Listen, then, O Jeddak, and judge us with leniency. We followed the two slaves
"
to the apartments of O-Mai the Cruel. We entered the accursed chambers and
still we did not falter. We came at last to that horrid chamber no human eye had
scanned before in fifty centuries and we looked upon the dead face of O-Mai lying
as he has lain for all this time. To the very death chamber of O-Mai the Cruel we
came and yet we were ready to go farther; when suddenly there broke upon our
horrified ears the moans and the shrieking that mark these haunted chambers
and the hangings moved and rustled in the dead air. O-Tar, it was more than
human nerves could endure. We turned and fled. We threw away our swords and
fought with one another to escape. With sorrow, but without shame, I tell it, for
there be no man in all Manator that would not have done the same. If these
slaves be Corphals they are safe among their fellow ghosts. If they be not
Corphals, then already are they dead in the chambers of O-Mai, and there may
they rot for all of me, for I would not return to that accursed spot for the harness
of a jeddak and the half of Barsoom for an empire. I have spoken."
O-Tar knitted his scowling brows. "Are all my chieftains cowards and cravens?"
he demanded presently in sneering tones.
From among those who had not been of the searching party a chieftain arose and
turned a scowling face upon O-Tar.
"The jeddak knows," he said, "that in the annals of Manator her jeddaks have ever
been accounted the bravest of her warriors. Where my jeddak leads I will follow,
nor may any jeddak call me a coward or a craven unless I refuse to go where he
dares to go. I have spoken."
After he had resumed his seat there was a painful silence, for all knew that the
speaker had challenged the courage of O-Tar the Jeddak of Manator and all
awaited the reply of their ruler. In every mind was the same thought--O-Tar must
lead them at once to the chamber of O-Mai the Cruel, or accept forever the stigma
of cowardice, and there could be no coward upon the throne of Manator. That
they all knew and that O-Tar knew, as well.
But O-Tar hesitated. He looked about upon the faces of those around him at the
banquet board; but he saw only the grim visages of relentless warriors. There was
no trace of leniency in the face of any. And then his eyes wandered to a small
entrance at one side of the great chamber. An expression of relief expunged the
scowl of anxiety from his features.
"Look!" he exclaimed. "See who has come!"
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