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Thuria flashed full upon the window where Gahan clung silhouetting him plainly
to the two within.
Both sprang to their feet. The eunuch drew his sword and leaped for the window
where the helpless Gahan would have fallen an easy victim to a single thrust of
the murderous weapon the fellow bore, had not Tara of Helium leaped upon her
guard dragging him back. At the same time she drew the slim dagger from its
hiding place in her harness and even as the eunuch sought to hurl her aside its
keen point found his heart. Without a sound he died and lunged forward to the
floor. Then Tara ran to the window.
"
Turan, my chief!" she cried. "What awful risk is this you take to seek me here,
where even your brave heart is powerless to aid me."
"Be not so sure of that, heart of my heart," he replied. "While I bring but words to
my love, they be the forerunner of deeds, I hope, that will give her back to me
forever. I feared that you might destroy yourself, Tara of Helium, to escape the
dishonor that O-Tar would do you, and so I came to give you new hope and to beg
that you live for me through whatever may transpire, in the knowledge that there
is yet a way and that if all goes well we shall be freed at last. Look for me in the
throne room of O-Tar the night that he would wed you. And now, how may we
dispose of this fellow?" He pointed to the dead eunuch upon the floor.
"
We need not concern ourselves about that," she replied. "None dares harm me
for fear of the wrath of O-Tar--otherwise I should have been dead so soon as ever
I entered this portion of the palace, for the women hate me. O-Tar alone may
punish me, and what cares O-Tar for the life of a eunuch? No, fear not upon this
score."
Their hands were clasped between the bars and now Gahan drew her nearer to
him.
"
One kiss," he said, "before I go, my princess," and the proud daughter of Dejah
Thoris, Princess of Helium, and The Warlord of Barsoom whispered: "My
chieftain!" and pressed her lips to the lips of Turan, the common panthan.
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