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he knew that Tara would take her life if he fell. Had he, then, served her so
futilely after all his efforts?
Several warriors were urging the necessity for sending at once to the chamber of
O-Mai to search for the dagger that would prove, if found, the cowardice of O-Tar.
At last three consented to go. "You need not fear," I-Gos assured them. "There is
naught there to harm you. I have been there often of late and Turan the slave has
slept there for these many nights. The screams and moans that frightened you
and O-Tar were voiced by Turan to drive you away from his hiding place."
Shamefacedly the three left the apartment to search for O-Tar's dagger.
And now the others turned their attention once more to Gahan. They approached
the throne with bared swords, but they came slowly for they had seen this slave
upon the Field of Jetan and they knew the prowess of his arm. They had reached
the foot of the steps when from far above there sounded a deep boom, and
another, and another, and Turan smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps,
after all, it had not come too late. The warriors stopped and listened as did the
others in the chamber. Now there broke upon their ears a loud rattle of musketry
and it all came from above as though men were fighting upon the roofs of the
palace.
"
"
"
What is it?" they demanded, one of the other.
A great storm has broken over Manator," said one.
Mind not the storm until you have slain the creature who dares stand upon the
throne of your jeddak," demanded O-Tar. "Seize him!"
Even as he ceased speaking the arras behind the throne parted and a warrior
stepped forth upon the dais. An exclamation of surprise and dismay broke from
the lips of the warriors of O-Tar. "U-Thor!" they cried. "What treason is this?"
"
It is no treason," said U-Thor in his deep voice. "I bring you a new jeddak for all
of Manator. No lying poltroon, but a courageous man whom you all love."
He stepped aside then and another emerged from the corridor hidden by the
arras. It was A-Kor, and at sight of him there rose exclamations of surprise, of
pleasure, and of anger, as the various factions recognized the coup d'etat that
had been arranged so cunningly. Behind A-Kor came other warriors until the dais
was crowded with them--all men of Manator from the city of Manatos.
O-Tar was exhorting his warriors to attack, when a bloody and disheveled padwar
burst into the chamber through a side entrance. "The city has fallen!" he cried
aloud. "The hordes of Manatos pour through The Gate of Enemies. The slaves
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