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slay him, since without his guidance the red man might never hope to retrace his

way to the tower and freedom.

Twice they met and were accosted by other kaldanes; but in both instances

Ghek's simple statement that he was taking a new prisoner to Luud appeared to

allay all suspicion, and then at last they came to the ante-chamber of the king.

Here, now, red man, thou must fight, if ever," whispered Ghek. "Enter there!"

and he pointed to a doorway before them.

"And you?" asked Gahan, still fearful of treachery.

My rykor is powerful," replied the kaldane. "I shall accompany you and fight at

your side. As well die thus as in torture later at the will of Luud. Come!"

But Gahan had already crossed the room and entered the chamber beyond. Upon

the opposite side of the room was a circular opening guarded by two warriors.

Beyond this opening he could see two figures struggling upon the floor, and the

fleeting glimpse he had of one of the faces suddenly endowed him with the

strength of ten warriors and the ferocity of a wounded banth. It was Tara of

Helium, fighting for her honor or her life.

The warriors, startled by the unexpected appearance of a red man, stood for a

moment in dumb amazement, and in that moment Gahan of Gathol was upon

them, and one was down, a sword-thrust through its heart.

"Strike at the heads," whispered the voice of Ghek in Gahan's ear. The latter saw

the head of the fallen warrior crawl quickly within the aperture leading to the

chamber where he had seen Tara of Helium in the clutches of a headless body.

Then the sword of Ghek struck the kaldane of the remaining warrior from its

rykor and Gahan ran his sword through the repulsive head.

Instantly the red warrior leaped for the aperture, while close behind him came

Ghek.

"Look not upon the eyes of Luud," warned the kaldane, "or you are lost."

Within the chamber Gahan saw Tara of Helium in the clutches of a mighty body,

while close to the wall upon the opposite side of the apartment crouched the

hideous, spider-like Luud. Instantly the king realized the menace to himself and

sought to fasten his eyes upon the eyes of Gahan, and in doing so he was forced

to relax his concentration upon the rykor in whose embraces Tara struggled, so

that almost immediately the girl found herself able to tear away from the awful,

headless thing.

The Chessmen of Mars