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they passed through a great doorway into the chamber beyond, a large, square
room in which a dozen mounted warriors lolled in their saddles.
As U-Dor and his party entered the room, the warriors came quickly erect in their
saddles and formed a line before another door upon the opposite side of the wall.
The padwar commanding them saluted U-Dor who, with his party, had halted
facing the guard.
"Send one to O-Tar announcing that U-Dor brings two prisoners worthy of the
observation of the great jeddak," said U-Dor; "one because of her extreme beauty,
the other because of his extreme ugliness."
"
O-Tar sits in council with the lesser chiefs," replied the lieutenant; "but the
words of U-Dor the dwar shall be carried to him," and he turned and gave
instructions to one who sat his thoat behind him.
"
What manner of creature is the male?" he asked of U-Dor. "It cannot be that
both are of one race."
"
They were together in the hills south of the city," explained U-Dor, "and they say
that they are lost and starving."
"The woman is beautiful," said the padwar. "She will not long go begging in the
city of Manator," and then they spoke of other matters--of the doings of the
palace, of the expedition of U-Dor, until the messenger returned to say that O-Tar
bade them bring the prisoners to him.
They passed then through a massive doorway, which, when opened, revealed the
great council chamber of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator, beyond. A central aisle led
from the doorway the full length of the great hall, terminating at the steps of a
marble dais upon which a man sat in a great throne-chair. Upon either side of
the aisle were ranged rows of highly carved desks and chairs of skeel, a hard
wood of great beauty. Only a few of the desks were occupied--those in the front
row, just below the rostrum.
At the entrance U-Dor dismounted with four of his followers who formed a guard
about the two prisoners who were then conducted toward the foot of the throne,
following a few paces behind U-Dor. As they halted at the foot of the marble
steps, the proud gaze of Tara of Helium rested upon the enthroned figure of the
man above her. He sat erect without stiffness--a commanding presence trapped
in the barbaric splendor that the Barsoomian chieftain loves. He was a large man,
the perfection of whose handsome face was marred only by the hauteur of his
cold eyes and the suggestion of cruelty imparted by too thin lips. It needed no
second glance to assure the least observing that here indeed was a ruler of men--
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