Thuvia and Phaidor came close also, but when Thuvia saw that we
would be alone she withdrew to the further side of the chamber.
Not so the daughter of Matai Shang.
"John Carter," she said, "this be the last time that you shall see
any of us. Tell me that you love me, that I may die happy."
"I love only the Princess of Helium," I replied quietly. "I am
sorry, Phaidor, but it is as I have told you from the beginning."
She bit her lip and turned away, but not before I saw the black
and ugly scowl she turned upon Dejah Thoris. Thereafter she stood
a little way apart, but not so far as I should have desired, for
I had many little confidences to impart to my long-lost love.
For a few minutes we stood thus talking in low tones. Ever smaller
and smaller grew the opening. In a short time now it would be too
small even to permit the slender form of my Princess to pass. Oh,
why did not Xodar haste. Above we could hear the faint echoes of
a great tumult. It was the multitude of black and red and green
men fighting their way through the fire from the burning Temple of
Issus.
A draught from above brought the fumes of smoke to our nostrils.
As we stood waiting for Xodar the smoke became thicker and thicker.
Presently we heard shouting at the far end of the corridor, and
hurrying feet.
"Come back, John Carter, come back!" cried a voice, "even the pits
are burning.
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