Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 147: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a 776 I do not love her, for I have a mate of my own in my country beyond the thorns.” Komodoflorensal said no more, but he thought a great deal. He thought of what it would mean to return to his own city - where he was the Zertolosto, and where, by ~ all the customs of ages, he would be sup- posed to marry a princess.from another city. But he did not want a princess; he wanted Talaskar, the little slave girl of Veltoptis- makus, who scarcely knew the name of her own mother and most probably had: never heard that of her father. - He wanted Talaskar, but he could only ~ have her in Trohanadalmakus as a slave. His love for her was real, and so he would not insult her by thinking such a thing as that. If he could not make her his prin- cess, he would not have her at all; and so, Komodofiorensal, the son of Adendrohahkis, was sad. But he had none too much time-to dwell upon his sorrow now, for the others were planning the best means for escape. “ The keepers come down to feed the cats upon this side,” said Zoanthrohago, indi- cating a small door in the wall of the pit opposite that which led into the chamber in ‘which he had been incarcerated. Doubtless it is not locked, either,” said Janzara, “for a prisoner could not reach jt without crossing through this chamber where the two cats were kept.” “ We will see,” said Tarzan, and crossed ‘to the door. A moment sufficed to force it open, re- -vealing a narrow corridor beyond. One after another the five crawled through’ the small aperture and, following the corridor, ‘ascended an acclivity, lighting their way with candles taken from the den of the carnivores. At the top a door. opened into a wide corridor, before a door. Janzara looked through the tiny crack that Tarzan had opened the door and saw the corridor and the man. “Good!” she exclaimed. “ It is my own ‘corridor, and the warrior is on guard before ‘my door. I know him well. Through me -he has escaped payment of-his taxes for the past thirty moons. He would die for replied Komodoflorensal. a short distance down which stood a warrior, evidently on guard ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. me. Come! We have nothing to fear.” And stepping boldly into the corridor, she behind her. Until he recognized: her there was . dane approached the sentry, the others following ger that the fellow would raise an alarm, but the moment he saw who it Was he' was as wax in her hands. ' “You are blind,” she told him. “Tf the Princess Janzara wishes it,” he replied. : She told him what she wished—five _ diadets and some warriors’ heavy wraps. He eyed those who were with her, and evi- dentiy recognized Zoanthrohago, ‘and guessed who the two other men were. “Not only shall I be blind for my prin- cess,” he said, ‘‘ but to- “morrow I shall be dead for her. ” “Fetch six diadets, then,” said the prin- cess; and he understood her and smiled his gratitude. Then she turned toward. Romodoforen- sal. “ You are Prince Royal of Trohanadal- ‘makus?” she asked. “T am,” he replied. * And if we show you the way to liberty you will-not enslave us?” “T shall take you to the city-as my own - Slaves and then liberate you,” he replied. ““Tt is something that has seldom if ever been done,” she mused; “not in the mem- ory of living man in ‘Veltoptismakus. I wonder if your sire will permit it.” “The thing is not without precedent,” “Tt has been done but rarely, yet it has been done. -I think you may feel assured of a- friendly welcome at the court of Adendrohahkis, ‘where the wisdom of Zoanthrohago will not go unappreciated or unrewarded.” It was a long time before the warrior returned with the diadets. His face was covered with perspiration and his hands with blood. “Thad to fight for: them,” he ‘said, ‘“ and we shall have to fight to use them if we do not hurry. Here, prince,, I. brought you weapons,” and he handed a sword and dag- -ger to Zoanthrohago. They mounted quickly. Tt was Pavzan’s first experience upon one of the wiry, active little mounts cf the Minunians, but he COmiclboo CO