Manator, opened his eyes in the chamber of O-Mai. Recollection of the
frightful apparition that had confronted him swept to his
consciousness. He listened, but heard naught. Within the range of his
vision there was nothing apparent that might cause alarm. Slowly he
lifted his head and looked about. Upon the floor beside the couch lay
the thing that had at first attracted his attention and his eyes closed
in terror as he recognized it for what it was; but it moved not, nor
spoke. O-Tar opened his eyes again and rose to his feet. He was
trembling in every limb. There was nothing on the dais from which he
had seen the thing arise.

O-Tar backed slowly from the room. At last he gained the outer
corridor. It was empty. He did not know that it had emptied rapidly as
the loud scream with which his own had mingled had broken upon the
startled ears of the warriors who had been sent to spy upon him. He
looked at the timepiece set in a massive bracelet upon his left
forearm. The ninth zode was nearly half gone. O-Tar had lain for an
hour unconscious. He had spent an hour in the chamber of O-Mai and he
was not dead! He had looked upon the face of his predecessor and was
still sane! He shook himself and smiled. Rapidly he subdued his
rebelliously shaking nerves, so that by the time he reached the
tenanted portion of the palace he had gained control of himself. He
walked with chin high and something of a swagger. To the banquet hall
he went, knowing that his chiefs awaited him there and as he entered
they arose and upon the faces of many were incredulity and amaze, for
they had not thought to see O-Tar the jeddak again after what the spies
had told them of the horrid sounds issuing from the chamber of O-Mai.
Thankful was O-Tar that he had gone alone to that chamber of fright,
for now no one could deny the tale that he should tell.

E-Thas rushed forward to greet him, for E-Thas had seen black looks
directed toward him as the tals slipped by and his benefactor failed to
return.

"O brave and glorious jeddak!" cried the major-domo. "We rejoice at
your safe return and beg of you the story of your adventure."

"It was naught," exclaimed O-Tar. "I searched the chambers carefully
and waited in hiding for the return of the slave, Turan, if he were
temporarily away; but he came not. He is not there and I doubt if he
ever goes there. Few men would choose to remain long in such a dismal
place."

"You were not attacked?" asked E-Thas. "