d to free
the slaves from Gathol. I have spoken!" and without waiting for a reply
and as though the room had been filled with his own people rather than
a hostile band he strode up the broad main aisle toward Tara of Helium.

The chiefs of Manator were stunned. They looked to O-Tar; but he could
only gaze helplessly about him as the enemy entered from The Hall of
Chiefs and circled the throne room until they had surrounded the entire
company. And then a dwar of the army of Helium entered.

"We have captured three chiefs," he reported to The Warlord, "who beg
that they be permitted to enter the throne room and report to their
fellows some matter which they say will decide the fate of Manator."

"Fetch them," ordered The Warlord.

They came, heavily guarded, to the foot of the steps leading to the
throne and there they stopped and the leader turned toward the others
of Manator and raising high his right hand displayed a jeweled dagger.
"We found it," he said, "even where I-Gos said that we would find it,"
and he looked menacingly upon O-Tar.

"A-Kor, jeddak of Manator!" cried a voice, and the cry was taken up by
a hundred hoarse-throated warriors.

"There can be but one jeddak in Manator," said the chief who held the
dagger; his eyes still fixed upon the hapless O-Tar he crossed to where
the latter stood and holding the dagger upon an outstretched palm
proffered it to the discredited ruler. "There can be but one jeddak in
Manator," he repeated meaningly.

O-Tar took the proffered blade and drawing himself to his full height
plunged it to the guard into his breast, in that single act redeeming
himself in the esteem of his people and winning an eternal place in The
Hall of Chiefs.

As he fell all was silence in the great room, to be broken presently by
the voice of U-Thor. "O-Tar is dead!" he cried. "Let A-Kor rule until
the chiefs of all Manator may be summoned to choose a new jeddak. What
is your answer?"

"Let A-Kor rule! A-Kor, Jeddak of Manator!" The cries filled the room
and there was no dissenting voice.

A-Kor raised his sword for silence. "It is the will of A-Kor," he said,
"and that of the Great Jed of Manatos, and the commander of the fleet
from Gathol, and of the illustrious John Carter, Warlord of Barsoom,
that peace lie upon the city of Manator and so I decree that the men of
Manator go forth and welcome the fighting men of these our allies as
guests and friends and show them the wonders of our anc