I saw the red girl, Thuvia of Ptarth, leap forward to prevent the hideous deed.

The warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. Read this book online for free on HackerNoon!

Beyond the lighted chamber of the lake was darkness—what lay behind the darkness I could not even guess.

There were no words, for they would have been a waste of breath. The very presence of the two proclaimed their treachery.

The men stopped their game and looked up at me, but there was no sign of suspicion. Similarly they looked at Woola, growling at my heel.

Far ahead, a tiny speck in the distance, I made out another flier late in the afternoon.

“You are a mighty warrior, Dotar Sojat,” he replied, “and when this day is done I shall speak with you again in the great audience chamber.”

Up the broad center aisle we marched beneath deadly silence, and at the foot of the thrones we halted.

“Bring the rope with you. Beyond the knots lies danger.”

The barrier held—I had been in time, but by the fraction of a second only.

It did not take me long to start upon that unknown way, nor did I go with caution, although I knew that there might be grave dangers before me.

At sight of us they halted in their tracks, and then an ugly smile overspread the features of their leader.