it be safe in the keeping of Val Dor of Helium."

Turan made no reply but turned to the task of selecting the remainder
of his pieces. Val Dor, the Heliumite, and Floran, the volunteer from
Gathol, were of great assistance to him, since one or the other of them
knew most of the slaves from whom his selection was to be made. The
pieces all chosen, Turan led them to the place beside the playing field
where they were to wait their turn, and here he passed the word around
that they were to fight for more than the stake he offered for the
princess should they win. This stake they accepted, so that Turan was
sure of possessing Tara if his side was victorious, but he knew that
these men would fight even more valorously for chivalry than for money,
nor was it difficult to enlist the interest even of the Gatholians in
the service of the princess. And now he held out the possibility of a
still further reward.

"I cannot promise you," he explained, "but I may say I have heard that
this day which makes it possible that should we win this game we may
even win your freedom!"

They leaped to their feet and crowded around him with many questions.

"It may not be spoken of aloud," he said; "but Floran and Val Dor know
and they assure me that you may all be trusted. Listen! What I would
tell you places my life in your hands, but you must know that every man
will realize that he is fighting today the greatest battle of his
life--for the honor and the freedom of Barsoom's most wondrous princess
and for his own freedom as well--for the chance to return each to his
own country and to the woman who awaits him there.

"First, then, is my secret. I am not of Manator. Like yourselves I am a
slave, though for the moment disguised as a Manatorian from Manataj. My
country and my identity must remain undisclosed for reasons that have
no bearing upon our game today. I, then, am one of you. I fight for the
same things that you will fight for.

"And now for that which I have but just learned. U-Thor, the great jed
of Manatos, quarreled with O-Tar in the palace the day before yesterday
and their warriors set upon one another. U-Thor was driven as far as
The Gate of Enemies, where he now lies encamped. At any moment the
fight may be renewed; but it is thought that U-Thor has sent to Manatos
for reinforcements. Now, men of Gathol, here is the thing that
interests you. U-Thor has recently taken to wife the Princess Haja of
Gathol, who was slave to O