omposed. Though wrought ages since, it was but little weather-worn
owing to the aridity of the Martian atmosphere, the infrequency of
rains, and the rarity of dust storms. To scale it, though, presented
difficulties and danger that might have deterred the bravest of
men--that would, doubtless, have deterred Gahan, had he not felt that
the life of the woman he loved depended upon his accomplishing the
hazardous feat.

Removing his sandals and laying aside all of his harness and weapons
other than a single belt supporting a dagger, the Gatholian essayed the
dangerous ascent. Clinging to the carvings with hands and feet he
worked himself slowly aloft, avoiding the windows and keeping upon the
shadowy side of the tower, away from the light of Thuria and Cluros.
The tower rose some fifty feet above the roof of the adjacent part of
the palace, comprising five levels or floors with windows looking in
every direction. A few of the windows were balconied, and these more
than the others he sought to avoid, although, it being now near the
close of the ninth zode, there was little likelihood that many were
awake within the tower.

His progress was noiseless and he came at last, undetected, to the
windows of the upper level. These, like several of the others he had
passed at lower levels, were heavily barred, so that there was no
possibility of his gaining ingress to the apartment where Tara was
confined. Darkness hid the interior behind the first window that he
approached. The second opened upon a lighted chamber where he could see
a guard sleeping at his post outside a door. Here also was the top of
the runway leading to the next level below. Passing still farther
around the tower Gahan approached another window, but now he clung to
that side of the tower which ended in a courtyard a hundred feet below
and in a short time the light of Thuria would reach him. He realized
that he must hasten and he prayed that behind the window he now
approached he would find Tara of Helium.

Coming to the opening he looked in upon a small chamber dimly lighted.
In the center was a sleeping dais upon which a human form lay beneath
silks and furs. A bare arm, protruding from the coverings, lay exposed
against a black and yellow striped orluk skin--an arm of wondrous
beauty about which was clasped an armlet that Gahan knew. No other
creature was visible within the chamber, all of which was exposed to
Gahan's view. Pressing his face to the bars the