e ceremony in Manator differing from that of other
countries of Barsoom. Here the bride would await the groom at the foot
of the steps leading to the throne. The guests followed her in and took
their places, leaving the central aisle from The Hall of Chiefs to the
throne clear, for up this O-Tar would approach his bride alone after a
short solitary communion with the dead behind closed doors in The Hall
of Chiefs. It was the custom.

The guests had all filed through The Hall of Chiefs; the doors at both
ends had been closed. Presently those at the lower end of the hall
opened and O-Tar entered. His black harness was ornamented with rubies
and gold; his face was covered by a grotesque mask of the precious
metal in which two enormous rubies were set for eyes, though below them
were narrow slits through which the wearer could see. His crown was a
fillet supporting carved feathers of the same metal as the mask. To the
least detail his regalia was that demanded of a royal bridegroom by the
customs of Manator, and now in accordance with that same custom he came
alone to The Hall of Chiefs to receive the blessings and the council of
the great ones of Manator who had preceded him.

As the doors at the lower end of the Hall closed behind him O-Tar the
Jeddak stood alone with the great dead. By the dictates of ages no
mortal eye might look upon the scene enacted within that sacred
chamber. As the mighty of Manator respected the traditions of Manator,
let us, too, respect those traditions of a proud and sensitive people.
Of what concern to us the happenings in that solemn chamber of the dead?

Five minutes passed. The bride stood silently at the foot of the
throne. The guests spoke together in low whispers until the room was
filled with the hum of many voices. At length the doors leading into
The Hall of Chiefs swung open, and the resplendent bridegroom stood
framed for a moment in the massive opening. A hush fell upon the
wedding guests. With measured and impressive step the groom approached
the bride. Tara felt the muscles of her heart contract with the
apprehension that had been growing upon her as the coils of Fate
settled more closely about her and no sign came from Turan. Where was
he? What, indeed, could he accomplish now to save her? Surrounded by
the power of O-Tar with never a friend among them, her position seemed
at last without vestige of hope.

"I still live!" she whispered inwardly in a last brave attempt to
com