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〃Then； too；〃 continued the Lotharian； 〃there is always the hope； which
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with us is little short of belief； that some day these materializations will
merge into the realthat they will remain； some of them； after we have
dissolved their fellows； and that thus we shall have discovered a means for
perpetuating our dying race。
〃Some there are who claim already to have accomplished the thing。
It is generally supposed that the etherealists have quite a few among their
number who are permanent materializations。 It is even said that such is
Tario； but that cannot be； for he existed before we had discovered the full
possibilities of suggestion。
〃There are others among us who insist that none of us is real。 That we
could not have existed all these ages without material food and water had
we ourselves been material。 Although I am a realist； I rather incline
toward this belief myself。
〃It seems well and sensibly based upon the belief that our ancient
forbears developed before their extinction such wondrous mentalities that
some of the stronger minds among them lived after the death of their
bodiesthat we are but the deathless minds of individuals long dead。
〃It would appear possible； and yet in so far as I am concerned I have
all the attributes of corporeal existence。 I eat； I sleep〃he paused； casting a
meaning look upon the girl〃I love！〃
Thuvia could not mistake the palpable meaning of his words and
expression。 She turned away with a little shrug of disgust that was not
lost upon the Lotharian。
He came close to her and seized her arm。
〃Why not Jav？〃 he cried。 〃Who more honourable than the second of
the world's most ancient race？ Your Heliumite？ He has gone。 He has
deserted you to your fate to save himself。 Come； be Jav's！〃
Thuvia of Ptarth rose to her full height； her lifted shoulder turned
toward the man； her haughty chin upraised； a scornful twist to her lips。
〃You lie！〃 she said quietly； 〃the Heliumite knows less of disloyalty
than he knows of fear； and of fear he is as ignorant as the unhatched
young。〃
〃Then where is he？〃 taunted the Lotharian。 〃I tell you he has fled the
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valley。 He has left you to your fate。 But Jav will see that it is a pleasant
one。 To…morrow we shall return into Lothar at the head of my victorious
army； and I shall be jeddak and you shall be my consort。 Come！〃 And he
attempted to crush her to his breast。
The girl struggled to free herself； striking at the man with her metal
armlets。 Yet still he drew her toward him； until both were suddenly
startled by a hideous growl that rumbled from the dark wood close behind
them。
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CHAPTER X
KAR KOMAK； THE BOWMAN
As Carthoris moved through the forest toward the distant cliffs with
Thuvia's hand still tight pressed in his； he wondered a little at the girl's
continued silence； yet the contact of her cool palm against his was so
pleasant that he feared to break the spell of her new…found reliance in him
by speaking。
Onward through the dim wood they passed until the shadows of the
quick coming Martian night commenced to close down upon them。 Then
it was that Carthoris turned to speak to the girl at his side。
They must plan together for the future。 It was his idea to pass
through the cliffs at once if they could locate the passage； and he was quite
positive that they were now close to it； but he wanted her assent to the
proposition。
As his eyes rested upon her； he was struck by her strangely ethereal
appearance。 She seemed suddenly to have dissolved into the tenuous
substance of a dream； and as he continued to gaze upon her； she faded
slowly from his sight。
For an instant he was dumbfounded； and then the whole truth flashed
suddenly upon him。 Jav had caused him to believe that Thuvia was
accompanying him through the wood while； as a matter of fact； he had
detained the girl for himself！
Carthoris was horrified。 He cursed himself for his stupidity； and yet
he knew that the fiendish power which the Lotharian had invoked to
confuse him might have deceived any。
Scarce had he realized the truth than he had started to retrace his steps
toward Lothar； but now he moved at a trot； the Earthly thews that he had
inherited from his father carrying him swiftly over the soft carpet of fallen
leaves and rank grass。
Thuria's brilliant light flooded the plain before the walled city of
Lothar as Carthoris broke from the wood opposite the great gate that had
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given the fugitives egress from the city earlier in the day。
At first he saw no indication that there was another than himself
anywhere about。 The plain was deserted。 No myriad bowmen camped
now beneath the overhanging verdure of the giant trees。 No gory heaps
of tortured dead defaced the beauty of the scarlet sward。 All was silence。
All was peace。
The Heliumite； scarce pausing at the forest's verge； pushed on across
the plain toward the city； when presently he descried a huddled form in the
grass at his feet。
It was the body of a man； lying prone。 Carthoris turned the figure
over upon its back。 It was Jav； but torn and mangled almost beyond
recognition。
The prince bent low to note if any spark of life remained； and as he did
so the lids raised and dull； suffering eyes looked up into his。
〃The Princess of Ptarth！〃 cried Carthoris。 〃Where is she？ Answer me；
man； or I complete the work that another has so well begun。〃
〃Komal；〃 muttered Jav。 〃He sprang upon me 。 。 。 and would have
devou