“Ghek!” he cried and immediately the hideous kaldane crawled out upon the floor and approached the table.  A-Kor drew back with a half-stifled ejaculation of repulsion.  “Do not fear,” Turan reassured him.  “It is my friend—­he whom I told you held O-Tar while Tara and I escaped.”

Ghek climbed to the table top and squatted between the two warriors.  “You are safe in assuming,” he said addressing A-Kor, “that Turan the panthan has no master in all Manator where the art of sword-play is concerned.  I overheard your conversation—­go on.”

“You are his friend,” continued A-Kor, “and so I may explain safely in your presence the only plan I know whereby he may hope to rescue the Princess of Helium.  She is to be the stake of one of the games and it is O-Tar’s desire that she be won by slaves and common warriors, since she repulsed him.  Thus would he punish her.  Not a single man, but all who survive upon the winning side are to possess her.  With money, however, one may buy off the others before the game.  That you could do, and if your side won and you survived she would become your slave.”

“But how may a stranger and a hunted fugitive accomplish this?” asked Turan.

“No one will recognize you.  You will go tomorrow to the keeper of the Towers and enlist in that game for which the girl is to be the stake, telling the keeper that you are from Manataj, the farthest city of Manator.  If he questions you, you may say that you saw her when she was brought into the city after her capture.  If you win her, you will find thoats stabled at my palace and you will carry from me a token that will place all that is mine at your disposal.”

“But how can I buy off the others in the game without money?” asked Turan.  “I have none—­not even of my own country.”

A-Kor opened his pocket-pouch and drew forth a packet of Manatorian money.

“Here is sufficient to buy them off twice over,” he said, handing a portion of it to Turan.

“But why do you do this for a stranger?” asked the panthan.

“My mother was a captive princess here,” replied A-Kor.  “I but do for the Princess of Helium what my mother would have me do.”

“Under the circumstances, then, Manatorian,” replied Turan, “I cannot but accept your generosity on behalf of Tara of Helium and live in hope that some day I may do for you something in return.”

“Now you must be gone,” advised A-Kor.  “At any minute a guard may come and discover you here.  Go directly to the Avenue of Gates, which circles the city just within the outer wall.  There you will find many places devoted to the lodging of strangers.  You will know them by the thoat’s head carved above the doors.  Say that you are here from Manataj to witness the games.  Take the name of U-Kal—­it will arouse no suspicion, nor will you if you can avoid conversation.  Early in the morning seek the keeper of The Towers of Jetan.  May the strength and fortune of all your ancestors be with you!”