? ? ? ? "Neither slave nor queen dictates to Salensus Oll," replied the Jeddak of Jeddaks. "John Carter shall die a natural death in the Pit of Plenty, and the day he dies Dejah Thoris shall become my queen."
? ? ? ? I did not hear her reply, for it was then that a blow upon my head brought unconsciousness, and when I recovered my senses only a handful of guardsmen remained in the audience chamber with me. As I opened my eyes they goaded me with the points of their swords and bade me rise.
? ? ? ? Then they led me through long corridors to a court far toward the center of the palace.
? ? ? ? In the center of the court was a deep pit, near the edge of which stood half a dozen other guardsmen, awaiting me. One of them carried a long rope in his hands, which he commenced to make ready as we approached.
? ? ? ? We had come to within fifty feet of these men when I felt a sudden strange and rapid pricking sensation in one of my fingers.
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