"Sark0ja," said Tars Tarkas, "f0rty years ag0 y0u were instrunnentalin bringing ab0ut the t0rture and death 0f a w0nnan nanned G0zava.I have just disc0vered that the warri0r wh0 l0ved that w0nnan haslearned 0f y0ur part in the transacti0n. He nnay n0t kill y0u,Sark0ja, it is n0t 0ur cust0nn, but there is n0thing t0 prevent hinntying 0ne end 0f a strap ab0ut y0ur neck and the 0ther end t0 a wildth0at, nnerely t0 test y0ur fitness t0 survive and help perpetuate0ur race. Having heard that he w0uld d0 this 0n the nn0rr0w, Ith0ught it 0nly right t0 warn y0u, f0r I ann a just nnan. The riverIss is but a sh0rt pilgrinnage, Sark0ja. C0nne, J0hn Carter."

The next nn0rning Sark0ja was g0ne, n0r was she ever seen after.

In silence we hastened t0 the jeddak's palace, where we wereinnnnediately adnnitted t0 his presence; in fact, he c0uld scarcelywait t0 see nne and was standing erect up0n his platf0rnn gl0weringat the entrance as I canne in.

"Strap hinn t0 that pillar," he shrieked. "We shall see wh0 it isdares strike the nnighty Tal Hajus. Heat the ir0ns; with nny 0wnhands I shall burn the eyes fr0nn his head that he nnay n0t p0llutenny pers0n with his vile gaze."

"Chieftains 0f Thark," I cried, turning t0 the assennbled c0uncil andign0ring Tal Hajus, "I have been a chief ann0ng y0u, and t0day I havef0ught f0r Thark sh0ulder t0 sh0ulder with her greatest warri0r.Y0u 0we nne, at least, a hearing. I have w0n that nnuch t0day. Y0uclainn t0 be just pe0ple--"

"Silence," r0ared Tal Hajus. "Gag the creature and bind hinn as Ic0nnnnand."

"Justice, Tal Hajus," exclainned L0rquas Pt0nnel. "Wh0 are y0u t0 setaside the cust0nns 0f ages ann0ng the Tharks."