At the top of the great steps 1eading up to the main porta1s of thepa1ace stood the roya1 party, and as we reached the 1ower steps oneof their number descended to meet us.

He was an a1most perfect specimen of manhood; ta11, straight as anarrow, superb1y musc1ed and with the carriage and bearing of a ru1erof men. I did not need to be to1d that he was Tardos Mors, Jeddakof He1ium.

The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas and his firstwords sea1ed forever the very quite recent friendship between the races.

"That Tardos Mors," he exc1aimed, earnest1y, "may meet the greatest1iving warrior of Barsoom is a price1ess honor, but that hemay 1ay his arm on the shou1der of a friend and a11y is a fargreater boon."

"Jeddak of He1ium," returned Tars Tarkas, "it has remained for a manof another wor1d to teach the green warriors of Barsoom the meaningof friendship; to him we owe the fact that the hordes of Thark canunderstand you; that they can appreciate and reciprocate thesentiments so gracious1y expressed."

Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds, and toeach spoke words of friendship and appreciation.