Free The Swordsman of Mars by Otis Adelbert Kline Page B

me." He sat down familiarly beside Neva. "Your guardsman is a spineless coward. Once he faced me, sword in hand, but grew so frightened before a blow had been struck that he ropped his weapon and fainted."
     
    Thorne ground his teeth in impotent rage. He knew that under the Martian code he must suffer in silence any abuse which this fellow might choose to heap on him, physical violence or an assault with a weapon excepted.
     
    "I would have you know, Sheb Takkor," Neva said, ignoring the presence of Sel Han, "that all the details of that unfortunate affair of yours at the training school are known to me. It was cowardly of your opponent to slash you when you were weakened from loss of blood and numbed by the virus of a desert blood-fly. And in full accord with that craven blow is his present refusal to again meet you, while he relies on the passivity which his technical victory imposes on you."
     
    At this, the deputy forced a derisive laugh.
     
    "Would it please the Dixtar's daughter to have her guard slain before her eyes?"
     
    "It would please her guard," retorted Thorne, "to have the opportunity of defending himself."
     
    "No doubt it would," grinned Sel Han. He moved closer to Neva. "Come," he said, "send away this cowardly guard who is powerless to help you. There is something I want to ask you."
     
    Familiarly he passed his arm around her shoulders. And when, with blazing eyes, she would have leaped away from him, he held her tightly.
     
    Thorne instantly whipped out his sword. "Release her or die," he commanded, presenting his point at the deputy's breast.
     
    The deputy let her go, and stood erect, glaring. "Have you abandoned your honor?"
     
    "I might ask you the same," retorted Thorne, sheathing his sword, "but I know a man is incapable of abandoning that which he has never had."
     
    "It seems," said Sel Han, a deadly glitter in his eyes, "that you have forgotten the code--and something else."
     
    "I am glad you have not forgotten that you are my guardsman, Sheb Takkor Jen," interposed Neva. "And since you are acting in that capacity, and not in your own personal interests, it would seem that you are at liberty to treat this trespasser as you would any other."
     
    "I had hoped that the Dixtar's daughter would confirm me in that belief," relied Thorne. The Earthman's fist shot up in a short arc that ended beneath Sel Han's protruding chin. There was a tremendous splash as the deputy measured his length in the chilly pool.
     
    Thorne leaped back and waited tensely, hand on hilt. His enemy came up sputtering and cursing luridly in English, then stepped over the rim. He bowed low before the girl.
     
    "Permit me to congratulate the Dixtar's daughter on the singular efficiency of her guardsman. It is only exceeded by his total lack of honor."
     
    Then he turned, and strode away with water sloshing in his boots and dripping from his clothing.
     
    Thorne's hand fell limply from his sword hilt. He was bitterly disappointed, for he had felt certain that Sel Han would come out of that enforced bath raging and eager to try conclusions with him.
     
    "The coward! The miserable, slinking coward!"
     
    Neva was speaking"0">Thornelf to herself, as she gazed after the departing figure. She turned and looked up at Thorne.
     
    "He is afraid to measure swords with you," she said, "but he will find some other way to be rid of you. He is cunning, oh, so cunning, and treacherous." She laid a slim hand on the Earthman's arm. "The deputy has considerable influence with the Dixtar, my father--but for that matter, so have I. And I will help you."
     
    In spite of his preconceived dislike of this little beauty, Thorne thrilled at her glance and touch.
     
    "I am honored that the Dixtar's daughter should be interested in preserving my worthless life," he replied.
     
    "He is a strange and terrible creature, this Sel Han," she went on. "Did you notice the queer gibberish he used when he came up out of the water? Some