The man’s eyes denoted sudden surprise.  He looked keenly at Turan, his eyes running quickly over the other’s harness.  Then he stepped quite close so that his words might not be overheard.

“Methinks you may know more of Helium than of Manator,” he whispered.

“What mean you, fellow?” demanded Turan, seeking to cudgel his brains for the source of this man’s knowledge, guess, or inspiration.

“I mean,” replied Val Dor, “that you are not of Manator and that if you wish to hide the fact it is well that you speak not to a Manatorian as you did just speak to me of—­Fliers!  There be no Fliers in Manator and no piece in their game of Jetan bearing that name.  Instead they call him who stands next to the Chief or Princess, Odwar.  The piece has the same moves and power that the Flier has in the game as played outside Manator.  Remember this then and remember, too, that if you have a secret it be safe in the keeping of Val Dor of Helium.”

Turan made no reply but turned to the task of selecting the remainder of his pieces.  Val Dor, the Heliumite, and Floran, the volunteer from Gathol, were of great assistance to him, since one or the other of them knew most of the slaves from whom his selection was to be made.  The pieces all chosen, Turan led them to the place beside the playing field where they were to wait their turn, and here he passed the word around that they were to fight for more than the stake he offered for the princess should they win.  This stake they accepted, so that Turan was sure of possessing Tara if his side was victorious, but he knew that these men would fight even more valorously for chivalry than for money, nor was it difficult to enlist the interest even of the Gatholians in the service of the princess.  And now he held out the possibility of a still further reward.

“I cannot promise you,” he explained, “but I may say I have heard that this day which makes it possible that should we win this game we may even win your freedom!”

They leaped to their feet and crowded around him with many questions.

“It may not be spoken of aloud,” he said; “but Floran and Val Dor know and they assure me that you may all be trusted.  Listen!  What I would tell you places my life in your hands, but you must know that every man will realize that he is fighting today the greatest battle of his life—­for the honor and the freedom of Barsoom’s most wondrous princess and for his own freedom as well—­for the chance to return each to his own country and to the woman who awaits him there.

“First, then, is my secret.  I am not of Manator.  Like yourselves I am a slave, though for the moment disguised as a Manatorian from Manataj.  My country and my identity must remain undisclosed for reasons that have no bearing upon our game today.  I, then, am one of you.  I fight for the same things that you will fight for.