Jack was somewhat relieved to find that the Prince of Tor spoke American, or what seemed to be that famous language, though he afterward found reason to think that special conditions may have misled him on that point. An underlying sense of humor in him was also awakened by the grandiloquent terms in which this remarkable person launched his challenge: they reminded him of the defiance of medieval champions that he had read about in books of romance. Being aware of no ground of enmity between them, he thought it proper to make a statement on his own account.
“I am Jack Paladin of New York,” he said. “I’ve just landed here, and I’m not acquainted with any inhabitant of this planet, and therefore can have no quarrel with any. I came here in search of a young lady, a friend and countrywoman of my own, who arrived here a few days ago. When I find her, I intend to take her back to New York. I’m not looking for trouble, and I guess you have made a mistake in your man.”
This placable speech, instead of soothing, had the effect or rousing the other to even greater wrath. His features assumed a terrible expression.
“Silence! or take the consequences,” he growled raising his truncheon. “The woman you speak of, Miriam, is in my power: and I shall take her with me to Tor and make her my wife. Once more I give you the choice of either serving her and me as our slave, or of perishing on this spot. Kneel!”
But the Prince’s allusion to Miriam had put Jack into another humor. He became very grave and punctilious.
“You are evidently a footpad of some sort, and I shall have pleasure, if you insist upon it, in breaking your back across my knee. I’ll take my chances against your revolver, or whatever you call that thing in your hand: if you were not a coward and a rascal, you would throw it down and meet me with bare hands, like a gentleman. What you say about the lady is a lie, and if you don’t take it back immediately, of your own motion, I will give you the most unpleasant quarter of an hour of your life in making you swallow it. Now, then, if you’re ready, I am!”
The prince grinned a dreadful smile, and pointed his weapon at Jack’s head. The latter kept an eye fixed upon the hand that held it, prepared to dodge and make a spring for him at the proper moment.
In that moment of suspense he heard the quiet voice of Mary Faust speaking.
“The sapphire talisman will protect you from his lightnings,” she said. “Put forth your strength, and do your best!”
“Thanks: I will!” was the reply flashed back by his mind. He knew that she would hear him across the gulf of space, as he had heard her. Meanwhile, though he had been prepared for the worst, he felt decidedly encouraged by the information about the truncheon.