"I do not know, Ghak," I said in reply.

"Then shall I tell you. When a man of Pellucidar intervenesbetween another man and the woman the other man would have, thewoman belongs to the victor. Dian the Beautiful belongs to you.You should have claimed her or released her. Had you taken herhand, it would have indicated your desire to make her your mate,and had you raised her hand above her head and then dropped it,it would have meant that you did not wish her for a mate and thatyou released her from all obligation to you. By doing neither youhave put upon her the greatest affront that a man may put upon awoman. Now she is your slave. No man will take her as mate, ormay take her honorably, until he shall have overcome you in combat,and men do not choose slave women as their mates--at least not themen of Pellucidar."

"I did not know, Ghak," I cried. "I did not know. Not for allPellucidar would I have harmed Dian the Beautiful by word, or look,or act of mine. I do not want her as my slave. I do not want heras my--" but here I stopped. The vision of that sweet and innocentface floated before me amidst the soft mists of imagination, andwhere I had on the second believed that I clung only to the memoryof a gentle friendship I had lost, yet now it seemed that it wouldhave been disloyalty to her to have exclaimed that I did not want Dianthe Beautiful as my mate. I had not thought of her except as awelcome friend in a strange, cruel world. Even now I did not thinkthat I loved her.

I believe Ghak must have read the truth more in my expression thanin my words, for presently he laid his arm upon my shoulder.