I explained as best I could, telling her that there was no danger that it would fall; and then she drew a deep, long sigh of relief. "If you say that we are safe; then I am afraid no longer," she said. "But tell me, why are you making this sacrifice for me?" "What sacrifice?" I asked. "You can never return to Havatoo now; they would kill you." "I do not want to return to Havatoo if you cannot live there in safety," I replied. "But what of Nalte?" she asked. "You love one another, and now you can never see her again." "I do not love Nalte, nor does she love me. I love only you, Duare; and Nalte and Ero Shan love one another. We are on our way to Vepaja; I would rather take my chances of winning you there than live a Sanjong in Havatoo without you." She sat in silence for a long time; then, presently, she turned and looked up into my face. "Carson!" she said in a low voice. "Yes, Duare, what is it?" "I love you!" I could not believe that I had heard aright. "But, Duare, you are the daughter of a jong of Vepaja!" I exclaimed. "That I have known always," she said, "but I have just learned that above all things else I am a woman." I took her in my arms then. I could have held her thus forever, as our marvelous plane raced onwards toward Vepaja and home. * * * * * LOST ON VENUS In the Room of the Seven Doors, Carson Napier faced the choice of his life. Six doors led to terrible deaths--the seventh was the door of life. But for him, this door too would lead only to the new dangers of a planet whose beasts were more frightful than those of his native Earth. But Carson sought the rescue of the planet's fairest princess, and even though he stepped from one danger to meet another, he was determined to make good an Earthman's pledge. LOST ON VENUS is an Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure in the colorful and exciting tradition of his Tarzan and Martian novels.