Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 50: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

48, “Then the-Gur-Khan, who was lord of the Roof of the World,* mustered his war- riors, and Genghis Khan mounted his horse and went up against him. ‘The Horde did not sit again upon the carpets of ease until they took the tents of the Gur-Khan. “ft am Chepe Noyon, the orkhon, leader of the right wing of the Horde, and brother- in-arms to Genghis Khan.” The minstrel drawled his name, and his eyes twinkled. “From the Uighurs, who are Turks and scholars, I learned Arabic and heard of Khar; and the desire came upon me to ride down and look upon this Shah who was himself a slave. “And [ came because at the table of Prester John my master had heard of a race of Franks who had landed on the Moslem shores and made havoc with their swords. Hearing of their deeds, Genghis Khan laid a command on me. And the command was to fetch to him one of the Christian Franks who had a strong arm and a stout heart. This was because Genghis Khan wished to see for himself one of these warriors who had come over the seas, to overthrow all of the Moslems as he had struck the Cathayans. And I went, for a command is a command, even from a brother. “Aye, the orkkon became a minstrel, and good sport was his. Muhammad, the Shah, after seeing him ride and shoot an arrow and empty a flagon of wine without setting it down, took him into favor—not knowing his name or race. Abdullah be- came the cup-companion of an emperor’s revels—and bethought him of his mission. So he asked the way to the strongholds of the Franks, and Muhammad gave him a chain of jewels.” The Mongol—Robert still thought of him as Abdullah—laughed heartily at the jest, probably aware of what kind of a chain Muhammad would have get upon him if his true name had been known. _ “Why,” asked Robert, frowning, “did you bring me with you? There were greater knights in Syria.” “Of the very few who could have made the journey and lived, none except you had the heart to set forth. Oh, I have watched you and tested you, and my choice was good.” Chepe Noyon nodded reflectively and continued: *The Himalayas, Adventure ‘‘When we drew our reins to the Sialak I first heard of the war, between Muham- mad and Genghis Khan, and many lies were told me. But while you were a captive here I rode to Otrar and there learned the truth, and this is it: “The Moslems, being traders and traffick- ers by nature, sent caravans to the Mongol empire to sell their wares. And so Genghis Khan sent an embassy to Muhammad to greet him. The Governor.of Otrar wasa fool, and he mistook the envoys for common men.’ Robert thought of his first i impression of Chatagai, and judged that this might easily happen. “First the Governor of Otrar cut off their beards and then their heads,’”? went on Chepe Noyon carelessly, “and kept their goods, to win Muhammad’s favor. The head that hangs by this gate—”’ he pointed to the wall behind them—‘‘was the brother of Chatagai. Genghis Khan will let no man of the Horde suffer injury unavenged. Aye, in our land a young woman might carry a sack of gold in her hand from Bish- balik to Kambalu, and she and the gold would be untouched. Nay, can there be two suns in the sky? War between the Shah and the Khan was certain, and now it has come to pass. Muhammad thought he was dealing with a nomad—a herdsman. So he was. But he thinks otherwise.” Throwing back his head, he laughed, white teeth flashing through his beard. “By the white horse Kotwan, by the sky dancers, that was a ride we made, from your gate to this gate! These men of Khar be liars! Aye, the men of Khar have tasted fear, and the day is at hand when they will eat shame! Bokhara’s wall will be level with the plain and herds will graze where the palaces stood.” | Thinking of the prophecy of the dead shetkh, Robert held his peace. “In Bokhara,” resumed Chepe Noyon with relish, “I sang your praises, so that the shah would hear, and demand to see you; then Osman would not dare put you to the torture as he planned. H1i—it happens oftentimes that a pit is dug for a tiger and an ox is trapped. Behold what happened. ‘The wmams and the mullah besought Mu- hammad to make you ameer of the city, to lead its defense. And now you may sur- render to Genghis Khan, winning honor thereby. If Bokhara resists it will fare no better than Otrar.” EO NOOK (©