Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

The Making of the Morning Star °. 59 sword, and his mailed mitten grasped a short battle-ax on the stone surface of the wall. With this he smashed free of those who grappled him and gained his feet—a thing that few did who went down. Now as he stood his ground he felt that shafts flew past him. A giant who rushed at him with open hands was transfixed by a long arrow and fell upon his feet. Another was pierced through the throat, so that the « blow he aimed at Robert fell feebly against the steel casque. He could see, through the eyeslits of his visor, the black mantles of the Kankalis on either hand, and the flash of their simitars. So in time he rested against the broken rampart and the bodies that lay upon it, panting, while the Mongol tide re- ceded down the mole. , Still, however, was heard the summons of the drum and cymbal from the Mongol camp. “Vah khawandl’ the voice of the beg spoke at his side. ‘‘Evil tidings have come. The Mongols have struck in another place along the river. They stole up and smashed the chain with sledges and swam their horses between the towers of the river gate. They are slaying the men in the barges——” “Send to Kutchluk Khan. Bid him ride with all his men to the river. Half his divi- sion should cross the bridge to this side. Then order five thousand Persian archers to the house-tops along the river to sup- port the Turkomans! Haste!’ While he waited anxiously for news of the fight at the river he saw torches assembling in the Mongol camp. Fresh warriors walked to the lower end of the causeway and began to mount silently. Under the flaming cressets of the wall he could make out that these were powerful men with the horns of beasts upon their fur caps. Those in front carried beams; be- hind these came ranks of swordsmen in rude iron armor, followed by masses of archers. Robert realized that the Mongols had launched their main attack at the river under cover of the assault on the causeway. The fresh effort might mean that they had been checked by Kutchluk, or that they had been victorious behind him and meant to press home the attack. As yet he heard no fighting on the river near by, and. he breathed a prayer that the one-eyed Turko- man had driven home his charge. Again the Mongols thrust forward their beams and swarmed to the assault. An ar- row struck the Kankali beg in the throat, and his body fell under the feet of his men. ‘Are ye dogs?” Robert cried at the Mos- lems. ‘‘Come with me!” He climbed the rampart, followed by all on the wall. The Mongols stood their ground, shouting and working havoc with their heavy weapons. With his long ax Robert cleared a space around him and planted his feet, dizzy with the blows that smashed in. the steel of his helmet. Warm blood trickled down his ribs, and hot air seared his lungs. Until his arms were wearied he stood his ground until the ax broke in his hands, when he fell to rallying the Moslems, who gave back on either side. The weariness crept into his brain, and he fancied he was standing at the head of a great stair up which writhed grimacing dwarfs with hands outstretched to drag him down into dark- ness. A moment’s pause enabled him to wipe the sweat from his eyes, and he saw Chepe Noyon clearly. The Mongol chief was half- way down the causeway beside a thick-set warrior. This man leaned on a spear, star- ing up at the fight without expression. His massive arms were bound at the biceps with gold rings, and he wore the long horns of a buffalo on his helmet. When his glance fell on the knight the powerful Mongol tossed down his spear and strode up the causeway, thrusting friends and foes from his path as a man might push aside corn-stalks. ‘‘Subotai—Subotail” the nearest Mon- gols howled exultantly. Robert fought for breath and looked about vainly for a weapon suited to his strength. Measuring the man with the buf- falo horns and his own weariness, he felt that he would not be upon his feet for long, ~ “Vield thyself,” Chepe Noyon’s voice reached him through the uproar, “‘to the palladin, Subotai, and no shame is thine!” “T yield to no man!” Robert cried and stepped forward. A fresh onrush of Moslems from the wall swept between them as _ reenforcements came up at last from the Perisan camp at the palace. Subotai crushed in the head of a warrior with his sword and leaped to one side, knocking two others from their feet. Then other Mongols sprang to the aid of their leader, who was drawn back, snarling angrily, as the besiegers were thrust back COnmicoocekkSs.G© 5}