Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

188 man, neither of the Ta-an or of another tribe, can she be given.” ‘‘ She is destined to the gods?” “You may ask, but I may not answer. When the time is ripe, then shall you and all the tribesmen know; but till then I may not speak.” And Snorr waved his hand. _ En-ro got to-his feet and took the little parcel, erased the circles he had drawn in the dust, bowed, and turned away, his brown eyes troubled and his forehead knotted beneath the thick mass of unkempt hair. As he turned he looked toward Va- mrai, and swiftly and secretly she made a sign he knew, the signal that called him to meet her at dus’. under a certain tree far down the mountai.. He nodded and went on, looking back to see Snorr, his cloak of lien’s hide drawn close about his shoulders—for autumm was comming, and the air was cool in the high hills—still sitting and gazing at the distant mountains that reared their crests through the blue haze, a long day’s journey to the south. That evening, as the sun was sliding down behind the hills, the Carver of Tusks took his way to the great pine where he and Va-m’rai had so often met. It grew on the edge of a deep ravine, and since the girl had not yet come, En-ro flung himself down to watch the path along which she must travel. Ten times the height of a tall man the cliff fell away in a sheer drop to where, at the bottom of the ravine, a noisy brook tumbled over the stones. It was still light under the tree, but in the depths of the ravine the shadows were gathering, and En-ro shuddered as he heard, far down the mountain, the deep, earth- shaking, hunting roar of Snorr- -m’rai-no, the Fear That Walks the Night, and saw in the growing dusk below him the flutter and swoop of the leather-winged Devils of the Air. Presently, far down the ravine, he saw the white form of Va-m’rai hurrying along the path beside the brook, and he settled him- self to wait, for he knew that she would have to pass beneath him, climb the path that led up the face of the cliff, turn, and come back to where he lay. So the young warrior lay watching ‘his THE ARGOSY. sweetheart as she drew nearer, but suddenly she stopped, and En-ro, looking closely, could see a dark form blocking her way, a form that he knew for the Bison’s, and he leaped to his feet to go to the girl’s help, for he guessed why Meng was there. But even as he stood upright there was a strug- gle, a swift whirl of two forms, one white and one black, the girl’s arm flashed, once, twice, and the giant fell. Instantly the girl leaped over the fallen body and fled along the path toward her lover, and En-ro, watching, saw three dark forms in pursuit; Meng had not come alone. But Va-m’rai was not called the Swift Runner for nothing, and En-ro saw the dis- tance between her and her pursuers widen slowly, and he knew the negroes could not overtake the flying girl. At length two gave over and returned to their chief, and as the third still came on En-ro lifted a great stone, larger than his head, poised it carefully, and when the negro was almost beneath him he hurled it. Full and square and true, right where the neck and shoulder join, the great rock struck the negro—he fell as though struck by a thunderbolt—and the chase was over. The young warrior hurried down the path to meet the girl, who, stumbling, panting, staggered into his arms, and as he held her he saw that her right arm was red with blood and spots and splashes of blood marked her white body. ‘“Va-m’rai!”’ he cried, frightened. ‘“ Are you wounded? Where?” And he looked anxiously for the hurt. But the girl, leaning back against his arm, her hands on his shoulder, shook her head. ‘“ Not—mine!” she gasped. “The Bi- son’s.” And as she felt her lover’s muscles tighten in anger, “ Wait!” Presently her trembling grew fainter and her breath came more easily, and she seated herself on the earth, her lover beside her. ‘Meng stopped me,” she said, “ and asked me to go with him, to be his wife, and when I scorned him he seized my arm and tried to drag me, but I snatched the dagger from his belt and struck him with it and fled.” “JT saw! I saw!” cried En-ro. “ Indeed and indeed, Va-m’rai, for strength and cour- eCOnmmicboolks (E@)