Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

THE SON age you are fit mate for a warrior of the Ta-an. But is the Bison slain?” She shook her head. “But wounded. And now we have his vengeance to fear as well.” ‘We need not fear the Bison. You have but to tell the tribesmen, and they will hunt down and slay the man who dared to raise his hand against a chieftain’s daughter of the Ta-an.” ““ Indeed, Carver of Tusks, my love, there is more than the Bison to fear. Last night Men-ko, the High Priest, came to the cave of Snorr and talked long with my father. I could not hear what they said—too far was I, and feared to go nearer—but they looked often toward me, and I saw my father bow his head in his hands.” “You think, then, that Men-ko has claimed you for the sacrifice? Would your father give you?” | “What can a tribesman do, even. the Great Chief, when the gods call? Can he refuse, though they demand his own child?” “Tt is true that the great Sacrifice of the Hunt is at hand,” said En-ro thoughtfully. “ The altar was finished to-day. And it is true also that Snorr refused gifts of great value, both from me and from the Bison, and, though he might refuse the Bison be- cause he is black of skin and evil of soul, he could have no reason to deny me.” “That makes it sure. Oh, my love, and we had thought to spend so many happy years together. But if the gods call, what can we mortals do? But it is hard to say gd0d- by. And it is hard to die when life has just begun. En-ro, my love ’’—and she clung about his neck and looked wistfully into his eyes—‘‘ En-ro, my love, will you think sometimes of me in future years, when an- other woman has my place at your side, after my soul is with the gods and my body has been thrown to the wild beasts?” The young warrior shuddered and ground his teeth and clasped the girl in his arms, then sprang to his feet and shook his fists at the sky. : “Tt shall not be!” he cried. ‘ Not though I tear the altar in pieces with my own hands! It is not the gods who call for you! Could the Star-Marked One see lovers wrenched apart? It is but the priests. Oh, OF THE RED GOD. 189 Greatest One, that I should have helped to build the altar! And Men-ko hates me because I have more honor in the tribe than his son; he has claimed you to. strike through you at me. But you shall not die on the altar! Let me think.” “But what can we do? If the priests claim me for the sacrifice we two cannot stand against the whole tribe of the Ta-an!”’ Iin-ro seated himself again on the earth and drew the girl close to him, his arm about her shoulders, and her warm, young body pressed against his own. Her head was thrown back against his arm, and her eyes looked into his; her long, brown hair fell in waves about them both, and he felt her sweet breath against his cheek. At last he spoke. < “Listen, Va-m’rai,” he said. ‘‘ When I bargained with the Little Hairy Man for the tooth of Do-m’rai, that I might carve the figure of the Star-Marked One, to him I showed still other figures that I had carved, daggers and ax-heads that I had chipped from flint, and the tools I had made for my carving. “He said to me thensthat great honor awaited me in the Land of the Dying Sun; that none among his people could carve the tooth of Do-m’rai or chip the flint so skil- fully as I, and he asked me to return with him. ‘| but laughed and refused, for I thought that long-life and great honor and happiness would be mine among the Ta-an. But now —but now, if Men-ko seeks you for the altar, why shall we not go together? In- deed, I think the Little Hairy Man spoke truth, for the flints he and his mates carry are but poor things beside my own.”’ “Oh, Carver of Tusks, it is a long jour- ney to-the Land of the Dying Sun.” ‘“ Not so long a journey as into the Long Dark.” ‘‘ And a perilous one.”’ ‘““ More perilous than to stay?” ‘““No-o. But to live always among the Little Hairy Men.” ‘“‘T shall be there with you.”’ The girl flung her arms around her lover’s neck and kissed him full on the lips, then leaped to her feet, saying: “Come; we will go.” COMMICLOOOkKS (©)