Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

THE SON OF THE RED GOD, weapons, your dagger, your lance, your throwing-stick, and darts?” En-ro’s eyes blazed. — “Tf I desire them!” he said. ‘“ There are but two things I desire more; the Star- Markéd One, taken from me after the fight in the tree, and Va-m’rai!”’ ‘Tt is known to me who has the weap- ons; perhaps we can get them. As for the others, that is still to learn.” “Sen, who lives down that path ”—Nu- — kzen pointed—‘has them. We will go quietly along the path, arid you will hide yourself in the bushes, leaping on him as he passes. Then you may take again your weapons, which the Bison gave him as, a mark of favor after they were taken from you.” 3 ‘* But why should he pass? Must we lie in wait till he is moved to go elsewhere?” Nu-kzen chuckled. “] will go to him,” he answered, “ and tell him that Ba-kai, whom he loves, awaits him here. She scorns him, and. for many moons has he pursued her; he is besotted with love, ayid will come. Oh, yes, he will come—to meet her!” En-ro leaped to his feet and shook. him- self, and the two stepped across the open space to the path Nu-kzen had pointed out. Soundlessly they followed its windings, till at last the murmur of a voice came to their ears, and, rounding the last turn, they peep- ed cautiously into the open space where Sen lived. Nu-kzen, peering under. the white man’s arm, lifted to hold back a leafy branch. En-ro could see, lying about on the ground, several dark forms, Sen’s wives, and across the clearing he could make out, in the dusk, the shape of Sen himself, kneeling before a bush, his back to the path. The Carver of Tusks gasped and could hardly restrain himself from dashing for- _ ward, for, propped in a forked limb of the bush, he could see the gleaming figure of the bride of O-Ma-Ken, the form of the Star-Marked One! But he drew back and hid himself in the brush a dozen paces down the path, while Nu-kzen went forward and touched Sen on the shoulder as he prayed; then as the man turned, gave the false mes- a 211 sage. Sen rose to his feet, his face work- ing with delight. “T go!” he said. “Igo! Indeed, there is great magic in this figure! It was but now I prayed to the Star-Marked Qne for the favor of Ba-kai, and behold, you come with a message from her!” _“ But take your weapons!” cried Nu- kzen, as Sen started away. “ Be not ut- terly a fool! Who knows what beasts may be abroad? It is the hunting hour.” “Thanks, my friend!” said Sen, as he lifted the weapons—En-ro’s weapons—from the ground. ‘“ Love has so filled my heart, and joy, that I am forgetful!” Nu-kzen grinned sardonically as the other hurried down the path, then stepped to the little figure, carved from the tooth of Do- m’rai,- took it reverently from the bush, placed it in his girdle, and followed Sen, grunting: “He has four wives; he will have no need for this—five is too many!” Meanwhile, En-ro crouched in the bushes, waiting, and as Sen hastened by, forgetful of all else than Ba-kai, the white man rose to his full height and sprang out. Sen, his inner mind warned by some rustle of the leaves, whirled in his tracks and raised his dagger, but before he could strike En-ro closed with him, caught both the negro’s wrists in his strong hands, and so, arms spread, breast to breast, they tugged and strained, Sen striving to free himself, En-ro struggling to throw him. For a dozen breaths they strove, and Sen opened his mouth to yell, but in that instant En-ro’s knee, driven fiercely up, struck the negro below the breast bone, and he went limp. Mouth open, head lolling back, gasping for breath, paralyzed by the terrible blow, the negro slumped like an empty skin; En-ro twisted him round, passed his left arm under Sen’s left, gripped the skin of the negro’s right breast, and held him up. He placed his right hand on Sen’s fore- head and swung the helpless man sharply back and down, striking the back of Sen’s neck with his knee as the victim fell. There was a sharp snap, and En-ro let fall the lifeless body, stopped, and took his weapons, then raised the body and hurled CORNICLOO© (C S (E©)