Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

214 “The Ta-an have the same law.” Nu-kzen bowed, and went on: ““So now he seeks honor. I rose and followed. Ken-zan could not know ’—and Nu-kzen chuckled— “ no man among the tribe can see or hear the Molder of Clay when he follows a trail. I followed, and he led me to Meng. I hid in the brush and listened, and there it was that I heard the news. Master, the Bison desires your life.” En-ro Jaughed. “That is no news!” said he. ‘* True, Master, but he means to have it. Speaking, the Bison said: ‘ Ken-zan, my son, you have seen this warrior from the Ta-an command the Red God; you know that did he raise his hand the tribesmen would slay me, and you, and all my sons; you know that he stays his hand but be- cause he fears for Va-m’rai, and can he find where she is hidden it is death to me and to all who are faithful to me. “1 greatly desire this woman, but more do I desire to slay this man and devour his heart, that his courage may come to me and that I, the Bison, may be the bravest man in all the world, as now is En-ro. You saw how he shamed me before my warriors; how I dared not thrust him through with my lance. Therefore do I desire to eat his heart, that such great cour- age may be mine. “ But the Ta-an do not thus; to them a fallen warrior is but a fallen warrior, and they do not devour him, believing not that his courage can enter into them with his heart. But the priests of the Ta-an will greatly desire to know the secret he holds of how to command the Red God—and he is outlawed by them. ‘““Go you, therefore, to the priests of the Ta-an, tell them of what you have seen him do, and-say to them: ‘ Behold, if Meng, the Bison, may keep Va-m’rai to wife, and may have the heart of En-ro, he and his sons will fall on the same En-ro, bind him, and deliver him to you, that you may tor- ture him till he reveals to. you the secret of his mastery over the Red God.’ ” “ Ken-zan then rose and answered: ‘I go, my father,’ took his weapons, and set out for the homes of the Mountain Cave People.” THE ARGOSY. During Nu-kzen’s story En-ro’s face had grown darker and darker, and when the little negro had finished he burst out: “ By all the gods, I swear to give Meng to the beasts!” and leaped to his feet, but Nu-kzen placed a hand on his master’s arm. “And Va-m’rai?” he asked, and En-ro stopped short, thought a moment, and seated himself again, his head in his hands. Long he thought, then lifted his head and said: . ‘“Nu-kzen, you have done well! you help further?” “To the death, Master!”’ “Good! Go now to the Ta-an, find Snorr, the chieftain, and tell him that I can command the Red God. Tell him what you have seen me do; that by the aid of the Red God I slew Snorr-m’rai-no; that the Red God will fight for me; that he will warm us in cold, when Co-sa, the ice, has locked the streams and built bridges over the pools; take flint and half the ham- mer-stone, and bring the Red God to life, that Snorr may see and know that you speak truth. “Bid him then lay the matter before the council of the Ta-an, asking them whether this gift may lift the ban of out- lawry that lies upon me and upon Va-m’rai. Snorr has no love for the priests, and it may be that he can sway the council to spare me; it may be that he cannot make head against the priests, but it is our only hope. “Go now, return swiftly, and bring me word. In the space of your journey I will endeavor to find where Va-m’rai is hidden. Go now!” Nu-kzen rose, bowed, took his weapons, cut a piece of flesh from the fawn, and slipped into the forest as silent as the fleet- ing shadow of a cloud. En-ro bent his head once more in his hands and thought. The sun crept slowly down toward the horizon, and presently a cloud drew across it, so that the air grew chill. En-ro shiv- ered and looked up, and he saw that the whole sky was covered with dark gray clouds; a drop of rain fell on his hand and he shook it off impatiently. He gazed at the sky, then at the trees about him, no- ting the brown of the oaks, the-red of the Will CORMIGLOOO© S (E@