Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

216 proached till he felt the comfortable warmth, then stood still, watching again. At length he turned to En-ro with a ques- tion: “The Red God will bite even you?” “Tf I go too near.” ‘Are you not His master, and He your slave?” ‘In very truth.” ‘“ Why, then, will He harm you?” asked the negro, puzzled. En-ro laughed, and in turn asked: “ Ka-tem of the Ta-an, is he known to you?” “The tamer of beasts? Yes.” “You know that he has tamed and keeps for a friend, Menzono, the Slayer?” “Tn truth.” “What, now, would happen should Ka- tem, the master, take his food from Men- zono, the slave?” “ The wolf would bit Ka-tem.” “Bite Ka-tem, his master?” *“Tn very truth!” “There is your answer; as Menzono would bite Ka-tem, even so would the Red God, fiercer and more powerful than a thou- sand Menzono, bite me, His master.” The negro nodded in acknowledgment of the explanation and its reasonableness, warmed himself more, then saying: “ Thanks, Ba-non!” strode away into the forest, leaving En-ro more than a little pleased, for by the title of Ba-non, signify- ing “ Lord,” or ‘ Master,” the black warrior had formally admitted the white man’s supe- riority; it was a word of utmost respect —one almost altogether reserved for di- vinity. So passed three days of the rains, crowds of negroes coming at times to warm them- selves at En-ro’s fire, bringing gifts, chiefly of food, and maintaining always a demeanor of the greatest respect; there was no push- ing, no crowding, and always the Carver of Tusks saw his power growing among the black men of the Bison’s tribe. Once Meng came and looked on from a distance, evidently enraged, but not daring to’ protest; he watched for a time, turned, and disappeared in the forest, and presently came back with three of his sons, striding up toward the fire where En-ro sat, sur- rounded by a dozen or more warriors. THE ARGOSY, En-ro leaped to his feet, seized his ax and a flaming brand, and advanced to meet the four, but a low growl ran through the group of negroes and lances were lifted— the negroes ranged themselves behind En-ro, and Meng, turning, plunged again among the trees—-and En-ro knew that his life was safe from open attack; Meng’s power was broken! But after all, the Bison had still a dozen adherents; his own sons would do his bid- ding—and worst of all, he still held Va- m’rai; her life and honor were in no wise safe—and there were the priests of the Ta-an to reckon with! On the fourth day the rain ceased though the woods, save in the little space about the fire, were still wet, and En-ro sat by the flames, thinking, planning how to recover his loved one. Suddenly he heard behind him a voice, hardly more than a whisper: “ White warrior!” Instantly he seized his great stone ax, and, quick as a striking snake, rolled out’ of the circle of firelight. From the under- brush there came a strange, cackling laugh, and a figure stepped into the light, saying: ‘Does the white warrior fear me? Be- hold, I have no fear of him! Indeed, life is not so sweet that I fear to die!” En-ro saw now that it was a woman, and drew near, ax ready, for he feared a trap. “Who are you?” he asked, and the woman, cackling a horrible laugh from her toothless gums, answered with a question: “Would you wish to see Va-m’rai as I am?” and En-ro, looking closely, shud- dered. About her waist the negress wore a girdle of leaves, but except for that was en- tirely naked. - Below the girdle her skinny legs seemed scarce able to bear her weight; above it her breasts hung flabby and pendu- lous on her gaunt ribs. From her bent and stooping shoulders swung scrawny arms that ended in veined and knotted hands, twisted and drawn like the talons of some bird of prey, and on those shoulders, bowed with heavy toil, her head, with hollow cheeks and sunken eyes, quivered and shook with palsy. En-ro stared in horror at this frightful apparition, the woman repeating in a husky voice: GO .DOOK (C@