Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

THE SON “ Would you see Va-m’rai such as I?”’ “ Great Father!” breathed En-ro. Then: “Who are you?” The negress cackled again, lowered her- self shakily to the ground, and when seated replied: ‘““Meng’s wife! first.” ‘“ Meng’s wife!”’ repeated En-ro, amazed and puzzled, and she nodded. ‘“ His first. Looking at me now, would it come in your mind that I was once young and beautiful? Nay, answer not! I have read the answer in your face!’”’ And she cackled again, then went on: “ I was once young and strong and beautiful; beautiful, perchance, as Va-m’rai, for all my skin is black and you would not think to compare me with her.. But on an evil day my father sold me to the Bison for wife; sold me for three bear-skins, a necklace of bear’s claws, and the carcasses of ten wild sheep— a good price, was it not? Great feasting was there that day! And twice ten and two children have I borne the Bison, and hard have I labored, carrying water, curing skins, doing the work of two women; not that I loved labor (though I am not more lazy than another), but driven by blows and kicks and beatings.”’ She paused, and En-ro noticed that her body was marked by the scars of beatings, the scars left by the terrible, stinging, cut- ting lash of rhinoceros hide. “ And when my beauty faded,” she went on, wheezing for breath, ‘‘ Meng ceased to love me and made me slave to his younger wives, and beatings from them also did I take. And as each of them fades he takes another, even as he wishes now to take Va-m’rai for his sixth—but dares not while you are in life. And now, would you not see Va-m’rai such as I, take her from the hands of the Bison; take her far off, where he cannot reach you?” And there was a certain dignity about the wretched woman as she gave her warning. “ Great Father!” whispered En-ro, then aloud: “ But how can I? It is not even known to me where the Swift Runner is hid- den!” “The ‘how’ cannot tell you. One of his wives; the is in your hands; that I But go you down that OF THE RED GOD. 217 path”—she rose to her feet and pointed with a shaking hand—“ follow its twists and turns, and at the end you will come upon a clearing. Fronting the path is a great oak, its heart rotted with age, and in the hollow is Va-m’rai. Oh, fear not for her yet. She is well fed, well cared for— Meng would not harm her beauty!—and not till you are gone will he take her to him- self.” “But why do you, Meng’s wife, tell mée this? Is it for love? For jealousy?” ‘“ What am I, to be jealous? And I do not love you or Va-m’rai—what cause have I for love?” “ Why, then?” The negress looked steadily at the white warrior, her breast heaved, her skinny form shook, and leaning nearer she hissed: ‘“ For hate!’”’ and was gone, swallowed up in the forest. En-ro stared after her for a time, then turned and gave more food to the Red God, and as the flames leaped up again he sat down by the fire to think, to plan, to find some way of freeing the girl he loved. And as he watched the leaping flames he sighed, for he had little hope that the Ta-an would come to his aid; he knew the power of the priests, and it did not seem to him that Snorr could sway the tribe against them; no, he was doomed to be a wanderer, an outcast all his days, or else take up his home among the Little Hairy Men whom he de- spised. But it would be sweet to be received again among his own tribe—resolutely he put the thought away and bent all the force of his powerful mind to planning the rescue of Va-m’rai. Of a sudden he heard a light step behind him and whirled instantly, grasping his ax. ‘“ Ba-non!”’ said some one, and he saw that it was Nu-kzen. “Welcome, Nu-kzen!” cried En-ro, as the little negro drew near, grinning his in- evitable cheerful grin. ‘“ What news?” “Evil news, Master!” said Nu-kzen, sit- ting down by the fire. “ Evil news—and good, together. But let me rest awhile; then we must make haste.” ““T have found where Va-m’rai is hid- den.” HOOK COMMUC (C@