Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

220 the ground still wet, the leaves and twigs did not rustle as when dry and crisp. The wet ground was cold and clammy, and in places there were patches of mud and sod- den leaf-mold, but discomfort was naught beside safety. So the two crawled on, and soon En-ro had lost all sense of direction; trained to follow the stars, he was not so keen an ani- mal as the little negro, who could orient himself without other guide than that strange sense whereby the beasts find their way, wherever placed. Suddenly Nu-kzen halted, a sickening odor of musk came to En-ro’s nostrils, and he heard the warning hiss of a deadly viper. Nu-kzen picked three or four leaves from the ground, chewed them vigorously for a moment, and spat violently in the direction of the sound. En-ro was conscious of a pungent, pene- trating smell, not unpleasant, and he heard the serpent rustling away through the bushes. Nu-kzen resumed his slow crawl, En-ro following close behind. On and on they crept, till by and by the bushes drew farther apart, thinned out, and En-ro could make out through the gloom a vague light ahead. A dozen paces more, and they were in a clearing larger than most of those that lay about the central space; roughly, a circle some fifty or sixty paces across, with a great oak directly opposite the two, and on their right the path from the central clear- “ing. In the face of the oak toward them was an opening nearly as high as a man’s head, and before it lay a dark body—the guard— huddled grotesquely where, he had fallen from the blow of Nu-kzen’s dagger. On his face he lay, one leg extended full length, the other drawn up with bent knee, under his body, his left arm flung out, his right resting on the back of his neck. As they drew near En-ro could see a dark stream that had trickled from under the body, to sink into the ground an arm’s length away. “He knew not his death,”’ whispered Nu- kzen. ‘I came on him from _ behind, reached across his body, and struck up- ward.” THE ARGOSY. En-ro grunted approvingly and passed into the hollow tree, where Va-m’rai, ankles tied, lay on her side, her legs drawn up, for there was not room within to stretch out. The Carver of Tusks broke a frag- ment of wood from the tree and dropped it gently on the sleeping girl’s bosom. Instanily she was awake and looked up with frightened eyes; then, seeing who stood before her, leaped to her feet, her mouth opening for a cry; swiftly En-ro laid a hand on his mouth, and she was silent, but . hobbled to him as he stepped to meet her, flinging her arms about his neck and clasp- ing him tight. His arms were about her, her head pressed against his bosom, and he could feel her body shaking with her sobs. Gently he raised her head and looked in her eyes, tears of joy and happiness streaming from them, and their lips met in a long kiss. Leaning back against his circling arms, the girl whispered: ‘My love! no more. | “Quiet, Va-m’rai!”’ warned © En-ro. ‘Quiet and swift! We must go!” Stooping, he cut, the thongs that bound her ankles, and they passed out from the hollow tree. Even as they stepped outside Nu-kzen raised his voice: ‘““Swiftly, Master! They come!” And En-ro, looking about, saw—for by now it was light in the clearing—a dark warrior stride from the path on the left. ‘“ Ken-zan!”’ cried the little negro, and the approaching warrior raised his head. Behind him came another, then another, and after them the huge form of the Bison; followed others and still others, pushing and crowding—white men, clad in skins, horns of deer and wild cattle on their heads —the priests of Ta-an! “This is the end!” cried En-ro. Turn- ing, he laid his dagger in the girl’s hand. ‘““Va-m’rai, be not taken alive!” And her grip closed over the sharp flint as she an- swered: “Daughter am I to a chieftain of the Ta-an! Fear not for me!” Stooping, En-ro seized his leopard-skin from the ground, and with a twist unrolled it, the weapons falling from the folds; he My love!” and could say CORMICLOO© S (E@