Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

THE MASTER OF MAGIC. men and women and children, warriors and hunters, artists and artisans, pressed for- ward to. fall on their knees before the.-one appointed by the Great Father, eee through signs. Nan-a-ta, disheartened, dispirited, unre- sisting, found himself surrounded by a dozen or more of the warriors, who stripped his weapons from him and bound his hands behind his back, doing likewise for L’vu and Kan-to, Sar-no-m’rai and Sen-va. -The five were hurried to a cave and placed under guard, Nan-a-ta’s last backward glance showing him rank upon rank of the tribesmen pressing toward Tsu-ven, to bend before him and vow to him the allegiance that rightfully belonged to the son of A-ta. That evening after sunset, when the last meal of the day was eaten, Tsu-ven, fol- lowed by several of his men, came to the cave where Nan-a-ta and the four friends of the Lord of the Winged Death were held prisoners. A smile on his cruel mouth, the new chieftain of the Ta-an stood before his enemy whom he had conquered by guile. Nan-a-ta looked at him but said nothing, but L’vu, ever impulsive “and unrestrained, leaped to his feet and cursed the usurper in no measured terms. “ Liar,” “ traitor,” ‘* thief,” “‘ speaker with two tongues,” these were the mildest words the indignant war- rior flung at the son of the man he had loved. At length Nan-a-ta spoke, not lift- ing his voice, but with a snap and ring of authority that surprised even himself: “L’vu, be silent!” |©Open-mouthed, amazed at the force in the tones of one he counted a boy, the burly warrior gazed a moment, then obediently seated himself without further speech. nas -ven addressed -Nan-a-ta. ; “Son of A-ta,” he said, “ it was in my mind to slay you and your men. But Tah-né, who is to be my bride, has begged your lives, and they are to be spared. Yet are the tribesmen enraged against you for that you endeavored to steal from me the chieftaincy—”’ Liar!” burst out L’vu. “Be silent!” snapped Nan-a-ta, and L’vu subsided, grumbling. ‘Against you are the tribesmen angry, and difficult may it be to save you. Yet. 183 for Tah-né will I try, and this night shall you be placed in a canoe and sent down-: stream.” “Unarmed?” asked Nan-a-ta, for to send a man into the forest without weapons was a death-sentence; one might neither win food nor defend his life against savage beasts, unarmed. Tsu-ven hesitated, then answered: ‘“ Nay, your weapons shall be given you. But not till the moment you are afloat, lest you be tempted to use them against me, thereby incurring death.” Nan-a-ta smiled scornfully; he knew well that Tsu-ven’s fear was for himself rather than for his vanquished enemy—once had he seen Tsu-ven flinch in battle. But he answered naught, and presently at a sign from the new chieftain, a warrior came for- ward bearing the arms of the five men, and the captives were lifted to their feet and their faces set toward the river. At the top of the slope Nan-a-ta halted, saying: “Is it permitted that I speak with Tah-né ere I go?” “Nay,” answered Tsu- ven, good? My bride is she to be. ; ‘ You lie,” replied Nan-a-ta calmly and without apparent passion, and the prisoners with their guards moved onward to the river. : Presently the bank of the stream was reached, and the hands of the five were unbound; they climbed into the canoe Tsu- ven indicated, their weapons were thrown in, and a vigorous push from the foot of a warrior sent the frail craft gliding out over the water. Above, on the hillside, the glowing lights of the fires marked the caves of the Ta-an and beyond them rose the mountain, outlined against the sapphire sky. A faint mist rose from the bosom of the river, and a crescent moon shed a sil- very light over the scene. “to what As the canoe spun out over the water the men lifted their paddles, all save Kan-to. He, in the stern, was nearest the pile of weapons, and from it he seized a bow and arrow. Twisting about in his place, he fitted the nock to the string, rose to his full height, drew back the arrow to his ear, and: released it. The bow-string twanged with a deep hum, and Nan-a-ta, COMICLO© S (©