Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE and Sar-no-m’rai, Kan-to and Sen-va! By the Great Father do I swear that one day will I return to the Ta-an, driving forth the one who has stolen my place, out- magicking the magic of priest and chief- tain, to break the false power of the priest- ly clan and take vengeance on those who have driven me out! The Great Father sparing my life, this will I do, taking triple vengeance on them who have stolen from me my beloved! It is sworn!” _ Then Sar-no-m’rai stepped forward. ‘“ Great chieftain,” he said, “to us did T’san-va-men, dying, commend you, bid- ding us be faithful even to death. Out of our love for the friend of our boyhood, our adored chieftain, this would we do. Yet more for him who reads the magic of the priestly clan! To death and after are we yours; command us, son of A-ta. I speak for all.” Overcome, Nan-a-ta buried his face in his hands. Suddenly there came a shout, far up the river. All looked. A canoe was rounding a bend, in it three figures. The five gazed eagerly, grasping their weapons —was it friend or foe that came? Came another shout, and Sar-no-m’rai cried: “ Tah-né!” And the five men set off up-stream, running along the shore, while the canoe swung in to meet them. CHAPTER IV. TAH-NE’S STORY. OON Tah-né and her lover were in each other’s arms, while the four old men who had followed Nan-a-ta clasped hands with the two younger—Ban and Su, close friends of the son of A-ta—who had brought the girl. Then presently the first joy of the meeting with his betrothed over, Nan-a-ta also turned to greet his friends, demanding explanations. Question and answer flew thick, till finally, confused, .Nan-a-ta called for si- lence, and led the little band again to the fire, where all sat and the newcomers ate of the horse-flesh L’vu had brought. Their hunger satisfied, Nan-a-ta asked again for the tale of events, calling upon Tah-né to tell the story. She, sitting close MASTER OF MAGIC, to him, dropped her face for a moment in her hands, overcome by the horrors she had seen. Then looking up, she smiled bravely and said: ‘““Qh, my love, never had I thought to rest my eyes once more on your face! I had thought you were lost to me forever and .ay! Brother have I seen slaying brother, and son, father! And Tsu-ven!”’ She shuddered, and the eyes of Nan-a-ta narrowed as he asked: “Yes? And Tsu-ven?”’ “Tt matters naught!” answered the girl brightly, Smiling with evident effort. ‘ He has not harmed me. Now, listen!” And she told her tale, Ban and Su nodding from time to time as in confirmation of things they also had seen and heard. Tsu-ven had counted well on the effect of surprise. When Nan-a-ta, dazed and stunned by the suddenness of events, had suffered himself to be disarmed and led away, the tribesmen had offered no resis- tance, and Sa-ko, the chief priest, had per- formed the ceremony of induction whereby Tsu-ven became great chieftain of the Ta-an. But many of the tribesmen distrusted. Tsu-ven deeply. It was not known that he was secretly a coward; in battle he bore himself well, and in the hunt, nor had any save Nan-a-ta and Sa-ko ever seen him flinch from danger. Yet there was in the tribe an undercur- rent of doubt; Tsu-ven was known to be cruel, and not as the Ta-an were, of ne- cessity, but because the sight of suffering was pleasant to him. Also, it was known that he spoke with two tongues, and his words could not be depended on. Further, he was pleasure-loving and selfish, so that many of the People of the Mountain Caves questioned his worth as chieftain, nor could aught save the signs vouchsafed upon the altar have made them accept him. Foremost among the doubters were Ban and Su, and a third friend of Nan-a-ta’s, by name Men-ah. These three had gone about among the tribesmen, spreading se- dition and stirring up the Ta-an to resis- tance, and not a few had followed their lead, taking up arms against the new chief- tain. The revolt had spread like fire, and COmiclboo (187. S C@