Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

THE MASTER OF MAGIC. “Tt is said!” and at once set out. Nan- a-ta returned to his fire and flung himself on a pile of skins to rest. At noon the party marched, following for three days the windings of the river, and at dusk of the third day they camped within two hours’ march of the home of the Ta-an Nan-a-ta: gave the als to rest, for the journey had been swift, and the men, though eager for the fight, were weary. Food was produced from girdle and bundle, and the men ate, though no fires were built, then they lay down or sat, relaxed and rest- ing, waiting for dark. Tah-né had been left behind, under guard of three warriors, and Nan-a-ta sat on a fallen log, meditating on her, won- dering idly whether he would see her again or would fall in the coming fight. He shook himself, throwing off the de- pressing thought, and looked about at his men. Night had fallen: and the full, round moon was climbing above the tree-tops; soon it would be time to march, for the chieftain desired full moonlight, that his men might distinguish friend from foe. Of a sudden, at the upper end of the little glade where lay the band, a bush rustled, a twig snapped, and Nan-a-ta looked up to see a warrior, ten paces away, staring at him. The chieftain recognized one 6f Tsu-ven’s closest adherents, and leaped to his feet, crying: “Let him not escape!” With the words the warrior cast a star- _tled glance about, took in the forms ef the men, and, wheeling, fled through the forest like. a frightened deer. Arrows whistled after him and all about him, and a score of the fleetest dashed in pursuit, but he evaded them and was gone. At once Nan- a-ta called his men together, ordering them to march in all haste. ‘““No time must be given Tsu-ven to prepare; his force is equal to ours, and should he be ready the battle would be long and hard. On surprise depends an easy victory. It is said!” The men fell into rank aa: led by Nan- a-ta and Ken-thu, took up the long, swing- ing trot which eats the miles. Resting fierce rush drove back the others. 197 ‘once, they came about the third hour of the night to the homes of the tribesmen, to the spot where the river, curving away from the hills, left the flat and open mead- ow whereon Ban and Su and Men-ah had fought the warriors of Tsu-ven. Rounding a bend, the attackers came on this meadow, and Nan-a-ta, leading, groaned aloud—too late! The alarm had been given, and a hundred warriors, full- armed, drawn up in ranks, waited! Never breaking their pace, the attacking force swung out ‘on a long front and grad- ually increasing their speed, bore down on the waiting lances. Irom the hillside leaped and glowed fires which with the cold moon cast a weird light over the scene as with crash of arms the battle joined. Then over the peaceful valley spread a fearful uproar; clash of arms, thud of blows on soft flesh, cries of rage, shrieks of agony as ax or lance or dagger bit home, groans of wounded and dying men —and ever as an undertone the murmur of the gentle river that here rippled over broad shallows. Backward and forward swayed the fight, men tripping and stumbling over bodies that writhed or—more horrible yet—lay still; men slipping on the wet grass, tram- | pling it into a yet more frightful quagmire; men, their weapons broken, fighting with tooth and fist and knee; men tearing at each other’s throats and eyes with naked hands; men crawling on hands and knees from the battle, to try in vain to stanch their ghastly wounds, or, plunging and - twisting in unspeakable tortures, creeping aside to die! Backward and forward the battle raged, the advantage now with one side, now with the other, till at length Nan-a-ta saw signs of weakening in the forces of Tsu-ven and rallied his own followers with a ringing call. Bravely did they respond, and with Tsu- ven, seeing the fight going against him, turned and fled, his men—thase that re- mained—following in swift flight up the hillside to the great cave which was the usurper’s home. Here they barricaded the opening with COnmiICLoOO S C@