Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

THE MASTER OF MAGIC, A murmur of aotomeement ran through the multitude, and voices exclaimed: “In very truth!” ‘“Nay,” said Nan-a-ta, more to the altar, ‘‘ magic can my followers do also. Kan-ta, on the Great Altar there burns the Sacred Fire; bring me, I pray, @ coal, carrying it in your hand.” , Kan- to bowed and hastened to the Great Altar, three hundred paces away, the eyes of the crowd following him. There he busied himself for a moment, and _pres- ently returned, the coal glowing on his: palm. Nan-a-ta received it in his own) hand and Kan-to, returning to his place in the crowd showed his hand, unharmed, to the eagerly peering men and women. Mean- while, Nan-a-ta had kindled a fire on the flat top of the altar and addressed the peo- ple once more: “People of the Ta-an, by night should the miracle of the lightning be shown. Yet, this being day—watch well!” He passed his hand swiftly over the fire, and instantly a flash of light leaped from the altar, heavy clouds of smoke rolling up- ward. With one impulse the watchers fell on their knees, crying aloud: ‘Have mercy, Great Chieftain! us, Son of the Great Father!” ‘“‘ Nay,” said Nan-a-ta, spreading out his hands, ‘“‘ have I not told you, my. people, that these are but tricks? Kneel not in awe; Great Chieftain am I, yet but a man like yourselves. Yet would you see magic” —he turned to Ban, saying: ‘‘ Release the son of the Lord of the Winged Death. Give him a bow and quiver of arrows.” This was quickly done, and Nan-a-ta said to Tsu-ven: ‘Son of the Lord of the Winged Death, in very truth should you be an archer of skill. and speed three arrows against my bosom.” Spare Tsu-ven’s eyes gleamed with savage joy— ° indeed, his enemy had delivered himself into his hands, for none other of the Ta-an could handle bow and arrows as could Tsu-ven, nor did Nan-a-ta carry a shield. Unprotected save for a thin garment of wolf-skin, Nan-a-ta stood by the altar, and eagerly Tsu-ven grasped the weapons, pac- " ing off the distance and facing about. Nan- turning once Step now five tens of paces from me — 199 a-ta drew from his girdle a wand a anit in length and the thickness of a man’s thumb and said: “This wand is my shield; your arrows may not pass it! Speed them as you will, Tsu-ven!”’ The crowd stared in wonder; how could a slim wand guard against the Winged Death? Open-eyed, amazed, they watched, and Tsu- ven, triumph gleaming on his face, strung his bow, With care he chose an arrow and fitted it to the string; back to his ear he drew it—held it an instant—opened his fingers, and like a flash of light the arrow sped. Quicker than the eye could see, the wand of Nan-a-ta leaped—and the arrow, swept aside, clattered on the hard rocks behind the living target. Amazed, chagrined, Tsu-ven fitted and sped a second arrow, with like result— again, and the third dart was swept away. In rage Tsu-ven dashed the bow to the ground, and Nan-a-ta faced the crowd once more, about to speak—Tsu-ven seized the bow, swiftly laid another arrow to it, and shot—Nan-a-ta, craftily watching from the corner of his eye, saw all, whirled, turned the arrow, and laughed, even as Ban, with panther spring, bore Tsu-ven to the ground. ‘“Nay, Tsu-ven,” said Nan-a-ta, ‘ not even. from behind can you slay me!” Dumfounded, the crowd looked from one to the other, shaking their heads, and Nan- a-ta, smiling with quiet satisfaction, thrust the wand once more into his girdle—long hours had he and Sen-va spent in the for- est, practising that sleight-of-hand! Casting a look about—noting that Sa-ko, tight held in the mighty hands of L’vu, was fairly foaming at the mouth with rage— Nan-a-t@ spoke again: | ‘““ Men of the Ta-an, can any among you call back a weapon or stick or stone which. you have hurled?”’ The people with one accord shook their heads, and one, bolder than oe rest, re- plied: *“ Nay, Great Chieftain, that can no man do! What is gone is gone!”’ Nan-a-ta smiled and, stooping, lifted from the ground a bent stick which lay there. Of the length of a man’s arm was COmiclbooks C@