Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

202 dragging Tsu-ven, and carrying Sa-ko. Nan-a-ta and the elders watched this strange procession as it wound down the mountain and made its way through the crowd about the Rock of Council. Deeply did they wonder at the meaning, but naught was said till the: guard halted before the waiting men, when it was explained. : By some means unknown, Sa-ko had pro- cured a dagger of flint and had slain him- self; ‘Fsu-ven, close at hand, had lacked the courage to seize the weapon and do like- wise—indeed, the once proud and haughty chieftain was in a pitiful state of collapse from utter terror. His face was ashy pale, his mouth quivered, his knees would not support him—two stout warriors had been forced to drag him, his head lolling weakly from side to side. Nan-a-ta surveyed the wretched man not without compassion; never had he seen a warrior of the Ta-an fear death, nor was the sight a pleasant one. But for Tsu-ven’s crime could there be no forgiveness, and the chieftain passed sentence. ‘“ Tsu-ven,” he said, “it is the will of the elders that for your crimes you pass into the Long Dark. ‘Yet since you are son to a chieftain and yourself a warrior—al- beit no very bold one—you are spared the shameful death of the common offender. When the sun next gilds the mountain-top shall you fall before the arrows of your guard. It is said!” In a very agony of fear Tsu-ven flung himself prostrate before Nan-a-ta, crying aloud for mercy, for pardon; groveling, promising never to offend, begging for ex- ile—slavery—anything, so that his life be spared—vowing to serve Nan-a-ta faith- fully, if he might but live! Nan-a-ta sur- veyed - the coward with contempt, then waved his hand, repeating: ‘Tt is said!” and the guards, stepping forward, laid their hands on Tsu-ven’s shoulders to lift him and lead him away. But with the touch strength came back to him, and Tsu-ven, looking wildly about, sprang to his feet, burst frantically through the crowd, and rushed madly down the trail along the river. ‘ Ken-thu!” barked Nan-a-ta, and Ken- thu, with the spring of a leopard, bound- Swer. THE ARGOSY. ed on the Rock of Council. Swiftly he flung his bow to the front, snatched an ars row from the quiver, and fitted it to the string. A hundred paces down the trail Tsu-ven fled, and all thought him safe, for he was nearing a bend, nor could any of the tribe outrun the fleeing man. Back to: his ear Ken-thu drew the string —held it an mstant—released it. The ara rows of Ken-thu were stained with yellow, and as this leaped from the bow the suns light caught it, so that to the watchers it. seemed a streak of fire in pursuit. Like a flash of flame it leaped—vanished—Tsu- ven stumbled—flung wide his arms—~ pitched . forward—and lay still! A great sigh broke from the crowd, and Ken-thu turned to leap from the Rock of Council, a grim smile of satisfaction on his lips—A-ai was avenged! “It is well,” said Nan-a-ta. “ Thus is he spared some hours of misery, and the end is the same—it is well!” Some days later Nan-a-ta and his bride sat in their cave, watching the sun sink to rest behind the hills. A new priest clan had been chosen by the council of the Ta-an and Nan-a-ta had been. duly. inducted into his high office as Great Chieftain, after which he and Tah-né had been married by the tribal ceremony, the two then going to the cave where had lived and died the Lord of the Winged Death, there to make their Perea home. — The evening meal had now been eaten and the cooking tripod placed in its accuss tomed corner, and the Great Chieftain and his wife sat now in silence, meditating on their changes of fortune. At length Are spoke: “Tell me, my husband,” said she. es Now is the marvel of the returning stick pers formed? The shielding wand, as you have said, is but swiftness and skill; the rock, you declare, was riven by wedges of wood, driven into a crack and swelling under the pouring of water; but to me still remains unknown why the stick returns.” ‘To me as well, Tah-né,” was the an- “‘ By chance did I learn that a stick of certain shape, thrown in a certain man- COnmiclooo S CO