Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

THE WINGS OF THE SNOW. 6 He pitched forward, sprawling, and, as he did there came a crashing, rending noise, and with irresistible sweep and rush there descended from above a mighty tree-trunk, stripped bare of branches. Tu-sen had halted in his flight long encugh to set a trap, such a one as was used among the Ta-an for the slaymg of the larger beasts, the bear, the lion, and the giant Beast’ That Wears a Horn On His Nose. Warned by the noise, Ku-ro and Men- zano-nan halted, frozen in their tracks, and the Slayer of Mammoths strove to roll from umder the crashing death. But so cunning- ly had Tu-sen calculated, so skilfully bad be wrought, that the ponderous mass fell directly across the hips of the prostrate man, pinning him to the earth. Do-m’rai-men writhed and struggled in agony, and the other two at ence fell to work to free him, laboring long with ax and dagger to dig him cut, for the weight of the trunk was beyond their strength to tift—Tu-sen had felled the tree im its place, not hoisted it.to a balance. But when at last the young man was free he could not stand erect, all feeling was gone from his legs, and they knew his back was broken. He also knew his fate was sealed; even were he at home, among his folk, even did he live, never could be be aught but a helpless cripple, and here in the forest to live meant but to fall a prey to hunting beasts, or per- chance—most terrible of alli—to be eaten by vuitures, for it was the belief of the tribesmen that whoso was eaten by vul- tures, his soul might never to all eternity reach the Place of Good. So Do-m’rai-men begged the others to slay and bury him, freeing him f qm his pain and insuring him a place his fathers. Bitter, indeed, was the thought to the two, yet they knew well that the mercy lay in granting his prayer, and they drew lots to see to whom 7 would fall. Two short twigs the wounded man held, one shorter than the other, yet so hidden that the ends which were seen appeared of the same length, and the. others drew. To Ku-ro fell the shorter twig, and he 645 made ready Ins bow and arrow while the dying man prayed briefly to the Great Father. Then when the prayer was done, Ku-ro rose to his feet in preparation, but - Do-m’rai-men called to him with extended hand. | . “ Farewell,” he said. “ Farewell; my thanks for your. kindly stroke! And may all go well with you; may your vengeance strike home!” And he gripped Ku-ro’s hand in sign of friendship and farewell. With Menzono-nan as well he shook hands, then dropped his arm and smiled through his pam, saying: ‘‘ Speed well the arrow of mercy, friend of mine!” ° Ku-ro stepped back a pace and lifted his bow, but lowered it. Again he lifted it, and again his arm dropped, and he looked despairingly about the autumn woods, rich m their gaudy color, flame of maple and birch, glow of oak. From afar came the weird, mocking bark of a hyena, and from Ku-ro’s throat burst a strangled sob. “Nay, fear not!” spoke the wounded man. “ Fear not, Ku-ro; it is a kindness you do!” “Close your eyes!” gasped Ku-ro. “ Close them tight, or I cannot!” ‘““ Nay,” came the reply; “‘ should a war- nor of the Ta-an fear to look on death?” “In very truth, well do I know you have no fear! Yet while you look at me I cannot—I cannot set you: free!” Do-m’rai-men taughed, and flung his forearm across his eyes, and on the instant the merciful arrow sped. Ku-ro and his remaining companion labored through the hours of daylight to dig a grave and pile stones above it, that the body of their friend might rest secure from marauding beasts Next day the two took up once mwre the chase, hastening. to regain the distance lost, and within three days once more a deadly peril threatened. Ku-ro this time was leading, and of a sudden he came to a halt, stopping short in his tracks, warned by some strange sense of danger. . He peered all about, but saw nothing out ef the way; nothing at least that he could ize. Yet the feeling of peril, of something threatening, was strong, and CONMUC DOOK CO