Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

CY e 8 * a x F e camped on the edge of a crevasse almost as wide as that into which Tu-sen had disap- peared. A narrow bridge of snow, barely wide enough for one man, too narrow for two abreast, spanned the black depths, and Tho, inspecting this, gave orders to wait for daylight—for the dusk was closing in— before attempting the passage. To right and left, far as the eye could see, stretched the frightful gash in the icy surface, nor could he even guess how many days’ journey it would be to skirt the chasm. Therefore, though he’ mistrusted the strength of the bridge, Tho resolved to dare the passage as soon as the light re- turned. Aware of the chieftain’s decision, Ku- ro decided that this night he would attempt to escape. The bridge would serve him to cross, could easily be broken down after his passing, and the crevasse would hold back the invaders for a time at least. For some time past Ku-ro had been mak- ing preparations for flight; he had man- THE WINGS OF THE SNOW. aged to steal and secrete a stout flint dag-— ger, less finely fmished than those of the Ta-an, yet serviceable enough; he had hid- den in the pack he was forced to carry scraps of food, dried meat, and bits of roots saved from his meals; he had carefully noted the lay of the hills, that he might pre- serve his sense of direction; and he had tried whenever possible to undermine the loyalty of Kas, his guard, by hint, by in- muendo, and by tales of the prowess of the Ta-an. é So, thinking it over, Ku-ro concluded that here was the chance he sought, and though his heart turned sick within him at the bare idea of crossing that frightful depth in the dark, yet he gathered together his courage, and forced himself to the des- perate resolve. Supper was prepared, and Ku- -ro choked down food, knowing that he would need all his strength for the attempt, then rolled himself in skins and lay down, his head rest- ing on his pack, his right hand clenched for: comfort on the handle of his dagger. But he did, not sleep; pretending slumber, he nevertheless lay wide awake, waiting that midnight hour when sleep is soundest, not- * Possibly the constellation which we know as Orion. 655 ing ever the slow and reluctant passage of the stars across the sky. He was not bound; he had so ingratiated himself with Kas that the latter thought bonds unnecessary, though-he slept always with his arm thrown across the body of Ku-ro, that the slightest motion of the cap- tive might: wake him. So when Ku-ro saw by the Belt of the Hunter* that the middle hour was at hand he slowly, very slowly, and with infinite caution began to creep from under the arm of Kas. Slowly, slowly, stopping long between movements, waiting when Kas stirred, he rolled away, taking care to move the arm as little as might be, lowering it gently and easily as he took his body from beneath. From time to time Kas grunted or moved uneasily, and Ku-ro waited. At last the task was nearly accomplished, and the hand well-nigh rested on the skins, when Kas, twitching in his sleep, dragged his hand from Ku-ro’s, and it fell with a thump. Instantly Kas opened his eyes and sat half- way up, asking: “*'Who moves?” | “Sleep once more,” whispered Ku-ro. “TI but rolled to the dther side.”’ Kas seemed satisfied, and lay down again, but some vague sense of uneasiness pene- trated his mind, and he opened his eyes, blinking, to see Ku-ro kneeling beside him. Like a flash he was on his feet, seizing Ku- ro by the arm—his mouth opened to yell for ‘help—Ku-ro’s left hand closed on the warrior’s throat, cutting off the yell un- uttered—Ku-ro’s dagger flashed—a dull sound—a rush of blood—and Kas sank life- less to the ice. Crouching, Ku-ro listened for some mo- ments, but no one stirred; no sound came to him save the sighing of the night wind and the heavy snores of the sleepers, and cau-—- tiously he picked his way among the forms of the resting warriors toward the crevasse. He stopped once to take a lance which lay by one of the men, and again to lift from the ice a slab of dried meat, then hur- ried onward to the bridge of snow by which he must cross, a hundred paces from where he had lain down. COUN lODOOK CO