Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

THE WINGS OF THE SNOW. Tho’s great arm swept aside the stroke— the spear was jerked from Ku-ro’s hand— and the chieftain of the Sur leaped forward, srinning, his huge stone war-club swung aloft for a mighty stroke. Ku-ro sprang back—the blow missed— the club, striking against the frozen ground, was shattered, and the fragments lost in the snow. Ku-ro’s own ax had been lost some time before, and his dagger broken—weap- onless, he struck at Tho, who minded the blow not at all, but rushed on—and those mighty hands closed on the young man’s throat. ° verborne, Ku-ro fell backward, the chieftain of the Sur on top—together they rolled over and over down the bank to ,the frozen stream, Ku-ro striking uselessly at the giant who seemed insensible to his puny fists. Over and over they rolled—there came a splash—a numbing shock—and Ku-ro knew they had fallen into the river where the ice had been cut for fishing. And now the battle turned; Tho, un- used to swimming, had all the fear of the water that lives ever with those who know it not—further, the icy plunge had for an instant halted his vital forces, and in that instant .Ku-ro wrenched free. The Carver of Ivory was one of the strongest swimmers of the Ta-an—at home in the water, it was now he who attacked— Tho, panic-stricken, smitten with utter ter- ror, strove to grip him, to save himself— _Ku-ro thrust him ever farther down, eluded his frantic clawings—under the ice they were carried, and Ku-ro knew that he rhust win back soon. Fighting, bubbling, gurgling, their heads striking against the crystal roof, they were swept down—rolling over and over beneath the water they fought—vaguely Ku-ro could make out the whirling form of Tho, half seen in the dim, green light—his lungs would burst—with a kick he freed himself, and struck out for the opening, faintly light in the dusk. Gasping, panting, shivering from the icy stream, Ku-ro hauled himself to the sur- face—out—and stretched full length on the snow, looking with joy at the clear blue sky that arched high overhead. The body 665 of Tho, Great Chieftain of the Sur, was swept on downward to the sea. The Ta-an had suffered in the battle, but they were content, for the Sur had been utterly. wiped out, annihilated, not one re- maining to carry back to the Eastern Hills the news of the disaster, and great was ‘the rejoicing among the People of the Mountain Caves. The great chieftain sent word that on the third day after the fight the tribes- men were to meet at the Great Rock of Council, and this was duly done, all press- ing to hear the words of Nan-a-ta Men with branches had swept the snow from the surface of the rock, and there the chieftain took his stand—with him Sen-ko, the chief priest; Ku-ro, and Then-ai. -Ku-ro glanced about him with interest, recalling the day, gray and overcast even as this one, when he had stood in that same place, the people clustering below then #% now. How much had passed since then! And as he looked the former sgene rose ~ clear in his mind so that involuntarily he turned to search for Tu-sen—then smiled — faintly as he remembered; Tu-sen lay far at the bottom of the Great River of Ice! He turned to Then-ai, and her smile as she pressed her hand ‘to her bosom where the arrow had struck showed that her thoughts were even as his own. But now the great chieftain was speaking, and all were silent to hear his words. ‘“ People of the Mountain Caves, to you is it known that Ku-ro the Carver of Ivory, seeking to avenge the traitorous blow of Tu- sen, brought news of the Sur—brought also the Wings of the Snow. Then-ai, the Lance of Dawn, is his; as well be given him who has saved his people?” Then from the multitude rose a shout, swelling and echoing through the snow-laden” forest, rolling back from the mountainside. ‘In very truth! Much honor shall be his, great chieftain!” — ; - “Tt is well!” said Nan-a-ta. This, then, is in my mind. It is our custom that when one has well saved the tribe he shall be named great chieftain, to serve when that the leader passes into the Long Dark. comicaooks but shall not other reward — CO