Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

THE MASTER OF ten paces away, the crowd closed in as near as ritual permitted, drawing in at the sides, the better to see and hear. All stood; it was but at the Great Altar that one must kneel. ee ‘People of the Mountain Caves,” cried the Chief Priest in a loud voice, “ there come before us two, claiming each the ivory staff, symbol of the chieftain of the Ta-an. Each says the staff was given into his hands; each says that to him did the Lord of the Winged: Death assign the leadership; each brings witnesses; each says the other speaks with two tongues. Who, then, shall decide between them? The Lord of the Winged Death has passed from us; the truth may not be learned from him. ‘“ Vet perchance may we so learn! Call- ing on him, we may yet have guidance from his spirit. Is it your will that this be done?”’ “Tn very truth! In very truth! Ask the Lord of the Winged Death!” rose the cry from the multitude, and Sa-ko, turning toward the two claimants, inquired: | ‘Ts this also your will?” ‘In very truth!” replied Tsu-ven, secure in the promise of the Chief Priest, but Nan- a-ta hesitated. Something was known to him of the skill of Sa-ko in magic, and, though, deeply religious, he trusted that the Lord of the Winged Death would not betray him, yet was he doubtful of the outcome; several times had he seen reason to mistrust the dealings of the priest clan. But as he hesitated there rose behind him a deep growl from the tribesmen— few among them had ever questioned the power and the honesty of the priests, and he realized that his hesitation must count against him. So he replied: “In very truth; ask of the Lord of the Winged Death!”’ “It is known to you that the loser must suffer exile, outlawry; perchance even death may be his portion,’ resumed Sa-ko: “Light indeed this penalty for one who has rebelled against the word of the Great Father, spoken through his son, the Lord of the Winged Death!” Nan-a-ta and Tsu-ven bowed in acknowl- edgment of the justice of this sentence, the one trusting to the honesty of his cause, ? MAGIC, 181 “the other to the aid of the priest clan. Sa-ko bowed his head, clasped his hands across his bosom, and prayed aloud, the tribesmen standing with bent heads: “Oh, Great Father, O-Ma-Ken, here stand two men, claiming each that into his hands was given the leadership of the People of the Mountain Caves. That we may adjudge between them, we pray Thee ' send the spirit of the Lord of the Winged Death to declare unto us the truth. Fail- ing this, if this-be not your will, we pray Thee send us a sign!” He ceased, and stood. : In all that multitude not a word was spoken, not a sound was heard, as Sa-ko -waited.. In the trees above, the wind rus- tled the branches, shaking from them the dry leaves of autumn, that came fluttering and whirling to earth; far down the hill- side, in the valley, brawled and tumbled the stream, boiling over and among rocks below the Ford of Death; far overhead there floated soft white clouds, distinct against the blue, and to the ears of the waiting people was borne, faint and far, the scream of an eagle. But no man stirred. : At length the Chief Priest spoke as one acknowledging a command, saying: “Tt is said!” and a sigh ran rustling through the crowd, to be instantly hushed as Sa-ko raised his head and addressed the two claimants. , “Let each bring forward an arrow!” Obedient, Nan-a-ta and Tsu-ven stepped forward, laying each an arrow on the altar, the one marked with three circles of red, insignia of Nan-a-ta, the other, Tsu-ven’s, with a single yellow stripe, running length- wise. ‘These Sa-ko took by the flint heads, laying them point to point, the shafts in a straight line. He stepped back, raised both hands, and spoke the one word: ‘* Forward!” ’ For the space of twenty breaths nothing happened, and the tension among the people grew painful; leaning toward the altar, watching with straining eyes, they waited. Calm, immovable, with folded arms, stood the priests, their eyes also bent to the arrows,. but their faces passionless as those of graven images. Nan-a-ta and Tsu-ven COmiclbooks C@