Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

186 Reaching the place, they approached with caution, the leader motioning to the older man for silence. They ensconced themselves in the underbrush, waiting, and for more than an hour they lay silent, mo- tionless, while troop after troop of beasts | passed their ambush, going down to the river to drink. Bison, wild cattle, wild sheep went by; a herd of deer also, and the huge, ungain- ly, but lightning-swift beast that wears a horn on his nose. These all Nan-a-ta let go by, till at length his trained ear caught the sound of a band of wild horses. Rising softly to his feet, Nan-a-ta fitted an arrow to his string, peering through a little opening in the brush. As the leader of the band, a mag- nificent stallion, drew near, Nan-a-ta slow- ly pulled back the arrow and let fly at not more than two yards’ distance. The bow hummed, and the missile buried itself to the feathers in the body of the stallion, directly behind the shoulder; with a gasping snort the animal plunged forward and started to run, the mares whirling, jostling in their fright and confu- sion, and at length dashing backward in the direction from which they had come. Nan-a-ta and L’vu remained stock-still, knowing that a beast, mortally wounded, will often, if pursued, lead his slayer a long chase, but if not followed will give up with- in a short time. Sure enough, the stallion ran but a few yards, then stopped and stood, feet braced wide apart, the blood gushing from his mouth and nostrils. Soon he wavered, toppled, and fell crashing to the ground, and the hunters came forth from ambush and started to- ward him. Nan-a-ta, intent on his great idea, cut a bundle of hair from the beast’s tail, whereas L’vu, more practical, hewed off a hind-quarter, and with their burdens the two returned to camp. The meat was . roasted before the fire, Nan-a-ta busying himself meanwhile with some affairs of his own, and before the flesh was cooked for | carrying he stepped over to where the others. sat. ~ “Look!” he cried, ‘“‘ you have seen the magic of the priests; see now the magic of Nan-a-ta!”’ | hold what you have feared! THE _ARGOSY. be CS He cast an arrow on the ground some paces from the group, stepped back and folded his arms. ‘Watch close!” he said. comes to my call!” The others looked at him in amazement, thinking his troubles had turned his brain —L’vu had told them of the strange hunt- ing, nothing taken from the horse save the tail. But Nan-a-ta directed their atten- tion to the arrow, which lay still on the “The arrow gravel. Motionless it lay, till he spoke to it, saying: | ‘To me, arrow! Come to your master’s hand!” | The arrow quivered slightly, the head rose from the ground, and slowly, jerkily, but none the less surely the shaft crept over the gravel toward Nan-a-ta! tounded, the four men leaped up, breathing words of astonishment—even Sar-no-m’ral, most silent of the tribesmen, gave vent to a whispered oath—and they bent forward, looking eagerly, watching close. ‘“‘ Arrow, lie still!’? commanded Nan-a- ta, and instantly the arrow ceased its mo- tion. “To me!” he called, and again began the slow, jerky progress. Terrified, the four men looked from their ipader to the shaft and back. Nan- a-ta laughed, stepped forward, lifted his hand, and the arrow leaped into the air, poising clear of the ground—it was too much—-with cries of fear and reverence the four fell on their knees and bowed before Nan-a-ta. ‘Great Chieftain!”’ they cried. ‘ Great sorcerer, spare us! We faithful, implore thy mercy!” Nan-a-ta laughed. “Nay,” said he, “here is no magic. Look!” And stepping close he held out the arrow with the strand of horse-hair fas- tened to the head. ‘¢ See now the magic of the priests! Be- It is but trickery, to be done by children!”’ Reassured,. but trembling still, the men gathered, looking, handling, and exclaim- ing in wonder. .Then spoke Nan- a-ta, rais- ing his right hand: ‘Hear me!” he cried. ‘“ Hear me, L’vu COMICLOO Aghast, as-. SS C@