Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

188 within three days after Nan-a-ta’s depar- ture the rebels had fought a pitched battle with the warriors of Tsu-ven. From the hillside above the women and children of the tribe, with those warriors who remained neutral, had watched the civil strife. with the clash of arms, the groans and shrieks of the wounded, the cries of strug- gling men. Red ran the stream, and the yellowing grass under foot was trampled into a horribie red mire, where men slipped and fell, wounded or dying. In the river bobbed in ghastly fashion the ‘bodies of the slain, and over all the once peaceful valley swooped and dipped and poised the vultures, drawn on swift wings to the feast that waited them. At the last the warriors of Tsu-ven were victorious, and in the battle fell Men-ah, slain by a lance-thrust. Ban and Su, see- ing the day lost, made good their escape, not that death hel id any terrors for them, but that they planned to return again and yet again till Tsu-ven should be over- thrown, for both hated him bitterly for what nie had done to Nan-a-ta. The battle ended, Tsu-ven had gone straight to Tah-né, whom he had loved for years, though this was news to Nan-a-ta, the girl having told him naught of Tsu- ven’s advances. Knowing it now for the first, Nan-a-ta ground his teeth and clenched his fists; one thing more, one other offense added to the score he held against Tsu-ven! And then the exile dropped his head in his hands and groaned; what sort of leader was he, to permit himself to be led peaceably away, like a victim to the altar, while his friends fought his battles! Tah-né, divining the cause of his grief, laid her hand on his arm, and with the touch came the recollection of the oath he had that morning sworn. He raised his head and spoke briefly: ‘‘ And then?” and the girl went on. Flushed, triumphant, reeking from the battle, Tsu-ven had come to her, demand- ing that she accept him, that she be his wife, that she take her place as the mate of the great chieftain. But Tah-né had re- fused. To begin, she loved Nan-a-ta, nor The valley had resounded THE ARGOSY. was she one to chop and change with the winds of fortune. Then, also, though a warrior’s daughter and no coward, this blood with which Tsu-ven’ was spattered was the blood of her friends, her relatives. Could she forget that? So she drove him away with bitter words, with scorn and hatred. Raging, Tsu-ven had ordered his warriors to seize her and hold her prisoner; even he did not dare openly to take her to his cave, she re- sisting; but he meant to guard her well, and when, later, all opposition was crushed and none dared dispute his word, then should she be his, by force if not with good-will. So she had been eraitd from her home and placed in a small cave, where one of Tsu-ven’s warriors watched her night and day, the guard changing at sunrise and at sunset. Thus for the space of. three days Tah-né remained a prisoner, Tsu-ven coming each day to urge his suit, sending the guard away when he was there. But he met only rebuffs, scorn, hatred, and fierce words, till at last he said: ‘“No more do I come; prisoner - shall you remain, and soon, when that my rule is firmly fixed, to my cave shall you be car- ried, whether with your will or without.” Tah-né shuddered at the prospect, but held firm, making up her mind, as Tsu-ven left, to try what might be done to effect her escape through working on the guard. Therefore, that night, she undertook to persuade this guard, Ku-sen by name, to connive at her flight. All the blandishments at her command were tried; argument, prayers, entreaties, promises, but to no avail. no means insensible to the attractions of a beautiful young girl, but he dwelt in fear of Tsu-ven; to all her words he replied only by a shake*of the head and the an- swer: , ‘“ My life is forfeit to the great chieftain should you escape,” nor could ee -né move him. She went so far as to seat. heceelt beside him, her arm about his neck, her cheek pressed: close to his, her.warm breath in his ear as she begged; she wept; she asked Co DOO AMG Ku-sen was by SS C©