Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

196 men of the Ta-an, seeking to influence them toward you—nor, in very truth, is much needed!. Already ten tens and more have slipped secretly from the camp, full- armed, to seek your leadership, knowing that you draw near. By ones and twos and threes they come, foremost among them Ken-thu, well known to you.” Nan-a-ta nodded, and Ban went on: ‘‘ Ken-thu seeks vengeance on the usurp- er, for that A-ai, betrothed to him, was ‘torn from him to be, unwilling, the bride of Tsu-ven. Full of rage is Ken-thu, yet daring not to match his strength with that of Tsu-ven.”’ | Nan-a-ta’s mouth set in a hard, grim line as he answered: ‘Vengeance shall Ken-thu have! Here make we camp, waiting the warriors who come to join us; they come, then march we against Tsu-ven, that this evil may be undone!” The canoes turned to the s..ore, and on a broad and treeless meadow was the camp made, a little, smokeless cooking fire being built. There Nan-a-ta and his men set- tled themselves to wait the coming of the warriors by whose aid Tsu-ven should be overthrown. CHAPTER VI, MASTER OF MAGIC, FoR several days Nan-a-ta remained camped in the meadow, while the war- riors, rebels against Tsu-ven, drifted in. Each one as he arrived went direct to Nan-a-ta’s fire, bowing before the chief- tain and craving pardon for past offenses; renewing, also, his vows of allegiance or making them for the first time. Each man, too—or almost every one—brought news of some outrage of Tsu-ven’s, till Nan-a-ta’s blood boiled within him with rage. Maidens seized, food stolen, warriors slaughtered, insults sown broadcast—these made up the tale of the past year, and a dozen times a day Nan-a-ta renewed his oath of vengeance. Sa-ko and the other priests, it seemed, were partakers of Tsu- ven’s crimes, lording it over the tribesmen, THE ARGOSY. condemning to death all who opposed them, and carrying out the sentence on the Great Altar, till the stones of that. pile reeked with the blood of the tribesmen. Among the warriors came Ken-thu, his mouth set grimly, his eyes burning deep in his head with the fever of rage which had possessed his soul since the loss of A-ai. Him Nan-a-ta greeted with especial warmth, holding long talks with the young. warrior, and in the end appointing him his chief lieutenant, for Ken-thu was crafty as well as brave. At length the tale was made up, and Nan-a-ta, marshalling his forces on the flat, counted eleven tens and two of warriors and hunters, besides some dozen or score of artists and artisans, men less skilled with weapons than the others, but no whit behind them in courage. Nan-a-ta spoke briefly to his forces. Soe ‘Men of the Ta-an,” he said, “ to-day we march to avenge the wrongs of the People of the Mountain Caves. By night will we attack, falling on the warriors of Tsu-ven. Strike boldly, even to the death, sparing none who stand against us, yet slay none who yield. Tsu-ven himself shall you not slay; alive must he be taken, that his death follow duly and in order upon fair trial at the Rock of Council. When the sun is over the tree-tops we march. It is said!” The men scattered, to rest and eat in preparation for the journey. Ken-thu approached his chieftain, bowing low and tracing on the grass the three interlocking circles of ceremony, sign that he would speak with the chieftain on matters of mo- ment. ‘“ Speak!” said Nan-a-ta, and Ken-thu obeyed. “Great Chieftain,” he said, “‘ were it not well to send one to Sar-no-m’rai, lest he slay Tsu-ven by stealth, thinking thus to make secure your rule?” Nan-a-ta thought an instant, then whistled shrilly. Su came running, and him Nan-a-ta instructed, saying: ‘Go you to the camp of Tsu-ven; seek out Sar-no-m’rai; say to him that Tsu-ven must live. It is said! Go!” Su bowed, replied: cComiclboooks C@©