On the other hand, though she knew St.
Vincent was eying her narrowly, she took no notice of him, and all he
could see was a white face devoid of expression.
"'_When Tamerlane swept with fire and sword over Eastern Asia_,'"
Courbertin read slowly, "'_states were disrupted, cities overthrown,
and tribes scattered like--like star-dust. A vast people was hurled
broadcast over the land. Fleeing before the conquerors_,'--no,
no,--'_before the mad lust of the conquerors, these refugees swung far
into Siberia, circling, circling to the north and east and fringing the
rim of the polar basin with a spray of Mongol tribes_.'"
"Skip a few pages," Bill Brown advised, "and read here and there. We
haven't got all night."
Courbertin complied. "'_The coast people are Eskimo stock, merry of
nature and not offensive. They call themselves the Oukilion, or the
Sea Men. From them I bought dogs and food. But they are subject to
the Chow Chuen, who live in the interior and are known as the Deer Men.
The Chow Chuen are a fierce and savage race. When I left the coast
they fell upon me, took from me my goods, and made me a slave_.'" He
ran over a few pages. "'_I worked my way to a seat among the head men,
but I was no nearer my freedom. My wisdom was of too great value to
them for me to depart. . . Old Pi-Une was a great chief, and it was
decreed that I should marry his daughter Ilswunga.
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