The Winslow mail., 1897-02-13
a TARTAR BATTLE.
The Great Kaan Crushes a Bold Rebel
Chicftaiu


Chicftain.
The Kaan was there on the hill,
mounted on a great wooden bartiZan,
which was borne by four well-trained
elephants. and over him was hoisted
his standard, so high aloft that it could
be seen from all sides. His troops
were ordered in battles of 10000 men
apiece; and a great part of the horse
men had each a foot soldier armed
with a lance set on the crupper behind
him Cfor it was thus that the footmen
were disposed of; and the whole plain
seemed to be covered with his forces
So it was thus that the Great Kaan's
army was arrayed for battle.
When Nayan and his people saw
what happened, they were sorely con-
founded, and rushed in haste to arms
Nevertheless they made them ready In
good style and formed their troops in
an orderly manner. And when all
were in battle array on both sides as I
have told you, and nothing remained
but to fall to blows, then might you
have heard a sound arise of many in
struments Of various music, and Of the
loudly singing. For this is a custom
Of the Tartars, that before they join
battle they all unite in singing anG
playing on a certain two-stringed in
strument Of theirs, a thing right pleas
ant to hear. And so they continue in
their array Of battle, singing and play
ing in this pleasing manner, until the
great Naccara of the Prince Is heard
to sound. AS soon as that begins to
sound the fight also begins on both
sides; and in no case before the Prince
Naccara sounds dare any commence
fighting.
So then, as they were thus singing
and playing, though ordered and
ready for battle, the great Naccara
of the Great Kaan began to sound.
And that Of Nayan also began to sound.
And thenceforward the din Of battle
began to be heard loudly from this
side and from that. And they rushed
to work so doughtily with their BOWS
and their maces, with their lances AMI
swords, and with the arblasts Of the
footmen, that 1t was wondrOus sight
to see. Now might you behold such
flights of arrows from this side and
from that, that the whole heaven was
canopied with them and they fell like
rain. Now might you see on this side
and on that full many a cavalier and
man-at-arms fall slain, insomuch that
the whole field seemed covered with
them. For fierce and furious was the
battle, and quarter there was none
given.
But why should I make a long story
of it? You must know that it was the
most parlous and fierce and fearful
battle that has ever been fought in
our day. Nor have there ever been
such forces in the field in actual fight
especially Of horsemen, as were then
engaged-for, taking both sides, there
were not fewer than 100000 horsemen,
a mighty force! and that without reck
Oning the fOOtmen, who were also very
numerous. The battle endured with
various fortune on this side and on
that from morning till noon. But at
last, by Gods pleasure and the right
that was on his side, the Great Kaan
had the victory, and Nayan lost the
battle and was utterly routed. lror
the army of the Great Kaan perform
ed such feats of arms that Nayan and
his host could stand against them no
longer, so they turned and fed. Hut
this availed nothing for Nayan; for he
and all the barons with him were
taken prisoners, and had to surrender
to the Kaan with all their arms-'The
True Story of Marco Polo;;" st. Nicho.
las