VI. CASAN.

CASAN was the name of a little Mongol Tartar who flourished in the early part of the thirteenth century.

He was born in the eastern part of Asia, not far from the ancient city of Karakorum. His parents belonged to one of the barbarian hordes that owed allegiance to Genghis Khan, and Casan became a fierce though small warrior, and fought bravely under the banner of the great and mighty Mongol conqueror.

The exact height of this little dwarf is unknown. He was certainly not over three feet tall; but he was active and muscular, and, like all his race, could endure hunger, thirst, fatigue, and cold.

The Tartars were unexcelled in the management of their beautiful horses. The fleetest animals were trained to stop short in full career, and to face without flinching wild beast or formidable foe. Casan was a born soldier, and at an early age became expert in all the exercises that belonged to a Tartar education. He could manage a fiery courser with great skill, and could shoot an arrow or throw a lance with unerring aim, in full career, advancing or retreating.

Like many of those small in stature, he was anything but puny in spirit, and while yet a lad he gathered about him a troop of wild young

Tartar boys as reckless and daring as himself, of whom by common consent he became leader. He commanded his lawless young comrades with a strange mixture of dignity and energy, and they obeyed his orders with zeal and willingness. Sometimes they would go on long hunting expeditions, seldom failing to lay waste any lonely habitation they happened on. During one of these excursions they came to a wide river, and Casan ordered his troop to halt and build a wherry. They immediately set out in search of materials, and after a time succeeded in constructing a sort of raft made after the fashion of their ancestors the ancient Scythians.

They collected a number of the skins of wild animals, fastened these firmly together, and stretched them over a wooden framework. Upon this leather boat they placed their saddles and weapons, and after driving their horses into the stream, the young warriors sprang upon the oddly contrived float, seized the steeds by their tails, and were soon drawn by the swimming horses to the opposite bank. This feat was accomplished amid the noisiest shouts of the exulting boys.

Only Casan remained unmoved, simply remarking: "Very well done. I am quite satisfied with you, and to-morrow I shall think of something else to teach you."

He lay awake half the night devising plans and projects for the next day, and at early

dawn he assembled his followers and commanded them to be at a certain place at a certain hour. Like the noble Six Hundred, they seem not to have reasoned why, but to have done as they were bidden, and they met at the appointed time.

When they came together they found themselves on a greensward where a drove of magnificent horses, owned by one Tin Kin, was quietly pasturing. Casan curtly ordered each to mount a courser as quickly as possible, and to gain a neighboring plain at all speed.

The tiny dwarf set the example. Springing from the ground with great agility, he grasped a startled steed by its mane, and by a skilful manoeuver was on its back in an instant. His comrades followed suit; the fleet-footed animals charged ahead, and soon all the Tartar boys were drawn up before their small leader. Here Casan, without saddle or bridle, put them through all the military exercises he could think of. "If we should ever be called upon to go to war," he remarked, we should be found soldiers already trained for battle. A true warrior should manage his courser by word or touch, or even a glance."

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Now, according to the Tartar code, the theft of a horse was punishable by death. Tin Kin, the owner of the herd, soon discovered that some of his choicest animals were missing, and off he started in hot pursuit, vowing vengeance on the miscreants. He soon came in sight of the evil-doers, but his rage gave place to astonishment when he found his superb steeds mounted by half-grown children who were going through various exercises, under the command of a dwarf. Before he had time to speak, Casan came charging to him, saying: "We have not stolen your horses, as you may think. These are my soldiers. I wished to teach them to ride well, and in order to do so, I borrowed some of your coursers. You, who know their value best, can surely find nothing wrong in our actions; on the contrary, you should be pleased to have your animals appreciated, and I can assure you we have found them worthy the highest praise."

The owner was so taken aback at the dwarf's harangue that for a moment he stood speechless. He soon, however, regained possession

of his wits, and exclaimed: "You appear to be a queer character. Come to me with your comrades, and we will talk the matter over together."

The little cavaliers with one accord accepted the invitation, rode back to the tent of Tin Kin, breakfasted with him, and the result of it all was that a firm friendship was established between the Tartar horse-merchant and the reckless little dwarf and his followers.

For many years previous to this time, Genghis Khan, whose real name was Temuchin, had been having a great deal of trouble with the thirteen Mongol tribes that owed obedience to his father Yesukai. Yesukai died in 1175, when Temuchin was thirteen years old, and while Richard Coeur de Lion and Philip Augustus of France were quarreling with each other during their crusade to the Holy Land, Temuchin was engaged in constant warfare with one or another of the disobedient Mongol hordes.

At last, in 1206, his power seemed to be firmly established, and he concluded that the time had come for him to proclaim himself emperor. He accordingly called all the khans of his empire to meet at Karakorum, his capital, to do him homage. Casan was greatly excited when he heard the news, and he resolved to witness the coronation, and, if possible, to present himself to his emperor and to join his imperial army.

The small dwarf, by the help of his mother, managed to fit himself out in Tartar costume suitable to the occasion, and then he went to Tin Kin, told him his project, and asked the loan of one of his horses. Tin Kin was delighted, praised his little friend, and not only gave him one of his most beautiful coursers, but also presented him with an attendant to act as a sort of esquire or armor-bearer. Karakorum was soon reached. The different khans met on the appointed day. They were all clothed in white; and Temuchin, with a shining diadem upon his brow, advanced and seated himself on a throne erected for him. First he received congratulations from all the princes, then he stepped down and made a long speech, which I suppose must have been very eloquent, and after this he seated himself upon

a small black rug that was spread for him. For a long time this piece of carpet was revered and preserved as a sacred relic. No fewer than seven khans assisted him to rise, and conducted him back to the throne. Here, after a great deal of talk and mummery, he was finally proclaimed Lord of the Mongol Empire, and requested to adopt the name and title Genghis Khan, which, though spelled in at least seven different ways, yet has only one meaning"Perfect Warrior."

The Tartar and Mongol chiefs and warriors now swarmed about him, all vying with one another to gain his attention. Casan began to think it was his time; and, no doubt saying to himself in Tartar dialect something that meant "Now or never!" he mounted his impatient horse, burst through the crowd, and rode straight up to Genghis Khan.

"Prince of the great empire," said he, "they tell me you are going to undertake a war against China which will make your glory eternal. Happy will be the captains who fight by your side and obey your orders. True, I am a dwarf, not favored by nature; but "- here he struck his breast with his tiny fist "I feel within me a martial spirit equal to that of your greatest general. I already have command of a troop of young warriors all eager for battle. Try me, great Emperor. Permit me to join the army, and my actions shall prove the truth of my words."

Genghis Khan was now a man forty years old. He was stern and dignified, but a good judge of character; and the self-possession of the dwarf both pleased and amused him. He liked the confidence Casan appeared to have in himself, and he replied: "Well done, my fine little fellow. I accept your offer in the spirit in which it is made. When we set out on our journey to the Chinese Empire you shall join the army, and you shall have a captainship."

These words, falling from the lips of the Emperor, produced an effect upon Casan that it is difficult to describe. His little Mongol features became animated, his black eyes sparkled beneath their long lashes, and his small frame quivered with excitement. The bystanders at the court were filled with astonishment, and

his parents were thunderstruck when they heard the news.

Now it so happened that Genghis, in order to subdue the deserters from his father's tribes, had dethroned several princes or khans. These petty chiefs had been in the habit of paying tribute to the great sovereign of the Kin Empire in North China. This high and mighty potentate now demanded money from Genghis Khan, thereby rousing the ire of our Mongolian warrior, who announced that rather than pay one cent for tribute he would fight the whole Chinese kingdom. Preparations for war were at once begun, and Casan was delighted when he received orders to join the army. At last his dream was realized. He was going to fight real battles, and he was in command of a body of troops. He bade adieu to his family, and with a proud heart set out to meet his sovereign.

As a first step, Genghis Khan invaded Western Hea, captured several strongholds, and retired in the summer to a place called Lung Ting, in order to escape the great heat of the plains or steppes. While there, news reached him that several other khans were preparing for war. He thereupon descended from the heights, marched against his foes, and in a pitched battle on the river Irtish he overthrew them completely. Casan attracted a great deal of notice on this occasion. He was here, there, and everywhere. On his mettlesome charger he bounded into the thickest of the fight, hurling his lance with unerring aim, and displaying great courage.

After the fray he was summoned to appear before the conqueror, who complimented the dwarf, saying: "Thy valor and thy courage have completely justified thy promises. From this day forth thou shalt be a khan; thou shalt have command of a large body of troops, and shalt hereafter be my companion in arms.'

Casan was so delighted that he could scarcely contain his small self, and he longed for another battle. He had not long to wait. From the very earliest period of history the Chinese had found their warlike neighbors very troublesome. The Tartars had made so many raids into the Celestial Empire that they were greatly dreaded; and to prevent their at

tacks, the Chinese had made on their northern frontier the Great Wall of China. Built about two hundred years before the Christian era, its entire length was about fifteen hundred miles. It was carried over the ridges of the highest hills and into the depths of the deep

est valleys; it crossed great rivers, being double in important passes. At distances of a hundred yards there were towers thirty-seven feet high, which measured forty-five feet at the base, while the wall itself was twenty-five feet thick. This stupendous piece of work had proved

ciplined armies into Western Hea, defeated the Kin army, and at last reached the Great Wall.

The small figure of the dwarf was conspicuous at the assault. Fierce as a lion, he managed to be one of the first upon the ramparts. Brandishing his sword, he shouted orders to his

men in a voice as deep and loud as any of the officers'. The fortification at last

gave way, the immense army pushed through, and Genghis Khan, with Casan by his side, had captured the Wu-leang-hai pass, and penetrated the Great Wall. was one of the greatest achievements in the life of the mighty conqueror.

This

Once established inside the Great Wall, the Tartar chief despatched three armies to overrun the Empire. Three of his sons commanded the right wing, his brothers led the left, while Genghis Khan, with a fourth son, and accompanied by Casan, directed the center column toward the southeast. As the troops marched on, cities and royal residences fell into their hands, and so they amassed great spoils.

At last, in the year 1214, Genghis halted in his triumphal career

After the battle of the Irtish, victory after victory perched upon the banners of the Mongol conqueror. Again he poured his well dis

is now called. The members of the court here were greatly astonished and somewhat frightened when an envoy from their former vassal Temuchin demanded from them the