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He had been in alliance with Yezonkai, Temujin's father, some years before, when Temujin was quite a boy, and it was at that time that he began to call him his son. Accordingly, when Purta was brought to him by the messengers who had been sent in charge of her, and presented to him in his tent, he said, "She is very beautiful, but I can not take her for my wife, for she is the wife of my son.
In a word, the fame of Temujin's prowess spread rapidly after the battle over all the surrounding countries, and high anticipations began to be formed of the greatness and glory of his reign. In the course of the next year Temujin was married to his second wife, although he was at this time only fourteen years old. The name of his bride was Purta Kugin.
I can not marry the wife of my son." Vang Khan, however, received Purta under his charge, gave her a place in his household, and took good care of her. When Temujin returned home from his expedition, and learned what had happened during his absence, he was greatly distressed at the loss of his wife.
So Purta, it is said, wrapped up the tender limbs of the infant in some sort of paste or dough, to save them from the effects of the jolting produced by the rough sort of cart in which she was compelled to ride, and in that condition she held the babe in her lap all the way home. She arrived at her husband's residence in safety.
Toward the end of the second year Purta was again about to become a mother, and Temujin, who at that time had occasion to go off on some military expedition, fearing that the fatigue and exposure would be more than she could well bear, left her at home. While he was gone a troop of horsemen, from a tribe of his enemies, came suddenly into the district on a marauding expedition.
They overpowered the troops Temujin had left to guard the place, and seized and carried off every thing that they could find that was valuable. They made prisoner of Purta, too, and carried her away a captive. The plunder they divided among themselves, but Purta they sent as a present to a certain khan who reigned over a neighboring country, and whose favor they wished to secure.
The name of this chieftain was Vang Khan. As this Vang Khan figures somewhat conspicuously in the subsequent history of Temujin, a full account of him will be given in the next chapter. All that is necessary to say here is, that the intention of the captors of Purta, in sending her to him as a present, was that he should make her his wife.
As soon as the child was born it was determined to continue the journey, for there was danger, if they delayed, that some new troop of enemies might come up, in which case Purta would perhaps be made captive again.
Temujin's accession. Discontent. Taychot and Chamuka. Arrangements for the battle. Temujin's ardor. Porgie. Exaggerated statements. The battle. Bravery of Temujin and Porgie. Influence of Temujin's example. Taychot slain. The victory. Rewards and honors. Temujin's rising fame. His second wife. Purta carried away captive. Customary present. Purta and Vang Khan. Purta's return. Birth of her child.
Not long afterward he ascertained where she was, and he immediately sent a deputation to Vang Khan asking him to send her home. With this request Vang Khan immediately complied, and Purta set out on her return. She was stopped on the way, however, by the birth of her child. It was a son.
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