the faith of men(人们的信任)-第22章
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was determined to have his life； only Black Leclere； with ominous eyes
and naked hunting…knife； stepped in between。 The killing of Batardah；
SACREDAM； THAT was a pleasure Leclere reserved for himself。 Some
day it would happen； or elsebah！ who was to know？ Anyway； the
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problem would be solved。
For they had become problems to each other。 The very breath each
drew was a challenge and a menace to the other。 Their hate bound them
together as love could never bind。 Leclere was bent on the coming of the
day when Batard should wilt in spirit and cringe and whimper at his feet。
And BatardLeclere knew what was in Batard's mind； and more than once
had read it in Batard's eyes。 And so clearly had he read； that when Batard
was at his back； he made it a point to glance often over his shoulder。
Men marvelled when Leclere refused large money for the dog。
〃Some day you'll kill him and be out his price；〃 said John Hamlin once；
when Batard lay panting in the snow where Leclere had kicked him； and
no one knew whether his ribs were broken； and no one dared look to see。
〃Dat；〃 said Leclere； dryly； 〃dat is my biz'ness； M'sieu'。〃
And the men marvelled that Batard did not run away。 They did not
understand。 But Leclere understood。 He was a man who lived much in
the open； beyond the sound of human tongue； and he had learned the
voices of wind and storm； the sigh of night； the whisper of dawn； the clash
of day。 In a dim way he could hear the green things growing； the running
of the sap； the bursting of the bud。 And he knew the subtle speech of the
things that moved； of the rabbit in the snare； the moody raven beating the
air with hollow wing； the baldface shuffling under the moon； the wolf like
a grey shadow gliding betwixt the twilight and the dark。 And to him
Batard spoke clear and direct。 Full well he understood why Batard did
not run away； and he looked more often over his shoulder。
When in anger； Batard was not nice to look upon； and more than once
had he leapt for Leclere's throat； to be stretched quivering and senseless in
the snow； by the butt of the ever ready dogwhip。 And so Batard learned
to bide his time。 When he reached his full strength and prime of youth；
he thought the time had come。 He was broad…chested； powerfully
muscled； of far more than ordinary size； and his neck from head to
shoulders was a mass of bristling hair to all appearances a full…blooded
wolf。 Leclere was lying asleep in his furs when Batard deemed the time
to be ripe。 He crept upon him stealthily； head low to earth and lone ear
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laid back； with a feline softness of tread。 Batard breathed gently； very
gently； and not till he was close at hand did he raise his head。 He paused
for a moment and looked at the bronzed bull throat； naked and knotty； and
swelling to a deep steady pulse。 The slaver dripped down his fangs and
slid off his tongue at the sight； and in that moment he remembered his
drooping ear； his uncounted blows and prodigious wrongs； and without a
sound sprang on the sleeping man。
Leclere awoke to the pang of the fangs in his throat； and； perfect
animal that he was； he awoke clear…headed and with full comprehension。
He closed on Batard's windpipe with both his hands； and rolled out of his
furs to get his weight uppermost。 But the thousands of Batard's ancestors
had clung at the throats of unnumbered moose and caribou and dragged
them down； and the wisdom of those ancestors was his。 When Leclere's
weight came on top of him； he drove his hind legs upwards and in； and
clawed down chest and abdomen； ripping and tearing through skin and
muscle。 And when he felt the man's body wince above him and lift； he
worried and shook at the man's throat。 His team…mates closed around in
a snarling circle； and Batard； with failing breath and fading sense； knew
that their jaws were hungry for him。 But that did not matter… …it was the
man； the man above him； and he ripped and clawed； and shook and
worried； to the last ounce of his strength。 But Leclere choked him with
both his hands； till Batard's chest heaved and writhed for the air denied；
and his eyes glazed and set； and his jaws slowly loosened； and his tongue
protruded black and swollen。
〃Eh？ Bon； you devil！〃 Leclere gurgled mouth and throat clogged
with his own blood； as he shoved the dizzy dog from him。
And then Leclere cursed the other dogs off as they fell upon Batard。
They drew back into a wider circle； squatting alertly on their haunches and
licking their chops； the hair on every neck bristling and erect。
Batard recovered quickly； and at sound of Leclere's voice； tottered to
his feet and swayed weakly back and forth。
〃A…h…ah！ You beeg devil！〃 Leclere spluttered。 〃Ah fix you； Ah fix
you plentee； by GAR！〃
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Batard； the air biting into his exhausted lungs like wine； flashed full
into the man's face； his jaws missing and coming together with a metallic
clip。 They rolled over and over on the snow； Leclere striking madly with
his fists。 Then they separated； face to face； and circled back and forth
before each other。 Leclere could have drawn his knife。 His rifle was at
his feet。 But the beast in him was up and raging。 He would do the thing
with his handsand his teeth。 Batard sprang in； but Leclere knocked him
over with a blow of the fist； fell upon him； and buried his teeth to the bone
in the dog's shoulder。
It was a primordial setting and a primordial scene； such as might have
been in the savage youth of the world。 An open space in a dark forest； a
ring of grinning wolf…dogs； and in the centre two beasts； locked in combat；
snapping and snarling raging madly about panting； sobbing； cursing；
straining； wild with passion； in a fury of murder； ripping and tearing and
clawing in elemental brutishness。
But Leclere caught Batard behind the ear with a blow from his fist；
knocking him over； and； for the instant； stunning him。 Then Leclere
leaped upon him with his feet； and sprang up and down； striving to grind
him into the earth。 Both Batard's hind legs were broken ere Leclere
ceased that he might catch breath。
〃A…a…ah！ A…a…ah！〃 he screamed； incapable of speech； shaking his fist；
through sheer impotence of throat and larynx。
But Batard was indomitable。 He lay there in a helpless welter； his lip
feebly lifting and writhing to the snarl he had not the strength to utter。
Leclere kicked him； and the tired jaws closed on the ankle； but could not
break the skin。
Then Leclere picked up the whip and proceeded almost to cut him to
pieces； at each stroke of the lash crying： 〃Dis taim Ah break you！ Eh？
By GAR！ Ah break you！〃
In the end； exhausted； fainting from loss of blood； he crumpled up and
fell by his victim； and when the wolf…dogs closed in to take their
vengeance； with his last consciousness dragged his body on top of Batard
to shield him from their fangs。
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This occurred not far from Sunrise； and the missionary； opening the
door to Leclere a few hours later； was surprised to note the absence of
Batard from the team。 Nor did his surprise lessen when Leclere threw
back the robes from the sled； gathered Batard into his arms and staggered
across the threshold。 It happened that the surgeon of McQuestion； who
was something of a gadabout； was up on a gossip； and between them they
proceeded to repair Leclere；
〃Merci； non；〃 said he。 〃Do you fix firs' de dog。 To die？ NON。 Eet
is not good。 Becos' heem Ah mus' yet break。 Dat fo' w'at he mus' not
die。〃
The surgeon called it a marvel； the missionary a miracle； that Leclere
pulled through at all； and so weakened was he； that in the spring the fever
got him； and he went on his back again。 Batard had been in even worse
plight； but his grip on life prevailed； and the bones of his hind legs knit；
and his organs righted themselves； during the several weeks he lay
strapped to the floor。 And by the time Leclere； finally convalescent；
sallow and shaky； took the sun by the cabin door； Batard had reasserted his
supremacy among his kind； and brought not only his own team…mates but
the missionary's dogs into subjection。
He moved never a muscle； nor twitched a hair； when； for the first time；
Leclere tottered out on the missionary's arm； and sank down slowly and
with infinite caution on the three…legged stool。
〃BON！〃 he said。 〃BON！ De good sun！〃 And he stretched out his
wasted hands and washed them in the warmth。
Then his gaze fell on the dog； and the old light blazed back in his eyes。
He touched the missionary lightly on the arm。 〃Mon pere； dat is one
beeg devil； dat Batard。 You will bring me one pistol； so； dat Ah drink de
sun in peace。〃
And thenceforth for many days he sat in the sun before the cabin door。
He never dozed； and the pistol lay always across his knees。 Batard had a
way； the first thing each day； of looking for the weapon in its wonted place。
At sight of it he would lift his lip faintly in token that he understood； and
Leclere would lift his own lip in an answering grin。 One day the
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missionary took note of the trick。
〃Bless me！〃 he s
