the last of the plainsmen-第19章

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The　Yellow　Knives　were　breaking　camp；　and　the　hunters　were　at　once　conscious　of　the　difference　in　their　bearing。　Rea　addressed　several　braves；　but　got　no　reply。　He　laid　his　broad　hand　on　the　old　wrinkled　chief；　who　repulsed　him；　and　turned　his　back。　With　a　growl；　the　trapper　spun　the　Indian　round；　and　spoke　as　many　words　of　the　language　as　he　knew。　He　got　a　cold　response；　which　ended　in　the　ragged　old　chief　starting　up；　stretching　a　long；　dark　arm　northward；　and　with　eyes　fixed　in　fanatical　subjection；　shouting：　〃Naza！　Naza！　Naza！〃

〃Heathen！〃　Rea　shook　his　gun　in　the　faces　of　the　messengers。　〃It'll　go　bad　with　you　to　come　Nazain'　any　longer　on　our　trail。　Come；　Buff；　clear　out　before　I　get　mad。〃

When　they　were　once　more　in　the　cabin；　Rea　told　Jones　that　the　messengers　had　been　sent　to　warn　the　Yellow　Knives　not　to　aid　the　white　hunters　in　any　way。　That　night　the　dogs　were　kept　inside；　and　the　men　took　turns　in　watching。　Morning　showed　a　broad　trail　southward。　And　with　the　going　of　the　Yellow　Knives　the　mercury　dropped　to　fifty；　and　the　long；　twilight　winter　night　fell。

So　with　this　agreeable　riddance　and　plenty　of　meat　and　fuel　to　cheer　them；　the　hunters　sat　down　in　their　snug　cabin　to　wait　many　months　for　daylight。

Those　few　intervals　when　the　wind　did　not　blow　were　the　only　times　Rea　and　Jones　got　out　of　doors。　To　the　plainsman；　new　to　the　north；　the　dim　gray　world　about　him　was　of　exceeding　interest。　Out　of　the　twilight　shone　a　wan；　round；　lusterless　ring　that　Rea　said　was　the　sun。　The　silence　and　desolation　were　heart…numbing。

〃Where　are　the　wolves？〃　asked　Jones　of　Rea。

〃Wolves　can't　live　on　snow。　They're　farther　south　after　caribou；　or　farther　north　after　musk…ox。〃

In　those　few　still　intervals　Jones　remained　out　as　long　as　he　dared；　with　the　mercury　sinking　to　…sixty　degrees。　He　turned　from　the　wonder　of　the　unreal；　remote　sun；　to　the　marvel　in　the　northAurora　borealisever…present；　ever…changing；　ever…beautiful！　and　he　gazed　in　rapt　attention。

〃Polar　lights；〃　said　Rea；　as　if　he　were　speaking　of　biscuits。　〃You'll　freeze。　It's　gettin'　cold。〃

Cold　it　became；　to　the　matter　of　…seventy　degrees。　Frost　covered　the　walls　of　the　cabin　and　the　roof；　except　just　over　the　fire。　The　reindeer　were　harder　than　iron。　A　knife　or　an　ax　or　a　steel…trap　burned　as　if　it　had　been　heated　in　fire；　and　stuck　to　the　hand。　The　hunters　experienced　trouble　in　breathing；　the　air　hurt　their　lungs。

The　months　dragged。　Rea　grew　more　silent　day　by　day；　and　as　he　sat　before　the　fire　his　wide　shoulders　sagged　lower　and　lower。　Jones；　unaccustomed　to　the　waiting；　the　restraint；　the　barrier　of　the　north；　worked　on　guns；　sleds；　harness；　till　he　felt　he　would　go　mad。　Then　to　save　his　mind　he　constructed　a　windmill　of　caribou　hides　and　pondered　over　it　trying　to　invent；　to　put　into　practical　use　an　idea　he　had　once　conceived。

Hour　after　hour　he　lay　under　his　blankets　unable　to　sleep；　and　listened　to　the　north　wind。　Sometimes　Rea　mumbled　in　his　slumbers；　once　his　giant　form　started　up；　and　he　muttered　a　woman's　name。　Shadows　from　the　fire　flickered　on　the　walls；　visionary；　spectral　shadows；　cold　and　gray；　fitting　the　north。　At　such　times　he　longed　with　all　the　power　of　his　soul　to　be　among　those　scenes　far　southward；　which　he　called　home。　For　days　Rea　never　spoke　a　word；　only　gazed　into　the　fire；　ate　and　slept。　Jones；　drifting　far　from　his　real　self；　feared　the　strange　mood　of　the　trapper　and　sought　to　break　it；　but　without　avail。　More　and　more　he　reproached　himself；　and　singularly　on　the　one　fact　that；　as　he　did　not　smoke　himself；　he　had　brought　only　a　small　store　of　tobacco。　Rea；　inordinate　and　inveterate　smoker；　had　puffed　away　all　the　weed　in　clouds　of　white；　then　had　relapsed　into　gloom。



CHAPTER　10。　SUCCESS　AND　FAILURE

At　last　the　marvel　in　the　north　dimmed；　the　obscure　gray　shade　lifted；　the　hope　in　the　south　brightened；　and　the　mercury　climbed　reluctantly；　with　a　tyrant's　hate　to　relinquish　power。

Spring　weather　at　twenty…five　below　zero！　On　April　12th　a　small　band　of　Indians　made　their　appearance。　Of　the　Dog　tribe　were　they；　an　offcast　of　the　Great　Slaves；　according　to　Rea；　and　as　motley；　starring　and　starved　as　the　Yellow　Knives。　But　they　were　friendly；　which　presupposed　ignorance　of　the　white　hunters；　and　Rea　persuaded　the　strongest　brave　to　accompany　them　as　guide　northward　after　musk…oxen。

On　April　16th；　having　given　the　Indians　several　caribou　carcasses；　and　assuring　them　that　the　cabin　was　protected　by　white　spirits；　Rea　and　Jones；　each　with　sled　and　train　of　dogs；　started　out　after　their　guide；　who　was　similarly　equipped；　over　the　glistening　snow　toward　the　north。　They　made　sixty　miles　the　first　day；　and　pitched　their　Indian　tepee　on　the　shores　of　Artillery　Lake。　Traveling　northeast；　they　covered　its　white　waste　of　one　hundred　miles　in　two　days。　Then　a　day　due　north；　over　rolling；　monotonously　snowy　plain；　devoid　of　rock；　tree　or　shrub；　brought　them　into　a　country　of　the　strangest；　queerest　little　spruce　trees；　very　slender；　and　none　of　them　over　fifteen　feet　in　height。　A　primeval　forest　of　saplings。

〃Ditchen　Nechila；〃　said　the　guide。

〃Land　of　Sticks　Little；〃　translated　Rea。

An　occasional　reindeer　was　seen　and　numerous　foxes　and　hares　trotted　off　into　the　woods；　evincing　more　curiosity　than　fear。　All　were　silver　white；　even　the　reindeer；　at　a　distance；　taking　the　hue　of　the　north。　Once　a　beautiful　creature；　unblemished　as　the　snow　it　trod；　ran　up　a　ridge　and　stood　watching　the　hunters。　It　resembled　a　monster　dog；　only　it　was　inexpressibly　more　wild　looking。

〃Ho！　Ho！　there　you　are！〃　cried　Rea；　reaching　for　his　Winchester。　〃Polar　wolf！　Them's　the　white　devils　we'll　have　hell　with。〃

As　if　the　wolf　understood；　he　lifted　his　white；　sharp　head　and　uttered　a　bark　or　howl　that　was　like　nothing　so　much　as　a　haunting；　unearthly　mourn。　The　animal　then　merged　into　the　white；　as　if　he　were　really　a　spirit　of　the　world　whence　his　cry　seemed　to　come。

In　this　ancient　forest　of　youthful　appearing　trees；　the　hunters　cut　firewood　to　the　full　carrying　capacity　of　the　sleds。　For　five　days　the　Indian　guide　drove　his　dogs　over　the　smooth　crust；　and　on　the　sixth　day；　about　noon；　halting　in　a　hollow；　he　pointed　to　tracks　in　the　snow　and　called　out：　〃Ageter！　Ageter！　Ageter！〃

The　hunters　saw　sharply　defined　hoof…marks；　not　unlike　the　tracks　of　reindeer；　except　that　they　were　longer。　The　tepee　was　set　up　on　the　spot　and　the　dogs　unharnessed。

The　Indian　led　the　way　with　the　dogs；　and　Rea　and　Jones　followed；　slipping　over　the　hard　crust　without　sinking　in　and　traveling　swiftly。　Soon　the　guide；　pointing；　again　let　out　the　cry：　〃Ageter！〃　at　the　same　moment　loosing　the　dogs。

Some　few　hundred　yards　down　the　hollow；　a　number　of　large　black　animals；　not　unlike　the　shaggy；　humpy　buffalo；　lumbered　over　the　snow。　Jones　echoed　Rea's　yell；　and　broke　into　a　run；　easily　distancing　the　puffing　giant。

The　musk…oxen　squared　round　to　the　dogs；　and　were　soon　surrounded　by　the　yelping　pack。　Jones　came　up　to　find　six　old　bulls　uttering　grunts　of　rage　and　shaking　ram…like　horns　at　their　tormentors。　Notwithstanding　that　for　Jones　this　was　the　cumulation　of　years　of　desire；　the　crowning　moment；　the　climax　and　fruition　of　long…harbored　dreams；　he　halted　before　the　tame　and　helpless　beasts；　with　joy　not　unmixed　with　pain。

〃It　will　be　murder！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃It's　like　shooting　down　sheep。〃

Rea　came　crashing　up　behind　him　and　yelled；　〃Get　busy。　We　need　fresh　meat；　an'　I　want　the　skins。〃

The　bulls　succumbed　to　well…directed　shots；　and　the　Indian　and　Rea　hurried　back　to　camp　with　the　dogs　to　fetch　the　sleds；　while　Jones　examined　with　warm　interest　the　animals　he　had　wanted　to　see　all　his　life。　He　found　the　largest　bull　approached　within　a　third　of　the　size　of　a　buffalo。　He　was　of　a　brownish…black　color　and　very　like　a　large；　woolly　ram。　His　head　was　broad；　with　sharp；　small　ears；　the　horns　had　wide　and　flattened　bases　and　lay　flat　on　the　head；　to　run　down　back　of　the　eyes；　then　curve　forward　to　a　sharp　point。　Like　the　bison；　the　musk　ox　had　short；　heavy　limbs；　covered　with　very　long　hair；　and　small；　hard　hoofs　with　hairy　tufts　inside　the　curve　of　bone；　which　probably　served　as　pads　or　checks　to　hold　the　hoof　firm　on　ice。　His　legs　seemed　out　of　proportion　to　his　body。

Two　musk…oxen　were　loaded　on　a　sled　and　hauled　to　camp　in　one　trip。　Skinning　them　was　but　short　work　for　such　expert　hands。　All　the　choice　cuts　of　meat　were　saved。　No　time　was　lost　in　broiling　a　steak；　which　they　found　sweet　and　juicy；　with　a　flavor　of　musk　that　was　disagreeable。

〃Now；　Rea；　for　the　calves；〃　exclaimed　Jones；　〃And　then　we're　homeward　bound。〃

〃I　hate　to　tell　this　redskin；〃　replied　Rea。　〃He'll　be　like　the　others。　But　it　ain't　likely　he'd　desert　us　here。　He's　far　from　his　base；　with　nothin'　but　thet　old　musket。〃　Rea　then　commanded　the　attention　of　the　brave；　and　began　to　mangle　the　Great　Slave　and　Yellow　Knife　languages。　Of　this　mixture　Jones　knew　but　few　words。　〃Ageter　nechila；〃　which　Rea　kept　repeating；　he　knew；　however；　meant　〃musk…oxen　little。〃

The　guide　stared；　suddenly　appeared　to　get　Rea's　meaning；　then　vigorously　shook　his　head　and　gazed　at　Jones　in　fear　and　horror。　Following　this　came　an　action　as　singular　as　inexplicable。　Slowly　rising；　he　faced　the　north；　lifted　his　hand；　and　remained　statuesque　in　his　immobility。　Then　he　began　deliberately　packing　his　blankets　and　traps　on　his　sled；　which　had　not　been　unhitched　from　the　train　of　dogs。

〃Jackoway　ditchen　hula；〃　he　said；　and　pointed　south。

〃Jackoway　ditchen　hula；〃　echoed　Rea。　〃The　damned　Indian　says　'wife　sticks　none。'　He's　goin'　to　quit　us。　What　do　you　think　of　thet？　His　wife's　out　of　wood。　Jackoway　out　of　wood；　an'　here　we　are　two　days　from　the　Arctic　Ocean。　Jones；　the　damned　heathen　don't　go　back！〃

The　trapper　coolly　cocked　his　rifle。　The　savage；　who　plainly　saw　and　understood　the　action；　never　flinched。　He　turned　his　breast　to　Rea；　and　there　was　nothing　in　his　demeanor　to　suggest　his　relation　to　a　craven　tribe。

〃Good　heavens；　Rea；　don't　kill　him！〃　exclaimed　Jones；　knocking　up　the　leveled　rifle。

〃Why　not；　I'd　like　to　know？〃　demanded　Rea；　as　if　he　were　considering　the　fate　of　a　threatening　beast。　〃I　reckon　it'd　be　a　bad　thing　for　us　to　let　him　go。〃

〃Let　him　go；〃　said　Jones。　〃We　are　here　on　the　ground。　We　have　dogs　and　meat。　We'll　get　our　calves　and　reach　the　lake　as　soon　as　he　does；　and　we　might　get　there　before。〃

〃Mebbe　we　will；〃　growled　Rea。

No　vacillation　attended　the　Indian's　mood。　From　friendly　guide；　he　had　suddenly　been　transformed　into　a　dark；　sullen　savage。　He　refused　the　musk…ox　meat　offered　by　Jones；　and　he　pointed　south　and　looked　at　the　white　hunters　as　if　he　asked　them　to　go　with　him。　Both　men　shook　their　heads　in　answer。　The　savage　struck　his　breast　a　sounding　blow　and　with　his　index　finger　pointed　at　the　white　of　the　north；　he　shouted　dramatically：　〃Naza！　Naza！　Naza！〃

He　then　leaped　upon　his　sled；　lashed　his　dogs　into　a　run；　and　without　looking　back　disappeared　over　a　ridge。

The　musk…ox　hunters　sat　long　silent。　Finally　Rea　shook　his　shaggy　locks　and　roared。　〃Ho！　Ho！　Jackoway　out　of　wood！　Jackoway　out　of　wood！　Jackoway　out　of　wood！〃

On　the　day　following　the　desertion；　Jones　found　tracks　to　the　north　of　the　camp；　making　a　broad　trail　in　which　wer