TALESOFTHEKLONDYKE
THEGODOFHISFATHERS
Contents:
TheGodofHisFathersTheGreatInterrogationWhichMakeMenRememberSiwashTheManwiththeGashJan,theUnrepentantGritofWomenWheretheTrailForksADaughteroftheAuroraAttheRainbow’sEndTheScornofWomenTHEGODOFHISFATHERS
Oneveryhandstretchedtheforestprimeval,——thehomeofnoisycomedyandsilenttragedy。Herethestruggleforsurvivalcontinuedtowagewithallitsancientbrutality。BritonandRussianwerestilltooverlapintheLandoftheRainbow’sEnd——
andthiswastheveryheartofit——norhadYankeegoldyetpurchaseditsvastdomain。Thewolf—packstillclungtotheflankofthecariboo—herd,singlingouttheweakandthebigwithcalf,andpullingthemdownasremorselesslyaswereitathousand,thousandgenerationsintothepast。Thesparseaboriginesstillacknowledgedtheruleoftheirchiefsandmedicinemen,droveoutbadspirits,burnedtheirwitches,foughttheirneighbors,andatetheirenemieswitharelishwhichspokewelloftheirbellies。
Butitwasatthemomentwhenthestoneagewasdrawingtoaclose。Already,overunknowntrailsandchartlesswildernesses,weretheharbingersofthesteelarriving,——fair—faced,blue—eyed,indomitablemen,incarnationsoftheunrestoftheirrace。Byaccidentordesign,single—handedandintwosandthrees,theycamefromnooneknewwhither,andfought,ordied,orpassedon,nooneknewwhence。Thepriestsragedagainstthem,thechiefscalledforththeirfightingmen,andstoneclashedwithsteel;buttolittlepurpose。Likewaterseepingfromsomemightyreservoir,theytrickledthroughthedarkforestsandmountainpasses,threadingthehighwaysinbarkcanoes,orwiththeirmoccasinedfeetbreakingtrailforthewolf—dogs。Theycameofagreatbreed,andtheirmothersweremany;butthefur—claddenizensoftheNorthlandhadthisyettolearn。Somanyanunsungwandererfoughthislastanddiedunderthecoldfireoftheaurora,asdidhisbrothersinburningsandsandreekingjungles,andastheyshallcontinuetodotillinthefulnessoftimethedestinyoftheirracebeachieved。
Itwasneartwelve。Alongthenorthernhorizonarosyglow,fadingtothewestanddeepeningtotheeast,markedtheunseendipofthemidnightsun。Thegloamingandthedawnweresocommingledthattherewasnonight,——simplyaweddingofdaywithday,ascarcelyperceptibleblendingoftwocirclesofthesun。A
kildeetimidlychirpedgood—night;thefull,richthroatofarobinproclaimedgood—morrow。FromanislandonthebreastoftheYukonacolonyofwildfowlvoiceditsinterminablewrongs,whilealoonlaughedmockinglybackacrossastillstretchofriver。
Intheforeground,againstthebankofalazyeddy,birch—barkcanoeswerelinedtwoandthreedeep。Ivory—bladedspears,bone—
barbedarrows,buckskin—thongedbows,andsimplebasket—woventrapsbespokethefactthatinthemuddycurrentoftheriverthesalmon—runwason。Inthebackground,fromthetangleofskintentsanddryingframes,rosethevoicesofthefisherfolk。
Bucksskylarkedwithbucksorflirtedwiththemaidens,whiletheoldersquaws,shutoutfromthisbyvirtueofhavingfulfilledtheendoftheirexistenceinreproduction,gossipedastheybraidedropefromthegreenrootsoftrailingvines。Attheirfeettheirnakedprogenyplayedandsquabbled,orrolledinthemuckwiththetawnywolf—dogs。
Toonesideoftheencampment,andconspicuouslyapartfromit,stoodasecondcampoftwotents。Butitwasawhiteman’scamp。
Ifnothingelse,thechoiceofpositionatleastboreconvincingevidenceofthis。Incaseofoffence,itcommandedtheIndianquartersahundredyardsaway;ofdefence,arisetothegroundandtheclearedinterveningspace;andlast,ofdefeat,theswiftslopeofascoreofyardstothecanoesbelow。Fromoneofthetentscamethepetulantcryofasickchildandthecrooningsongofamother。Intheopen,overthesmoulderingembersofafire,twomenheldtalk。
\"Eh?Ilovethechurchlikeagoodson。Bien!Sogreatalovethatmydayshavebeenspentinfleeingawayfromher,andmynightsindreamingdreamsofreckoning。Lookyou!\"Thehalf—
breed’svoicerosetoanangrysnarl。\"IamRedRiverborn。Myfatherwaswhite——aswhiteasyou。ButyouareYankee,andhewasBritishbred,andagentleman’sson。Andmymotherwasthedaughterofachief,andIwasaman。Ay,andonehadtolookthesecondtimetoseewhatmannerofbloodraninmyveins;forI
livedwiththewhites,andwasoneofthem,andmyfather’sheartbeatinme。Ithappenedtherewasamaiden——white——wholookedonmewithkindeyes。Herfatherhadmuchlandandmanyhorses;alsohewasabigmanamonghispeople,andhisbloodwasthebloodoftheFrench。Hesaidthegirlknewnotherownmind,andtalkedovermuchwithher,andbecamewroththatsuchthingsshouldbe。
\"Butsheknewhermind,forwecamequickbeforethepriest。Andquickerhadcomeherfather,withlyingwords,falsepromises,I
knownotwhat;sothattheprieststiffenedhisneckandwouldnotmakeusthatwemightliveonewiththeother。Asatthebeginningitwasthechurchwhichwouldnotblessmybirth,sonowitwasthechurchwhichrefusedmemarriageandputthebloodofmenuponmyhands。Bien!ThushaveIcausetolovethechurch。
SoIstruckthepriestonhiswoman’smouth,andwetookswifthorses,thegirlandI,toFortPierre,wherewasaministerofgoodheart。Buthotonourtrailwasherfather,andbrothers,andothermenhehadgatheredtohim。Andwefought,ourhorsesontherun,tillIemptiedthreesaddlesandtherestdrewoffandwentontoFortPierre。Thenwetookeast,thegirlandI,tothehillsandforests,andwelivedonewiththeother,andwewerenotmarried,——theworkofthegoodchurchwhichIlovelikeason。
\"Butmarkyou,forthisisthestrangenessofwoman,thewayofwhichnomanmayunderstand。OneofthesaddlesIemptiedwasthatofherfather’s,andthehoofsofthosewhocamebehindhadpoundedhimintotheearth。Thiswesaw,thegirlandI,andthisIhadforgothadshenotremembered。Andinthequietoftheevening,aftertheday’shuntweredone,itcamebetweenus,andinthesilenceofthenightwhenwelaybeneaththestarsandshouldhavebeenone。Itwastherealways。Sheneverspoke,butitsatbyourfireandhelduseverapart。Shetriedtoputitaside,butatsuchtimesitwouldriseuptillIcouldreaditinthelookofhereyes,intheveryin—takeofherbreath。
\"Sointheendsheboremeachild,awoman—child,anddied。ThenIwentamongmymother’speople,thatitmightnurseatawarmbreastandlive。Butmyhandswerewetwiththebloodofmen,lookyou,becauseofthechurch,wetwiththebloodofmen。AndtheRidersoftheNorthcameforme,butmymother’sbrother,whowasthenchiefinhisownright,hidmeandgavemehorsesandfood。Andwewentaway,mywoman—childandI,eventotheHudsonBayCountry,wherewhitemenwerefewandthequestionstheyaskednotmany。AndIworkedforthecompanyahunter,asaguide,asadriverofdogs,tillmywoman—childwasbecomeawoman,tall,andslender,andfairtotheeye。
\"Youknowthewinter,longandlonely,breedingevilthoughtsandbaddeeds。TheChiefFactorwasahardman,andbold。Andhewasnotsuchthatawomanwoulddelightinlookingupon。Buthecasteyesuponmywoman—childwhowasbecomeawoman。MotherofGod!
hesentmeawayonalongtripwiththedogs,thathemight——youunderstand,hewasahardmanandwithoutheart。Shewasmostwhite,andhersoulwaswhite,andagoodwoman,and——well,shedied。
\"Itwasbittercoldthenightofmyreturn,andIhadbeenawaymonths,andthedogswerelimpingsorewhenIcametothefort。
TheIndiansandbreedslookedonmeinsilence,andIfeltthefearofIknewnotwhat,butIsaidnothingtillthedogswerefedandIhadeatenasamanwithworkbeforehimshould。ThenI
spokeup,demandingtheword,andtheyshrankfromme,afraidofmyangerandwhatIshoulddo;butthestorycameout,thepitifulstory,wordforwordandactforact,andtheymarvelledthatI
shouldbesoquiet。
\"WhentheyhaddoneIwenttotheFactor’shouse,calmerthannowinthetellingofit。Hehadbeenafraidandcalleduponthebreedstohelphim;buttheywerenotpleasedwiththedeed,andhadlefthimtolieonthebedhehadmade。Sohehadfledtothehouseofthepriest。ThitherIfollowed。ButwhenIwascometothatplace,theprieststoodinmyway,andspokesoftwords,andsaidamaninangershouldgoneithertotherightnorleft,butstraighttoGod。Iaskedbytherightofafather’swraththathegivemepast,buthesaidonlyoverhisbody,andbesoughtwithmetopray。Lookyou,itwasthechurch,alwaysthechurch;forI
passedoverhisbodyandsenttheFactortomeetmywoman—childbeforehisgod,whichisabadgod,andthegodofthewhitemen。
Thenwastherehueandcry,forwordwassenttothestationbelow,andIcameaway。ThroughtheLandoftheGreatSlave,downtheValleyoftheMackenzietothenever—openingice,overtheWhiteRockies,pasttheGreatCurveoftheYukon,eventothisplacedidIcome。Andfromthatdaytothis,yoursisthefirstfaceofmyfather’speopleIhavelookedupon。Mayitbethelast!Thesepeople,whicharemypeople,areasimplefolk,andI
havebeenraisedtohonoramongthem。Mywordistheirlaw,andtheirpriestsbutdomybidding,elsewouldInotsufferthem。
WhenIspeakforthemIspeakformyself。Weasktobeletalone。
Wedonotwantyourkind。Ifwepermityoutositbyourfires,afteryouwillcomeyourchurch,yourpriests,andyourgods。Andknowthis,foreachwhitemanwhocomestomyvillage,himwillI
makedenyhisgod。Youarethefirst,andIgiveyougrace。Soitwerewellyougo,andgoquickly。\"
\"Iamnotresponsibleformybrothers,\"thesecondmanspokeup,fillinghispipeinameditativemanner。HayStockardwasattimesasthoughtfulofspeechashewaswantonofaction;butonlyattimes。
\"ButIknowyourbreed,\"respondedtheother。\"Yourbrothersaremany,anditisyouandyourswhobreakthetrailforthemtofollow。Intimetheyshallcometopossesstheland,butnotinmytime。Already,haveIheard,aretheyonthehead—reachesoftheGreatRiver,andfarawaybelowaretheRussians。\"
HayStockardliftedhisheadwithaquickstart。Thiswasstartlinggeographicalinformation。TheHudsonBaypostatFortYukonhadothernotionsconcerningthecourseoftheriver,believingittoflowintotheArctic。
\"ThentheYukonemptiesintoBeringSea?\"heasked。
\"Idonotknow,butbelowthereareRussians,manyRussians。
Whichisneitherherenorthere。Youmaygoonandseeforyourself;youmaygobacktoyourbrothers;butuptheKoyukukyoushallnotgowhilethepriestsandfightingmendomybidding。
ThusdoIcommand,I,BaptistetheRed,whosewordislawandwhoamheadmanoverthispeople。\"
\"AndshouldInotgodowntotheRussians,orbacktomybrothers?\"
\"Thenshallyougoswift—footedbeforeyourgod,whichisabadgod,andthegodofthewhitemen。\"
Theredsunshotupabovethenorthernskyline,drippingandbloody。BaptistetheRedcametohisfeet,noddedcurtly,andwentbacktohiscampamidthecrimsonshadowsandthesingingoftherobins。
HayStockardfinishedhispipebythefire,picturinginsmokeandcoaltheunknownupperreachesoftheKoyukuk,thestrangestreamwhichendedhereitsarctictravelsandmergeditswaterswiththemuddyYukonflood。Somewhereupthere,ifthedyingwordsofaship—wreckedsailormanwhohadmadethefearfuloverlandjourneyweretobebelieved,andifthevialofgoldengrainsinhispouchattestedanything,——somewhereupthere,inthathomeofwinter,stoodtheTreasureHouseoftheNorth。Andaskeeperofthegate,BaptistetheRed,Englishhalf—breedandrenegade,barredtheway。
\"Bah!\"Hekickedtheembersapartandrosetohisfullheight,armslazilyoutstretched,facingtheflushingnorthwithcarelesssoul。
II
HayStockardswore,harshly,intheruggedmonosyllablesofhismothertongue。Hiswifeliftedhergazefromthepotsandpans,andfollowedhisinakeenscrutinyoftheriver。ShewasawomanoftheTeslinCountry,wiseinthewaysofherhusband’svernacularwhenitgrewintensive。Fromtheslippingofasnow—
shoethongtotheforefrontofsuddendeath,shecouldgaugeoccasionbythepitchandvolumeofhisblasphemy。Sosheknewthepresentoccasionmeritedattention。Alongcanoe,withpaddlesflashingbacktheraysofthewesteringsun,wascrossingthecurrentfromaboveandurginginfortheeddy。HayStockardwatcheditintently。Threemenroseanddipped,roseanddipped,inrhythmicalprecision;butaredbandanna,wrappedabouttheheadofone,caughtandheldhiseye。
\"Bill!\"hecalled。\"Oh,Bill!\"
Ashambling,loose—jointedgiantrolledoutofoneofthetents,yawningandrubbingthesleepfromhiseyes。Thenhesightedthestrangecanoeandwaswideawakeontheinstant。
\"BythejumpingMethuselah!Thatdamnedsky—pilot!\"
HayStockardnoddedhisheadbitterly,half—reachedforhisrifle,thenshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Pot—shothim,\"Billsuggested,\"andsettlethethingoutofhand。
He’llspoilussureifwedon’t。\"Buttheotherdeclinedthisdrasticmeasureandturnedaway,atthesametimebiddingthewomanreturntoherwork,andcallingBillbackfromthebank。
ThetwoIndiansinthecanoemooreditontheedgeoftheeddy,whileitswhiteoccupant,conspicuousbyhisgorgeoushead—gear,cameupthebank。
\"LikePaulofTarsus,Igiveyougreeting。PeacebeuntoyouandgracebeforetheLord。\"
Hisadvancesweremetsullenly,andwithoutspeech。
\"Toyou,HayStockard,blasphemerandPhilistine,greeting。InyourheartisthelustofMammon,inyourmindcunningdevils,inyourtentthiswomanwhomyoulivewithinadultery;yetofthesediverssins,evenhereinthewilderness,I,SturgesOwen,apostletotheLord,bidyoutorepentandcastfromyouyouriniquities。\"
\"Saveyourcant!Saveyourcant!\"HayStockardbrokeintestily。
\"You’llneedallyou’vegot,andmore,forRedBaptisteoveryonder。\"
HewavedhishandtowardtheIndiancamp,wherethehalf—breedwaslookingsteadilyacross,strivingtomakeoutthenewcomers。
SturgesOwen,disseminatoroflightandapostletotheLord,steppedtotheedgeofthesteepandcommandedhismentobringupthecampoutfit。Stockardfollowedhim。
\"Lookhere,\"hedemanded,pluckingthemissionarybytheshoulderandtwirlinghimabout。\"Doyouvalueyourhide?\"
\"MylifeisintheLord’skeeping,andIdobutworkinHisvineyard,\"herepliedsolemnly。
\"Oh,stowthat!Areyoulookingforajobofmartyrship?\"
\"IfHesowills。\"
\"Well,you’llfinditrighthere,butI’mgoingtogiveyousomeadvicefirst。Takeitorleaveit。Ifyoustophere,you’llbecutoffinthemidstofyourlabors。Andnotyoualone,butyourmen,Bill,mywife——\"
\"WhoisadaughterofBelialandhearkenethnottothetrueGospel。\"
\"Andmyself。Notonlydoyoubringtroubleuponyourself,butuponus。Iwasfrozeninwithyoulastwinter,asyouwillwellrecollect,andIknowyouforagoodmanandafool。Ifyouthinkityourdutytostrivewiththeheathen,wellandgood;but,doexercisesomewitinthewayyougoaboutit。Thisman,RedBaptiste,isnoIndian。Hecomesofourcommonstock,isasbull—
neckedasIeverdaredbe,andaswildafanatictheonewayasyouaretheother。Whenyoutwocometogether,hell’llbetopay,andIdon’tcaretobemixedupinit。Understand?Sotakemyadviceandgoaway。Ifyougodown—stream,you’llfallinwiththeRussians。There’sboundtobeGreekpriestsamongthem,andthey’llseeyousafethroughtoBeringSea,——that’swheretheYukonempties,——andfromthereitwon’tbehardtogetbacktocivilization。TakemywordforitandgetoutofhereasfastasGod’llletyou。\"
\"HewhocarriestheLordinhisheartandtheGospelinhishandhathnofearofthemachinationsofmanordevil,\"themissionaryansweredstoutly。\"Iwillseethismanandwrestlewithhim。Onebacksliderreturnedtothefoldisagreatervictorythanathousandheathen。Hewhoisstrongforevilcanbeasmightyforgood,witnessSaulwhenhejourneyeduptoDamascustobringChristiancaptivestoJerusalem。AndthevoiceoftheSaviourcametohim,crying,’Saul,Saul,whypersecutestthoume?’AndtherewithPaularrayedhimselfonthesideoftheLord,andthereafterwasmostmightyinthesavingofsouls。Andevenasthou,PaulofTarsus,evensodoIworkinthevineyardoftheLord,bearingtrialsandtribulations,scoffsandsneers,stripesandpunishments,forHisdearsake。\"
\"Bringupthelittlebagwiththeteaandakettleofwater,\"hecalledthenextinstanttohisboatmen;\"notforgettingthehaunchofcaribooandthemixing—pan。\"
Whenhismen,convertsbyhisownhand,hadgainedthebank,thetriofelltotheirknees,handsandbacksburdenedwithcampequipage,andofferedupthanksfortheirpassagethroughthewildernessandtheirsafearrival。HayStockardlookeduponthefunctionwithsneeringdisapproval,theromanceandsolemnityofitlosttohismatter—of—factsoul。BaptistetheRed,stillgazingacross,recognizedthefamiliarpostures,andrememberedthegirlwhohadsharedhisstar—roofedcouchinthehillsandforests,andthewoman—childwholaysomewherebybleakHudson’sBay。
III
\"Confoundit,Baptiste,couldn’tthinkofit。Notforamoment。
Grantthatthismanisafoolandofsmalluseinthenatureofthings,butstill,youknow,Ican’tgivehimup。\"
HayStockardpaused,strivingtoputintospeechtherudeethicsofhisheart。
\"He’sworriedme,Baptiste,inthepastandnow,andcausedmeallmanneroftroubles;butcan’tyousee,he’smyownbreed——white——
and——and——why,Icouldn’tbuymylifewithhis,notifhewasanigger。\"
\"Sobeit,\"BaptistetheRedmadeanswer。\"Ihavegivenyougraceandchoice。Ishallcomepresently,withmypriestsandfightingmen,andeithershallIkillyou,oryoudenyyourgod。Giveupthepriesttomypleasure,andyoushalldepartinpeace。
Otherwiseyourtrailendshere。Mypeopleareagainstyoutothebabies。Evennowhavethechildrenstolenawayyourcanoes。\"Hepointeddowntotheriver。Nakedboyshadslippeddownthewaterfromthepointabove,castloosethecanoes,andbythenhadworkedthemintothecurrent。Whentheyhaddriftedoutofrifle—
shottheyclamberedoverthesidesandpaddledashore。
\"Givemethepriest,andyoumayhavethembackagain。Come!
Speakyourmind,butwithouthaste。\"
Stockardshookhishead。HisglancedroppedtothewomanoftheTeslinCountrywithhisboyatherbreast,andhewouldhavewaveredhadhenotliftedhiseyestothemenbeforehim。
\"Iamnotafraid,\"SturgesOwenspokeup。\"TheLordbearsmeinhisrighthand,andaloneamIreadytogointothecampoftheunbeliever。Itisnottoolate。Faithmaymovemountains。EvenintheeleventhhourmayIwinhissoultothetruerighteousness。\"
\"Tripthebeggarupandmakehimfast,\"Billwhisperedhoarselyintheearofhisleader,whilethemissionarykeptthefloorandwrestledwiththeheathen。\"Makehimhostage,andborehimiftheygetugly。\"
\"No,\"Stockardanswered。\"Igavehimmywordthathecouldspeakwithusunmolested。Rulesofwarfare,Bill;rulesofwarfare。
He’sbeenonthesquare,givenuswarning,andallthat,and——why,damnit,man,Ican’tbreakmyword!\"
\"He’llkeephis,neverfear。\"
\"Don’tdoubtit,butIwon’tletahalf—breedoutdomeinfairdealing。Whynotdowhathewants,——givehimthemissionaryandbedonewithit?\"
\"N—no,\"Billhesitateddoubtfully。
\"Shoepinches,eh?\"
Billflushedalittleanddroppedthediscussion。BaptistetheRedwasstillwaitingthefinaldecision。Stockardwentuptohim。
\"It’sthisway,Baptiste。IcametoyourvillagemindedtogouptheKoyukuk。Iintendednowrong。Myheartwascleanofevil。
Itisstillclean。Alongcomesthispriest,asyoucallhim。I
didn’tbringhimhere。He’dhavecomewhetherIwashereornot。
Butnowthatheishere,beingofmypeople,I’vegottostandbyhim。AndI’mgoingto。Further,itwillbenochild’splay。
Whenyouhavedone,yourvillagewillbesilentandempty,yourpeoplewastedasafterafamine。True,wewillhegone;likewisethepickofyourfightingmen——\"
\"Butthosewhoremainshallbeinpeace,norshallthewordofstrangegodsandthetonguesofstrangepriestsbebuzzingintheirears。\"
Bothmenshruggedtheirshoulderandturnedaway,thehalf—breedgoingbacktohisowncamp。Themissionarycalledhistwomentohim,andtheyfellintoprayer。StockardandBillattackedthefewstandingpineswiththeiraxes,fellingthemintoconvenientbreastworks。Thechildhadfallenasleep,sothewomanplaceditonaheapoffursandlentahandinfortifyingthecamp。Threesideswerethusdefended,thesteepdeclivityattherearprecludingattackfromthatdirection。Whenthesearrangementshadbeencompleted,thetwomenstalkedintotheopen,clearingaway,hereandthere,thescatteredunderbrush。Fromtheopposingcampcametheboomingofwar—drumsandthevoicesofthepriestsstirringthepeopletoanger。
\"Worstofitisthey’llcomeinrushes,\"Billcomplainedastheywalkedbackwithshoulderedaxes。
\"Andwaittillmidnight,whenthelightgetsdimforshooting。\"
\"Can’tstarttheballa—rollingtooearly,then。\"Billexchangedtheaxeforarifle,andtookacarefulrest。Oneofthemedicine—men,toweringabovehistribesmen,stoodoutdistinctly。
Billdrewabeadonhim。
\"Allready?\"heasked。
Stockardopenedtheammunitionbox,placedthewomanwhereshecouldreloadinsafety,andgavetheword。Themedicine—mandropped。Foramomenttherewassilence,thenawildhowlwentupandaflightofbonearrowsfellshort。
\"I’dliketotakealookatthebeggar,\"Billremarked,throwingafreshshellintoplace。\"I’llswearIdrilledhimcleanbetweentheeyes。\"
\"Didn’twork。\"Stockardshookhisheadgloomily。Baptistehadevidentlyquelledthemorewarlikeofhisfollowers,andinsteadofprecipitatinganattackinthebrightlightofday,theshothadcausedahastyexodus,theIndiansdrawingoutofthevillagebeyondthezoneoffire。
Inthefulltideofhisproselytingfervor,bornealongbythehandofGod,SturgesOwenwouldhaveventuredaloneintothecampoftheunbeliever,equallypreparedformiracleormartyrdom;butinthewaitingwhichensued,thefeverofconvictiondiedawaygradually,asthenaturalmanasserteditself。Physicalfearreplacedspiritualhope;theloveoflife,theloveofGod。Itwasnonewexperience。Hecouldfeelhisweaknesscomingon,andknewitofoldtime。Hehadstruggledagainstitandbeenovercomebyitbefore。Herememberedwhentheothermenhaddriventheirpaddleslikemadinthevanofaroaringice—flood,how,atthecriticalmoment,inapanicofworldlyterror,hehaddroppedhispaddleandbesoughtwildlywithhisGodforpity。Andtherewereothertimes。Therecollectionwasnotpleasant。Itbroughtshametohimthathisspiritshouldbesoweakandhisfleshsostrong。Buttheloveoflife!theloveoflife!Hecouldnotstripitfromhim。Becauseofithadhisdimancestorsperpetuatedtheirline;becauseofitwashedestinedtoperpetuatehis。Hiscourage,ifcourageitmightbecalled,wasbredoffanaticism。ThecourageofStockardandBillwastheadherencetodeep—rootedideals。Notthattheloveoflifewasless,buttheloveofracetraditionmore;notthattheywereunafraidtodie,butthattheywerebraveenoughnottoliveatthepriceofshame。
Themissionaryrose,forthemomentswayedbythemoodofsacrifice。Hehalfcrawledoverthebarricadetoproceedtotheothercamp,butsankback,atremblingmass,wailing:\"Asthespiritmoves!Asthespiritmoves!WhoamIthatIshouldsetasidethejudgmentsofGod?Beforethefoundationsoftheworldwereallthingswritteninthebookoflife。WormthatIam,shallIerasethepageoranyportionthereof?AsGodwills,soshallthespiritmove!\"
Billreachedover,pluckedhimtohisfeet,andshookhim,fiercely,silently。Thenhedroppedthebundleofquiveringnervesandturnedhisattentiontothetwoconverts。Buttheyshowedlittlefrightandacheerfulalacrityinpreparingforthecomingpassageatarms。
Stockard,whohadbeentalkinginundertoneswiththeTeslinwoman,nowturnedtothemissionary。
\"Fetchhimoverhere,\"hecommandedofBill。
\"Now,\"heordered,whenSturgesOwenhadbeendulydepositedbeforehim,\"makeusmanandwife,andbelivelyaboutit。\"ThenheaddedapologeticallytoBill:\"Notellinghowit’stoend,soIjustthoughtI’dgetmyaffairsstraightenedup。\"
Thewomanobeyedthebehestofherwhitelord。Tohertheceremonywasmeaningless。Byherlightsshewashiswife,andhadbeenfromthedaytheyfirstforegathered。Theconvertsservedaswitnesses。Billstoodoverthemissionary,promptinghimwhenhestumbled。Stockardputtheresponsesinthewoman’smouth,andwhenthetimecame,forwantofbetter,ringedherfingerwiththumbandforefingerofhisown。
\"Kissthebride!\"Billthundered,andSturgesOwenwastooweaktodisobey。
\"Nowbaptizethechild!\"
\"Neatandtidy,\"Billcommented。
\"Gatheringtheproperoutfitforanewtrail,\"thefatherexplained,takingtheboyfromthemother’sarms。\"Iwasgrub—
staked,once,intotheCascades,andhadeverythinginthekitexceptsalt。Nevershallforgetit。Andifthewomanandthekidcrossthedivideto—nighttheymightaswellbepreparedforpot—
luck。Alongshot,Bill,betweenourselves,butnothinglostifitmisses。\"
Acupofwaterservedthepurpose,andthechildwaslaidawayinasecurecornerofthebarricade。Themenbuiltthefire,andtheeveningmealwascooked。
Thesunhurriedroundtothenorth,sinkingclosertothehorizon。
Theheavensinthatquartergrewredandbloody。Theshadowslengthened,thelightdimmed,andinthesombrerecessesoftheforestlifeslowlydiedaway。Eventhewildfowlintheriversoftenedtheirraucouschatterandfeignedthenightlyfarceofgoingtobed。Onlythetribesmenincreasedtheirclamor,war—
drumsboomingandvoicesraisedinsavagefolksongs。Butasthesundippedtheyceasedtheirtumult。Theroundedhushofmidnightwascomplete。Stockardrosetohiskneesandpeeredoverthelogs。Oncethechildwailedinpainanddisconcertedhim。Themotherbentoverit,butitsleptagain。Thesilencewasinterminable,profound。Then,ofasudden,therobinsburstintofull—throatedsong。Thenighthadpassed。
Afloodofdarkfiguresboiledacrosstheopen。Arrowswhistledandbow—thongssang。Theshrill—tonguedriflesansweredback。A
spear,andamightycast,transfixedtheTeslinwomanasshehoveredabovethechild。Aspentarrow,divingbetweenthelogs,lodgedinthemissionary’sarm。
Therewasnostoppingtherush。Themiddledistancewascumberedwithbodies,buttherestsurgedon,breakingagainstandoverthebarricadelikeanoceanwave。SturgesOwenfledtothetent,whilethemenweresweptfromtheirfeet,buriedbeneaththehumantide。HayStockardaloneregainedthesurface,flingingthetribesmenasidelikeyelpingcurs。Hehadmanagedtoseizeanaxe。Adarkhandgraspedthechildbyanakedfoot,anddrewitfrombeneathitsmother。Atarm’slengthitspunybodycircledthroughtheair,dashingtodeathagainstthelogs。Stockardclovethemantothechinandfelltoclearingspace。Theringofsavagefacesclosedin,raininguponhimspear—thrustsandbone—
barbedarrows。Thesunshotup,andtheyswayedbackandforthinthecrimsonshadows。Twice,withhisaxeblockedbytoodeepablow,theyrushedhim;buteachtimeheflungthemclear。Theyfellunderfootandhetrampleddeadanddying,thewayslipperywithblood。Andstillthedaybrightenedandtherobinssang。
Thentheydrewbackfromhiminawe,andheleanedbreathlessuponhisaxe。
\"Bloodofmysoul!\"criedBaptistetheRed。\"Butthouartaman。
Denythygod,andthoushaltyetlive。\"
Stockardsworehisrefusal,feeblybutwithgrace。
\"Behold!Awoman!\"SturgesOwenhadbeenbroughtbeforethehalf—breed。
Beyondascratchonthearm,hewasuninjured,buthiseyesrovedabouthiminanecstasyoffear。Theheroicfigureoftheblasphemer,bristlingwithwoundsandarrows,leaningdefiantlyuponhisaxe,indifferent,indomitable,superb,caughthiswaveringvision。Andhefeltagreatenvyofthemanwhocouldgodownserenelytothedarkgatesofdeath。SurelyChrist,andnothe,SturgesOwen,hadbeenmouldedinsuchmanner。Andwhynothe?Hefeltdimlythecurseofancestry,thefeeblenessofspiritwhichhadcomedowntohimoutofthepast,andhefeltanangeratthecreativeforce,symbolizeitashewould,whichhadformedhim,itsservant,soweakly。Forevenastrongerman,thisangerandthestressofcircumstanceweresufficienttobreedapostasy,andforSturgesOwenitwasinevitable。Inthefearofman’sangerhewoulddarethewrathofGod。HehadbeenraiseduptoservetheLordonlythathemightbecastdown。Hehadbeengivenfaithwithoutthestrengthoffaith;hehadbeengivenspiritwithoutthepowerofspirit。Itwasunjust。
\"Wherenowisthygod?\"thehalf—breeddemanded。
\"Idonotknow。\"Hestoodstraightandrigid,likeachildrepeatingacatechism。
\"Hastthouthenagodatall?\"
\"Ihad。\"
\"Andnow?\"
\"No。\"
HayStockardsweptthebloodfromhiseyesandlaughed。Themissionarylookedathimcuriously,asinadream。Afeelingofinfinitedistancecameoverhim,asthoughofagreatremove。Inthatwhichhadtranspired,andwhichwastotranspire,hehadnopart。Hewasaspectator——atadistance,yes,atadistance。ThewordsofBaptistecametohimfaintly:—
\"Verygood。Seethatthismangofree,andthatnoharmbefallhim。Lethimdepartinpeace。Givehimacanoeandfood。SethisfacetowardtheRussians,thathemaytelltheirpriestsofBaptistetheRed,inwhosecountrythereisnogod。\"
Theyledhimtotheedgeofthesteep,wheretheypausedtowitnessthefinaltragedy。Thehalf—breedturnedtoHayStockard。
\"Thereisnogod,\"heprompted。
Themanlaughedinreply。Oneoftheyoungmenpoisedawar—spearforthecast。
\"Hastthouagod?\"
\"Ay,theGodofmyfathers。\"
Heshiftedtheaxeforabettergrip。BaptistetheRedgavethesign,andthespearhurtledfullagainsthisbreast。SturgesOwensawtheivoryheadstandoutbeyondhisback,sawthemansway,laughing,andsnaptheshaftshortashefelluponit。Thenhewentdowntotheriver,thathemightcarrytotheRussiansthemessageofBaptistetheRed,inwhosecountrytherewasnogod。
THEGREATINTERROGATION
Tosaytheleast,Mrs。Sayther’scareerinDawsonwasmeteoric。
Shearrivedinthespring,withdogsledsandFrench—Canadianvoyageurs,blazedgloriouslyforabriefmonth,anddeparteduptheriverassoonasitwasfreeofice。NowwomanlessDawsonneverquiteunderstoodthishurrieddeparture,andthelocalFourHundredfeltaggrievedandlonelytilltheNomestrikewasmadeandoldsensationsgavewaytonew。ForithaddelightedinMrs。
Sayther,andreceivedherwide—armed。Shewaspretty,charming,and,moreover,awidow。AndbecauseofthissheatoncehadatheelanynumberofEldoradoKings,officials,andadventuringyoungersons,whoseearswereyearningforthefrou—frouofawoman’sskirts。
Theminingengineersreveredthememoryofherhusband,thelateColonelSayther,whilethesyndicateandpromoterrepresentativesspokeawesomelyofhisdealsandmanipulations;forhewasknowndownintheStatesasagreatminingman,andasevenagreateroneinLondon。Whyhiswidow,ofallwomen,shouldhavecomeintothecountry,wasthegreatinterrogation。Buttheywereapracticalbreed,themenoftheNorthland,withawholesomedisregardfortheoriesandafirmgriponfacts。AndtonotafewofthemKarenSaytherwasamostessentialfact。Thatshedidnotregardthematterinthislight,isevidencedbytheneatnessandceleritywithwhichrefusalandproposaltalliedoffduringherfourweeks’stay。Andwithhervanishedthefact,andonlytheinterrogationremained。
Tothesolution,Chancevouchsafedoneclew。Herlastvictim,JackCoughran,havingfruitlesslylaidatherfeetbothhisheartandafive—hundred—footcreekclaimonBonanza,celebratedthemisfortunebywalkingallofanightwiththegods。InthemidwatchofthisnighthehappenedtorubshoulderswithPierreFontaine,noneotherthanheadmanofKarenSayther’svoyageurs。
Thisrubbingofshouldersledtorecognitionanddrinks,andultimatelyinvolvedbothmeninacommonmuddleofinebriety。
\"Heh?\"PierreFontainelaterongurgledthickly。\"VotforMadameSaythermakvisitationtotheescountry?Morebetteryouspikwither。Iknownot’ing’tall,onlyalldetamheraskoneman’sname。’Pierre,’herspikwitme;’Pierre,youmoos’findtheesmans,andIgifyoumooch——onethousanddollaryoufindtheesmans。’Theesmans?Ah,oui。Theesman’sname——votyoucall——
DaveedPayne。Oui,m’sieu,DaveedPayne。Alldetamherspikdasname。AndalldetamIlookrountvairemooch,worklakhell,butnocanfinddasdammans,andnogetonethousanddollar’tall。
Bydam!
\"Heh?Ah,oui。OnetamdosemensvotcomefromCircleCity,dosemensknowtheesmans。HimBirchCreek,deyspik。Andmadame?
Hersay’Bon!’andlookhappylakanyt’ing。Andherspikwitme。
’Pierre,’herspik,’harnessdedogs。Wegoqueek。WefindtheesmansIgifyouonethousanddollarmore。’AndIsay,’Oui,queek!
Allons,madame!’
\"Forsure,It’ink,dastwothousanddollarmine。Bullyboy!DenmoremenscomefromCircleCity,anddeysayno,dastheesmans,DaveedPayne,comeDawsonleeltamback。SomadameandIgonot’tall。
\"Oui,m’sieu。Theesdaymadamespik。’Pierre,’herspik,andgifmefivehundreddollar,’gobuypoling—boat。To—morrowwegoupderiver。’Ah,oui,to—morrow,upderiver,anddasdamSitkaCharleymakmepayfordepoling—boatfivehundreddollar。Dam!\"
Thusitwas,whenJackCoughranunburdenedhimselfnextday,thatDawsonfelltowonderingwhowasthisDavidPayne,andinwhatwayhisexistenceboreuponKarenSayther’s。Butthatveryday,asPierreFontainehadsaid,Mrs。SaytherandherbarbariccrewofvoyageurstoweduptheeastbanktoKlondikeCity,shotacrosstothewestbanktoescapethebluffs,anddisappearedamidthemazeofislandstothesouth。
II
\"Oui,madame,theesisdeplace。One,two,t’reeislandbelowStuartRiver。Theesist’reeisland。\"
Ashespoke,PierreFontainedrovehispoleagainstthebankandheldthesternoftheboatagainstthecurrent。Thisthrustthebowin,tillanimblebreedclimbedashorewiththepainterandmadefast。
\"Oneleeltam,madame,Igolooksee。\"
Achorusofdogsmarkedhisdisappearanceovertheedgeofthebank,butaminutelaterhewasbackagain。
\"Oui,madame,theesisdecabin。Imakinvestigation。Nocanfindmansathome。Buthimnogovairefar,vairelong,orhimnoleavedogs。Himcomequeek,youbet!\"
\"Helpmeout,Pierre。I’mtiredalloverfromtheboat。Youmighthavemadeitsofter,youknow。\"
Fromanestoffursamidships,KarenSaytherrosetoherfullheightofslenderfairness。Butifshelookedlily—frailinherelementalenvironment,shewasbeliedbythegripsheputuponPierre’shand,bytheknottingofherwoman’sbicepsasittooktheweightofherbody,bythesplendideffortofherlimbsastheyheldheroutfromtheperpendicularbankwhileshemadetheascent。Thoughshapelyfleshclotheddelicateframe,herbodywasaseatofstrength。
Still,forallthecarelesseasewithwhichshehadmadethelanding,therewasawarmercolorthanusualtoherface,andaperceptiblyextrabeattoherheart。Butthen,also,itwaswithacertainreverentcuriousnessthatsheapproachedthecabin,whiletheHushonhercheekshowedayetripermellowness。
\"Look,see!\"Pierrepointedtothescatteredchipsbythewoodpile。\"Himfresh——two,t’reeday,nomore。\"
Mrs。Saythernodded。Shetriedtopeerthroughthesmallwindow,butitwasmadeofgreasedparchmentwhichadmittedlightwhileitblockedvision。Failingthis,shewentroundtothedoor,halfliftedtherudelatchtoenter,butchangedhermindandletitfallbackintoplace。Thenshesuddenlydroppedononekneeandkissedtherough—hewnthreshold。IfPierreFontainesaw,hegavenosign,andthememoryinthetimetocomewasnevershared。Butthenextinstant,oneoftheboatmen,placidlylightinghispipe,wasstartledbyanunwontedharshnessinhiscaptain’svoice。
\"Hey!You!LeGoire!Youmak’msoftmorebetter,\"Pierrecommanded。\"Plentybear—skin;plentyblanket。Dam!\"
Butthenestwassoonafterdisrupted,andthemajorportiontosseduptothecrestoftheshore,whereMrs。Saytherlaydowntowaitincomfort。
Recliningonherside,shelookedoutandoverthewide—stretchingYukon。Abovethemountainswhichlaybeyondthefurthershore,theskywasmurkywiththesmokeofunseenforestfires,andthroughthistheafternoonsunbrokefeebly,throwingavagueradiancetoearth,andunrealshadows。Tothesky—lineofthefourquarters——spruce—shroudedislands,darkwaters,andice—
scarredrockyridges——stretchedtheimmaculatewilderness。Nosignofhumanexistencebrokethesolitude;nosoundthestillness。Thelandseemedboundundertheunrealityoftheunknown,wrappedinthebroodingmysteryofgreatspaces。
PerhapsitwasthiswhichmadeMrs。Saythernervous;forshechangedherpositionconstantly,nowtolookuptheriver,nowdown,ortoscanthegloomyshoresforthehalf—hiddenmouthsofbackchannels。Afteranhourorsotheboatmenweresentashoretopitchcampforthenight,butPierreremainedwithhismistresstowatch。
\"Ah!himcometheestam,\"hewhispered,afteralongsilence,hisgazebentuptherivertotheheadoftheisland。
Acanoe,withapaddleflashingoneitherside,wasslippingdownthecurrent。Inthesternaman’sform,andinthebowawoman’s,swungrhythmicallytothework。Mrs。Saytherhadnoeyesforthewomantillthecanoedroveincloserandherbizarrebeautyperemptorilydemandednotice。Aclose—fittingblouseofmoose—
skin,fantasticallybeaded,outlinedfaithfullythewell—roundedlinesofherbody,whileasilkenkerchief,gayofcolorandpicturesquelydraped,partlycoveredgreatmassesofblue—blackhair。Butitwastheface,castbelikeincopperbronze,whichcaughtandheldMrs。Sayther’sfleetingglance。Eyes,piercingandblackandlarge,withatraditionaryhintofobliqueness,lookedforthfromunderclear—stencilled,clean—archingbrows。
Withoutsuggestingcadaverousness,thoughhigh—bonedandprominent,thecheeksfellawayandmetinamouth,thin—lippedandsoftlystrong。ItwasafacewhichadvertisedthedimmesttraceofancientMongolblood,areversion,afterlongcenturiesofwandering,totheparentstem。Thiseffectwasheightenedbythedelicatelyaquilinenosewithitsthintremblingnostrils,andbythegeneralairofeaglewildnesswhichseemedtocharacterizenotonlythefacebutthecreatureherself。Shewas,infact,theTartartypemodifiedtoidealization,andthetribeofRedIndianisluckythatbreedssuchauniquebodyonceinascoreofgenerations。
Dippinglongstrokesandstrong,thegirl,inconcertwiththeman,suddenlywhirledthetinycraftaboutagainstthecurrentandbroughtitgentlytotheshore。Anotherinstantandshestoodatthetopofthebank,heavingupbyrope,handunderhand,aquarteroffresh—killedmoose。Thenthemanfollowedher,andtogether,withaswiftrush,theydrewupthecanoe。Thedogswereinawhiningmassaboutthem,andasthegirlstoopedamongthemcaressingly,theman’sgazefelluponMrs。Sayther,whohadarisen。Helooked,brushedhiseyesunconsciouslyasthoughhissightweredeceivinghim,andlookedagain。
\"Karen,\"hesaidsimply,comingforwardandextendinghishand,\"I
thoughtforthemomentIwasdreaming。Iwentsnow—blindforatime,thisspring,andsincethenmyeyeshavebeenplayingtrickswithme。\"
Mrs。Sayther,whoseflushhaddeepenedandwhoseheartwasurgingpainfully,hadbeenpreparedforalmostanythingsavethiscoollyextendedhand;butshetactfullycurbedherselfandgraspeditheartilywithherown。
\"Youknow,Dave,Ithreatenedoftentocome,andIwouldhave,too,only——only——\"
\"OnlyIdidn’tgivetheword。\"DavidPaynelaughedandwatchedtheIndiangirldisappearingintothecabin。
\"Oh,Iunderstand,Dave,andhadIbeeninyourplaceI’dmostprobablyhavedonethesame。ButIhavecome——now。\"
\"Thencomealittlebitfarther,intothecabinandgetsomethingtoeat,\"hesaidgenially,ignoringormissingthefemininesuggestionofappealinhervoice。\"Andyoumustbetiredtoo。
Whichwayareyoutravelling?Up?ThenyouwinteredinDawson,orcameinonthelastice。Yourcamp?\"Heglancedatthevoyageurscircledaboutthefireintheopen,andheldbackthedoorforhertoenter。
\"IcameupontheicefromCircleCitylastwinter,\"hecontinued,\"andsettleddownhereforawhile。AmprospectingsomeonHendersonCreek,andifthatfails,havebeenthinkingoftryingmyhandthisfalluptheStuartRiver。\"
\"Youaren’tchangedmuch,areyou?\"sheaskedirrelevantly,strivingtothrowtheconversationuponamorepersonalbasis。
\"Alittlelessflesh,perhaps,andalittlemoremuscle。HowdidYOUmean?\"
ButsheshruggedhershouldersandpeeredIthroughthedimlightattheIndiangirl,whohadlightedthefireandwasfryinggreatchunksofmoosemeat,alternatedwiththinribbonsofbacon。
\"DidyoustopinDawsonlong?\"Themanwaswhittlingastaveofbirchwoodintoarudeaxe—handle,andaskedthequestionwithoutraisinghishead。
\"Oh,afewdays,\"sheanswered,followingthegirlwithhereyes,andhardlyhearing。\"Whatwereyousaying?InDawson?Amonth,infact,andgladtogetaway。Thearcticmaleiselemental,youknow,andsomewhatstrenuousinhisfeelings。\"
\"Boundtobewhenhegetsrightdowntothesoil。Heleavesconventionwiththespringbedatborne。Butyouwerewiseinyourchoiceoftimeforleaving。You’llbeoutofthecountrybeforemosquitoseason,whichisablessingyourlackofexperiencewillnotpermityoutoappreciate。\"
\"Isupposenot。Buttellmeaboutyourself,aboutyourlife。
Whatkindofneighborshaveyou?Orhaveyouany?\"
Whileshequeriedshewatchedthegirlgrindingcoffeeinthecornerofaflowersackuponthehearthstone。Withasteadinessandskillwhichpredicatednervesasprimitiveasthemethod,shecrushedtheimprisonedberrieswithaheavyfragmentofquartz。
DavidPaynenotedhisvisitor’sgaze,andtheshadowofasmiledriftedoverhislips。
\"Ididhavesome,\"hereplied。\"Missourianchaps,andacoupleofCornishmen,buttheywentdowntoEldoradotoworkatwagesforagrubstake。\"
Mrs。Saythercastalookofspeculativeregarduponthegirl。
\"ButofcoursethereareplentyofIndiansabout?\"
\"Everymother’ssonofthemdowntoDawsonlongago。Notanativeinthewholecountry,barringWinapiehere,andshe’saKoyokuklass,——comesfromathousandmilesorsodowntheriver。\"
Mrs。Saytherfeltsuddenlyfaint;andthoughthesmileofinterestinnowisewaned,thefaceofthemanseemedtodrawawaytoatelescopicdistance,andthetieredlogsofthecabintowhirldrunkenlyabout。Butshewasbiddendrawuptothetable,andduringthemealdiscoveredtimeandspaceinwhichtofindherself。Shetalkedlittle,andthatprincipallyaboutthelandandweather,whilethemanwanderedoffintoalongdescriptionofthedifferencebetweentheshallowsummerdiggingsoftheLowerCountryandthedeepwinterdiggingsoftheUpperCountry。
\"YoudonotaskwhyIcamenorth?\"sheasked。\"Surelyyouknow。\"
Theyhadmovedbackfromthetable,andDavidPaynehadreturnedtohisaxe—handle。\"Didyougetmyletter?\"
\"Alastone?No,Idon’tthinkso。Mostprobablyit’strailingaroundtheBirchCreekCountryorlyinginsometrader’sshackontheLowerRiver。Thewaytheyrunthemailsinhereisshameful。
Noorder,nosystem,no——\"
\"Don’tbewooden,Dave!Helpme!\"Shespokesharplynow,withanassumptionofauthoritywhichresteduponthepast。\"Whydon’tyouaskmeaboutmyself?Aboutthoseweknewintheoldtimes?
Haveyounolongeranyinterestintheworld?Doyouknowthatmyhusbandisdead?\"
\"Indeed,Iamsorry。Howlong——\"
\"David!\"Shewasreadytocrywithvexation,butthereproachshethrewintohervoiceeasedher。
\"Didyougetanyofmyletters?Youmusthavegotsomeofthem,thoughyouneveranswered。\"
\"Well,Ididn’tgetthelastone,announcing,evidently,thedeathofyourhusband,andmostlikelyotherswentastray;butIdidgetsome。I——er——readthemaloudtoWinapieasawarning——thatis,youknow,toimpressuponherthewickednessofherwhitesisters。
AndI——er——thinksheprofitedbyit。Don’tyou?\"
Shedisregardedthesting,andwenton。\"Inthelastletter,whichyoudidnotreceive,Itold,asyouhaveguessed,ofColonelSayther’sdeath。Thatwasayearago。Ialsosaidthatifyoudidnotcomeouttome,Iwouldgointoyou。AndasIhadoftenpromised,Icame。\"
\"Iknowofnopromise。\"
\"Intheearlierletters?\"
\"Yes,youpromised,butasIneitheraskednoranswered,itwasunratified。SoIdonotknowofanysuchpromise。ButIdoknowofanother,whichyou,too,mayremember。Itwasverylongago。\"
Hedroppedtheaxe—handletothefloorandraisedhishead。\"Itwassoverylongago,yetIrememberitdistinctly,theday,thetime,everydetail。Wewereinarosegarden,youandI,——yourmother’srosegarden。Allthingswerebudding,blossoming,andthesapofspringwasinourblood。AndIdrewyouover——itwasthefirst——andkissedyoufullonthelips。Don’tyouremember?\"
\"Don’tgooverit,Dave,don’t!Iknoweveryshamefullineofit。
HowoftenhaveIwept!IfyouonlyknewhowIhavesuffered——\"
\"Youpromisedmethen——ay,andathousandtimesinthesweetdaysthatfollowed。Eachlookofyoureyes,eachtouchofyourhand,eachsyllablethatfellfromyourlips,wasapromise。Andthen——
howshallIsay?——therecameaman。Hewasold——oldenoughtohavebegottenyou——andnotnicetolookupon,butastheworldgoes,clean。Hehaddonenowrong,followedtheletterofthelaw,wasrespectable。Further,andtothepoint,hepossessedsomeseveralpaltrymines,——ascore;itdoesnotmatter:andheownedafewmilesoflands,andengineereddeals,andclippedcoupons。He——\"
\"Buttherewereotherthings,\"sheinterrupted,\"Itoldyou。
Pressure——moneymatters——want——mypeople——trouble。Youunderstoodthewholesordidsituation。Icouldnothelpit。Itwasnotmywill。Iwassacrificed,orIsacrificed,haveitasyouwish。
But,myGod!Dave,Igaveyouup!YouneverdidMEjustice。
ThinkwhatIhavegonethrough!\"
\"Itwasnotyourwill?Pressure?Underhighheaventherewasnothingtowillyoutothisman’sbedorthat。\"
\"ButIcaredforyouallthetime,\"shepleaded。
\"Iwasunusedtoyourwayofmeasuringlove。Iamstillunused。
Idonotunderstand。\"
\"Butnow!now!\"
\"Wewerespeakingofthismanyousawfittomarry。Whatmannerofmanwashe?Whereindidhecharmyoursoul?Whatpotentvirtueswerehis?True,hehadagoldengrip,——analmightygoldengrip。Heknewtheodds。Hewasversedincentpercent。Hehadanarrowwitandexcellentjudgmentofthevilerparts,wherebyhetransferredthisman’smoneytohispockets,andthatman’smoney,andthenextman’s。Andthelawsmiled。Inthatitdidnotcondemn,ourChristianethicsapproved。Bysocialmeasurehewasnotabadman。Butbyyourmeasure,Karen,bymine,byoursoftherosegarden,whatwashe?\"
\"Remember,heisdead。\"
\"Thefactisnotalteredthereby。Whatwashe?Agreat,gross,materialcreature,deaftosong,blindtobeauty,deadtothespirit。Hewasfatwithlaziness,andflabby—cheeked,andtheroundofhisbellywitnessedhisgluttony——\"
\"Butheisdead。Itiswewhoarenow——now!now!Don’tyouhear?
Asyousay,Ihavebeeninconstant。Ihavesinned。Good。Butshouldnotyou,too,crypeccavi?IfIhavebrokenpromises,havenotyou?Yourloveoftherosegardenwasofalltime,orsoyousaid。Whereisitnow?\"
\"Itishere!now!\"hecried,strikinghisbreastpassionatelywithclenchedhand。\"Ithasalwaysbeen。\"
\"Andyourlovewasagreatlove;therewasnonegreater,\"shecontinued;\"orsoyousaidintherosegarden。Yetitisnotfineenough,largeenough,toforgivemehere,cryingnowatyourfeet?\"
Themanhesitated。Hismouthopened;wordsshapedvainlyonhislips。Shehadforcedhimtobarehisheartandspeaktruthswhichhehadhiddenfromhimself。Andshewasgoodtolookupon,standingthereinagloryofpassion,callingbackoldassociationsandwarmerlife。Heturnedawayhisheadthathemightnotsee,butshepassedaroundandfrontedhim。
\"Lookatme,Dave!Lookatme!Iamthesame,afterall。Andsoareyou,ifyouwouldbutsee。Wearenotchanged。\"
Herhandrestedonhisshoulder,andhishadhalf—passed,roughly,abouther,whenthesharpcrackleofamatchstartledhimtohimself。Winapie,alientothescene,waslightingtheslowwickoftheslushlamp。Sheappearedtostartoutagainstabackgroundofutterblack,andtheflame,flaringsuddenlyup,lightedherbronzebeautytoroyalgold。
\"Yousee,itisimpossible,\"hegroaned,thrustingthefair—hairedwomangentlyfromhim。\"Itisimpossible,\"herepeated。\"Itisimpossible。\"
\"Iamnotagirl,Dave,withagirl’sillusions,\"shesaidsoftly,thoughnotdaringtocomebacktohim。\"ItisasawomanthatI
understand。Menaremen。Acommoncustomofthecountry。Iamnotshocked。Idivineditfromthefirst。But——ah!——itisonlyamarriageofthecountry——notarealmarriage?\"
\"WedonotasksuchquestionsinAlaska,\"heinterposedfeebly。
\"Iknow,but——\"
\"Well,then,itisonlyamarriageofthecountry——nothingelse。\"
\"Andtherearenochildren?\"
\"No。\"
\"Nor——\"
\"No,no;nothing——butitisimpossible。\"
\"Butitisnot。\"Shewasathissideagain,herhandtouchinglightly,caressingly,thesunburnedbackofhis。\"Iknowthecustomofthelandtoowell。Mendoiteveryday。Theydonotcaretoremainhere,shutoutfromtheworld,foralltheirdays;
sotheygiveanorderontheP。C。C。Companyforayear’sprovisions,somemoneyinhand,andthegirliscontent。Bytheendofthattime,aman——\"Sheshruggedhershoulders。\"Andsowiththegirlhere。Wewillgiveheranorderuponthecompany,notforayear,butforlife。Whatwasshewhenyoufoundher?A
raw,meat—eatingsavage;fishinsummer,mooseinwinter,feastinginplenty,starvinginfamine。Butforyouthatiswhatshewouldhaveremained。Foryourcomingshewashappier;foryourgoing,surely,withalifeofcomparativesplendorassured,shewillbehappierthanifyouhadneverbeen。\"
\"No,no,\"heprotested。\"Itisnotright。\"
\"Come,Dave,youmustsee。Sheisnotyourkind。Thereisnoraceaffinity。Sheisanaborigine,sprungfromthesoil,yetclosetothesoil,andimpossibletoliftfromthesoil。Bornsavage,savageshewilldie。Butwe——youandI——thedominant,evolvedrace——thesaltoftheearthandthemastersthereof!Wearemadeforeachother。Thesupremecallisofkind,andweareofkind。Reasonandfeelingdictateit。Yourveryinstinctdemandsit。Thatyoucannotdeny。Youcannotescapethegenerationsbehindyou。Yoursisanancestrywhichhassurvivedforathousandcenturies,andforahundredthousandcenturies,andyourlinemustnotstophere。Itcannot。Yourancestrywillnotpermitit。Instinctisstrongerthanthewill。Theraceismightierthanyou。Come,Dave,letusgo。Weareyoungyet,andlifeisgood。Come。\"
Winapie,passingoutofthecabintofeedthedogs,caughthisattentionandcausedhimtoshakehisheadandweaklytoreiterate。Butthewoman’shandslippedabouthisneck,andhercheekpressedtohis。Hisbleakliferoseupandsmotehim,——thevainstrugglewithpitilessforces;thedrearyyearsoffrostandfamine;theharshandjarringcontactwithelementallife;theachingvoidwhichmereanimalexistencecouldnotfill。Andthere,seductionbyhisside,whisperingofbrighter,warmerlands,ofmusic,light,andjoy,calledtheoldtimesbackagain。
Hevisioneditunconsciously。Facesrushedinuponhim;glimpsesofforgottenscenes,memoriesofmerryhours;strainsofsongandtrillsoflaughter—
\"Come,Dave,Come。Ihaveforboth。Thewayissoft。\"Shelookedaboutheratthebarefurnishingsofthecabin。\"Ihaveforboth。Theworldisatourfeet,andalljoyisours。Come!
come!\"
Shewasinhisarms,trembling,andheheldhertightly。Herosetohisfeet……Butthesnarlingofhungrydogs,andtheshrillcriesofWinapiebringingaboutpeacebetweenthecombatants,camemuffledtohisearthroughtheheavylogs。Andanothersceneflashedbeforehim。Astruggleintheforest,——abald—facegrizzly,broken—legged,terrible;thesnarlingofthedogsandtheshrillcriesofWinapieassheurgedthemtotheattack;himselfinthemidstofthecrush,breathless,panting,strivingtoholdoffreddeath;broken—backed,entrail—rippeddogshowlinginimpotentanguishanddesecratingthesnow;thevirginwhiterunningscarletwiththebloodofmanandbeast;thebear,ferocious,irresistible,crunching,crunchingdowntothecoreofhislife;andWinapie,atthelast,inthethickofthefrightfulmuddle,hairflying,eyesflashing,furyincarnate,passingthelonghuntingknifeagainandagain——Sweatstartedtohisforehead。
Heshookofftheclingingwomanandstaggeredbacktothewall。