about a hundred pounds of blubber lay upon the ice, and Carlo was luxuriating on a whole hind1 quarter, which was given up to his especial use, to make up for the rather short commons he had of late been reduced to. About fifty birds lay behind the hummock2, and Peter, who was anxious to secure a bird-skin coverlet for his own use, set himself down to skin the finest ones. Waring joined him in the task.
"There's the big berg where we killed ussuk yesterday. Less go and look around. Perhaps we see land," said Regnar.
"No, Regnie; we are fifty miles from any land now, and I think about one third of the way across to the Magdalen Islands. Still, I should like to take an observation, and see where we are; and we may not have such a calm spell again for two or three days."
Pulling off to the berg, they found the shelf on which lay the dead seal, and climbing the ice-cliff,[Pg 221] they saw spread out before them a strange and pleasing spectacle. The fog had lifted, for it was now nearly noon, and although some rain still fell, the eye could see the broken ice-pack seamed with channels, and scarred with pools of varying size, for at least eight miles in any direction. Regnar started, turned to his companion, and
seizing his shoulder with convulsive energy, pointed4 to the east. A long ribbon of black vapor5 hung over the ice, low down on the horizon, and beneath it towered the topsail of a brigantine, going free before the wind.
"It is a sealing steamer, boring out of the pack," said Regnar.
La Salle's first impulse was to rush to the boat, and rejoin his comrades, to set signals, burn bonfires[Pg 222]—anything which might possibly call the attention of those on board. Then he considered the futility6 of such endeavors, and he turned to his comrade,—
"We can't signal her now, Regnar, and we won't excite in our friends hopes which cannot fail to be disappointed. We shall see her again soon."
Regnar looked around them, cast glances of admiration7 on the abundance of animal life presented to their view, gave a look of approval to his friend, and answered in his Esquimaux-English,—
"It is good. I fear not. That steamer sail away to-day, for wind fair. If wind east to-morrow, she sail this way. If wind north, she go south; but she no leave this place till she beats the pack, like a hound. Look there—see that floe8. Plenty seal there to load one vessel9."
The view was indeed charming, for ice and water were alive with birds, and among them moved in every direction the bullet heads of many seals.
About three miles to the eastward10 lay a large pan, and around it the water was dark with the older amphibia, while from it came, in the occasional calm intervals11, the unceasing whine12, which the baby seal never foregos for a moment, except when asleep or feeding.
"We want more skins, master," said the boy. "We could soon fill our boat—we two."
A cold puff13 came from the westward14, and a slight break showed itself in the north-west.[Pg 223]
"We shall have clear weather and a westerly breeze after sunset," said La Salle. "We will get ready to-night, and to-morrow we will have a battle among the seals."
Retracing15 their steps, they entered their boats, and returned to their friends, to whom they imparted the news of the proximity16 of the sealing-grounds.
"We need about ten large skins, and some smaller ones. So let us get ready to-night, and if the weather is favorable, visit the 'nursery' to-morrow."
So saying, La Salle took one of the large floating decoys made of cork17 and canvas, and painted black, and drawing a nail from the broken boat, fastened it to the end of a strip from the bottom—in fact, one of the runners. This was planted beside the strip, sustaining the record contained in the copper18 case, and formed a beacon19, easily distinguished20 against the lighter21 ice.
Guns were cleaned, knives and axes sharpened, for the soapstone boulder23 had been brought from the berg, and afforded quite a good whetstone, to patient labor24; and Peter, with his knife, finished, in the course of the evening, a number of wooden bolts for himself, La Salle, and Regnar; and even Waring fitted a couple into two of the brass25 shells of his breech-loader.
Regnar took the remains26 of the steel boat-hook, and succeeded in straightening the hook, which he drew down into the shape of a rude chisel27. Peter tem[Pg 224]pered it for him, and then, with this rude tool and an axe22, he split the boulder of soapstone into halves, making two bowl-shaped pieces, about fifteen inches across, in the line of cleavage. One of these he proceeded to hollow out into an Esquimaux lamp, for the stock of wood had been largely drawn28 upon during the cold spell just over, and only about twenty decoys remained unburnt. Waring sat next him, unraveling one of the old cotton-flannel over-shirts, and twisting the fibres into large wicks; while La Salle made a cover of the last remaining sheet-iron decoy, with holes for six wicks. As they sat around the fire, Waring suddenly broke the silence.
"Charley," said he, "you have never told your story, although all the rest of the club took their turn. We are not making much noise with our work. Can't you give us your story now, to while away the evening?"
La Salle was at first disposed to comply, but his eye fell on the dark features of Peter, opposite him.
"Peter," said he, "tell us one of the tales your old people tell around the winter fire in the long, cold evenings. Tell us of Teahm or Kit-pus-e-ag-a-now."
"How you know them?" asked the Indian, surprised out of his usual self-possession. "You speak Micmac too?"
"O, no, Peter; but I have heard many of these old tales, and I know the lads would like to hear them too."[Pg 225]
"Yes, yes, Peter," added Waring, "let us have one, by all means."
Peter laid aside his pipe, for he still retained a little of his treasured tobacco, and in a slow, sententious tone repeated one of those tribal29 legends which are all that keep alive the fire of patriotism30 and national pride, in the breasts of a people who find themselves strangers, outcasts, and without a country in the land of their birth, once theirs alone.
Peter's Story.
"The old people were camped long, long ago, near the Oolastook, where now stands St. John. All this lan' Indian then. No 'hite man live here that time, and the hunter always find game plenty—plenty moose, plenty bear, plenty fish, plenty everyting.
"Then Indians not so wicked as now, and God had not sent 'hite men to punish them for their sins. But even then they fought each other; and between my people and the Quedetchque—that my name; you call 'em Mohawk, I b'lieve—there was war, all time war.
"The Quedetchque come down every fall, follow down banks of river, wait alound village until all my people asleep; make warwhoop, fire arrows, set fire to womegun, lun off with prisoner, and plenty scalp. One time all my people away, only squaw and children in town; Quedetchque war-party come, burn an' kill; get plenty scalp of women and boy, and chief take away Coquan, what you call 'Lainbow,' wife of great chief 'Tamegun,' the tomahawk.[Pg 226]
"They hurry home fas', but the snow fall thick, an' soon Tamegun an' one other man come home, fin3' wigwam burnt, an' dead people all alound. They tighten31 belts, take bow, knife, an' axe, and follow on track.
"One night they find tracks in snow, and soon come up to the camp. Many warriors32 in that camp—make long camp, and door at each end, and fire at door. All Quedetchque inside take off moccason and bathe sore feet in big birch-bark tub near door; then wait until Coquan mend moccasons. All this Tamegun see, and he find out where his squaw sit in lodge33.
"Then he creep up like wildcat, and peep through bark so close he could almos' touch her; but he only lift edge of bark, and slide in wampum belt. Coquan work war-belt for him, and know who it is at once. Then she go out, an' they talk together, far from the camp.
"Then Coquan go back into camp, and take all the moccasons outside, and set the tubs of dirty water outside each door. Then she see Tamegun an' his friend tie rope across door, jus' above ground, and the Lainbow slip out again. Then Micmacs catch up tubs and throw water on the fires; all out in a minute.
"Both cly the warwhoop many times at the door, an' the woman shoot arrows through the bark. All the Quedetchque jump up, take knife an' axe, think Micmacs got into the tent. All is dark; see nothing; think everybody enemy. They stab with knife, cly[Pg 227] war-cly, strike with axe, kill each other. Some lun out doors, tumble over cord. Micmacs kill every one. At last all dead but two boys, and Tamegun tie these to trees.
"Then Tamegun get scalp, skin, beads34, knife, spear, everyting he want. Make three taboggin; load all they can carry; then set fire to camp and burn all up. Then, when all ready, Tamegun draw his knife, an' cut prisoners loose.
"'Go back to Quedetchque,' he say. 'They are squaws an' cowards. Tell them come no more into Meegum-Ahgee,—in Micmac land,—for two Micmac men an' a squaw have kill all your people. Go! You are too young to die. Your flesh is soft. Come back when your scalps are fit for a Micmac's belt.'
"So Tamegun got home all light, an' Quedetchque come no more for many years. But my people no more fight. Many die in battle long ago. Many die of small-pox an' fever, and now we are few. So it will be until He comes for whom all Indians wait. The story is ended."
Thus in rude English, Peter related one of the many tales, which still serve to keep alive a people's pride in the glories of bygone days, so unlike their present degradation35, that to the general observer the civilized36 Indian seems to know nothing of the past, to be scarcely conscious of his ignoble37 surroundings and circumstances, and to have no care or hope for a[Pg 228] brighter future. La Salle knew well the wild legend of the Deliverer, in whom, in spite of his Catholic faith, the Indian everywhere has an inherent trust, as the slowly but surely-coming protector and restorer, of his ancient happiness.
"Thank you, Peter," said he, kindly38. "Your people were a brave race, and true as steel to your Wenooch (i.e., French). They fought as long as their allies dared to strive; and it was long after the last French fortress39 surrendered that the warriors met at Bay Verte, to become true subjects to the king they had fought against for years."
"Yes," said Peter, sadly. "My people once strong and brave; now they waste away like the snow. I know many families almost gone, an' but few pure Indian live this end of island. We see it, if 'hite people think not, but we do not care to let them see our tears."
There was a simple pathos40 in the broken words of this unlearned man—for he was no savage—which went to the hearts of his hearers; and La Salle felt more strongly than ever, the cruel cowardice41 of that popular outcry, which denies a whole people all share of innate42 nobility and virtue43, and visits on a deceived and wronged race, both their own sins and the short-comings of those who should be their natural protectors.
The party finished their various undertakings44, carefully removing their litter. La Salle and Regnar went[Pg 229] outside to take a last look at the sea and sky. The stars were visible here and there, through the dispersing45 clouds, and the drip of melting ice was no longer heard, for the temperature had again fallen below the freezing point.
"We are drifting south of east," said Regnar, quietly, "and unless picked up will probably clear the south point of the Magdalen Islands."
"How can you tell that?" asked La Salle.
"Easily enough," said the lad, talking still in French. "The wind is westerly, and the current runs from north to south."
"But how can you decide on the points of the compass?" persisted La Salle.
For the first time the boy seemed to wonder at the question, and to doubt the wisdom of his friend.
"Who can fail to know?" said he, quietly, "when he can see in the heavens above him, the steady light of the Polar Star?"
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1
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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hummock
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| n.小丘 | |
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fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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futility
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| n.无用 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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floe
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| n.大片浮冰 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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12
whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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15
retracing
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| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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16
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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tribal
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| adj.部族的，种族的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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31
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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35
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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41
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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42
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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44
undertakings
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| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
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dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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