In the Yukon country, when this comes to pass, the man usually provisions a poling boat, if it is summer, and if winter, harnesses his dogs, and heads for the Southland. A few months later, supposing him to be possessed6 of a faith in the country, he returns with a wife to share with him in that faith, and incidentally in his hardships. This but serves to show the innate8 selfishness of man. It also brings us to the trouble of 'Scruff' Mackenzie, which occurred in the old days, before the country was stampeded and staked by a tidal-wave of the che-cha-quas, and when the Klondike's only claim to notice was its salmon10 fisheries.
'Scruff' Mackenzie bore the earmarks of a frontier birth and a frontier life.
His face was stamped with twenty-five years of incessant11 struggle with Nature in her wildest moods,—the last two, the wildest and hardest of all, having been spent in groping for the gold which lies in the shadow of the Arctic Circle. When the yearning12 sickness came upon him, he was not surprised, for he was a practical man and had seen other men thus stricken. But he showed no sign of his malady13, save that he worked harder. All summer he fought mosquitoes and washed the sure-thing bars of the Stuart River for a double grubstake. Then he floated a raft of houselogs down the Yukon to Forty Mile, and put together as comfortable a cabin as any the camp could boast of. In fact, it showed such cozy14 promise that many men elected to be his partner and to come and live with him. But he crushed their aspirations15 with rough speech, peculiar16 for its strength and brevity, and bought a double supply of grub from the trading-post.
As has been noted17, 'Scruff' Mackenzie was a practical man. If he wanted a thing he usually got it, but in doing so, went no farther out of his way than was necessary. Though a son of toil18 and hardship, he was averse19 to a journey of six hundred miles on the ice, a second of two thousand miles on the ocean, and still a third thousand miles or so to his last stamping-grounds,—all in the mere20 quest of a wife. Life was too short. So he rounded up his dogs, lashed21 a curious freight to his sled, and faced across the divide whose westward23 slopes were drained by the head-reaches of the Tanana.
He was a sturdy traveler, and his wolf-dogs could work harder and travel farther on less grub than any other team in the Yukon. Three weeks later he strode into a hunting-camp of the Upper Tanana Sticks. They marveled at his temerity24; for they had a bad name and had been known to kill white men for as trifling25 a thing as a sharp ax or a broken rifle.
But he went among them single-handed, his bearing being a delicious composite of humility26, familiarity, sang-froid, and insolence27. It required a deft28 hand and deep knowledge of the barbaric mind effectually to handle such diverse weapons; but he was a past-master in the art, knowing when to conciliate and when to threaten with Jove-like wrath29.
He first made obeisance30 to the Chief Thling-Tinneh, presenting him with a couple of pounds of black tea and tobacco, and thereby31 winning his most cordial regard. Then he mingled32 with the men and maidens34, and that night gave a potlach.
The snow was beaten down in the form of an oblong, perhaps a hundred feet in length and quarter as many across. Down the center a long fire was built, while either side was carpeted with spruce boughs35. The lodges37 were forsaken38, and the fivescore or so members of the tribe gave tongue to their folk-chants in honor of their guest.
'Scruff' Mackenzie's two years had taught him the not many hundred words of their vocabulary, and he had likewise conquered their deep gutturals, their Japanese idioms, constructions, and honorific and agglutinative particles. So he made oration39 after their manner, satisfying their instinctive40 poetry-love with crude flights of eloquence41 and metaphorical42 contortions43. After Thling-Tinneh and the Shaman had responded in kind, he made trifling presents to the menfolk, joined in their singing, and proved an expert in their fifty-two-stick gambling44 game.
And they smoked his tobacco and were pleased. But among the younger men there was a defiant45 attitude, a spirit of braggadocio46, easily understood by the raw insinuations of the toothless squaws and the giggling47 of the maidens. They had known few white men, 'Sons of the Wolf,' but from those few they had learned strange lessons.
Nor had 'Scruff' Mackenzie, for all his seeming carelessness, failed to note these phenomena48. In truth, rolled in his sleeping-furs, he thought it all over, thought seriously, and emptied many pipes in mapping out a campaign. One maiden33 only had caught his fancy,—none other than Zarinska, daughter to the chief. In features, form, and poise49, answering more nearly to the white man's type of beauty, she was almost an anomaly among her tribal50 sisters. He would possess her, make her his wife, and name her—ah, he would name her Gertrude! Having thus decided51, he rolled over on his side and dropped off to sleep, a true son of his all-conquering race, a Samson among the Philistines52.
It was slow work and a stiff game; but 'Scruff' Mackenzie maneuvered53 cunningly, with an unconcern which served to puzzle the Sticks. He took great care to impress the men that he was a sure shot and a mighty54 hunter, and the camp rang with his plaudits when he brought down a moose at six hundred yards. Of a night he visited in Chief Thling-Tinneh's lodge36 of moose and cariboo skins, talking big and dispensing55 tobacco with a lavish56 hand. Nor did he fail to likewise honor the Shaman; for he realized the medicine-man's influence with his people, and was anxious to make of him an ally. But that worthy57 was high and mighty, refused to be propitiated58, and was unerringly marked down as a prospective59 enemy.
Though no opening presented for an interview with Zarinska, Mackenzie stole many a glance to her, giving fair warning of his intent. And well she knew, yet coquettishly surrounded herself with a ring of women whenever the men were away and he had a chance. But he was in no hurry; besides, he knew she could not help but think of him, and a few days of such thought would only better his suit.
At last, one night, when he deemed the time to be ripe, he abruptly60 left the chief's smoky dwelling61 and hastened to a neighboring lodge. As usual, she sat with squaws and maidens about her, all engaged in sewing moccasins and beadwork. They laughed at his entrance, and badinage62, which linked Zarinska to him, ran high. But one after the other they were unceremoniously bundled into the outer snow, whence they hurried to spread the tale through all the camp.
His cause was well pleaded, in her tongue, for she did not know his, and at the end of two hours he rose to go.
'So Zarinska will come to the White Man's lodge? Good! I go now to have talk with thy father, for he may not be so minded. And I will give him many tokens; but he must not ask too much. If he say no? Good! Zarinska shall yet come to the White Man's lodge.'
He had already lifted the skin flap to depart, when a low exclamation63 brought him back to the girl's side. She brought herself to her knees on the bearskin mat, her face aglow64 with true Eve-light, and shyly unbuckled his heavy belt. He looked down, perplexed65, suspicious, his ears alert for the slightest sound without.
But her next move disarmed66 his doubt, and he smiled with pleasure. She took from her sewing bag a moosehide sheath, brave with bright beadwork, fantastically designed. She drew his great hunting-knife, gazed reverently67 along the keen edge, half tempted68 to try it with her thumb, and shot it into place in its new home. Then she slipped the sheath along the belt to its customary resting-place, just above the hip7. For all the world, it was like a scene of olden time,—a lady and her knight69.
Mackenzie drew her up full height and swept her red lips with his moustache, the, to her, foreign caress70 of the Wolf. It was a meeting of the stone age and the steel; but she was none the less a woman, as her crimson71 cheeks and the luminous72 softness of her eyes attested73.
There was a thrill of excitement in the air as 'Scruff' Mackenzie, a bulky bundle under his arm, threw open the flap of Thling-Tinneh's tent. Children were running about in the open, dragging dry wood to the scene of the potlach, a babble74 of women's voices was growing in intensity75, the young men were consulting in sullen76 groups, while from the Shaman's lodge rose the eerie77 sounds of an incantation.
The chief was alone with his blear-eyed wife, but a glance sufficed to tell Mackenzie that the news was already told. So he plunged78 at once into the business, shifting the beaded sheath prominently to the fore9 as advertisement of the betrothal79.
'O Thling-Tinneh, mighty chief of the Sticks And the land of the Tanana, ruler of the salmon and the bear, the moose and the cariboo! The White Man is before thee with a great purpose. Many moons has his lodge been empty, and he is lonely. And his heart has eaten itself in silence, and grown hungry for a woman to sit beside him in his lodge, to meet him from the hunt with warm fire and good food. He has heard strange things, the patter of baby moccasins and the sound of children's voices. And one night a vision came upon him, and he beheld80 the Raven81, who is thy father, the great Raven, who is the father of all the Sticks. And the Raven spake to the lonely White Man, saying: "Bind82 thou thy moccasins upon thee, and gird thy snow-shoes on, and lash22 thy sled with food for many sleeps and fine tokens for the Chief Thling-Tinneh. For thou shalt turn thy face to where the mid-spring sun is wont83 to sink below the land and journey to this great chief's hunting-grounds. There thou shalt make big presents, and Thling-Tinneh, who is my son, shall become to thee as a father. In his lodge there is a maiden into whom I breathed the breath of life for thee. This maiden shalt thou take to wife." 'O Chief, thus spake the great Raven; thus do I lay many presents at thy feet; thus am I come to take thy daughter!' The old man drew his furs about him with crude consciousness of royalty84, but delayed reply while a youngster crept in, delivered a quick message to appear before the council, and was gone.
'O White Man, whom we have named Moose-Killer, also known as the Wolf, and the Son of the Wolf! We know thou comest of a mighty race; we are proud to have thee our potlach-guest; but the king-salmon does not mate with the dogsalmon, nor the Raven with the Wolf.' 'Not so!' cried Mackenzie. 'The daughters of the Raven have I met in the camps of the Wolf,—the squaw of Mortimer, the squaw of Tregidgo, the squaw of Barnaby, who came two ice-runs back, and I have heard of other squaws, though my eyes beheld them not.' 'Son, your words are true; but it were evil mating, like the water with the sand, like the snow-flake with the sun. But met you one Mason and his squaw' No?
He came ten ice-runs ago,—the first of all the Wolves. And with him there was a mighty man, straight as a willow-shoot, and tall; strong as the bald-faced grizzly85, with a heart like the full summer moon; his-' 'Oh!' interrupted Mackenzie, recognizing the well-known Northland figure, 'Malemute Kid!' 'The same,—a mighty man. But saw you aught of the squaw? She was full sister to Zarinska.' 'Nay86, Chief; but I have heard. Mason—far, far to the north, a spruce-tree, heavy with years, crushed out his life beneath. But his love was great, and he had much gold. With this, and her boy, she journeyed countless87 sleeps toward the winter's noonday sun, and there she yet lives,—no biting frost, no snow, no summer's midnight sun, no winter's noonday night.'
A second messenger interrupted with imperative88 summons from the council.
As Mackenzie threw him into the snow, he caught a glimpse of the swaying forms before the council-fire, heard the deep basses89 of the men in rhythmic90 chant, and knew the Shaman was fanning the anger of his people. Time pressed. He turned upon the chief.
'Come! I wish thy child. And now, see! Here are tobacco, tea, many cups of sugar, warm blankets, handkerchiefs, both good and large; and here, a true rifle, with many bullets and much powder.' 'Nay,' replied the old man, struggling against the great wealth spread before him. 'Even now are my people come together. They will not have this marriage.'
'But thou art chief.' 'Yet do my young men rage because the Wolves have taken their maidens so that they may not marry.' 'Listen, O Thling-Tinneh! Ere the night has passed into the day, the Wolf shall face his dogs to the Mountains of the East and fare forth91 to the Country of the Yukon. And Zarinska shall break trail for his dogs.' 'And ere the night has gained its middle, my young men may fling to the dogs the flesh of the Wolf, and his bones be scattered92 in the snow till the springtime lay them bare.' It was threat and counter-threat. Mackenzie's bronzed face flushed darkly. He raised his voice. The old squaw, who till now had sat an impassive spectator, made to creep by him for the door.
The song of the men broke suddenly and there was a hubbub93 of many voices as he whirled the old woman roughly to her couch of skins.
'Again I cry—listen, O Thling-Tinneh! The Wolf dies with teeth fast-locked, and with him there shall sleep ten of thy strongest men,—men who are needed, for the hunting is not begun, and the fishing is not many moons away. And again, of what profit should I die? I know the custom of thy people; thy share of my wealth shall be very small. Grant me thy child, and it shall all be thine. And yet again, my brothers will come, and they are many, and their maws are never filled; and the daughters of the Raven shall bear children in the lodges of the Wolf. My people are greater than thy people. It is destiny. Grant, and all this wealth is thine.' Moccasins were crunching94 the snow without. Mackenzie threw his rifle to cock, and loosened the twin Colts in his belt.
'Grant, O Chief!' 'And yet will my people say no.' 'Grant, and the wealth is thine. Then shall I deal with thy people after.' 'The Wolf will have it so. I will take his tokens,—but I would warn him.' Mackenzie passed over the goods, taking care to clog95 the rifle's ejector, and capping the bargain with a kaleidoscopic96 silk kerchief. The Shaman and half a dozen young braves entered, but he shouldered boldly among them and passed out.
'Pack!' was his laconic97 greeting to Zarinska as he passed her lodge and hurried to harness his dogs. A few minutes later he swept into the council at the head of the team, the woman by his side. He took his place at the upper end of the oblong, by the side of the chief. To his left, a step to the rear, he stationed Zarinska, her proper place. Besides, the time was ripe for mischief98, and there was need to guard his back.
On either side, the men crouched99 to the fire, their voices lifted in a folk-chant out of the forgotten past. Full of strange, halting cadences100 and haunting recurrences101, it was not beautiful. 'Fearful' may inadequately102 express it. At the lower end, under the eye of the Shaman, danced half a score of women. Stern were his reproofs103 of those who did not wholly abandon themselves to the ecstasy104 of the rite105. Half hidden in their heavy masses of raven hair, all dishevelled and falling to their waists, they slowly swayed to and fro, their forms rippling106 to an ever-changing rhythm.
It was a weird107 scene; an anachronism. To the south, the nineteenth century was reeling off the few years of its last decade; here flourished man primeval, a shade removed from the prehistoric108 cave-dweller, forgotten fragment of the Elder World. The tawny109 wolf-dogs sat between their skin-clad masters or fought for room, the firelight cast backward from their red eyes and dripping fangs110. The woods, in ghostly shroud111, slept on unheeding.
The White Silence, for the moment driven to the rimming112 forest, seemed ever crushing inward; the stars danced with great leaps, as is their wont in the time of the Great Cold; while the Spirits of the Pole trailed their robes of glory athwart the heavens.
'Scruff' Mackenzie dimly realized the wild grandeur113 of the setting as his eyes ranged down the fur-fringed sides in quest of missing faces. They rested for a moment on a newborn babe, suckling at its mother's naked breast. It was forty below,—seven and odd degrees of frost. He thought of the tender women of his own race and smiled grimly. Yet from the loins of some such tender woman had he sprung with a kingly inheritance,—an inheritance which gave to him and his dominance over the land and sea, over the animals and the peoples of all the zones. Single-handed against fivescore, girt by the Arctic winter, far from his own, he felt the prompting of his heritage, the desire to possess, the wild danger—love, the thrill of battle, the power to conquer or to die.
Through the sinuosities of their vast mythology115, he worked cunningly upon the credulity of his people. The case was strong. Opposing the creative principles as embodied116 in the Crow and the Raven, he stigmatized117 Mackenzie as the Wolf, the fighting and the destructive principle. Not only was the combat of these forces spiritual, but men fought, each to his totem. They were the children of Jelchs, the Raven, the Promethean fire-bringer; Mackenzie was the child of the Wolf, or in other words, the Devil. For them to bring a truce118 to this perpetual warfare119, to marry their daughters to the arch-enemy, were treason and blasphemy120 of the highest order. No phrase was harsh nor figure vile121 enough in branding Mackenzie as a sneaking122 interloper and emissary of Satan. There was a subdued123, savage124 roar in the deep chests of his listeners as he took the swing of his peroration125.
'Aye, my brothers, Jelchs is all-powerful! Did he not bring heaven-borne fire that we might be warm? Did he not draw the sun, moon, and stars, from their holes that we might see? Did he not teach us that we might fight the Spirits of Famine and of Frost? But now Jelchs is angry with his children, and they are grown to a handful, and he will not help.
'For they have forgotten him, and done evil things, and trod bad trails, and taken his enemies into their lodges to sit by their fires. And the Raven is sorrowful at the wickedness of his children; but when they shall rise up and show they have come back, he will come out of the darkness to aid them. O brothers! the Fire-Bringer has whispered messages to thy Shaman; the same shall ye hear. Let the young men take the young women to their lodges; let them fly at the throat of the Wolf; let them be undying in their enmity! Then shall their women become fruitful and they shall multiply into a mighty people! And the Raven shall lead great tribes of their fathers and their fathers' fathers from out of the North; and they shall beat back the Wolves till they are as last year's campfires; and they shall again come to rule over all the land! 'Tis the message of Jelchs, the Raven.' This foreshadowing of the Messiah's coming brought a hoarse126 howl from the Sticks as they leaped to their feet. Mackenzie slipped the thumbs of his mittens127 and waited. There was a clamor for the 'Fox,' not to be stilled till one of the young men stepped forward to speak.
'Brothers! The Shaman has spoken wisely. The Wolves have taken our women, and our men are childless. We are grown to a handful. The Wolves have taken our warm furs and given for them evil spirits which dwell in bottles, and clothes which come not from the beaver129 or the lynx, but are made from the grass.
And they are not warm, and our men die of strange sicknesses. I, the Fox, have taken no woman to wife; and why? Twice have the maidens which pleased me gone to the camps of the Wolf. Even now have I laid by skins of the beaver, of the moose, of the cariboo, that I might win favor in the eyes of Thling-Tinneh, that I might marry Zarinska, his daughter. Even now are her snow-shoes bound to her feet, ready to break trail for the dogs of the Wolf. Nor do I speak for myself alone.
As I have done, so has the Bear. He, too, had fain been the father of her children, and many skins has he cured thereto. I speak for all the young men who know not wives. The Wolves are ever hungry. Always do they take the choice meat at the killing130. To the Ravens131 are left the leavings.
'Her legs are bent133 like the ribs134 of a birch canoe. She cannot gather wood nor carry the meat of the hunters. Did the Wolves choose her?' 'Ai! ai!' vociferated his tribesmen.
'There is Moyri, whose eyes are crossed by the Evil Spirit. Even the babes are affrighted when they gaze upon her, and it is said the bald-face gives her the trail.
'Was she chosen?' Again the cruel applause rang out.
'And there sits Pischet. She does not hearken to my words. Never has she heard the cry of the chit-chat, the voice of her husband, the babble of her child.
'She lives in the White Silence. Cared the Wolves aught for her? No! Theirs is the choice of the kill; ours is the leavings.
'Brothers, it shall not be! No more shall the Wolves slink among our campfires. The time is come.' A great streamer of fire, the aurora135 borealis, purple, green, and yellow, shot across the zenith, bridging horizon to horizon. With head thrown back and arms extended, he swayed to his climax136.
'Behold137! The spirits of our fathers have arisen and great deeds are afoot this night!' He stepped back, and another young man somewhat diffidently came forward, pushed on by his comrades. He towered a full head above them, his broad chest defiantly138 bared to the frost. He swung tentatively from one foot to the other.
Words halted upon his tongue, and he was ill at ease. His face was horrible to look upon, for it had at one time been half torn away by some terrific blow. At last he struck his breast with his clenched139 fist, drawing sound as from a drum, and his voice rumbled140 forth as does the surf from an ocean cavern141.
'I am the Bear,—the Silver-Tip and the Son of the Silver-Tip! When my voice was yet as a girl's, I slew142 the lynx, the moose, and the cariboo; when it whistled like the wolverines from under a cache, I crossed the Mountains of the South and slew three of the White Rivers; when it became as the roar of the Chinook, I met the bald-faced grizzly, but gave no trail.' At this he paused, his hand significantly sweeping143 across his hideous144 scars.
'I am not as the Fox. My tongue is frozen like the river. I cannot make great talk. My words are few. The Fox says great deeds are afoot this night. Good! Talk flows from his tongue like the freshets of the spring, but he is chary145 of deeds.
'This night shall I do battle with the Wolf. I shall slay146 him, and Zarinska shall sit by my fire. The Bear has spoken.' Though pandemonium147 raged about him, 'Scruff' Mackenzie held his ground.
Aware how useless was the rifle at close quarters, he slipped both holsters to the fore, ready for action, and drew his mittens till his hands were barely shielded by the elbow gauntlets. He knew there was no hope in attack en masse, but true to his boast, was prepared to die with teeth fast-locked. But the Bear restrained his comrades, beating back the more impetuous with his terrible fist. As the tumult148 began to die away, Mackenzie shot a glance in the direction of Zarinska. It was a superb picture. She was leaning forward on her snow-shoes, lips apart and nostrils149 quivering, like a tigress about to spring. Her great black eyes were fixed150 upon her tribesmen, in fear and defiance151. So extreme the tension, she had forgotten to breathe. With one hand pressed spasmodically against her breast and the other as tightly gripped about the dog-whip, she was as turned to stone. Even as he looked, relief came to her. Her muscles loosened; with a heavy sigh she settled back, giving him a look of more than love—of worship.
Thling-Tinneh was trying to speak, but his people drowned his voice. Then Mackenzie strode forward. The Fox opened his mouth to a piercing yell, but so savagely152 did Mackenzie whirl upon him that he shrank back, his larynx all agurgle with suppressed sound. His discomfiture153 was greeted with roars of laughter, and served to soothe154 his fellows to a listening mood.
'Brothers! The White Man, whom ye have chosen to call the Wolf, came among you with fair words. He was not like the Innuit; he spoke128 not lies. He came as a friend, as one who would be a brother. But your men have had their say, and the time for soft words is past.
'First, I will tell you that the Shaman has an evil tongue and is a false prophet, that the messages he spake are not those of the Fire-Bringer. His ears are locked to the voice of the Raven, and out of his own head he weaves cunning fancies, and he has made fools of you. He has no power.
'When the dogs were killed and eaten, and your stomachs were heavy with untanned hide and strips of moccasins; when the old men died, and the old women died, and the babes at the dry dugs of the mothers died; when the land was dark, and ye perished as do the salmon in the fall; aye, when the famine was upon you, did the Shaman bring reward to your hunters? did the Shaman put meat in your bellies155? Again I say, the Shaman is without power. Thus I spit upon his face!' Though taken aback by the sacrilege, there was no uproar156. Some of the women were even frightened, but among the men there was an uplifting, as though in preparation or anticipation157 of the miracle. All eyes were turned upon the two central figures. The priest realized the crucial moment, felt his power tottering158, opened his mouth in denunciation, but fled backward before the truculent159 advance, upraised fist, and flashing eyes, of Mackenzie. He sneered160 and resumed.
'Was I stricken dead? Did the lightning burn me? Did the stars fall from the sky and crush me? Pish! I have done with the dog. Now will I tell you of my people, who are the mightiest161 of all the peoples, who rule in all the lands. At first we hunt as I hunt, alone.
'After that we hunt in packs; and at last, like the cariboo-run, we sweep across all the land.
'Those whom we take into our lodges live; those who will not come die. Zarinska is a comely162 maiden, full and strong, fit to become the mother of Wolves. Though I die, such shall she become; for my brothers are many, and they will follow the scent163 of my dogs.
'Listen to the Law of the Wolf: Whoso taketh the life of one Wolf, the forfeit164 shall ten of his people pay. In many lands has the price been paid; in many lands shall it yet be paid.
'Now will I deal with the Fox and the Bear. It seems they have cast eyes upon the maiden. So? Behold, I have bought her! Thling-Tinneh leans upon the rifle; the goods of purchase are by his fire. Yet will I be fair to the young men. To the Fox, whose tongue is dry with many words, will I give of tobacco five long plugs.
'Thus will his mouth be wetted that he may make much noise in the council. But to the Bear, of whom I am well proud, will I give of blankets two; of flour, twenty cups; of tobacco, double that of the Fox; and if he fare with me over the Mountains of the East, then will I give him a rifle, mate to Thling-Tinneh's. If not? Good! The Wolf is weary of speech. Yet once again will he say the Law: Whoso taketh the life of one Wolf, the forfeit shall ten of his people pay.'
Mackenzie smiled as he stepped back to his old position, but at heart he was full of trouble. The night was yet dark. The girl came to his side, and he listened closely as she told of the Bear's battle-tricks with the knife.
The decision was for war. In a trice, scores of moccasins were widening the space of beaten snow by the fire. There was much chatter165 about the seeming defeat of the Shaman; some averred166 he had but withheld167 his power, while others conned168 past events and agreed with the Wolf. The Bear came to the center of the battle-ground, a long naked hunting-knife of Russian make in his hand. The Fox called attention to Mackenzie's revolvers; so he stripped his belt, buckling169 it about Zarinska, into whose hands he also entrusted170 his rifle. She shook her head that she could not shoot,—small chance had a woman to handle such precious things.
'Then, if danger come by my back, cry aloud, "My husband!" No; thus, "My husband!"'
He laughed as she repeated it, pinched her cheek, and reentered the circle. Not only in reach and stature171 had the Bear the advantage of him, but his blade was longer by a good two inches. 'Scruff' Mackenzie had looked into the eyes of men before, and he knew it was a man who stood against him; yet he quickened to the glint of light on the steel, to the dominant172 pulse of his race.
Time and again he was forced to the edge of the fire or the deep snow, and time and again, with the foot tactics of the pugilist, he worked back to the center. Not a voice was lifted in encouragement, while his antagonist173 was heartened with applause, suggestions, and warnings. But his teeth only shut the tighter as the knives clashed together, and he thrust or eluded174 with a coolness born of conscious strength. At first he felt compassion175 for his enemy; but this fled before the primal176 instinct of life, which in turn gave way to the lust177 of slaughter178. The ten thousand years of culture fell from him, and he was a cave-dweller, doing battle for his female.
Twice he pricked179 the Bear, getting away unscathed; but the third time caught, and to save himself, free hands closed on fighting hands, and they came together.
Then did he realize the tremendous strength of his opponent. His muscles were knotted in painful lumps, and cords and tendons threatened to snap with the strain; yet nearer and nearer came the Russian steel. He tried to break away, but only weakened himself. The fur-clad circle closed in, certain of and anxious to see the final stroke. But with wrestler's trick, swinging partly to the side, he struck at his adversary180 with his head. Involuntarily the Bear leaned back, disturbing his center of gravity. Simultaneous with this, Mackenzie tripped properly and threw his whole weight forward, hurling181 him clear through the circle into the deep snow. The Bear floundered out and came back full tilt182.
To the twang of a bow-string, Mackenzie swept low to the ground, and a bonebarbed arrow passed over him into the breast of the Bear, whose momentum184 carried him over his crouching185 foe186. The next instant Mackenzie was up and about. The bear lay motionless, but across the fire was the Shaman, drawing a second arrow. Mackenzie's knife leaped short in the air. He caught the heavy blade by the point. There was a flash of light as it spanned the fire. Then the Shaman, the hilt alone appearing without his throat, swayed and pitched forward into the glowing embers.
Click! Click!—the Fox had possessed himself of Thling-Tinneh's rifle and was vainly trying to throw a shell into place. But he dropped it at the sound of Mackenzie's laughter.
'So the Fox has not learned the way of the plaything? He is yet a woman.
'Come! Bring it, that I may show thee!' The Fox hesitated.
'Come, I say!' He slouched forward like a beaten cur.
'Thus, and thus; so the thing is done.' A shell flew into place and the trigger was at cock as Mackenzie brought it to shoulder.
'The Fox has said great deeds were afoot this night, and he spoke true. There have been great deeds, yet least among them were those of the Fox. Is he still intent to take Zarinska to his lodge? Is he minded to tread the trail already broken by the Shaman and the Bear?
'No? Good!'
Mackenzie turned contemptuously and drew his knife from the priest's throat.
'Are any of the young men so minded? If so, the Wolf will take them by two and three till none are left. No? Good! Thling-Tinneh, I now give thee this rifle a second time. If, in the days to come, thou shouldst journey to the Country of the Yukon, know thou that there shall always be a place and much food by the fire of the Wolf. The night is now passing into the day. I go, but I may come again. And for the last time, remember the Law of the Wolf!' He was supernatural in their sight as he rejoined Zarinska. She took her place at the head of the team, and the dogs swung into motion. A few moments later they were swallowed up by the ghostly forest. Till now Mackenzie had waited; he slipped into his snow-shoes to follow.
'Has the Wolf forgotten the five long plugs?' Mackenzie turned upon the Fox angrily; then the humor of it struck him.
'I will give thee one short plug.' 'As the Wolf sees fit,' meekly187 responded the Fox, stretching out his hand.
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1
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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2
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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3
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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4
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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5
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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6
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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7
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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8
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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9
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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10
salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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11
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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12
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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13
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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14
cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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15
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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16
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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17
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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18
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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19
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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20
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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21
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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22
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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23
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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24
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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25
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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26
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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27
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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28
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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29
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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30
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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31
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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32
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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33
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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34
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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35
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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36
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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37
lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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38
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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39
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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40
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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41
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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42
metaphorical
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| a.隐喻的，比喻的 | |
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43
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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44
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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45
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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46
braggadocio
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| n.吹牛大王 | |
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47
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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48
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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49
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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50
tribal
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| adj.部族的，种族的 | |
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51
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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52
philistines
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| n.市侩，庸人( philistine的名词复数 )；庸夫俗子 | |
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53
maneuvered
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| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵 | |
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54
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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55
dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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56
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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57
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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58
propitiated
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| v.劝解，抚慰，使息怒( propitiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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60
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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61
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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62
badinage
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| n.开玩笑，打趣 | |
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63
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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64
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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65
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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66
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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67
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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68
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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69
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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70
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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71
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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72
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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73
attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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74
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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75
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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76
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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77
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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78
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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79
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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80
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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81
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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82
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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83
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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84
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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85
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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86
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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87
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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88
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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89
basses
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| 低音歌唱家，低音乐器( bass的名词复数 ) | |
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90
rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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91
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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92
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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93
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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94
crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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95
clog
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| vt.塞满，阻塞；n.[常pl.]木屐 | |
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96
kaleidoscopic
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| adj.千变万化的 | |
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97
laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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98
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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99
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
cadences
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| n.（声音的）抑扬顿挫( cadence的名词复数 )；节奏；韵律；调子 | |
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101
recurrences
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| n.复发，反复，重现( recurrence的名词复数 ) | |
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102
inadequately
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| ad.不够地；不够好地 | |
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103
reproofs
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| n.责备，责难，指责( reproof的名词复数 ) | |
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104
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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105
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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106
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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107
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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108
prehistoric
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| adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的 | |
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109
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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110
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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111
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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112
rimming
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| n.（沸腾钢）结壳沸腾作用 | |
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113
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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114
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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115
mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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116
embodied
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| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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117
stigmatized
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| v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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118
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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119
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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120
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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121
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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122
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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123
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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124
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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127
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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128
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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129
beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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ravens
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| n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 ) | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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136
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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137
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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138
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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142
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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chary
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| adj.谨慎的，细心的 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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bellies
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| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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conned
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| adj.被骗了v.指挥操舵( conn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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buckling
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| 扣住 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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174
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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175
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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176
primal
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| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
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177
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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178
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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179
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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181
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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182
tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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183
vibrant
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| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
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184
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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185
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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186
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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187
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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