Though Shad's weakness caused him to wobble woefully when he walked, his knee had much improved since the day of his injury.
The food, given him in small portions at frequent intervals1, and the assurance of continued life that the appearance of the rescuers brought, stimulated2 his body to new strength and restored to him his mental equilibrium3. Hope is life, and one possessed4 of a large degree of hope, coupled with a good physique, may withstand a tremendous amount of hardship and privation.
The very presence of Manikawan during the long period of enforced inactivity and waiting, had kept alive in Shad Trowbridge the hope that Mookoomahn might after all reach the river tilt5 and send his friends to the rescue before it was too late. Had it not been for this, it is scarcely probable he would have survived until they came.
The few Indian words which Shad had acquired had not been sufficient to permit him to carry on connected conversation with Manikawan or the other Indians. Denied this privilege for so long, he talked almost incessantly6 to the three trappers, while the four sat through the hours until daybreak, keeping vigil with Death. He talked of the prospect7 of continued life, and what a blessed thing it was to know that he was still to be in and of the great and glorious world; of his trying experiences since he had joined the Indians.
With dawn the tent was pitched among the trees, not far from the lodge8. Then they removed to its more comfortable shelter, with Bob walking at Shad's side to steady his uncertain footsteps.
Shad was sick, and suffered severely9 from nausea10 that day--and at intervals, indeed, for several days thereafter--a result that always follows the introduction of food into the contracted stomach after a long period of starvation, particularly when the food is of coarse quality and unsuitably prepared.
Almost immediately, too, his legs began to swell11. But this disturbed him little. It was merely an incident and another result of his long period of starvation, quite to be expected.
"Don't worry about un none," advised Ed Matheson, when Shad called attention to the phenomenon. "Injuns as starves always gets swelled13 legs, an' they stays swelled for quite a bit, too. Just forget un now. You'll be all right so long's you don't get too rapid wi' th' grub, an' set you'm belly14 swellin' too fast."
"Ed," said Shad, "after what I've been through, I think there's nothing would alarm me much. It doesn't disturb me in the least to have my legs swell. I'm rather proud of them. They contrast beautifully with the rest of me, and give me a certain sense of stability that otherwise I should not have, for they're the only part of me that looks in the least natural. Do you hear my bones rattle15 when I move? I have a presentment that, unless I'm pretty careful, my skeleton will fall apart before I get flesh enough to hold it together."
"Now that's th' way I likes t' see folk!" exclaimed Ed. "Not growlin' like a bear because they looks summat like a dead man, an' because they has a bit o' ache in their insides every time they eats. You'm do look as though you'm just rize from th' grave. But you'm a wonderful live corpse16 yet, Shad. A man may's well be happy even if he do feel like all creation turned inside out, 'specially17 when he knows he ain't goin' t' keep feelin' that way. A man is just as happy as he's thinkin' he is, an' no happier, an' as miserable18 as he's thinkin' he is an' no miserabler. I finds bein' happy an' content wi' things is just a matter o' th' way o' lookin' at un."
"Yes, Ed, I think you're right," agreed Shad. "I'm finding no fault. I'm thankful to be alive and in the beautiful world, and I'm very much contented19 with my lot. I would be very happy, too, but for the thought of that poor little Indian girl."
The earth, frozen to adamantine hardness, precluded20 the possibility of digging a grave during the winter season. Therefore, after the manner of her people, a platform of poles, high raised above the snow, was built among the spruce trees to receive Manikawan's body.
It was late in the afternoon when the platform was completed and the four weatherbeaten men again entered the silent lodge, where they were to conduct a simple, primitive21 funeral service, and give Manikawan the rites22 of Christian23 burial before raising her body to the platform.
Bob, who never was separated from the little Testament24 his mother had given him years before, drew the book from his pocket when they had seated themselves in the lodge, and opening to John xv, passed it to Shad, who, accepting it, read the chapter aloud in a low but clear voice, while the others reverently25 listened.
[Transcriber's note: John XV:12-13--"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."]
"Bob," said Shad at length, closing the Testament, "you knew her first. Tell us about her."
Responding, Bob described how Sishetakushin and Mookoomahn, finding him unconscious in the snow, had carried him to their lodge--the very lodge in which they were now sitting; and how upon first opening his eyes to consciousness he had seen her, weaving the web of a snowshoe, opposite him, across the fire--just where she was lying now; and she had looked up and smiled when she discovered he was awake. And then, ever gentle, ever considerate, she had nursed him to health, and ministered to him until he had left them.
When Bob had finished, Shad spoke26 of her never-failing thoughtfulness and consideration. Of the encouragement of her example as, uncomplaining, she followed the weary, endless trail day after day. Of her hand lightly laid upon his shoulder as she looked into his eyes and spoke words of encouragement he could not understand, but which never failed to call him back to himself and his manhood and to banish27 an impulse which frequently assailed28 him to give up the fight for life, lie down in the snow and accept the release from suffering which Death offered.
"But her crowning sacrifice," said Shad, "came when she refused to leave me alone to die; and I certainly could not have survived had I been left in this lodge without human companionship.
"Manikawan could have gone on with Mookoomahn and saved herself. He went to you and told you of our need. He did well, but he did it mainly to save himself. It was the instinct of self-preservation that gave him inspiration to accomplish it. But she remained, and remaining she gave me the only food that fell to her arrow, while she starved. That was divine unselfishness--divine sacrifice."
Stepping to the side of Manikawan's lifeless body, he lifted and laid aside the skin robe which covered her face, then kneeling at her side, with tears upon his cheeks, he continued:
"Manikawan, your skin was red, but your soul was as white as the driven snow that covers the desolate29 land of your people. Your features are shrunken with starvation and suffering, but still they are beautiful, for they reflect the beautiful, unselfish soul which they once sheltered.
"Your lips smile. Did you see the glory of heaven as you passed from us--a thousand times more beautiful than the brilliant aurora30 or the gorgeous sunsets that glorify31 the skies of this land of awful desolation where you existed? Did you see the light of the Eternal City shining through its gates when they were opened to receive you?"
As though in answer to Shad's question the last rays of the setting sun dropped through the open top of the lodge and rested upon the upturned face of the dead Indian maiden32 in a bright, illuminating33 glow.
"Manikawan, you sacrificed your life to duty and to human sympathy. You died a Christ-like death, and your sacrifice shall not be wasted. Your body is dead, but your spirit still lives.
"So long as the breath of life is in me, Manikawan, I shall never forget your example of patience and encouragement and self-effacement. It has built for me new ideals. It has taught me that there are other things to live for than the mere12 attainment34 of pleasure and the gratification of selfish desires.
"You were an Indian, Manikawan, and the world would have called you a pagan and a savage35. But you have pointed36 out to me the way to a nobler and better life."
Shad arose and resumed his seat. He had spoken in a voice of tense earnestness, and for a little while all sat in awed37 silence. Then Ed Matheson began to sing, and the others joined him:
"Rock of Ages, cleft38 for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
With the last notes of the grand old hymn39 they all knelt, while big Dick Blake, in a voice shaken with emotion, offered a short but fervent40 prayer.
Manikawan's body was wrapped tightly in deerskin robes, and in the darkening twilight41 of the cold winter evening it was reverently borne to the newly erected42 platform among the spruce trees. Here it was to lie exposed to winds and storms, but beyond the reach of marauding animals, until the next summer's sun should warm and soften43 the earth sufficiently44 to permit Mookoomahn and the trappers to dig a grave and lay it in its final resting-place.
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1
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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stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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tilt
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| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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11
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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15
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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precluded
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| v.阻止( preclude的过去式和过去分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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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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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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29
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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glorify
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| vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化 | |
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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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illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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attainment
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| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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40
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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41
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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42
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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43
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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44
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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