It does not necessarily require the influences of civilised life to make an honourable1, upright man, any more than it needs the influences of savage2 life to make a thorough scoundrel. Of course the tendency of civilisation3 is to elevate, of savagery4 to debase, nevertheless it is certain that as we occasionally see blackguards in the highest ranks, so we sometimes find men and women with exalted5 conceptions of right and wrong in the lowest circles of life.
The truth would seem to be that the Spirit of God is not confined to ranks or conditions of men—a fact that appears to be confirmed by the Scripture6 statement that “in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is acceptable to Him.”
Cheenbuk’s mind must assuredly have been influenced by a good spirit when, after descending7 the little river at the utmost speed possible—so as to render recapture for a time at least improbable—he directed his companion to run the canoe on the bank in an eddy8 formed by a flat rock, and then, against his own most earnest desires, advised Adolay to return to her people.
“While we were paddling down-stream,” he said, “I have been thinking much, and I cannot believe that your people would be so hard as to kill you for only helping9 a poor Eskimo to escape. Now, I have changed my mind. I have often found that it is better to think more than once before acting10, if you have time to do so. What I think now is, that we should hide the canoe here, and return to your village on foot together. When we get there—or when we meet them chasing us—you will go on, and I will hide to see how they receive you, and if they receive you kindly—as I feel sure they will do—I will return here to this spot, take the canoe, and go to my home alone. I cannot bear to take you from your father and mother. I think the Great Spirit, who is the father of all, would be angry with me. But I will not force you to return if you are afraid.”
“I am afraid,” returned Adolay, quickly. “You do not know how angry the men will be: and you don’t know how sharp their eyes are. If you were to return with me they would see you long before you could see them, and would give you no chance to hide.”
“Then there is nothing to be done but to go on,” said Cheenbuk, with a sigh which he loyally strove to vent11 as a sign of regret, but which insisted on issuing forth12 as a distinct sound of satisfaction!
“You have promised to take me safe to your mother’s igloe, and to bring me back to my own home,” said Adolay, with a look of confidence. “I will go on and trust you.”
Without another word the Eskimo pushed off the head of the canoe, which was caught by the current and swept down-stream. Ere long they reached the Greygoose River, and, paddling into the centre of the current, were soon careering towards the sea at a pace which they thought rendered their being overtaken almost impossible. To make quite sure, however, they continued the voyage far into the night, and did not land for a very brief rest until the grey dawn had begun to appear over the eastern tree-tops.
Being both somewhat fatigued13 by that time they scarcely uttered a word as they encamped, but went about the work as if half asleep. Cheenbuk lifted the canoe out of the water and laid it on the bank, bottom up, in which position it formed a rough and ready tent for his companion, who, meanwhile, carried up the provisions. Seated on the grass beside it they ate a little dried venison, which required no cooking—uttering only a monosyllable now and then with half-closed eyes, and sometimes with an imbecile smile, which terminated occasionally in an irresistible14 nod. The feebleness of the light, too, as well as the quietness of the hour, contributed not a little to this state of semi-consciousness.
The frugal15 supper having been washed down with a draught16 of water, from Nature’s own cup—the joined hands—Adolay lay down under the canoe. Cheenbuk retired17 to a neighbouring spruce-fir and stretched himself under its branches. Need we add that sleep closed their eyelids18 instantly?
But the Eskimo was much too experienced a hunter and warrior19 to allow the drowsy20 god to enchain him long. Like a dead log he lay for little more than two hours, then he awoke with a start and stretched himself.
“Hoi!” he exclaimed sharply, looking towards the canoe, which was distant from his lair21 about five or six yards.
The exclamation22 had scarcely passed his lips when Adolay sprang up, and next moment went blinking, yawning, and stumbling down the bank with the provisions under one arm, the paddles and weapons under the other. Cheenbuk lifted the canoe and followed her. In a few minutes they were once more out in the middle of the strong current, paddling with might and main.
Now, it was well that they had used such diligence in their flight, for the pursuers were closer behind them than they had supposed.
When the unfortunate Alizay was felled by the Eskimo, as we have described, he lay for a considerable time in a state of insensibility, but he was by no means killed—not even seriously damaged—for Cheenbuk’s intense dislike to take life had not only induced him to drop the knife with which the Indian girl had supplied him to cut his cords, but inclined him to use his ponderous23 fist with moderation, so that Alizay, on recovering, found himself none the worse, except for a severe headache and an unnaturally24 large bridge to his nose.
Gathering25 himself up, and gradually swelling26 with rage as he reflected on the treatment to which he had been subjected, he ran at full speed to alarm the camp and begin a search. But where were they to search?—that was the question. There were four points to the compass—though they knew nothing about the compass—and the fugitive27 might have gone off in the direction of any of these, or between them, and it was too dark a night to permit of his trail being followed by sight, for, although the moon might aid them in the open, it would be quite useless in the darkness of the woods.
A hurried council was held, and a good deal of distracting advice given while the young braves were arming themselves. To add to their perplexities, a lad rushed suddenly into the council-tent with glaring eyes, saying that the girl Idazoo had disappeared from the village. This news greatly increased the fury of Alizay, but he had scarcely realised the truth when another lad, with, if possible, still more glaring eyes and a gaping28 mouth, rushed in to tell that the girl Adolay was also missing. This blew up the agitation29 to a frenzy30 of excitement—not usual among the Red men of the north—because the necessity for prompt action was great, while the impossibility of doing anything definite was greater.
It was just at this point, when the clamour was at its height, that a sound was heard which instantly produced dead silence, while every man and boy became as if petrified31, with eyes enlarged and ears cocked to listen.
Again the sound was heard—a distant yell undoubtedly32, coming from the direction of the cliff.
All the self-possession and promptitude of the Indians returned in a moment. In a second the braves glided33 out of the council-tent and disappeared, each making a straight line for the sound, while the women and children left behind listened with profound attention and expectation.
There was no lack of guiding sounds now, for the moment Idazoo managed to clear her mouth of the gag she began and continued a series of shrieks34 and yells which were intensified35 in vigour36 by the fact that she gradually became hysterical37 as well as wrathful.
The first to reach the spot was Alizay. On beholding38 him the girl stopped, and, after two or three exasperated39 echoes had finished their remarks, a profound silence reigned40.
Lovers among the Dogribs are not yet very gallant41. Civilisation may do something for them, as to this, in time.
“You can make a noise!” said the youth, stepping up to her.
“I have reason to do so,” replied the maiden42, somewhat abashed43.
“Did Adolay go with him?” asked Alizay as several of the other braves ran up.
“Yes.”
“Willingly?”
“Yes—she helped to tie me and showed him the way.”
“Where did they go?”
“In the direction of the lake.”
Instantly the whole band turned and ran off in the direction mentioned—Alizay being last, as he paused just long enough to cut the bonds of Idazoo, but left her to disentangle herself as she best could.
On reaching the shores of the lake the footsteps of the fugitives44 showed clear in the moonlight, and the marks of launching the canoe were visible, so that there was no further doubt as to what should be done. The Indians knew well that there was only one outlet45 from the lake. Their canoes were close by, and their guns and tomahawks in their hands. Nothing therefore required to be done but to embark46 and give chase. For this purpose two canoes were deemed sufficient, with three men in each.
Magadar took charge of the leading canoe. Alizay steered47 the other, and the rest of the braves returned to the village to gloat over the news that Idazoo had to tell, to feast on the produce of the previous day’s hunt, and to clear—or obfuscate—their intellects, more or less, with their tobacco-pipes.
As the six pursuers were very wrathful, and pretty strong, they caused their canoes to skim over the lake like swallows, and reached the head of the little river not very long after the fugitives had left it. A stern chase, however, is proverbially a long one, and as they overhauled49 the chase only inch by inch, there seemed little chance of overtaking it that night. The leaders, however, being men of great endurance, resolved to carry on without rest as long as possible. This they did until about dawn—the same hour at which the fugitives had succumbed—and both parties put ashore50 at last for a rest, neither being aware of the fact that their separate camping-grounds were not more than three miles apart!
Well was it then for Adolay that her stout51 protector was a light sleeper52, as well as a man of iron frame, and that he had aroused her fully53 an hour and a half sooner than the time at which the Indians left their camp to resume the chase. It was well, also, that Cheenbuk required but a short rest to recruit his strength and enable him to resume the paddle with his full vigour. The joy, also, consequent upon the discovery that he loved the Indian girl, and that she had made up her mind, without any persuasion54 on his part, to run away with him, lent additional power to his strong back. Perhaps, also, a sympathetic feeling in the breast of the maiden added to the strength of her well-formed and by no means feeble arm, so that many miles were soon added to the three which intervened between the chasers and the chased. To the horror of Adolay she found when she and Cheenbuk reached the mouth of the river, that the sea was extensively blocked by masses of ice, which extended out as far as the eye could reach.
Although thus encumbered55, however, the sea was by no means choked up with it, and to the gaze of the young Eskimo the ice presented no insurmountable obstacle, for his experienced eye could trace leads and lanes of open water as far as the first group of distant islets, which lay like scarce perceptible specks56 on the horizon.
But to the inexperienced eye of the girl the scene was one of hopeless confusion, and it filled her with sudden alarm and despair, though she possessed58 more than the usual share of the Dogrib women’s courage. Observing her alarm, Cheenbuk gave her a look of encouragement, but avoided telling her not to be afraid, for his admiration59 of her was too profound to admit of his thinking that she could really be frightened, whatever her looks might indicate.
“The ice is our friend to-day,” he said, with a cheery smile, as they stood together on the seashore beside their canoe, surveying the magnificent scene of snowy field, fantastic hummock60, massive berg, and glittering pinnacle61 that lay spread out before them.
Adolay felt, but did not express surprise, for she was filled with a most commendable62 trust in the truth and wisdom as well as the courage of the man to whose care she had committed herself.
“If you say the ice is our friend, it must be so,” she remarked quietly, “but to the Indian girl it seems as if the ice was our foe63, for she can see no escape, and my people will be sure to follow us.”
“Let them follow,” returned Cheenbuk, with a quiet laugh, as he re-arranged the lading of the canoe before continuing the voyage. “They won’t follow beyond this place!”
Lifting out the big stone, which had formed a counterpoise to his weight, he flung it on the beach.
“We will change places now, Adolay,” he said, “you have guided our canoe when on the inland waters; it is now my turn to steer48, for I understand the sea of ice. Get in, we will start.”
When Magadar and his comrades arrived at the mouth of the Greygoose River and beheld64 the aspect of the sea, a cry of mingled65 surprise and disappointment escaped them, but when they had landed and discovered the canoe of the fugitives far away like a speck57 among the ice-floes, the cry was transmuted66 into a howl of rage.
“Quick! embark! Let us after them!” shouted Magadar.
“Death to them both!” yelled Alizay.
For a few minutes the Indians followed the lanes of open water, till their turnings began to appear somewhat complicated; then the warlike spirit became a little subdued67. Presently one of the Indians discovered—or thought he discovered—that the lead of water was narrowing, and that the ice was closing in.
Promptly68 both canoes were put about, and the shore was regained69 with amazing speed.
After that the Dogribs paddled quietly up the Greygoose River, and meekly70 returned to their woodland home.
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1
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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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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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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6
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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7
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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8
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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16
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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17
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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18
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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19
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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23
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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28
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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29
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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30
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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31
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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32
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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33
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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34
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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35
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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37
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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38
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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39
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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40
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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41
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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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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43
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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45
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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46
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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47
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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48
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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49
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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50
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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52
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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53
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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54
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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55
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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57
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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58
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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59
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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60
hummock
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| n.小丘 | |
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pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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62
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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64
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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65
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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66
transmuted
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| v.使变形，使变质，把…变成…( transmute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
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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68
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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69
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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