No trail of any sort traversed that sinister2, malevolent3 wild. Except for an occasional poplar or charred4, broken stump5 of spruce or jack-pine, there were few landmarks6 to relieve the discouraging prospect7. However, at one end of the valley, scintillating8 like a silver coin in the bright rays of the sun, the traveller discerned a small lake, fringed with green.
4
In the center of the narrow green strip, on one side of the lake, stood the cabin of a prospector9. The traveller regarded it impassively for a moment before he went on.
Still hours high, the sun struck its bright rays across the land: a glare of white in the somnolent10 valley, a sheen of mirrored brilliance11 where it radiated over the placid12, blue waters of the lake. A deep hush13 had fallen over the earth. Below the wide, azure14 arch of the sky feathered voyagers of the air coasted silently to unknown haunts, apparently15 the only living things in the dead gray world around them.
The figure hurried on. The sight of the cabin had acted as a slight spur to his jaded16 body. He pushed forward steadily17 until he had made his way over the narrow strip of green and up the path to the house. He knocked listlessly at the door, then stood silently, as might a criminal awaiting the heavy hand of the law.
A half-breed admitted him, white teeth shining in an expansive welcoming grin.
“Come in, Meester Davis. By Gar!—et ees good. You!”
An old man hobbled excitedly across the room, his long white beard flaring18 out in the sudden breeze from the doorway19. His palsied, rheumatic hands crept up slowly to the younger man’s shoulders and remained there for a moment in silence.
5
“Davis,” he declared simply, “you are welcome back.”
A wan20 smile parted the other’s lips.
“I’m glad to see you again, Mr. Harbinson.”
The old man motioned to a rough, worn bench. “Sit down, man, sit down. You must be tired.” He turned to the half-breed. “Baptiste, hurry something to eat for Mr. Davis.”
While the preparations for the meal were proceeding21, the old man talked steadily. Presently Davis, unable longer to postpone22 the ordeal23, face red with humiliation24, blurted25 out:
“Mr. Harbinson, I did not succeed in my mission. I have failed.”
“Failed!” exclaimed the old man.
“Yes,” Davis rose from his seat, voice quavering, “yes, I can see no hope for us. The doctor was gone. I got nothing. Nothing!”
Gloomily he paced back and forth26 across the rough floor of the sparsely27 furnished room. The eyes of the white prospector and the half-breed followed him curiously28.
“I was afraid of that,” Harbinson declared presently, “I knew you had a chance of missing him. It is a terrible thing!”
Davis stopped short in the middle of his nervous pacing and raised one arm in a hopeless gesture.
6
“Even if I’d seen him, it might have done us no good. The entire north country is undermined with the thing, especially among the Indians. It’s working gradually south. The missions are filled to overflowing29.” His voice lowered to a husky whisper. “It’s awful, Harbinson. Awful!”
The old man gazed dully at his partner through a long interval30 of silence. Davis spoke31 again:
“Since I left here two weeks ago, has there been any new development?” He looked searchingly at the other.
“Yes, it’s reached the village.”
“That’s only ten miles away,” Davis calculated roughly. “How did you find this out? Send Baptiste?”
“No. Pierre La Lond passed here two days ago and told us.”
“You didn’t let him in?”
Harbinson evaded32 the other’s eyes. Baptiste, advancing to the table with a steaming kettle swinging from one hand, stopped short and shot a questioning gaze at the two.
“Yes, I couldn’t stop him. We were busy at something. He opened the door and walked in. It was too late then.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Davis scowled33. “He should have known better.”
7
“But what am I to do? Sooner or later, we’ll be exposed. We can’t always be isolated34. Another thing, we’ll soon need more supplies. Our grubstake’s getting low.”
“There’s the post thirty miles south of here.”
“Closed up,” said Harbinson briefly35. “La Lond told us that too. Won’t be able to get any supplies there.”
“We’ll live on a meat diet then,” Davis declared grimly.
“Scurvy!”
“That’s much better than the horror of this other thing.”
Harbinson did not reply. Stillness fell over the room again. Davis resumed his seat on the rough bench and sat with his head in his hands until Baptiste announced that the meal was ready. As he ate, the young prospector could hear Harbinson’s asthmatic breathing and the scraping of the half-breed’s moccasined feet across the floor.
Hungry though he had been, he had little taste for food. His mind was too much upset. The disappointing news he had brought back to his partner, he well knew had been a heavy blow indeed.
8
Later, the three men walked outside, seeking the warm sunshine that fell aslant36 across the land. The lake still shimmered37 under the bright glare. A few birds winged their way across the sky. Desolate38 at all times, the sleepy valley now held no trace of life anywhere. Off to the westward39 the hills and rocks formed a dun labyrinth40, and from the crest41 of the nearest slope one looked down over heights and depths, broken ridges42, crooked43 valleys—all pervaded44, choked with an awful solitude45.
“Well,” croaked46 the old prospector finally, “what’s to be done? We’ve not only ourselves to think about—but others. It’s late in the fall now. By spring there won’t be a single soul north of the Mackenzie.”
Davis studied the problem, as he had done almost continually since he had left Fort Garrison47 a week before.
“Only one thing we can do,” he answered quietly.
“What’s that?”
“Notify the police. It’s our only hope.”
“I hadn’t thought about that,” said Harbinson brightening. “You’d go to the Mackenzie River Barracks?”
“Yes, I’ll carry the news there. It will be much quicker than to wait for their regular patrol. I know Inspector48 Cameron. He’ll act promptly49.”
“Hate to see you start out again, Davis, so soon.”
“It can’t be helped. I’ll leave in the morning. But this time, Harbinson, let me warn you. Keep everybody away. Do you hear? Nobody must come here. If necessary, enforce this rule at the point of a gun. But enforce it you must.”
9
The hands of the old prospector were shaking. He thrust them in his pockets to hide the fact from his partner. But he could not conceal50 from the other’s inquiring gaze the flush that flooded his cheeks, the unearthly sparkle of his eyes.
“You’re not feeling well,” accused the younger man.
“No! No! I’m all right. Don’t think that,” quavered Harbinson. “It’s not that.”
The young man, apparently, believed him.
“It’s the worry, I suppose. But forget it, Charley. We’ll beat this thing yet. Inspector Cameron will see the necessity of doing something at once. You can always rely on the mounted.”
For the remainder of the day nothing more was said on the subject. Baptiste and the younger man busied themselves about the place, while Harbinson retired51 to his bunk52 and slept for several hours. On the following morning, when Davis rose early, neither the old man nor the half-breed were astir. He prepared a hasty breakfast, deciding not to wake either one of them. In another hour he would be on the trail.
10
But Harbinson, it appeared, had not slept well. He had rolled and tossed in a high fever. He lay now in his bunk, his glassy eyes furtively53 watching his partner. When chance took Davis close to the bunk, he closed his eyes, feigning54 sleep. This simulation continued until the younger man had completed his preparations and had departed. An indescribable look flitted over the old prospector’s unutterably weary and fevered face. His lips trembled a phrase:
“Out in time, thank God!—good luck!”
Then he slid over to the side of his bunk, dressed with trembling haste and, hobbling over, began ransacking55 a crude pine box, containing articles of apparel. Finally, he found the object of his search: a red flannel56 shirt, which he tore apart.
He crossed the room with the garment under his arm, picked up a hammer by the door and stole outside. He reappeared less than two minutes later, staggering toward his bunk. His expression was pathetic. He made several futile57 efforts to remove his clothes. In the hollow of his cheeks, over his forehead, along each side of his neck a raging temperature had left its seal.
Twenty minutes later, when Baptiste rose noiselessly and went outside, he started back in amazement58. Again his gaze went back, as if fascinated, to the flannel signal, fluttering just above the door. A groan59 escaped him.
“Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!” he choked. “Et ees zee red flag of quarantine!”
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1
silt
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| n.淤泥，淤沙，粉砂层，泥沙层；vt.使淤塞；vi.被淤塞 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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6
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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prospector
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| n.探矿者 | |
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10
somnolent
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| adj.想睡的，催眠的；adv.瞌睡地；昏昏欲睡地；使人瞌睡地 | |
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11
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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12
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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13
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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14
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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17
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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18
flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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19
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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20
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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24
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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25
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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27
sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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28
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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29
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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30
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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31
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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32
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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33
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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36
aslant
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| adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的 | |
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37
shimmered
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
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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39
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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40
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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41
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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42
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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43
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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44
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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46
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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47
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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48
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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49
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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50
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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51
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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52
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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53
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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54
feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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55
ransacking
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的现在分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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56
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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57
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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58
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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59
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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