As Dick’s mind grew clearer, memory came back to him. He recalled the flight through the air from Peace River Crossing. As far as Fort Vermilion he had travelled with Randall, but there had given up his place to Sandy and Toma, he himself entering the plane which was being piloted by Cliff Stewart, a member of the Edmonton relief expedition.
From that very moment their trouble had started. In “taking-off” Stewart had slightly injured his machine in a collision with a tree. Later there had been trouble with the motor. Two hundred miles north of Fort Vermilion, a few minutes before the final tragedy, Dick had heard a sudden crackling noise and had seen Stewart’s face turn pale as he had reached for the controlling levers.
58
Dick shuddered2 at the memory of that fall from the skies when the plane became unmanageable. A terrifying spinning sensation, a horrible rush of air from below, the cracking and splitting of wood and steel, culminating in a terrific descent and the lapse3 of consciousness.
How he had contrived4 to escape with his life seemed more than a miracle. Had Stewart been equally as fortunate? Who had brought him here? He looked up into the expressionless eyes of the old Indian who stood opposite.
“Where am I?” he asked in Cree.
The old chief started. Here indeed was undeniable evidence of the divinity of this strange being. He was a god surely. Did he not speak the language of their tribe, this stranger who had come from some shadowy land beyond the moon?
“Glorious one, do not fear. You are safe among friends. I give you my assurance and the assurance of all my people. We are deeply honored by your coming.”
“But who brought me here?”
“I did,” the man beside him spoke5 up unhesitatingly. “When the magic ship crashed to the earth, I bore you here in my own arms.”
“And my companion?” trembled Dick.
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“He is dead.”
For a moment the young man could not speak. Something choked him. The memory of the valiant6 pilot was a particularly poignant7 one. In one sense of the word, Stewart had become a martyr8 in a noble cause. Like many another fearless flyer he had engraved9 his name in blood on the flaming altar of achievement. It was several minutes before Dick could trust himself to speak.
“Did the other ships come back to our rescue?”
“No,” answered Kantisepa, “they sailed on through the heavens and became lost in the mists of a distant country.”
It was strange, thought Dick. Queer the others had not seen their fall. But surely by this time they had discovered the absence of the third plane and would come back to investigate.
“How long has it been since we fell to the ground?” Dick inquired of Kantisepa.
“Late yesterday afternoon. This is another day.”
Dick’s heart sank at the information. He had supposed that only a few hours had passed since the accident.
“And you saw no sign of the ships returning?” he persisted. “Are you sure?”
Kantisepa shook his head.
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“I am sure, my brother. Even if I had not seen them, had they returned, my ears would have caught the sound of their coming. Perhaps they have gone back to the land of your people, the place beyond the stars.”
For the next ten or fifteen minutes the young adventurer attempted to make his two companions, credulous10 and highly imaginative Indians, understand that there was nothing in any way magical or mysterious about those ships of the air; and that neither he nor his friends were gods from some vague land beyond the rim11 of the world, but flesh and blood men like themselves, men who had come from Edmonton to bring help and relief to hundreds of their kinsmen12 suffering from the plague.
Both Kantisepa and the chief had heard of the existence of the big city to the south, and the name “Edmonton” was not unfamiliar13 to them. But neither had ever heard, or if they had heard would have believed that ordinary mortals, even the smartest of the white race, could fashion boats from wood and iron that could float through thin air. Finally, however, when Dick had nearly exhausted14 his patience and his vocabulary, he saw that in a measure, at least, they had begun to credit his story.
“It is very wonderful,” said the chief, “that men are now able to go floating through the skies. But tell me, my brother, have not certain of the braver ones already journeyed to the stars?”
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“No,” answered Dick. “Thus far no boat has ever been built which would be strong enough to undertake such a voyage. Perhaps that will come in time.”
An interval15 of silence ensued, broken at length by the appearance of an Indian squaw, who brought food and drink and placed it before the young man. Then, while Dick ate, he talked. He told them of the smallpox16 epidemic17 north of the Mackenzie, of his adventures in going to Peace River Crossing at the request of Inspector18 Cameron of the mounted police, and subsequently of his ill-fated ride from Fort Vermilion.
“Those ships of the air,” he concluded, “are carrying medicine to the sick.”
The two Indians appeared to be very much interested, offering their services in any way that would be useful in such a cause. The chief said:
“We will give you ponies19 so that you may proceed on your journey.”
Dick thanked them. “That is very kind of you.”
He looked up with beaming eyes, then abruptly20 his face darkened as a thought occurred to him.
“I must take the body of my friend with me,” he trembled. “I must start today. The great white father of the police will be pleased to hear of your kindness. Perhaps some of your people will be so good as to accompany me on my journey.”
62
The chief advanced and laid a hand benevolently21 on the young man’s head. Something closely akin1 to a smile lighted the wrinkled, weatherbeaten face.
“I myself,” he announced proudly, “will lead the expedition which will set out this afternoon for the Mackenzie River. It is said.”
And with a stiff, formal bow, he turned with great dignity and strode out of the tepee.
A few minutes later Dick rose and followed Kantisepa outside. They proceeded to a far end of the village, where a poplar pole corral had been built. This corral or compound contained between thirty or forty Indian ponies. A number of youths had already entered it, carrying lassos. Following much shouting and stampeding of hoofs22, they soon had a number of the little beasts saddled and bridled23 in preparation for the journey northward24.
Kantisepa and Dick stood near the entrance of the corral, conversing25 in low tones. It was during this conversation that Dick learned for the first time that the place where the plane had crashed to the ground was not close to the village. This information had come as a result of his request that he be taken to the spot.
“Come,” he said to his Indian friend, “we will walk over there while the young men are packing the ponies.”
Kantisepa stared at the other in mild disapproval26.
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“Why do you wish to go now?” he asked. “It is far to walk.”
“How far is it?” asked Dick.
“Six miles,” came the astonishing reply. “Very soon we will go that way. The magic ship lies broken in a little meadow that lies straight in the direction of the noonday sun.”
“And you carried me here all that way?” Dick asked in amazement27.
“Yes, it is so,” Kantisepa answered, the tone of his voice implying that the achievement was scarcely worthy28 of mention.
Dick looked at the stalwart Indian with something very much like a lump in his throat. He could see it all plainly now: The shattered airplane, himself crawling dazedly29 from the wreckage30, only to sink unconscious in a place where eventually he would have died, had not this dusky friend come to his rescue. Impulsively31 he stepped forward and imprisoned32 one of Kantisepa’s long, thin hands in his own.
“My brother,” his voice quavered, “I have very much to thank you for, and never shall I forget your kindness.”
64
Not long afterward33 a young Indian led a pony34 over to where Dick and Kantisepa stood and indicated with a gesture that the beast belonged to Dick. Immediately behind, came another youth with a mount for Kantisepa. Soon the cavalcade35 was formed. At two o’clock they rode forth36 in the bright glare of October sunshine.
As they went forward in the direction of the little meadow, Dick was conscious of many mixed emotions. He was glad that they had started out on the trek37 to Mackenzie River, yet the thought of approaching the shattered airplane and taking Stewart’s crushed body north for burial filled him with many unhappy thoughts.
On they went through the beauty of a perfect Indian Summer. The earth was languorous38 and quiet, wrapped in a blue haze39, made resplendent by the vari-colored autumn foliage40. Kantisepa, who was riding close beside Dick, presently raised one arm and pointed41 ahead to where the trees thinned out to form a natural meadow.
“We will be there soon,” he announced.
Dick looked, then turned his head away. He hated the coming ordeal42. With difficulty, he steeled himself for the trying experience of approaching the battered43 plane and removing Stewart from the wreckage. In his weakened, nervous state, he felt unequal to the task. He rode forward, eyes on the ground, feeling sick and unhappy.
65
They pushed their way to the edge of the meadow, when, suddenly as if by a common impulse, the cavalcade checked itself and a low murmur44 of excitement, mixed with fear, ran along its entire length.
Dick supposed that the sight of the broken plane had been the cause of the momentary45 delay. However, when he looked up, he too became excited. A surge of happiness welled up in him. He leaned over dazedly and grasped the pommel of his saddle.
Straight ahead, not far from the ruins of the craft in which he had nearly been killed, stood two gray airplanes, graceful46 as birds. They had come back to rescue him.
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1
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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3
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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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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6
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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10
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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12
kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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13
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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14
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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15
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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16
smallpox
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| n.天花 | |
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epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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18
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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benevolently
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| adv.仁慈地，行善地 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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23
bridled
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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28
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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dazedly
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| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
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wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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trek
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| vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行 | |
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languorous
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| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
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39
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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40
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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41
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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42
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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43
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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44
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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45
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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46
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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