David was now accustomed to the interminable windings5 of the river, and took it quite as a matter of course that the stream, after flowing a quarter of a mile to the left or southwest from the bluff, turned capriciously back to within fifty yards of the spot where the three had landed. The bluff itself was thus a narrow, high neck of land connecting a low, wooded point with what we may call the mainland east of the river.
Rafting down the North Alsek
[265]
With oars and paddle, the crew of two soon rounded the point, and approached the bluff once more. Here the river turned abruptly6 northwest, and in the bay formed by its curve lay a flotilla of log rafts. To one of these the boat was made fast, and the occupants sprang ashore7 and made their way up the slope.
David looked with interest at the place which for a fortnight was to be his home. The top of the bluff was about thirty feet wide, and covered with short grass. It was as level as a floor, except along its southeastern edge, where a ridge8 of sand six or eight feet high, and fringed with spruces, offered a natural protection for a cook-tent and a sleeping-tent. Champlain, who had discovered this spot, took pride in pointing out to David its advantages.
"It's the finest place in this valley for a camp or a fort," he declared, with a Frenchman's enthusiasm. "Every time I look at it, I almost wish there was an Indian war, and I had a good garrison9 here. You see, it's defended on three sides by the river, which is too deep for fording, and can only be crossed with canoes or logs, or by swimming. From the top of the bluff we have a clear view for an eighth of a mile both up and down the stream. If the enemy came down the river, the ridge of sand behind the tents is a natural breastwork for riflemen; while if they approached from the other direction, the defenders10 would simply lie down a little back from[266] the edge of the bluff on that side, and give them a good peppering."
"And what if they came from the land side?" asked David, who began to wonder if an attack were within the bounds of possibility.
"We should put a stockade11 of logs across the neck of land on that side," answered Champlain. "Already I have built a strong log house. Come and see it."
He led the way landward from the narrow part of the bluff to a point about a hundred yards up-stream, where David now beheld12 the neat little cabin in which the supplies were stored. It had a door of boards, evidently constructed from the material of a coffee-box, but there was no window, either because no more boards were to be had, or because the cabin was less vulnerable with but a single opening in its heavy walls. The door was fitted with good hinges and a padlock. Forest enclosed the cabin, except on the side from which they had come, and toward the river; and off among the trees wound a path which joined the main trail about fifty rods away.
"You won't have to fight Indians, my lad," said Champlain, who was aware that his imaginative talk might cause David some uneasiness; "and as for bears, you don't seem to mind them much, judging from what I've heard."
"I think I can take care of the bears," said David.
A Herd13 of Cattle.—Yukon Divide in the Distance
[267]
Champlain eyed the lad with evident approval. "I like your pluck," said he; "but let an old hunter advise you to leave such beasts alone, when you're not in reach of help. You see, we should never know where to look for you if you should meet with an accident off in these woods. Better stick pretty close to the cabin."
On their way back to the cook-tent Champlain pointed14 out a pile of saddles and blankets near the embers of a fire.
"Must be a pack train somewhere about," he observed. "I wonder where the men and horses are. It's too early for ours to be here."
The explanation was quickly forthcoming. A large herd of cattle, convoyed by five or six horsemen, had arrived on the previous day on their way to Dawson, and had been halted for a day's rest at the Landing. The men were now rounding up their charges into an open meadow half a mile distant, preparatory to an early start in the morning.
"And you'll be very glad they came when you know what you're to have for supper," added Hovey, with a twinkle in his eye, as he bustled15 about the sheet-iron stove in the cook-tent.
"Oh, we live high at this hotel!" Herrick chimed in. "How would fried liver strike you,—and hot biscuits and butter,—and tea with cream and sugar,—and a custard by way of dessert?"
"What's this you're talking about?" cried the captain,[268] who had overheard the last few words. "Cream and custards? I'll believe when I see and taste!"
"All right, my sceptical friend! Come in. Supper's ready. Muck-muck!"
No second call was needed, for the travellers were ravenous16. They entered the cook-tent at once, and took their places on empty boxes around a small improvised17 table.
"Now then," said Hovey, who, with Herrick, had finished supper some three hours before, and now presided gracefully18 over the cook-stove in the interest of the guests, "pass the plates."
These much battered19 articles of aluminum20 were promptly21 presented, and as promptly filled with the savory22 contents of the frying-pan, which proved to be real liver, after all. Herrick meanwhile told how they had secured it.
It appeared by his narrative23 that one of the steers24 had driven a sharp stick into its foot in such a way as to lame26 it badly. On noticing this, he had strongly represented to the cattlemen that it would be cruel to drive the animal farther, and that they ought to kill it then and there. Aided by several expressive27 winks28, the cattlemen had seen the point of his remarks, and having found the two campers pleasant, sociable29 fellows, they killed the steer25, and made them a present of a considerable portion of the carcass. The cream and custard were accounted for by the presence of a milch cow in the herd.
[269]
"To-morrow," said Herrick, as he finished his tale, "we shall have roast beef with brown gravy30; and if they can catch the cow, we may get a drink of milk all around."
"What would the boys at Shorty Creek31 say, if they heard that?" asked Greenwood, smacking32 his lips.
"They'd mutiny," replied Dunn. "But is this the only cattle train that has come along?"
"No," answered Hovey. "This is the third big one within a couple of weeks, and they all belong to one man. There have been some smaller herds33, too. Over a thousand head must have gone over this trail this season, and they're in prime condition. They ought to sell high in Dawson, for the Yukon steamers can't carry cattle to any great extent, and there must be thousands of people there by this time."
Next morning, previous to their departure, the cattlemen made an attempt to milk their solitary34 cow. Obviously the first thing to do was to catch the animal, but for some reason she was particularly contrary, and refused to be either coaxed35 or coerced36. At last one of the men mounted his horse, and set out with his lariat37 to lasso the refractory38 beast in true cow-boy style. The poor cow, frightened out of her wits by the shouts and the turmoil39, rushed frantically40 through thickets41 and over sand-banks, closely followed by the horseman, who, after several throws, succeeded in roping her and checking her wild career.
[270]
It now looked as if the drink of milk might materialize, but alas42 for human expectations! The cow had been wrought43 up to such a pitch of excitement by the events of the morning that she could not be made to stand still, and it was with great difficulty that the milking could be commenced. The man who essayed this task had all he could attend to with her kicking and plunging44, and finally, losing all patience, he threw pail, milk, and all at her head, accompanied by something very like an oath. So faded the dream of the drink of milk.
Hovey and Herrick, who had been informed that they were to take the boat and a moderate cargo45 and start for Moran's Camp, where they were to sign certain papers connected with their claims, now made ready to depart. They appeared to relish46 the idea of joining their comrades on the Kah Sha River, but David thought, as he watched them pull away against the current, that long before they could hoist47 their sail on Lake Dasar-dee-ash, they would wish themselves back at the Landing. The cattle train started toward Dawson about the same time, and Champlain's Landing was left to the captain's party.
The following morning he, too, made ready to leave. The horses, which had now arrived, were loaded with the necessary provisions from the cache in the cabin, and David was given final directions about the camp.[271] "Shep," an Indian dog which had accompanied the horses, was left with him as his sole companion, and then the captain, Champlain, Dunn, Greenwood, and the three packers bade him good-by and disappeared in the woods.
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1
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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11
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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12
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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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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aluminum
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| n.(aluminium)铝 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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steers
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| n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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30
gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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32
smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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35
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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36
coerced
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| v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
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lariat
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| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
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38
refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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41
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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42
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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43
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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44
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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45
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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46
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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47
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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