In the selection of paddles early next morning Sam insisted that the Indian rule be observed, measuring carefully that the length of each implement1 should just equal the height of its wielder2. He chose the narrow maple3 blade, that it might not split when thrust against the bottom to check speed in a rapid. Further the blades were stained a brilliant orange.
Dick Herron had already picked one of a dozen birch-bark canoes laid away under the bridge over the dry coulee. He knew a good canoe as you would know a good horse. Fourteen feet it measured, of the heavy winter-cut of bark, and with a bottom all of one piece, without cracks or large knots.
The canoe and the paddles they laid at the water's edge. Then they went together to the great warehouse4, behind the grill5 of whose upper room MacDonald was writing. Ordinarily the trappers were not allowed inside the grill, but Dick and Sam were told to help themselves freely. The stocking Dick left to his older companion, assuring himself merely of an hundred rounds of ammunition6 for his new model Winchester rifle, the 44-40 repeater, then just entering the outskirts7 of its popularity.
In the obscurity of the wide, low room the old woodsman moved to and fro, ducking his head to avoid things hanging, peering into corners, asking an occasional question of MacDonald, who followed him silently about. Two small steel traps, a narrow, small-meshed fish-net, a fish-line and hooks, powder, ball, and caps for the old man's muzzle-loader, a sack of salt were first laid aside. This represented subsistence. Then matches, a flint-and-steel machine, two four-point blankets. These meant warmth. Then ten pounds of plug tobacco and as many of tea. These were necessary luxuries. And finally a small sack of flour and a side of bacon. These were merely a temporary provision; when they should be exhausted8, the men would rely wholly on the forest.
Sam Bolton hovered9 over the pile, after it was completed, his eyes half shut, naming over its items again and again, assuring himself that nothing lacked. At his side MacDonald made suggestions.
"Got a copper10 pail, Sam? a frying-pan? cups? How about the axe11? Better have an extra knife between you. Need any clothes? Compass all right?"
To each of these questions Sam nodded an assent12. So MacDonald, having named everything--with the exception of the canvas square to be used as a tarpaulin13 or a tent, and soap and towel--fell silent, convinced that he could do nothing more.
But Dick, who had been drumming his fingers idly against the window, turned with a suggestion of his own.
"How're we fixed14 for shoe pacs? I haven't got any."
At once MacDonald looked blank.
"By George, boys, I ain't got but four or five pairs of moccasins in the place! There's plenty of oil tan; I can fix you all right there. But smoke tans! That Abítibi gang mighty15 near cleaned me out. You'll have to try the Indians."
Accordingly Bolton and Herron took their way in the dusty little foot-trodden path--there were no horses in that frontier--between the Factor's residence and the Clerk's house, down the meandering16 trail through the high grasses of the meadow to where the Indian lodges17 lifted their pointed19 tops against the sky.
The wigwams were scattered20 apparently21 at random22. Before each a fire burned. Women and girls busied themselves with a variety of camp-work. A tame crow hopped23 and fluttered here and there just out of reach of the pointed-nosed, shaggy wolf-dogs.
The latter rushed madly forward at the approaching strangers, yelping24 in a curious, long-drawn bay, more suggestive of their wolf ancestors than of the domestic animal. Dick and Sam laid about them vigorously with short staffs they had brought for the purpose. Immediately the dogs, recognising their dominance, slunk back. Three men sauntered forward, grinning broadly in amiable25 greeting. Two or three women, more bashful than the rest, scuttled26 into the depths of wigwams out of sight. A multitude of children concealed27 themselves craftily28, like a covey of quail29, and focussed their bright, bead-like eyes on the new-comers. The rest of the camp went its way unmoved.
"Bo' jou', bo' jou'," greeted Sam Bolton.
"Bo' jou', bo' jou'," replied the three.
These Indians were of the far upper country. They spoke30 no English nor French, and adhered still to their own tribal31 customs and religious observances. They had lingered several days beyond their time for the purpose of conjuring32. In fact at this very moment the big medicine lodge18 raised itself in the centre of the encampment like a miniature circus tent. Sam Bolton addressed the two in their own language.
"We wish to buy many moccasins of your old women," said Sam.
Immediately one of the Indians glided33 away. From time to time during the next few minutes he was intermittently34 visible as he passed from the dark interior of one wigwam, across the sunlight, and into the dark interior of another.
The older of the two still in company of the white men began to ask questions.
"The Little Father is about to make a long journey?"
"Does one buy so many moccasins for a short?"
"He goes to hunt the fur?"
"Perhaps."
"In what direction does he set the bow of his canoe?"
Suddenly Dick Herron, who had, as usual, been paying attention to almost anything rather than the matter in hand, darted35 suddenly toward a clump36 of grass. In a moment he straightened his back to hold at arm's length a struggling little boy. At the instant of his seizure37 the child uttered a sharp cry of fright, then closed his lips in the stoicism of his race.
That one cry was enough, however. Rescue darted from the nearest wigwam. A flying figure covered the little distance in a dozen graceful38 leaps, snatched the child from the young man's hands and stood, one foot advanced, breast heaving, a palpitating, wild thing, like a symbol of defiance39.
The girl belonged distinctly to the more attractive type; it required but little imagination to endow her with real beauty. Her figure was straight and slim and well-proportioned, her eyes large, her face oval and quite devoid40 of the broad, high-cheeked stupidity so common in the northern races. At the moment she flashed like a brand with quick-breathed anger and fear.
Dick looked at her at first with amazement41, then with mingled42 admiration43 and mischief44. He uttered a ferocious45 growl46 and lowered his shoulders as though about to charge. Immediately the defiance broke. The girl turned and fled, plunging47 like a rabbit into the first shelter that offered, pursued by shrieks48 of delight from the old squaws, a pleased roar from Dick, and the laughter of the Indian men themselves.
"May-may-gwán[2]," said the oldest Indian, naming her, "foster sister to the boy you had caught."
[Footnote 2: The Butterfly.]
"She is Ojibway, then," exclaimed Dick, catching49 at the Ojibway word.
"Ae," admitted the Cree, indifferently. Such inclusions of another tribe, either by adoption50 or marriage, are not uncommon51.
At this moment the third Indian approached.
"No moccasins," he reported. "Plenty buckskin."
Sam Bolton looked troubled. This meant a delay. However, it could not be avoided.
"Let the old women make some," he decided52.
The Cree old-man shook his head.
"That cannot be. There is not time. We turn our canoes to the Missináibie by next sun."
Sam pondered again, turning over in his mind this fresh complication. But Dick, kicking the earth clods in impatience53, broke in.
"Well, we're going by the Missináibie, too. Let the women make the moccasins. We will accompany you."
"That might be," replied the Indian.
"It is well," said Bolton.
An old woman was summoned. She measured her customers' feet with a buckskin thong54. Then they departed without further ceremony. An Indian rarely says farewell. When his business is finished he goes.
"Dick," said Sam, "you ought not to have broke in there."
"What do you mean?" asked the other, puzzled.
"Suggesting our travelling with them."
"Why?" cried Dick in astonishment55. "Ain't you never travelled with Injuns before?"
"That ain't th' question. Did you notice that third Injun? the one who didn't do any talking?"
"Sure! What of him?"
"Well, he's an Ojibway. Th' rest are Wood Crees. And I miss my guess if he ain't a bad customer. He watched us mighty close, and his eyes are bad. He's sharp. He's one of that wondering kind. He's wondering now who we are, and where we're going, and why we're hitting so long a trail. And what's more, he belongs to this Jingoss's people in a roundabout sort of way. He's worse than fifty Crees. Maybe he knows all about Jingoss, and if he does, he'll get suspicious the minute we angle down into that country."
"Let's let 'em slide, then," suggested Dick, impatiently. "Let's buy some buckskin and make our own moccasins."
"Too late now," negatived Sam. "To back out would be bad."
"Oh, well, you're just borrowing trouble anyway," laughed Dick.
"Maybe, maybe," acknowledged the other; "but borrowing trouble, and then figuring out how you're going to meet it if it comes to you in good earnest, is mighty good woodcraft."
"Sam," burst out Dick, whose attention had been caught by a word in his companion's first speech, and whose mind had been running on it throughout the ensuing discussion, "did you notice that girl? She's a tearing little beauty!"
收听单词发音 |
1
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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wielder
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| 行使者 | |
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maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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grill
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| n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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meandering
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| 蜿蜒的河流，漫步，聊天 | |
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lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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craftily
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| 狡猾地，狡诈地 | |
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quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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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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tribal
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| adj.部族的，种族的 | |
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conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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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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intermittently
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| adv.间歇地；断断续续 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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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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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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46
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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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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48
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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49
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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50
adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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51
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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52
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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53
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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54
thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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