The portage struck promptly1 to the right through a tall, leafy woods, swam neck-high in the foliage2 of small growth, mounted a steep hill, and meandered3 over a bowlder-strewn, moss-grown plateau, to dip again, a quarter of a mile away, to the banks of the river. But you must not imagine one of your easy portages of Maine or lower Canada. This trail was faint and dim,--here an excoriation4 on the surface of a fallen and half-rotted tree, there a withered5 limb hanging, again a mere6 _sense_ in the forest's growth that others had passed that way. Only an expert could have followed it.
The canoe loads were dumped out on the beach. One after another, even to the little children, the people shouldered their packs. The long sash was knotted into a loop, which was passed around the pack and the bearer's forehead. Some of the stronger men carried thus upward of two hundred pounds.
Unlike a party of white men, the Indians put no system into their work. They rested when they pleased, chatted, shouted, squatted7 on their heels conversing8. Yet somehow the task was accomplished9, and quickly. To one on an elevation10 dominating the scene it would have been most picturesque11. Especially noticeable were those who for the moment stood idle, generally on heights, where their muscle-loose attitudes and fluttering draperies added a strangely decorative12 note to the landscape; while below plodded13, bending forward under their enormous loads, an unending procession of patient toilers. In five minutes the portage was alive from one end to the other.
To Dick and Sam Bolton the traverse was a simple matter. Sam, by the aid of his voyager's sash, easily carried the supplies and blankets; Dick fastened the two paddles across the thwarts14 to form a neck-yoke, and swung off with the canoe. Then they returned to the plateau until their savage15 friends should have finished the crossing.
Ordinarily white men of this class are welcome enough to travel with the Indian tribes. Their presence is hardly considered extraordinary enough for comment. Sam Bolton, however, knew that in the present instance he and Dick aroused an unusual interest of some sort.
He was not able to place it to his own satisfaction. It might be because of Bolton's reputation as a woodsman; it might be because of Dick Herron's spectacular service to Haukemah in the instance of the bear; it might be that careful talk had not had its due effect in convincing the Indians that the journey looked merely to the establishment of new winter posts; Sam was not disinclined to attribute it to pernicious activity on the part of the Ojibway. It might spring from any one of these. Nor could he quite decide its quality;--whether friendly or inimical. Merely persisted the fact that he and his companion were watched curiously16 by the men and fearfully by the women; that they brought a certain constraint18 to the camp fire.
Finally an incident, though it did not decide these points, brought their ambiguity19 nearer to the surface.
One evening old Haukemah received from the women the bear's robe fully17 tanned. Its inner surface had been whitened and then painted rudely with a symbolical20 representation of the hunt. Haukemah spoke21 as follows, holding the robe in his hand:
"This is the robe of makwá, our little brother. His flesh we all ate of. But you who killed him should have his coat. Therefore my women have painted it because you saved their head man."
He laid the robe at Dick's feet. Dick glanced toward his companion with the strange cast flickering22 quizzically in his narrow eyes. "Fine thing to carry along on a trip like ours," he said in English. "_I_ don't know what to do with it. They've worked on it mighty23 near a week. I wish to hell they'd keep their old robe." However, he stooped and touched it in sign of acceptance. "I thank my brother," he said in Cree.
"You'll have to bring it along," Sam answered in English. "We'll have to carry it while we're with them, anyway."
The Indian men were squatted on their heels about the fire, waiting gravely and courteously24 for this conference, in an unknown tongue, to come to an end. The women, naturally interested in the disposal of their handiwork, had drawn25 just within the circle of light.
Suddenly Dick, inspired, darted26 to this group of women, whence he returned presently half dragging, half-coaxing a young girl. She came reluctantly, hanging back a little, dropping her head, or with an embarrassed giggle27 glancing shyly over her shoulder at her companions. When near the centre of the men's group, Dick dropped her hand.
Promptly she made as though to escape, but stopped at a word from Haukemah. It was May-may-gwán, the Ojibway girl.
Obediently she paused. Her eyes were dancing with the excitement of the adventure, an almost roguish smile curved her mouth and dimpled her cheek, her lower lip was tightly clasped between her teeth as she stood contemplating28 her heavily beaded little moccasin, awaiting the explanation of this, to her, extraordinary performance.
"What is your name, little sister?" asked Dick in Cree.
She dropped her head lower, but glanced from the corner of her eye at the questioner.
"Answer!" commanded Haukemah.
"May-may-gwán," she replied in a low voice.
"Oh, yes," said Dick, in English. "You're an Ojibway," he went on in Cree.
"Yes."
"That explains why you're such a tearing little beauty," muttered the young man, again in English.
"The old-men," he resumed, in Cree, "have given me this robe. Because I hold it very dear I wish to give it to that people whom I hold dearest. That people is the Crees of Rupert's House. And because you are the fairest, I give you this robe so that there may be peace between your people and me."
Ill-expressed as this little speech was, from the flowery standpoint of Indian etiquette29, nevertheless its subtlety30 gained applause. The Indians grunted31 deep ejaculations of pleasure. "Good boy!" muttered Sam Bolton, pleased.
Dick lifted the robe and touched it to the girl's hand. She gasped32 in surprise, then slowly raised her eyes to his.
"Damn if you ain't pretty enough to kiss!" cried Dick.
He stepped across the robe, which had fallen between them, circled the girl's upturned face with the flat of his hands, and kissed her full on the lips.
The kiss of ceremony is not unknown to the northern Indians, and even the kiss of affection sometimes to be observed among the more demonstrative, but such a caress33 as Dick bestowed34 on May-may-gwán filled them with astonishment35. The girl herself, though she cried out, and ran to hide among those of her own sex, was not displeased36; she rather liked it, and could not mis-read the admiration37 that had prompted it. Nor did the other Indians really object. It was a strange thing to do, but perhaps it was a white man's custom. The affair might have blown away like a puff38 of gunpowder39.
But at the moment of Dick's salute40, Sam Bolton cried out sharply behind him. The young woodsman instantly whirled to confront the Chippewa.
"He reached for his knife," explained Sam.
The ejaculation had also called the attention of every member of the band to the tableau41. There could be absolutely no doubt as to its meaning,--the evident anger of the red, his attitude, his hand on the haft of his knife. The Chippewa was fairly caught.
He realised the fact, but his quick mind instantly turned the situation to his profit. Without attempting to alter the malice42 of his expression, he nevertheless dropped his hand from his knife-hilt, and straightened his figure to the grandiose43 attitude of the Indian orator44.
"This man speaks crooked45 words. I know the language of the saganash. He tells my brothers that he gives this robe to May-may-gwán because he holds it the dearest of his possessions, and because his heart is good towards my brother's people. But to the other saganash he said these words: 'It is a little thing, and I do not wish to carry it. What shall I do with it?'"
He folded his arms theatrically46. Dick Herron, his narrow eyes blazing, struck him full on the mouth a shoulder blow that sent him sprawling47 into the ashes by the fire.
The Chippewa was immediately on his feet, his knife in his hand. Instinctively48 the younger Crees drew near to him. The old race antagonism50 flashed forth51, naturally, without the intervention52 of reason. A murmur53 went up from the other bystanders.
Sam Bolton arose quietly to take his place at Dick's elbow. As yet there was no danger of violence, except from the outraged54 Chippewa. The Crees were startled, but they had not yet taken sides. All depended on an intrepid55 front. For a moment they stared at one another, the Indians uncertain, the Anglo-Saxons, as always, fiercely dominant56 in spirit, no matter what the odds57 against them, as long as they are opposed to what they consider the inferior race.
Then a flying figure glided58 to the two. May-may-gwán, palpitating with fear, thrust their rifles into the white men's hands, then took her stand behind them.
But Haukemah interfered59 with all the weight of his authority.
"Stop!" he commanded, sharply. "There is no need that friends should bear weapons. What are you doing, my young men? Do you judge these saganash without hearing what they have to say? Ask of them if what the Chippewa says is true."
"The robe is fine. I gave it for the reason I said," replied Dick.
The Cree young men, shaken from their instinctive49 opposition60, sank back. It was none of their affair, after all, but a question of veracity61 between Dick and his enemy. And the Chippewa enjoyed none too good a reputation. The swift crisis had passed.
Dick laughed his boyish, reckless laugh.
"Damn if I didn't pick out the old idiot's best girl!" he cried to his companion; but the latter doubtfully shook his head.
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1
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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meandered
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| （指溪流、河流等）蜿蜒而流( meander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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excoriation
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| n.严厉的责难；苛责；表皮脱落；抓痕 | |
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withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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decorative
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| adj.装饰的，可作装饰的 | |
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plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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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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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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ambiguity
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| n.模棱两可；意义不明确 | |
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symbolical
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| a.象征性的 | |
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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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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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40
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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grandiose
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| adj.宏伟的，宏大的，堂皇的，铺张的 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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45
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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theatrically
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| adv.戏剧化地 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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49
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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50
antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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53
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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54
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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55
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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56
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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57
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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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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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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