The men were not heavily loaded, for most of their supplies had been sent on to the mine, but Andrew had found his pack a bad enough handicap on the long march up-river and had noticed with some concern that Graham seemed to feel the weight more than he did. The old man had lagged behind, but he now came up breathless.
"You want to get a move on," Carnally advised. "It's 'most six miles yet to Rain Bluff7 and I'm feeling ready for my supper."
"So am I," said Graham; "but it was too cold to rest by the greenwood fire when we nooned, and I'm not so young as you are. Then it is remarkable8 how twenty years of domestic life soften9 one."
[Pg 144]"Sure!" grinned Carnally. "You don't find the man who gets his dinner every day leading in a long, hard march. That was Allinson's trouble when he first took the trail with me."
"There may be disadvantages in having regular meals, but I know from painful experience what an ache in the side you get when forced to go without," Andrew returned. "It's one of the things I've learned in Canada."
"You'll learn a few more of the same kind before you're through," Carnally drawled. "But how do you like your moccasins?"
"They're comfortable; the American shoe people have made them well; but I'm not sure they'll last the journey through. It's lucky we have some spare pairs among the provisions Mappin has sent up."
"It might have been better if we'd hired two or three boys at the Landing and packed the truck up along with us," Carnally remarked.
"Mappin engaged to forward the things. It's his business."
Carnally looked unconvinced.
"I never deal with a man who's not straight if I can help it. You can't tell when he may go back on you, unless you can fix it so that his interest is the same as yours; and you and Mappin don't agree."
"That's a fact," Andrew admitted. "However, we'll soon find out about the provisions."
He forced the pace, but it slackened again. He was tired; the red glare, which grew more lurid10, hurt his eyes, and he was thankful when it suddenly faded, leaving the wilderness wrapped in soft blue shadow. The pack-straps galled11 his shoulders, his fur-cap was thick with rime12, and its fringe of frosted hair stung his fore[Pg 145]head. They came to a narrow reach where the stream ran fast and the ice was thrown up in ragged13 hummocks14. It was difficult to pick their way in the dim light; they slipped and stumbled, breaking through the treacherous15 snow bridges between the blocks; and when they came out upon a better surface it was dark. Shadowy firs rose about them; here and there an ice-crusted rock showed above the gray level of the stream. Except for their soft footsteps there was a deathly silence. Graham was now some distance behind them, and after a while he made protest.
"Hold on!" he cried. "I'm not toughened up to your mark yet."
Andrew was glad to wait for him, though the frost bit keenly when he stopped and he was anxious to finish the long day's march. The ranks of stunted pines looked inexpressibly dreary16 looming17 out of the darkness, and, fatigued18 as he was, the savagery19 of the surrounding desolation oppressed him. They would reach warmth and shelter in another hour, but when they went on again Andrew thought with a heavy heart of the leagues of travel through the grim solitudes21 of the frozen North. Up there, their only resting-place would be a hollow behind a rock or a trench22 scooped23 out of the snow. Still, he was not daunted24. He had undertaken a big thing, and he meant to carry it out.
At last a twinkle of light showed among the trees, and when they approached one of the shacks26 at the mine the door opened and a dark figure appeared against the brightness of the interior.
"Is that you, Watson?" Andrew asked. "Has Mappin sent up some provisions for us?"
"Nothing has turned up lately except some tools," Watson answered. "But come right in."
"Did those tools come in cases with a Toronto freight tag?" Carnally asked.
"They did," said Watson.
Carnally looked at Andrew.
"That's what misled me. I found out the cases had left the Landing and thought they held our truck. What I wasn't sure about was whether they'd reach here."
"The provisions haven't come, and a day or two's rest will do us good," Andrew replied. "I suppose the fellow will send some explanation."
"That's certain. He won't want you to go down and look him up; you'll get word from him before long. Whether you'll get your provisions or not is another matter."
"Let it drop," Andrew advised; and soon afterward27 they sat down to supper. In an hour or two they were all asleep; but the next day passed before they heard anything about the missing supplies. They were sitting round the stove in the evening when Watson came in with a letter.
"One of Mappin's boys has brought you this," he said.
Andrew opened it and looked up with a frown.
"No answer. Let him go back when he likes."
When Watson left them he turned to the others.
"Mappin regrets to say that our stores have been lost in transit28, and though he is trying to trace them, there may be some delay. He thinks I would like to know this at once—which looks like ironical29 wit. If needful, he will order a duplicate lot."
"Is it worth while to go down and see him?" Graham asked.
[Pg 147]"I'd enjoy it," said Andrew grimly. "However, now that we have come so far, we can't waste time in going back, and I've no doubt it would be a week or two before I could get the goods. We'll have to do without them, which is unfortunate."
His anger was justified30. Travel in the North, where food is scarce, is a question of transport. As the traveler must take all he needs with him, his supplies must be carefully regulated in accordance with the distance and his power of carrying them, while an error in his calculations may result in starvation. Knowing this, Carnally and Graham had considered how the weight could be cut down by the use of certain condensed foods, as well as clothing and camp equipment made to combine the greatest warmth with lightness. The goods were expensive, but their value could hardly be reckoned in money.
"Then we had better push on at once," Graham suggested. "We have the things Carnally sent up and we ought to get some provisions at the Hudson Bay factory, where I expect to hire the sledge31 dogs. It will add to our loads and shorten our stay, but we'll have to put up with that."
"You should have cut Mappin right out of this business," Carnally said to Andrew. "His first trick hasn't stopped us, but I feel uneasy about leaving him to handle the food we'll need when coming down."
Andrew looked grave.
"The man's treacherous; but he has gone as far as is safe already. Taking it for granted that he wishes to prevent our finding the lode32, one can understand his trying to hinder our outward journey. He would, however, gain nothing by delaying our return, and he's too[Pg 148] clever to risk getting himself into trouble without a good reason."
"That sounds right; I can find no fault with it," Carnally agreed. "We'll pull out to-morrow, but I'd feel easier if the making of those caches wasn't in Mappin's hands."
They left Rain Bluff the next morning and it was a week later when Mappin learned that he had failed to detain them. He had just returned to the Landing from a business visit, and was sitting in his room at the hotel when the messenger came in.
"Did Mr. Allinson seem annoyed?" he asked.
"Can't say," the man replied. "He didn't say a word to me; told Watson there was no answer, and pulled out with the other fellows next day."
"I suppose they went off with pretty heavy loads?"
"That's so. Took some of Watson's blue camp blankets, and I guess they'll soon get tired. Two of them are tenderfoots at the job."
"Carnally's a smart bushman, isn't he?"
"Sure! But he'd all he could carry."
Mappin was surprised at the turbulence33 of his feelings. Though of gross nature, ambition and avarice34 had hitherto dominated him, and he was generally marked by a cold-blooded calm. Now, however, his passions were aroused, and he was filled with an anger which he thought must be subdued35 before it led him into rashness. He had done all he could to delay Allinson, and though he had failed it was not his habit to grow savage20 at a reverse; moreover, it was unlikely that the prospectors36 would get very far. For all that, he was disturbed. Allinson, whom he had regarded with contempt as a fastidious tenderfoot, might prove a dangerous rival. That he had refrained from sending down an angry[Pg 149] remonstrance37 suggested strong self-control and a suspicion of Mappin's motives38. He must be careful, and must make all the progress he could with Geraldine while Allinson was away.
During the next three weeks he saw the Frobishers often, though he had undertaken an important railroad contract for which his men were cutting lumber39 in the bush. Geraldine treated him with a conventional politeness which misled him, for he was inexperienced in dealing40 with girls of her character. Indeed, except for his business capacity, Mappin was undeveloped and primitive41. For all that, he felt that he was not advancing much in Geraldine's favor and he made up his mind to press his suit without delay. Allinson would be back before very long, and the provisions he would need for his return journey must shortly be sent off.
After waiting for an opportunity, he found Geraldine alone one evening in her drawing-room and sat down feeling unusually diffident as well as eager, though he forced himself to talk about matters of no importance. For one thing, the room had a disturbing effect on him. It was furnished with refined taste and all its appointments seemed stamped with its owner's personality; a faint perfume that she was fond of clung about it. All this reacted on the man, and the girl's beauty worked on his passions.
She listened with indifference42, now and then glancing toward him. He was smartly dressed, but he looked out of place—too big and gross for his surroundings. Then by degrees she grew more intent; there was a hint of strain in his voice and a gleam in his eyes which caused her vague alarm. His face was slightly flushed, he looked coarser than usual, and when he was silent his lips set in an ugly, determined43 fashion. At last,[Pg 150] when she was thinking of an excuse for leaving him, he rose.
"Geraldine," he said, "I have something to tell you."
She looked up quickly; somewhat frightened, he thought, and he was not displeased44.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Is it necessary?"
"I think so; you shall judge. For a long while I've been very fond of you."
"I wonder what you mean by that?" she asked coldly.
The man failed to understand her. Love was not a complex thing to him.
"It ought to be pretty simple. You're the girl I mean to marry; I set my heart on it some time ago."
"Mean to marry? You're not diffident."
Mappin laughed and his amusement filled her with repulsion. She was not encouraging, he thought; but he had not expected her to be so.
"No," he replied, "I'm not. Bashfulness doesn't pay, and I haven't had time to study saying pretty things. I want you—there it is."
"It's a pity you didn't tell me this earlier. It might have saved you some disappointment," said Geraldine.
She was angry and alarmed, but keenly interested. She had not expected that her first offer would take this abrupt47 form; but there was no doubting the strong primitive passion in the man. It was a force to be reckoned with; one could not treat it with indifference. He looked big and clumsy as he stood with his eyes fixed48 on her, but his face and pose suggested power.
"Well," he explained, "there was a reason. I was pretty low down in the world; I hadn't much to offer,[Pg 151] and I wouldn't have you think I wanted you for your money. Now I've got on; I begin to see how I'm going to make a big success. There's no longer anything to stop my claiming you."
This sounded sincere, but it was unthinkable that she should feel any tenderness for the man, and he must be made to understand.
"Mr. Mappin," she began; but he checked her.
"Let me get through. You shall have all you want: a house in Montreal or Toronto, as you like, smart friends and position—guess if I set my mind on it I can get them. In fact, you shall have what you wish—you'll only need to ask for it. I want my wife to take a leading place, and I'll see she gets there."
"I'm sorry, but it's impossible for me to marry you," said Geraldine firmly.
Mappin regarded her with a grim smile.
"You look as if you meant it."
"I do." Geraldine tried hard to preserve her calm. "Please understand that my mind is made up."
"Oh," he replied tolerantly, "I didn't expect to get you first try. Guess I'll have to wait until you get used to the idea."
"I shall never get used to it!"
He had held himself in hand, but as he heard the decision in her tone his passion mastered him.
Geraldine rose with all the dignity she could assume; but he moved between her and the door.
"Wait a bit," he said with a harsh laugh. "Now, what's the matter with me?"
"I think I need only say that you're very far from being the kind of man I could marry. Let me pass!"
[Pg 152]Mappin barred her way.
"Well," he said, "I know my value. I'll stand comparison with that finicking Englishman!"
Her blush told that this shot had reached the mark and he turned on her with fury.
"You'll never get him! Count on that; I'll break the fellow!"
Geraldine recoiled50. She thought that he meant to seize her; he was capable of it. Indeed, he moved a pace or two, but this gave her an opportunity for reaching the door. There she turned and saw that he was watching her with a curious grim smile.
"The subject is closed," she said. "You have behaved hatefully!"
Escaping into the hall, she sought her room and shut herself in. She felt humiliated51, and, although there had once or twice been something ludicrous in the situation, the man's overbearing boldness had strongly impressed her. She was afraid of him; he would not readily be beaten.
Mappin left the house without speaking to Frobisher and returned to the Landing. The next day he sent for the packer who was to lead the party taking up Andrew's supplies. The fellow was some time in coming and Mappin waited for him in a threatening mood. Geraldine's blush had filled him with jealous hatred52. Allinson was a dangerous rival. Let him beware!
"You know the Whitefish Creek53," he said to the man he had summoned. "What lies between the forks?"
"A piece of high and very rough country; muskegs full of little pines mussed up with blown trees in the hollows."
"Well," said Mappin, "you'll cache the supplies for[Pg 153] Allinson where I've put the cross on this map. Think you've got it right?"
"Yes," answered the packer. "It must be near the tall butte, a piece up the creek. That's a pretty good mark."
"Then there's the other lot of supplies. You can see the place for them on the height of land, south of the Whitefish."
The man glanced at the map and nodded.
"We'll dump those first. Everything's ready. We'll pull out as soon as I can get the boys together."
He left the room and Mappin lighted a cigar. He felt somewhat nervous, as if he had undergone a strain.
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收听单词发音
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1
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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crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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3
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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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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8
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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9
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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11
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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12
rime
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| n.白霜；v.使蒙霜 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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hummocks
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| n.小丘，岗( hummock的名词复数 ) | |
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15
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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16
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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17
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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18
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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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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21
solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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22
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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23
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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24
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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shacks
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| n.窝棚，简陋的小屋( shack的名词复数 ) | |
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27
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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33
turbulence
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| n.喧嚣，狂暴，骚乱，湍流 | |
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avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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35
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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36
prospectors
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| n.勘探者，探矿者( prospector的名词复数 ) | |
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37
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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38
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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39
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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40
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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41
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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42
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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43
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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44
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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45
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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46
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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47
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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48
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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49
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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50
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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51
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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52
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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53
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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54
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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