02-the son of the wolf-第3部分

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their　enmity！　Then　shall　their　women　become　fruitful　and　they　shall

multiply　into　a　mighty　people！　And　the　Raven　shall　lead　great　tribes

of　their　fathers　and　their　fathers'　fathers　from　out　of　the　North；　and

they　shall　beat　back　the　Wolves　till　they　are　as　last　year's

campfires；　and　they　shall　again　come　to　rule　over　all　the　land！　'Tis

the　message　of　Jelchs；　the　Raven。'

　　This　foreshadowing　of　the　Messiah's　coming　brought　a　hoarse　howl

from　the　Sticks　as　they　leaped　to　their　feet。　Mackenzie　slipped　the

thumbs　of　his　mittens　and　waited。　There　was　a　clamor　for　the　'Fox；'

not　to　be　stilled　till　one　of　the　young　men　stepped　forward　to　speak。

　　'Brothers！　The　Shaman　has　spoken　wisely。　The　Wolves　have　taken　our

women；　and　our　men　are　childless。　We　are　grown　to　a　handful。　The

Wolves　have　taken　our　warm　furs　and　given　for　them　evil　spirits

which　dwell　in　bottles；　and　clothes　which　come　not　from　the　beaver

or　the　lynx；　but　are　made　from　the　grass。　And　they　are　not　warm；　and

our　men　die　of　strange　sicknesses。　I；　the　Fox；　have　taken　no　woman

to　wife；　and　why？　Twice　have　the　maidens　which　pleased　me　gone　to

the　camps　of　the　Wolf。　Even　now　have　I　laid　by　skins　of　the　beaver；　of

the　moose；　of　the　cariboo；　that　I　might　win　favor　in　the　eyes　of

Thling…Tinneh；　that　I　might　marry　Zarinska；　his　daughter。　Even　now　are

her　snow…shoes　bound　to　her　feet；　ready　to　break　trail　for　the　dogs　of

the　Wolf。　Nor　do　I　speak　for　myself　alone。　As　I　have　done；　so　has

the　Bear。　He；　too；　had　fain　been　the　father　of　her　children；　and

many　skins　has　he　cured　thereto。　I　speak　for　all　the　young　men　who

know　not　wives。　The　Wolves　are　ever　hungry。　Always　do　they　take　the

choice　meat　at　the　killing。　To　the　Ravens　are　left　the　leavings。

　　'There　is　Gugkla；'　he　cried；　brutally　pointing　out　one　of　the　women；

who　was　a　cripple。　'Her　legs　are　bent　like　the　ribs　of　a　birch

canoe。　She　cannot　gather　wood　nor　carry　the　meat　of　the　hunters。　Did

the　Wolves　choose　her？'

　　'Ai！　ai！'　vociferated　his　tribesmen。

　　'There　is　Moyri；　whose　eyes　are　crossed　by　the　Evil　Spirit。　Even　the

babes　are　affrighted　when　they　gaze　upon　her；　and　it　is　said　the

bald…face　gives　her　the　trail。　Was　she　chosen？'

　　Again　the　cruel　applause　rang　out。

　　'And　there　sits　Pischet。　She　does　not　hearken　to　my　words。　Never　has

she　heard　the　cry　of　the　chit…chat；　the　voice　of　her　husband；　the

babble　of　her　child。　She　lives　in　the　White　Silence。　Cared　the

Wolves　aught　for　her？　No！　Theirs　is　the　choice　of　the　kill；　ours　is

the　leavings。

　　'Brothers；　it　shall　not　be！　No　more　shall　the　Wolves　slink　among　our

campfires。　The　time　is　come。'

　　A　great　streamer　of　fire；　the　aurora　borealis；　purple；　green；　and

yellow；　shot　across　the　zenith；　bridging　horizon　to　horizon。　With　head

thrown　back　and　arms　extended；　he　swayed　to　his　climax。

　　'Behold！　The　spirits　of　our　fathers　have　arisen　and　great　deeds

are　afoot　this　night！'

　　He　stepped　back；　and　another　young　man　somewhat　diffidently　came

forward；　pushed　on　by　his　comrades。　He　towered　a　full　head　above　them；

his　broad　chest　defiantly　bared　to　the　frost。　He　swung　tentatively

from　one　foot　to　the　other。　Words　halted　upon　his　tongue；　and　he　was

ill　at　ease。　His　face　was　horrible　to　look　upon；　for　it　had　at　one

time　been　half　torn　away　by　some　terrific　blow。　At　last　he　struck

his　breast　with　his　clenched　fist；　drawing　sound　as　from　a　drum；　and

his　voice　rumbled　forth　as　does　the　surf　from　an　ocean　cavern。

　　'I　am　the　Bear；…　the　Silver…Tip　and　the　Son　of　the　Silver…Tip！

When　my　voice　was　yet　as　a　girl's；　I　slew　the　lynx；　the　moose；　and　the

cariboo；　when　it　whistled　like　the　wolverines　from　under　a　cache；　I

crossed　the　Mountains　of　the　South　and　slew　three　of　the　White　Rivers；

when　it　became　as　the　roar　of　the　Chinook；　I　met　the　bald…faced

grizzly；　but　gave　no　trail。'

　　At　this　he　paused；　his　hand　significantly　sweeping　across　his

hideous　scars。

　　'I　am　not　as　the　Fox。　My　tongue　is　frozen　like　the　river。　I　cannot

make　great　talk。　My　words　are　few。　The　Fox　says　great　deeds　are

afoot　this　night。　Good！　Talk　flows　from　his　tongue　like　the　freshets

of　the　spring；　but　he　is　chary　of　deeds。　This　night　shall　I　do

battle　with　the　Wolf。　I　shall　slay　him；　and　Zarinska　shall　sit　by　my

fire。　The　Bear　has　spoken。'

　　Though　pandemonium　raged　about　him；　'Scruff'　Mackenzie　held　his

ground。　Aware　how　useless　was　the　rifle　at　close　quarters；　he

slipped　both　holsters　to　the　fore；　ready　for　action；　and　drew　his

mittens　till　his　hands　were　barely　shielded　by　the　elbow　gauntlets。　He

knew　there　was　no　hope　in　attack　en　masse；　but　true　to　his　boast；

was　prepared　to　die　with　teeth　fast…locked。　But　the　Bear　restrained

his　comrades；　beating　back　the　more　impetuous　with　his　terrible

fist。　As　the　tumult　began　to　die　away；　Mackenzie　shot　a　glance　in

the　direction　of　Zarinska。　It　was　a　superb　picture。　She　was　leaning

forward　on　her　snow…shoes；　lips　apart　and　nostrils　quivering；　like　a

tigress　about　to　spring。　Her　great　black　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her

tribesmen；　in　fear　and　defiance。　So　extreme　the　tension；　she　had

forgotten　to　breathe。　With　one　hand　pressed　spasmodically　against

her　breast　and　the　other　as　tightly　gripped　about　the　dog…whip；　she

was　as　turned　to　stone。　Even　as　he　looked；　relief　came　to　her。　Her

muscles　loosened；　with　a　heavy　sigh　she　settled　back；　giving　him　a

look　of　more　than　love…　of　worship。

　　Thling…Tinneh　was　trying　to　speak；　but　his　people　drowned　his　voice。

Then　Mackenzie　strode　forward。　The　Fox　opened　his　mouth　to　a

piercing　yell；　but　so　savagely　did　Mackenzie　whirl　upon　him　that　he

shrank　back；　his　larynx　all　agurgle　with　suppressed　sound。　His

discomfiture　was　greeted　with　roars　of　laughter；　and　served　to

soothe　his　fellows　to　a　listening　mood。

　　'Brothers！　The　White　Man；　whom　ye　have　chosen　to　call　the　Wolf；　came

among　you　with　fair　words。　He　was　not　like　the　Innuit；　he　spoke　not

lies。　He　came　as　a　friend；　as　one　who　would　be　a　brother。　But　your　men

have　had　their　say；　and　the　time　for　soft　words　is　past。　First；　I　will

tell　you　that　the　Shaman　has　an　evil　tongue　and　is　a　false　prophet；

that　the　messages　he　spake　are　not　those　of　the　Fire…Bringer。　His　ears

are　locked　to　the　voice　of　the　Raven；　and　out　of　his　own　head　he

weaves　cunning　fancies；　and　he　has　made　fools　of　you。　He　has　no　power。

When　the　dogs　were　killed　and　eaten；　and　your　stomachs　were　heavy　with

untanned　hide　and　strips　of　moccasins；　when　the　old　men　died；　and

the　old　women　died；　and　the　babes　at　the　dry　dugs　of　the　mothers　died；

when　the　land　was　dark；　and　ye　perished　as　do　the　salmon　in　the

fall；　aye；　when　the　famine　was　upon　you；　did　the　Shaman　bring　reward

to　your　hunters？　did　the　Shaman　put　meat　in　your　bellies？　Again　I　say；

the　Shaman　is　without　power。　Thus　I　spit　upon　his　face！'

　　Though　taken　aback　by　the　sacrilege；　there　was　no　uproar。　Some　of

the　women　were　even　frightened；　but　among　the　men　there　was　an

uplifting；　as　though　in　preparation　or　anticipation　of　the　miracle。

All　eyes　were　turned　upon　the　two　central　figures。　The　priest　realized

the　crucial　moment；　felt　his　power　tottering；　opened　his　mouth　in

denunciation；　but　fled　backward　before　the　truculent　advance；　upraised

fist；　and　flashing　eyes；　of　Mackenzie。　He　sneered　and　resumed。

　　Was　I　stricken　dead？　Did　the　lightning　burn　me？　Did　the　stars　fall

from　the　sky　and　crush　me？　Pish！　I　have　done　with　the　dog。　Now　will

I　tell　you　of　my　people；　who　are　the　mightiest　of　all　the　peoples；　who

rule　in　all　the　lands。　At　first　we　hunt　as　I　hunt；　alone。　After　that

we　hunt　in　packs；　and　at　last；　like　the　cariboo…run；　we　sweep　across

all　the　land。　Those　whom　we　take　into　our　lodges　live；　those　who

will　not　come　die。　Zarinska　is　a　comely　maiden；　full　and　strong；　fit

to　become　the　mother　of　Wolves。　Though　I　die；　such　shall　she　become；

for　my　brothers　are　many；　and　they　will　follow　the　scent　of　my　dogs。

Listen　to　the　Law　of　the　Wolf：　Whoso　taketh　the　life　of　one　Wolf；

the　forfeit　shall　ten　of　his　people　pay。　In　many　lands　has　the　price

been　paid；　in　many　lands　shall　it　yet　be　paid。

　　'Now　will　I　deal　with　the　Fox　and　the　Bear。　It　seems　they　have

cast　eyes　upon　the　maiden。　So？　Behold；　I　have　bought　her！

Thling…Tinneh　leans　upon　the　rifle；　the　goods　of　purchase　are　by　his

fire。　Yet　will　I　be　fair　to　the　young　men。　To　the　Fox；　whose　tongue　is

dry　with　many　words；　will　I　give　of　tobacco　five　long　plugs。　Thus　will

his　mouth　be　wetted　that　he　may　make　much　noise　in　the　council。　But　to

the　Bear；　of　whom　I　am　well　proud；　will　I　give　of　blankets　two；　of

flour；　twenty　cups；　of　tobacco；　double　that　of　the　Fox；　and　if　he　fare

with　me　over　the　Mountains　of　the　East；　then　will　I　give　him　a

rifle；　mate　to　Thling…Tinneh's。　If　not？　Good！　The　Wolf　is　weary　of

speech。　Yet　once　again　will　he　say　the　Law：　Whoso　taketh　the　life　of

one　Wolf；　the　forfeit　shall　ten　of　his　people　pay。'

　　Mackenzie　smiled　as　he　stepped　back　to　his　old　position；　but　at

heart　he　was　full　of　trouble。　The　night　was　yet　dark。　The　girl　came　to

his　side；　and　he　listened　closely　as　she　told　of　the　Bear's

battle…tricks　with　the　knife。

　　The　decision　was　for　war。　In　a　trice；　scores　of　moccasins　were

widening　the　space　of　beaten　snow　by　the　fire。　There　was　much

chatter　about　the　seeming　defeat　of　the　Shaman；　some　averred　he　had

but　withheld　his　power；　while　others　conned　past　events　and　agreed

with　the　Wolf。　The　Bear　came　to　the　center　of　the　battle…ground；　a

long　naked　hunting…knife　of　Russian　make　in　his　hand。　The　Fox　called

attention　to　Mackenzie's　revolvers；　so　he　stripped　his　belt；

buckling　it　about　Zarinska；　into　whose　hands　he　also　entrusted　his

rifle。　She　shook　her　head　that　she　could　not　shoot；…　small　chance

had　a　woman　to　handle　such　precious　things。

　　'Then；　if　danger　come　by　my　back；　cry　aloud；　〃My　husband！〃　No；　thus；

〃My　husband！〃'

　　He　laughed　as　she　repeated　it；　pinched　her　cheek；　and　reentered

the　circle。　Not　only　in　reach　and　stature　had　the　Bear　the　advantage

of　him