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that was like a golden sun。 She seemed to come toward Jees Uck as a
ripple of music across still water； her sweeping garment itself a song； her
body playing rhythmically beneath。 Jees Uck herself was a man
compeller。 There were Oche Ish and Imego and Hah Yo and Wy Nooch；
to say nothing of Neil Bonner and John Thompson and other white men
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that had looked upon her and felt her power。 But she gazed upon the
wide blue eyes and rose…white skin of this woman that advanced to meet
her； and she measured her with woman's eyes looking through man's eyes；
and as a man compeller she felt herself diminish and grow insignificant
before this radiant and flashing creature。
〃You wish to see my husband？〃 the woman asked； and Jees Uck
gasped at the liquid silver of a voice that had never sounded harsh cries at
snarling wolf…dogs； nor moulded itself to a guttural speech； nor toughened
in storm and frost and camp smoke。
〃No；〃 Jees Uck answered slowly and gropingly； in order that she might
do justice to her English。 〃I come to see Neil Bonner。〃
〃He is my husband；〃 the woman laughed。
Then it was true！ John Thompson had not lied that bleak February
day； when she laughed pridefully and shut the door in his face。 As once
she had thrown Amos Pentley across her knee and ripped her knife into the
air； so now she felt impelled to spring upon this woman and bear her back
and down； and tear the life out of her fair body。 But Jees Uck was
thinking quickly and gave no sign； and Kitty Bonner little dreamed how
intimately she had for an instant been related with sudden death。
Jees Uck nodded her head that she understood； and Kitty Bonner
explained that Neil was expected at any moment。 Then they sat down on
ridiculously comfortable chairs； and Kitty sought to entertain her strange
visitor； and Jees Uck strove to help her。
〃You knew my husband in the North？〃 Kitty asked； once。
〃Sure。 I wash um clothes；〃 Jees Uck had answered； her English
abruptly beginning to grow atrocious。
〃And this is your boy？ I have a little girl。〃
Kitty caused her daughter to be brought； and while the children； after
their manner； struck an acquaintance； the mothers indulged in the talk of
mothers and drank tea from cups so fragile that Jees Uck feared lest hers
should crumble to pieces beneath her fingers。 Never had she seen such
cups； so delicate and dainty。 In her mind she compared them with the
woman who poured the tea； and there uprose in contrast the gourds and
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pannikins of the Toyaat village and the clumsy mugs of Twenty Mile； to
which she likened herself。 And in such fashion and such terms the problem
presented itself。 She was beaten。 There was a woman other than herself
better fitted to bear and upbring Neil Bonner's children。 Just as his
people exceeded her people； so did his womankind exceed her。 They
were the man compellers； as their men were the world compellers。 She
looked at the rose…white tenderness of Kitty Bonner's skin and
remembered the sun…beat on her own face。 Likewise she looked from
brown hand to whitethe one； work…worn and hardened by whip…handle
and paddle； the other as guiltless of toil and soft as a newborn babe's。
And； for all the obvious softness and apparent weakness； Jees Uck looked
into the blue eyes and saw the mastery she had seen in Neil Bonner's eyes
and in the eyes of Neil Bonner's people。
〃Why； it's Jees Uck！〃 Neil Bonner said； when he entered。 He said it
calmly； with even a ring of joyful cordiality； coming over to her and
shaking both her hands； but looking into her eyes with a worry in his own
that she understood。
〃Hello； Neil！〃 she said。 〃You look much good。〃
〃Fine； fine； Jees Uck；〃 he answered heartily； though secretly studying
Kitty for some sign of what had passed between the two。 Yet he knew his
wife too well to expect； even though the worst had passed； such a sign。
〃Well； I can't say how glad I am to see you；〃 he went on。 〃What's
happened？ Did you strike a mine？ And when did you get in？〃
〃Oo…a； I get in to…day；〃 she replied； her voice instinctively seeking its
guttural parts。 〃I no strike it； Neil。 You known Cap'n Markheim；
Unalaska？ I cook； his house； long time。 No spend money。 Bime…by；
plenty。 Pretty good； I think； go down and see White Man's Land。 Very
fine； White Man's Land； very fine；〃 she added。 Her English puzzled him；
for Sandy and he had sought； constantly； to better her speech； and she had
proved an apt pupil。 Now it seemed that she had sunk back into her race。
Her face was guileless； stolidly guileless； giving no cue。 Kitty's
untroubled brow likewise baffled him。 What had happened？ How
much had been said？ and how much guessed？
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While he wrestled with these questions and while Jees Uck wrestled
with her problemnever had he looked so wonderful and greata silence
fell。
〃To think that you knew my husband in Alaska！〃 Kitty said softly。
Knew him！ Jees Uck could not forbear a glance at the boy she had
borne him； and his eyes followed hers mechanically to the window where
played the two children。 An iron hand seemed to tighten across his
forehead。 His knees went weak and his heart leaped up and pounded like
a fist against his breast。 His boy！ He had never dreamed it！
Little Kitty Bonner； fairylike in gauzy lawn； with pinkest of cheeks
and bluest of dancing eyes； arms outstretched and lips puckered in
invitation； was striving to kiss the boy。 And the boy； lean and lithe；
sunbeaten and browned； skin…clad and in hair… fringed and hair…tufted
MUCLUCS that showed the wear of the sea and rough work； coolly
withstood her advances； his body straight and stiff with the peculiar
erectness common to children of savage people。 A stranger in a strange
land； unabashed and unafraid； he appeared more like an untamed animal；
silent and watchful； his black eyes flashing from face to face； quiet so long
as quiet endured； but prepared to spring and fight and tear and scratch for
life； at the first sign of danger。
The contrast between boy and girl was striking； but not pitiful。 There
was too much strength in the boy for that； waif that he was of the
generations of Shpack； Spike O'Brien； and Bonner。 In his features； clean
cut as a cameo and almost classic in their severity； there were the power
and achievement of his father； and his grandfather； and the one known as
the Big Fat； who was captured by the Sea people and escaped to
Kamchatka。
Neil Bonner fought his emotion down； swallowed it down； and choked
over it； though his face smiled with good…humour and the joy with which
one meets a friend。
〃Your boy； eh； Jees Uck？〃 he said。 And then turning to Kitty：
〃Handsome fellow！ He'll do something with those two hands of his in
this our world。〃
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Kitty nodded concurrence。 〃What is your name？〃 she asked。
The young savage flashed his quick eyes upon her and dwelt over her
for a space； seeking out； as it were； the motive beneath the question。
〃Neil；〃 he answered deliberately when the scrutiny had satisfied him。
〃Injun talk；〃 Jees Uck interposed； glibly manufacturing languages on
the spur of the moment。 〃Him Injun talk； NEE…AL all the same 'cracker。'
Him baby； him like cracker； him cry for cracker。 Him say； 'NEE…AL；
NEE…AL；'