按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had on his sled a bunch of beautifully cured otter skins； sea
otters； you know； worth their weight in gold。 There was also at
Pastilik an old Shylock of a Russian trader； who had dogs to kill。
Well； they didn't dicker very long； but when the Strange One headed
south again； it was in the rear of a spanking dog team。 Mr。 Shylock；
by the way； had the otter skins。 I saw them； and they were
magnificent。 We figured it up and found the dogs brought him at
least five hundred apiece。 And it wasn't as if the Strange One
didn't know the value of sea otter； he was an Indian of some sort； and
what little he talked showed he'd been among white men。
'After the ice passed out of the sea； word came up from Nunivak
Island that he'd gone in there for grub。 Then he dropped from sight；
and this is the first heard of him in eight years。 Now where did he
come from？ and what was he doing there？ and why did he come from
there？ He's Indian； he's been nobody knows where； and he's had
discipline； which is unusual for an Indian。 Another mystery of the
North for you to solve； Prince。'
'Thanks awfully； but I've got too many on hand as it is；' he
replied。
Malemute Kid was already breathing heavily； but the young mining
engineer gazed straight up through the thick darkness； waiting for the
strange orgasm which stirred his blood to die away。 And when he did
sleep； his brain worked on； and for the nonce he； too； wandered
through the white unknown； struggled with the dogs on endless
trails； and saw men live； and toil； and die like men。
The next morning； hours before daylight； the dog drivers and
policemen pulled out for Dawson。 But the powers that saw to Her
Majesty's interests and ruled the destinies of her lesser creatures
gave the mailmen little rest； for a week later they appeared at Stuart
River； heavily burdened with letters for Salt Water。 However； their
dogs had been replaced by fresh ones； but； then； they were dogs。
The men had expected some sort of a layover in which to rest up；
besides； this Klondike was a new section of the Northland； and they
had wished to see a little something of the Golden City where dust
flowed like water and dance halls rang with never…ending revelry。
But they dried their socks and smoked their evening pipes with much
the same gusto as on their former visit； though one or two bold
spirits speculated on desertion and the possibility of crossing the
unexplored Rockies to the east； and thence； by the Mackenzie Valley；
of gaining their old stamping grounds in the Chippewyan country。 Two
or three even decided to return to their homes by that route when
their terms of service had expired； and they began to lay plans
forthwith； looking forward to the hazardous undertaking in much the
same way a city…bred man would to a day's holiday in the woods。
He of the Otter Skins seemed very restless； though he took little
interest in the discussion； and at last he drew Malemute Kid to one
side and talked for some time in low tones。 Prince cast curious eyes
in their direction； and the mystery deepened when they put on caps and
mittens and went outside。 When they returned； Malemute Kid placed
his gold scales on the table； weighed out the matter of sixty
ounces； and transferred them to the Strange One's sack。 Then the chief
of the dog drivers joined the conclave； and certain business was
transacted with him。 The next day the gang went on upriver； but He
of the Otter Skins took several pounds of grub and turned his steps
back toward Dawson。
'Didn't know what to make of it；' said Malemute Kid in response to
Prince's queries； 'but the poor beggar wanted to be quit of the
service for some reason or other… at least it seemed a most
important one to him； though he wouldn't let on what。 You see； it's
just like the army： he signed for two years； and the only way to get
free was to buy himself out。 He couldn't desert and then stay here；
and he was just wild to remain in the country。 Made up his mind when
he got to Dawson； he said； but no one knew him； hadn't a cent； and I
was the only one he'd spoken two words with。 So he talked it over with
the lieutenant…governor； and made arrangements in case he could get
the money from me… loan； you know。 Said he'd pay back in the year；
and； if I wanted； would put me onto something rich。 Never'd seen it；
but he knew it was rich。
'And talk！ why； when he got me outside he was ready to weep。
Begged and pleaded； got down in the snow to me till I hauled him out
of it。 Palavered around like a crazy man。 Swore he's worked to this
very end for years and years； and couldn't bear to be disappointed
now。 Asked him what end； but he wouldn't say。 Said they might keep him
on the other half of the trail and he wouldn't get to Dawson in two
years； and then it would be too late。 Never saw a man take on so in my
life。 And when I said I'd let him have it； had to yank him out of
the snow again。 Told him to consider it in the light of a grubstake。
Think he'd have it？ No sir！ Swore he'd give me all he found； make me
rich beyond the dreams of avarice； and all such stuff。 Now a man who
puts his life and time against a grubstake ordinarily finds it hard
enough to turn over half of what he finds。 Something behind all
this； Prince； just you make a note of it。 We'll hear of him if he
stays in the country…'
'And if he doesn't？'
'Then my good nature gets a shock； and I'm sixty some odd ounces
out。'
The cold weather had come on with the long nights； and the sun had
begun to play his ancient game of peekaboo along the southern snow
line ere aught was heard of Malemute Kid's grubstake。 And then； one
bleak morning in early January； a heavily laden dog train pulled
into his cabin below Stuart River。 He of the Otter Skins was there；
and with him walked a man such as the gods have almost forgotten how
to fashion。 Men never talked of luck and pluck and five…hundred…dollar
dirt without bringing in the name of Axel Gunderson； nor could tales
of nerve or strength or daring pass up and down the campfire without
the summoning of his presence。 And when the conversation flagged； it
blazed anew at mention of the woman who shared his fortunes。
As has been noted； in the making of Axel Gunderson the gods had
remembered their old…time cunning and cast him after the manner of men
who were born when the world was young。 Full seven feet he towered
in his picturesque costume which marked a king of Eldorado。 His chest；
neck； and limbs were those of a giant。 To bear his three hundred
pounds of bone and muscle； his snowshoes were greater by a generous
yard than those of other men。 Rough…hewn； with rugged brow and massive
jaw and unflinching eyes of palest blue； his face told the tale of one
who knew but the law of might。 Of the yellow of ripe corn silk； his
frost…incrusted hair swept like day across the night and fell far down
his coat of bearskin。 A vague tradition of the sea seemed to cling
about him as he swung down the narrow trail in advance of the dogs；
and he brought the butt of his dog whip against Malemute Kid's door as
a Norse sea rover； on southern foray； might thunder for admittance
at the castle gate。
Prince bared his womanly arms and kneaded sour…dough bread； casting；
as he did so； many a glance at the three guests… three guests the like
of which might never come under a man's roof in a lifetime。 The
Strange One； whom Malemute Kid had surnamed Ulysses； still
fascinated him； but his interest chiefly gravitated between Axel
Gunderson and Axel Gunderson's wife。 She felt the day's journey； for
she had softened in comfortable cabins during the many days since
her husband mastered the wealth of frozen pay streaks； and she was
tired。 She rested against his great breast like a slender flower
against a wall； replying lazily to Malemute Kid's good…natured banter；
and stirring Prince's blood strangely with an occasional sweep of
her deep； dark eyes。 For Prince was a man； and healthy； and had seen
few women in many months。 And she was older than he； and an Indian
besides。 But she was different from all native wives he had met： she
had traveled… had been in his country among others； he gathered from
the conversation； and she knew most of the things the women of his own
race knew； and much more that it was not in the nature of things for
them to know。 She could make a meal of sun…dried fish or a bed in
the snow； yet she teased them with tantalizing details of
many…course dinners； and caused strange internal dissensions to
arise at the mention of various quondam dishes which they had
well…nigh forgotten。 She knew the ways of the moose； the bear； and the
little blue fox； and of the wild amphibians of the Northern seas；
she was skilled in the lore of the woods； and the streams； and the
tale writ by man and bird and beast upon the delicate snow crust was
to her an open book； yet Prince caught the appreciative twinkle in her
eye as she read the Rules