smoke bellew-第11节

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　pound。　　Come　on　an'　have　a　drink。　　I　just　got　to　celebrate　them　eighteen　pounds　of　sweetenin'。〃

Several　minutes　later；　as　he　weighed　in　on　the　gold…scales　for　the　drinks；　he　gave　a　start　of　recollection。

〃I　plum　forgot　that　man　I　was　to　meet　in　the　Tivoli。　　He's　got　some　spoiled　bacon　he'll　sell　for　a　dollar　an'　a　half　a　pound。　　We　can　feed　it　to　the　dogs　an'　save　a　dollar　a　day　on　each's　board　bill。　So　long。〃

〃So　long；〃　said　Smoke。　　〃I'm　goin'　to　the　cabin　an'　turn　in。〃

Hardly　had　Shorty　left　the　place；　when　a　fur…clad　man　entered　through　the　double　storm…doors。　　His　face　lighted　at　sight　of　Smoke；　who　recognized　him　as　Breck；　the　man　whose　boat　he　had　run　through　the　Box　Canyon　and　White　Horse　rapids。

〃I　heard　you　were　in　town；〃　Breck　said　hurriedly；　as　they　shook　hands。　　〃Been　looking　for　you　for　half　an　hour。　　Come　outside；　I　want　to　talk　with　you。〃

Smoke　looked　regretfully　at　the　roaring；　red…hot　stove。

〃Won't　this　do？〃

〃No；　it's　important。　　Come　outside。〃

As　they　emerged；　Smoke　drew　off　one　mitten；　lighted　a　match；　and　glanced　at　the　thermometer　that　hung　beside　the　door。　　He　re…　mittened　his　naked　hand　hastily　as　if　the　frost　had　burnt　him。　Overhead　arched　the　flaming　aurora　borealis；　while　from　all　Dawson　arose　the　mournful　howling　of　thousands　of　wolf…dogs。

〃What　did　it　say？〃　Breck　asked。

〃Sixty　below。〃　　Kit　spat　experimentally；　and　the　spittle　crackled　in　the　air。　　〃And　the　thermometer　is　certainly　working。　　It's　falling　all　the　time。　　An　hour　ago　it　was　only　fifty…two。　　Don't　tell　me　it's　a　stampede。〃

〃It　is；〃　Breck　whispered　back　cautiously；　casting　anxious　eyes　about　in　fear　of　some　other　listener。　　〃You　know　Squaw　Creek？empties　in　on　the　other　side　the　Yukon　thirty　miles　up？〃

〃Nothing　doing　there；〃　was　Smoke's　judgment。　　〃It　was　prospected　years　ago。〃

〃So　were　all　the　other　rich　creeks。　　Listen！　　It's　big。　　Only　eight　to　twenty　feet　to　bedrock。　　There　won't　be　a　claim　that　don't　run　to　half　a　million。　　It's　a　dead　secret。　　Two　or　three　of　my　close　friends　let　me　in　on　it。　　I　told　my　wife　right　away　that　I　was　going　to　find　you　before　I　started。　　Now；　so　long。　　My　pack's　hidden　down　the　bank。　　In　fact；　when　they　told　me；　they　made　me　promise　not　to　pull　out　until　Dawson　was　asleep。　　You　know　what　it　means　if　you're　seen　with　a　stampeding　outfit。　　Get　your　partner　and　follow。　　You　ought　to　stake　fourth　or　fifth　claim　from　Discovery。　　Don't　forget　Squaw　Creek。　　It's　the　third　after　you　pass　Swede　Creek。〃



II。

When　Smoke　entered　the　little　cabin　on　the　hillside　back　of　Dawson；　he　heard　a　heavy　familiar　breathing。

〃Aw；　go　to　bed；〃　Shorty　mumbled；　as　Smoke　shook　his　shoulder。　　〃I'm　not　on　the　night　shift；〃　was　his　next　remark；　as　the　rousing　hand　became　more　vigorous。　　〃Tell　your　troubles　to　the　bar…keeper。〃

〃Kick　into　your　clothes；〃　Smoke　said。　　〃We've　got　to　stake　a　couple　of　claims。〃

Shorty　sat　up　and　started　to　explode；　but　Smoke's　hand　covered　his　mouth。

〃Ssh！〃　Smoke　warned。　　〃It's　a　big　strike。　　Don't　wake　the　neighbourhood。　　Dawson's　asleep。〃

〃Huh！　　You　got　to　show　me。　　Nobody　tells　anybody　about　a　strike；　of　course　not。　　But　ain't　it　plum　amazin'　the　way　everybody　hits　the　trail　just　the　same？〃

〃Squaw　Creek；〃　Smoke　whispered。　　〃It's　right。　　Breck　gave　me　the　tip。　　Shallow　bedrock。　　Gold　from　the　grass…roots　down。　　Come　on。　We'll　sling　a　couple　of　light　packs　together　and　pull　out。〃

Shorty's　eyes　closed　as　he　lapsed　back　into　sleep。　　The　next　moment　his　blankets　were　swept　off　him。

〃If　you　don't　want　them；　I　do；〃　Smoke　explained。

Shorty　followed　the　blankets　and　began　to　dress。

〃Goin'　to　take　the　dogs？〃　he　asked。

〃No。　　The　trail　up　the　creek　is　sure　to　be　unbroken；　and　we　can　make　better　time　without　them。〃

〃Then　I'll　throw　'em　a　meal；　which'll　have　to　last　'em　till　we　get　back。　　Be　sure　you　take　some　birch…bark　and　a　candle。〃

Shorty　opened　the　door；　felt　the　bite　of　the　cold；　and　shrank　back　to　pull　down　his　ear…flaps　and　mitten　his　hands。

Five　minutes　later　he　returned；　sharply　rubbing　his　nose。

〃Smoke；　I'm　sure　opposed　to　makin'　this　stampede。　　It's　colder　than　the　hinges　of　hell　a　thousand　years　before　the　first　fire　was　lighted。　　Besides；　it's　Friday　the　thirteenth；　an'　we're　goin'　to　trouble　as　the　sparks　fly　upward。〃

With　small　stampeding　packs　on　their　backs；　they　closed　the　door　behind　them　and　started　down　the　hill。　　The　display　of　the　aurora　borealis　had　ceased；　and　only　the　stars　leaped　in　the　great　cold；　and　by　their　uncertain　light　made　traps　for　the　feet。　　Shorty　floundered　off　a　turn　of　the　trail　into　deep　snow；　and　raised　his　voice　in　blessing　of　the　date　of　the　week　and　month　and　year。

〃Can't　you　keep　still？〃　Smoke　chided。　　〃Leave　the　almanac　alone。　You'll　have　all　Dawson　awake　and　after　us。〃

〃Huh！　　See　the　light　in　that　cabin？　　And　in　that　one　over　there？　An'　hear　that　door　slam？　　Oh；　sure　Dawson's　asleep。　　Them　lights？　Just　buryin'　their　dead。　　They　ain't　stampedin'；　betcher　life　they　ain't。〃

By　the　time　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　hill　and　were　fairly　in　Dawson；　lights　were　springing　up　in　the　cabins；　doors　were　slamming；　and　from　behind　came　the　sound　of　many　moccasins　on　the　hard…packed　snow。　　Again　Shorty　delivered　himself。

〃But　it　beats　hell　the　amount　of　mourners　there　is。〃

They　passed　a　man　who　stood　by　the　path　and　was　calling　anxiously　in　a　low　voice：　　〃Oh；　Charley；　get　a　move　on。〃

〃See　that　pack　on　his　back；　Smoke？　　The　graveyard's　sure　a　long　ways　off　when　the　mourners　got　to　pack　their　blankets。〃

By　the　time　they　reached　the　main　street　a　hundred　men　were　in　line　behind　them；　and　while　they　sought　in　the　deceptive　starlight　for　the　trail　that　dipped　down　the　bank　to　the　river；　more　men　could　be　heard　arriving。　　Shorty　slipped　and　shot　down　the　thirty…foot　chute　into　the　soft　snow。　　Smoke　followed；　knocking　him　over　as　he　was　rising　to　his　feet。

〃I　found　it　first；〃　he　gurgled；　taking　off　his　mittens　to　shake　the　snow　out　of　the　gauntlets。

The　next　moment　they　were　scrambling　wildly　out　of　the　way　of　the　hurtling　bodies　of　those　that　followed。　　At　the　time　of　the　freeze…　up；　a　jam　had　occurred　at　this　point；　and　cakes　of　ice　were　up…ended　in　snow…covered　confusion。　　After　several　hard　falls；　Smoke　drew　out　his　candle　and　lighted　it。　　Those　in　the　rear　hailed　it　with　acclaim。　　In　the　windless　air　it　burned　easily；　and　he　led　the　way　more　quickly。

〃It's　a　sure　stampede；〃　Shorty　decided。　　〃Or　might　all　them　be　sleep…walkers？〃

〃We're　at　the　head　of　the　procession　at　any　rate；〃　was　Smoke's　answer。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　Mebbe　that's　a　firefly　ahead　there。　　Mebbe　they're　all　firefliesthat　one；　an'　that　one。　　Look　at　'em。　Believe　me；　they　is　whole　strings　of　processions　ahead。〃

It　was　a　mile　across　the　jams　to　the　west　bank　of　the　Yukon；　and　candles　flickered　the　full　length　of　the　twisting　trail。　　Behind　them；　clear　to　the　top　of　the　bank　they　had　descended；　were　more　candles。

〃Say；　Smoke；　this　ain't　no　stampede。　　It's　a　exode…us。　　They　must　be　a　thousand　men　ahead　of　us　an'　ten　thousand　behind。　　Now；　you　listen　to　your　uncle。　　My　medicine's　good。　　When　I　get　a　hunch　it's　sure　right。　　An'　we're　in　wrong　on　this　stampede。　　Let's　turn　back　an'　hit　the　sleep。〃

〃You'd　better　save　your　breath　if　you　intend　to　keep　up；〃　Smoke　retorted　gruffly。

〃Huh！　　My　legs　is　short；　but　I　slog　along　slack　at　the　knees　an'　don't　worry　my　muscles　none；　an'　I　can　sure　walk　every　piker　here　off　the　ice。〃

And　Smoke　knew　he　was　right；　for　he　had　long　since　learned　his　comrade's　phenomenal　walking　powers。

〃I've　been　holding　back　to　give　you　a　chance；〃　Smoke　jeered。

〃An'　I'm　plum　troddin'　on　your　heels。　　If　you　can't　do　better；　let　me　go　ahead　and　set　pace。〃

Smoke　quickened；　and　was　soon　at　the　rear　of　the　nearest　bunch　of　stampeders。

〃Hike　along；　you；　Smoke；〃　the　other　urged。　　〃Walk　over　them　unburied　dead。　　This　ain't　no　funeral。　　Hit　the　frost　like　you　was　goin'　somewheres。〃

Smoke　counted　eight　men　and　two　women　in　this　party；　and　before　the　way　across　the　jam…ice　was　won；　he　and　Shorty　had　passed　another　party　twenty　strong。　　Within　a　few　feet　of　the　west　bank；　the　trail　swerved　to　the　south；　emerging　from　the　jam　upon　smooth　ice。　　The　ice；　however；　was　buried　under　several　feet　of　fine　snow。　　Through　this　the　sled…trail　ran；　a　narrow　ribbon　of　packed　footing　barely　two　feet　in　width。　　On　either　side　one　sank　to　his　knees　and　deeper　in　the　snow。　　The　stampeders　they　overtook　were　reluctant　to　give　way；　and　often　Smoke　and　Shorty　had　to　plunge　into　the　deep　snow；　and　by　supreme　efforts　flounder　past。

Shorty　was　irrepressible　and　pessimistic。　　When　the　stampeders　resented　being　passed；　he　retorted　in　kind。

〃What's　your　hurry？〃　one　of　them　asked。

〃What's　yours？〃　he　answered。　　〃A　stampede　come　down　from　Indian　River　yesterday　afternoon　an'　beat　you　to　it。　　They　ain't　no　claims　left。〃

〃That　being　so；　I　repeat；　what's　your　hurry？〃

〃WHO？　　Me？　　I　ain't　no　stampeder。　　I'm　workin'　for　the　government。　I'm　on　official　business。　　I'm　just　traipsin'　along　to　take　the　census　of　Squaw　Creek。〃

To　another；　who　hailed　him　with：　　〃Where　away；　little　one？　　Do　you　really　expect　to　stake　a　claim？〃　Shorty　answered：

〃Me？　　I'm　the　discoverer　of　Squaw　Creek。　　I'm　just　c