the last of the plainsmen-第20节

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　and　bags；　indicated　that　the　journey　had　only　begun。　Significant；　too；　were　a　couple　of　long　Winchester　rifles　shining　on　a　tarpaulin。

The　cold…faced　crowd　stirred　and　parted　to　permit　the　passage　of　a　tall；　thin；　gray　personage　of　official　bearing；　in　a　faded　military　coat。

〃Are　you　the　musk…ox　hunter？〃　he　asked；　in　tones　that　contained　no　welcome。

The　boatman　greeted　this　peremptory　interlocutor　with　a　cool　laugha　strange　laugh；　in　which　the　muscles　of　his　face　appeared　not　to　play。

〃Yes；　I　am　the　man；〃　he　said。

〃The　chiefs　of　the　Chippewayan　and　Great　Slave　tribes　have　been　apprised　of　your　coming。　They　have　held　council　and　are　here　to　speak　with　you。〃

At　a　motion　from　the　commandant；　the　line　of　chieftains　piled　down　to　the　level　bench　and　formed　a　half…circle　before　the　voyager。　To　a　man　who　had　stood　before　grim　Sitting　Bull　and　noble　Black　Thunder　of　the　Sioux；　and　faced　the　falcon…eyed　Geronimo；　and　glanced　over　the　sights　of　a　rifle　at　gorgeous…feathered；　wild；　free　Comanches；　this　semi…circle　of　savageslords　of　the　northwas　a　sorry　comparison。　Bedaubed　and　betrinketed；　slouchy　and　slovenly；　these　low…statured　chiefs　belied　in　appearance　their　scorn…bright　eyes　and　lofty　mien。　They　made　a　sad　group。

One　who　spoke　in　unintelligible　language；　rolled　out　a　haughty；　sonorous　voice　over　the　listening　multitude。　When　he　had　finished；　a　half…breed　interpreter；　in　the　dress　of　a　white　man；　spoke　at　a　signal　from　the　commandant。

〃He　says　listen　to　the　great　orator　of　the　Chippewayan。　He　has　summoned　all　the　chiefs　of　the　tribes　south　of　Great　Slave　Lake。　He　has　held　council。　The　cunning　of　the　pale…face；　who　comes　to　take　the　musk…oxen；　is　well　known。　Let　the　pale…face　hunter　return　to　his　own　hunting…grounds；　let　him　turn　his　face　from　the　north。　Never　will　the　chiefs　permit　the　white　man　to　take　musk…oxen　alive　from　their　country。　The　Ageter；　the　Musk…ox；　is　their　god。　He　gives　them　food　and　fur。　He　will　never　come　back　if　he　is　taken　away；　and　the　reindeer　will　follow　him。　The　chiefs　and　their　people　would　starve。　They　command　the　pale…face　hunter　to　go　back。　They　cry　Naza！　Naza！　Naza！〃

〃Say；　for　a　thousand　miles　I've　heard　that　word　Naza！〃　returned　the　hunter；　with　mingled　curiosity　and　disgust。　〃At　Edmonton　Indian　runners　started　ahead　of　me；　and　every　village　I　struck　the　redskins　would　crowd　round　me　and　an　old　chief　would　harangue　at　me；　and　motion　me　back；　and　point　north　with　Naza！　Naza！　Naza！　What　does　it　mean？〃

〃No　white　man　knows；　no　Indian　will　tell；〃　answered　the　interpreter。　〃The　traders　think　it　means　the　Great　Slave；　the　North　Star；　the　North　Spirit；　the　North　Wind；　the　North　Lights　and　the　musk…ox　god。〃

〃Well；　say　to　the　chiefs　to　tell　Ageter　I　have　been　four　moons　on　the　way　after　some　of　his　little　Ageters；　and　I'm　going　to　keep　on　after　them。〃

〃Hunter；　you　are　most　unwise；〃　broke　in　the　commandant；　in　his　officious　voice。　〃The　Indians　will　never　permit　you　to　take　a　musk…ox　alive　from　the　north。　They　worship　him；　pray　to　him。　It　is　a　wonder　you　have　not　been　stopped。〃

〃Who'll　stop　me？〃

〃The　Indians。　They　will　kill　you　if　you　do　not　turn　back。〃

〃Faugh！　to　tell　an　American　plainsman　that！〃　The　hunter　paused　a　steady　moment；　with　his　eyelids　narrowing　over　slits　of　blue　fire。　〃There　is　no　law　to　keep　me　out；　nothing　but　Indian　superstition　and　Naza！　And　the　greed　of　the　Hudson's　Bay　people。　I　am　an　old　fox；　not　to　be　fooled　by　pretty　baits。　For　years　the　officers　of　this　fur…trading　company　have　tried　to　keep　out　explorers。　Even　Sir　John　Franklin；　an　Englishman；　could　not　buy　food　of　them。　The　policy　of　the　company　is　to　side　with　the　Indians；　to　keep　out　traders　and　trappers。　Why？　So　they　can　keep　on　cheating　the　poor　savages　out　of　clothing　and　food　by　trading　a　few　trinkets　and　blankets；　a　little　tobacco　and　rum　for　millions　of　dollars　worth　of　furs。　Have　I　failed　to　hire　man　after　man；　Indian　after　Indian；　not　to　know　why　I　cannot　get　a　helper？　Have　I；　a　plainsman；　come　a　thousand　miles　alone　to　be　scared　by　you；　or　a　lot　of　craven　Indians？　Have　I　been　dreaming　of　musk…oxen　for　forty　years；　to　slink　south　now；　when　I　begin　to　feel　the　north？　Not　I。〃

Deliberately　every　chief；　with　the　sound　of　a　hissing　snake；　spat　in　the　hunter's　face。　He　stood　immovable　while　they　perpetrated　the　outrage；　then　calmly　wiped　his　cheeks；　and　in　his　strange；　cool　voice；　addressed　the　interpreter。

〃Tell　them　thus　they　show　their　true　qualities；　to　insult　in　council。　Tell　them　they　are　not　chiefs；　but　dogs。　Tell　them　they　are　not　even　squaws；　only　poor；　miserable　starved　dogs。　Tell　them　I　turn　my　back　on　them。　Tell　them　the　paleface　has　fought　real　chiefs；　fierce；　bold；　like　eagles；　and　he　turns　his　back　on　dogs。　Tell　them　he　is　the　one　who　could　teach　them　to　raise　the　musk…oxen　and　the　reindeer；　and　to　keep　out　the　cold　and　the　wolf。　But　they　are　blinded。　Tell　them　the　hunter　goes　north。〃

Through　the　council　of　chiefs　ran　a　low　mutter；　as　of　gathering　thunder。

True　to　his　word；　the　hunter　turned　his　back　on　them。　As　he　brushed　by；　his　eye　caught　a　gaunt　savage　slipping　from　the　boat。　At　the　hunter's　stern　call；　the　Indian　leaped　ashore；　and　started　to　run。　He　had　stolen　a　parcel；　and　would　have　succeeded　in　eluding　its　owner　but　for　an　unforeseen　obstacle；　as　striking　as　it　was　unexpected。

A　white　man　of　colossal　stature　had　stepped　in　the　thief's　passage；　and　laid　two　great　hands　on　him。　Instantly　the　parcel　flew　from　the　Indian；　and　he　spun　in　the　air　to　fall　into　the　river　with　a　sounding　splash。　Yells　signaled　the　surprise　and　alarm　caused　by　this　unexpected　incident。　The　Indian　frantically　swam　to　the　shore。　Whereupon　the　champion　of　the　stranger　in　a　strange　land　lifted　a　bag；　which　gave　forth　a　musical　clink　of　steel；　and　throwing　it　with　the　camp　articles　on　the　grassy　bench；　he　extended　a　huge；　friendly　hand。

〃My　name　is　Rea；〃　he　said；　in　deep；　cavernous　tones。

〃Mine　is　Jones；〃　replied　the　hunter；　and　right　quickly　did　he　grip　the　proffered　hand。　He　saw　in　Rea　a　giant；　of　whom　he　was　but　a　stunted　shadow。　Six　and　one…half　feet　Rea　stood；　with　yard…wide　shoulders；　a　hulk　of　bone　and　brawn。　His　ponderous；　shaggy　head　rested　on　a　bull　neck。　His　broad　face；　with　its　low　forehead；　its　close…shut　mastiff　under　jaw；　its　big；　opaque　eyes；　pale　and　cruel　as　those　of　a　jaguar；　marked　him　a　man　of　terrible　brute　force。

〃Free…trader！〃　called　the　commandant　〃Better　think　twice　before　you　join　fortunes　with　the　musk…ox　hunter。〃

〃To　hell　with　you　an'　your　rantin'；　dog…eared　redskins！〃　cried　Rea。　〃I've　run　agin　a　man　of　my　own　kind；　a　man　of　my　own　country；　an'　I'm　goin'　with　him。〃

With　this　he　thrust　aside　some　encroaching；　gaping　Indians　so　unconcernedly　and　ungently　that　they　sprawled　upon　the　grass。

Slowly　the　crowd　mounted　and　once　more　lined　the　bank。

Jones　realized　that　by　some　late…turning　stroke　of　fortune；　he　had　fallen　in　with　one　of　the　few　free…traders　of　the　province。　These　free…traders；　from　the　very　nature　of　their　calling；　which　was　to　defy　the　fur　company；　and　to　trap　and　trade　on　their　own　accountwere　a　hardy　and　intrepid　class　of　men。　Rea's　worth　to　Jones　exceeded　that　of　a　dozen　ordinary　men。　He　knew　the　ways　of　the　north；　the　language　of　the　tribes；　the　habits　of　animals；　the　handling　of　dogs；　the　uses　of　food　and　fuel。　Moreover；　it　soon　appeared　that　he　was　a　carpenter　and　blacksmith。

〃There's　my　kit；〃　he　said；　dumping　the　contents　of　his　bag。　It　consisted　of　a　bunch　of　steel　traps；　some　tools；　a　broken　ax；　a　box　of　miscellaneous　things　such　as　trappers　used；　and　a　few　articles　of　flannel。　〃Thievin'　redskins；〃　he　added；　in　explanation　of　his　poverty。　〃Not　much　of　an　outfit。　But　I'm　the　man　for　you。　Besides；　I　had　a　pal　onct　who　knew　you　on　the　plains；　called　you　'Buff'　Jones。　Old　Jim　Bent　he　was。〃

〃I　recollect　Jim；〃　said　Jones。　〃He　went　down　in　Custer's　last　charge。　So　you　were　Jim's　pal。　That'd　be　a　recommendation　if　you　needed　one。　But　the　way　you　chucked　the　Indian　overboard　got　me。〃

Rea　soon　manifested　himself　as　a　man　of　few　words　and　much　action。　With　the　planks　Jones　had　on　board　he　heightened　the　stern　and　bow　of　the　boat　to　keep　out　the　beating　waves　in　the　rapids；　he　fashioned　a　steering…gear　and　a　less　awkward　set　of　oars；　and　shifted　the　cargo　so　as　to　make　more　room　in　the　craft。

〃Buff；　we're　in　for　a　storm。　Set　up　a　tarpaulin　an'　make　a　fire。　We'll　pretend　to　camp　to…night。　These　Indians　won't　dream　we'd　try　to　run　the　river　after　dark；　and　we'll　slip　by　under　cover。〃

The　sun　glazed　over；　clouds　moved　up　from　the　north；　a　cold　wind　swept　the　tips　of　the　spruces；　and　rain　commenced　to　drive　in　gusts。　By　the　time　it　was　dark　not　an　Indian　showed　himself。　They　were　housed　from　the　storm。　Lights　twinkled　in　the　teepees　and　the　big　log　cabins　of　the　trading　company。　Jones　scouted　round　till　pitchy　black　night；　when　a　freezing；　pouring　blast　sent　him　back　to　the　protection　of　the　tarpaulin。　When　he　got　there　he　found　that　Rea　had　taken　it　down　and　awaited　him。　〃Off！〃　said　the　free…trader；　and　with　no　more　noise　than　a　drifting　feather　the　boat　swung　into　the　current　and　glided　down　till　the　twinkling　fires　no　longer　accentuated　the　darkness。

By　night　the　river；　in　common　with　all　swift　rivers；　had　a　sullen　voice；