lost face(丢失的脸)-第21节
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at that instant the white brute jumped him。 The club caused it。 Their
two bodies struck the box； and it began to slide； its lower end tilting down。
It was a long oblong box； and it slid down slowly until it reached the
perpendicular； when it came down on the run。 The onlookers on that side
the circle had time to get out from under。 Flush of Gold and the Count；
on the opposite side of the circle； were facing the box； the missionary had
his back to it。 The box must have fallen ten feet straight up and down；
and it hit end on。
〃Now mind you； not one of us knew that Dave Walsh was dead。 We
thought he was on the Glendale； bound for Dawson。 The missionary had
edged off to one side； and so Flush of Gold faced the box when it struck。
It was like in a play。 It couldn't have been better planned。 It struck on
end； and on the right end； the whole front of the box came off； and out
swept Dave Walsh on his feet； partly wrapped in a blanket； his yellow hair
flying and showing bright in the sun。 Right out of the box； on his feet； he
swept upon Flush of Gold。 She didn't know he was dead； but it was
unmistakable； after hanging up two days on a timber jam； that he was
rising all right from the dead to claim her。 Possibly that is what she
thought。 At any rate； the sight froze her。 She couldn't move。 She just
sort of wilted and watched Dave Walsh coming for her！ And he got her。
It looked almost as though he threw his arms around her； but whether or
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not this happened； down to the deck they went together。 We had to drag
Dave Walsh's body clear before we could get hold of her。 She was in a
faint； but it would have been just as well if she had never come out of that
faint； for when she did； she fell to screaming the way insane people do。
She kept it up for hours； till she was exhausted。 Oh； yes； she recovered。
You saw her last night； and know how much recovered she is。 She is not
violent； it is true； but she lives in darkness。 She believes that she is
waiting for Dave Walsh； and so she waits in the cabin he built for her。
She is no longer fickle。 It is nine years now that she has been faithful to
Dave Walsh； and the outlook is that she'll be faithful to him to the end。〃
Lon McFane pulled down the top of the blankets and prepared to crawl
in。
〃We have her grub hauled to her each year；〃 he added； 〃and in general
keep an eye on her。 Last night was the first time she ever recognized me；
though。〃
〃Who are the we？〃 I asked。
〃Oh；〃 was the answer； 〃the Count and old Victor Chauvet and me。
Do you know； I think the Count is the one to be really sorry for。 Dave
Walsh never did know that she was false to him。 And she does not suffer。
Her darkness is merciful to her。〃
I lay silently under the blankets for the space of a minute。
〃Is the Count still in the country？〃 I asked。
But there was a gentle sound of heavy breathing； and I knew Lon
McFane was asleep。
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THE PASSING OF MARCUS
O'BRIEN
〃It is the judgment of this court that you vamose the camp 。 。 。 in the
customary way； sir； in the customary way。〃
Judge Marcus O'Brien was absent…minded； and Mucluc Charley
nudged him in the ribs。 Marcus O'Brien cleared his throat and went on …
〃Weighing the gravity of the offence； sir； and the extenuating
circumstances； it is the opinion of this court； and its verdict； that you be
outfitted with three days' grub。 That will do； I think。〃
Arizona Jack cast a bleak glance out over the Yukon。 It was a
swollen； chocolate flood； running a mile wide and nobody knew how deep。
The earth…bank on which he stood was ordinarily a dozen feet above the
water； but the river was now growling at the top of the bank； devouring；
instant by instant； tiny portions of the top… standing soil。 These portions
went into the gaping mouths of the endless army of brown swirls and
vanished away。 Several inches more； and Red Cow would be flooded。
〃It won't do；〃 Arizona Jack said bitterly。 〃Three days' grub ain't
enough。〃
〃There was Manchester；〃 Marcus O'Brien replied gravely。 〃He didn't
get any grub。〃
〃And they found his remains grounded on the Lower River an' half
eaten by huskies；〃 was Arizona Jack's retort。 〃And his killin' was without
provocation。 Joe Deeves never did nothin'； never warbled once； an' jes'
because his stomach was out of order； Manchester ups an' plugs him。
You ain't givin' me a square deal； O'Brien； I tell you that straight。 Give
me a week's grub； and I play even to win out。 Three days' grub； an' I
cash in。〃
〃What for did you kill Ferguson？〃 O'Brien demanded。 〃I haven't any
patience for these unprovoked killings。 And they've got to stop。 Red
Cow's none so populous。 It's a good camp； and there never used to be
any killings。 Now they're epidemic。 I'm sorry for you； Jack； but you've
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got to be made an example of。 Ferguson didn't provoke enough for a
killing。〃
〃Provoke！〃 Arizona Jack snorted。 〃I tell you； O'Brien； you don't
savve。 You ain't got no artistic sensibilities。 What for did I kill
Ferguson？ What for did Ferguson sing 'Then I wisht I was a little bird'？
That's what I want to know。 Answer me that。 What for did he sing
'little bird； little bird'？ One little bird was enough。 I could a…stood one
little bird。 But no； he must sing two little birds。 I gave 'm a chanst。 I
went to him almighty polite and requested him kindly to discard one little
bird。 I pleaded with him。 There was witnesses that testified to that。
〃An' Ferguson was no jay…throated songster；〃 some one spoke up from
the crowd。
O'Brien betrayed indecision。
〃Ain't a man got a right to his artistic feelin's？〃 Arizona Jack
demanded。 〃I gave Ferguson warnin'。 It was violatin' my own nature to
go on listening to his little birds。 Why； there's music sharps that fine…
strung an' keyed…up they'd kill for heaps less'n I did。 I'm willin' to pay for
havin' artistic feelin's。 I can take my medicine an' lick the spoon； but
three days' grub is drawin' it a shade fine； that's all； an' I hereby register
my kick。 Go on with the funeral。〃
O'Brien was still wavering。 He glanced inquiringly at Mucluc
Charley。
〃I should say； Judge； that three days' grub was a mite severe；〃 the latter
suggested； 〃but you're runnin' the show。 When we elected you judge of
this here trial court； we agreed to abide by your decisions； an' we've done
it； too； b'gosh； an' we're goin' to keep on doin' it。〃
〃Mebbe I've been a trifle harsh； Jack；〃 O'Brien said apologetically
〃I'm that worked up over those killings； an' I'm willing to make it a week's
grub。〃 He cleared his throat magisterially and looked briskly about him。
〃And now we might as well get along and finish up the business。 The
boat's ready。 You go and get the grub； Leclaire。 We'll settle for it
afterward。〃
Arizona Jack looked grateful； and； muttering something about
〃damned little birds；〃 stepped aboard the open boat that rubbed restlessly
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against the bank。 It was a large skiff； built of rough pine planks that had
been sawed by hand from the standing timber of Lake Linderman； a few
hundred miles above； at the foot of Chilcoot。 In th
