the faith of men(人们的信任)-第33章
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〃C…call 'er off； boys；〃 he panted； as he came in among them。
〃Little Sandy and Bernadotte's jes' got in；〃 he explained with returning
breath。 〃Landed down below an' come up by the short cut。 Got the
Beaver with 'm。 Picked 'm up in his canoe； stuck in a back channel； with
a couple of bullet…holes in 'm。 Other buck was Klok Kutz； the one that
knocked spots out of his squaw and dusted。〃
〃Eh？ W'at Ah say？ Eh？〃 Leclere cried exultantly。 〃Dat de one fo'
sure！ Ah know。 Ah spik true。〃
〃The thing to do is to teach these damned Siwashes a little manners；〃
spoke Webster Shaw。 〃They're getting fat and sassy； and we'll have to
bring them down a peg。 Round in all the bucks and string up the Beaver
for an object lesson。 That's the programme。 Come on and let's see what
he's got to say for himself。〃
〃Heh； M'sieu！〃 Leclere called； as the crowd began to melt away
through the twilight in the direction of Sunrise。 〃Ah lak ver' moch to see
de fon。〃
〃Oh； we'll turn you loose when we come back；〃 Webster Shaw shouted
over his shoulder。 〃In the meantime meditate on your sins and the ways
of Providence。 It will do you good； so be grateful。〃
As is the way with men who are accustomed to great hazards； whose
nerves are healthy and trained in patience； so it was with Leclere who
settled himself to the long waitwhich is to say that he reconciled his
mind to it。 There was no settling of the body； for the taut rope forced him
to stand rigidly erect。 The least relaxation of the leg muscles pressed the
rough…fibred noose into his neck； while the upright position caused him
much pain in his wounded shoulder。 He projected his under lip and
expelled his breath upwards along his face to blow the mosquitoes away
from his eyes。 But the situation had its compensation。 To be snatched
from the maw of death was well worth a little bodily suffering； only it was
unfortunate that he should miss the hanging of the Beaver。
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And so he mused； till his eyes chanced to fall upon Batard； head
between fore paws and stretched on the ground asleep。 And their Leclere
ceased to muse。 He studied the animal closely； striving to sense if the
sleep were real or feigned。 Batard's sides were heaving regularly； but
Leclere felt that the breath came and went a shade too quickly； also he felt
that there was a vigilance or alertness to every hair that belied unshackling
sleep。 He would have given his Sunrise claim to be assured that the dog
was not awake； and once； when one of his joints cracked； he looked
quickly and guiltily at Batard to see if he roused。 He did not rouse then
but a few minutes later he got up slowly and lazily； stretched； and looked
carefully about him。
〃Sacredam；〃 said Leclere under his breath。
Assured that no one was in sight or hearing； Batard sat down； curled
his upper lip almost into a smile； looked up at Leclere； and licked his
chops。
〃Ah see my feenish；〃 the man said； and laughed sardonically aloud。
Batard came nearer； the useless ear wabbling； the good ear cocked
forward with devilish comprehension。 He thrust his head on one side
quizzically； and advanced with mincing； playful steps。 He rubbed his
body gently against the box till it shook and shook again。 Leclere
teetered carefully to maintain his equilibrium。
〃Batard；〃 he said calmly； 〃look out。 Ah keel you。〃
Batard snarled at the word and shook the box with greater force。 Then
he upreared； and with his fore paws threw his weight against it higher up。
Leclere kicked out with one foot； but the rope bit into his neck and
checked so abruptly as nearly to overbalance him。
〃Hi； ya！ Chook！ Mush…on！〃 he screamed。
Batard retreated； for twenty feet or so； with a fiendish levity in his
bearing that Leclere could not mistake。 He remembered the dog often
breaking the scum of ice on the water hole by lifting up and throwing his
weight upon it； and remembering； he understood what he now had in mind。
Batard faced about and paused。 He showed his white teeth in a grin；
which Leclere answered； and then hurled his body through the air； in full
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charge； straight for the box。
Fifteen minutes later； Slackwater Charley and Webster Shaw returning；
caught a glimpse of a ghostly pendulum swinging back and forth in the
dim light。 As they hurriedly drew in closer； they made out the man's inert
body； and a live thing that clung to it； and shook and worried； and gave to
it the swaying motion。
〃Hi； ya！ Chook！ you Spawn of Hell！〃 yelled Webster Shaw。
But Batard glared at him； and snarled threateningly； without loosing
his jaws。
Slackwater Charley got out his revolver； but his hand was shaking； as
with a chill； and he fumbled。
〃Here you take it；〃 he said； passing the weapon over。
Webster Shaw laughed shortly； drew a sight between the gleaming
eyes； and pressed the trigger。 Batard's body twitched with the shock；
threshed the ground spasmodically for a moment； and went suddenly limp。
But his teeth still held fast locked。
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The Faith of Men
THE STORY OF JEES' UCK
There have been renunciations and renunciations。 But； in its essence；
renunciation is ever the same。 And the paradox of it is； that men and
women forego the dearest thing in the world for something dearer。 It was
never otherwise。 Thus it was when Abel brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of the fat thereof。 The firstlings and the fat thereof were to him
the dearest things in the world； yet he gave them over that he might be on
good terms with God。 So it was with Abraham when he prepared to offer
up his son Isaac on a stone。 Isaac was very dear to him； but God； in
incomprehensible ways； was yet dearer。 It may be that Abraham feared
the Lord。 But whether that be true or not it has since been determined by
a few billion people that he loved the Lord and desired to serve him。
And since it has been determined that love is service； and since to
renounce is to serve； then Jees Uck； who was merely a woman of a swart…
skinned breed； loved with a great love。 She was unversed in history；
having learned to read only the signs of weather and of game； so she had
never heard of Abel nor of Abraham； nor； having escaped the good sisters
at Holy Cross； had she been told the story of Ruth； the Moabitess； who
renounced her very God for the sake of a stranger woman from a strange
land。 Jees Uck had learned only one way of renouncing； and that was
with a club as the dynamic factor； in much the same manner as a dog is
made to renounce
