the faith of men(人们的信任)-第37章
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Bonner slept。 The blink of light that marked the day disappeared。
Amos； followed about by the woman's eyes； lighted the kerosene lamps。
Evening came on。 Through the north window the heavens were
emblazoned with an auroral display； which flamed and flared and died
down into blackness。 Some time after that； Neil Bonner roused。 First
he looked to see that Amos was still there； then smiled at Jees Uck and
pulled himself up。 Every muscle was stiff and sore； and he smiled
ruefully； pressing and prodding himself as if to ascertain the extent of the
ravage。 Then his face went stern and businesslike。
〃Jees Uck；〃 he said； 〃take a candle。 Go into the kitchen。 There is
food on the tablebiscuits and beans and bacon； also； coffee in the pot on
the stove。 Bring it here on the counter。 Also； bring tumblers and water
and whisky； which you will find on the top shelf of the locker。 Do not
forget the whisky。〃
Having swallowed a stiff glass of the whisky； he went carefully
through the medicine chest； now and again putting aside； with definite
purpose； certain bottles and vials。 Then he set to work on the food；
attempting a crude analysis。 He had not been unused to the laboratory in
his college days and was possessed of sufficient imagination to achieve
results with his limited materials。 The condition of tetanus； which had
marked his paroxysms； simplified matters； and he made but one test。 The
coffee yielded nothing； nor did the beans。 To the biscuits he devoted the
utmost care。 Amos； who knew nothing of chemistry； looked on with
steady curiosity。 But Jees Uck； who had boundless faith in the white
man's wisdom； and especially in Neil Bonner's wisdom； and who not only
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knew nothing but knew that she knew nothing watched his face rather than
his hands。
Step by step he eliminated possibilities； until he came to the final test。
He was using a thin medicine vial for a tube； and this he held between him
and the light； watching the slow precipitation of a salt through the solution
contained in the tube。 He said nothing； but he saw what he had expected
to see。 And Jees Uck； her eyes riveted on his face； saw something too；
something that made her spring like a tigress upon Amos； and with
splendid suppleness and strength bend his body back across her knee。
Her knife was out of its sheaf and uplifted； glinting in the lamplight。
Amos was snarling； but Bonner intervened ere the blade could fall。
〃That's a good girl； Jees Uck。 But never mind。 Let him go！〃
She dropped the man obediently； though with protest writ large on her
face； and his body thudded to the floor。 Bonner nudged him with his
moccasined foot。
〃Get up； Amos！〃 he commanded。 〃You've got to pack an outfit yet
to…night and hit the trail。〃
〃You don't mean to say〃 Amos blurted savagely。
〃I mean to say that you tried to kill me；〃 Neil went on in cold； even
tones。 〃I mean to say that you killed Birdsall； for all the Company
believes he killed himself。 You used strychnine in my case。 God knows
with what you fixed him。 Now I can't hang you。 You're too near dead as
it is。 But Twenty Mile is too small for the pair of us； and you've got to
mush。 It's two hundred miles to Holy Cross。 You can make it if you're
careful not to over…exert。 I'll give you grub； a sled； and three dogs。 You'll
be as safe as if you were in jail； for you can't get out of the country。 And
I'll give you one chance。 You're almost dead。 Very well。 I shall send
no word to the Company until the spring。 In the meantime； the thing for
you to do is to die。 Now MUSH！〃
〃You go to bed！〃 Jees Uck insisted； when Amos had churned away into
the night towards Holy Cross。 〃You sick man yet； Neil。〃
〃And you're a good girl； Jees Uck；〃 he answered。 〃And here's my
hand on it。 But you must go home。〃
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〃You don't like me；〃 she said simply。
He smiled； helped her on with her PARKA； and led her to the door。
〃Only too well； Jees Uck；〃 he said softly； 〃only too well。〃
After that the pall of the Arctic night fell deeper and blacker on the
land。 Neil Bonner discovered that he had failed to put proper valuation
upon even the sullen face of the murderous and death… stricken Amos。 It
became very lonely at Twenty Mile。 〃For the love of God； Prentiss； send
me a man；〃 he wrote to the agent at Fort Hamilton； three hundred miles up
river。 Six weeks later the Indian messenger brought back a reply。 It
was characteristic： 〃Hell。 Both feet frozen。 Need him myself
Prentiss。〃
To make matters worse； most of the Toyaats were in the back country
on the flanks of a caribou herd； and Jees Uck was with them。 Removing to
a distance seemed to bring her closer than ever； and Neil Bonner found
himself picturing her； day by day； in camp and on trail。 It is not good to
be alone。 Often he went out of the quiet store； bare…headed and frantic；
and shook his fist at the blink of day that came over the southern sky…line。
And on still； cold nights he left his bed and stumbled into the frost； where
he assaulted the silence at the top of his lungs； as though it were some
tangible； sentiment thing that he might arouse； or he shouted at the
sleeping dogs till they howled and howled again。 One shaggy brute he
brought into the post； playing that it was the new man sent by Prentiss。
He strove to make it sleep decently under blankets at nights and to sit at
table and eat as a man should； but the beast； mere domesticated wolf that it
was； rebelled； and sought out dark corners and snarled and bit him in the
leg； and was finally beaten and driven forth。
Then the trick of personification seized upon Neil Bonner and
mastered him。 All the forces of his environment metamorphosed into
living； breathing entities and came to live with him。 He recreated the
primitive pantheon； reared an altar to the sun and burned candle fat and
bacon grease thereon； and in the unfenced yard； by the long…legged cache；
made a frost devil； which he was wont to make faces at and mock when
the mercury oozed down into the bulb。 All this in play； of course。 He
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said it to himself that it was in play； and repeated it over and over to make
sure； unaware that madness is ever prone to express itself in make…believe
and play。
One midwinter day； Father Champreau； a Jesuit missionary； pulled into
Twenty Mile。 Bonner fell upon him and dragged him into the post； and
clung to him and wept； until the priest wept with him from sheer
