the faith of men(人们的信任)-第5章
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cashed him out fifty dollars in dust。
〃And now we'll drink；〃 he said； and later； at the bar； when he lowered
his glass： 〃Reminds me of a little brew I had up Tattarat way。 No； you
have no knowledge of the place； nor is it down on the charts。 But it's up
by the rim of the Arctic Sea； not so many hundred miles from the
American line； and all of half a thousand God…forsaken souls live there；
giving and taking in marriage； and starving and dying in…between…whiles。
Explorers have overlooked them； and you will not find them in the census
of 1890。 A whale… ship was pinched there once； but the men； who had
made shore over the ice； pulled out for the south and were never heard of。
〃But it was a great brew we had； Moosu and I；〃 he added a moment
later； with just the slightest suspicion of a sigh。
I knew there were big deeds and wild doings behind that sigh； so I
haled him into a corner； between a roulette outfit and a poker layout； and
waited for his tongue to thaw。
〃Had one objection to Moosu；〃 he began； cocking his head
meditatively〃one objection； and only one。 He was an Indian from over
on the edge of the Chippewyan country； but the trouble was； he'd picked
up a smattering of the Scriptures。 Been campmate a season with a
renegade French Canadian who'd studied for the church。 Moosu'd never
seen applied Christianity； and his head was crammed with miracles； battles；
and dispensations； and what not he didn't understand。 Otherwise he was
a good sort； and a handy man on trail or over a fire。
〃We'd had a hard time together and were badly knocked out when we
plumped upon Tattarat。 Lost outfits and dogs crossing a divide in a fall
blizzard； and our bellies clove to our backs and our clothes were in rags
when we crawled into the village。 They weren't much surprised at seeing
usbecause of the whalemenand gave us the meanest shack in the
village to live in； and the worst of their leavings to live on。 What struck
me at the time as strange was that they left us strictly alone。 But Moosu
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explained it。
〃'Shaman SICK TUMTUM；' he said； meaning the shaman； or medicine
man； was jealous； and had advised the people to have nothing to do with
us。 From the little he'd seen of the whalemen； he'd learned that mine was
a stronger race； and a wiser； so he'd only behaved as shamans have always
behaved the world over。 And before I get done； you'll see how near right
he was。
〃'These people have a law；' said Mosu： 'whoso eats of meat must
hunt。 We be awkward； you and I； O master； in the weapons of this
country； nor can we string bows nor fling spears after the manner
approved。 Wherefore the shaman and Tummasook； who is chief； have
put their heads together； and it has been decreed that we work with the
women and children in dragging in the meat and tending the wants of the
hunters。'
〃'And this is very wrong；' I made to answer； 'for we be better men；
Moosu； than these people who walk in darkness。 Further； we should rest
and grow strong； for the way south is long； and on that trail the weak
cannot prosper。'〃
〃'But we have nothing；' he objected； looking about him at the rotten
timbers of the igloo； the stench of the ancient walrus meat that had been
our supper disgusting his nostrils。 'And on this fare we cannot thrive。
We have nothing save the bottle of 〃pain… killer；〃 which will not fill
emptiness； so we must bend to the yoke of the unbeliever and become
hewers of wood and drawers of water。 And there be good things in this
place； the which we may not have。 Ah； master； never has my nose lied to
me； and I have followed it to secret caches and among the fur…bales of the
igloos。 Good provender did these people extort from the poor whalemen；
and this provender has wandered into few hands。 The woman Ipsukuk；
who dwelleth in the far end of the village next she igloo of the chief；
possesseth much flour and sugar； and even have my eyes told me of
molasses smeared on her face。 And in the igloo of Tummasook； the chief；
there be teahave I not seen the old pig guzzling？ And the shaman
owneth a caddy of 〃Star〃 and two buckets of prime smoking。 And what
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have we？ Nothing！ Nothing！'
〃But I was stunned by the word he brought of the tobacco； and made
no answer。
〃And Moosu； what of his own desire； broke silence： 'And there be
Tukeliketa； daughter of a big hunter and wealthy man。 A likely girl。
Indeed； a very nice girl。'
〃I figured hard during the night while Moosu snored； for I could not
bear the thought of the tobacco so near which I could not smoke。 True；
as he had said； we had nothing。 But the way became clear to me； and in
the morning I said to him： 'Go thou cunningly abroad； after thy fashion；
and procure me some sort of bone； crooked like a goose…neck； and hollow。
Also； walk humbly； but have eyes awake to the lay of pots and pans and
cooking contrivances。 And remember； mine is the white man's wisdom；
and do what I have bid you； with sureness and despatch。'
〃While he was away I placed the whale…oil cooking lamp in the middle
of the igloo； and moved the mangy sleeping furs back that I might have
room。 Then I took apart his gun and put the barrel by handy； and
afterwards braided many wicks from the cotton that the women gather
wild in the summer。 When he came back； it was with the bone I had
commanded； and with news that in the igloo of Tummasook there was a
five…gallon kerosene can and a big copper kettle。 So I said he had done
well and we would tarry through the day。 And when midnight was near I
made harangue to him。
〃'This chief； this Tummasook； hath a copper kettle； likewise a kerosene
can。' I put a rock； smooth and wave…washed； in Moosu's hand。 'The
camp is hushed and the stars are winking。 Go thou； creep into the chief's
igloo softly； and smite him thus upon the belly； and hard。 And let the
meat and good grub of the days to come put strength into thine arm。
There will be uproar and outcry； and the village will come hot afoot。 But
be thou unafraid。 Veil thy movements and lose thy form in the obscurity
of the night and the confusion of men。 And when the woman Ipsukuk is
anigh thee； she who smeareth her face with molasses；do thou smite her
likewise； and whosoever else that possesseth flour and cometh to thy hand。
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Then do thou lift thy voice in pain and double up with clasped hands； and
make outcry in token that thou； too； hast felt the visitation of the night。
And in
