TALESOFTHEKLONDYKE

THEGODOFHISFATHERS

Contents：

TheGodofHisFathersTheGreatInterrogationWhichMakeMenRememberSiwashTheManwiththeGashJan，theUnrepentantGritofWomenWheretheTrailForksADaughteroftheAuroraAttheRainbow’sEndTheScornofWomenTHEGODOFHISFATHERS

Oneveryhandstretchedtheforestprimeval，——thehomeofnoisycomedyandsilenttragedy。Herethestruggleforsurvivalcontinuedtowagewithallitsancientbrutality。BritonandRussianwerestilltooverlapintheLandoftheRainbow’sEnd——

andthiswastheveryheartofit——norhadYankeegoldyetpurchaseditsvastdomain。Thewolf—packstillclungtotheflankofthecariboo—herd，singlingouttheweakandthebigwithcalf，andpullingthemdownasremorselesslyaswereitathousand，thousandgenerationsintothepast。Thesparseaboriginesstillacknowledgedtheruleoftheirchiefsandmedicinemen，droveoutbadspirits，burnedtheirwitches，foughttheirneighbors，andatetheirenemieswitharelishwhichspokewelloftheirbellies。

Butitwasatthemomentwhenthestoneagewasdrawingtoaclose。Already，overunknowntrailsandchartlesswildernesses，weretheharbingersofthesteelarriving，——fair—faced，blue—eyed，indomitablemen，incarnationsoftheunrestoftheirrace。Byaccidentordesign，single—handedandintwosandthrees，theycamefromnooneknewwhither，andfought，ordied，orpassedon，nooneknewwhence。Thepriestsragedagainstthem，thechiefscalledforththeirfightingmen，andstoneclashedwithsteel;buttolittlepurpose。Likewaterseepingfromsomemightyreservoir，theytrickledthroughthedarkforestsandmountainpasses，threadingthehighwaysinbarkcanoes，orwiththeirmoccasinedfeetbreakingtrailforthewolf—dogs。Theycameofagreatbreed，andtheirmothersweremany;butthefur—claddenizensoftheNorthlandhadthisyettolearn。Somanyanunsungwandererfoughthislastanddiedunderthecoldfireoftheaurora，asdidhisbrothersinburningsandsandreekingjungles，andastheyshallcontinuetodotillinthefulnessoftimethedestinyoftheirracebeachieved。

Itwasneartwelve。Alongthenorthernhorizonarosyglow，fadingtothewestanddeepeningtotheeast，markedtheunseendipofthemidnightsun。Thegloamingandthedawnweresocommingledthattherewasnonight，——simplyaweddingofdaywithday，ascarcelyperceptibleblendingoftwocirclesofthesun。A

kildeetimidlychirpedgood—night;thefull，richthroatofarobinproclaimedgood—morrow。FromanislandonthebreastoftheYukonacolonyofwildfowlvoiceditsinterminablewrongs，whilealoonlaughedmockinglybackacrossastillstretchofriver。

Intheforeground，againstthebankofalazyeddy，birch—barkcanoeswerelinedtwoandthreedeep。Ivory—bladedspears，bone—

barbedarrows，buckskin—thongedbows，andsimplebasket—woventrapsbespokethefactthatinthemuddycurrentoftheriverthesalmon—runwason。Inthebackground，fromthetangleofskintentsanddryingframes，rosethevoicesofthefisherfolk。

Bucksskylarkedwithbucksorflirtedwiththemaidens，whiletheoldersquaws，shutoutfromthisbyvirtueofhavingfulfilledtheendoftheirexistenceinreproduction，gossipedastheybraidedropefromthegreenrootsoftrailingvines。Attheirfeettheirnakedprogenyplayedandsquabbled，orrolledinthemuckwiththetawnywolf—dogs。

Toonesideoftheencampment，andconspicuouslyapartfromit，stoodasecondcampoftwotents。Butitwasawhiteman’scamp。

Ifnothingelse，thechoiceofpositionatleastboreconvincingevidenceofthis。Incaseofoffence，itcommandedtheIndianquartersahundredyardsaway;ofdefence，arisetothegroundandtheclearedinterveningspace;andlast，ofdefeat，theswiftslopeofascoreofyardstothecanoesbelow。Fromoneofthetentscamethepetulantcryofasickchildandthecrooningsongofamother。Intheopen，overthesmoulderingembersofafire，twomenheldtalk。

"Eh？Ilovethechurchlikeagoodson。Bien！Sogreatalovethatmydayshavebeenspentinfleeingawayfromher，andmynightsindreamingdreamsofreckoning。Lookyou！"Thehalf—

breed’svoicerosetoanangrysnarl。"IamRedRiverborn。Myfatherwaswhite——aswhiteasyou。ButyouareYankee，andhewasBritishbred，andagentleman’sson。Andmymotherwasthedaughterofachief，andIwasaman。Ay，andonehadtolookthesecondtimetoseewhatmannerofbloodraninmyveins;forI

livedwiththewhites，andwasoneofthem，andmyfather’sheartbeatinme。Ithappenedtherewasamaiden——white——wholookedonmewithkindeyes。Herfatherhadmuchlandandmanyhorses;alsohewasabigmanamonghispeople，andhisbloodwasthebloodoftheFrench。Hesaidthegirlknewnotherownmind，andtalkedovermuchwithher，andbecamewroththatsuchthingsshouldbe。

"Butsheknewhermind，forwecamequickbeforethepriest。Andquickerhadcomeherfather，withlyingwords，falsepromises，I

knownotwhat;sothattheprieststiffenedhisneckandwouldnotmakeusthatwemightliveonewiththeother。Asatthebeginningitwasthechurchwhichwouldnotblessmybirth，sonowitwasthechurchwhichrefusedmemarriageandputthebloodofmenuponmyhands。Bien！ThushaveIcausetolovethechurch。

SoIstruckthepriestonhiswoman’smouth，andwetookswifthorses，thegirlandI，toFortPierre，wherewasaministerofgoodheart。Buthotonourtrailwasherfather，andbrothers，andothermenhehadgatheredtohim。Andwefought，ourhorsesontherun，tillIemptiedthreesaddlesandtherestdrewoffandwentontoFortPierre。Thenwetookeast，thegirlandI，tothehillsandforests，andwelivedonewiththeother，andwewerenotmarried，——theworkofthegoodchurchwhichIlovelikeason。

"Butmarkyou，forthisisthestrangenessofwoman，thewayofwhichnomanmayunderstand。OneofthesaddlesIemptiedwasthatofherfather’s，andthehoofsofthosewhocamebehindhadpoundedhimintotheearth。Thiswesaw，thegirlandI，andthisIhadforgothadshenotremembered。Andinthequietoftheevening，aftertheday’shuntweredone，itcamebetweenus，andinthesilenceofthenightwhenwelaybeneaththestarsandshouldhavebeenone。Itwastherealways。Sheneverspoke，butitsatbyourfireandhelduseverapart。Shetriedtoputitaside，butatsuchtimesitwouldriseuptillIcouldreaditinthelookofhereyes，intheveryin—takeofherbreath。

"Sointheendsheboremeachild，awoman—child，anddied。ThenIwentamongmymother’speople，thatitmightnurseatawarmbreastandlive。Butmyhandswerewetwiththebloodofmen，lookyou，becauseofthechurch，wetwiththebloodofmen。AndtheRidersoftheNorthcameforme，butmymother’sbrother，whowasthenchiefinhisownright，hidmeandgavemehorsesandfood。Andwewentaway，mywoman—childandI，eventotheHudsonBayCountry，wherewhitemenwerefewandthequestionstheyaskednotmany。AndIworkedforthecompanyahunter，asaguide，asadriverofdogs，tillmywoman—childwasbecomeawoman，tall，andslender，andfairtotheeye。

"Youknowthewinter，longandlonely，breedingevilthoughtsandbaddeeds。TheChiefFactorwasahardman，andbold。Andhewasnotsuchthatawomanwoulddelightinlookingupon。Buthecasteyesuponmywoman—childwhowasbecomeawoman。MotherofGod！

hesentmeawayonalongtripwiththedogs，thathemight——youunderstand，hewasahardmanandwithoutheart。Shewasmostwhite，andhersoulwaswhite，andagoodwoman，and——well，shedied。

"Itwasbittercoldthenightofmyreturn，andIhadbeenawaymonths，andthedogswerelimpingsorewhenIcametothefort。

TheIndiansandbreedslookedonmeinsilence，andIfeltthefearofIknewnotwhat，butIsaidnothingtillthedogswerefedandIhadeatenasamanwithworkbeforehimshould。ThenI

spokeup，demandingtheword，andtheyshrankfromme，afraidofmyangerandwhatIshoulddo;butthestorycameout，thepitifulstory，wordforwordandactforact，andtheymarvelledthatI

shouldbesoquiet。

"WhentheyhaddoneIwenttotheFactor’shouse，calmerthannowinthetellingofit。Hehadbeenafraidandcalleduponthebreedstohelphim;buttheywerenotpleasedwiththedeed，andhadlefthimtolieonthebedhehadmade。Sohehadfledtothehouseofthepriest。ThitherIfollowed。ButwhenIwascometothatplace，theprieststoodinmyway，andspokesoftwords，andsaidamaninangershouldgoneithertotherightnorleft，butstraighttoGod。Iaskedbytherightofafather’swraththathegivemepast，buthesaidonlyoverhisbody，andbesoughtwithmetopray。Lookyou，itwasthechurch，alwaysthechurch;forI

passedoverhisbodyandsenttheFactortomeetmywoman—childbeforehisgod，whichisabadgod，andthegodofthewhitemen。

Thenwastherehueandcry，forwordwassenttothestationbelow，andIcameaway。ThroughtheLandoftheGreatSlave，downtheValleyoftheMackenzietothenever—openingice，overtheWhiteRockies，pasttheGreatCurveoftheYukon，eventothisplacedidIcome。Andfromthatdaytothis，yoursisthefirstfaceofmyfather’speopleIhavelookedupon。Mayitbethelast！Thesepeople，whicharemypeople，areasimplefolk，andI

havebeenraisedtohonoramongthem。Mywordistheirlaw，andtheirpriestsbutdomybidding，elsewouldInotsufferthem。

WhenIspeakforthemIspeakformyself。Weasktobeletalone。

Wedonotwantyourkind。Ifwepermityoutositbyourfires，afteryouwillcomeyourchurch，yourpriests，andyourgods。Andknowthis，foreachwhitemanwhocomestomyvillage，himwillI

makedenyhisgod。Youarethefirst，andIgiveyougrace。Soitwerewellyougo，andgoquickly。"

"Iamnotresponsibleformybrothers，"thesecondmanspokeup，fillinghispipeinameditativemanner。HayStockardwasattimesasthoughtfulofspeechashewaswantonofaction;butonlyattimes。

"ButIknowyourbreed，"respondedtheother。"Yourbrothersaremany，anditisyouandyourswhobreakthetrailforthemtofollow。Intimetheyshallcometopossesstheland，butnotinmytime。Already，haveIheard，aretheyonthehead—reachesoftheGreatRiver，andfarawaybelowaretheRussians。"

HayStockardliftedhisheadwithaquickstart。Thiswasstartlinggeographicalinformation。TheHudsonBaypostatFortYukonhadothernotionsconcerningthecourseoftheriver，believingittoflowintotheArctic。

"ThentheYukonemptiesintoBeringSea？"heasked。

"Idonotknow，butbelowthereareRussians，manyRussians。

Whichisneitherherenorthere。Youmaygoonandseeforyourself;youmaygobacktoyourbrothers;butuptheKoyukukyoushallnotgowhilethepriestsandfightingmendomybidding。

ThusdoIcommand，I，BaptistetheRed，whosewordislawandwhoamheadmanoverthispeople。"

"AndshouldInotgodowntotheRussians，orbacktomybrothers？"

"Thenshallyougoswift—footedbeforeyourgod，whichisabadgod，andthegodofthewhitemen。"

Theredsunshotupabovethenorthernskyline，drippingandbloody。BaptistetheRedcametohisfeet，noddedcurtly，andwentbacktohiscampamidthecrimsonshadowsandthesingingoftherobins。

HayStockardfinishedhispipebythefire，picturinginsmokeandcoaltheunknownupperreachesoftheKoyukuk，thestrangestreamwhichendedhereitsarctictravelsandmergeditswaterswiththemuddyYukonflood。Somewhereupthere，ifthedyingwordsofaship—wreckedsailormanwhohadmadethefearfuloverlandjourneyweretobebelieved，andifthevialofgoldengrainsinhispouchattestedanything，——somewhereupthere，inthathomeofwinter，stoodtheTreasureHouseoftheNorth。Andaskeeperofthegate，BaptistetheRed，Englishhalf—breedandrenegade，barredtheway。

"Bah！"Hekickedtheembersapartandrosetohisfullheight，armslazilyoutstretched，facingtheflushingnorthwithcarelesssoul。

II

HayStockardswore，harshly，intheruggedmonosyllablesofhismothertongue。Hiswifeliftedhergazefromthepotsandpans，andfollowedhisinakeenscrutinyoftheriver。ShewasawomanoftheTeslinCountry，wiseinthewaysofherhusband’svernacularwhenitgrewintensive。Fromtheslippingofasnow—

shoethongtotheforefrontofsuddendeath，shecouldgaugeoccasionbythepitchandvolumeofhisblasphemy。Sosheknewthepresentoccasionmeritedattention。Alongcanoe，withpaddlesflashingbacktheraysofthewesteringsun，wascrossingthecurrentfromaboveandurginginfortheeddy。HayStockardwatcheditintently。Threemenroseanddipped，roseanddipped，inrhythmicalprecision;butaredbandanna，wrappedabouttheheadofone，caughtandheldhiseye。

"Bill！"hecalled。"Oh，Bill！"

Ashambling，loose—jointedgiantrolledoutofoneofthetents，yawningandrubbingthesleepfromhiseyes。Thenhesightedthestrangecanoeandwaswideawakeontheinstant。

"BythejumpingMethuselah！Thatdamnedsky—pilot！"

HayStockardnoddedhisheadbitterly，half—reachedforhisrifle，thenshruggedhisshoulders。

"Pot—shothim，"Billsuggested，"andsettlethethingoutofhand。

He’llspoilussureifwedon’t。"Buttheotherdeclinedthisdrasticmeasureandturnedaway，atthesametimebiddingthewomanreturntoherwork，andcallingBillbackfromthebank。

ThetwoIndiansinthecanoemooreditontheedgeoftheeddy，whileitswhiteoccupant，conspicuousbyhisgorgeoushead—gear，cameupthebank。

"LikePaulofTarsus，Igiveyougreeting。PeacebeuntoyouandgracebeforetheLord。"

Hisadvancesweremetsullenly，andwithoutspeech。

"Toyou，HayStockard，blasphemerandPhilistine，greeting。InyourheartisthelustofMammon，inyourmindcunningdevils，inyourtentthiswomanwhomyoulivewithinadultery;yetofthesediverssins，evenhereinthewilderness，I，SturgesOwen，apostletotheLord，bidyoutorepentandcastfromyouyouriniquities。"

"Saveyourcant！Saveyourcant！"HayStockardbrokeintestily。

"You’llneedallyou’vegot，andmore，forRedBaptisteoveryonder。"

HewavedhishandtowardtheIndiancamp，wherethehalf—breedwaslookingsteadilyacross，strivingtomakeoutthenewcomers。

SturgesOwen，disseminatoroflightandapostletotheLord，steppedtotheedgeofthesteepandcommandedhismentobringupthecampoutfit。Stockardfollowedhim。

"Lookhere，"hedemanded，pluckingthemissionarybytheshoulderandtwirlinghimabout。"Doyouvalueyourhide？"

"MylifeisintheLord’skeeping，andIdobutworkinHisvineyard，"herepliedsolemnly。

"Oh，stowthat！Areyoulookingforajobofmartyrship？"

"IfHesowills。"

"Well，you’llfinditrighthere，butI’mgoingtogiveyousomeadvicefirst。Takeitorleaveit。Ifyoustophere，you’llbecutoffinthemidstofyourlabors。Andnotyoualone，butyourmen，Bill，mywife——"

"WhoisadaughterofBelialandhearkenethnottothetrueGospel。"

"Andmyself。Notonlydoyoubringtroubleuponyourself，butuponus。Iwasfrozeninwithyoulastwinter，asyouwillwellrecollect，andIknowyouforagoodmanandafool。Ifyouthinkityourdutytostrivewiththeheathen，wellandgood;but，doexercisesomewitinthewayyougoaboutit。Thisman，RedBaptiste，isnoIndian。Hecomesofourcommonstock，isasbull—

neckedasIeverdaredbe，andaswildafanatictheonewayasyouaretheother。Whenyoutwocometogether，hell’llbetopay，andIdon’tcaretobemixedupinit。Understand？Sotakemyadviceandgoaway。Ifyougodown—stream，you’llfallinwiththeRussians。There’sboundtobeGreekpriestsamongthem，andthey’llseeyousafethroughtoBeringSea，——that’swheretheYukonempties，——andfromthereitwon’tbehardtogetbacktocivilization。TakemywordforitandgetoutofhereasfastasGod’llletyou。"

"HewhocarriestheLordinhisheartandtheGospelinhishandhathnofearofthemachinationsofmanordevil，"themissionaryansweredstoutly。"Iwillseethismanandwrestlewithhim。Onebacksliderreturnedtothefoldisagreatervictorythanathousandheathen。Hewhoisstrongforevilcanbeasmightyforgood，witnessSaulwhenhejourneyeduptoDamascustobringChristiancaptivestoJerusalem。AndthevoiceoftheSaviourcametohim，crying，’Saul，Saul，whypersecutestthoume？’AndtherewithPaularrayedhimselfonthesideoftheLord，andthereafterwasmostmightyinthesavingofsouls。Andevenasthou，PaulofTarsus，evensodoIworkinthevineyardoftheLord，bearingtrialsandtribulations，scoffsandsneers，stripesandpunishments，forHisdearsake。"

"Bringupthelittlebagwiththeteaandakettleofwater，"hecalledthenextinstanttohisboatmen;"notforgettingthehaunchofcaribooandthemixing—pan。"

Whenhismen，convertsbyhisownhand，hadgainedthebank，thetriofelltotheirknees，handsandbacksburdenedwithcampequipage，andofferedupthanksfortheirpassagethroughthewildernessandtheirsafearrival。HayStockardlookeduponthefunctionwithsneeringdisapproval，theromanceandsolemnityofitlosttohismatter—of—factsoul。BaptistetheRed，stillgazingacross，recognizedthefamiliarpostures，andrememberedthegirlwhohadsharedhisstar—roofedcouchinthehillsandforests，andthewoman—childwholaysomewherebybleakHudson’sBay。

III

"Confoundit，Baptiste，couldn’tthinkofit。Notforamoment。

Grantthatthismanisafoolandofsmalluseinthenatureofthings，butstill，youknow，Ican’tgivehimup。"

HayStockardpaused，strivingtoputintospeechtherudeethicsofhisheart。

"He’sworriedme，Baptiste，inthepastandnow，andcausedmeallmanneroftroubles;butcan’tyousee，he’smyownbreed——white——

and——and——why，Icouldn’tbuymylifewithhis，notifhewasanigger。"

"Sobeit，"BaptistetheRedmadeanswer。"Ihavegivenyougraceandchoice。Ishallcomepresently，withmypriestsandfightingmen，andeithershallIkillyou，oryoudenyyourgod。Giveupthepriesttomypleasure，andyoushalldepartinpeace。

Otherwiseyourtrailendshere。Mypeopleareagainstyoutothebabies。Evennowhavethechildrenstolenawayyourcanoes。"Hepointeddowntotheriver。Nakedboyshadslippeddownthewaterfromthepointabove，castloosethecanoes，andbythenhadworkedthemintothecurrent。Whentheyhaddriftedoutofrifle—

shottheyclamberedoverthesidesandpaddledashore。

"Givemethepriest，andyoumayhavethembackagain。Come！

Speakyourmind，butwithouthaste。"

Stockardshookhishead。HisglancedroppedtothewomanoftheTeslinCountrywithhisboyatherbreast，andhewouldhavewaveredhadhenotliftedhiseyestothemenbeforehim。

"Iamnotafraid，"SturgesOwenspokeup。"TheLordbearsmeinhisrighthand，andaloneamIreadytogointothecampoftheunbeliever。Itisnottoolate。Faithmaymovemountains。EvenintheeleventhhourmayIwinhissoultothetruerighteousness。"

"Tripthebeggarupandmakehimfast，"Billwhisperedhoarselyintheearofhisleader，whilethemissionarykeptthefloorandwrestledwiththeheathen。"Makehimhostage，andborehimiftheygetugly。"

"No，"Stockardanswered。"Igavehimmywordthathecouldspeakwithusunmolested。Rulesofwarfare，Bill;rulesofwarfare。

He’sbeenonthesquare，givenuswarning，andallthat，and——why，damnit，man，Ican’tbreakmyword！"

"He’llkeephis，neverfear。"

"Don’tdoubtit，butIwon’tletahalf—breedoutdomeinfairdealing。Whynotdowhathewants，——givehimthemissionaryandbedonewithit？"

"N—no，"Billhesitateddoubtfully。

"Shoepinches，eh？"

Billflushedalittleanddroppedthediscussion。BaptistetheRedwasstillwaitingthefinaldecision。Stockardwentuptohim。

"It’sthisway，Baptiste。IcametoyourvillagemindedtogouptheKoyukuk。Iintendednowrong。Myheartwascleanofevil。

Itisstillclean。Alongcomesthispriest，asyoucallhim。I

didn’tbringhimhere。He’dhavecomewhetherIwashereornot。

Butnowthatheishere，beingofmypeople，I’vegottostandbyhim。AndI’mgoingto。Further，itwillbenochild’splay。

Whenyouhavedone，yourvillagewillbesilentandempty，yourpeoplewastedasafterafamine。True，wewillhegone;likewisethepickofyourfightingmen——"

"Butthosewhoremainshallbeinpeace，norshallthewordofstrangegodsandthetonguesofstrangepriestsbebuzzingintheirears。"

Bothmenshruggedtheirshoulderandturnedaway，thehalf—breedgoingbacktohisowncamp。Themissionarycalledhistwomentohim，andtheyfellintoprayer。StockardandBillattackedthefewstandingpineswiththeiraxes，fellingthemintoconvenientbreastworks。Thechildhadfallenasleep，sothewomanplaceditonaheapoffursandlentahandinfortifyingthecamp。Threesideswerethusdefended，thesteepdeclivityattherearprecludingattackfromthatdirection。Whenthesearrangementshadbeencompleted，thetwomenstalkedintotheopen，clearingaway，hereandthere，thescatteredunderbrush。Fromtheopposingcampcametheboomingofwar—drumsandthevoicesofthepriestsstirringthepeopletoanger。

"Worstofitisthey’llcomeinrushes，"Billcomplainedastheywalkedbackwithshoulderedaxes。

"Andwaittillmidnight，whenthelightgetsdimforshooting。"

"Can’tstarttheballa—rollingtooearly，then。"Billexchangedtheaxeforarifle，andtookacarefulrest。Oneofthemedicine—men，toweringabovehistribesmen，stoodoutdistinctly。

Billdrewabeadonhim。

"Allready？"heasked。

Stockardopenedtheammunitionbox，placedthewomanwhereshecouldreloadinsafety，andgavetheword。Themedicine—mandropped。Foramomenttherewassilence，thenawildhowlwentupandaflightofbonearrowsfellshort。

"I’dliketotakealookatthebeggar，"Billremarked，throwingafreshshellintoplace。"I’llswearIdrilledhimcleanbetweentheeyes。"

"Didn’twork。"Stockardshookhisheadgloomily。Baptistehadevidentlyquelledthemorewarlikeofhisfollowers，andinsteadofprecipitatinganattackinthebrightlightofday，theshothadcausedahastyexodus，theIndiansdrawingoutofthevillagebeyondthezoneoffire。

Inthefulltideofhisproselytingfervor，bornealongbythehandofGod，SturgesOwenwouldhaveventuredaloneintothecampoftheunbeliever，equallypreparedformiracleormartyrdom;butinthewaitingwhichensued，thefeverofconvictiondiedawaygradually，asthenaturalmanasserteditself。Physicalfearreplacedspiritualhope;theloveoflife，theloveofGod。Itwasnonewexperience。Hecouldfeelhisweaknesscomingon，andknewitofoldtime。Hehadstruggledagainstitandbeenovercomebyitbefore。Herememberedwhentheothermenhaddriventheirpaddleslikemadinthevanofaroaringice—flood，how，atthecriticalmoment，inapanicofworldlyterror，hehaddroppedhispaddleandbesoughtwildlywithhisGodforpity。Andtherewereothertimes。Therecollectionwasnotpleasant。Itbroughtshametohimthathisspiritshouldbesoweakandhisfleshsostrong。Buttheloveoflife！theloveoflife！Hecouldnotstripitfromhim。Becauseofithadhisdimancestorsperpetuatedtheirline;becauseofitwashedestinedtoperpetuatehis。Hiscourage，ifcourageitmightbecalled，wasbredoffanaticism。ThecourageofStockardandBillwastheadherencetodeep—rootedideals。Notthattheloveoflifewasless，buttheloveofracetraditionmore;notthattheywereunafraidtodie，butthattheywerebraveenoughnottoliveatthepriceofshame。

Themissionaryrose，forthemomentswayedbythemoodofsacrifice。Hehalfcrawledoverthebarricadetoproceedtotheothercamp，butsankback，atremblingmass，wailing："Asthespiritmoves！Asthespiritmoves！WhoamIthatIshouldsetasidethejudgmentsofGod？Beforethefoundationsoftheworldwereallthingswritteninthebookoflife。WormthatIam，shallIerasethepageoranyportionthereof？AsGodwills，soshallthespiritmove！"

Billreachedover，pluckedhimtohisfeet，andshookhim，fiercely，silently。Thenhedroppedthebundleofquiveringnervesandturnedhisattentiontothetwoconverts。Buttheyshowedlittlefrightandacheerfulalacrityinpreparingforthecomingpassageatarms。

Stockard，whohadbeentalkinginundertoneswiththeTeslinwoman，nowturnedtothemissionary。

"Fetchhimoverhere，"hecommandedofBill。

"Now，"heordered，whenSturgesOwenhadbeendulydepositedbeforehim，"makeusmanandwife，andbelivelyaboutit。"ThenheaddedapologeticallytoBill："Notellinghowit’stoend，soIjustthoughtI’dgetmyaffairsstraightenedup。"

Thewomanobeyedthebehestofherwhitelord。Tohertheceremonywasmeaningless。Byherlightsshewashiswife，andhadbeenfromthedaytheyfirstforegathered。Theconvertsservedaswitnesses。Billstoodoverthemissionary，promptinghimwhenhestumbled。Stockardputtheresponsesinthewoman’smouth，andwhenthetimecame，forwantofbetter，ringedherfingerwiththumbandforefingerofhisown。

"Kissthebride！"Billthundered，andSturgesOwenwastooweaktodisobey。

"Nowbaptizethechild！"

"Neatandtidy，"Billcommented。

"Gatheringtheproperoutfitforanewtrail，"thefatherexplained，takingtheboyfromthemother’sarms。"Iwasgrub—

staked，once，intotheCascades，andhadeverythinginthekitexceptsalt。Nevershallforgetit。Andifthewomanandthekidcrossthedivideto—nighttheymightaswellbepreparedforpot—

luck。Alongshot，Bill，betweenourselves，butnothinglostifitmisses。"

Acupofwaterservedthepurpose，andthechildwaslaidawayinasecurecornerofthebarricade。Themenbuiltthefire，andtheeveningmealwascooked。

Thesunhurriedroundtothenorth，sinkingclosertothehorizon。

Theheavensinthatquartergrewredandbloody。Theshadowslengthened，thelightdimmed，andinthesombrerecessesoftheforestlifeslowlydiedaway。Eventhewildfowlintheriversoftenedtheirraucouschatterandfeignedthenightlyfarceofgoingtobed。Onlythetribesmenincreasedtheirclamor，war—

drumsboomingandvoicesraisedinsavagefolksongs。Butasthesundippedtheyceasedtheirtumult。Theroundedhushofmidnightwascomplete。Stockardrosetohiskneesandpeeredoverthelogs。Oncethechildwailedinpainanddisconcertedhim。Themotherbentoverit，butitsleptagain。Thesilencewasinterminable，profound。Then，ofasudden，therobinsburstintofull—throatedsong。Thenighthadpassed。

Afloodofdarkfiguresboiledacrosstheopen。Arrowswhistledandbow—thongssang。Theshrill—tonguedriflesansweredback。A

spear，andamightycast，transfixedtheTeslinwomanasshehoveredabovethechild。Aspentarrow，divingbetweenthelogs，lodgedinthemissionary’sarm。

Therewasnostoppingtherush。Themiddledistancewascumberedwithbodies，buttherestsurgedon，breakingagainstandoverthebarricadelikeanoceanwave。SturgesOwenfledtothetent，whilethemenweresweptfromtheirfeet，buriedbeneaththehumantide。HayStockardaloneregainedthesurface，flingingthetribesmenasidelikeyelpingcurs。Hehadmanagedtoseizeanaxe。Adarkhandgraspedthechildbyanakedfoot，anddrewitfrombeneathitsmother。Atarm’slengthitspunybodycircledthroughtheair，dashingtodeathagainstthelogs。Stockardclovethemantothechinandfelltoclearingspace。Theringofsavagefacesclosedin，raininguponhimspear—thrustsandbone—

barbedarrows。Thesunshotup，andtheyswayedbackandforthinthecrimsonshadows。Twice，withhisaxeblockedbytoodeepablow，theyrushedhim;buteachtimeheflungthemclear。Theyfellunderfootandhetrampleddeadanddying，thewayslipperywithblood。Andstillthedaybrightenedandtherobinssang。

Thentheydrewbackfromhiminawe，andheleanedbreathlessuponhisaxe。

"Bloodofmysoul！"criedBaptistetheRed。"Butthouartaman。

Denythygod，andthoushaltyetlive。"

Stockardsworehisrefusal，feeblybutwithgrace。

"Behold！Awoman！"SturgesOwenhadbeenbroughtbeforethehalf—breed。

Beyondascratchonthearm，hewasuninjured，buthiseyesrovedabouthiminanecstasyoffear。Theheroicfigureoftheblasphemer，bristlingwithwoundsandarrows，leaningdefiantlyuponhisaxe，indifferent，indomitable，superb，caughthiswaveringvision。Andhefeltagreatenvyofthemanwhocouldgodownserenelytothedarkgatesofdeath。SurelyChrist，andnothe，SturgesOwen，hadbeenmouldedinsuchmanner。Andwhynothe？Hefeltdimlythecurseofancestry，thefeeblenessofspiritwhichhadcomedowntohimoutofthepast，andhefeltanangeratthecreativeforce，symbolizeitashewould，whichhadformedhim，itsservant，soweakly。Forevenastrongerman，thisangerandthestressofcircumstanceweresufficienttobreedapostasy，andforSturgesOwenitwasinevitable。Inthefearofman’sangerhewoulddarethewrathofGod。HehadbeenraiseduptoservetheLordonlythathemightbecastdown。Hehadbeengivenfaithwithoutthestrengthoffaith;hehadbeengivenspiritwithoutthepowerofspirit。Itwasunjust。

"Wherenowisthygod？"thehalf—breeddemanded。

"Idonotknow。"Hestoodstraightandrigid，likeachildrepeatingacatechism。

"Hastthouthenagodatall？"

"Ihad。"

"Andnow？"

"No。"

HayStockardsweptthebloodfromhiseyesandlaughed。Themissionarylookedathimcuriously，asinadream。Afeelingofinfinitedistancecameoverhim，asthoughofagreatremove。Inthatwhichhadtranspired，andwhichwastotranspire，hehadnopart。Hewasaspectator——atadistance，yes，atadistance。ThewordsofBaptistecametohimfaintly：—

"Verygood。Seethatthismangofree，andthatnoharmbefallhim。Lethimdepartinpeace。Givehimacanoeandfood。SethisfacetowardtheRussians，thathemaytelltheirpriestsofBaptistetheRed，inwhosecountrythereisnogod。"

Theyledhimtotheedgeofthesteep，wheretheypausedtowitnessthefinaltragedy。Thehalf—breedturnedtoHayStockard。

"Thereisnogod，"heprompted。

Themanlaughedinreply。Oneoftheyoungmenpoisedawar—spearforthecast。

"Hastthouagod？"

"Ay，theGodofmyfathers。"

Heshiftedtheaxeforabettergrip。BaptistetheRedgavethesign，andthespearhurtledfullagainsthisbreast。SturgesOwensawtheivoryheadstandoutbeyondhisback，sawthemansway，laughing，andsnaptheshaftshortashefelluponit。Thenhewentdowntotheriver，thathemightcarrytotheRussiansthemessageofBaptistetheRed，inwhosecountrytherewasnogod。

THEGREATINTERROGATION

Tosaytheleast，Mrs。Sayther’scareerinDawsonwasmeteoric。

Shearrivedinthespring，withdogsledsandFrench—Canadianvoyageurs，blazedgloriouslyforabriefmonth，anddeparteduptheriverassoonasitwasfreeofice。NowwomanlessDawsonneverquiteunderstoodthishurrieddeparture，andthelocalFourHundredfeltaggrievedandlonelytilltheNomestrikewasmadeandoldsensationsgavewaytonew。ForithaddelightedinMrs。

Sayther，andreceivedherwide—armed。Shewaspretty，charming，and，moreover，awidow。AndbecauseofthissheatoncehadatheelanynumberofEldoradoKings，officials，andadventuringyoungersons，whoseearswereyearningforthefrou—frouofawoman’sskirts。

Theminingengineersreveredthememoryofherhusband，thelateColonelSayther，whilethesyndicateandpromoterrepresentativesspokeawesomelyofhisdealsandmanipulations;forhewasknowndownintheStatesasagreatminingman，andasevenagreateroneinLondon。Whyhiswidow，ofallwomen，shouldhavecomeintothecountry，wasthegreatinterrogation。Buttheywereapracticalbreed，themenoftheNorthland，withawholesomedisregardfortheoriesandafirmgriponfacts。AndtonotafewofthemKarenSaytherwasamostessentialfact。Thatshedidnotregardthematterinthislight，isevidencedbytheneatnessandceleritywithwhichrefusalandproposaltalliedoffduringherfourweeks’stay。Andwithhervanishedthefact，andonlytheinterrogationremained。

Tothesolution，Chancevouchsafedoneclew。Herlastvictim，JackCoughran，havingfruitlesslylaidatherfeetbothhisheartandafive—hundred—footcreekclaimonBonanza，celebratedthemisfortunebywalkingallofanightwiththegods。InthemidwatchofthisnighthehappenedtorubshoulderswithPierreFontaine，noneotherthanheadmanofKarenSayther’svoyageurs。

Thisrubbingofshouldersledtorecognitionanddrinks，andultimatelyinvolvedbothmeninacommonmuddleofinebriety。

"Heh？"PierreFontainelaterongurgledthickly。"VotforMadameSaythermakvisitationtotheescountry？Morebetteryouspikwither。Iknownot’ing’tall，onlyalldetamheraskoneman’sname。’Pierre，’herspikwitme;’Pierre，youmoos’findtheesmans，andIgifyoumooch——onethousanddollaryoufindtheesmans。’Theesmans？Ah，oui。Theesman’sname——votyoucall——

DaveedPayne。Oui，m’sieu，DaveedPayne。Alldetamherspikdasname。AndalldetamIlookrountvairemooch，worklakhell，butnocanfinddasdammans，andnogetonethousanddollar’tall。

Bydam！

"Heh？Ah，oui。OnetamdosemensvotcomefromCircleCity，dosemensknowtheesmans。HimBirchCreek，deyspik。Andmadame？

Hersay’Bon！’andlookhappylakanyt’ing。Andherspikwitme。

’Pierre，’herspik，’harnessdedogs。Wegoqueek。WefindtheesmansIgifyouonethousanddollarmore。’AndIsay，’Oui，queek！

Allons，madame！’

"Forsure，It’ink，dastwothousanddollarmine。Bullyboy！DenmoremenscomefromCircleCity，anddeysayno，dastheesmans，DaveedPayne，comeDawsonleeltamback。SomadameandIgonot’tall。

"Oui，m’sieu。Theesdaymadamespik。’Pierre，’herspik，andgifmefivehundreddollar，’gobuypoling—boat。To—morrowwegoupderiver。’Ah，oui，to—morrow，upderiver，anddasdamSitkaCharleymakmepayfordepoling—boatfivehundreddollar。Dam！"

Thusitwas，whenJackCoughranunburdenedhimselfnextday，thatDawsonfelltowonderingwhowasthisDavidPayne，andinwhatwayhisexistenceboreuponKarenSayther’s。Butthatveryday，asPierreFontainehadsaid，Mrs。SaytherandherbarbariccrewofvoyageurstoweduptheeastbanktoKlondikeCity，shotacrosstothewestbanktoescapethebluffs，anddisappearedamidthemazeofislandstothesouth。

II

"Oui，madame，theesisdeplace。One，two，t’reeislandbelowStuartRiver。Theesist’reeisland。"

Ashespoke，PierreFontainedrovehispoleagainstthebankandheldthesternoftheboatagainstthecurrent。Thisthrustthebowin，tillanimblebreedclimbedashorewiththepainterandmadefast。

"Oneleeltam，madame，Igolooksee。"

Achorusofdogsmarkedhisdisappearanceovertheedgeofthebank，butaminutelaterhewasbackagain。

"Oui，madame，theesisdecabin。Imakinvestigation。Nocanfindmansathome。Buthimnogovairefar，vairelong，orhimnoleavedogs。Himcomequeek，youbet！"

"Helpmeout，Pierre。I’mtiredalloverfromtheboat。Youmighthavemadeitsofter，youknow。"

Fromanestoffursamidships，KarenSaytherrosetoherfullheightofslenderfairness。Butifshelookedlily—frailinherelementalenvironment，shewasbeliedbythegripsheputuponPierre’shand，bytheknottingofherwoman’sbicepsasittooktheweightofherbody，bythesplendideffortofherlimbsastheyheldheroutfromtheperpendicularbankwhileshemadetheascent。Thoughshapelyfleshclotheddelicateframe，herbodywasaseatofstrength。

Still，forallthecarelesseasewithwhichshehadmadethelanding，therewasawarmercolorthanusualtoherface，andaperceptiblyextrabeattoherheart。Butthen，also，itwaswithacertainreverentcuriousnessthatsheapproachedthecabin，whiletheHushonhercheekshowedayetripermellowness。

"Look，see！"Pierrepointedtothescatteredchipsbythewoodpile。"Himfresh——two，t’reeday，nomore。"

Mrs。Saythernodded。Shetriedtopeerthroughthesmallwindow，butitwasmadeofgreasedparchmentwhichadmittedlightwhileitblockedvision。Failingthis，shewentroundtothedoor，halfliftedtherudelatchtoenter，butchangedhermindandletitfallbackintoplace。Thenshesuddenlydroppedononekneeandkissedtherough—hewnthreshold。IfPierreFontainesaw，hegavenosign，andthememoryinthetimetocomewasnevershared。Butthenextinstant，oneoftheboatmen，placidlylightinghispipe，wasstartledbyanunwontedharshnessinhiscaptain’svoice。

"Hey！You！LeGoire！Youmak’msoftmorebetter，"Pierrecommanded。"Plentybear—skin;plentyblanket。Dam！"

Butthenestwassoonafterdisrupted，andthemajorportiontosseduptothecrestoftheshore，whereMrs。Saytherlaydowntowaitincomfort。

Recliningonherside，shelookedoutandoverthewide—stretchingYukon。Abovethemountainswhichlaybeyondthefurthershore，theskywasmurkywiththesmokeofunseenforestfires，andthroughthistheafternoonsunbrokefeebly，throwingavagueradiancetoearth，andunrealshadows。Tothesky—lineofthefourquarters——spruce—shroudedislands，darkwaters，andice—

scarredrockyridges——stretchedtheimmaculatewilderness。Nosignofhumanexistencebrokethesolitude;nosoundthestillness。Thelandseemedboundundertheunrealityoftheunknown，wrappedinthebroodingmysteryofgreatspaces。

PerhapsitwasthiswhichmadeMrs。Saythernervous;forshechangedherpositionconstantly，nowtolookuptheriver，nowdown，ortoscanthegloomyshoresforthehalf—hiddenmouthsofbackchannels。Afteranhourorsotheboatmenweresentashoretopitchcampforthenight，butPierreremainedwithhismistresstowatch。

"Ah！himcometheestam，"hewhispered，afteralongsilence，hisgazebentuptherivertotheheadoftheisland。

Acanoe，withapaddleflashingoneitherside，wasslippingdownthecurrent。Inthesternaman’sform，andinthebowawoman’s，swungrhythmicallytothework。Mrs。Saytherhadnoeyesforthewomantillthecanoedroveincloserandherbizarrebeautyperemptorilydemandednotice。Aclose—fittingblouseofmoose—

skin，fantasticallybeaded，outlinedfaithfullythewell—roundedlinesofherbody，whileasilkenkerchief，gayofcolorandpicturesquelydraped，partlycoveredgreatmassesofblue—blackhair。Butitwastheface，castbelikeincopperbronze，whichcaughtandheldMrs。Sayther’sfleetingglance。Eyes，piercingandblackandlarge，withatraditionaryhintofobliqueness，lookedforthfromunderclear—stencilled，clean—archingbrows。

Withoutsuggestingcadaverousness，thoughhigh—bonedandprominent，thecheeksfellawayandmetinamouth，thin—lippedandsoftlystrong。ItwasafacewhichadvertisedthedimmesttraceofancientMongolblood，areversion，afterlongcenturiesofwandering，totheparentstem。Thiseffectwasheightenedbythedelicatelyaquilinenosewithitsthintremblingnostrils，andbythegeneralairofeaglewildnesswhichseemedtocharacterizenotonlythefacebutthecreatureherself。Shewas，infact，theTartartypemodifiedtoidealization，andthetribeofRedIndianisluckythatbreedssuchauniquebodyonceinascoreofgenerations。

Dippinglongstrokesandstrong，thegirl，inconcertwiththeman，suddenlywhirledthetinycraftaboutagainstthecurrentandbroughtitgentlytotheshore。Anotherinstantandshestoodatthetopofthebank，heavingupbyrope，handunderhand，aquarteroffresh—killedmoose。Thenthemanfollowedher，andtogether，withaswiftrush，theydrewupthecanoe。Thedogswereinawhiningmassaboutthem，andasthegirlstoopedamongthemcaressingly，theman’sgazefelluponMrs。Sayther，whohadarisen。Helooked，brushedhiseyesunconsciouslyasthoughhissightweredeceivinghim，andlookedagain。

"Karen，"hesaidsimply，comingforwardandextendinghishand，"I

thoughtforthemomentIwasdreaming。Iwentsnow—blindforatime，thisspring，andsincethenmyeyeshavebeenplayingtrickswithme。"

Mrs。Sayther，whoseflushhaddeepenedandwhoseheartwasurgingpainfully，hadbeenpreparedforalmostanythingsavethiscoollyextendedhand;butshetactfullycurbedherselfandgraspeditheartilywithherown。

"Youknow，Dave，Ithreatenedoftentocome，andIwouldhave，too，only——only——"

"OnlyIdidn’tgivetheword。"DavidPaynelaughedandwatchedtheIndiangirldisappearingintothecabin。

"Oh，Iunderstand，Dave，andhadIbeeninyourplaceI’dmostprobablyhavedonethesame。ButIhavecome——now。"

"Thencomealittlebitfarther，intothecabinandgetsomethingtoeat，"hesaidgenially，ignoringormissingthefemininesuggestionofappealinhervoice。"Andyoumustbetiredtoo。

Whichwayareyoutravelling？Up？ThenyouwinteredinDawson，orcameinonthelastice。Yourcamp？"Heglancedatthevoyageurscircledaboutthefireintheopen，andheldbackthedoorforhertoenter。

"IcameupontheicefromCircleCitylastwinter，"hecontinued，"andsettleddownhereforawhile。AmprospectingsomeonHendersonCreek，andifthatfails，havebeenthinkingoftryingmyhandthisfalluptheStuartRiver。"

"Youaren’tchangedmuch，areyou？"sheaskedirrelevantly，strivingtothrowtheconversationuponamorepersonalbasis。

"Alittlelessflesh，perhaps，andalittlemoremuscle。HowdidYOUmean？"

ButsheshruggedhershouldersandpeeredIthroughthedimlightattheIndiangirl，whohadlightedthefireandwasfryinggreatchunksofmoosemeat，alternatedwiththinribbonsofbacon。

"DidyoustopinDawsonlong？"Themanwaswhittlingastaveofbirchwoodintoarudeaxe—handle，andaskedthequestionwithoutraisinghishead。

"Oh，afewdays，"sheanswered，followingthegirlwithhereyes，andhardlyhearing。"Whatwereyousaying？InDawson？Amonth，infact，andgladtogetaway。Thearcticmaleiselemental，youknow，andsomewhatstrenuousinhisfeelings。"

"Boundtobewhenhegetsrightdowntothesoil。Heleavesconventionwiththespringbedatborne。Butyouwerewiseinyourchoiceoftimeforleaving。You’llbeoutofthecountrybeforemosquitoseason，whichisablessingyourlackofexperiencewillnotpermityoutoappreciate。"

"Isupposenot。Buttellmeaboutyourself，aboutyourlife。

Whatkindofneighborshaveyou？Orhaveyouany？"

Whileshequeriedshewatchedthegirlgrindingcoffeeinthecornerofaflowersackuponthehearthstone。Withasteadinessandskillwhichpredicatednervesasprimitiveasthemethod，shecrushedtheimprisonedberrieswithaheavyfragmentofquartz。

DavidPaynenotedhisvisitor’sgaze，andtheshadowofasmiledriftedoverhislips。

"Ididhavesome，"hereplied。"Missourianchaps，andacoupleofCornishmen，buttheywentdowntoEldoradotoworkatwagesforagrubstake。"

Mrs。Saythercastalookofspeculativeregarduponthegirl。

"ButofcoursethereareplentyofIndiansabout？"

"Everymother’ssonofthemdowntoDawsonlongago。Notanativeinthewholecountry，barringWinapiehere，andshe’saKoyokuklass，——comesfromathousandmilesorsodowntheriver。"

Mrs。Saytherfeltsuddenlyfaint;andthoughthesmileofinterestinnowisewaned，thefaceofthemanseemedtodrawawaytoatelescopicdistance，andthetieredlogsofthecabintowhirldrunkenlyabout。Butshewasbiddendrawuptothetable，andduringthemealdiscoveredtimeandspaceinwhichtofindherself。Shetalkedlittle，andthatprincipallyaboutthelandandweather，whilethemanwanderedoffintoalongdescriptionofthedifferencebetweentheshallowsummerdiggingsoftheLowerCountryandthedeepwinterdiggingsoftheUpperCountry。

"YoudonotaskwhyIcamenorth？"sheasked。"Surelyyouknow。"

Theyhadmovedbackfromthetable，andDavidPaynehadreturnedtohisaxe—handle。"Didyougetmyletter？"

"Alastone？No，Idon’tthinkso。Mostprobablyit’strailingaroundtheBirchCreekCountryorlyinginsometrader’sshackontheLowerRiver。Thewaytheyrunthemailsinhereisshameful。

Noorder，nosystem，no——"

"Don’tbewooden，Dave！Helpme！"Shespokesharplynow，withanassumptionofauthoritywhichresteduponthepast。"Whydon’tyouaskmeaboutmyself？Aboutthoseweknewintheoldtimes？

Haveyounolongeranyinterestintheworld？Doyouknowthatmyhusbandisdead？"

"Indeed，Iamsorry。Howlong——"

"David！"Shewasreadytocrywithvexation，butthereproachshethrewintohervoiceeasedher。

"Didyougetanyofmyletters？Youmusthavegotsomeofthem，thoughyouneveranswered。"

"Well，Ididn’tgetthelastone，announcing，evidently，thedeathofyourhusband，andmostlikelyotherswentastray;butIdidgetsome。I——er——readthemaloudtoWinapieasawarning——thatis，youknow，toimpressuponherthewickednessofherwhitesisters。

AndI——er——thinksheprofitedbyit。Don’tyou？"

Shedisregardedthesting，andwenton。"Inthelastletter，whichyoudidnotreceive，Itold，asyouhaveguessed，ofColonelSayther’sdeath。Thatwasayearago。Ialsosaidthatifyoudidnotcomeouttome，Iwouldgointoyou。AndasIhadoftenpromised，Icame。"

"Iknowofnopromise。"

"Intheearlierletters？"

"Yes，youpromised，butasIneitheraskednoranswered，itwasunratified。SoIdonotknowofanysuchpromise。ButIdoknowofanother，whichyou，too，mayremember。Itwasverylongago。"

Hedroppedtheaxe—handletothefloorandraisedhishead。"Itwassoverylongago，yetIrememberitdistinctly，theday，thetime，everydetail。Wewereinarosegarden，youandI，——yourmother’srosegarden。Allthingswerebudding，blossoming，andthesapofspringwasinourblood。AndIdrewyouover——itwasthefirst——andkissedyoufullonthelips。Don’tyouremember？"

"Don’tgooverit，Dave，don’t！Iknoweveryshamefullineofit。

HowoftenhaveIwept！IfyouonlyknewhowIhavesuffered——"

"Youpromisedmethen——ay，andathousandtimesinthesweetdaysthatfollowed。Eachlookofyoureyes，eachtouchofyourhand，eachsyllablethatfellfromyourlips，wasapromise。Andthen——

howshallIsay？——therecameaman。Hewasold——oldenoughtohavebegottenyou——andnotnicetolookupon，butastheworldgoes，clean。Hehaddonenowrong，followedtheletterofthelaw，wasrespectable。Further，andtothepoint，hepossessedsomeseveralpaltrymines，——ascore;itdoesnotmatter：andheownedafewmilesoflands，andengineereddeals，andclippedcoupons。He——"

"Buttherewereotherthings，"sheinterrupted，"Itoldyou。

Pressure——moneymatters——want——mypeople——trouble。Youunderstoodthewholesordidsituation。Icouldnothelpit。Itwasnotmywill。Iwassacrificed，orIsacrificed，haveitasyouwish。

But，myGod！Dave，Igaveyouup！YouneverdidMEjustice。

ThinkwhatIhavegonethrough！"

"Itwasnotyourwill？Pressure？Underhighheaventherewasnothingtowillyoutothisman’sbedorthat。"

"ButIcaredforyouallthetime，"shepleaded。

"Iwasunusedtoyourwayofmeasuringlove。Iamstillunused。

Idonotunderstand。"

"Butnow！now！"

"Wewerespeakingofthismanyousawfittomarry。Whatmannerofmanwashe？Whereindidhecharmyoursoul？Whatpotentvirtueswerehis？True，hehadagoldengrip，——analmightygoldengrip。Heknewtheodds。Hewasversedincentpercent。Hehadanarrowwitandexcellentjudgmentofthevilerparts，wherebyhetransferredthisman’smoneytohispockets，andthatman’smoney，andthenextman’s。Andthelawsmiled。Inthatitdidnotcondemn，ourChristianethicsapproved。Bysocialmeasurehewasnotabadman。Butbyyourmeasure，Karen，bymine，byoursoftherosegarden，whatwashe？"

"Remember，heisdead。"

"Thefactisnotalteredthereby。Whatwashe？Agreat，gross，materialcreature，deaftosong，blindtobeauty，deadtothespirit。Hewasfatwithlaziness，andflabby—cheeked，andtheroundofhisbellywitnessedhisgluttony——"

"Butheisdead。Itiswewhoarenow——now！now！Don’tyouhear？

Asyousay，Ihavebeeninconstant。Ihavesinned。Good。Butshouldnotyou，too，crypeccavi？IfIhavebrokenpromises，havenotyou？Yourloveoftherosegardenwasofalltime，orsoyousaid。Whereisitnow？"

"Itishere！now！"hecried，strikinghisbreastpassionatelywithclenchedhand。"Ithasalwaysbeen。"

"Andyourlovewasagreatlove;therewasnonegreater，"shecontinued;"orsoyousaidintherosegarden。Yetitisnotfineenough，largeenough，toforgivemehere，cryingnowatyourfeet？"

Themanhesitated。Hismouthopened;wordsshapedvainlyonhislips。Shehadforcedhimtobarehisheartandspeaktruthswhichhehadhiddenfromhimself。Andshewasgoodtolookupon，standingthereinagloryofpassion，callingbackoldassociationsandwarmerlife。Heturnedawayhisheadthathemightnotsee，butshepassedaroundandfrontedhim。

"Lookatme，Dave！Lookatme！Iamthesame，afterall。Andsoareyou，ifyouwouldbutsee。Wearenotchanged。"

Herhandrestedonhisshoulder，andhishadhalf—passed，roughly，abouther，whenthesharpcrackleofamatchstartledhimtohimself。Winapie，alientothescene，waslightingtheslowwickoftheslushlamp。Sheappearedtostartoutagainstabackgroundofutterblack，andtheflame，flaringsuddenlyup，lightedherbronzebeautytoroyalgold。

"Yousee，itisimpossible，"hegroaned，thrustingthefair—hairedwomangentlyfromhim。"Itisimpossible，"herepeated。"Itisimpossible。"

"Iamnotagirl，Dave，withagirl’sillusions，"shesaidsoftly，thoughnotdaringtocomebacktohim。"ItisasawomanthatI

understand。Menaremen。Acommoncustomofthecountry。Iamnotshocked。Idivineditfromthefirst。But——ah！——itisonlyamarriageofthecountry——notarealmarriage？"

"WedonotasksuchquestionsinAlaska，"heinterposedfeebly。

"Iknow，but——"

"Well，then，itisonlyamarriageofthecountry——nothingelse。"

"Andtherearenochildren？"

"No。"

"Nor——"

"No，no;nothing——butitisimpossible。"

"Butitisnot。"Shewasathissideagain，herhandtouchinglightly，caressingly，thesunburnedbackofhis。"Iknowthecustomofthelandtoowell。Mendoiteveryday。Theydonotcaretoremainhere，shutoutfromtheworld，foralltheirdays;

sotheygiveanorderontheP。C。C。Companyforayear’sprovisions，somemoneyinhand，andthegirliscontent。Bytheendofthattime，aman——"Sheshruggedhershoulders。"Andsowiththegirlhere。Wewillgiveheranorderuponthecompany，notforayear，butforlife。Whatwasshewhenyoufoundher？A

raw，meat—eatingsavage;fishinsummer，mooseinwinter，feastinginplenty，starvinginfamine。Butforyouthatiswhatshewouldhaveremained。Foryourcomingshewashappier;foryourgoing，surely，withalifeofcomparativesplendorassured，shewillbehappierthanifyouhadneverbeen。"

"No，no，"heprotested。"Itisnotright。"

"Come，Dave，youmustsee。Sheisnotyourkind。Thereisnoraceaffinity。Sheisanaborigine，sprungfromthesoil，yetclosetothesoil，andimpossibletoliftfromthesoil。Bornsavage，savageshewilldie。Butwe——youandI——thedominant，evolvedrace——thesaltoftheearthandthemastersthereof！Wearemadeforeachother。Thesupremecallisofkind，andweareofkind。Reasonandfeelingdictateit。Yourveryinstinctdemandsit。Thatyoucannotdeny。Youcannotescapethegenerationsbehindyou。Yoursisanancestrywhichhassurvivedforathousandcenturies，andforahundredthousandcenturies，andyourlinemustnotstophere。Itcannot。Yourancestrywillnotpermitit。Instinctisstrongerthanthewill。Theraceismightierthanyou。Come，Dave，letusgo。Weareyoungyet，andlifeisgood。Come。"

Winapie，passingoutofthecabintofeedthedogs，caughthisattentionandcausedhimtoshakehisheadandweaklytoreiterate。Butthewoman’shandslippedabouthisneck，andhercheekpressedtohis。Hisbleakliferoseupandsmotehim，——thevainstrugglewithpitilessforces;thedrearyyearsoffrostandfamine;theharshandjarringcontactwithelementallife;theachingvoidwhichmereanimalexistencecouldnotfill。Andthere，seductionbyhisside，whisperingofbrighter，warmerlands，ofmusic，light，andjoy，calledtheoldtimesbackagain。

Hevisioneditunconsciously。Facesrushedinuponhim;glimpsesofforgottenscenes，memoriesofmerryhours;strainsofsongandtrillsoflaughter—

"Come，Dave，Come。Ihaveforboth。Thewayissoft。"Shelookedaboutheratthebarefurnishingsofthecabin。"Ihaveforboth。Theworldisatourfeet，andalljoyisours。Come！

come！"

Shewasinhisarms，trembling，andheheldhertightly。Herosetohisfeet……Butthesnarlingofhungrydogs，andtheshrillcriesofWinapiebringingaboutpeacebetweenthecombatants，camemuffledtohisearthroughtheheavylogs。Andanothersceneflashedbeforehim。Astruggleintheforest，——abald—facegrizzly，broken—legged，terrible;thesnarlingofthedogsandtheshrillcriesofWinapieassheurgedthemtotheattack;himselfinthemidstofthecrush，breathless，panting，strivingtoholdoffreddeath;broken—backed，entrail—rippeddogshowlinginimpotentanguishanddesecratingthesnow;thevirginwhiterunningscarletwiththebloodofmanandbeast;thebear，ferocious，irresistible，crunching，crunchingdowntothecoreofhislife;andWinapie，atthelast，inthethickofthefrightfulmuddle，hairflying，eyesflashing，furyincarnate，passingthelonghuntingknifeagainandagain——Sweatstartedtohisforehead。

Heshookofftheclingingwomanandstaggeredbacktothewall。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读