按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Ditchen Nechila；〃 said the guide。
〃Land of Sticks Little；〃 translated Rea。
An occasional reindeer was seen and numerous foxes and hares trotted off into the woods； evincing more curiosity than fear。 All were silver white； even the reindeer； at a distance； taking the hue of the north。 Once a beautiful creature； unblemished as the snow it trod； ran up a ridge and stood watching the hunters。 It resembled a monster dog； only it was inexpressibly more wild looking。
〃Ho！ Ho！ there you are！〃 cried Rea； reaching for his Winchester。 〃Polar wolf！ Them's the white devils we'll have hell with。〃
As if the wolf understood； he lifted his white； sharp head and uttered a bark or howl that was like nothing so much as a haunting； unearthly mourn。 The animal then merged into the white； as if he were really a spirit of the world whence his cry seemed to come。
In this ancient forest of youthful appearing trees； the hunters cut firewood to the full carrying capacity of the sleds。 For five days the Indian guide drove his dogs over the smooth crust； and on the sixth day； about noon； halting in a hollow； he pointed to tracks in the snow and called out： 〃Ageter！ Ageter！ Ageter！〃
The hunters saw sharply defined hoof…marks； not unlike the tracks of reindeer； except that they were longer。 The tepee was set up on the spot and the dogs unharnessed。
The Indian led the way with the dogs； and Rea and Jones followed； slipping over the hard crust without sinking in and traveling swiftly。 Soon the guide； pointing； again let out the cry： 〃Ageter！〃 at the same moment loosing the dogs。
Some few hundred yards down the hollow； a number of large black animals； not unlike the shaggy； humpy buffalo； lumbered over the snow。 Jones echoed Rea's yell； and broke into a run； easily distancing the puffing giant。
The musk…oxen squared round to the dogs； and were soon surrounded by the yelping pack。 Jones came up to find six old bulls uttering grunts of rage and shaking ram…like horns at their tormentors。 Notwithstanding that for Jones this was the cumulation of years of desire； the crowning moment； the climax and fruition of long…harbored dreams； he halted before the tame and helpless beasts； with joy not unmixed with pain。
〃It will be murder！〃 he exclaimed。 〃It's like shooting down sheep。〃
Rea came crashing up behind him and yelled； 〃Get busy。 We need fresh meat； an' I want the skins。〃
The bulls succumbed to well…directed shots； and the Indian and Rea hurried back to camp with the dogs to fetch the sleds； while Jones examined with warm interest the animals he had wanted to see all his life。 He found the largest bull approached within a third of the size of a buffalo。 He was of a brownish…black color and very like a large； woolly ram。 His head was broad； with sharp； small ears； the horns had wide and flattened bases and lay flat on the head； to run down back of the eyes； then curve forward to a sharp point。 Like the bison； the musk ox had short； heavy limbs； covered with very long hair； and small； hard hoofs with hairy tufts inside the curve of bone； which probably served as pads or checks to hold the hoof firm on ice。 His legs seemed out of proportion to his body。
Two musk…oxen were loaded on a sled and hauled to camp in one trip。 Skinning them was but short work for such expert hands。 All the choice cuts of meat were saved。 No time was lost in broiling a steak； which they found sweet and juicy； with a flavor of musk that was disagreeable。
〃Now； Rea； for the calves；〃 exclaimed Jones； 〃And then we're homeward bound。〃
〃I hate to tell this redskin；〃 replied Rea。 〃He'll be like the others。 But it ain't likely he'd desert us here。 He's far from his base； with nothin' but thet old musket。〃 Rea then commanded the attention of the brave； and began to mangle the Great Slave and Yellow Knife languages。 Of this mixture Jones knew but few words。 〃Ageter nechila；〃 which Rea kept repeating； he knew； however； meant 〃musk…oxen little。〃
The guide stared； suddenly appeared to get Rea's meaning； then vigorously shook his head and gazed at Jones in fear and horror。 Following this came an action as singular as inexplicable。 Slowly rising； he faced the north； lifted his hand； and remained statuesque in his immobility。 Then he began deliberately packing his blankets and traps on his sled； which had not been unhitched from the train of dogs。
〃Jackoway ditchen hula；〃 he said； and pointed south。
〃Jackoway ditchen hula；〃 echoed Rea。 〃The damned Indian says 'wife sticks none。' He's goin' to quit us。 What do you think of thet？ His wife's out of wood。 Jackoway out of wood； an' here we are two days from the Arctic Ocean。 Jones； the damned heathen don't go back！〃
The trapper coolly cocked his rifle。 The savage； who plainly saw and understood the action； never flinched。 He turned his breast to Rea； and there was nothing in his demeanor to suggest his relation to a craven tribe。
〃Good heavens； Rea； don't kill him！〃 exclaimed Jones； knocking up the leveled rifle。
〃Why not； I'd like to know？〃 demanded Rea； as if he were considering the fate of a threatening beast。 〃I reckon it'd be a bad thing for us to let him go。〃
〃Let him go；〃 said Jones。 〃We are here on the ground。 We have dogs and meat。 We'll get our calves and reach the lake as soon as he does； and we might get there before。〃
〃Mebbe we will；〃 growled Rea。
No vacillation attended the Indian's mood。 From friendly guide； he had suddenly been transformed into a dark； sullen savage。 He refused the musk…ox meat offered by Jones； and he pointed south and looked at the white hunters as if he asked them to go with him。 Both men shook their heads in answer。 The savage struck his breast a sounding blow and with his index finger pointed at the white of the north； he shouted dramatically： 〃Naza！ Naza！ Naza！〃
He then leaped upon his sled； lashed his dogs into a run； and without looking back disappeared over a ridge。
The musk…ox hunters sat long silent。 Finally Rea shook his shaggy locks and roared。 〃Ho！ Ho！ Jackoway out of wood！ Jackoway out of wood！ Jackoway out of wood！〃
On the day following the desertion； Jones found tracks to the north of the camp； making a broad trail in which were numerous little imprints that sent him flying back to get Rea and the dogs。 Muskoxen in great numbers had passed in the night； and Jones and Rea had not trailed the herd a mile before they had it in sight。 When the dogs burst into full cry； the musk…oxen climbed a high knoll and squared about to give battle。
〃Calves！ Calves！ Calves！〃 cried Jones。
〃Hold back！ Hold back！ Thet's a big herd； an' they'll show fight〃
As good fortune would have it； the herd split up into several sections； and one part； hard pressed by the dogs； ran down the knoll； to be cornered under the lee of a bank。 The hunters； seeing this small number； hurried upon them to find three cows and five badly frightened little calves backed against the bank of snow； with small red eyes fastened on the barking； snapping dogs。
To a man of Jones's experience and skill； the capturing of the calves was a ridiculously easy piece of work。 The cows tossed their heads； watched the dogs； and forgot their young。 The first cast of the lasso settled ov