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side； but do not touch me。 I must be very quiet； but you must not go
away。〃 His jaw began to set and his face to quiver and distort with the
fore…running pangs； but he gulped and struggled to master them。 〃Do not
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got away。 And do not let Amos go away。 Understand！ Amos must
stay right here。〃
She nodded her head； and he passed off into the first of many
convulsions； which gradually diminished in force and frequency。 Jees Uck
hung over him remembering his injunction and not daring to touch him。
Once Amos grew restless and made as though to go into the kitchen； but a
quick blaze from her eyes quelled him； and after that； save for his laboured
breathing and charnel cough； he was very quiet。
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 shoo