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asked。
〃It is very easy。 First； I shall go into the woods〃
Again Yakaga whispered to Makamuk； who made a suspicious dissent。
〃You can send twenty hunters with me；〃 Subienkow went on。 〃You
see； I must get the berries and the roots with which to make the medicine。
Then； when you have brought the two sleds and loaded on them the fish
and the beaver skins and the rifle； and when you have told off the six
hunters who will go with methen； when all is ready； I will rub the
medicine on my neck； so； and lay my neck there on that log。 Then can
your strongest hunter take the axe and strike three times on my neck。
You yourself can strike the three times。〃
Makamuk stood with gaping mouth； drinking in this latest and most
wonderful magic of the fur…thieves。
〃But first；〃 the Pole added hastily； 〃between each blow I must put on
fresh medicine。 The axe is heavy and sharp； and I want no mistakes。〃
〃All that you have asked shall be yours；〃 Makamuk cried in a rush of
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acceptance。 〃Proceed to make your medicine。〃
Subienkow concealed his elation。 He was playing a desperate game；
and there must be no slips。 He spoke arrogantly。
〃You have been slow。 My medicine is offended。 To make the
offence clean you must give me your daughter。〃
He pointed to the girl； an unwholesome creature； with a cast in one eye
and a bristling wolf…tooth。 Makamuk was angry； but the Pole remained
imperturbable； rolling and lighting another cigarette。
〃Make haste；〃 he threatened。 〃If you are not quick； I shall demand
yet more。〃
In the silence that followed； the dreary northland scene faded before
him； and he saw once more his native land； and France； and； once； as he
glanced at the wolf…toothed girl； he remembered another girl； a singer and
a dancer； whom he had known when first as a youth he came to Paris。
〃What do you want with the girl？〃 Makamuk asked。
〃To go down the river with me。〃 Subienkow glanced over her
critically。 〃She will make a good wife； and it is an honour worthy of my
medicine to be married to your blood。〃
Again he remembered the singer and dancer and hummed aloud a song
she had taught him。 He lived the old life over； but in a detached；
impersonal sort of way； looking at the memory…pictures of his own life as
if they were pictures in a book of anybody's life。 The chief's voice；
abruptly breaking the silence； startled him
〃It shall be done；〃 said Makamuk。 〃The girl shall go down the river
with you。 But be it understood that I myself strike the three blows with
the axe on your neck。〃
〃But each time I shall put on the medicine；〃 Subienkow answered；
with a show of ill…concealed anxiety。
〃You shall put the medicine on between each blow。 Here are the
hunters who shall see you do not escape。 Go into the forest and gather
your medicine。〃
Makamuk had been convinced of the worth of the medicine by the
Pole's rapacity。 Surely nothing less than the greatest of medicines could
enable a man in the shadow of death to stand up and drive an old…
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woman's bargain。
〃Besides；〃 whispered Yakaga； when the Pole； with his guard； had
disappeared among the spruce trees； 〃when you have learned the medicine
you can easily destroy him。〃
〃But how can I destroy him？〃 Makamuk argued。 〃His medicine will
not let me destroy him。〃
〃There will be some part where he has not rubbed the medicine；〃 was
Yakaga's reply。 〃We will destroy him through that part。 It may be his
ears。 Very well； we will thrust a spear in one ear and out the other。 Or
it may be his eyes。 Surely the medicine will be much too strong to rub
on his eyes。〃
The chief nodded。 〃You are wise； Yakaga。 If he possesses no other
devil…things； we will then destroy him。〃
Subienkow did not waste time in gathering the ingredients for his
medicine； he selected whatsoever came to hand such as spruce needles； the
inner bark of the willow； a strip of birch bark； and a quantity of moss…
berries； which he made the hunters dig up for him from beneath the snow。
A few frozen roots completed his supply； and he led the way back to camp。
Makamuk and Yakaga crouched beside him； noting the quantities and
kinds of the ingredients he dropped into the pot of boiling water。
〃You must be careful that the moss…berries go in first；〃 he explained。
〃Andoh； yes； one other thingthe finger of a man。 Here； Yakaga；
let me cut off your finger。〃
But Yakaga put his hands behind him and scowled。
〃Just a small finger；〃 Subienkow pleaded。
〃Yakaga； give him your finger；〃 Makamuk commanded。
〃There be plenty of fingers lying around；〃 Yakaga grunted； indicating
the human wreckage in the snow of the score of persons who had been
tortured to death。
〃It must be the finger of a live man；〃 the Pole objected。
〃Then shall you have the finger of a live man。〃 Yakaga strode over to
the Cossack and sliced off a finger。
〃He is not yet dead；〃 he announced； flinging the bloody trophy in the
snow at the Pole's feet。 〃Also； it is a good finger； because it is large。〃
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Subienkow dropped it into the fire under the pot and began to sing。 It
was a French love…song that with great solemnity he sang into the brew。
〃Without these words I utter into it； the medicine is worthless；〃 he
explained。 〃The words are the chiefest strength of it。 Behold； it is
ready。〃
〃Name the words slowly； that I may know them；〃 Makamuk
commanded。
〃Not until after the test。 When the axe flies back three times from my
neck； then will I give you the secret of the words。〃
〃But if the medicine is not good medicine？〃 Makamuk queried
anxiously。
Subienkow turned upon him wrathfully。
〃My medicine is always good。 However； if it is not good； t