smoke bellew(史沫克·贝罗)-第23节
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jim…jams； but just the same I know it's a dream。 It's only in dreams that
the good things comes true。 I'm almighty unanxious to wake up。 I hope
I never wake up。〃
〃Cheer up；〃 Smoke answered。 〃You won't。 There are a lot of
philosophy sharps that think men are sleep…walkers。 You're in good
company。〃
Shorty got up； went to the table； selected the heaviest sack； and
cuddled it in his arms as if it were a baby。
〃I may be sleep…walkin'；〃 he said； 〃but as you say； I'm sure in mighty
good company。〃
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Smoke Bellew
THE MAN ON THE OTHER
BANK。
I。
It was before Smoke Bellew staked the farcical town…site of Tra…Lee；
made the historic corner of eggs that nearly broke Swiftwater Bill's bank
account； or won the dog…team race down the Yukon for an even million
dollars； that he and Shorty parted company on the Upper Klondike。
Shorty's task was to return down the Klondike to Dawson to record some
claims they had staked。
Smoke； with the dog…team； turned south。 His quest was Surprise
Lake and the mythical Two Cabins。 His traverse was to cut the
headwaters of the Indian River and cross the unknown region over the
mountains to the Stewart River。 Here； somewhere； rumour persisted； was
Surprise Lake； surrounded by jagged mountains and glaciers； its bottom
paved with raw gold。 Old…timers； it was said； whose very names were
forgotten in the forests of earlier years； had dived in the ice…waters of
Surprise Lake and fetched lump…gold to the surface in both hands。 At
different times； parties of old…timers had penetrated the forbidding fastness
and sampled the lake's golden bottom。 But the water was too cold。
Some died in the water； being pulled up dead。 Others died of
consumption。 And one who had gone down never did come up。 All
survivors had planned to return and drain the lake； yet none had ever gone
back。 Disaster always happened。 One man fell into an air…hole below
Forty Mile； another was killed and eaten by his dogs； a third was crushed
by a falling tree。 And so the tale ran。 Surprise Lake was a hoodoo； its
location was unremembered； and the gold still paved its undrained bottom。
Two Cabins； no less mythical； was more definitely located。 'Five
sleeps；' up the McQuestion River from the Stewart； stood two ancient
cabins。 So ancient were they that they must have been built before ever
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Smoke Bellew
the first known gold…hunter had entered the Yukon Basin。 Wandering
moose…hunters； whom even Smoke had met and talked with； claimed to
have found the two cabins in the old days； but to have sought vainly for
the mine which those early adventurers must have worked。
〃I wish you was goin' with me；〃 Shorty said wistfully； at parting。 〃Just
because you got the Indian bug ain't no reason for to go pokin' into trouble。
They's no gettin' away from it； that's loco country you're bound for。 The
hoodoo's sure on it； from the first flip to the last call； judgin' from all you
an' me has hearn tell about it。〃
〃It's all right； Shorty。 I'll make the round trip and be back in Dawson
in six weeks。 The Yukon trail is packed； and the first hundred miles or so
of the Stewart ought to be packed。 Old…timers from Henderson have told
me a number of outfits went up last fall after the freeze…up。 When I
strike their trail I ought to hit her up forty or fifty miles a day。 I'm likely
to be back inside a month； once I get across。〃
〃Yes； once you get acrost。 But it's the gettin' acrost that worries me。
Well； so long； Smoke。 Keep your eyes open for that hoodoo； that's all。
An' don't be ashamed to turn back if you don't kill any meat。〃
II。
A week later； Smoke found himself among the jumbled ranges south of
Indian River。 On the divide from the Klondike he had abandoned the
sled and packed his wolf…dogs。 The six big huskies each carried fifty
pounds； and on his own back was an equal burden。 Through the soft
snow he led the way； packing it down under his snow…shoes； and behind；
in single file； toiled the dogs。
He loved the life； the deep arctic winter； the silent wilderness； the
unending snow…surface unpressed by the foot of any man。 About him
towered icy peaks unnamed and uncharted。 No hunter's camp… smoke；
rising in the still air of the valleys； ever caught his eye。 He； alone； moved
through the brooding quiet of the untravelled wastes； nor was he
oppressed by the solitude。 He loved it all； the day's toil； the bickering
wolf…dogs； the making of the camp in the long twilight； the leaping stars
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overhead and the flaming pageant of the aurora borealis。
Especially he loved his camp at the end of the day； and in it he saw a
picture which he ever yearned to paint and which he knew he would never
forgeta beaten place in the snow； where burned his fire； his bed； a couple
of rabbit…skin robes spread on fresh…chopped spruce… boughs； his shelter； a
stretched strip of canvas that caught and threw back the heat of the fire；
the blackened coffee…pot and pail resting on a length of log； the moccasins
propped on sticks to dry； the snow…shoes up…ended in the snow； and across
the fire the wolf… dogs snuggling to it for the warmth； wistful and eager；
furry and frost…rimed； with bushy tails curled protectingly over their feet；
and all about； pressed backward but a space； the wall of encircling
darkness。
At such times San Francisco； The Billow； and O'Hara seemed very far
away； lost in a remote past； shadows of dreams that had never happened。
He found it hard to believe that he had known any other life than this of
the wild； and harder still was it for him to reconcile himself to the fact that
he had once dabbled and dawdled in the Bohemian drift of city life。
Alone； with no one to talk to； he thought much； and deeply； and simply。
He was appalled by the wastage of his city years； by the cheapness； now；
of the philosophies of the schools and books； of the clever cynicism of the
studio and editorial room； of the cant of the business men in their clubs。
They knew neither food nor sleep； nor health； nor could they ever possibly
know the sting of real appetite； the goodly ache of fatigue； nor the rush of
mad strong blood that bit like wine through all one's body as work was
done。
And all the time this fine； wise； Spartan North Land had been here；
and he had never known。 What puzzled him was； that； with such
intrinsic fitness； he had never heard the slightest calling whisper； had not
himself gone forth to seek。 But this； too； he solved in time。
〃Look here； Yellow…face； I've got it clear！〃
The dog addressed lifted first one fore…foot and then the other with
quick； appeasing movements； curled his bush of a tail about them again；
and laughed across the fire。
〃Herbert Spencer was nearly forty before he caught the vision of his
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greatest efficiency and desire。 I'm none so slow。 I didn't have to wait
till I was thirty to catch mine。 Right here is my efficiency and desire。
Almost； Yellow Face； do I wish I had been born a wolf… boy and been
brother all my days to you and yours。〃
For days he wandered through a chaos of canyons and divides which
did not yield themselves to any rational topographical plan。 It was as if
they had b
