the faith of men(人们的信任)-第7章
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on hastily。 'So I was made aware of my foolishness and of Moosu's
wisdom； of my own unfitness and of Moosu's fitness。 And because of
this； being no longer mad； I make acknowledgment and rectify evil。 I did
cast unrighteous eyes upon Kluktu； and lo； she was sealed to Moosu。 Yet
is she mine； for did I not pay to Tummasook the goods of purchase？ But
I am well unworthy of her； and she shall go from the igloo of her father to
the igloo of Moosu。 Can the moon shine in the sunshine？ And further；
Tummasook shall keep the goods of purchase； and she be a free gift to
Moosu； whom God hath ordained her rightful lord。
〃'And further yet； because I have used my wealth unwisely； and to
oppress ye； O my children； do I make gifts of the kerosene can to Moosu；
and the gooseneck； and the gun…barrel； and the copper kettle。 Therefore；
I can gather to me no more possessions； and when ye are athirst for hooch；
he will quench ye and without robbery。 For he is a great man； and God
speaketh through his lips。
〃'And yet further； my heart is softened； and I have repented me of my
madness。 I； who am a fool and a son of fools； I； who am the slave of the
bad god Biz…e…Nass； I； who see thy empty bellies and knew not wherewith
to fill themwhy shall I be chief； and sit above thee； and rule to thine own
destruction？ Why should I do this； which is not good？ But Moosu；
who is shaman； and who is wise above men； is so made that he can rule
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with a soft hand and justly。 And because of the things I have related do I
make abdication and give my chiefship to Moosu； who alone knoweth
how ye may be fed in this day when there be no meat in the land。'
〃At this there was a great clapping of hands； and the people cried；
'KLOSHE！ KLOSHE！' which means 'good。' I had seen the wonder…
worry in Moosu's eyes； for he could not understand； and was fearful of my
white man's wisdom。 I had met his wishes all along the line； and even
anticipated some； and standing there； self…shorn of all my power； he knew
the time did not favour to stir the people against me。
〃Before they could disperse I made announcement that while the still
went to Moosu； whatever hooch I possessed went to the people。 Moosu
tried to protest at this； for never had we permitted more than a handful to
be drunk at a time； but they cried； 'KLOSHE！ KLOSHE！' and made
festival before my door。 And while they waxed uproarious without； as
the liquor went to their heads； I held council within with Angeit and the
faithful ones。 I set them the tasks they were to do； and put into their
mouths the words they were to say。 Then I slipped away to a place back
in the woods where I had two sleds； well loaded； with teams of dogs that
were not overfed。 Spring was at hand； you see； and there was a crust to
the snow； so it was the best time to take the way south。 Moreover； the
tobacco was gone。 There I waited； for I had nothing to fear。 Did they
bestir themselves on my trail； their dogs were too fat； and themselves too
lean； to overtake me； also； I deemed their bestirring would be of an order
for which I had made due preparation。
〃First came a faithful one； running； and after him another。 'O master；'
the first cried； breathless； 'there be great confusion in the village； and no
man knoweth his own mind； and they be of many minds。 Everybody
hath drunken overmuch； and some be stringing bows； and some be
quarrelling one with another。 Never was there such a trouble。'
〃And the second one： 'And I did as thou biddest； O master；
whispering shrewd words in thirsty ears； and raising memories of the
things that were of old time。 The woman Ipsukuk waileth her poverty
and the wealth that no longer is hers。 And Tummasook thinketh himself
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once again chief； and the people are hungry and rage up and down。'
〃And a third one： 'And Neewak hath overthrown the altars of Moosu；
and maketh incantation before the time…honoured and ancient gods。 And
all the people remember the wealth that ran down their throats； and which
they possess no more。 And first； Esanetuk； who be SICK TUMTUM；
fought with Kluktu； and there was much noise。 And next； being
daughters of the one mother； did they fight with Tukeliketa。 And after that
did they three fall upon Moosu； like wind…squalls； from every hand； till he
ran forth from the igloo； and the people mocked him。 For a man who
cannot command his womankind is a fool。'
〃Then came Angeit： 'Great trouble hath befallen Moosu； O master；
for I have whispered to advantage； till the people came to Moosu； saying
they were hungry and demanding the fulfilment of prophecy。 And there
was a loud shout of 〃Itlwillie！ Itlwillie！〃 （Meat。） So he cried peace to
his womenfolk； who were overwrought with anger and with hooch； and
led the tribe even to thy meat caches。 And he bade the men open them
and be fed。 And lo； the caches were empty。 There was no meat。 They
stood without sound； the people being frightened； and in the silence I lifted
my voice。 〃O Moosu； where is the meat？ That there was meat we
know。 Did we not hunt it and drag it in from the hunt？ And it were a lie
to say one man hath eaten it； yet have we seen nor hide nor hair。 Where
is the meat； O Moosu？ Thou hast the ear of God。 Where is the meat？〃
〃'And the people cried； 〃Thou hast the ear of God。 Where is the
meat？〃 And they put their heads together and were afraid。 Then I went
among them； speaking fearsomely of the unknown things； of the dead that
come and go like shadows and do evil deeds； till they cried aloud in terror
and gathered all together； like little children afraid of the dark。 Neewak
made harangue； laying this evil that had come upon them at the door of
Moosu。 When he had done； there was a furious commotion； and they
took spears in their hands； and tusks of walrus； and clubs； and stones from
the beach。 But Moosu ran away home； and because he had not drunken of
hooch they could not catch him； and fell one over another and made haste
slowly。 Even now they do howl without his igloo； and his woman… folk
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within； and what of the noise； he cannot make himself heard。'
〃'O Angeit； thou hast done well；' I commanded。 'Go now； taking this
empty sled and the lean dogs； and ride fast to the igloo of Moosu； and
before the people； who are drunken； are aware； throw him quick upon the
sled and bring him to me。'
〃I waited and gave good advice to the faithful ones till Angeit returned。
Moosu was on the sled； and I saw by the fingermarks on his face that his
womankind had done well by him。 But he tumbled off and fell in the
snow at my feet； crying： 'O master； thou wilt forgive Moosu； thy servant；
for the wrong things he has done！ Thou art a great man！ Surely wilt
thou forgive！'
〃'Call me 〃brother；〃 Moosucall me 〃brother；〃' I chided； lifting him to
his feet with the toe of my moccasin。 'Wilt thou evermore obey？'
〃'Yea； master；' he whimpered； 'evermore。'
〃'Then dispose thy body； so； across the sled；' I shifted the dogwhip to
my right hand。 'And direct thy face downwards； toward the snow。 And
make haste； for we journey south this day。' And when he was well fixed I
laid the lash upon him； reciting； at every stroke； the wrongs he had done
me。 'This for thy disobedience in generalwhack！ And this for thy
disobedience in particular whack！ whack！ And this for Esanetuk！
And this for thy soul's welfare！ And this for the grace of thy authority！
And this for Kluktu！ And this for thy rights God…given！ And this for
thy fat firstlings！ And this and this for thy income…tax and thy loaves and
fishes！ And this for all thy disobedience！ And this； finally； that thou
mayest henceforth walk softly and with understanding！ Now cease thy
sniffling and get up！ Gird on thy snowshoes and go to the fore and break
trail for the dogs。 CHOOK！ MUSH…ON！ Git！'〃
Thomas Stevens smiled quietly to himself as he lighted his fifth cigar
and sent curling smoke…rings ceilingward。
〃But how about the people of Tattarat？〃 I asked。 〃Kind of rough；
wasn't it； to leave them flat with famine？〃
And he answered； laughing； between two smoke…rings； 〃Were there
not the fat dogs？〃
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THE FAITH OF MEN
〃Tell you what we'll do； we'll shake for it。〃
〃That suits me；〃 said the second man； turning； as he spoke； to the
Indian that was mending snow…shoes in a corner of the cabin。 〃Here； you
Billebedam； take a run down to Oleson's cabin like a good fellow； and tell
him we want to borrow his dice box。〃
This sudden request in the midst of a council on wages of men； wood；
and grub surprised Billebedam。 Besides； it was early in the day； and he
had never known white men of the calibre of Pentfield and Hutchinson to
dice and play till the day's work was done。 But his face was impassive as
a Yukon Indian's should be； as he pulled on his mittens and went out the
door。
Though eight o'clock； it was still dark outside；
