the last of the plainsmen- 第23部分

Jones　shot　the　dog；　and　soon　afterward　three　more　that　manifested　signs　of　the　disease。　It　was　an　awful　situation。　To　kill　all　the　dogs　meant　simply　to　sacrifice　his　life　and　Rea's；　it　meant　abandoning　hope　of　ever　reaching　the　cabin。　Then　to　risk　being　bitten　by　one　of　the　poisoned；　maddened　brutes；　to　risk　the　most　horrible　of　agonizing　deathsthat　was　even　worse。

〃Rea；　we've　one　chance；〃　cried　Jones；　with　pale　face。　〃Can　you　hold　the　dogs；　one　by　one；　while　muzzle　them？〃

〃Ho！　Ho！〃　replied　the　giant。　Placing　his　bowie　knife　between　his　teeth；　with　gloved　hands　he　seized　and　dragged　one　of　the　dogs　to　the　campfire。　The　animal　whined　and　protested；　but　showed　no　ill　spirit。　Jones　muzzled　his　jaws　tightly　with　strong　cords。　Another　and　another　were　tied　up；　then　one　which　tried　to　snap　at　Jones　was　nearly　crushed　by　the　giant's　grip。　The　last；　a　surly　brute；　broke　out　into　mad　ravings　the　moment　he　felt　the　touch　of　Jones's　hands；　and　writhing；　frothing；　he　snapped　Jones's　sleeve。　Rea　jerked　him　loose　and　held　him　in　the　air　with　one　arm；　while　with　the　other　he　swung　the　bowie。　They　hauled　the　dead　dogs　out　on　the　snow；　and　returning　to　the　fire　sat　down　to　await　the　cry　they　expected。

Presently；　as　darkness　fastened　down　tight；　it　camethe　same　cry；　wild；　haunting；　mourning。　But　for　hours　it　was　not　repeated。

〃Better　rest　some；〃　said　Rea；　〃I'll　call　you　if　they　come。〃

Jones　dropped　to　sleep　as　he　touched　his　blankets。　Morning　dawned　for　him；　to　find　the　great；　dark；　shadowy　figure　of　the　giant　nodding　over　the　fire。

〃How's　this？　Why　didn't　you　call　me？〃　demanded　Jones。

〃The　wolves　only　fought　a　little　over　the　dead　dogs。〃

On　the　instant　Jones　saw　a　wolf　skulking　up　the　bank。　Throwing　up　his　rifle；　which　he　had　carried　out　of　the　tepee；　he　took　a　snap…shot　at　the　beast。　It　ran　off　on　three　legs；　to　go　out　of　sight　over　the　hank。　Jones　scrambled　up　the　steep；　slippery　place；　and　upon　arriving　at　the　ridge；　which　took　several　moments　of　hard　work；　he　looked　everywhere　for　the　wolf。　In　a　moment　he　saw　the　animal；　standing　still　some　hundred　or　more　paces　down　a　hollow。　With　the　quick　report　of　Jones's　second　shot；　the　wolf　fell　and　rolled　over。　The　hunter　ran　to　the　spot　to　find　the　wolf　was　dead。　Taking　hold　of　a　front　paw；　he　dragged　the　animal　over　the　snow　to　camp。　Rea　began　to　skin　the　animal；　when　suddenly　he　exclaimed：

〃This　fellow's　hind　foot　is　gone！〃

〃That's　strange。　I　saw　it　hanging　by　the　skin　as　the　wolf　ran　up　the　bank。　I'll　look　for　it。〃

By　the　bloody　trail　on　the　snow　he　returned　to　the　place　where　the　wolf　had　fallen；　and　thence　back　to　the　spot　where　its　leg　had　been　broken　by　the　bullet。　He　discovered　no　sign　of　the　foot。

〃Didn't　find　it；　did　you？〃　said　Rea。

〃No；　and　it　appears　odd　to　me。　The　snow　is　so　hard　the　foot　could　not　have　sunk。〃

〃Well；　the　wolf　ate　his　foot；　thet's　what；〃　returned　Rea。　〃Look　at　them　teeth　marks！〃

〃Is　it　possible？〃　Jones　stared　at　the　leg　Rea　held　up。

〃Yes；　it　is。　These　wolves　are　crazy　at　times。　You've　seen　thet。　An'　the　smell　of　blood；　an'　nothin'　else；　mind　you；　in　my　opinion；　made　him　eat　his　own'　foot。　We'll　cut　him　open。〃

Impossible　as　the　thing　seemed　to　Jonesand　he　could　not　but　believe　further　evidence　of　his　own'　eyesit　was　even　stranger　to　drive　a　train　of　mad　dogs。　Yet　that　was　what　Rea　and　he　did；　and　lashed　them；　beat　them　to　cover　many　miles　in　the　long　day's　journey。　Rabies　had　broken　out　in　several　dogs　so　alarmingly　that　Jones　had　to　kill　them　at　the　end　of　the　run。　And　hardly　had　the　sound　of　the　shots　died　when　faint　and　far　away；　but　clear　as　a　bell；　bayed　on　the　wind　the　same　haunting　mourn　of　a　trailing　wolf。

〃Ho！　Ho！　where　are　the　wolves？〃　cried　Rea。

A　waiting；　watching；　sleepless　night　followed。　Again　the　hunters　faced　the　south。　Hour　after　hour；　riding；　running；　walking；　they　urged　the　poor；　jaded；　poisoned　dogs。　At　dark　they　reached　the　head　of　Artillery　Lake。　Rea　placed　the　tepee　between　two　huge　stones。　Then　the　hungry　hunters；　tired；　grim；　silent；　desperate；　awaited　the　familiar　cry。

It　came　on　the　cold　wind；　the　same　haunting　mourn；　dreadful　in　its　significance。

Absence　of　fire　inspirited　the　wary　wolves。　Out　of　the　pale　gloom　gaunt　white　forms　emerged；　agile　and　stealthy；　slipping　on　velvet…padded　feet；　closer；　closer；　closer。　The　dogs　wailed　in　terror。

〃Into　the　tepee！〃　yelled　Rea。

Jones　plunged　in　after　his　comrade。　The　despairing　howls　of　the　dogs；　drowned　in　more　savage；　frightful　sounds；　knelled　one　tragedy　and　foreboded　a　more　terrible　one。　Jones　looked　out　to　see　a　white　mass；　like　leaping　waves　of　a　rapid。

〃Pump　lead　into　thet！〃　cried　Rea。

Rapidly　Jones　emptied　his　rifle　into　the　white　fray。　The　mass　split；　gaunt　wolves　leaped　high　to　fall　back　dead；　others　wriggled　and　limped　away；　others　dragged　their　hind　quarters；　others　darted　at　the　tepee。

〃No　more　cartridges！〃　yelled　Jones。

The　giant　grabbed　the　ax；　and　barred　the　door　of　the　tepee。　Crash！　the　heavy　iron　cleaved　the　skull　of　the　first　brute。　Crash！　it　lamed　the　second。　Then　Rea　stood　in　the　narrow　passage　between　the　rocks；　waiting　with　uplifted　ax。　A　shaggy；　white　demon；　snapping　his　jaws；　sprang　like　a　dog。　A　sodden；　thudding　blow　met　him　and　he　slunk　away　without　a　cry。　Another　rabid　beast　launched　his　white　body　at　the　giant。　Like　a　flash　the　ax　descended。　In　agony　the　wolf　fell；　to　spin　round　and　round；　running　on　his　hind　legs；　while　his　head　and　shoulders　and　forelegs　remained　in　the　snow。　His　back　was　broken。

Jones　crouched　in　the　opening　of　the　tepee；　knife　in　hand。　He　doubted　his　senses。　This　was　a　nightmare。　He　saw　two　wolves　leap　at　once。　He　heard　the　crash　of　the　ax；　he　saw　one　wolf　go　down　and　the　other　slip　under　the　swinging　weapon　to　grasp　the　giant's　hip。　Jones's　heard　the　rend　of　cloth；　and　then　he　pounced　like　a　cat；　to　drive　his　knife　into　the　body　of　the　beast。　Another　nimble　foe　lunged　at　Rea；　to　sprawl　broken　and　limp　from　the　iron。　It　was　a　silent　fight。　The　giant　shut　the　way　to　his　comrade　and　the　calves；　he　made　no　outcry；　he　needed　but　one　blow　for　every　beast；　magnificent；　he　wielded　death　and　faced　itsilent。　He　brought　the　white　wild　dogs　of　the　north　down　with　lightning　blows；　and　when　no　more　sprang　to　the　attack；　down　on　the　frigid　silence　he　rolled　his　cry：　〃Ho！　Ho！〃

〃Rea！　Rea！　how　is　it　with　you？〃　called　Jones；　climbing　out。

〃A　torn　coatno　more；　my　lad。〃

Three　of　the　poor　dogs　were　dead；　the　fourth　and　last　gasped　at　the　hunters　and　died。

The　wintry　night　became　a　thing　of　half…conscious　past；　a　dream　to　the　hunters；　manifesting　its　reality　only　by　the　stark；　stiff　bodies　of　wolves；　white　in　the　gray　morning。

〃If　we　can　eat；　we'll　make　the　cabin；〃　said　Rea。　〃But　the　dogs　an'　wolves　are　poison。〃

〃Shall　I　kill　a　calf？　〃Asked　Jones。

〃Ho！　Ho！　when　hell　freezes　overif　we　must！〃

Jones　found　one　45…90　cartridge　in　all　the　outfit；　and　with　that　in　the　chamber　of　his　rifle；　once　more　struck　south。　Spruce　trees　began　to　show　on　the　barrens　and　caribou　trails　roused　hope　in　the　hearts　of　the　hunters。

〃Look　in　the　spruces；〃　whispered　Jones；　dropping　the　rope　of　his　sled。　Among　the　black　trees　gray　objects　moved。

〃Caribou！〃　said　Rea。　〃Hurry！　Shoot！　Don't　miss！〃

But　Jones　waited。　He　knew　the　value　of　the　last　bullet。　He　had　a　hunter's　patience。　When　the　caribou　came　out　in　an　open　space；　Jones　whistled。　It　was　then　the　rifle　grew　set　and　fixed；　it　was　then　the　red　fire　belched　forth。

At　four　hundred　yards　the　bullet　took　some　fraction　of　time　to　strike。　What　a　long　time　that　was！　Then　both　hunters　heard　the　spiteful　spat　of　the　lead。　The　caribou　fell；　jumped　up；　ran　down　the　slope；　and　fell　again　to　rise　no　more。

An　hour　of　rest；　with　fire　and　meat；　changed　the　world　to　the　hunters；　still　glistening；　it　yet　had　lost　its　bitter　cold　its　deathlike　clutch。

〃What's　this？〃　cried　Jones。

Moccasin　tracks　of　different　sizes；　all　toeing　north；　arrested　the　hunters。

〃Pointed　north！　Wonder　what　thet　means？〃　Rea　plodded　on；　doubtfully　shaking　his　head。

Night　again；　clear；　cold；　silver；　starlit；　silent　night！　The　hunters　rested；　listening　ever　for　the　haunting　mourn。　Day　again；　white；　passionless；　monotonous；　silent　day。　The　hunters　traveled　ononon；　ever　listening　for　the　haunting　mourn。

Another　dusk　found　them　within　thirty　miles　of　their　cabin。　Only　one　more　day　now。

Rea　talked　of　his　furs；　of　the　splendid　white　furs　he　could　not　bring。　Jones　talked　of　his　little　muskoxen　calves　and　joyfully　watched　them　dig　for　moss　in　the　snow。

Vigilance　relaxed　that　night。　Outworn　nature　rebelled；　and　both　hunters　slept。

Rea　awoke　first；　and　kicking　off　the　blankets；　went　out。　His　terrible　roar　of　rage　made　Jones　fly　to　his　side。

Under　the　very　shadow　of　the　tepee；　where　the　little　musk…oxen　had　been　tethered；　they　lay　stretched　out　pathetically　on　crimson　snowstiff　stone…cold；　dead。　Moccasin　tracks　told　the　story　of　the　tragedy。

Jones　leaned　against　his　comrade。

The　giant　raised　his　huge　fist。

〃Jackoway　out　of　wood！　Jackoway　out　of　wood！〃

Then　he　choked。

The　north　wind；　blowing　through　the　thin；　dark；　weird　spruce　trees；　moaned　and　seemed　to　sigh；　〃Naza！　Naza！　Naza！〃



CHAPTER　11。　ON　TO　THE　SIWASH

〃Who　all　was　doin'　the　talkin'　last　night？〃　asked　Frank　next　morning；　when　we　were　having　a　late　breakfast。　〃Cause　I've　a　joke　on　somebody。　Jim　he　talks　in　his　sleep　often；　an'　last　night　after　you　did　finally　get　settled　down；　Jim　he　up　in　his　sleep　an'　says：　'Shore　he's　windy　as　hell！　Shore　he's　windy　as　hell'！〃

At　this　cruel　exposure　of　his　subjective　wanderings；　Jim　showed　extreme　humiliation；　but　Frank's　eyes　fairly　snapped　with　the　fun　he　got　out　of　telling　it。　The　genial　foreman　loved　a　joke。　The　week's　stay　at　Oak；　in　which　we　all　became　thoroughly　acquainted；　had　presented　Jim　as　always　the　same　quiet　character；　easy；　slow；　silent；　lovable。　In　his　brother　cowboy；　however；　we　had　discovered　in　addition　to　his　fine；　frank；　friendly　spirit；　an　overwhelming　fondness　for　playing　tricks。　This　boyish　mischievousness；　distinctly　Arizonian；　reached　its　acme　whenever　it　tended　in　the　direction　of　our　serious　leader。

Lawson　had　been　dispatched　on　some　mysterious　errand　about　which　my　curiosity　was　all　in　vain。　The　order　of　the　day　was　leisur