THE WHITE SILENCE.
–
‘CARMEN WON’T LAST MORE than a couple of days.’ Mason spat out a
Chunk of ice and surveyed the poor animal ruefully, then put her
Foot in his mouth and proceeded to bite out the ice which clustered
Cruelly between the toes.
‘I never saw a dog with a highfalutin’ name that ever was worth a
Rap,’ he said, as he concluded his task and shoved her aside. ‘They
Just fade away and die under the responsibility. Did ye ever see one
Go wrong with a sensible name like Cassiar, Siwash, or Husky? No, sir!
Take a look at Shookum here, he’s-‘
Snap! The lean brute flashed up, the white teeth just missing
Mason’s throat.
‘Ye will, will ye?’ A shrewd clout behind the ear with the butt of
The dog whip stretched the animal in the snow, quivering softly, a
Yellow slaver dripping from its fangs.
‘As I was saying, just look at Shookum here – he’s got the spirit.
Bet ye he eats Carmen before the week’s out.’
‘I’ll bank another proposition against that,’ replied Malemute
Kid, reversing the frozen bread placed before the fire to thaw. ‘We’ll
Eat Shookum before the trip is over. What d’ye say, Ruth?’
The Indian woman settled the coffee with a piece of ice, glanced
From Malemute Kid to her husband, then at the dogs, but vouchsafed
No reply. It was such a palpable truism that none was necessary. Two
Hundred miles of unbroken trail in prospect, with a scant six days’
Grub for themselves and none for the dogs, could admit no other
Alternative. The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and
Began their meager meal. The dogs lay in their harnesses for it was
A midday halt, and watched each mouthful enviously.
‘No
more lunches after today,’ said Malemute Kid. ‘And we’ve got
To keep a close eye on the dogs – they’re getting vicious. They’d
Just as soon pull a fellow down as not, if they get a chance.’
‘And I was president of an Epworth once, and taught in the Sunday
School.’ Having irrelevantly delivered himself of this, Mason fell
Into a dreamy contemplation of his steaming moccasins, but was aroused
By Ruth filling his cup. ‘Thank God, we’ve got slathers of tea! I’ve
Seen it growing, down in Tennessee. What wouldn’t I give for a hot
Corn pone just now! Never mind, Ruth; you won’t starve much longer,
Nor wear moccasins either.’
The woman threw off her gloom at this, and in her eyes welled up a
Great love for her white lord – the first white man she had ever
Seen – the first man whom she had known to treat a woman as something
Better than a mere animal or beast of burden.
‘Yes, Ruth,’ continued her husband, having recourse to the macaronic
Jargon in which it was alone possible for them to understand each
Other; ‘wait till we clean up and pull for the Outside. We’ll take the
White Man’s canoe and go to the Salt Water. Yes, bad water, rough
Water – great mountains dance up and down all the time. And so big,
So far, so far away – you travel ten sleep, twenty sleep, forty sleep’-
He graphically enumerated the days on his fingers – ‘all the time
Water, bad water. Then you come to great village, plenty people,
Just the same mosquitoes next summer. Wigwams oh, so high – ten, twenty
Pines. Hi-yu skookum!’
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