登陆注册
5161200000036

第36章 WHERE THE TRAIL FORKS(3)

Wertz and Hawes looked askance at him from time to time, a faint but perceptible trepidation in their manner.Sigmund also felt this.Hitchcock was strong, and his strength had been impressed upon them in the course of many an event in their precarious life.

So they stood in a certain definite awe and curiosity as to what his conduct would be when he moved to action.

But his silence was long, and the fire nigh out, when Wertz stretched his arms and yawned, and thought he'd go to bed.Then Hitchcock stood up his full height.

"May God damn your souls to the deepest hells, you chicken-hearted cowards! I'm done with you!" He said it calmly enough, but his strength spoke in every syllable, and every intonation was advertisement of intention."Come on," he continued, "whack up, and in whatever way suits you best.I own a quarter-interest in the claims; our contracts show that.There're twenty-five or thirty ounces in the sack from the test pans.Fetch out the scales.We'll divide that now.And you, Sigmund, measure me my quarter-share of the grub and set it apart.Four of the dogs are mine, and I want four more.I'll trade you my share in the camp outfit and mining-gear for the dogs.And I'll throw in my six or seven ounces and the spare 45-90 with the ammunition.What d'ye say?"The three men drew apart and conferred.When they returned, Sigmund acted as spokesman."We'll whack up fair with you, Hitchcock.In everything you'll get your quarter-share, neither more nor less; and you can take it or leave it.But we want the dogs as bad as you do, so you get four, and that's all.If you don't want to take your share of the outfit and gear, why, that's your lookout.If you want it, you can have it; if you don't, leave it.""The letter of the law," Hitchcock sneered."But go ahead.I'm willing.And hurry up.I can't get out of this camp and away from its vermin any too quick."The division was effected without further comment.He lashed his meagre belongings upon one of the sleds, rounded in his four dogs, and harnessed up.His portion of outfit and gear he did not touch, though he threw onto the sled half a dozen dog harnesses, and challenged them with his eyes to interfere.But they shrugged their shoulders and watched him disappear in the forest.

A man crawled upon his belly through the snow.On every hand loomed the moose-hide lodges of the camp.Here and there a miserable dog howled or snarled abuse upon his neighbor.Once, one of them approached the creeping man, but the man became motionless.The dog came closer and sniffed, and came yet closer, till its nose touched the strange object which had not been there when darkness fell.Then Hitchcock, for it was Hitchcock, upreared suddenly, shooting an unmittened hand out to the brute's shaggy throat.And the dog knew its death in that clutch, and when the man moved on, was left broken-necked under the stars.In this manner Hitchcock made the chief's lodge.For long he lay in the snow without, listening to the voices of the occupants and striving to locate Sipsu.Evidently there were many in the tent, and from the sounds they were in high excitement.At last he heard the girl's voice, and crawled around so that only the moose-hide divided them.Then burrowing in the snow, he slowly wormed his head and shoulders underneath.When the warm inner air smote his face, he stopped and waited, his legs and the greater part of his body still on the outside.He could see nothing, nor did he dare lift his head.On one side of him was a skin bale.He could smell it, though he carefully felt to be certain.On the other side his face barely touched a furry garment which he knew clothed a body.This must be Sipsu.Though he wished she would speak again, he resolved to risk it.

He could hear the chief and the witch doctor talking high, and in a far corner some hungry child whimpering to sleep.Squirming over on his side, he carefully raised his head, still just touching the furry garment.He listened to the breathing.It was a woman's breathing; he would chance it.

He pressed against her side softly but firmly, and felt her start at the contact.Again he waited, till a questioning hand slipped down upon his head and paused among the curls.The next instant the hand turned his face gently upward, and he was gazing into Sipsu's eyes.

She was quite collected.Changing her position casually, she threw an elbow well over on the skin bale, rested her body upon it, and arranged her parka.In this way he was completely concealed.Then, and still most casually, she reclined across him, so that he could breathe between her arm and breast, and when she lowered her head her ear pressed lightly against his lips.

"When the time suits, go thou," he whispered, "out of the lodge and across the snow, down the wind to the bunch of jackpine in the curve of the creek.There wilt thou find my dogs and my sled, packed for the trail.This night we go down to the Yukon; and since we go fast, lay thou hands upon what dogs come nigh thee, by the scruff of the neck, and drag them to the sled in the curve of the creek."Sipsu shook her head in dissent; but her eyes glistened with gladness, and she was proud that this man had shown toward her such favor.But she, like the women of all her race, was born to obey the will masculine, and when Hitchcock repeated "Go!" he did it with authority, and though she made no answer he knew that his will was law.

"And never mind harness for the dogs," he added, preparing to go.

同类推荐
  • 黄书

    黄书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 剑侠传

    剑侠传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道门语要

    道门语要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 夷氛闻记

    夷氛闻记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 儿科醒

    儿科醒

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 解脱的人生不寂寞

    解脱的人生不寂寞

    解脱是一种心态,它能使你乐观豁达;能使你战胜面临的苦难;能使你淡泊名利,过上真正快乐的生活,解脱的心态能帮助我们获取健康、幸福和财富心态决定命运,只要拥有一个好的心态,就会,人生处处是春天!
  • 弦城

    弦城

    秦舒苒本是大将军府的小姐,却因不服约束的性格意外结识了盛阑王世子顾辞,但她万万没有想到,让她从那个京城的焦点一夜之间变成了人人口中的叛臣之女的,也许是那一场本就不该有的相遇……
  • 阿毗达磨界身足论

    阿毗达磨界身足论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 女高怪谈

    女高怪谈

    那一天,她死了。那一夜,她又活过来了。但是她的灵魂却是寄居在别人的身体里,这难道就是人们常说的借尸还魂?对那些曾经伤害过自己的人,她会如何疯狂地报复?这一切诡异人生的开始,源自于她所遇到的那个神秘少女。
  • 留别复本修古二上人

    留别复本修古二上人

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绝世战灵

    绝世战灵

    昔日强者,虎落平阳。他不甘平庸,誓要报仇雪恨,纵横苍穹,傲世寰宇。可这天下,却对他嗤之以鼻。他无惧冷眼,一人一剑,豪情冲九霄,天地任逍遥……
  • 三国之无赖兵王

    三国之无赖兵王

    穿越三国耍无赖,收猛将纳贤才,美人江山我都要
  • 7 Steps to Midnight

    7 Steps to Midnight

    Government mathematician Chris Barton lives a routine life—until, at the end of an ordinary workday, he finds his car missing from the employee parking lot. When he finally arrives home, there is a stranger living in his house—a man who claims to be him. Thrust suddenly into a surreal world where the evidence of his senses cannot be trusted and strangers are trying to kill him, Chris must avoid violent assassins while following a trail of cryptic clues to regain his life.
  • 倾城绝恋:风尘舞II

    倾城绝恋:风尘舞II

    (新建Q群:108177334加入时请注明身份,谢谢合作!)本文是《倾城绝恋:风尘舞I》大结局的部分,两本均已完成,保质保量,放心阅读!
  • 傻子小姐:爷,你欠抽

    傻子小姐:爷,你欠抽

    昏黄的灯光,不停地在眼前晃来晃去,急速的车轮声响遍了整个长廊,辛怡躺在移动的手术床上,脑中一片空白,眼前呈现的仍然是她死都不愿相信的一幕,那个声称爱她一万年的男人居然拥着别的女人在他们的小窝里尽情的缠绵。“你老婆那么漂亮,为什么你还要来找我?”女人眯着眼,脸上红潮滚滚,男人在她的身上忙碌着。“她,大着肚子,一点情趣也没有,再漂亮的也有审美疲劳不是?我现在是明白了,女人,都一样,实用最重要!”一席话如五雷轰顶,打碎了她整个完美的世界。辛怡倒在了地上,一股鲜血流了出来。随后她便什么也不知道了。手术台上的灯光黄黄的。辛怡下意识地捂住了肚子。“你们,要做什么?不许伤害我的孩子!”如果她失去了心爱的人,那么她不想再失去这个孩子,没有男人,有孩子她就不会寂寞了不是吗?“孩子已经没有了,你的子宫受了极大的伤害,我们现在要切掉它,你安静一点,麻药已经用了,你,睡吧!”医生冷冰冰的声音传来,辛怡再次跌入了无边的黑暗。醒过来的世界与她原先的有点不一样,居然是个穿古装的地方。“你是谁?”辛怡瞪着面前的男人。“我们订过亲了,下个月我们就要成亲了。”男人看着面前如花似玉的美人,恨不能立马吃了。虽然是个傻子,但是不妨碍他不是吗?他肯娶她,辛家把他当大恩人呢,他以后这一生都不用愁了,男人算计的眼光让辛怡感到了一阵寒冷。“是吗?订过亲?我怎么不知道?现在我可以肯定地告诉你,我不会嫁给你,你不配!”辛怡的话让男人傻眼。为什么男人可以三妻四妾,即便到了现代男人的这种劣根性都没有改变,为什么女人不能三夫四侍,我,不介意多几个二爷!本文*P,不喜勿入,喜欢的亲们票票,钻石,鲜花,谢谢!推荐好友的新文!