Under the Great Bear

by Kirk Munroe

  CHAPTER XXVII.

  THE MAN-WOLF'S STORY.

  An accident to the dynamo in that place where there was no fuel, andelectricity must be depended upon for light and heat, was so serious amatter that, for a moment, even Cabot's curiosity concerning his hostwas merged in anxiety.

  "Where shall I find it?" he asked.

  "In the cavern back of this room. The doorway is behind that bearskin.This upper row of keys connects with the storage battery, and thesecond key controls the lights of the dynamo room. If there is a badbreak I can manage to get to it, but I wouldn't try until you came,because I promised not to move."

  All this was said in a voice that faltered from weakness, and a wave ofpity surged in Cabot's breast as he realised how dependent upon himthis man, so recently a mental as well as a physical giant, had become.

  "I expect I shall be able to attend to it all right," he saiddecisively, as he turned on the stored current that would light theunknown cavern. "At any rate, I shall be able to report the conditionof things, so that you can advise me what to do, or else my training isa greater failure than I think."

  With this he lifted the bearskin, opened a door thus disclosed, andfound himself in a small, well-lighted cavern that was at once a dynamoroom, a workshop, and a storehouse for a confused miscellany ofarticles. Without pausing to investigate any of these he went directlyto a dynamo that had been set up at one side and examined it carefully.It appeared in perfect order, and the trouble must evidently be soughtelsewhere.

  Cabot had wondered by what power the dynamo was driven, and now,hearing a sound of running water, he stepped in that direction. Ashort distance away he discovered a swift-flowing subterranean stream,in which revolved a water wheel of rude, but serviceable, construction.As nothing seemed wrong with it, he was obliged to look further, andfinally found the cause of trouble to be a transmitting belt, theworn-out lacing of which had parted. As portions of the belt itselfhad been caught in the pulleys and badly cut, it was necessary to huntthrough the pile of material for a new one, and for leather suitablefor lacing. Then the new belt must be accurately measured, lacedtogether, and adjusted to its pulleys.

  Although the temperature of the cavern was many degrees above that ofthe outside air, it was still so low that Cabot worked slowly and withnumbed fingers. Thus more than an hour had elapsed before the dynamowas again in running order, and he was at liberty to return to theliving room. In the meantime his curiosity concerning this strangeplace of abode and its mysterious tenant was increased by theremarkable collection of articles stored on all sides. There was noend of machinery, tools, and electrical apparatus of all kinds,including miles of copper wire and chemicals for charging batteries.Besides these, there were ropes, canvas, furniture, boxes, barrels, andother things too numerous to mention.

  "What a prize this place would have been for the Indians if they hadever discovered it," reflected the young engineer. "I wonder that hedared go off and leave it unguarded."

  When he finally returned to the outer room, he found it even colderthan the cavern in which he had been working, and realised, as neverbefore, the value of the knowledge that had enabled him to restore theusefulness of that electric heater. After getting it into operation,and making his report to the sick man, who had impatiently awaited him,there was another meal to prepare.

  So, in spite of Cabot's overwhelming desire to hear Mr. Balfour'sstory, there was so much to be done first that the short day had mergedinto another night before the opportunity arrived. When it came, ourlad drew a chair to the bedside of his patient and said:

  "Now, sir, if you feel able to talk, and are willing to tell me how youhappen to be living in this place, I shall be more than glad to listen."

  "I am willing," replied the other, "but must be brief, since talkinghas become an exertion. As perhaps you know, I was a workingelectrician in London, where, though I had a good business, I had notaccumulated much money. Consequently I was greatly pleased to receivewhat promised to be a lucrative contract from a Canadian railwaycompany for supplying and installing a quantity of electrical apparatusalong their line. I at once invested every penny I could raise in thepurchase of material and in the charter of a sailing vessel totransport it to this country. On the eve of sailing I married a younglady to whom I had long been engaged, and, with light hearts, we setforth on our wedding trip across the Atlantic.

  "The first two weeks of that voyage were filled with such happinessthat I trembled for fear it should be snatched from me. During thattime we had fair weather and favouring winds. Then we ran into a galethat lasted for days, and drove us far out of our course. One mastwent by the board, the other was cut away to save the ship, and, whilein this helpless condition, she struck at night, what I afterwardslearned to be, a mass of floating ice. At the time all hands believedus to be on the coast, and the crew, taking our only seaworthy boat,put off in a panic, while I was below preparing my wife for departure.Thus deserted, we awaited the death that we expected with each passingmoment, but it failed to come and the ship still floated. Withearliest daylight I was on deck, and, to my amazement, saw land on bothsides. We had been driven into the mouth of a broad estuary, up whichwind and tide were still carrying us.

  "For three days our helpless drift, to and fro, was continued, and thenour ship grounded on a ledge at the foot of these cliffs. Gettingashore with little difficulty, we were dismayed to find ourselves in anuninhabited wilderness, devoid even of vegetation other than moss andlow growing shrubs. One of my first discoveries was this cavern withits subterranean stream of water, and two openings, one of which giveseasy access to the sea. Knowing that our ship must, sooner or later,go to pieces, and desirous of saving what property I might, I rigged upa derrick at the mouth of the cavern, and, with the aid of my bravewife, transferred everything movable from the wreck; a labour of months.

  "Winter was now at hand, and, foreseeing that we must spend it where wewere, I walled up the openings and made all possible preparations tofight the coming cold. We burned wood from the wreck while it lasted,and in the meantime I labored almost night and day at the establishmentof an electric plant. But the awful winter came and found it stillunfinished, and before the coming of another spring I was left alone."

  Here the speaker paused, overcome as much by his feelings as byweakness, and, during the silence that followed, Cabot stole away,ostensibly to see that the dynamo was running smoothly. When hereturned the narrator had recovered his calmness, and was ready tocontinue his story.

  "She had never been strong," he said, "and I so cruelly allowed her tooverwork herself that she had no strength left with which to fight thewinter. She died in my arms in this very room, and I promised never toleave her. Also, after her death, I vowed that my last words to hershould be my last to any human being, and, until this day, I have keptthat vow, foolish and wicked though it was. I have talked and readaloud when alone, but to no man have I spoken. I have also avoidedintercourse with my fellows, selfishly preferring to nurse my sorrow insinful rebellion against God's will. Now am I justly punished by beingstricken down in the pride of my strength. At the same time God hasshown his everlasting mercy by sending you to me in the time of my soreneed. And you have promised to stay with me until the end, which Ifeel assured is not far off."

  "I trust it may be," said Cabot, "for the world can ill afford to sparea man of your attainments."

  "The world has forgotten me ere this," replied Mr. Balfour, with afaint smile, "and has also managed to get along very well without me.Whether it has or has not I feel that I am shortly to rejoin my dearone."

  "How did it happen? I mean your wound," asked Cabot, abruptly changingthe subject. "Was it an accident?"

  "It may have been, but I believe not. Dressed in wolf skins, I wascreeping up on a small herd of caribou two days ago, when I was shot bysome unknown person, probably an Indian hunting the same game, though Inever saw him. I managed to crawl home, and as I lay here, filled withthe horror of dyin
g alone, the ringing of my alarm bell announced acoming of either man or beast. I found strength to turn on the outerlights and to sound a call for aid on my violin that I hoped would beheard and understood."

  "It was fortunate for me that you did both those things," said Cabot,"for I should certainly have remained where I fell after stumbling overthe wire if it had not been for the combination of light and music.But tell me, sir, why have you masqueraded as a man-wolf?"

  "For convenience in hunting, as well as to inspire terror in the mindsof savages and keep them at a respectful distance from this place."

  "Have they ever troubled you?"

  "At first they were inclined to, but not of late years."

  "Not of late years! Why, sir, how many years have you dwelt in thisplace?"

  "A little more than five."

  "Five years alone and cut off from the world! I should think you wouldfeel like a prisoner shut in a dungeon."

  "No, for I have led the life of my own choice, and it has been full ofactive interests. I have had to hunt, trap, and fish for my ownsupport. I have tried to redress some wrongs, and have been able torelieve much distress among the improvident natives. I have busiedmyself with electrical experiments, and have explored the surroundingcountry for a hundred miles on all sides."

  "Have you discovered any indications of mineral wealth during yourexplorations?" asked the young engineer, recalling his previous thoughton this subject.

  "Quite a number, of which the most important is right here; for thisrange of cliffs is so largely composed of red hematite as to form oneof the richest ore beds in the world."