man all his days, he said, as the people knew. Also the people knew that it
were a greater honor to die fighting in battle than on the soft skins by the
fire. And since I was to die anyway, it were well that I should go against
the Mukumuks and be slain. Thus would I attain honor and chieftainship
in the final abode of the dead, and thus would honor remain to my father,
who was the Otter Wherefore he gave command that a war party be made
ready to go down the river. And that when we came upon the Mukumuks I
was to go forth alone from my party, giving semblance of battle and so be
slain."
"Nay, but hear, O White Man!" cried Mutsak, unable longer to contain
himself. "Skolka, the shaman, whispered long that night in the ear of the
Otter and it was his doing that Lone Chief should be sent forth to die. For
the Otter being old, and Lone Chief the last of his sons, Skolka had it in
mind to become chief himself over the people. And when the people had
made great noise for a day and a night and Lone Chief was yet alive,
Skolka was become afraid that he would not die. So it was the counsel of
Skolka, with fine words of honor and deeds, that spoke through the mouth
of the Otter
"Ay," replied Lone Chief. "Well did I know it was the doing of Skolka,
but I was unmindful, being very sick. I had no heart for anger, nor belly
for stout words, and I cared lime, one way or the other, only I cared to die
and have done with it all. So, O White Man, the war party was made
ready. No tried fighters were there, nor elders, crafty and wise— naught
but five score of young men who had seen lime fighting. And all the
village gathered together above the bank of the river to see us depart. And
we departed amid great rejoicing and the singing of my praises. Even thou,
O White Man, wouldst rejoice at sight of a young man going forth to
baKle, even though doomed to die.
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"So we went forth, the five score young men, and Mutsak came also, for
he was likewise young and untried. And by command of my father, the
Otter my canoe was lashed on either side to the canoe of Mutsak and the
canoe of Kannakut. Thus was my strength saved me from the work of the
paddles, so that, for all of my sickness, I might make a brave show at the
end. And thus we went down the river.
"Nor will I weary thee with the tale of the journey, which was not long.
And not far above the village of the Mukumuks we came upon two of their
fighting men in canoes, that fled at the sight of us. And then, according to
the command of my father, my canoe was cast loose and I was left to drift
down all alone. Also, according to his command, were the young men to
see me die, so that they might return and tell the manner of my death.
Upon this, my father, the Otter and Skolka, the shaman, had been very
clear, with stern promises of punishment in case they were not obeyed.
"I dipped my paddle and shouted words of scorn after the fleeing warriors.
And the vile things I shouted made them turn their heads in anger, when
they beheld that the young men held back, and that I came on alone.
Whereupon, when they had made a safe distance, the two warriors drew
their canoes somewhat apart and waited side by side for me to come
between. And I came between, spear in hand, and singing the war-song of
my people. Each flung a spear, but I bent my body, and the spears
whistled over me, and I was unhurt. Then, and we were all together, we
three, I cast my spear at the one to the right, and it drove into his throat
and he pitched backward into the water.
"Great was my surprise thereat, for I had killed a man. I turned to the one
on the left and drove strong with my paddle, to meet Death face to face;
but the man's second spear, which was his last, but bit into the flesh of my
shoulder. Then was I upon him, making no cast, but pressing the point into
his breast and working it through him with both my hands. And while I
worked, pressing with all my strength, he smote me upon my head, once
and twice, with the broad of his paddle.
"Even as the point of the spear sprang out beyond his back, he smote me
upon the head. There was a flash, as of bright light, and inside my head I
felt something give, with a snap—just like that, with a snap. And the
weight that pressed above my eyes so long was lifted, and the band that
bound my brows so tight was broken. And a great gladness came upon me,
and my heart sang with joy.
"This be death, I thought; wherefore I thought that death was very good.
And then I saw the two empty canoes, and I knew that I was not dead, but
well again. The blows of the man upon my head had made me well. I
knew that I had killed, and the taste of the blood made me fierce and I
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drove my paddle into the breast of the Yukon and urged my canoe toward
the village of the Mukumuks. The young men behind me gave a great cry.
I looked over my shoulder and saw the water foaming white from their
paddles—"
"Ay, it foamed white from our paddles," said Mutsak. "For we
remembered the command of the Otter and of Skolka, that we behold with
our own eyes the manner of Lone Chief's death. A young man of the
Mukumuks, on his way to a salmon trap, beheld the coming of Lone
Chief, and of the five score men behind him. And the young man fled in
his canoe, straight for the village, that alarm might be given and
preparation made. But Lone Chief hurried after him, and we hurried after
Lone Chief to behold the manner of his death. Only, in the face of the
village, as the young man leaped to the shore, Lone Chief rose up in his
canoe and made a mighty cast. And the spear entered the body of the
young man above the hips, and the young man fell upon his face.
Whereupon Lone Chief leaped up the bank war-club in hand and a great
war-cry on his lips, and dashed into the village. The first man he met was
Itwilie, chief over the Mukumuks, and him Lone Chief smote upon the
head with his war-club, so that he fell dead upon the ground. And for fear
we might not behold the manner of his death, we too, the five score young
men, leaped to the shore and followed Lone Chief into the village. Only
the Mukumuks did not understand, and thought we had come to fight; so
their bow-thongs sang and their arrows whistled among us. Whereat we
forgot our errand, and fell upon them with our spears and clubs; and they
being unprepared, there was great slaughter—"
"With my own hands I slew their shaman," proclaimed Lone Chief, his
withered face a-work with memory of that old-time day. "With my own
hands I slew him, who was a greater shaman than Skolka, our own
shaman. And each time I faced a man, I thought, 'Now cometh Death; and
each time I slew the man, and Death came not. It seemed the breath of life
was strong in my nostrils and I could not die—"
"And we followed Lone Chief the length of the village and back again,"
continu
ed Mutsak. "Like a pack of wolves we followed him, back and
forth, and here and there, till there were no more Mukumuks left to fight.
Then we gathered together five score men- slaves, and double as many
women, and countless children, and we set fire and burned all the houses
and lodges, and departed. And that was the last of the Mukumuks."
"And that was the last of the Mukumuks," Lone Chief repeated exultantly.
"And when we came to our own village, the people were amazed at our
burden of wealth and slaves, and in that I was still alive they were more
amazed. And my father, the Otter, came trembling with gladness at the
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things I had done. For he was an old man, and I the last of his sons. And
all the tried fighting men came, and the crafty and wise, till all the people
were gathered together. And then I arose, and with a voice like thunder,
commanded Skolka, the shaman, to stand forth—"
"Ay, O White Man," exclaimed Mutsak. ``With a voice like thunder, that
made the people shake at the knees and become afraid.',
"And when Skolka had stood forth," Lone Chief went on, "I said that I was
not minded to die. Also I said it were not well that disappointment come to
the evil spirits that wait beyond the grave. Wherefore I deemed it fit that
the soul of Skolka fare forth into the Unknown, where doubtless it would
howl forever in the dark and endless forest. And then I slew him, as he
stood there, in the face of all the people. Even I, Lone Chief, with my own
hands, slew Skolka, the shaman, in the face of all the people. And when a
murmuring arose, I cried aloud—"
"With a voice like thunder," prompted Mutsak.
"Ay, with a voice like thunder I cried aloud: 'Behold, O ye people! I am
Lone Chief, slayer of Skolka, the false shaman! Alone among men, have I
passed down through the gateway of Death and returned again. Mine eyes
have looked upon the unseen things. Mine ears have heard the unspoken
words. Greater am I than Skolka, the shaman. Greater than all shamans am
I. Likewise am I a greater chief than my father, the Otter. All his days did
he fight with the Mukumuks, and lo, in one day have I destroyed them all.
As with the breathing of a breath have I destroyed them. Wherefore, my
father, the Otter, being old, and Skolka, the shaman, being dead, I shall be
both chief and shaman. Henceforth shall I be both chief and shaman to
you, O my people. And if any man dispute my word, let that man stand
forth!'
"I waited, but no man stood forth. Then I cried: 'Hoh! I have tasted blood!
Now bring meat, for I am hungry. Break open the caches, tear down the
fish-racks, and let the feast be big. Let there be merriment, and songs, not
of burial, but marriage. And last of all, let the girl Kasaan be brought. The
girl Kasaan, who is to be the mother of the children of Lone Chief!'
"And at my words, and because that he was very old, my father, the Otter,
wept like a woman, and put his arms about my knees. And from that day I
was both chief and shaman. And great honor was mine, and all men
yielded me obedience."
"Until the steamboat came," Mutsak prompted.
"Ay," said Lone Chief. "Until the steamboat came."
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KEESH, SON OF KEESH
(First published in Ainslee's Magazine, Jan, 1902)
"THUS will I give six blankets, warm and double; six files, large and hard;
six Hudson Bay knives, keen-edged and long; two canoes, the work of
Mogum, The Maker of Things; ten dogs, heavy-shouldered and strong in
the harness; and three guns—the trigger of one be broken, but it is a good
gun and can doubtless be mended."
Keesh paused and swept his eyes over the circle of intent faces. It was the
time of the Great Fishing, and he was bidding to Gnob for Su- Su his
daughter. The place was the St. George Mission by the Yukon, and the
tribes had gathered for many a hundred miles. From north, south, east, and
west they had come, even from Tozikakat and far Tana-naw.
"And further, O Gnob, thou art chief of the Tana-naw; and I, Keesh, the
son of Keesh, am chief of the Thlunget. Wherefore, when my seed springs
from the loins of thy daughter, there shall be a friendship between the
tribes, a great friendship, and Tana-naw and Thlunget shall be brothers of
the blood in the time to come. What I have said I will do, that will I do.
And how is it with you, O Gnob, in this matter?"
Gnob nodded his head gravely, his gnarled and age-twisted face
inscrutably masking the soul that dwelt behind. His narrow eyes burned
like twin coals through their narrow slits, as he piped in a high- cracked
voice, "But that is not all."
"What more?" Keesh demanded. "Have I not offered full measure? Was
there ever yet a Tana-naw maiden who fetched so great a price? Then
name her! "An open snicker passed round the circle, and Keesh knew that
he stood in shame before these people.
"Nay, nay, good Keesh, thou cost not understand." Gnob made a soft,
stroking gesture. "The price is fair. It is a good price. Nor do I question the
broken trigger. But that is not all. What of the man ?"
"Ay, what of the man ?" the circle snarled.
"It is said," Gnob's shrill voice piped, "it is said that Keesh does not walk
in the way of his fathers. It is said that he has wandered into the dark, after
strange gods, and that he is become afraid."
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The face of Keesh went dark. "It is a lie!" he thundered. "Keesh is afraid
of no man !"
"It is said," old Gnob piped on, "that he has harkened to the speech of the
white man up at the Big House, and that he bends head to the white man's
god, and, moreover, that blood is displeasing to the white man's god."
Keesh dropped his eyes, and his hands clenched passionately. The savage
circle laughed derisively, and in the ear of Gnob whispered Madwan, the
shaman, high-priest of the tribe and maker of medicine.
The shaman poked among the shadows on the rim of the firelight and
roused up a slender young boy, whom he brought face to face with Keesh;
and in the hand of Keesh he thrust a knife.
Gnob leaned forward. "Keesh! O Keesh! Darest thou to kill a man?
Behold! This be Kitz-noo, a slave. Strike, O Keesh, strike with the
strength of thy arm!"
The boy trembled and waited the stroke. Keesh looked at him, and
thoughts of Mr. Brown's higher morality floated through his mind, and
strong upon him was a vision of the leaping flames of Mr. Brown's
particular brand of hell-fire. The knife fell to the ground, and the boy
sighed and went out beyond the firelight with shaking knees. At the feet of
Gnob sprawled a wolf-dog, which bared its gleaming teeth and prepared to
spring after the boy. But the shaman ground his foot into the brute's body,
and so doing, gave Gnob an idea.
"And then, O Keesh, what wouldst thou do, should a man do this thing to
; you?"—as he spoke, Gnob held a ribbon of salmon to White Fang, and
when the animal attempted to take it, smote him sharply on the nose with a
stick. "And afterward, O Keesh, wouldst thou do thus ?"—White Fang
was cringing back on his belly and fawning to the hand of Gnob.
"Listen!"—leaning on the arm of Madwan, Gnob had risen to his feet. "I
am very old, and because I am very old I will tell thee things. Thy father,
Keesh, was a mighty man. And he did love the song of the bowstring in
battle, and these eyes have beheld him cast a spear till the head stood out
beyond a man's body. But thou art unlike. Since thou left the Raven to
worship the Wolf, thou art become afraid of blood, and thou makest thy
people afraid. This is not good. For behold, when I was a boy, even as
Kitz-noo there, there was no white man in all the land. But they came, one
by one, these white men, till now they are many. And they are a restless
breed, never content to rest by the fire with a full belly and let the morrow
bring its own meat. A curse was laid upon them, it would seem, and they
must work it out in toil and hardship."
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Keesh was startled. A recollection of a hazy story told by Mr. Brown of
one Adam, of old time, came to him, and it seemed that Mr. Brown had
spoken true.
"So they lay hands upon all they behold, these white men, and they go
everywhere and behold all things. And ever do more follow in their steps,
so that if nothing be done they will come to possess all the land and there
will be no room for the tribes of the Raven. Wherefore it is meet that we
fight with them till none are left. Then will we hold the passes and the
land, and perhaps our children and our children's children shall flourish
and grow fat. There is a great struggle to come, when Wolf and Raven
shall grapple; but Keesh will not fight, nor will he let his people fight. So
it is not well that he should take to him my daughter. Thus have I spoken,
I, Gnob, chief of the Tana-naw."
"But the white men are good and great," Keesh made answer. "The white
men have taught us many things. The white men have given us blankets
and knives and guns, such as we have never made and never could make. I
remember in what manner we lived before they came. I was unborn then,
but I have it from my father. When we went on the hunt we must creep so
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