Children of the Frost

by Children Of The Frost (Pg) [Lit]

  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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  74

  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