the faith of men(人们的信任)-第38章
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clung to him and wept； until the priest wept with him from sheer
compassion。 Then Bonner became madly hilarious and made lavish
entertainment； swearing valiantly that his guest should not depart。 But
Father Champreau was pressing to Salt Water on urgent business for his
order； and pulled out next morning； with Bonner's blood threatened on his
head。
And the threat was in a fair way toward realization； when the Toyaats
returned from their long hunt to the winter camp。 They had many furs；
and there was much trading and stir at Twenty Mile。 Also； Jees Uck came
to buy beads and scarlet cloths and things； and Bonner began to find
himself again。 He fought for a week against her。 Then the end came
one night when she rose to leave。 She had not forgotten her repulse； and
the pride that drove Spike O'Brien on to complete the North…West Passage
by land was her pride。
〃I go now；〃 she said； 〃good…night； Neil。〃
But he came up behind her。 〃Nay； it is not well；〃 he said。
And as she turned her face toward his with a sudden joyful flash； he
bent forward； slowly and gravely； as it were a sacred thing； and kissed her
on the lips。 The Toyaats had never taught her the meaning of a kiss upon
the lips； but she understood and was glad。
With the coming of Jees Uck； at once things brightened up。 She was
regal in her happiness； a source of unending delight。 The elemental
workings of her mind and her naive little ways made an immense sum of
pleasurable surprise to the over…civilized man that had stooped to catch her
up。 Not alone was she solace to his loneliness； but her primitiveness
rejuvenated his jaded mind。 It was as though； after long wandering； he
had returned to pillow his head in the lap of Mother Earth。 In short； in
Jees Uck he found the youth of the worldthe youth and the strength and
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the joy。
And to fill the full round of his need； and that they might not see
overmuch of each other； there arrived at Twenty Mile one Sandy
MacPherson； as companionable a man as ever whistled along the trail or
raised a ballad by a camp…fire。 A Jesuit priest had run into his camp； a
couple of hundred miles up the Yukon； in the nick of time to say a last
word over the body of Sandy's partner。 And on departing； the priest had
said； 〃My son； you will be lonely now。〃 And Sandy had bowed his head
brokenly。 〃At Twenty Mile；〃 the priest added； 〃there is a lonely man。
You have need of each other； my son。〃
So it was that Sandy became a welcome third at the post； brother to the
man and woman that resided there。 He took Bonner moose…hunting and
wolf…trapping； and； in return； Bonner resurrected a battered and way…worn
volume and made him friends with Shakespeare； till Sandy declaimed
iambic pentameters to his sled…dogs whenever they waxed mutinous。
And of the long evenings they played cribbage and talked and disagreed
about the universe； the while Jees Uck rocked matronly in an easy…chair
and darned their moccasins and socks。
Spring came。 The sun shot up out of the south。 The land exchanged
its austere robes for the garb of a smiling wanton。 Everywhere light
laughed and life invited。 The days stretched out their balmy length and
the nights passed from blinks of darkness to no darkness at all。 The river
bared its bosom； and snorting steamboats challenged the wilderness。
There were stir and bustle； new faces； and fresh facts。 An assistant
arrived at Twenty Mile； and Sandy MacPherson wandered off with a
bunch of prospectors to invade the Koyokuk country。 And there were
newspapers and magazines and letters for Neil Bonner。 And Jees Uck
looked on in worriment； for she knew his kindred talked with him across
the world。
Without much shock； it came to him that his father was dead。 There
was a sweet letter of forgiveness； dictated in his last hours。 There were
official letters from the Company； graciously ordering him to turn the post
over to the assistant and permitting him to depart at his earliest pleasure。
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A long； legal affair from the lawyers informed him of interminable lists of
stocks and bonds； real estate； rents； and chattels that were his by his
father's will。 And a dainty bit of stationery； sealed and monogramed；
implored dear Neil's return to his heart…broken and loving mother。
Neil Bonner did some swift thinking； and when the Yukon Belle
coughed in to the bank on her way down to Bering Sea； he departed
departed with the ancient lie of quick return young and blithe on his lips。
〃I'll come back； dear Jees Uck； before the first snow flies；〃 he
promised her； between the last kisses at the gang…plank。
And not only did he promise； but； like the majority of men under the
same circumstances； he really meant it。 To John Thompson； the new
agent； he gave orders for the extension of unlimited credit to his wife； Jees
Uck。 Also； with his last look from the deck of the Yukon Belle； he saw a
dozen men at work rearing the logs that were to make the most
comfortable house along a thousand miles of river frontthe house of Jees
Uck； and likewise the house of Neil Bonnerere the first flurry of snow。
For he fully and fondly meant to come back。 Jees Uck was dear to him；
and； further； a golden future awaited the north。 With his father's money
he intended to verify that future。 An ambitious dream allured him。 With
his four years of experience； and aided by the friendly cooperation of the P。
C。 Company； he would return to become the Rhodes of Alaska。 And he
would return； fast as steam could drive； as soon as he had put into shape
the affairs of his father； whom he had never known； and comforted his
mother； whom he had forgotten。
There was much ado when Neil Bonner came back from the Arctic。
The fires were lighted and the fleshpots slung； and he took of it all and
called it good。 Not only was he bronzed and creased； but he was a new
man under his skin； with a grip on things and a seriousness and control。
His old companions were amazed when he declined to hit up the pace in
the good old way； while his father's crony rubbed hands gleefully； and
became an authority upon the reclamation of wayward and idle youth。
For four years Neil Bonner's mind had lain fallow。 Little that was
new had been added to it； but it had undergone a process of selection。 It
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had； so to say； been purged of the trivial and superfluous。 He had lived
quick years； down in the world； and； up in the wilds； time had been given
him to organi
