the faith of men(人们的信任)-第39章
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quick years； down in the world； and； up in the wilds； time had been given
him to organize the confused mass of his experiences。 His superficial
standards had been flung to the winds and new standards erected on
deeper and broader generalizations。 Concerning civilization； he had gone
away with one set of values； had returned with another set of values。
Aided； also； by the earth smells in his nostrils and the earth sights in his
eyes； he laid hold of the inner significance of civilization； beholding with
clear vision its futilities and powers。 It was a simple little philosophy he
evolved。 Clean living was the way to grace。 Duty performed was
sanctification。 One must live clean and do his duty in order that he might
work。 Work was salvation。 And to work toward life abundant； and
more abundant； was to be in line with the scheme of things and the will of
God。
Primarily； he was of the city。 And his fresh earth grip and virile
conception of humanity gave him a finer sense of civilization and
endeared civilization to him。 Day by day the people of the city clung
closer to him and the world loomed more colossal。 And； day by day；
Alaska grew more remote and less real。 And then he met Kitty Sharona
woman of his own flesh and blood and kind； a woman who put her hand
into his hand and drew him to her； till he forgot the day and hour and the
time of the year the first snow flies on the Yukon。
Jees Uck moved into her grand log…house and dreamed away three
golden summer months。 Then came the autumn； post…haste before the
down rush of winter。 The air grew thin and sharp； the days thin and short。
The river ran sluggishly； and skin ice formed in the quiet eddies。 All
migratory life departed south； and silence fell upon the land。 The first
snow flurries came； and the last homing steamboat bucked desperately
into the running mush ice。 Then came the hard ice； solid cakes and
sheets； till the Yukon ran level with its banks。 And when all this ceased
the river stood still and the blinking days lost themselves in the darkness。
John Thompson； the new agent； laughed； but Jees Uck had faith in the
mischances of sea and river。 Neil Bonner might be frozen in anywhere
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between Chilkoot Pass and St。 Michael's； for the last travellers of the year
are always caught by the ice； when they exchange boat for sled and dash
on through the long hours behind the flying dogs。
But no flying dogs came up the trail； nor down the trail； to Twenty
Mile。 And John Thompson told Jees Uck； with a certain gladness ill
concealed； that Bonner would never come back again。 Also； and brutally；
he suggested his own eligibility。 Jees Uck laughed in his face and went
back to her grand log…house。 But when midwinter came； when hope dies
down and life is at its lowest ebb； Jees Uck found she had no credit at the
store。 This was Thompson's doing； and he rubbed his hands； and walked
up and down； and came to his door and looked up at Jees Uck's house and
waited。 And he continued to wait。 She sold her dog…team to a party of
miners and paid cash for her food。 And when Thompson refused to
honour even her coin； Toyaat Indians made her purchases； and sledded
them up to her house in the dark。
In February the first post came in over the ice； and John Thompson
read in the society column of a five…months…old paper of the marriage of
Neil Bonner and Kitty Sharon。 Jees Uck held the door ajar and him
outside while he imparted the information； and； when he had done；
laughed pridefully and did not believe。 In March； and all alone； she gave
birth to a man…child； a brave bit of new life at which she marvelled。 And
at that hour； a year later； Neil Bonner sat by another bed； marvelling at
another bit of new life that had fared into the world。
The snow went off the ground and the ice broke out of the Yukon。 The
sun journeyed north； and journeyed south again； and； the money from the
being spent； Jees Uck went back to her own people。 Oche Ish； a shrewd
hunter； proposed to kill the meat for her and her babe； and catch the
salmon； if she would marry him。 And Imego and Hah Yo and Wy Nooch；
husky young hunters all； made similar proposals。 But she elected to live
alone and seek her own meat and fish。 She sewed moccasins and
PARKAS and mittenswarm； serviceable things； and pleasing to the eye；
withal； what of the ornamental hair…tufts and bead…work。 These she sold
to the miners； who were drifting faster into the land each year。 And not
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only did she win food that was good and plentiful； but she laid money by；
and one day took passage on the Yukon Belle down the river。
At St。 Michael's she washed dishes in the kitchen of the post。 The
servants of the Company wondered at the remarkable woman with the
remarkable child； though they asked no questions and she vouchsafed
nothing。 But just before Bering Sea closed in for the year； she bought a
passage south on a strayed sealing schooner。 That winter she cooked for
Captain Markheim's household at Unalaska； and in the spring continued
south to Sitka on a whisky sloop。 Later on appeared at Metlakahtla；
which is near to St。 Mary's on the end of the Pan…Handle； where she
worked in the cannery through the salmon season。 When autumn came
and the Siwash fishermen prepared to return to Puget Sound； she
embarked with a couple of families in a big cedar canoe； and with them
she threaded the hazardous chaos of the Alaskan and Canadian coasts； till
the Straits of Juan de Fuca were passed and she led her boy by the hand up
the hard pave of Seattle。
There she met Sandy MacPherson； on a windy corner； very much
surprised and； when he had heard her story； very wrothnot so wroth as he
might have been； had he known of Kitty Sharon； but of her Jees Uck
breathed not a word； for she had never believed。 Sandy； who read
commonplace and sordid desertion into the circumstance； strove to
dissuade her from her trip to San Francisco； where Neil Bonner was
supposed to live when he was at home。 And； having striven； he made her
comfortable； bought her tickets and saw her off； the while smiling in her
face and muttering 〃dam…shame〃 into his beard。
With roar and rumble； through daylight and dark； swaying and
lurching between the dawns； soaring into the winter snows and sinking to
summer valleys； skirting depths； leaping chasms； piercing mountains； Jees
Uck and her boy were hurled south。 But she had
