按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Climb out； dad；〃 Liverpool commanded as he prepared to swing from
the bank and enter the rapids。
Old Tarwater shook his white head。
〃I'm sticking to the outfit；〃 he declared。 〃It's the only way to get
through。 You see； son； I'm going to Klondike。 If I stick by the boat；
then the boat just naturally goes to Klondike； too。 If I get out； then most
likely you'll lose the boat。〃
〃Well； there's no use in overloading；〃 Charles announced； springing
abruptly out on the bank as the boat cast off。
〃Next time you wait for my orders！〃 Liverpool shouted ashore as the
current gripped the boat。 〃And there won't be any more walking around
rapids and losing time waiting to pick you up！〃
What took them ten minutes by river； took Charles half an hour by
land； and while they waited for him at the head of Lake Bennett they
passed the time of day with several dilapidated old…timers on their way out。
The famine news was graver than ever。 The North… west Mounted Police；
stationed at the foot of Lake Marsh where the gold…rushers entered
Canadian territory； were refusing to let a man past who did not carry with
him seven hundred pounds of grub。 In Dawson City a thousand men；
with dog…teams； were waiting the freeze…up to come out over the ice。
The trading companies could not fill their grub…contracts； and partners
were cutting the cards to see which should go and which should stay and
work the claims。
〃That settles it；〃 Charles announced； when he learned of the action of
the mounted police on the boundary。 〃Old Man； you might as well start
back now。〃
60
… Page 61…
THE RED ONE
〃Climb aboard！〃 Liverpool commanded。 〃We're going to Klondike；
and old dad is going along。〃
A shift of gale to the south gave them a fair wind down Lake Bennett；
before which they ran under a huge sail made by Liverpool。 The heavy
weight of outfit gave such ballast that he cracked on as a daring sailor
should when moments counted。 A shift of four points into the south…west；
coming just at the right time as they entered upon Caribou Crossing； drove
them down that connecting link to lakes Tagish and Marsh。 In stormy
sunset and twilight … they made the dangerous crossing of Great Windy
Arm； wherein they beheld two other boat…loads of gold…rushers capsize
and drown。
Charles was for beaching for the night； but Liverpool held on； steering
down Tagish by the sound of the surf on the shoals and by the occasional
shore…fires that advertised wrecked or timid argonauts。 At four in the
morning； he aroused Charles。 Old Tarwater； shiveringly awake； heard
Liverpool order Crayton aft beside him at the steering…sweep； and also
heard the one…sided conversation。 〃Just listen； friend Charles； and keep
your own mouth shut；〃 Liverpool began。 〃I want you to get one thing
into your head and keep it there： OLD DAD'S GOING BY THE
POLICE。 UNDERSTAND？ HE'S GOING BY。 When they examine
our outfit； old dad's got a fifth share in it； savvee？ That'll put us all 'way
under what we ought to have； but we can bluff it through。 Now get this；
and get it hard： THERE AIN'T GOING TO BE ANY FALL…DOWN ON
THIS BLUFF … 〃
〃If you think I'd give away on the old codger … 〃 Charles began
indignantly。
〃You thought that；〃 Liverpool checked him； 〃because I never
mentioned any such thing。 Now … get me and get me hard： I don't care
what you've been thinking。 It's what you're going to think。 We'll make
the police post some time this afternoon； and we've got to get ready to pull
the bluff without a hitch； and a word to the wise is plenty。〃
〃If you think I've got it in my mind … 〃 Charles began again。
〃Look here；〃 Liverpool shut him off。 〃I don't know what's in your
mind。 I don't want to know。 I want you to know what's in my mind。 If
61
… Page 62…
THE RED ONE
there's any slip…up； if old dad gets turned back by the police； I'm going to
pick out the first quiet bit of landscape and take you ashore on it。 And
then I'm going to beat you up to the Queen's taste。 Get me； and get me
hard。 It ain't going to be any half…way beating； but a real； two…legged；
two…fisted； he…man beating。 I don't expect I'll kill you； but I'll come
damn near to half…killing you。〃
〃But what can I do？〃 Charles almost whimpered。
〃Just one thing；〃 was Liverpool's final word。 〃You just pray。 You
pray so hard that old dad gets by the police that he does get by。 That's all。
Go back to your blankets。〃
Before they gained Lake Le Barge； the land was sheeted with snow
that would not melt for half a year。 Nor could they lay their boat at will
against the bank； for the rim…ice was already forming。 Inside the mouth of
the river； just ere it entered Lake Le Barge； they found a hundred storm…
bound boats of the argonauts。 Out of the north； across the full sweep of
the great lake； blew an unending snow gale。 Three mornings they put out
and fought it and the cresting seas it drove that turned to ice as they fell in…
board。 While the others broke their hearts at the oars； Old Tarwater
managed to keep up just sufficient circulation to survive by chopping ice
and throwing it overboard。
Each day for three days； beaten to helplessness； they turned tail on the
battle and ran back into the sheltering river。 By the fourth day； the
hundred boats had increased to three hundred； and the two thousand
argonauts on board knew that the great gale heralded the freeze…up of Le
Barge。 Beyond； the rapid rivers would continue to run for days； but
unless they got beyond； and immediately； they were doomed to be frozen
in for six months to come。
〃This day we go through；〃 Liverpool announced。 〃We turn back for
nothing。 And those of us that dies at the oars will liv