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him go； but she said it so softly that even Old Kinoos did not
hear； and his ears were over keen； what of his blindness。
Three days later； having with craft ill…concealed his hiding…place；
Negore was dragged forth like a rat and brought before Ivan … 〃Ivan
the Terrible〃 he was known by the men who marched at his back。
Negore was armed with a miserable bone…barbed spear； and he kept
his rabbit…skin robe wrapped closely about him； and though the day
was warm he shivered as with an ague。 He shook his head that he
did not understand the speech Ivan put at him； and made that he was
very weary and sick； and wished only to sit down and rest； pointing
the while to his stomach in sign of his sickness； and shivering
fiercely。 But Ivan had with him a man from Pastolik who talked the
speech of Negore； and many and vain were the questions they asked
him concerning his tribe； till the man from Pastolik； who was
called Karduk； said：
〃It is the word of Ivan that thou shalt be lashed till thou diest
if thou dost not speak。 And know； strange brother； when I tell
thee the word of Ivan is the law； that I am thy friend and no
friend of Ivan。 For I come not willingly from my country by the
sea； and I desire greatly to live； wherefore I obey the will of my
master … as thou wilt obey； strange brother； if thou art wise； and
wouldst live。〃
〃Nay； strange brother；〃 Negore answered； 〃I know not the way my
people are gone； for I was sick； and they fled so fast my legs gave
out from under me； and I fell behind。〃
Negore waited while Karduk talked with Ivan。 Then Negore saw the
Russian's face go dark； and he saw the men step to either side of
him； snapping the lashes of their whips。 Whereupon he betrayed a
great fright； and cried aloud that he was a sick man and knew
nothing； but would tell what he knew。 And to such purpose did he
tell； that Ivan gave the word to his men to march； and on either
side of Negore marched the men with the whips； that he might not
run away。 And when he made that he was weak of his sickness； and
stumbled and walked not so fast as they walked； they laid their
lashes upon him till he screamed with pain and discovered new
strength。 And when Karduk told him all would he well with him when
they had overtaken his tribe； he asked； 〃And then may I rest and
move not？〃
Continually he asked； 〃And then may I rest and move not？〃
And while he appeared very sick and looked about him with dull
eyes； he noted the fighting strength of Ivan's men； and noted with
satisfaction that Ivan did not recognize him as the man he had
beaten before the gates of the fort。 It was a strange following
his dull eyes saw。 There were Slavonian hunters； fair…skinned and
mighty…muscled； short； squat Finns； with flat noses and round
faces； Siberian half…breeds； whose noses were more like eagle…
beaks； and lean； slant…eyed men； who bore in their veins the Mongol
and Tartar blood as well as the blood of the Slav。 Wild
adventurers they were； forayers and destroyers from the far lands
beyond the Sea of Bering； who blasted the new and unknown world
with fire and sword and clutched greedily for its wealth of fur and
hide。 Negore looked upon them with satisfaction； and in his mind's
eye he saw them crushed and lifeless at the passage up the rocks。
And ever he saw； waiting for him at the passage up the rocks； the
face and the form of Oona； and ever he heard her voice in his ears
and felt the soft； warm glow of her eyes。 But never did he forget
to shiver； nor to stumble where the footing was rough； nor to cry
aloud at the bite of the lash。 Also； he was afraid of Karduk； for
he knew him for no true man。 His was a false eye； and an easy
tongue … a tongue too easy； he judged； for the awkwardness of
honest speech。
All that day they marched。 And on the next； when Karduk asked him
at command of Ivan； he said he doubted they would meet with his
tribe till the morrow。 But Ivan； who had once been shown the way
by Old Kinoos； and had found that way to lead through the white
water and a deadly fight； believed no more in anything。 So when
they came to a passage up the rocks； he halted his forty men； and
through Karduk demanded if the way were clear。
Negore looked at it shortly and carelessly。 It was a vast slide
that broke the straight wall of a cliff； and was overrun with brush
and creeping plants； where a score of tribes could have lain well
hidden。
He shook his head。 〃Nay； there be nothing there；〃 he said。 〃The
way is clear。〃
Again Ivan spoke to Karduk； and Karduk said：
〃Know； strange brother； if thy talk be not straight； and if thy
people block the way and fall upon Ivan and his men； that thou
shalt die； and at once。〃
〃My talk is straight；〃 Negore said。 〃The way is clear。〃
Still Ivan doubted； and ordered two of his Slavonian hunters to go
up alone。 Two other men he ordered to the side of Negore。 They
placed their guns against his breast and waited。 All waited。 And
Negore knew； should one arrow fly； or one spear be flung； that his
death would come upon him。 The two Slavonian hunters toiled upward
till they grew small and smaller； and when they reached the top and
waved their hats that all was well； they were like black specks
against the sky。
The guns were lowered from Negore's breast and Ivan gave the order
for his men to go forward。 Ivan was silent； lost in thought。 For
an hour he marched； as though puzzled； and then； through Karduk's
mouth； he said to Negore：
〃How didst thou know the way was clear when thou didst look so
briefly upon it？〃
Negore thought of the little birds he had seen perched among the
rocks and upon the bushes； and smiled； it was so simple； but he
shrugged his shoulders and made no answer。 For he was thinking；
likewise； of another passage up the rocks； to which they would soon
come； and where the little birds would all be gone。 And he was
glad that Karduk came from the Great Fog Sea； where there were no
trees or bushes； and where men learned water…craft instead of land…
craft and wood…craft。
Three hours later； when the sun rode overhead； they came to another
passage up the rocks； and Karduk said：
〃Look with all thine eyes； strange brother； and see if the way be
clear； for Ivan is not minded this time to wait while men go up
before。〃
Negore looked； and he looked with two men by his side； their guns
resting against his breast。 He saw that the little birds were all
gone； and once he saw the glint of sunlight on a rifle…barrel。 And
he thought of Oona； and of her words： 〃And when the fighting
begins； it is for thee； Negore； to crawl secretly away so that thou
be not slain。〃
He felt the two guns pressing on his breast。 This was not the way
she had planned。 There would be no crawling secretly away。 He
would be the first to die whe