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！
making it imperative； from time to time； to beat the blood back into the
numbed fingers。
As night came on； they were compelled to trust to luck。 They fell
repeatedly on the untravelled banks and tore their clothing to sheds in the
underbrush they could not see。 Both men were badly scratched and
bleeding。 A dozen times； in their wild dashes from bank to bank； they
struck snags and were capsized。 The first time this happened； Churchill
dived and groped in three feet of water for the gripsack。 He lost half an
hour in recovering it； and after that it was carried securely lashed to the
canoe。 As long as the canoe floated it was safe。 Antonsen jeered at the
grip； and toward morning began to curse it； but Churchill vouchsafed no
explanations。
Their delays and mischances were endless。 On one swift bend；
around which poured a healthy young rapid； they lost two hours； making a
score of attempts and capsizing twice。 At this point； on both banks； were
precipitous bluffs； rising out of deep water； and along which they could
neither tow nor pole； while they could not gain with the paddles against
the current。 At each attempt they strained to the utmost with the paddles；
and each time； with heads nigh to bursting from the effort； they were
played out and swept back。 They succeeded finally by an accident。 In
the swiftest current； near the end of another failure； a freak of the current
sheered the canoe out of Churchill's control and flung it against the bluff。
Churchill made a blind leap at the bluff and landed in a crevice。 Holding
on with one hand； he held the swamped canoe with the other till Antonsen
dragged himself out of the water。 Then they pulled the canoe out and
18
… Page 19…
LOST FACE
rested。 A fresh start at this crucial point took them by。 They landed on
the bank above and plunged immediately ashore and into the brush with
the tow…line。
Daylight found them far below Tagish Post。 At nine o'clock Sunday
morning they could hear the Flora whistling her departure。 And when； at
ten o'clock； they dragged themselves in to the Post； they could barely see
the Flora's smoke far to the southward。 It was a pair of worn…out
tatterdemalions that Captain Jones of the Mounted Police welcomed and
fed； and he afterward averred that they possessed two of the most
tremendous appetites he had ever observed。 They lay down and slept in
their wet rags by the stove。 At the end of two hours Churchill got up；
carried Bondell's grip； which he had used for a pillow； down to the canoe；
kicked Antonsen awake； and started in pursuit of the Flora。
〃There's no telling what might happenmachinery break down； or
something；〃 was his reply to Captain Jones's expostulations。 〃I'm going
to catch that steamer and send her back for the boys。〃
Tagish Lake was white with a fall gale that blew in their teeth。 Big；
swinging seas rushed upon the canoe； compelling one man to bale and
leaving one man to paddle。 Headway could not be made。 They ran
along the shallow shore and went overboard； one man ahead on the tow…
line； the other shoving on the canoe。 They fought the gale up to their
waists in the icy water； often up to their necks； often over their heads and
buried by the big； crested waves。 There was no rest； never a moment's
pause from the cheerless； heart…breaking battle。 That night； at the head of
Tagish Lake； in the thick of a driving snow…squall； they overhauled the
Flora。 Antonsen fell on board； lay where he had fallen； and snored。
Churchill looked like a wild man。 His clothes barely clung to him。 His
face was iced up and swollen from the protracted effort of twenty…four
hours； while his hands were so swollen that he could not close the fingers。
As for his feet； it was an agony to stand upon them。
The captain of the Flora was loth to go back to White Horse。 Churchill
was persistent and imperative； the captain was stubborn。 He pointed out
finally that nothing was to be gained by going back； because the only
ocean steamer at Dyea； the Athenian； was to sail on Tuesday morning； and
19
… Page 20…
LOST FACE
that he could not make the back trip to White Horse and bring up the
stranded pilgrims in time to make the connection。
〃What time does the Athenian sail？〃 Churchill demanded。
〃Seven o'clock； Tuesday morning。〃
〃All right；〃 Churchill said； at the same time kicking a tattoo on the ribs
of the snoring Antonsen。 〃You go back to White Home。 We'll go ahead
and hold the Athenian。〃
Antonsen； stupid with sleep； not yet clothed in his waking mind； was
bundled into the canoe； and did not realize what had happened till he was
drenched with the icy spray of a big sea； and heard Churchill snarling at
him through the darkness：…
〃Paddle； can't you！ Do you want to be swamped？〃
Daylight found them at Caribou Crossing； the wind dying down； and
Antonsen too far gone to dip a paddle。 Churchill grounded the canoe on
a quiet beach； where they slept。 He took the precaution of twisting his
arm under the weight of his head。 Every few minutes the pain of the pent
circulation aroused him； whereupon he would look at his watch and twist
the other arm under his head。 At the end of two hours he fought with
Antonsen to rouse him。 Then they started。 Lake Bennett； thirty miles in
length； was like a millpond； but； half way across； a gale from the south
smote them and turned the water white。 Hour after hour they repeated the
struggle on Tagish； over the side； pulling and shoving on the canoe； up to
their waists and necks； and over their heads； in the icy water； toward the
last the good…natured giant played completely out。 Churchill drove him
mercilessly； but when he pitched forward and bade fair to drown in three
feet of water； the other dragged him into the canoe。 After that； Churchill
fought on alone； arriving at the police post at the head of Bennett in the
early afternoon。 He tried to help Antonsen out of the cano