第2章

aggressive,andwhollyinconsistentpolicy.Elijah,whostillretainedtheimitativesenseandadaptabilitytosurroundingswhichbelongtomostlazy,impressiblenatures,andinstripedyellowandvermilionfeatureslookedthechiefhepersonated,mettheagentwithsilentandbecominggravity.Thecouncilwascarriedonbysigns.NeverbeforehadanIndiantreatybeenenteredintowithsuchperfectknowledgeoftheintentionsanddesignsofthewhitesbytheIndians,andsuchprofoundignoranceofthequalitiesoftheIndiansbythewhites.ItneedscarcelybesaidthatthetreatywasanunquestionableIndiansuccess.Theydidnotgiveuptheirarablelands;whattheydidselltotheagenttheyrefusedtoexchangeforextravagant-pricedshoddyblankets,worthlessguns,damppowder,andmouldymeal.Theytookpayindollars,andwerethusenabledtoopenmoreprofitablecommercewiththetradersatthesettlementsforbettergoodsandbetterbargains;theysimplydeclinedbeads,whiskey,andBiblesatanyprice.Theresultwasthatthetradersfounditprofitabletoprotectthemfromtheircountrymen,andthechancesofwantonlyshootingdownapossiblevaluablecustomerstoppedtheoldindiscriminaterifle-practice.

TheIndianswereallowedtocultivatetheirfieldsinpeace.

Elijahpurchasedforthemafewagriculturalimplements.Thecatching,curing,andsmokingofsalmonbecameanimportantbranchoftrade.Theywaxedprosperousandrich;theylosttheirnomadichabits——acentralizedsettlementbearingtheexternalsignsofanIndianvillagetooktheplaceoftheiroldtemporaryencampments,butthehutswereinternallyanimprovementontheoldwigwams.

Thedriedfishwerebanishedfromthetent-polestolongshedsespeciallyconstructedforthatpurpose.Thesweat-housewasnolongerutilizedforworldlypurposes.ThewiseandmightyElijahdidnotattempttoreformtheirreligion,buttopreserveitinitsintegrity.

Thattheseimprovementsandchangeswereduetotheinfluenceofonemanwasundoubtedlytrue,butthathewasnecessarilyasuperiormandidnotfollow.Elijah"ssuccesswasduepartlytothefactthathehadbeenenabledtoimpresscertainnegativevirtues,whichwerepartofhisownnature,uponacommunityequallyconstitutedtoreceivethem.Eachwasstrengthenedbytherecognitionineachotheroftheunexpectedvalueofthosequalities;eachacquiredaconfidencebegottenoftheirsuccess.

"He-hides-his-face,"asElijahMartinwasknowntothetribeaftertheepisodeofthereleasedcaptives,wasreallynotsomuchofanautocratasmanyconstitutionalrulers.

Twoyearsoftranquilprosperitypassed.ElijahMartin,foundling,outcast,withoutcivilizedtiesorrelationshipofanykind,forgottenbyhiscountrymen,andliftedintoalienpower,wealth,security,andrespect,became——homesick!

Itwasnearthecloseofasummerafternoon.Hewassittingatthedoorofhislodge,whichoverlooked,ononeside,thefar-shininglevelsofthePacificand,ontheother,theslowdescenttothecultivatedmeadowsandbanksoftheMinyoRiver,thatdebouchedthroughawasteofsalt-marsh,beach-grass,sand-dunes,andfoamyestuaryintotheocean.Theheadland,orpromontory——theonlyeminenceoftheMinyoterritory——hadbeenreservedbyhimforhislodge,partlyonaccountofitsisolationfromthevillageatitsbase,andpartlyfortheviewitcommandedofhisterritory.Yethiswearyinganddiscontentedeyesweremoreoftenfoundontheocean,asapossiblehighwayofescapefromhisirksomeposition,thanontheplainandthedistantrangeofmountains,socloselyconnectedwiththenearerpastandhisformerdetractors.Inhisvaguelonginghehadnodesiretoreturntothem,evenintriumphinhispresentsecuritytherestilllingeredadoubtofhisabilitytocopewiththeoldconditions.Itwasmorelikehiseasy,indolentnature——whichrevivedinhisprosperity——totrusttothisleastpracticalandremotesolutionofhistrouble.Hishomesicknesswasasvagueashisplanforescapefromit;hedidnotknowexactlywhatheregretted,butitwasprobablysomelifehehadnotenjoyed,somepleasurethathadescapedhisformerincompetencyandpoverty.

Hehadsatthusahundredtimes,asaimlesslyblinkingatthevastpossibilitiesoftheshiningseabeyond,turninghisbackuponthenearerandmorepracticablemountains,lulledbythefar-offbeatingofmonotonousrollers,thelonelycryofthecurlewandplover,thedrowsychangesofalternatebreathsofcool,fragrantreedsandwarm,spicysandsthatblewacrosshiseyelids,andsuccumbedtosleep,ashehaddoneahundredtimesbefore.Thenarrowstripsofcoloredcloth,insigniaofhisdignity,flappedlazilyfromhistent-poles,andatlastseemedtoslumberwithhim;

theshadowsoftheleaf-tracerythrownbythebay-tree,onthegroundathisfeet,scarcelychangeditspattern.Nothingmovedbuttheround,restless,berry-likeeyesofWachita,hischild-

wife,theformerheroineoftheincidentwiththecaptivepackers,whosatnearherlord,armedwithawillowwand,watchfulofintrudingwasps,sand-flies,andeventhemoreostentatiousadvancesofarotundandclerical-lookinghumble-bee,withhismonotonoushomily.Content,dumb,submissive,vacant,atsuchtimes,Wachita,debarredherhusband"sconfidencesthroughthenativecustomsandhisownindifferenttaciturnity,satisfiedherselfbygazingathimwiththewonderingbutineffectualsympathyofafaithfuldog.

UnfortunatelyforElijahherpurelymechanicalministrationcouldnotpreventamoredangerousintrusionuponhissecurity.

Heawokewithalightstart,andeyesthatgraduallyfixeduponthewomanalookofreturningconsciousness.Wachitapointedtimidlytothevillagebelow.

"TheMessengeroftheGreatWhiteFatherhascometo-day,withhiswagonsandhorses;hewouldseethechiefoftheMinyos,butI

wouldnotdisturbmylord."

Elijah"sbrowcontracted.Relievedofitscharacteristicmetaphor,heknewthatthismeantthatthenewIndianagenthadmadehisusualofficialvisit,andhadexhibitedtheusualanxietytoseethefamouschieftain.

"Good!"hesaid."WhiteRabbit[hislieutenant]willseetheMessengerandexchangegifts.Itisenough."

"Thewhitemessengerhasbroughthiswangee[white]womanwithhim.

Theywouldlookuponthefaceofhimwhohidesit,"continuedWachita,dubiously."TheywouldthatWachitashouldbringthemnearertowheremylordis,thattheymightseehimwhenheknewitnot."

Elijahglancedmoodilyathiswife,withthehalfsuspicionwithwhichhestillregardedheraliencharacter."ThenletWachitagobacktothesquawsandoldwomen,andletherhideherselfwiththemuntilthewangeestrangersaregone,"hesaidcurtly."Ihavespoken.Go!"

Accustomedtotheseabruptdismissals,whichdidnotnecessarilyindicatedispleasure,Wachitadisappearedwithoutaword.Elijah,whohadrisen,remainedforafewmomentsleaningagainstthetent-

poles,gazingabstractedlytowardthesea.Thebeesdroneduninterruptedlyinhisears,thefar-offrollofthebreakerscametohimdistinctly;butsuddenly,withgreaterdistinctness,camethemurmurofawoman"svoice.

"Hedon"tlooksavageabit!Why,he"srealhandsome."

"Hush!you——"saidasecondvoice,inafrightenedwhisper.

"ButifheDIDhearhecouldn"tunderstand,"returnedthefirstvoice.Asuppressedgigglefollowed.

Luckily,Elijah"snaturalandacquiredhabitsofrepressionsuitedtheemergency.Hedidnotmove,althoughhefeltthequickbloodflytohisface,andthevoiceofthefirstspeakerhadsuffusedhimwithastrangeanddeliciousanticipation.Herestrainedhimself,thoughthewordsshehadnaivelydroppedwerefillinghimwithnewandtremuloussuggestion.Hewasmotionless,evenwhilehefeltthatthevaguelongingandyearningwhichhadpossessedhimhithertowasnowmysteriouslytakingsomeunknownformandaction.

Themurmuringceased.Thehumble-bees"droneagainbecameascendant——asuddenfearseizedhim.ShewasGOING;heshouldneverseeher!Whilehehadstoodthereadoltandsluggard,shehadsatisfiedhercuriosityandstolenaway.Withasuddenyieldingtoimpulse,hedartedquicklyinthedirectionwherehehadheardhervoice.Thethicketmoved,parted,crackled,andrustled,andthenundulatedthirtyfeetbeforehiminalongwave,asiffromthepassageofsomelithe,invisiblefigure.Butatthesamemomentalittlecry,halfofalarm,halfoflaughter,brokefromhisveryfeet,andabentmanzanito-bush,relaxedbyfrightenedfingers,flewbackagainsthisbreast.Thrustingithurriedlyaside,hisstooping,eagerfacecamealmostincontactwiththepink,flushedcheeksandtangledcurlsofawoman"shead.Hewassonear,hermoistandlaughingeyesalmostdrownedhiseagerglance;

herpartedlipsandwhiteteethweresoclosetohisthatherquickbreathtookawayhisown.

Shehaddroppedononeknee,ashercompanionfled,expectinghewouldoverlookherashepassed,buthisdirectonsethadextractedthefeminineoutcry.Yeteventhenshedidnotseemgreatlyfrightened.

"It"sonlyajoke,sir,"shesaid,coollyliftingherselftoherfeetbygraspinghisarm."I"mMrs.Dall,theIndianagent"swife.

Theysaidyouwouldn"tletanybodyseeyou——andIdeterminedI

would.That"sall!"Shestopped,threwbackhertangledcurlsbehindherears,shookthebriersandthornsfromherskirt,andadded:"Well,Ireckonyouaren"tafraidofawoman,areyou?Sonoharm"sdone.Good-by!"

Shedrewslightlybackasiftoretreat,buttheelasticityofthemanzanitoagainstwhichshewasleaningthrewherforwardoncemore.Heagaininhaledtheperfumeofherhair;hesaweventhetinyfrecklesthatdarkenedherupperlipandbroughtoutthemoist,redcurvebelow.Asuddenrecollectionofaplaymateofhisvagabondchildhoodflashedacrosshismind;awildinspirationoflawlessness,begottenofhispastexperience,hissolitude,hisdictatorialpower,andthebeautyofthewomanbeforehim,mountedtohisbrain.Hethrewhisarmspassionatelyaroundher,pressedhislipstohers,andwithahalf-hystericallaughdrewbackanddisappearedinthethicket.

Mrs.Dallremainedforaninstantdazedandstupefied.Thensheliftedherarmmechanically,andwithhersleevewipedherbruisedmouthandtheochre-stainthathispainthadleft,likeblood,uponhercheek.Herlaughingfacehadbecomeinstantlygrave,butnotfromfear;herdarkeyeshadclouded,butnotentirelywithindignation.Shesuddenlybroughtdownherhandsharplyagainsthersidewithagestureofdiscovery.

"That"snoInjun!"shesaid,withpromptdecision.Thenextminutesheplungedbackintothetrailagain,andthedensefoliageoncemoreclosedaroundher.Butasshedidsothebroad,vacantfaceandthemutelywonderingeyesofWachitarose,likeaplacidmoon,betweenthebranchesofatreewheretheyhadbeenhidden,andshoneserenelyandimpassivelyafterher

Amonthelapsed.ButitwasamonthfilledwithmoreexperiencetoElijahthanhispasttwoyearsofexaltation.InthefirstfewdaysfollowinghismeetingwithMrs.Dall,hewaspossessedbyterror,mingledwithflashesofdesperation,attheremembranceofhisrashimprudence.Hisrecollectionofextravagantfrontierchivalrytowomankind,andtheswiftretributionoftheinsultedhusbandorguardian,alternatelyfilledhimwithabjectfearorextravagantrecklessness.Attimespreparedforflight,eventothedesperateabandonmentofhimselfinacanoetothewatersofthePacific:attimeshewasonthepointofincitinghisbravestoattacktheIndianagencyandprecipitatethewarthathefeltwouldbeinevitable.Asthedayspassed,andthereseemedtobenointerruptiontohisfriendlyrelationswiththeagency,withthatreliefanew,subtlejoycreptintoElijah"sheart.Theimageoftheagent"swifeframedintheleafyscreenbehindhislodge,theperfumeofherhairandbreathmingledwiththespicingofthebay,thebriefthrillandtantalizationofthestolenkissstillhauntedhim.Throughhislong,shyabstentionfromsociety,andhistwoyearsofsolitaryexile,thefreshbeautyofthisyoungWesternwife,inwhomthefrankartlessnessofgirlhoodstilllingered,appearedtohimlikeasuperiorcreation.Heforgothisvaguelongingsintheinceptionofamoretangiblebutequallyunpracticalpassion.Herememberedherunconsciousandspontaneousadmirationofhim;hedaredtoconnectitwithherforgivingsilence.Ifshehadwithheldherconfidencesfromherhusband,hecouldhope——heknewnotexactlywhat!

OneafternoonWachitaputintohishandafoldednote.Withaninstinctivepresentimentofitscontents,Elijahturnedredandembarrassedinreceivingitfromthewomanwhowasrecognizedashiswife.Buttheimpassive,submissivemannerofthishouseholddrudge,insteadoftouchinghisconscience,seemedtohimavulgarandbrutalacceptanceofthesituationthatdulledwhatevercompunctionhemighthavehad.Heopenedthenoteandreadhurriedlyasfollows:——

"Youtookagreatfreedomwithmetheotherday,andIamjustifiedintakingonewithyounow.IbelieveyouunderstandEnglishaswellasIdo.Ifyouwanttoexplainthatandyourconducttome,Iwillbeatthesameplacethisafternoon.Myfriendwillaccompanyme,butsheneednothearwhatyouhavetosay."

Elijahreadtheletter,whichmighthavebeenwrittenbyanordinaryschool-girl,asifithadconveyedtheveiledrendezvousofaprincess.Thereserve,caution,andshynesswhichhadbeenthesafeguardofhisweaknaturewereswampedinaflowofimmaturepassion.Heflewtotheinterviewwiththeeagernessandinexperienceoffirstlove.Hewascompletelyathermercy.Soutterlywashesubjugatedbyherpresencethatshedidnotevenruntheriskofhispassion.Whateversentimentmighthavemingledwithhercuriosity,shewasneverconsciousofanecessitytoguardherselfagainstit.Atthissecondmeetingshewasinfullpossessionofhissecret.Hehadtoldhereverything;shehadpromisednothinginreturn——shehadnotevenacceptedanything.

Evenheractualafter-relationstothedenouementofhispassionarestillshroudedinmystery.

Nevertheless,Elijahlivedtwoweeksontheunsubstantialmemoryofthismeeting.Whatmighthavefollowedcouldnotbeknown,forattheendofthattimeanoutrage——soatrociousthateventhepeacefulMinyoswerethrilledwithsavageindignation——wascommittedontheoutskirtsofthevillage.Anoldchief,whohadbeenspeciallyselectedtodealwiththeIndianagent,andwhokeptasmalltradingoutpost,hadbeenkilledandhisgoodsdespoiledbyarecklessRedwoodpacker.Themurdererhadcoollysaidthathewasonly"servingout"thetoolofafraudulentimpostureontheGovernment,andthathedaredthearch-impostorhimself,theso-

calledMinyochief,tohelphimself.Awaveofungovernablefurysurgeduptotheverytent-polesofElijah"slodgeanddemandedvengeance.Elijahtrembledandhesitated.InthethraldomofhisselfishpassionforMrs.Dallhedarednotcontemplateacollisionwithhercountrymen.Hewouldhaveagainsoughtrefugeinhispassive,non-committalattitude,butheknewtheimpersonalcharacterofIndianretributionandcompensation——asacrificeofequalvalue,withoutreferencetotheculpabilityofthevictim——

andhedreadedsomespontaneousoutbreak.Topreventtheenforcedexpiationofthecrimebysomeinnocentbrotherpacker,hewasobligedtogiveordersforthepursuitandarrestofthecriminal,secretlyhopingforhisescapeortheinterpositionofsomecircumstancetoaverthispunishment.Adayofsullenexpectancytotheoldmenandsquawsincamp,ofgloomyanxietytoElijahaloneinhislodge,followedthedepartureofthebravesonthewar-path.Itwasmidnightwhentheyreturned.Elijah,whofromhishabitualreserveandtheacceptedetiquetteofhisexaltedstationhadremainedimpassiveinhistent,onlyknewfromthegutturalrejoicingsofthesquawsthattheexpeditionhadbeensuccessfulandthecaptivewasintheirhands.Atanyothertimehemighthavethoughtitanevidenceofsomegrowingscepticismofhisinfallibilityofjudgmentandadiminutionofrespectthattheydidnotconfronthimwiththeirprisoner.Buthewastoogladtoescapefromthedangerofexposureandpossiblearraignmentofhispastlifebythedesperatecaptive,eventhoughitmightnothavebeenunderstoodbythespectators.Hereflectedthattheomissionmighthavearisenfromtheirrecollectionofhispreviousaversiontoaretaliationonotherprisoners.Enoughthattheywouldwaithissignalforthetortureandexecutionatsunrisethenextday.

Thenightpassedslowly.Itismorethanprobablethattheselfishandignobletormentsofthesleeplessandvacillatingjudgeweregreaterthanthoseoftheprisonerwhodozedatthestakebetweenhiscurses.YetitwaspartofElijah"sfatalweaknessthathiskinderandmorehumaninstinctsweredominatedevenatthatmomentbyhislawlesspassionfortheIndianagent"swife,andhisindecisionastothefateofhiscaptivewasasmuchduetothispreoccupationastoaselfishconsiderationofherrelationstotheresult.Hehatedtheprisonerforhisinfelicitousanduntimelycrime,yethecouldnotmakeuphismindtohisdeath.Hepacedthegroundbeforehislodgeindishonorableincertitude.ThesmalleyesofthesubmissiveWachitawatchedhimwithvaguesolicitude.

Towardmorninghewasstruckbyashamefulinspiration.Hewouldcreepunperceivedtothevictim"sside,unloosehisbonds,andbidhimflytotheIndianagency.TherehewastoinformMrs.Dallthatherhusband"ssafetydependeduponhisabsentinghimselfforafewdays,butthatshewastoremainandcommunicatewithElijah.

Shewouldunderstandeverything,perhaps;atleastshewouldknowthattheprisoner"sreleasewastopleaseher,butevenifshedidnot,noharmwouldbedone,awhiteman"slifewouldbesaved,andhisrealmotivewouldnotbesuspected.Heturnedwithfeverisheagernesstothelodge.Wachitahaddisappeared——probablytojointheotherwomen.Itwaswell;shewouldnotsuspecthim.

Thetreetowhichthedoomedmanwasboundwas,bycustom,selectednearestthechief"slodge,withinitssacredenclosure,withnootherprotectionthanthatofferedbyitsreservedseclusionandtheoutersemicircleofwarriors"tentsbeforeit.Toescape,thecaptivewouldthereforehavetopassbesidethechief"slodgetotherearanddescendthehilltowardtheshore.Elijahwouldshowhimtheway,andmakeitappearasifhehadescapedunaided.Asheglidedintotheshadowofagroupofpines,hecoulddimlydiscerntheoutlineofthedestinedvictim,securedagainstoneofthelargertreesinasittingposture,withhisheadfallenforwardonhisbreastasifinsleep.Butatthesamemomentanotherfigureglidedoutfromtheshadowandapproachedthefataltree.

ItwasWachita!

Hestoppedinamazement.Butinanotherinstantaflashofintelligencemadeitclear.Herememberedhervagueuneasinessandsolicitudeathisagitation,hersuddendisappearance;shehadfathomedhisperplexity,asshehadoncebefore.Ofherownaccordshewasgoingtoreleasetheprisoner!Theknifetocuthiscordsglitteredinherhand.Braveandfaithfulanimal!

Heheldhisbreathashedrewnearer.But,tohishorror,theknifesuddenlyflashedintheairanddarteddown,againandagain,uponthebodyofthehelplessman.Therewasaconvulsivestruggle,butnooutcry,andthenextmomentthebodyhunglimpandinertinitscords.Elijahwouldhimselfhavefallen,half-

fainting,againstatree,but,byarevulsionoffeeling,camethequickrevelationthatthedesperategirlhadrightlysolvedtheproblem!Shehaddonewhatheoughttohavedone——andhisloyaltyandmanhoodwerepreserved.Thatconvictionandthecouragetoactuponit——tohavecalledthesleepingbravestowitnesshissacrifice——wouldhavesavedhim,butitwasorderedotherwise.

Asthegirlrapidlypassedhimhethrewouthishandandseizedherwrist."Whodidyoudothisfor?"hedemanded.

"Foryou,"shesaid,stupidly.

"Andwhy?"

"Becauseyounokillhim——youlovehissquaw."

"HISsquaw!"Hestaggeredback.Aterriblesuspicionflasheduponhim.HedashedWachitaasideandrantothetree.ItwasthebodyoftheIndianagent!Aboriginaljusticehadbeensatisfied.ThewarriorshadnotcaughttheMURDERER,but,truetotheirideaofvicariousretribution,haddeterminedupontheexpiatorysacrificeofalifeasvaluableandinnocentastheonetheyhadlost.

"SotheGov"rmenthevatlastwokeupandwipedoutthemcussedDiggerMinyos,"saidSnapshotHarry,ashelaiddownthenewspaper,inthebrand-newsaloonofthebrand-newtownofRedwood."Iseethey"vestampededbothbanksoftheMinyoRiver,andsentoffalottothereservation.IreckonthesoldiersatFortCassgotsicko"

sentimentafterthosehoundskilledtheInjunagent,andarebeginningtoagreewithusthattheonly"goodInjun"isadeadone."

"Anditturnsoutthatthatwonderfulchief,thatthemtwopackersusedtoraveabout,wozaboutasbigadevilezany,andtriedtorunoffwiththeagent"swife,onlythewarriorskilledher.I"dliketoknowwhatbecomeofhim.Somesayshewaskilled,othersallowthathegotaway.I"veheerdtellthathewasoriginallysomekindofMethodistpreacher!——akindo"saintthatgotasorto"spiritooalholtontheoldsquawsandchildren."

"Whydon"tyouaskoldSkeesicks?Iseehe"sbackhereag"in——andgrubbin"alongatadollaradayontailin"s.He"sbeensomewhereupnorth,theysay."

"What,Skeesicks?thatshiftless,o"n"rycuss!Youbethewusn"tanywherewheretherewasdangeroffighting.Why,youmightaswellhevsuspectedHIMofbeingthebigchiefhimself!Therehecomes——askhim."

AndthelaughterwassogeneralthatElijahMartin——aliasSkeesicks——loungingshylyintothebar-room,joinedinitweakly.

End