IN HIDING ON HUSKIES' ISLAND
They stared at one another in silence, striving not to realise the
meaning of those words; yet their meaning was unavoidable.
Both knew the legend of the _loup-garou_, the grim tradition of the
peasants of Quebec which the _coureurs des bois_ have carried with
them into every part of Canada. Often in the Klondike, when seated
round the stove on a winter's night, they had heard it retold by
French-Canadians, in low excited whispers, with swift and frightened
turnings of the head. They had laughed at it in the daylight: yet at
night, when the tale was in the telling, it had seemed very real to
them. Then there had come that Christmas-Eve, when Jacques La France
had been found dead in his shack, with a hole in his neck, just
outside of Dawson City. Little Baptiste had owned with tears to the
crime, and had excused himself saying that he had been compelled to
the shooting because Jacques was his dearest friend, and Jacques had
become a _loup-garou_ through not attending the Easter Sacrament for
seven years; as everybody knew, only by the inflicting of a bloody
wound on his beast's body could his soul be saved from hell.
The jury who had tried him had been composed mostly of
French-Canadians. When it had been proved to them that wolf tracks had
been found before the dead man's threshold, they had acquitted
Baptiste, and had apologised for his arrest, in defiance of the
judge's disapproval.
* * * * *
Two and a half years at Murder Point had made Granger undogmatic on
problems of metempsychosis, and of the extent to which the barriers
which hedge in Man's spiritual life may be pushed back.
It seemed not unlikely to him that there were men whose souls,
consciously or unconsciously, either by reason of their crimes or for
the better accomplishment of an evil desire, could go out from their
bodies while they slept, and be changed into the forms of beasts of
prey between sunset and dawn-rise. At all events, this was a
phenomenon which could not be disproved, and there were many who
believed it true.
So he recalled unjudgingly the story of Jacques, also he remembered an
instance still nearer home--that of the Hudson Bay factor, who had
prayed to God that he might gaze with his living eyes upon his
disembodied soul.
It was not the possibility of the fact which he doubted, but
Spurling's motive in telling him such a tale.
Might he not have shown him the gold only in order to regain his
friendship, and then have lied to him in order to restrain him from
investigating, and, perhaps, with the purpose of sowing distrust in
his mind concerning Beorn and Eyelids? Whatever had been his purpose,
_there_ was the gold; Granger was determined, in spite of the risk, to
see the Forbidden River for himself. Spurling was speaking, "And his
eyebrows meet," he said.
Granger knew to what he was referring, for, all the world over, where
this belief is current, it is supposed that the werewolf may be
detected in his human guise by the meeting of his eyebrows, which
appear like wings, as if his soul were prepared for flight.
He was about to reply, when his hand, straying about his throat,
chanced upon the silver chain by which the locket of Mordaunt was
suspended, which he had stolen from the body of Strangeways. It was
like a warning voice, recalling the past, which urged him to distrust
this man. Spurling must have seen the change, for he leant over
towards him appealingly, as if he were about to entreat him to be
patient. With a gesture of annoyance Granger rose to his feet and
commenced to walk away; but he halted sharply and drew into the
shadow, signing to Spurling to keep quiet. From very far away, borne
on the stillness of the night, they could hear the rhythmic beat of
several paddle-blades.
Crawling upon his hands and knees, Spurling joined him. "What is it?"
he asked. "Is it Eyelids again?" Granger pointed up-river. "They're
coming from the west," he whispered, "and there are at least four men
by the sound of the blades."
"What men come from the west at this season? Surely, they should be
travelling in the opposite direction, going towards God's Voice?"
"They should be, and it is for that reason that I fear for your
safety."
Nothing more was said, but Spurling guessed what was implied--that
this might be a fresh messenger of justice, coming down the Last
Chance River to rob him of his life.
Very stealthily, taking advantage of every shadow, they crept down the
hillside through the underbrush, till they came to the cove where
they had landed. Twenty paces from the water's edge they hid
themselves, at a point from which they could command a view of the
travellers' approach.
Nearer and nearer the monotonous swirling of the water, beaten by the
paddles, came; the darkness ahead of the island shifted and took
shape; they could distinctly hear the sound of men's voices, engaged
in low-pitched and angry conversation. A large canoe, carrying six
men, which flew the red flag of the Hudson Bay Company, shot out from
the shadows. Now they could make out some of the words which were
being spoken by two of the travellers.
"And you say that you believe he's innocent! Well then I tell you that
he's a damned scoundrel. If he didn't actually kill him, it wasn't for
lack of the desire; you may bet your sweet life on that. In any case,
he's a demoralising influence in the district, and it's best for all
parties that he should be put out of the way."
A second voice interrupted at this point; it seemed to be arguing and
trying to conciliate, but its tones were so low and spoken so rapidly
that it was only possible to gather its general intention. The first
voice spoke again.
"I don't care about the other man; there's no sense in looking for
him. He's probably dead by now. But the fellows I can't stand are
these blamed private traders; they're always up to some dirty work.
When I get my chance of putting one of them out of business, I don't
hesitate. To hell with all private traders, I say."
The canoe had now drawn level with the cove, so that Granger was able
to recognise its occupants. In the stern sat the Indian steersman,
with a rifle ready to his hand. Next to him sat a large red-bearded
man, broad in the shoulders, massive in the jowl, almost brutal in his
evidence of strength; even in that dusky light one could feel that his
face was clenched in a scowl, and that his eyes were piercingly gray
and cruel. Facing him, with his back towards the prow, sat Pere
Antoine, a little bent forward, gesticulating with his hands, his
whole attitude that of one who is trying to explain and persuade.
After him came the remaining three Indian and half-breed paddle-men,
sharp-featured and unemotional, stooping vigorously to their work.
"And what do you propose doing?" asked Pere Antoine.
"Why, what I've already told you a dozen times--treat him like a mad
dog. I shall arrest him at once, and take him back with me as prisoner
to God's Voice. When once I've got him there, I shall make him confess
and get together sufficient evidence to have him hanged. This whole
affair has been a scandal, and I'm going to put a stop to it. I shall
make an example of this man. Why, soon it won't be safe to travel
anywhere, unless you go protected. He must have had a nice lot of
ruffians for his friends, if this fellow Spurling was a specimen. And
now they've taken to paying him visits. . . ."
The canoe bore the speaker out of earshot, leaving the listeners with
the sentence uncompleted.
Granger was aroused from some very uncomfortable imaginings by
Spurling, who, touching him on the elbow, exclaimed in surprise, "Why,
it isn't me; it's you they're after!"
Then, when he received no answer, he asked, "What is it that you have
done?"
It was Cain accusing Judas with a vengeance.
"Done! I've done nothing," Granger exclaimed, pushing him aside;
"Robert Pilgrim is mistaken."
"That's what we all say, until we are forced to own up."
But Granger was not listening to what Spurling said; he was tortured
with the truth of one sentence which he had heard that night. "If he
didn't actually kill him, it wasn't for lack of the desire." How had
Robert Pilgrim guessed that? As he himself had confessed to
Strangeways, he had been tempted at first to let him go on his way
unwarned, and take his chances of falling through the ice. Eventually
he had cautioned him, but so late and in such a manner that his words
had only had the effect of skilfully forwarding his earlier base
intention. _If he had not actually killed him, it was not for lack of
the desire._ And by how much was he superior to this man, crouching at
his side, whom he had so often condemned and had again condemned that
night?
Spurling answered that question for him. Rising to his feet and
stretching his cramped arms and legs, he remarked, "Well, of course,
if you won't take me into your confidence, there's nothing more to be
said. If you don't want to tell me, I won't trouble you by asking
again; but it seems to me that we're both in the one boat now."
This new sense of equality with his companion, though it was only an
equality in crime, had suddenly brought about a change for the better
in Spurling. He carried himself freely, in the old defiant manner, and
had lost his attitude of cringing subservience. At first Granger had
it in his heart to hate him for the change, knowing, as he did, that
it arose from an unhesitating acceptance of this chance-heard,
unproved assertion of his own kindred degradation. But soon the hatred
gave way to another emotion, which, perhaps, had its genesis in a
memory of those earlier days, when this man had been willing to stand
between him and the world. In gazing upon him, looking so big and
powerful, he was comforted with a sense that his misery was shared. A
latter-day writer has wisely recorded, "I have observed that the mere
knowing that other people have been tried as we have been tried is a
consolation to us, and that we are relieved by the assurance that our
sufferings are not special and peculiar. In the worst of maladies, the
healing effect which is produced by the visit of a friend who can
simply say, 'I have endured all that,' is most marked."
And it was this consolation which Granger now began to experience in
Spurling's presence.
Though the separate circumstances which lay behind their common
accusation were utterly different, the one man being innocent of the
infamy wherewith he was charged and the other guilty, their danger was
the same.
Without telling him anything of Strangeways' death or entering into
any explanation of the reasons for which he was suspected, Granger
determined to face, without dispute, the premier fact in the
case--that he was hunted for his life as was Spurling--and to plan for
the future with him, as though he were his fellow-criminal in result
as well as in intent.
They returned to their former station, on the rock beneath the
solitary pine, from which they could command a view of the approach to
the island on every side, and there lay themselves down, so that
their presence might not be observed. Then Granger spoke, "Well, and
what is to be done?" he said.
Spurling's answer was brief and to the point. "Hide here till the way
is clear; then seek out the Forbidden River, and afterwards escape."
"But Eyelids knows where we are, and he may betray us?"
"Yes, but he does not know, unless you have told him, that I am a man
with a price upon his head; and it is me, not you, whom he hates."
"And we have no food."
"If the worst comes to the worst, we have the huskies; and it seems to
me that the priest was your friend--and then there is your wife."
Even in his present predicament Granger could not restrain a smile,
for it had not occurred to him to rely on Peggy for help--_his wife_.
"Yes," he replied grimly, "there is my wife."
But before the night was over he had occasion to regret his sneer.
They had agreed to keep watch, turn and turn about, two hours at a
stretch. Spurling was on guard, when Granger was aroused by the
furious yelping of the huskies on the shore which was nearest to the
river-bank.
Peering cautiously over the edge of the rock, they could see that
something was swimming down the current, making for the island, but
whether man or animal they could not yet discern. As it came nearer
they saw that it was a head, upon which was balanced a burden, which
the swimmer supported with one hand. Running down to where the huskies
were gathered, they cuffed them into silence, and there waited. The
laboured breathing grew louder and louder; presently a face was
lifted clear of the water, which Granger recognised. Turning to
Spurling, as he stepped into the river to help the swimmer out, he
whispered, "It's Peggy."
He caught her in his arms, and, taking her bundle from her, drew her
safe to land. She was naked and shivered in the cold night air--a
slender statue of bronze. Her hair hung dripping about her shoulders,
and her eyes were bright with excitement. Granger thought, as he gazed
on her, that he had never realised how beautiful she was. Freed from
her conventional European garments, there was a grace of rebellion
about her which brought her into harmony with the forest environment,
which was also unconfined.
But she had come to the island on a serious errand, and with no
thought of being admired. Drawing her husband to one side, she told
him that he would find a revolver and food, sufficient for three days,
in the bundle which she had brought, and advised him to lie quietly on
the island until Robert Pilgrim should have gone away. She told him
that Pere Antoine was his friend, and was doing his best to save him.
When Granger asked her how she had known where he was, she replied
that Eyelids had told her, but that she had made him promise to tell
no one else, so that even Antoine was in ignorance of his whereabouts.
She had given them to understand that he had set out for God's Voice a
week ago, and had simulated surprise and grave concern that he had not
arrived before the factor's departure; but she added, "They know that
I am lying."
When Granger referred to the murder with which he was charged, and
began hurriedly to explain why he had not told her about it, she
became strangely perturbed, and cut him short, saying that she must
get back to the store before her absence was observed. It was quite
evident to him that she had not for a moment doubted but that he was
guilty; it was also evident that so small a misdemeanour as killing a
man was not reckoned in her code of morals as being very blameworthy.
He felt hurt at her lack of faith in his integrity; but afterwards,
when he came to think things over, was amazed at her unswerving
loyalty in spite of that deficiency.
He watched her plunge into the river on her return journey, swim
across, run lightly up the bank to where her clothes were lying, and
disappear in the gloom of the forest.
"If I could only learn to care for her," he thought, "even here, in
Keewatin, I might have something left to live for." And then, in the
solemnity which precedes the sunrise, made conscious of the emptiness
which her departure had left, he added, "And I do begin to care."
It was noticeable that in all that she had said, she had made no
reference to Spurling. For the next three days they lay in hiding, no
one coming near them, either friend or enemy. To occupy the time, and
forget their anxiety, as though they were not men who dwelt beneath
the shadow of death, they talked of their old quest, making plans for
the future, and mapping out with their fingers in the dust new routes,
by the following of which El Dorado might be attained. And it was thus
that they strove to escape the pain of the realness of their
present--by entering into a faery land, sufficiently remote from life
to remain unthreatened.
It was in this land of the imagination that they had first met, and
formed their friendship. Revisiting it in one another's company, the
hideousness of what had happened was, for the time being, blotted out;
they renewed their former intimacy and passion. With the mention of
familiar names, kind associations of bygone pleasures were aroused,
and the old affection sprang to life. They shrank from any allusion to
such things as had befallen them since their London days. Yet
continually, in the midst of the most eager conversation, one or other
of them would glance up, and cast his eyes along the river to the
eastward, remembering Murder Point. It was in the early dawn of the
fourth day, when, gazing toward the store, Granger descried two red
squares of sail flapping against the sunrise. It was his lookout, and
Spurling was asleep. He aroused him, bending over him and crying, "The
York boats are coming from Crooked Creek; we shall be rid of Robert
Pilgrim now." When Spurling was thoroughly awake and had seen the
sails for himself, he asked him to explain. Then Granger told him how,
in the summer of every year, the outposts of the Hudson Bay Company
send in their winter's catch of furs to the head fort of their
district, which in this case was God's Voice, where the skins are
baled and graded, and dispatched to the London headquarters--which,
being the most important duty of a factor's year, meant that Robert
Pilgrim would have to return in order to superintend.
All through the long June day they waited, hoping to see their enemy's
departure; but the sails had been lowered and nothing was now visible
of the York boats save their tall bare masts jutting above the
river-banks. At times they would see groups of voyageurs, walking
distantly among the trees, perhaps assisting the factor in one last
lazy search for the fugitive. As the heat of the afternoon increased,
even these disappeared. But, when evening was come, they saw, to their
great joy, that the sails were hoisted again; and presently, borne to
them over the brooding stillness, they heard the cries of the rowers
and the thud of the heavy oars in the wooden rowlocks. Those sounds
meant freedom to them; they trembled in their excitement.
Peering out from between the bushes, they watched the approach of the
two black galleys, each with its eight oarsmen and cargo of piled-up
bales, like pirate craft returning with their spoils. The flashing of
the gawdy scarves of the men, the motion of their bodies as they stood
up for the stroke, flung their weight upon the enormous oars, and sat
down at the finish, only to rise up again with monotonous shouts of
encouragement, the banging of the sail against the mast, the rippling
of the water as the prow pressed forward--all these spoke of life to
the watchers, of endeavour, and bravery, and travel, causing their
blood to redouble its pace and their hope to arise. There was still
one doubt which troubled them, lest, in spite of the need of his
presence at the fort, the enmity of Robert Pilgrim should have
persuaded him to stay. But that was soon laid to rest, when in the
bows of the leading York boat they saw his canoe, and later, as the
sail swung round, caught a glimpse of the red-bearded man himself,
seated in the stern. Antoine was by his side. As the boat passed by,
they strained their ears to catch any scrap of conversation which
might be of use to them in making their escape. But the noise of the
voyageurs and of the wind in the sail was deafening, moreover the boat
was making good headway, so that they only overheard one phrase:
"You've brought me on a fool's errand. You say the man is dead, and
you've shown me his grave, and yet. . . ." It was Pilgrim who was
speaking; but before he had finished his sentence, his voice was
drowned in the shouting of the men and the splashing of the blades.
Granger, having watched them out of sight, turned to Spurling with a
sigh of relief. "Thank God, they've gone," he said.
Then he noticed that his companion was deadly pale. "What's the matter
now," he asked; "are you so badly cut up at parting with such dear
friends?"
"Did you hear what he said?" gasped Spurling, pushing his face nearer,
and staring Granger squarely between the eyes. "Did you hear what he
said? 'You say the man is dead, and you've shown me his grave, and
yet. . . .' And yet what? Can you guess how that sentence was going to
end?"
Granger was bewildered by his ferocious earnestness. He could not
imagine its purpose, or what had caused it. "Why, of course I heard
what he said," he replied. "I suppose Antoine's been trying to
persuade the factor that I am dead, and he's loath to believe it."
"If that is what he meant all the better for us, but I doubt it."
But why he doubted it Granger could not get him to confess; so,
turning his mind to other thoughts, like a sensible man, he set about
launching the canoe, preparatory to the return to Murder Point. The
last sight they saw as they paddled away, was the four gray huskies,
which Spurling had brought with him on his first arrival, seated on
their haunches in a row by the water's edge, raising their dismal
voices to the sky. "Looks as though those damned beasts were doing
their best to call Pilgrim back," said Spurling.
On the way to the Point they talked matters over, and determined that,
since they had no time to waste, they would stop at the store only so
long as was necessary for the getting together of an outfit, and would
depart for the Forbidden River that night. Eyelids and Beorn were to
be left in charge at Murder Point, which would serve to flatter at
least one of them, and would keep them occupied. If they should demand
an explanation for this sudden going away, the answer was obvious,
that Granger did not choose to be arrested by the factor of God's
Voice. There was only one embarrassment which stood in their way,
which was that in Granger's absence the boat would probably arrive
from Garnier, Parwin and Wrath, bringing articles of trade in exchange
for his year's collection of furs, letters of instructions from the
partners for the future conduct of their interests, and expecting to
carry back to Winnipeg his annual statement of accounts. He made up
his mind to meet this difficulty by ordering Peggy to tell the
partners that he was dead. Such a report, he calculated, were it
believed and properly circulated, would help him greatly in his escape
from Keewatin, when he had gathered his gold on the Forbidden River
and was ready to go out. This course of action had been suggested to
him by the unfinished sentence of Robert Pilgrim, which they had
overheard.
As they drew near the Point, they were struck with the profoundness of
its quiet. They themselves had experienced so great a change in their
four days of absence, so much of emotional strife and perturbation,
that they were somehow surprised to find it unaltered. Beorn, as
usual, was sitting on the pier-head, smoking his pipe; he did not look
up or recognise them. Eyelids, on the other side of the river, was
setting his evening nets: he nodded to Granger from across the water,
smiled and went on with his work. On entering the shack, they
discovered Peggy busily engaged over the evening meal, as though they
had forwarned her as to when they would arrive. Her face betrayed
neither annoyance nor pleasure--she might never have visited Huskies'
Island. In the presence of so much that was commonplace, Spurling's
fantastic account of what had happened to him on the Forbidden River
seemed absurd and outrageous.
It took them two hours to prepare their outfit and carry it down to
the canoe; they were in no hurry to set out, for so long as they were
on the Last Chance they intended to travel only by night.
No one seemed to notice their doings, and even they themselves,
becoming infected with the quiet of their surroundings, gradually
ceased from conversing, and, except for an occasional necessary
question, did their work in silence. At last, when it had grown as
dark as it ever is in June time in Keewatin, signalling to one another
with their eyes, they agreed that it was time to set out. Spurling
having stepped down to the pier, Granger looked round for Peggy. He
found her sitting in the grass a few paces behind him; she had come
there so gently that he had been unaware of her nearness. Taking his
place beside her, he commenced to speak to her the words which he had
planned to say. She listened attentively, making no sign which would
betray her state of mind. "Do you understand?" he asked her; and she
for answer bowed her head.
Thinking that she was indifferent as to what became of him, he rose to
his feet, saying in a hard voice, "Good-bye. I must be going. Thank
you for what you did for me on the island!" He had turned his back and
descended the mound a few paces, when he felt her clinging to his
hand, pressing it against her cheek, and he knew that she was crying.
"Why, what's the matter?" he asked, bending down to her.
"Don't go, don't go," she whispered.
"Why not, Peggy? I've not been of much use to you. I don't think
you'll miss me."
"I hate that man," she panted.
"But why?"
"Because he's taking you away from me; and, though you may return from
this journey, there will come a day when you will not return and I
shall be left alone."
Granger was surprised at her display of passion--she had seemed to him
so cold. He had come to think of her as only a squaw-wife: but it was
the white woman in her who had spoken those words. He tried to comfort
her, denying her doubts and talking to her as though she had been a
frightened child. But throughout all that he said she kept on
whispering, "He is taking you away from me. One day he will see to it
that you do not return."
And had Granger stopped to think, he would have known that what she
said was true; for, when once his dream of El Dorado had become
capable of accomplishment, she would be to him as nothing. He heard
Spurling calling him by name. Lifting her to her feet, he kissed her
upon the mouth, and, amazed at his own kindness, as though he had done
something shameful, ran down the mound, stepped into the canoe, and
launched out.
Bending forward to Spurling, who was sitting in the bows, "It's El
Dorado or death this time," he whispered. Spurling did not answer him,
but he saw him crouch his shoulders as if to avoid a lash, and heard
his mutter, like the echo of his own voice, "_Or death_."
The canoe was travelling heavily, for Spurling had stopped paddling.
Granger was about to expostulate with him when, watching him more
attentively, he discovered that his eyes were fixed upon the bend. As
they drew nearer, and were passing by, his body trembled and he buried
his face in his hands. Not until the bend was behind him did he take
up his paddle--and then he flung himself into the work with frenzy, as
one who fled.