REGIONS BEYOND
When the dawn of a new day broke, the canoe was still sweeping on its
way down the Yukon, which was now becoming much wider. During the night
Natsatt and Dan had been able to obtain some sleep. They took turns at
steering the craft, and did little paddling, merely allowing it to drift
over long stretches of water, and around sharp bends. Their progress was
accordingly slow. It was necessary for them to advance with care, as
they could not tell what dangerous rocks and rapids might be ahead.
Natsatt's chief thought was of Owindia. He had wrapped the blankets
closely around her, and had shifted her to as comfortable a position
as possible. At times he held her hot limp hand in his, and anxiously
watched her face, hoping to see some change upon those loved features.
All through the day he had moistened her parched lips with the cool
water of the river. She moaned much during the night, and became quite
restless. Her head tossed on the rough pillow, and she would throw out
her arms, thus loosening the blankets from around her body. It meant
constant watchfulness on Natsatt's part to see that the coverings were
replaced, for the night was chilly and a damp mist hung along the
river. The short time he was asleep Dan looked after the maiden. There
was nothing more they could do for her. They were helpless there in the
lone wilderness. Few words were spoken during the night. But the Ranger
was doing considerable thinking. The more deeply he was moved the more
silent he always became. His mind was much upon Klota, and Owindia, with
the same form and features, brought back old days. His life for long
years had been very lonely, and just when he had found some one to live
for it seemed as if she might be taken from him. Suppose she should
recover, and they should get back to civilisation, then he would make up
for the past. He had neglected to give Klota what was her due, but it
would not be so with her only child. As he listened to her moans, and
at times rose from his seat to cover her up, a deep love for this poor
child came into his heart. Then his hands would clench firmly together,
while he made a mental vow that she should not die. When morning dawned
they would drive the canoe as it had never been driven before. Surely
they would meet with some human beings, whether whites or Indians, who
would be able to minister to the maiden.
It was early in the morning when they ran ashore, and built a small
fire, and cooked their breakfast of moose meat. It was at the mouth of
a small river where they had landed. They noticed signs of an Indian
encampment several rods up this stream, but no living person could they
behold. The land was covered with a dense forest on this side of the
river, and sloped gently to the water's edge. On the opposite side rose
high hills, with heavy mountains in the background. It was a scene of
grim, gaunt desolation, and the hearts of the two wayfarers became much
depressed as they looked around. For themselves they did not care, but
only for Owindia. They could go on and on until the mouth of the river
was reached. They could die, but it was hard to see her lying there with
no one to give a helping hand. Little did they know that they were the
pioneers of a region which one day would be throbbing with industrial
life; that the little stream which flowed at their feet would in less
than half a century attract the attention of the whole world, and the
word "Klondyke" would be a common household expression. They could not
see that across this river, on that point of land, low, and covered
with thick trees and bushes, almost like a swamp, a city would rise
magic-like, teeming with thousands of gold-fevered men. But they could
not see, and of what avail would such a vision have been to them in
their time of necessity? Fifty years would have meant an eternity to
them, and they needed help at once.
"Nothing doing here," Dan ejaculated, rising and looking about. "Good
Lord, what a hole we've got into! Where are the Indians, anyway? I
wouldn't care if they were devils incarnate so long as they showed up
that we might learn something about what's ahead of us."
"There's nothing for us to do but to go on," Natsatt replied. "There are
Indians around somewhere that's certain, and they may be down stream a
bit, and perhaps we shall meet them before night."
Hour after hour they continued on their way, and it was past noon when
they came to another river flowing into the Yukon on their left. They
were about to pass without stopping, when a canoe bearing several
Indians, darted out from behind a small point, and moved toward them.
The current here was swift, and with some difficulty Dan and Natsatt
swung their big canoe around and made for the shore. When the keel had
grated upon the beach they rested and waited for the natives to come
closer. This, however, the latter were somewhat reluctant to do. They
were armed with bows and axes, which they kept in readiness for any
emergency. Natsatt called out to them to approach, and made signs that
they would not be harmed. He stood up in the canoe, showed his own empty
hands, and pointed to his companion. Little by little the Indians drew
nearer, and when they found there was no danger they ran close to the
white men.
These strangers were dressed in the rough animal clothing of the
country. They were taller than the Indians farther upstream, and
appeared to be friendly disposed. Their speech was altogether
unintelligible to the white men, and only by signs could they make
known their wants. They pointed to the dead chief, upon whom the Indians
looked with much interest, and talked rapidly among themselves. But
when they saw the maiden they became silent, and drew back a few paces.
Natsatt endeavoured to make them understand she needed assistance. They
shook their heads, pointed away to the west, looked at the sun, and held
up two fingers. By that it was evident that the rest of the band were
two days away from the shore, back among the hills. Natsatt next pointed
down the river, and then to himself and Dan. The Indians did not at once
reply but held an earnest conversation among themselves. Then one took
a small stick, and upon the sand made a rude sketch of a square, and
around it he made a number of upright strokes.
"It's a Post he means," Natsatt exclaimed, now much excited.
"Seems so," Dan replied. "But I wonder how far."
Then he pointed down the river, and toward the sun. At this the Indians
shook their heads and held up their fingers, some four, others three,
and two one.
It was quite evident that they were uncertain as to the distance, and
nothing further could be learned from them. After a few more signs
had been made Dan and Natsatt pushed off, and continued on their way
downstream. They were feeling more encouraged since they had learned
that what seemed to be a Post or Fort lay ahead. Word of the white men
no doubt had been brought up the river to these Indians.
The day passed, and another weary night. The following day found them
still drifting down that great stream which seemed to have no end. Then
another night, and as the blackness stole around them a feeling of deep
depression came into their hearts. Owindia was weaker, and moaned more
than ever. She was failing fast they could plainly tell, and unless
help came soon she could not last much longer. Dan had prepared for her
a nourishing drink from a piece of the moose meat. He had done it the
evening after they had left the Indians at the mouth of the river. It
was the rich juice which he had boiled from the meat, and some of this
they had forced Owindia to take. But notwithstanding all their efforts
the maiden was sinking. As Natsatt watched her his heart became very
heavy. How he longed for her to open her eyes and fix them upon him.
Would she ever do it again? he asked himself. During the day he often
held her hands as he sat by her side with bent head. Dan seeing the
young man's silent grief was much moved.
"Keep up a stout heart, lad," he had said. "While there's life in her
body we must not give up. That place can't be far ahead."
"I have kept up hope, God knows," Natsatt responded. "But what does it
all amount to, I'd like to know. Owindia is failing, and we'll have two
to bury instead of one. And perhaps there'll be three, for what will be
the use of my living without her. Oh, Dan, you don't know how much she
means to me. She is the only woman I ever really loved, and with her I
know I could do almost anything. Why should I find her, only to lose her
in such a short time!"
So far north had they now gone that the nights were becoming very short.
The sun merely dipped below the horizon, and the light from the great
orb was enough to illumine the whole land. Objects could be seen quite
distinctly some distance away. When the sun again rose from its golden
bath into which it had plunged, Dan, who was steering caught sight of
something ahead which caused him to sit bolt upright, and shade his eyes
with his hand. Then he called to Natsatt.
"See, lad," he cried, "isn't that a building ahead? Your eyes are better
than mine. Upon yon bank it stands."
"It's the Post!" Natsatt replied, now much excited. "There seem to be
several buildings. Let's drive the canoe, and get there as soon as
possible."
Hope once again filled their hearts as they bent to their paddles and
the canoe fairly leaped through the water. With steady work in about
an hour's time they were so close to the building that they could see
people moving about, and noticed smoke ascending from the large house
which had first attracted their attention. It did not take them long
now to reach the place. But before they arrived the bank was lined with
natives watching with curiosity the coming of the strange craft. Never
did faces appear so good to the two voyagers as did those dusky features
appear on that summer morning. They were friendly, and as soon as the
canoe touched the shore eager hands grasped the bow and drew it well up
on the beach.
While the Indians were crowding around talking in a most excited manner,
a tall man pushed his way through their midst, and coming forward, held
out his hand to Dan and Natsatt. He was evidently the trader in charge
of the Post.
"Good Lord!" he exclaimed, as he looked upon the dead chief, and
Owindia, "where have you dropped from? I didn't know there was a white
man anywhere south of us within two thousand miles, that is on this side
of the mountains."
"We'll tell you all," Dan replied, "as soon as something is done for
that poor lassie. She's badly stricken with a fever of some kind. It's
the outcome of a fearful experience, and I'm afraid she's far gone. Is
there any woman here who can take care of her?"
"To be sure," was the reply. "Bring her up to the house, and I'll round
up an old squaw who is skilful at such work, to look after her. We must
tend to that chap there in the bow, too. It's a wonder to me you didn't
leave him behind."
Without replying Natsatt lifted Owindia tenderly in his arms and bore
her up the bank toward the large house. The door was open, and several
white men were standing near. They exhibited much kindness, and showed
Natsatt where to place the maiden in a small room. Upon a cot he laid
her, and breathed a prayer of thankfulness that at last she should have
care and attention which neither he nor Dan could give. Soon several
squaws entered, and he left them alone with his loved one.