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Thomas Stevens's veracity may have been indeterminate as X； and his
imagination the imagination of ordinary men increased to the nth
power； but this； at least； must be said： never did he deliver
himself of word nor deed that could be branded as a lie outright。 。
。 He may have played with probability； and verged on the extremest
edge of possibility； but in his tales the machinery never creaked。
That he knew the Northland like a book； not a soul can deny。 That
he was a great traveller； and had set foot on countless unknown
trails； many evidences affirm。 Outside of my own personal
knowledge； I knew men that had met him everywhere； but principally
on the confines of Nowhere。 There was Johnson； the ex…Hudson Bay
Company factor； who had housed him in a Labrador factory until his
dogs rested up a bit； and he was able to strike out again。 There
was McMahon； agent for the Alaska Commercial Company； who had run
across him in Dutch Harbour； and later on； among the outlying
islands of the Aleutian group。 It was indisputable that he had
guided one of the earlier United States surveys； and history states
positively that in a similar capacity he served the Western Union
when it attempted to put through its trans…Alaskan and Siberian
telegraph to Europe。 Further； there was Joe Lamson； the whaling
captain； who； when ice…bound off the mouth of the Mackenzie； had
had him come aboard after tobacco。 This last touch proves Thomas
Stevens's identity conclusively。 His quest for tobacco was
perennial and untiring。 Ere we became fairly acquainted； I learned
to greet him with one hand； and pass the pouch with the other。 But
the night I met him in John O'Brien's Dawson saloon； his head was
wreathed in a nimbus of fifty…cent cigar smoke； and instead of my
pouch he demanded my sack。 We were standing by a faro table； and
forthwith he tossed it upon the 〃high card。〃 〃Fifty；〃 he said； and
the game…keeper nodded。 The 〃high card〃 turned； and he handed back
my sack； called for a 〃tab；〃 and drew me over to the scales； where
the weigher nonchalantly cashed him out fifty dollars in dust。
〃And now we'll drink；〃 he said； and later； at the bar； when he
lowered his glass： 〃Reminds me of a little brew I had up Tattarat
way。 No； you have no knowledge of the place； nor is it down on the
charts。 But it's up by the rim of the Arctic Sea； not so many
hundred miles from the American line； and all of half a thousand
God…forsaken souls live there； giving and taking in marriage； and
starving and dying in…between…whiles。 Explorers have overlooked
them； and you will not find them in the census of 1890。 A whale…
ship was pinched there once； but the men； who had made shore over
the ice； pulled out for the south and were never heard of。
〃But it was a great brew we had； Moosu and I；〃 he added a moment
later； with just the slightest suspicion of a sigh。
I knew there were big deeds and wild doings behind that sigh； so I
haled him into a corner； between a roulette outfit and a poker
layout； and waited for his tongue to thaw。
〃Had one objection to Moosu；〃 he began； cocking his head
meditatively〃one objection； and only one。 He was an Indian from
over on the edge of the Chippewyan country； but the trouble was；
he'd picked up a smattering of the Scriptures。 Been campmate a
season with a renegade French Canadian who'd studied for the
church。 Moosu'd never seen applied Christianity； and his head was
crammed with miracles； battles； and dispensations； and what not he
didn't understand。 Otherwise he was a good sort； and a handy man
on trail or over a fire。
〃We'd had a hard time together and were badly knocked out when we
plumped upon Tattarat。 Lost outfits and dogs crossing a divide in
a fall blizzard； and our bellies clove to our backs and our clothes
were in rags when we crawled into the village。 They weren't much
surprised at seeing usbecause of the whalemenand gave us the
meanest shack in the village to live in； and the worst of their
leavings to live on。 What struck me at the time as strange was
that they left us strictly alone。 But Moosu explained it。
〃'Shaman SICK TUMTUM；' he said； meaning the shaman； or medicine
man； was jealous； and had advised the people to have nothing to do
with us。 From the little he'd seen of the whalemen； he'd learned
that mine was a stronger race； and a wiser； so he'd only behaved as
shamans have always behaved the world over。 And before I get done；
you'll see how near right he was。
〃'These people have a law；' said Mosu： 'whoso eats of meat must
hunt。 We be awkward； you and I； O master； in the weapons of this
country； nor can we string bows nor fling spears after the manner
approved。 Wherefore the shaman and Tummasook； who is chief； have
put their heads together； and it has been decreed that we work with
the women and children in dragging in the meat and tending the
wants of the hunters。'
〃'And this is very wrong；' I made to answer； 'for we be better men；
Moosu； than these people who walk in darkness。 Further； we should
rest and grow strong； for the way south is long； and on that trail
the weak cannot prosper。'〃
〃'But we have nothing；' he objected； looking about him at the
rotten timbers of the igloo； the stench of the ancient walrus meat
that had been our supper disgusting his nostrils。 'And on this
fare we cannot thrive。 We have nothing save the bottle of 〃pain…
killer；〃 which will not fill emptiness； so we must bend to the yoke
of the unbeliever and become hewers of wood and drawers of water。
And there be good things in this place； the which we may not have。
Ah； master； never has my nose lied to me； and I have followed it to
secret caches and among the fur…bales of the igloos。 Good
provender did these people extort from the poor whalemen； and this
provender has wandered into few hands。 The woman Ipsukuk； who
dwelleth in the far end of the village next she igloo of the chief；
possesseth much flour and sugar； and even have my eyes told me of
molasses smeared on her face。 And in the igloo of Tummasook； the
chief； there be teahave I not seen the old pig guzzling？ And the
shaman owneth a caddy of 〃Star〃 and two buckets of prime smoking。
And what have we？ Nothing！ Nothing！'
〃But I was stunned by the word he brought of the tobacco； and made
no answer。
〃And Moosu； what of his own desire； broke silence： 'And there be
Tukeliketa； daughter of a big hunter and wealthy man。 A likely
girl。 Indeed； a very nice girl。'
〃I figured hard during the night while Moosu snored； for I could
not bear the thought of the tobacco so near which I could not
smoke。 True； as he had said； we had nothing。 But the way became
clear to me； and in the morning I said to him： 'Go thou cunningly
abroad； after thy fashion； and procure me some sort of bone；
crooked like a goose…neck； and hollow。 Also； walk humbly； but have
eyes awake to the lay of pots and pans and cooking contrivances。
And remember； mine is the white man's wisdom； and do what I have
bid you； with sureness and despatch。'
〃While he was away I placed the whale…oil cooking lamp in the
middle of the igloo； and moved the mangy sleeping furs back that I
might have room。 Then I took apart his gun and put the barrel by
handy； and afterwards braided many wicks from the cotton that the
women gather wild in the summer。 When he came back； it was with
the bone I had commanded； and with news that in the igloo of
Tummasook there was a five…gallon kerosene can and a big copper
kettle。 So I said he had done well and we would tarry through the
day。 And when midnight was near I made harangue to him。
〃'This chief； this Tummasook； hath a copper kettle； likewise a
kerosene can。' I put a rock； smooth and wave…washed； in Moosu's
hand。 'The camp is hushed and the stars are winking。 Go thou；
creep into the chief's igloo softly； and smite him thus upon the
belly； and hard。 And let the meat an