Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 4, 2025
"It is a very great medicine. It has saved my life many times. I want a sled and dogs, and six of your hunters to travel with me down the river and give me safety to one day's sleep from Michaelovski Redoubt." "You must live here, and teach us all of your deviltries," was the reply. Subienkow shrugged his shoulders and remained silent.
For he met Eskimos from Norton Sound, from King Island and St. Lawrence Island, from Cape Prince of Wales, and Point Barrow. Such places had other names, and their distances were measured in days. It was a vast region these trading savages came from, and a vaster region from which, by repeated trade, their stone lamps and that steel knife had come. Subienkow bullied, and cajoled, and bribed.
"All that you have asked shall be yours," Makamuk cried in a rush of acceptance. "Proceed to make your medicine." Subienkow concealed his elation. He was playing a desperate game, and there must be no slips. He spoke arrogantly. "You have been slow. My medicine is offended. To make the offence clean you must give me your daughter."
"There is no such medicine. It cannot be. A cutting edge is stronger than any medicine." The chief was incredulous, and yet he wavered. He had seen too many deviltries of fur-thieves that worked. He could not wholly doubt. "I will give you your life; but you shall not be a slave," he announced. "More than that." Subienkow played his game as coolly as if he were bartering for a foxskin.
And my rifle must be returned to me. If you do not like the price, in a little while the price will grow." Yakaga whispered to the chief. "But how can I know your medicine is true medicine?" Makamuk asked. "It is very easy. First, I shall go into the woods " Again Yakaga whispered to Makamuk, who made a suspicious dissent. "You can send twenty hunters with me," Subienkow went on.
"The words are the chiefest strength of it. Behold, it is ready." "Name the words slowly, that I may know them," Makamuk commanded. "Not until after the test. When the axe flies back three times from my neck, then will I give you the secret of the words." "But if the medicine is not good medicine?" Makamuk queried anxiously. Subienkow turned upon him wrathfully. "My medicine is always good.
Then arose Malakoff, the Russian half-breed, to lead the wildest and most ferocious of the hell's broth of mongrel adventurers who had crossed from Kamtchatka. Subienkow was his lieutenant.
Behold, I have a great medicine. I alone know this medicine. Since I am not going to die, I shall exchange this medicine with you." "What is this medicine?" Makamuk demanded. "It is a strange medicine." Subienkow debated with himself for a moment, as if loth to part with the secret. "I will tell you.
When this had been carried out, Subienkow lay down in the snow, resting his head on the log like a tired child about to sleep. He had lived so many dreary years that he was indeed tired. "I laugh at you and your strength, O Makamuk," he said. "Strike, and strike hard." He lifted his hand. Makamuk swung the axe, a broadaxe for the squaring of logs.
An outcry interrupted his play-acting. The giant Cossack, with a last resurgence of his tremendous vitality, had arisen to his knees. Laughter and cries of surprise and applause arose from the Nulatos, as Big Ivan began flinging himself about in the snow with mighty spasms. Subienkow was made sick by the sight, but he mastered his qualms and made believe to be angry. "This will not do," he said.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking