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enough to shut him off。 Thirty feet long he was； and twenty high； and a
man could sling a hammock between his tusks and sleep comfortably。
Barring the fact that I had run most of the juices out of him； he was fair
eating； and his four feet； alone； roasted whole； would have lasted a man a
twelvemonth。 I spent the winter there myself。〃
〃And where is this valley？〃 I asked
He waved his hand in the direction of the north…east； and said： 〃Your
tobacco is very good。 I carry a fair share of it in my pouch； but I shall
carry the recollection of it until I die。 In token of my appreciation； and in
return for the moccasins on your own feet； I will present to you these
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muclucs。 They commemorate Klooch and the seven blind little beggars。
They are also souvenirs of an unparalleled event in history； namely； the
destruction of the oldest breed of animal on earth； and the youngest。 And
their chief virtue lies in that they will never wear out。〃
Having effected the exchange； he knocked the ashes from his pipe；
gripped my hand good…night； and wandered off through the snow。
Concerning this tale； for which I have already disclaimed responsibility； I
would recommend those of little faith to make a visit to the Smithsonian
Institute。 If they bring the requisite credentials and do not come in
vacation time； they will undoubtedly gain an audience with Professor
Dolvidson。 The muclucs are in his possession； and he will verify； not the
manner in which they were obtained； but the material of which they are
composed。 When he states that they are made from the skin of the
mammoth； the scientific world accepts his verdict。 What more would
you have？
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The Faith of Men
A HYPERBOREAN BREW
＇The story of a scheming white man among the strange people who
live on the rim of the Arctic sea＇
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
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The Faith of Men
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
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The Faith of Men
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 s