CHAPTER XIV

THE GOOD MAGICIAN VISITS RUN-ALL-DAY’S NEW VILLAGE

The “carry” around the falls was accomplished by noon. Fifteen miles farther down stream was another dangerous place, not a fall, but a long rapid that no canoe could get through at high water. That passed, it would be quiet voyaging down to the great bay.

Run-all-day did not utter a regret at the loss of his fine, birch-bark canoe, though it caused quite a disturbance and delay in the arrangements of the party. Well below the falls, in a grove of pines that stood close to the river, the men set to work to cut logs for a raft. They used fire and their axes to fell the trees. It was a slow job and a hard one. When the trees came down (which they did not seem in any hurry to do) the branches were hacked off, and then the trunks were divided into as many logs of the required length and girth as they contained.

Everybody worked willingly, for even the laziest of the young men realized that the favour of a great chief like Run-all-day was well worth sweating for. He was a friend of the good magician; he possessed the power of flight like a bird; he was able to snatch his children--then why not his warriors?--from the very jaws of death. So they hacked and burned with a will.

At last ten logs were ready and rolled down to a quiet eddy against the shore. Six were floated side by side, close together, and bound firmly with thongs of hide. The other four, slightly smaller in size, were bound on top of the six, making a sort of upper deck which stood clear of the water. But by the time the raft was completed, the sun was so low in the west that it was hardly worth while to embark again that day.

Next morning the raft was loaded with the provisions and household goods that had begun the journey in the lost canoe. Some other freight was added, and Run-all-day’s family found seats, here and there, in the other canoes. Then the chief and one of the young men manned the raft, one standing at each end, and pushed it out of the eddy with long poles. The raft proved almost as swift, or, rather, not much slower than the canoes of hide, and it was certainly a great deal steadier and as easily managed. And so they continued their journey, but little the worse for the accident.

When the rapid was reached the raft, with its freight securely fastened, was lowered from eddy to eddy, by means of a tow-line of twisted hide.

Salt water was reached about mid-afternoon of the next day, and the cod-fishers led the party straight to the site of their last year’s camp. Temporary shelters were pitched before dark. Then Run-all-day examined the ground on every side, deciding the positions of the lodges and other weighty matters. So, in a week’s time, Run-all-day’s summer village was built; and the cod-fishing prospered amazingly.

Jumping Wolf won back his strength and was soon able to work at the fishing, to handle the cranky canoes, and to compete with the other men at all manner of sports. At shooting an arrow far and straight, only the chief himself was the new clansman’s superior. When he was fully recovered from his illness, he could out-leap them all, jumping either high or wide. Also, he was the swiftest runner in the village; and even in the long races of five miles or more, only the chief could pass him. So Jumping Wolf stood high among the warriors of the little clan.

During the summer, six more families joined Run-all-day’s band. They were all of his own people, of the same great tribe into which he had been born. They had been without a leader for several seasons, moving as the whim suggested, hunting or fishing when need drove them to it, and constantly being bullied or robbed by more united families. So, when they heard of the new chief and the new clan, and distorted versions of his flights through the air, they came to him, group by group, and begged to be taken under his protection.

Now Run-all-day, so short a time before content to be only a good provider for his family, found his hands full of other people’s duties and his steady head fairly buzzing with affairs. But he worked cheerfully, turning aside from nothing; but when a matter seemed too deep for him he sought the counsel of Red Willow, and usually got wise advice. He fished as diligently as the most energetic of his followers. He trained them in the uses of all manner of weapons, both for the chase and war. He made them practise archery, and spear-throwing, and the art of attack and defence with clubs and knives. He set the old people to making shields of hide and wood; and on rainy days every warrior had to make arrows and bows, spears and paddles. And if any man sulked or idled, the chief took him aside and talked to him, and one such conversation proved enough, in every case.

One August evening, the good magician, Wise-as-a-she-wolf, stepped into the village and greeted the people pleasantly. They had neither seen nor heard of him since early spring. He was in his customary form, that of a gentle, rather undersized youth. The chief welcomed him with respectful warmth and led him straightway to the evening meal. When all had eaten, a great fire was built at the seaward edge of the village, and around this gathered the warriors and old men. The magician and Run-all-day sat side by side, on a bear-skin, separated a little on either hand from the others.

Wise-as-a-she-wolf spoke first. He had read the story of the chief’s ambition at a glance, and praised the village, the clean lodges, and the store of fish. He warned the company against greed, false pride, and deceit, and told them that their hope for future happiness and ever-increasing strength lay in their loyalty to their leader.

“I have seen many a clan torn and scattered from within,” he said. “Harbour no traitors or cowards among you, and give ear to no talk that you would not repeat openly to your chief and the whole village.”

Then Run-all-day told him, quietly, of how he had used the red feathers again, to save the lives of two of his children from the fierce hunger of the river.

“You did well, friend,” replied the youth. “By every noble and merciful deed in which they are employed their virtue is increased.”

He bent close to the chief. “They would scarce lift me above the ground, when I last took them from Bright Robe,” he whispered.

The story of Jumping Wolf’s flight from the south was told by Run-all-day. The magician listened intently, and then questioned the young warrior closely.

“I know those people,” he said. “They listen to evil counsellors, to weaklings and cowards who play with magic and work it to their evil desires.”

“There is one such coward the less, now,” said Jumping Wolf.

“Do not boast of the spilling of blood,” replied the magician, gravely.

At that the young warrior hung his head, for the eyes of the great one were upon him.

“But some blood is better on the ground than in the heart,” added Wise-as-a-she-wolf, gently. “And of such was the blood of the traitor who died at your hand.”

Then Jumping Wolf lifted his head again and looked fearlessly at his companions. His heart was warm with courage, though it had quaked but a moment ago.

As the night advanced, the warriors felt more at their ease. Stories of the day’s work were told, and nods and laughter went ’round the circle. More wood was heaped on the fire and old Green Bow, warmed to the marrow, told boastful stories of his deeds in the chase, of what a mighty fellow he was before the years stiffened his limbs. Other old men raised their voices, some to cast discredit on Green Bow’s tales and some to sing the glories of their own past. There was talk of battles, and of cod-fishing, and of the killing of seals on the ice-floes from the north.

The magician listened, smiling often, sometimes laughing outright, like a boy; and, thus encouraged, the old men spurred their imaginations to the uttermost.

At last the fire was allowed to subside, the company dispersed, and the chief led his guest to a wigwam that stood in the centre of the village.

“This lodge is yours,” said the chief. “It has been in readiness for you since spring. And in our winter village we shall build another for your use, chief.”

“You treat me well, friend,” said the other, touched by the attention.

“Your red feathers have already saved the lives of three of my children,” replied Run-all-day. “They brought medicine to the littlest warrior and snatched two others from the river. Also, you have taught me that, with but little more work and courage, a man may care for a whole village as easily as for his own family.”

He drew back the flap of caribou skin that covered the doorway of the lodge, and held a torch high with the other hand, so as to cast the light within.

“Enter with me, brother. I would speak on a private matter,” said Wise-as-a-she-wolf.

Brother! The chief’s heart swelled at the word. The greatest man in the country, perhaps in the whole, wide world, the good magician, the master of men and magic, called him brother. Ah, he could scarce believe that such honour had come to him.

Within the lodge, the visitor laid his hand on the chief’s arm and smiled kindly with his wonderful eyes.

“You have done well, Run-all-day,” he said. “I would trust you far, for no foolish pride has come to you with new power, and your honesty remains undimmed. The same cannot be said of many warriors of this island, for evil counsellors are ever at work.”

“The woman, Red Willow, is cleverer than I, and gives me light on many questions,” replied the chief, modestly.

The other smiled and nodded his head. He had suspected as much, knowing that the woman possessed a keener mind than her husband, and he liked him the better for telling it. But, in a moment, his face was grave again.

“I have come to you on an important errand,” he said. “I want you and Red Willow to promise to give me the littlest warrior.”

The chief’s breath caught in his throat and it seemed that his heart stood still, for he loved each of his children as if it were the only one. A low cry escaped him, and he stared at the magician with a flicker of fear in his wide eyes.

“Is it too great a sacrifice to make for the good of the world, and for your friend?” asked the other, sadly.

“But he is so little,” cried Run-all-day. “I do not understand. What have I done to displease you, chief?”

“You have pleased me in everything,” replied the magician. “Had you not pleased me so well, I would not ask you for the child. A time of warfare and disturbance, open and hidden, is coming. I have read the future, and I know. True, I could not see clearly, but I saw far. For a few seasons there shall be quiet, a seeming quiet, then the smouldering of the evil fires, in a score of places at first, and suddenly in an hundred places. Then my enemies--our enemies--will gather, and the flames of hate and lust will burst forth. The powers of the warrior and the powers of magic will struggle on both sides, many magicians on the one side and I alone on the other, and many warriors against a few.”

“And what of the child?” asked Run-all-day, presently, in a voice low with awe.

“He is of honest and courageous parents,” replied the other. “I would teach him what I know, so that when the struggle is upon us, we shall be doubly strong. I would take him to my lodge, where he would learn the great secrets, day by day, growing up with a knowledge of them.”

“And shall he have no playtime?” asked the bewildered father.

“His very lessons will be play for him,” replied the magician, “and he will be safe and happy.”

“But would it not be better to wait until he is a few years older?” asked Run-all-day. “This is but his second summer. Surely he is too little to learn the wonders of magic.”

“It cannot be later,” replied the other. “I must take him into my care now, before he has learned to speak a word, or never at all.”

“He will fret for his mother,” said the chief.

“Nay, for he will remember nothing,” said the magician. “He will not know that he ever lived elsewhere than in my magic house, until he is grown to boyhood. He will be nourished and protected as if he were my own son. And you may come to him as often as you desire, and he will know you for his father; but when you are gone again he will not fret for you, for there is no such thing as heart-ache in my house. Also, his mother may visit him, but only twice in a season. When he is large and wise enough to do the great work for which I would fit him, then shall he be free as I am, to go and come at his pleasure.”

“It is wonderful,” said Run-all-day. “He would be safe and happy, and great; but what will Red Willow say about it?”

“We shall take her to the lodge to-night, and show her the littlest warrior’s play-room,” replied Wise-as-a-she-wolf. “And then, when she is there, I shall tell her; then it will be easy for her to understand.”

“How will you take her to the magic lodge?” asked the chief.

“You will carry her,” replied Wise-as-a-she-wolf.