The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
The San Francisco Sunday Can


spoke arrogantly
"You have been slow My medicine is offended
To make the ofense clean you must give me yOr<
daughter
with cast in one eye and bristling wolf tooth
Nlakamuk was angry but the Pole remained I'm
perturbable, rolling and lighting another cigarette.
Make haste, he threatened III you ara MOI
quick shall demand yet more
In the silence that followed the dreary northland
scene faded from before him. and he saw once more
his native land, and Paris and, once, as he glanced
at the wolf toothcd girl, he remembered another girl
singer and dancer, whom he had known when
FIRST as youth he came to Paris.
What do you want with the girl' Makanznk
ITO go down the river with me-" Subienkov
glanced her critically. she will make good
wife and it is honor worthy OF my medicine to Be
Again he remembered the singer and dancer and
bumped aloud song she had taught him. he lived
the old life but in detached mpersonal sort OF
way looking at, the memory pictures OF his own lie
as if they pictured in book OF anybodys lie
The chiefs voice. abruptly breaking the silence star
1T shall be done" said MakamuE The girl shall
go down the river with you. But be II understood
that myself strike the three blows with the AK on
your neck"
But each time shall put on the medicine" SD
bienkow answered, with show OF III concealed
''You shall put the medicine on after each blow
Here are the hunters who shall you do not escape
Go into the forest and gather your medicine
Makamuk had been convinced of the worth OF the
medicine by the Poles rapacity Surely nothing less
the shadow of death to stand up and drive an old
womans bargain
Besides whispered Yakaga when the Pole. with
his guard had disappeared among the spruce trees
destroy him"
But how can.I destroy him?" Makamuk argued
"His medicine will not let destroy him"
There will be some part where he has not rubbed
the medicine was Yakagas reply. 1--WE will destroy
him through that part. 1t may be his ears. Very
other Or it may be his eyes Surely the medicine
will he NM n tn
The chief nodded.
you are wise Yakaga If he possesses no other
devil things will then destroy him.
Subenkow did not waste time in gathering the In
gradients for his medicine. He selected whatsoever
handiest such spruce needles, the inner bark
of the willow strip of birch bark and quantity OF
moss berries, which he made the hunters dig up TOR
pleted his supply and he led the way back to camp
Makamuk and Yakaga Srouched beside him, noting
the quantities and kinds of the ingredients he dropped
into the pot of boiling water.
You must be careful that the moss berries 60 In
first he explained
"And-oh, yes, one other thing-the finger of
man. Here, Yakaga, let cut off your finger"
But Yakaga put his hands behind him and scowled
Gust small finger" Subienkow pleaded.
"Yakaga give him your finger" Makamuk de-
manded.
There be plenty of fingers lying around" Yakaga
grunted, indicating the human wreckage in the
death.
sThen shall you have the finger of live man.
Yakaga strobe over to the Cossack and sliced OF
He is not yet dead" he announced, ainging the
bloody trophy in the snow at the Poles feet Also
1t IS good hnger because It IS large.
Subienkow dropped it into the fire under the poe
and began to sing 1t French love song that
with great solemnity he sang into the brew
Without these words utter into it the medicine
is worthless, he explained The words are the
chiefest strength of it Behold it is ready"
Name me the words slowly, that / may know
them, Makamuk commanded.
Not until after the test. When the ak flies back
OrexrffT -
secret of the words
But if the medicine is not good medicine1" Max
amuk queried anxiously-
Subienkow turned upon him wrathfuly. ~My
medicine is always good However, if it is not good
then do by me you have done to the others Cut
me up a bit at time, even as you have cut him up
He pointed to the Cossack The medicine is
cool. Thus rub it my neck, saving this further
medicine"
With great gravity he slowly ntoned line of
THE Marsellase, at the same time rubbing the vii
famous brew thoroughly into his neck
An outcry interrupted his play acting The giant
Cossack with last resurgence of his tremendous
vitality, had arisen to his knees. Laughter and cries
of surprise and applause from the Nulatcs as
Big Ivan, screaming horror, began hinging himself
: about in the snow with mighty spasms
Subienkow was made Ill by the sight, but he
tered his qualms and made believe to be angry.
This will not do, he said. Finish him, and then
we will make the test Here, you, Yakaga, cut his
throat so that his noise ceases.
While this being done Subienkow turned to
Makamuk.
"And remember you are to strike hard This is
not baby work. Here take the and strike the log
so that | can see you strike like man.
Makamuk obeyed striking twice, precisely and
with vigor, cutting out a large chip.
at is we'll" Subienkow looked about him at the
circle of savage faces, that somehow seemed TO sym
|, bolize the wall of savagery that had hemmed him
about since the Tsars police had first arrested
him in Warsaw. Take your ak, Makamuk, and
stand ] shall lie down. When ] raise my hand
strike and strike with all your might And be care
full that stands behind you The medicine IL
, good, and the AK may bounce from my neck and
right out of your hands"
He looked at the two sleds, with the dogs n hAr-
ness loaded with furs and fish. His rife lay top
the beaver skins. The six hunters who were to act
as his guard stood by the seds.
"Where is the grip the Pole demanded Bring