y were brought back and spread-eagled before the
fort, where they and their tribe learned the efficacy of the knout. Two
died under it; others were injured for life; and the rest took the lesson
to heart and ran away no more. The snow was flying ere the fort was
finished, and then it was the time for furs. A heavy tribute was laid
upon the tribe. Blows and lashings continued, and that the tribute
should be paid, the women and children were held as hostages and treated
with the barbarity that only the fur-thieves knew.

Well, it had been a sowing of blood, and now was come the harvest. The
fort was gone. In the light of its burning, half the fur-thieves had
been cut down. The other half had passed under the torture. Only
Subienkow remained, or Subienkow and Big Ivan, if that whimpering,
moaning thing in the snow could be called Big Ivan. Subienkow caught
Yakaga grinning at him. There was no gainsaying Yakaga. The mark of the
lash was still on his face. After all, Subienkow could not blame him,
but he disliked the thought of what Yakaga would do to him. He thought
of appealing to Makamuk, the head-chief; but his judgment told him that
such appeal was useless. Then, too, he thought of bursting his bonds and
dying fighting. Such an end would be quick. But he could not break his
bonds. Caribou thongs were stronger than he. Still devising, another
thought came to him. He signed for Makamuk, and that an interpreter who
knew the coast dialect should be brought.

"Oh, Makamuk," he said, "I am not minded to die. I am a great man, and
it were foolishness for me to die. In truth, I shall not die. I am not
like these other carrion."

He looked at the moaning thing that had once been Big Ivan, and stirred
it contemptuously with his toe.

"I am too wise to die. 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. A little bit of this medicine rubbed on the skin makes
the skin hard like a rock, hard like iron, so that no cutting weapon can
cut it. The strongest blow of a cutting weapon is a vain thing against
it. A bone knife becomes like a piece of mud; and it will turn the edge
of the iron knives we have brought among you. What will you give me for