A thousand deaths by Jack London

So he frightened the people with the iniquities of my peculiar

gods–especially the one he named ‘Biz-e-Nass’–and nipped the

scheme in the bud.

“Now, it happened that Kluktu, youngest daughter to Tummasook, had

caught my fancy, and I likewise hers. So I made overtures, but the

ex-chief refused bluntly–after I had paid the purchase price–and

informed me that she was set aside for Moosu. This was too much,

and I was half of a mind to go to his igloo and slay him with my

naked hands; but I recollected that the tobacco was near gone, and

went home laughing. The next day he made incantation, and

distorted the miracle of the loaves and fishes till it became

prophecy, and I, reading between the lines, saw that it was aimed

at the wealth of meat stored in my caches. The people also read

between the lines, and, as he did not urge them to go on the hunt,

they remained at home, and few caribou or bear were brought in.

“But I had plans of my own, seeing that not only the tobacco but

the flour and molasses were near gone. And further, I felt it my

duty to prove the white man’s wisdom and bring sore distress to

Moosu, who had waxed high-stomached, what of the power I had given

him. So that night I went to my meat caches and toiled mightily,

and it was noted next day that all the dogs of the village were

lazy. No one suspected, and I toiled thus every night, and the

dogs grew fat and fatter, and the people lean and leaner. They

grumbled and demanded the fulfilment of prophecy, but Moosu

restrained them, waiting for their hunger to grow yet greater. Nor

did he dream, to the very last, of the trick I had been playing on

the empty caches.

“When all was ready, I sent Angeit, and the faithful ones whom I

had fed privily, through the village to call assembly. And the

tribe gathered on a great space of beaten snow before my door, with

the meat caches towering stilt-legged in the rear. Moosu came

also, standing on the inner edge of the circle opposite me,

confident that I had some scheme afoot, and prepared at the first

break to down me. But I arose, giving him salutation before all

men.

“‘O Moosu, thou blessed of God,’ I began, ‘doubtless thou hast

wondered in that I have called this convocation together; and

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doubtless, because of my many foolishnesses, art thou prepared for

rash sayings and rash doings. Not so. It has been said, that

those the gods would destroy they first make mad. And I have been

indeed mad. I have crossed thy will, and scoffed at thy authority,

and done divers evil and wanton things. Wherefore, last night a

vision was vouchsafed me, and I have seen the wickedness of my

ways. And thou stoodst forth like a shining star, with brows

aflame, and I knew in mine own heart thy greatness. I saw all

things clearly. I knew that thou didst command the ear of God, and

that when you spoke he listened. And I remembered that whatever of

the good deeds that I had done, I had done through the grace of

God, and the grace of Moosu.

“‘Yes, my children,’ I cried, turning to the people, ‘whatever

right I have done, and whatever good I have done, have been because

of the counsel of Moosu. When I listened to him, affairs

prospered; when I closed my ears, and acted according to my folly,

things came to folly. By his advice it was that I laid my store of

meat, and in time of darkness fed the famishing. By his grace it

was that I was made chief. And what have I done with my chiefship?

Let me tell you. I have done nothing. My head was turned with

power, and I deemed myself greater than Moosu, and, behold I have

come to grief. My rule has been unwise, and the gods are angered.

Lo, ye are pinched with famine, and the mothers are dry-breasted,

and the little babies cry through the long nights. Nor do I, who

have hardened my heart against Moosu, know what shall be done, nor

in what manner of way grub shall be had.’

“At this there was nodding and laughing, and the people put their

heads together, and I knew they whispered of the loaves and fishes.

I went on hastily. ‘So I was made aware of my foolishness and of

Moosu’s wisdom; of my own unfitness and of Moosu’s fitness. And

because of this, being no longer mad, I make acknowledgment and

rectify evil. I did cast unrighteous eyes upon Kluktu, and lo, she

was sealed to Moosu. Yet is she mine, for did I not pay to

Tummasook the goods of purchase? But I am well unworthy of her,

and she shall go from the igloo of her father to the igloo of

Moosu. Can the moon shine in the sunshine? And further, Tummasook

shall keep the goods of purchase, and she be a free gift to Moosu,

whom God hath ordained her rightful lord.

“‘And further yet, because I have used my wealth unwisely, and to

oppress ye, O my children, do I make gifts of the kerosene can to

Moosu, and the gooseneck, and the gun-barrel, and the copper

kettle. Therefore, I can gather to me no more possessions, and

when ye are athirst for hooch, he will quench ye and without

robbery. For he is a great man, and God speaketh through his lips.

“‘And yet further, my heart is softened, and I have repented me of

my madness. I, who am a fool and a son of fools; I, who am the

slave of the bad god Biz-e-Nass; I, who see thy empty bellies and

knew not wherewith to fill them–why shall I be chief, and sit

above thee, and rule to thine own destruction? Why should I do

this, which is not good? But Moosu, who is shaman, and who is wise

above men, is so made that he can rule with a soft hand and justly.

And because of the things I have related do I make abdication and

give my chiefship to Moosu, who alone knoweth how ye may be fed in

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this day when there be no meat in the land.’

“At this there was a great clapping of hands, and the people cried,

‘KLOSHE! KLOSHE!’ which means ‘good.’ I had seen the wonder-worry

in Moosu’s eyes; for he could not understand, and was fearful of my

white man’s wisdom. I had met his wishes all along the line, and

even anticipated some; and standing there, self-shorn of all my

power, he knew the time did not favour to stir the people against

me.

“Before they could disperse I made announcement that while the

still went to Moosu, whatever hooch I possessed went to the people.

Moosu tried to protest at this, for never had we permitted more

than a handful to be drunk at a time; but they cried, ‘KLOSHE!

KLOSHE!’ and made festival before my door. And while they waxed

uproarious without, as the liquor went to their heads, I held

council within with Angeit and the faithful ones. I set them the

tasks they were to do, and put into their mouths the words they

were to say. Then I slipped away to a place back in the woods

where I had two sleds, well loaded, with teams of dogs that were

not overfed. Spring was at hand, you see, and there was a crust to

the snow; so it was the best time to take the way south. Moreover,

the tobacco was gone. There I waited, for I had nothing to fear.

Did they bestir themselves on my trail, their dogs were too fat,

and themselves too lean, to overtake me; also, I deemed their

bestirring would be of an order for which I had made due

preparation.

“First came a faithful one, running, and after him another. ‘O

master,’ the first cried, breathless, ‘there be great confusion in

the village, and no man knoweth his own mind, and they be of many

minds. Everybody hath drunken overmuch, and some be stringing

bows, and some be quarrelling one with another. Never was there

such a trouble.’

“And the second one: ‘And I did as thou biddest, O master,

whispering shrewd words in thirsty ears, and raising memories of

the things that were of old time. The woman Ipsukuk waileth her

poverty and the wealth that no longer is hers. And Tummasook

thinketh himself once again chief, and the people are hungry and

rage up and down.’

“And a third one: ‘And Neewak hath overthrown the altars of Moosu,

and maketh incantation before the time-honoured and ancient gods.

And all the people remember the wealth that ran down their throats,