coward when I journeyed, a young man and alone, up the Yukon farther than
man had ever been, so far that I came to another folk, with white faces,
who live in a great fort and talk speech other than that the Russians
talk. Also have I killed the great bear of the Tanana country, where no
one of my people hath ever been. And I have fought with the Nuklukyets,
and the Kaltags, and the Sticks in far regions, even I, and alone. These
deeds, whereof no man knows, I speak for myself. Let my people speak for
me of things I have done which they know. They will not say Negore is a
coward."

He finished proudly, and proudly waited.

"These be things which happened before I came into the land," she said,
"and I know not of them. Only do I know what I know, and I know I saw
thee lashed like a dog in the day; and in the night, when the great fort
flamed red and the men killed and were killed, I saw thee not. Also, thy
people do call thee Negore, the Coward. It is thy name now, Negore, the
Coward."

"It is not a good name," Old Kinoos chuckled.

"Thou dost not understand, Kinoos," Negore said gently. "But I shall
make thee understand. Know that I was away on the hunt of the bear, with
Kamo-tah, my mother's son. And Kamo-tah fought with a great bear. We
had no meat for three days, and Kamo-tah was not strong of arm nor swift
of foot. And the great bear crushed him, so, till his bones cracked like
dry sticks. Thus I found him, very sick and groaning upon the ground.
And there was no meat, nor could I kill aught that the sick man might
eat.

"So I said, 'I will go to Nulato and bring thee food, also strong men to
carry thee to camp.' And Kamo-tah said, 'Go thou to Nulato and get food,
but say no word of what has befallen me. And when I have eaten, and am
grown well and strong, I will kill this bear. Then will I return in
honor to Nulato, and no man may laugh and say Kamo-tah was undone by a
bear.'

"So I gave heed to my brother's words; and when I was come to Nulato, and
the Russian, Ivan, laid the lash of his dog-whip upon me, I knew I must
not fight. For no man knew of Kamo-tah, sick and groaning and hungry;
and did I fight with Ivan, and die, then would my brother die, too. So
it was, Oona, that thou sawest me beaten like a dog.

"Then I heard the talk of the shamans and chiefs that the Russians had
brought strange sicknesses upon the people, and killed our men, and
stolen our women, and that the land mus