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第15章

the faith of men-第15章

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〃I wouldn't be so clost about it; though;〃 he added。  〃Give 'm the

whole thing while you're about it; in a right free…handed way。〃



Bill shook his head。  〃If I did; he'd get clean scairt and prance

off。  I'm lettin' on as how the ground is believed to be valuable;

an' that we're lettin' go half just because we're monstrous short

on grub。  After the dicker we can make him a present of the whole

shebang。〃



〃If somebody ain't disregarded our notice;〃 Bill objected; though

he was plainly pleased at the prospect of exchanging the claim for

a sack of flour。



〃She ain't jumped;〃 Kink assured him。  〃It's No。 24; and it stands。

The chechaquos took it serious; and they begun stakin' where you

left off。  Staked clean over the divide; too。  I was gassin' with

one of them which has just got in with cramps in his legs。〃



It was then; and for the first time; that they heard the slow and

groping utterance of Ans Handerson。



〃Ay like the looks;〃 he was saying to the bar…keeper。  〃Ay tank Ay

gat a claim。〃



The partners winked at each other; and a few minutes later a

surprised and grateful Swede was drinking bad whisky with two hard…

hearted strangers。  But he was as hard…headed as they were hard…

hearted。  The sack made frequent journeys to the scales; followed

solicitously each time by Kink Mitchell's eyes; and still Ans

Handerson did not loosen up。  In his pale blue eyes; as in summer

seas; immortal dreams swam up and burned; but the swimming and the

burning were due to the tales of gold and prospect pans he heard;

rather than to the whisky he slid so easily down his throat。



The  partners were in despair; though they appeared boisterous and

jovial of speech and action。



〃Don't mind me; my friend;〃 Hootchinoo Bill hiccoughed; his hand

upon Ans Handerson's shoulder。  〃Have another drink。  We're just

celebratin' Kink's birthday here。  This is my pardner; Kink; Kink

Mitchell。  An' what might your name be?〃



This learned; his hand descended resoundingly on Kink's back; and

Kink simulated clumsy self…consciousness in that he was for the

time being the centre of the rejoicing; while Ans Handerson looked

pleased and asked them to have a drink with him。  It was the first

and last time he treated; until the play changed and his canny soul

was roused to unwonted prodigality。  But he paid for the liquor

from a fairly healthy…looking sack。  〃Not less 'n eight hundred in

it;〃 calculated the lynx…eyed Kink; and on the strength of it he

took the first opportunity of a privy conversation with Bidwell;

proprietor of the bad whisky and the tent。



〃Here's my sack; Bidwell;〃 Kink said; with the intimacy and surety

of one old…timer to another。  〃Just weigh fifty dollars into it for

a day or so more or less; and we'll be yours truly; Bill an' me。〃



Thereafter the journeys of the sack to the scales were more

frequent; and the celebration of Kink's natal day waxed hilarious。

He even essayed to sing the old…timer's classic; 〃The Juice of the

Forbidden Fruit;〃 but broke down and drowned his embarrassment in

another round of drinks。  Even Bidwell honoured him with a round or

two on the house; and he and Bill were decently drunk by the time

Ans Handerson's eyelids began to droop and his tongue gave promise

of loosening。



Bill grew affectionate; then confidential。  He told his troubles

and hard luck to the bar…keeper and the world in general; and to

Ans Handerson in particular。  He required no histrionic powers to

act the part。  The bad whisky attended to that。  He worked himself

into a great sorrow for himself and Bill; and his tears were

sincere when he told how he and his partner were thinking of

selling a half…interest in good ground just because they were short

of grub。  Even Kink listened and believed。



Ans Handerson's eyes were shining unholily as he asked; 〃How much

you tank you take?〃



Bill and Kink did not hear him; and he was compelled to repeat his

query。  They appeared reluctant。  He grew keener。  And he swayed

back and forward; holding on to the bar and listened with all his

ears while they conferred together on one side; and wrangled as to

whether they should or not; and disagreed in stage whispers over

the price they should set。



〃Two hundred andhic!fifty;〃 Bill finally announced; 〃but we

reckon as we won't sell。〃



〃Which is monstrous wise if I might chip in my little say;〃

seconded Bidwell。



〃Yes; indeedy;〃 added Kink。  〃We ain't in no charity business a…

disgorgin' free an' generous to Swedes an' white men。〃



〃Ay tank we haf another drink;〃 hiccoughed Ans Handerson; craftily

changing the subject against a more propitious time。



And thereafter; to bring about that propitious time; his own sack

began to see…saw between his hip pocket and the scales。  Bill and

Kink were coy; but they finally yielded to his blandishments。

Whereupon he grew shy and drew Bidwell to one side。  He staggered

exceedingly; and held on to Bidwell for support as he asked …



〃They ban all right; them men; you tank so?〃



〃Sure;〃 Bidwell answered heartily。  〃Known 'em for years。  Old sour

doughs。  When they sell a claim; they sell a claim。  They ain't no

air…dealers。〃



〃Ay tank Ay buy;〃 Ans Handerson announced; tottering back to the

two men。



But by now he was dreaming deeply; and he proclaimed he would have

the whole claim or nothing。  This was the cause of great pain to

Hootchinoo Bill。  He orated grandly against the 〃hawgishness〃 of

chechaquos and Swedes; albeit he dozed between periods; his voice

dying away to a gurgle; and his head sinking forward on his breast。

But whenever roused by a nudge from Kink or Bidwell; he never

failed to explode another volley of abuse and insult。



Ans Handerson was calm under it all。  Each insult added to the

value of the claim。  Such unamiable reluctance to sell advertised

but one thing to him; and he was aware of a great relief when

Hootchinoo Bill sank snoring to the floor; and he was free to turn

his attention to his less intractable partner。



Kink Mitchell was persuadable; though a poor mathematician。  He

wept dolefully; but was willing to sell a half…interest for two

hundred and fifty dollars or the whole claim for seven hundred and

fifty。  Ans Handerson and Bidwell laboured to clear away his

erroneous ideas concerning fractions; but their labour was vain。

He spilled tears and regrets all over the bar and on their

shoulders; which tears; however; did not wash away his opinion;

that if one half was worth two hundred and fifty; two halves were

worth three times as much。



In the end;and even Bidwell retained no more than hazy

recollections of how the night terminated;a bill of sale was

drawn up; wherein Bill Rader and Charles Mitchell yielded up all

right and title to the claim known as 24 ELDORADO; the same being

the name the creek had received from some optimistic chechaquo。



When Kink had signed; it took the united efforts of the three to

arouse Bill。  Pen in hand; he swayed long over the document; and;

each time he rocked back and forth; in Ans Handerson's eyes flashed

and faded a wondrous golden vision。  When the precious signature

was at last appended and the dust paid over; he breathed a great

sigh; and sank to sleep under a table; where he dreamed immortally

until morning。



But the day was chill and grey。  He felt bad。  His first act;

unconscious and automatic; was to feel for his sack。  Its lightness

startled him。  Then; slowly; memories of the night thronged into

his brain。  Rough voices disturbed him。  He opened his eyes and

peered out from under the table。  A couple of early risers; or;

rather; men who had been out on trail all night; were vociferating

their opinions concerning the utter and loathsome worthlessness of

Eldorado Creek。  He grew frightened; felt in his pocket; and found

the deed to 24 ELDORADO。



Ten minutes later Hootchinoo Bill and Kink Mitchell were ro

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