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第22章

the faith of men-第22章

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Snettishane looked interested; whereupon the Factor retraced his

steps; casually and carelessly to linger and discuss this new and

incidental topic。



〃Kattou?〃 suggested Snettishane。



〃She has but one eye;〃 objected the Factor。



〃Laska?〃



〃Her knees be wide apart when she stands upright。  Kips; your

biggest dog; can leap between her knees when she stands upright。〃



〃Senatee?〃 went on the imperturbable Snettishane。



But John Fox feigned anger; crying:  〃What foolishness is this?  Am

I old; that thou shouldst mate me with old women?  Am I toothless?

lame of leg? blind of eye?  Or am I poor that no bright…eyed maiden

may look with favour upon me?  Behold!  I am the Factor; both rich

and great; a power in the land; whose speech makes men tremble and

is obeyed!〃



Snettishane was inwardly pleased; though his sphinx…like visage

never relaxed。  He was drawing the Factor; and making him break

ground。  Being a creature so elemental as to have room for but one

idea at a time; Snettishane could pursue that one idea a greater

distance than could John Fox。  For John Fox; elemental as he was;

was still complex enough to entertain several glimmering ideas at a

time; which debarred him from pursuing the one as single…heartedly

or as far as did the chief。



Snettishane calmly continued calling the roster of eligible

maidens; which; name by name; as fast as uttered; were stamped

ineligible by John Fox; with specified objections appended。  Again

he gave it up and started to return to the Fort。  Snettishane

watched him go; making no effort to stop him; but seeing him; in

the end; stop himself。



〃Come to think of it;〃 the Factor remarked; 〃we both of us forgot

Lit…lit。  Now I wonder if she'll suit me?〃



Snettishane met the suggestion with a mirthless face; behind the

mask of which his soul grinned wide。  It was a distinct victory。

Had the Factor gone but one step farther; perforce Snettishane

would himself have mentioned the name of Lit…lit; butthe Factor

had not gone that one step farther。



The chief was non…committal concerning Lit…lit's suitability; till

he drove the white man into taking the next step in order of

procedure。



〃Well;〃 the Factor meditated aloud; 〃the only way to find out is to

make a try of it。〃  He raised his voice。  〃So I will give for Lit…

lit ten blankets and three pounds of tobacco which is good

tobacco。〃



Snettishane replied with a gesture which seemed to say that all the

blankets and tobacco in all the world could not compensate him for

the loss of Lit…lit and her manifold virtues。  When pressed by the

Factor to set a price; he coolly placed it at five hundred

blankets; ten guns; fifty pounds of tobacco; twenty scarlet cloths;

ten bottles of rum; a music…box; and lastly the good…will and best

offices of the Factor; with a place by his fire。



The Factor apparently suffered a stroke of apoplexy; which stroke

was successful in reducing the blankets to two hundred and in

cutting out the place by the firean unheard…of condition in the

marriages of white men with the daughters of the soil。  In the end;

after three hours more of chaffering; they came to an agreement。

For Lit…lit Snettishane was to receive one hundred blankets; five

pounds of tobacco; three guns; and a bottle of rum; goodwill and

best offices included; which according to John Fox; was ten

blankets and a gun more than she was worth。  And as he went home

through the wee sma' hours; the three…o'clock sun blazing in the

due north…east; he was unpleasantly aware that Snettishane had

bested him over the bargain。



Snettishane; tired and victorious; sought his bed; and discovered

Lit…lit before she could escape from the lodge。



He grunted knowingly:  〃Thou hast seen。  Thou has heard。  Wherefore

it be plain to thee thy father's very great wisdom and

understanding。  I have made for thee a great match。  Heed my words

and walk in the way of my words; go when I say go; come when I bid

thee come; and we shall grow fat with the wealth of this big white

man who is a fool according to his bigness。〃



The next day no trading was done at the store。  The Factor opened

whisky before breakfast; to the delight of McLean and McTavish;

gave his dogs double rations; and wore his best moccasins。  Outside

the Fort preparations were under way for a POTLATCH。  Potlatch

means 〃a giving;〃 and John Fox's intention was to signalize his

marriage with Lit…lit by a potlatch as generous as she was good…

looking。  In the afternoon the whole tribe gathered to the feast。

Men; women; children; and dogs gorged to repletion; nor was there

one person; even among the chance visitors and stray hunters from

other tribes; who failed to receive some token of the bridegroom's

largess。



Lit…lit; tearfully shy and frightened; was bedecked by her bearded

husband with a new calico dress; splendidly beaded moccasins; a

gorgeous silk handkerchief over her raven hair; a purple scarf

about her throat; brass ear…rings and finger…rings; and a whole

pint of pinchbeck jewellery; including a Waterbury watch。

Snettishane could scarce contain himself at the spectacle; but

watching his chance drew her aside from the feast。



〃Not this night; nor the next night;〃 he began ponderously; 〃but in

the nights to come; when I shall call like a raven by the river

bank; it is for thee to rise up from thy big husband; who is a

fool; and come to me。



〃Nay; nay;〃 he went on hastily; at sight of the dismay in her face

at turning her back upon her wonderful new life。  〃For no sooner

shall this happen than thy big husband; who is a fool; will come

wailing to my lodge。  Then it is for thee to wail likewise;

claiming that this thing is not well; and that the other thing thou

dost not like; and that to be the wife of the Factor is more than

thou didst bargain for; only wilt thou be content with more

blankets; and more tobacco; and more wealth of various sorts for

thy poor old father; Snettishane。  Remember well; when I call in

the night; like a raven; from the river bank。〃



Lit…lit nodded; for to disobey her father was a peril she knew

well; and; furthermore; it was a little thing he asked; a short

separation from the Factor; who would know only greater gladness at

having her back。  She returned to the feast; and; midnight being

well at hand; the Factor sought her out and led her away to the

Fort amid joking and outcry; in which the squaws were especially

conspicuous。



Lit…lit quickly found that married life with the head…man of a fort

was even better than she had dreamed。  No longer did she have to

fetch wood and water and wait hand and foot upon cantankerous

menfolk。  For the first time in her life she could lie abed till

breakfast was on the table。  And what a bed!clean and soft; and

comfortable as no bed she had ever known。  And such food!  Flour;

cooked into biscuits; hot…cakes and bread; three times a day and

every day; and all one wanted!  Such prodigality was hardly

believable。



To add to her contentment; the Factor was cunningly kind。  He had

buried one wife; and he knew how to drive with a slack rein that

went firm only on occasion; and then went very firm。  〃Lit…lit is

boss of this place;〃 he announced significantly at the table the

morning after the wedding。  〃What she says goes。  Understand?〃  And

McLean and McTavish understood。  Also; they knew that the Factor

had a heavy hand。



But Lit…lit did not take advantage。  Taking a leaf from the book of

her husband; she at once assumed charge of his own growing sons;

giving them added comforts and a measure of freedom like to that

which he gave her。  The two sons were loud in the praise of their

new mother; McLean and McTavish lifted their voices; and the Factor

bragged of the joys of matrimony till the story of her good

behaviour and her husband's satisfaction became the property of all

the dwellers in the Sin Rock district。



Where

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