the faith of men(人们的信任)-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
unstaked； but they had no intention of staking。 The trip was made more for
the purpose of giving vent to their ill… humour than for anything else。
They had become quite cynical； sceptical。 They jeered and scoffed at
everything； and insulted every chechaquo they met along the way。
At No。 23 the stakes ceased。 The remainder of the creek was open
for location。
〃Moose pasture；〃 sneered Kink Mitchell。
But Bill gravely paced off five hundred feet up the creek and blazed
the corner…stakes。 He had picked up the bottom of a candle… box； and on
the smooth side he wrote the notice for his centre… stake：…
THIS MOOSE PASTURE IS RESERVED FOR THE SWEDES
AND CHECHAQUOS。 … BILL RADER。
Kink read it over with approval； saying：…
〃As them's my sentiments； I reckon I might as well subscribe。〃
So the name of Charles Mitchell was added to the notice； and many an
old sour dough's face relaxed that day at sight of the handiwork of a
kindred spirit。
〃How's the pup？〃 Carmack inquired when they strolled back into
camp。
〃To hell with pups！〃 was Hootchinoo Bill's reply。 〃Me and Kink's
53
… Page 54…
The Faith of Men
goin' a…lookin' for Too Much Gold when we get rested up。〃
Too Much Gold was the fabled creek of which all sour doughs
dreamed； whereof it was said the gold was so thick that； in order to wash it；
gravel must first be shovelled into the sluice…boxes。 But the several days'
rest； preliminary to the quest for Too Much Gold； brought a slight change
in their plan； inasmuch as it brought one Ans Handerson； a Swede。
Ans Handerson had been working for wages all summer at Miller
Creek over on the Sixty Mile； and； the summer done； had strayed up
Bonanza like many another waif helplessly adrift on the gold tides that
swept willy…nilly across the land。 He was tall and lanky。 His arms were
long； like prehistoric man's； and his hands were like soup…plates； twisted
and gnarled； and big…knuckled from toil。 He was slow of utterance and
movement； and his eyes； pale blue as his hair was pale yellow； seemed
filled with an immortal dreaming； the stuff of which no man knew； and
himself least of all。 Perhaps this appearance of immortal dreaming was
due to a supreme and vacuous innocence。 At any rate； this was the
valuation men of ordinary clay put upon him； and there was nothing
extraordinary about the composition of Hootchinoo Bill and Kink
Mitchell。
The partners had spent a day of visiting and gossip； and in the evening
met in the temporary quarters of the Monte Carloa large tent were
stampeders rested their weary bones and bad whisky sold at a dollar a
drink。 Since the only money in circulation was dust； and since the house
took the 〃down…weight〃 on the scales； a drink cost something more than a
dollar。 Bill and Kink were not drinking； principally for the reason that
their one and common sack was not strong enough to stand many
excursions to the scales。
〃Say； Bill； I've got a chechaquo on the string for a sack of flour；〃
Mitchell announced jubilantly。
Bill looked interested and pleased。 Grub as scarce； and they were not
over…plentifully supplied for the quest after Too Much Gold。
〃Flour's worth a dollar a pound；〃 he answered。 〃How like do you
calculate to get your finger on it？〃
54
… Page 55…
The Faith of Men
〃Trade 'm a half…interest in that claim of ourn；〃 Kink answered。
〃What claim？〃 Bill was surprised。 Then he remembered the
reservation he had staked off for the Swedes； and said； 〃Oh！〃
〃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
55
… Page 56…
The Faith of Men
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
56
… Page 57…
The Faith of Men
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 t
