the faith of men(人们的信任)-第20章
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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。〃
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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
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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。
Whereupon Snettishane； with visions of his incalculable interest
keeping him awake of nights； thought it time to bestir himself。 On the
tenth night of her wedded life Lit…lit was awakened by the croaking of a
raven； and she knew that Snettishane was waiting for her by the river bank。
In her great happiness she had forgotten her pact； and now it came back to
her with behind it all the childish terror of her father。 For a time she lay
in fear and trembling； loath to go； afraid to stay。 But in the end the
Factor won the silent victory； and his kindness plus his great muscles and
square jaw； nerved her to disregard Snettishane's call。
But in the morning she arose very much afraid； and went about her
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duties in momentary fear of her father's coming。 As the day wore along；
however； she began to recover her spirits。 John Fox； soundly berating
McLean and McTavish for some petty dereliction of duty； helped her to
pluck up courage。 She tried not to let him go out of her sight； and when
she followed him into the huge cache and saw him twirling and tossing
great bales around as though they were feather pillows； she felt
strengthened in her disobedience to her father。 Also （it was her first visit
to the warehouse； and Sin Rock was the chief distributing point to several
chains of lesser posts）； she was astounded at the endlessness of the wealth
there stored away。
This sight and the picture in her mind's eye of the bare lodge of
Snettishane； put all doubts at rest。 Yet she capped her conviction by a
brief word with one of her step…sons。 〃White daddy good？〃 was what she
asked； and the boy answered that his father was the best man he had ever
known。 That night the raven croaked again。 On the night following the
croaking was more persistent。 It awoke the Factor； who tossed restlessly
for a while。 Then he said aloud； 〃Damn that raven；〃 and Lit…lit laughed
quietly under the blankets。
In the morning； bright and early； Snettishane put in an ominous
appearance and was set to breakfast in the kitchen with Wanidani。 He
refused 〃squaw food；〃 and a little later bearded his son…in…law in the store
where the trading was done。 Having learned； he said； that his daughter
was such a jewel； he had come for more blankets； more tobacco； and more
gunsespecially more guns。 He had certainly been cheated in her price；
he held； and he had come for justice。 But the Factor had neither blankets
nor justice to spare。 Whereupon he was informed that Snettishane had seen
the missionary at Three Forks； who had notified him that such marriages
were not made in heaven； and that it was his father's duty to demand his
daughter back。
〃I am good Christian man now；〃 Snettishane concluded。 〃I want my
Lit…lit to go to heaven。〃
The Factor's reply was short and to the point； for he directed his father…
in…law to go to the heavenly antipodes； and by the scruff of the neck and
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the slack of the blanket propelled him on that trail as far as the door。
But Snettishane sneaked around and in by the kitchen； cornering Lit…lit
in the great living…room of the Fort。
〃Mayhap thou didst sleep over…sound last night when I called by the
river bank；〃 he began； glowering darkly。
〃Nay； I was awake and heard。〃 Her heart was beating as though it
would choke her； but she went on steadily； 〃And the night before I was
awake and heard； and yet again the night before。〃
And thereat； out of her great happiness and out of the fear that it might
be taken from her； she launched into an original and glowing address upon
the status and rights of womanthe first new…woman lecture delivered
north of Fifty…three。
But it fell on unheeding ears。 Snettishane was still in the dark ages。
As she paused for breath； he said threateningly； 〃To…night I shall call again
like the raven。〃
At this moment the Factor entered the room and again helped
Snettishane on his way to the heavenly antipodes。
That night the raven croaked more persistently than ever。 Lit…lit； who
was a light sleeper； heard and smiled。 John Fox tossed restlessly。 Then
he awoke and tossed about with greater restlessness。 He grumbled and
snorted； swore under his breath and over his breath； and finally flung out
of bed。 He groped his way to the great living…room； and from the rack
took down a loaded shot…gunloaded with bird…shot； left therein by the
careless McTavish。
The Factor crept carefully out of the Fort and down to the river。 The
croaking had ceased； but he stretched out in the long grass and waited。
The air seeme
