the faith of men-第16章

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Snettishane　had　attained　to　a　ceremonious　discussion　of　the

condition　and　quality　of　the　gunpowder　and　bacon　which　the　Company

was　offering　in　trade。　　Meanwhile　Lit…lit；　divining　the　Factor's

errand；　had　crept　in　under　the　rear　wall　of　the　lodge；　and　through

the　front　flap　was　peeping　out　at　the　two　logomachists　by　the

mosquito　smudge。　　She　was　flushed　and　happy…eyed；　proud　that　no

less　a　man　than　the　Factor　（who　stood　next　to　God　in　the　Northland

hierarchy）　had　singled　her　out；　femininely　curious　to　see　at　close

range　what　manner　of　man　he　was。　　Sunglare　on　the　ice；　camp　smoke；

and　weather　beat　had　burned　his　face　to　a　copper…brown；　so　that　her

father　was　as　fair　as　he；　while　she　was　fairer。　　She　was　remotely

glad　of　this；　and　more　immediately　glad　that　he　was　large　and

strong；　though　his　great　black　beard　half　frightened　her；　it　was　so

strange。



Being　very　young；　she　was　unversed　in　the　ways　of　men。　　Seventeen

times　she　had　seen　the　sun　travel　south　and　lose　itself　beyond　the

sky…line；　and　seventeen　times　she　had　seen　it　travel　back　again　and

ride　the　sky　day　and　night　till　there　was　no　night　at　all。　　And

through　these　years　she　had　been　cherished　jealously　by

Snettishane；　who　stood　between　her　and　all　suitors；　listening

disdainfully　to　the　young　hunters　as　they　bid　for　her　hand；　and

turning　them　away　as　though　she　were　beyond　price。　　Snettishane　was

mercenary。　　Lit…lit　was　to　him　an　investment。　　She　represented　so

much　capital；　from　which　he　expected　to　receive；　not　a　certain

definite　interest；　but　an　incalculable　interest。



And　having　thus　been　reared　in　a　manner　as　near　to　that　of　the

nunnery　as　tribal　conditions　would　permit；　it　was　with　a　great　and

maidenly　anxiety　that　she　peeped　out　at　the　man　who　had　surely　come

for　her；　at　the　husband　who　was　to　teach　her　all　that　was　yet

unlearned　of　life；　at　the　masterful　being　whose　word　was　to　be　her

law；　and　who　was　to　mete　and　bound　her　actions　and　comportment　for

the　rest　of　her　days。



But；　peeping　through　the　front　flap　of　the　lodge；　flushed　and

thrilling　at　the　strange　destiny　reaching　out　for　her；　she　grew

disappointed　as　the　day　wore　along；　and　the　Factor　and　her　father

still　talked　pompously　of　matters　concerning　other　things　and　not

pertaining　to　marriage　things　at　all。　　As　the　sun　sank　lower　and

lower　toward　the　north　and　midnight　approached；　the　Factor　began

making　unmistakable　preparations　for　departure。　　As　he　turned　to

stride　away　Lit…lit's　heart　sank；　but　it　rose　again　as　he　halted；

half　turning　on　one　heel。



〃Oh；　by　the　way；　Snettishane；〃　he　said；　〃I　want　a　squaw　to　wash　for

me　and　mend　my　clothes。〃



Snettishane　grunted　and　suggested　Wanidani；　who　was　an　old　woman

and　toothless。



〃No；　no；〃　interposed　the　Factor。　　〃What　I　want　is　a　wife。　　I've

been　kind　of　thinking　about　it；　and　the　thought　just　struck　me　that

you　might　know　of　some　one　that　would　suit。〃



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。



Whereupon　Snettishane；　with　visions　of　his　inc