the faith of men-第7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！



scrambled；　and　in　all　sorts　of　ways；　and　downing　them　as　fast　as

they　arrived。〃



〃I'd　have　ordered　salads　and　green　things；〃　Hutchinson　criticized

hungrily；　〃with　a　big；　rare；　Porterhouse；　and　young　onions　and

radishes；the　kind　your　teeth　sink　into　with　a　crunch。〃



〃I'd　have　followed　the　eggs　with　them；　I　guess；　if　I　hadn't

awakened；〃　Pentfield　replied。



He　picked　up　a　trail…scarred　banjo　from　the　floor　and　began　to

strum　a　few　wandering　notes。　　Hutchinson　winced　and　breathed

heavily。



〃Quit　it！〃　he　burst　out　with　sudden　fury；　as　the　other　struck　into

a　gaily　lifting　swing。　　〃It　drives　me　mad。　　I　can't　stand　it〃



Pentfield　tossed　the　banjo　into　a　bunk　and　quoted：…





〃Hear　me　babble　what　the　weakest　won't　confess　…

I　am　Memory　and　TormentI　am　Town！

I　am　all　that　ever　went　with　evening　dress！〃





The　other　man　winced　where　he　sat　and　dropped　his　head　forward　on

the　table。　　Pentfield　resumed　the　monotonous　drumming　with　his

knuckles。　　A　loud　snap　from　the　door　attracted　his　attention。　　The

frost　was　creeping　up　the　inside　in　a　white　sheet；　and　he　began　to

hum：…





〃The　flocks　are　folded；　boughs　are　bare；

The　salmon　takes　the　sea；

And　oh；　my　fair；　would　I　somewhere

Might　house　my　heart　with　thee。〃





Silence　fell　and　was　not　again　broken　till　Billebedam　arrived　and

threw　the　dice　box　on　the　table。



〃Um　much　cold；〃　he　said。　　〃Oleson　um　speak　to　me；　um　say　um　Yukon

freeze　last　night。〃



〃Hear　that；　old　man！〃　Pentfield　cried；　slapping　Hutchinson　on　the

shoulder。　　〃Whoever　wins　can　be　hitting　the　trail　for　God's　country

this　time　tomorrow　morning！〃



He　picked　up　the　box；　briskly　rattling　the　dice。



〃What'll　it　be？〃



〃Straight　poker　dice；〃　Hutchinson　answered。　　〃Go　on　and　roll　them

out。〃



Pentfield　swept　the　dishes　from　the　table　with　a　crash　and　rolled

out　the　five　dice。　　Both　looked　tragedy。　　The　shake　was　without　a

pair　and　five…spot　high。



〃A　stiff！〃　Pentfield　groaned。



After　much　deliberating　Pentfield　picked　up　all　the　five　dice　and

put　them　in　the　box。



〃I'd　shake　to　the　five　if　I　were　you；〃　Hutchinson　suggested。



〃No；　you　wouldn't；　not　when　you　see　this；〃　Pentfield　replied；

shaking　out　the　dice。



Again　they　were　without　a　pair；　running　this　time　in　unbroken

sequence　from　two　to　six。



〃A　second　stiff！〃　he　groaned。　　〃No　use　your　shaking；　Corry。　　You

can't　lose。〃



The　other　man　gathered　up　the　dice　without　a　word；　rattled　them；

rolled　them　out　on　the　table　with　a　flourish；　and　saw　that　he　had

likewise　shaken　a　six…high　stiff。



〃Tied　you；　anyway；　but　I'll　have　to　do　better　than　that；〃　he　said；

gathering　in　four　of　them　and　shaking　to　the　six。　　〃And　here's　what

beats　you！〃



But　they　rolled　out　deuce；　tray；　four；　and　fivea　stiff　still　and

no　better　nor　worse　than　Pentfield's　throw。



Hutchinson　sighed。



〃Couldn't　happen　once　in　a　million　times；〃　said。



〃Nor　in　a　million　lives；〃　Pentfield　added；　catching　up　the　dice　and

quickly　throwing　them　out。　　Three　fives　appeared；　and；　after　much

delay；　he　was　rewarded　by　a　fourth　five　on　the　second　shake。

Hutchinson　seemed　to　have　lost　his　last　hope。



But　three　sixes　turned　up　on　his　first　shake。　　A　great　doubt　rose

in　the　other's　eyes；　and　hope　returned　into　his。　　He　had　one　more

shake。　　Another　six　and　he　would　go　over　the　ice　to　salt　water　and

the　States。



He　rattled　the　dice　in　the　box；　made　as　though　to　cast　them；

hesitated；　and　continued　rattle　them。



〃Go　on！　　Go　on！　　Don't　take　all　night　about　it！〃　Pentfield　cried

sharply；　bending　his　nails　on　the　table；　so　tight　was　the　clutch

with　which　he　strove　to　control　himself。



The　dice　rolled　forth；　an　upturned　six　meeting　their　eyes。　　Both

men　sat　staring　at　it。　　There　was　a　long　silence。　　Hutchinson　shot

a　covert　glance　at　his　partner；　who；　still　more　covertly；　caught

it；　and　pursed　up　his　lips　in　an　attempt　to　advertise　his

unconcern。



Hutchinson　laughed　as　he　got　up　on　his　feet。　　It　was　a　nervous；

apprehensive　laugh。　　It　was　a　case　where　it　was　more　awkward　to　win

than　lose。　　He　walked　over　to　his　partner；　who　whirled　upon　him

fiercely：…



〃Now　you　just　shut　up；　Corry！　　I　know　all　you're　going　to　saythat

you'd　rather　stay　in　and　let　me　go；　and　all　that；　so　don't　say　it。

You've　your　own　people　in　Detroit　to　see；　and　that's　enough。

Besides；　you　can　do　for　me　the　very　thing　I　expected　to　do　if　I

went　out。〃



〃And　that　is？〃



Pentfield　read　the　full　question　in　his　partner's　eyes；　and

answered：…



〃Yes；　that　very　thing。　　You　can　bring　her　in　to　me。　　The　only

difference　will　be　a　Dawson　wedding　instead　of　a　San　Franciscan

one。〃



〃But；　man　alike！〃　Corry　Hutchinson　objected　〃how　under　the　sun　can

I　bring　her　in？　　We're　not　exactly　brother　and　sister；　seeing　that

I　have　not　even　met　her；　and　it　wouldn't　be　just　the　proper　thing；

you　know；　for　us　to　travel　together。　　Of　course；　it　would　be　all

rightyou　and　I　know　that；　but　think　of　the　looks　of　it；　man！〃



Pentfield　swore　under　his　breath；　consigning　the　looks　of　it　to　a

less　frigid　region　than　Alaska。



〃Now；　if　you'll　just　listen　and　not　get　astride　that　high　horse　of

yours　so　blamed　quick；〃　his　partner　went　on；　〃you'll　see　that　the

only　fair　thing　under　the　circumstances　is　for　me　to　let　you　go　out

this　year。　　Next　year　is　only　a　year　away；　and　then　I　can　take　my

fling。〃



Pentfield　shook　his　head；　though　visibly　swayed　by　the　temptation。



〃It　won't　do；　Corry；　old　man。　　I　appreciate　your　kindness　and　all

that；　but　it　won't　do。　　I'd　be　ashamed　every　time　I　thought　of　you

slaving　away　in　here　in　my　place。〃



A　thought　seemed　suddenly　to　strike　him。　　Burrowing　into　his　bunk

and　disrupting　it　in　his　eagerness；　he　secured　a　writing…pad　and

pencil；　and　sitting　down　at　the　table；　began　to　write　with

swiftness　and　certitude。



〃Here；〃　he　said；　thrusting　the　scrawled　letter　into　his　partner's

hand。　　〃You　just　deliver　that　and　everything'll　be　all　right。〃



Hutchinson　ran　his　eye　over　it　and　laid　it　down。



〃How　do　you　know　the　brother　will　be　willing　to　make　that　beastly

trip　in　here？〃　he　demanded。



〃Oh；　he'll　do　it　for　meand　for　his　sister；〃　Pentfield　replied。

〃You　see；　he's　tenderfoot；　and　I　wouldn't　trust　her　with　him　alone。

But　with　you　along　it　will　be　an　easy　trip　and　a　safe　one。　　As　soon

as　you　get　out；　you'll　go　to　her　and　prepare　her。　　Then　you　can

take　your　run　east　to　your　own　people；　and　in　the　spring　she　and

her　brother'll　be　ready　to　start　with　you。　　You'll　like　her；　I

know；　right　from　the　jump；　and　from　that；　you'll　know　her　as　soon

as　you　lay　eyes　on　her。〃



So　saying　he　opened　the　back　of　his　watch　and　exposed　a　girl's

photograph　pasted　on　the　inside　of　the　case。　　Corry　Hutchinson

gazed　at　it　with　admiration　welling　up　in　his　eyes。



〃Mabel　is　her　name；〃　Pentfield　went　on。　　〃And　it's　just　as　well　you

should　know　how　to　find　the　house。　　Soon　as　you　strike　'Frisco；

take　a　cab；　and　just　say；　'Holmes's　place；　Myrdon　Avenue'I　doubt

if　the　Myrdon　Avenue　is　necessary。　　The　cabby'll　know　where　Judge

Holmes　lives。



〃And　say；〃　Pentfield　continued；　after　a　pause；　〃it　won't　be　a　bad

idea　for　you　to　get　me　a　few　little　things　which　aer〃



〃A　married　man　should　have　in　his　business；〃　Hutchinson　blurted　out

with　a　grin。



Pentfield　grinned　back。



〃Sure；　napkins　and　tablecloths　and　sheets　and　pillowslips；　and　such

things。　　And　you　might　get　a　good　set　of　china。　　You　know　it'll

come　hard　for　her　to　settle　down　to　this　sort　of　thing。　　You　can

freight　them　in　by　steamer　around　by　Bering　Sea。　　And；　I　say；

what's　the　matter　with　a　piano？〃



Hutchinson　seconded　the　idea　heartily。　　His　reluctance　had

vanished；　and　he　was　warming　up　to　his　mission。



〃By　Jove！　　Lawrence；〃　he　said　at　the　conclusion　of　the　council；　as

they　both　rose　to　their　feet；　〃I'll　bring　back　that　girl　of　yours

in　style。　　I'll　do　the　cooking　and　take　care　of　the　dogs；　and　all

that　brother'll　have　to　do　will　be　to　see　to　her　comfort　and　do　for

her　whatever　I've　forgotten。　　And　I'll　forget　damn　little；　I　can

tell　you。〃



The　next　day　Lawrence　Pentfield　shook　hands　with　him　for　the　last

time　and　watched　him；　running　with　his　dogs；　disappear　up　the

frozen　Yukon　on　his　way　to　salt　water　and　the　world。　　Pentfield

went　back　to　his　Bonanza　mine；　which　was　many　times　more　dreary

than　before；　and　faced　resolutely　into　the　long　winter。　　There　was

work　to　be　done；　men　to　superintend；　and　operations　to　direct　in

burrowing　after　the　erratic　pay　streak；　but　his　heart　was　not　in

the　work。　　Nor　was　his　heart　in　any　work　till　the　tiered　logs　of　a

new　cabin　began　to　rise　on　the　hill　behind　the　mine。　　It　was　a

grand　cabin；　warmly　built　and　divided　into　three　comfortable　rooms。

Each　log　was　hand…hewed　and　squaredan　expensive　whim　when　the

axemen　received　a　daily　wage　of　fifteen　dollars；　but　to　him　nothing

could　be　too　costly　for　the　home　in　which　Mabel　Holmes　was　to　live。



So　he　went　about　with　the　building　of　the　cabin；　singing；　〃And　oh；

my　fair；　would　I　somewhere　might　house　my　heart　with　thee！〃　　Also；

he　had　a　calendar　pinned　on　the　wall　above　the　table；　and　his　first

act　each　morning　was　to　check　off　the　day　and　to　count　the　days

that　were　left　ere　his　partner　would　come　booming　down　the　Yukon

ice　in　the　spring。　　Another　whim　of　his　was　to　permit　no　one　to

sleep　in　the　new　cabin　on　the　hill。　　It　must　be　as　fresh　for　her

occupancy　as　the　square…hewed　wood　was　fresh；　and　when　it　stood

complete；　he　put　a　padlock　on　the　door。　　No　one　entered　save

himself；　and　he　was　wont　to　spend　long　hours　there；　and　to　come

forth　with　his　face　strangely　radiant　and　in　his　eyes　a　glad；　warm

light。



In　December　he　received　a　letter　from　Corry　Hutchinson。　　He　had

just　seen　Mabel　Holmes。　　She　was　all　she　ought　to　be；　to　be

Lawrence　Pentfield's　wife；　he　wrote。　　He　was　enthusiastic；　and　his

letter　sent　the　blood　tingling　through　Pentfield's　veins。　　Other

letters　followed；　one　on　the　heels　of　another；　and　sometimes　two　or

three　together　when　the　mail　lumped　up。　　And　they　were　all　in　the

same　tenor。　　Corry　had　just　come　from　Myrdon　Avenue；　Corry　was　just

going　to　Myrdon　Avenue；　or　Corry　was　at　Myrdon　Avenue。　　And　he

lingered　on　and　on　in　San　Francisco；　nor　even　mentioned　his　trip　to

Detroit。



Lawrence　Pentfield　began　to　think　that　his　partner　was　a　great　deal

in　the　company　of　Mabel　Holmes　for　a　fellow　who　was　going　east　to

see　his　people。　　He　even　caught　himself　worrying　about　it　at　times；

though　he　would　have　worried　more　had　he　not　known　Mabel　and　Corry

so　well。　　Mabel's　letters；　on　the　other　hand；　had　a　great　deal　to

say　about　Corry。　　Also；　a　thread　of　timidity　that　was　near　to

disinclination　ran　through　them　concerning　the　trip　in　over　the　ice

and　the　Dawson　marriage。　　Pentfield　wrote　back　heartily；　laughing

at　her　fears；　which　he　took　to　be　the　mere　physical　ones　of　da