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！
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
86
… Page 87…
The Faith of Men
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 seemed a chilly balm； and the earth； after the heat of the day； now
and again breathed soothingly against him。 The Factor； gathered into the
rhythm of it all； dozed off； with his head upon his arm； and slept。
Fifty yards away； head resting on knees； and with his back to John Fox；
Snettishane likewise slept； gently conquered by the quietude of the night。
An hour slipped by and then he awoke； and； without lifting his head； set
the night vibrating with the hoarse gutturals of the raven call。
87
… Page 88…
The Faith of Men
The Factor roused； not with the abrupt start of civilized man； but with
the swift and comprehensive glide from sleep to waking of the savage。
In the night…light he made out a dark object in the midst of the grass and
brought his gun to bear upon it。 A second croak began to rise； and he
pulled the trigger。 The crickets ceased from their sing…song chant； the
wildfowl from their squabbling； and the raven croak broke midmost and
died away in gasping silence。
John Fox ran to the spot and reached for the thing he had killed； but
his fingers closed on a coarse mop of hair and he turned Snettishane's face
upward to the starlight。 He knew how a shotgun scattered at fifty yards；
and he knew that he had peppered Snettishane across the shoulders and in
the small of the back。 And Snettishane knew that he knew； but neither
referred to it
〃What dost thou here？〃 the Factor demanded。 〃It were time old
bones should be in bed。〃
But Snettishane was stately in spite of the bird…shot burning under his
skin。
〃Old bones will not sleep；〃 he said solemnly。 〃I weep for my
daughter； for my daughter Lit…lit； who liveth and who yet is dead； and who
goeth without doubt to the white man's hell。〃
〃Weep henceforth on the far bank； beyond ear…shot of the Fort；〃 said
John Fox； turning on his heel； 〃for the noise of thy weeping is exceeding
great and will not let one sleep of nights。〃
〃My heart is sore；〃 Snettishane answered； 〃and my days and nights be
black with sorrow。〃
〃As the raven is black；〃 said John Fox。
〃As the raven is black；〃 Snettishane said。
Never again was the voice of the raven heard by the river bank。 Lit…lit
grows matronly day by day and is very happy。 Also； there are sisters to
the sons of John Fox's first wife who lies buried in a tree。 Old
Snettishane is no longer a visitor at the Fort； and spends long hours raising
a thin； aged voice against the filial ingratitude of children in general and of
his daughter Lit…lit in particular。 His declining years are embittered by
88
… Page 89…
The Faith of Men
the knowledge that he was cheated； and even John Fox has withdrawn the
assertion that the price for Lit…lit was too much by ten blankets and a gun。
89
… Page 90…
The Faith of Men
BATARD
Batard was a devil。 This was recognized throughout the Northland。
〃Hell's Spawn〃 he was called by many men； but his master； Black Leclere；
chose for him the shameful name 〃Batard。〃 Now Black Leclere was also
a devil； and the twain were well matched。 There is a saying that when
two devils come together； hell is to pay。 This is to be expected； and this
certainly was to be expected when Batard and Black Leclere came
together。 The first time they met； Batard was a part…grown puppy； lean
and hungry； with bitter eyes； and they met with snap and snarl； and wicked
looks； for Leclere's upper lip had a wolfish way of lifting and showing the
white； cruel teeth。 And it lifted then； and his eyes glinted viciously； as he
reached for Batard and dragged him out from the squirming litter。 It was
certain that they divined each other； for on the instant Batard had buried
his puppy fangs in Leclere's hand； and Leclere； thumb and finger； was
coolly choking his young life out of him。
〃SACREDAM；〃 the Frenchman said softly； flirting the quick blood
from his bitten hand and gazing down on the little puppy choking and
gasping in the snow。
Leclere turned to John Hamlin； storekeeper of the Sixty Mile Post。
〃Dat fo' w'at Ah lak heem。 'Ow moch； eh； you； M'sieu'？ 'Ow moch？ Ah
buy heem； now； Ah buy heem queek。〃
And because he