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land and who had arrived only half an hour before； offered one hundred
dollars in a confident voice； and was surprised when Akoon turned
threateningly upon him with the rifle。 The bidding dragged。 An Indian
from the Tozikakat； a pilot； bid one hundred and fifty； and after some time
a gambler； who had been ordered out of the Upper Country； raised the bid
to two hundred。 El…Soo was saddened； her pride was hurt； but the only
effect was that she flamed more audaciously upon the crowd。
There was a disturbance among the onlookers as Porportuk forced his
way to the front。 〃Five hundred dollars！〃 he bid in a loud voice； then
looked about him proudly to note the effect。
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He was minded to use his great wealth as a bludgeon with which to
stun all competition at the start。 But one of the voyageurs； looking on El…
Soo with sparkling eyes； raised the bid a hundred。
〃Seven hundred！〃 Porportuk returned promptly。
And with equal promptness came the 〃Eight hundred〃 of the voyageur。
Then Porportuk swung his club again。
〃Twelve hundred！〃 he shouted。
With a look of poignant disappointment； the voyageur succumbed。
There was no further bidding。 Tommy worked hard； but could not elicit a
bid。
El…Soo spoke to Porportuk。 〃It were good； Porportuk； for you to
weigh well your bid。 Have you forgotten the thing I told youthat I
would never marry you！〃
〃It is a public auction；〃 he retorted。 〃I shall buy you with a bill of
sale。 I have offered twelve hundred dollars。 You come cheap。〃
〃Too damned cheap！〃 Tommy cried。 〃What if I am auctioneer？
That does not prevent me from bidding。 I'll make it thirteen hundred。〃
〃Fourteen hundred；〃 from Porportuk。
〃I'll buy you in to be mymy sister；〃 Tommy whispered to El…Soo；
then called aloud； 〃Fifteen hundred！〃
At two thousand one of the Eldorado kings took a hand； and Tommy
dropped out。
A third time Porportuk swung the club of his wealth； making a clean
raise of five hundred dollars。 But the Eldorado king's pride was touched。
No man could club him。 And he swung back another five hundred。
El…Soo stood at three thousand。 Porportuk made it thirty…five
hundred； and gasped when the Eldorado king raised it a thousand dollars。
Porportuk again raised it five hundred； and again gasped when the king
raised a thousand more。
Porportuk became angry。 His pride was touched； his strength was
challenged； and with him strength took the form of wealth。 He would not
be ashamed for weakness before the world。 El…Soo became incidental。
The savings and scrimpings from the cold nights of all his years were ripe
to be squandered。 El…Soo stood at six thousand。 He made it seven
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thousand。 And then； in thousand…dollar bids； as fast as they could be
uttered； her price went up。 At fourteen thousand the two men stopped for
breath。
Then the unexpected happened。 A still heavier club was swung。 In
the pause that ensued； the gambler； who had scented a speculation and
formed a syndicate with several of his fellows； bid sixteen thousand
dollars。
〃Seventeen thousand；〃 Porportuk said weakly。
〃Eighteen thousand；〃 said the king。
Porportuk gathered his strength。 〃Twenty thousand。〃
The syndicate dropped out。 The Eldorado king raised a thousand；
and Porportuk raised back； and as they bid； Akoon turned from one to the
other； half menacingly； half curiously； as though to see what manner of
man it was that he would have to kill。 When the king prepared to make
his next bid； Akoon having pressed closer； the king first loosed the
revolver at his hip； then said：
〃Twenty…three thousand。〃
〃Twenty…four thousand；〃 said Porportuk。 He grinned viciously； for
the certitude of his bidding had at last shaken the king。 The latter moved
over close to El…Soo。 He studied her carefully for a long while。
〃And five hundred；〃 he said at last。
〃Twenty…five thousand；〃 came Porportuk's raise。
The king looked for a long space； and shook his head。 He looked
again； and said reluctantly； 〃And five hundred。〃
〃Twenty…six thousand；〃 Porportuk snapped。
The king shook his head and refused to meet Tommy's pleading eye。
In the meantime Akoon had edged close to Porportuk。 El…Soo's quick
eye noted this； and； while Tommy wrestled with the Eldorado king for
another bid； she bent； and spoke in a low voice in the ear of a slave。 And
while Tommy's 〃Goinggoinggoing〃 dominated the air； the slave went
up to Akoon and spoke in a low voice in his ear。 Akoon made no sign that
he had heard； though El…Soo watched him anxiously。
〃Gone！〃 Tommy's voice rang out。 〃To Porportuk； for twenty…six
thousand dollars。〃
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Porportuk glanced uneasily at Akoon。 All eyes were centred upon
Akoon； but he did nothing。
〃Let the scales be brought；〃 said El…Soo。
〃I shall make payment at my house；〃 said Porportuk。
〃Let the scales be brought；〃 El…Soo repeated。 〃Payment shall be
made here where all can see。〃
So the gold scales were brought from the trading post； while Porportuk
went away and came back with a man at his heels； on whose shoulders
was a weight of gold…dust in moose…hide sacks。 Also； at Porportuk's back；
walked another man with a rifle； who had eyes only for Akoon。
〃Here are the notes and mortgages；〃 said Porportuk； 〃for fifteen
thousand nine hundred and sixty…seven dollars and seventy…five cents。〃
El…Soo received them into her hands and said to Tommy； 〃Let them be
reckoned as sixteen thousand。〃
〃There remains ten thousand dollars to be paid in gold；〃 Tommy said。
Porportuk nodded； and untied the mouths of the sacks。 El…Soo；
standing at the edge of the bank； tore the papers to shreds and sent them
fluttering out over the Yukon。 The weighing began； but halted。
〃Of course； at seventeen dollars；〃 Porportuk had said to Tommy； as he
adjusted the scales。
〃At sixteen dollars；〃 El…Soo said sharply。
〃It is the custom of all the land to reckon gold at seventeen dollars for
each ounce；〃 Porportuk replied。 〃And this is a business transaction。〃
El…Soo laughed。 〃It is a new custom；〃 she said。 〃It began this
spring。 Last year； and the years before； it was sixteen dollars an ounce。
When my father's debt was made； it was sixteen dollars。 When he spent
at the store the money he got from you； for one ounce he was given
sixteen dollars' worth of flour； not seventeen。 Wherefore； shall you pay
for me at sixteen； and not at seventeen。〃 Porportuk grunted and allowed
the weighing to proceed。
〃Weigh it in three piles； Tommy；〃 she said。 〃A thousand dollars here；
three thousand here； and here six thousand。〃
It was slow work； and； while the weighing went on； Akoon was closely
watched by all。
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〃He but waits till the money is paid；〃 one said； and the word went
around and was accepted； and they waited for what Akoon should do when
the money was paid。 And Porportuk's man with the rifle waited and
watched Akoon。
The weighing was finished； and the gold…dust lay on the table in three
dark…yellow heaps。 〃There is a debt of my father to the Company for
three thousand dollars；〃 said El…Soo。 〃Take it； Tommy； for the Company。
And here are four old men； Tommy。 You know them。 And here is one
thousand dollars