the faith of men(人们的信任)-第25章
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beefsteak at the butcher shop and dried salmon for the dogs。 He found the
cabin without difficulty； and left the dogs in the harness while he started
the fire and got the coffee under way。
A dollar 'n a half apieceone thousand dozeneighteen thousand
dollars！〃 he kept muttering it to himself； over and over； as he went about
his work。
As he flopped the steak into the frying…pan the door opened。 He
turned。 It was the man with the bearskin coat。 He seemed to come in
with determination； as though bound on some explicit errand； but as he
looked at Rasmunsen an expression of perplexity came into his face。
〃I saynow I say〃 he began； then halted。
Rasmunsen wondered if he wanted the rent。
〃I say； damn it； you know； them eggs is bad。〃
Rasmunsen staggered。 He felt as though some one had struck him an
astounding blow between the eyes。 The walls of the cabin reeled and
tilted up。 He put out his hand to steady himself and rested it on the stove。
The sharp pain and the smell of the burning flesh brought him back to
himself。
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〃I see；〃 he said slowly； fumbling in his pocket for the sack。 〃You
want your money back。〃
〃It ain't the money；〃 the man said； 〃but hain't you got any eggs
good？〃
Rasmunsen shook his head。 〃You'd better take the money。〃
But the man refused and backed away。 〃I'll come back；〃 he said；
〃when you've taken stock； and get what's comin'。〃
Rasmunsen rolled the chopping…block into the cabin and carried in the
eggs。 He went about it quite calmly。 He took up the hand…axe； and； one
by one； chopped the eggs in half。 These halves he examined carefully
and let fall to the floor。 At first he sampled from the different cases； then
deliberately emptied one case at a time。 The heap on the floor grew
larger。 The coffee boiled over and the smoke of the burning beefsteak
filled the cabin。 He chopped steadfastly and monotonously till the last
case was finished。
Somebody knocked at the door； knocked again； and let himself in。
〃What a mess！〃 he remarked； as he paused and surveyed the scene。
The severed eggs were beginning to thaw in the heat of the stove； and
a miserable odour was growing stronger。
〃Must a…happened on the steamer；〃 he suggested。
Rasmunsen looked at him long and blankly。
〃I'm Murray； Big Jim Murray； everybody knows me；〃 the man
volunteered。 〃I'm just hearin' your eggs is rotten； and I'm offerin' you
two hundred for the batch。 They ain't good as salmon； but still they're
fair scoffin's for dogs。〃
Rasmunsen seemed turned to stone。 He did not move。 〃You go to
hell；〃 he said passionlessly。
〃Now just consider。 I pride myself it's a decent price for a mess like
that； and it's better 'n nothin'。 Two hundred。 What you say？〃
〃You go to hell；〃 Rasmunsen repeated softly； 〃and get out of here。〃
Murray gaped with a great awe； then went out carefully； backward；
with his eyes fixed an the other's face。
Rasmunsen followed him out and turned the dogs loose。 He threw
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them all the salmon he had bought； and coiled a sled…lashing up in his
hand。 Then he re…entered the cabin and drew the latch in after him。 The
smoke from the cindered steak made his eyes smart。 He stood on the
bunk； passed the lashing over the ridge…pole； and measured the swing…off
with his eye。 It did not seem to satisfy； for he put the stool on the bunk
and climbed upon the stool。 He drove a noose in the end of the lashing
and slipped his head through。 The other end he made fast。 Then he
kicked the stool out from under。
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THE MARRIAGE OF LIT…LIT
When John Fox came into a country where whisky freezes solid and
may be used as a paper…weight for a large part of the year； he came
without the ideals and illusions that usually hamper the progress of more
delicately nurtured adventurers。 Born and reared on the frontier fringe of
the United States； he took with him into Canada a primitive cast of mind；
an elemental simplicity and grip on things； as it were； that insured him
immediate success in his new career。 From a mere servant of the Hudson
Bay Company； driving a paddle with the voyageurs and carrying goods on
his back across the portages； he swiftly rose to a Factorship and took
charge of a trading post at Fort Angelus。
Here； because of his elemental simplicity； he took to himself a native
wife； and； by reason of the connubial bliss that followed； he escaped the
unrest and vain longings that curse the days of more fastidious men； spoil
their work； and conquer them in the end。 He lived contentedly； was at
single purposes with the business he was set there to do； and achieved a
brilliant record in the service of the Company。 About this time his wife
died； was claimed by her people； and buried with savage circumstance in a
tin trunk in the top of a tree。
Two sons she had borne him； and when the Company promoted him；
he journeyed with them still deeper into the vastness of the North… West
Territory to a place called Sin Rock； where he took charge of a new post in
a more important fur field。 Here he spent several lonely and depressing
months； eminently disgusted with the unprepossessing appearance of the
Indian maidens； and greatly worried by his growing sons who stood in
need of a mother's care。 Then his eyes chanced upon Lit…lit。
〃Lit…litwell； she is Lit…lit；〃 was the fashion in which he despairingly
described her to his chief clerk； Alexander McLean。
McLean was too fresh from his Scottish upbringing〃not dry behind
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the ears yet；〃 John Fox put itto take to the marriage customs of the
country。 Nevertheless he was not averse to the Factor's imperilling his
own immortal soul； and； especially； feeling an ominous attraction himself
for Lit…lit； he was sombrely content to clinch his own soul's safety by
seeing her married to the Factor。
Nor is it to be wondered that McLean's austere Scotch soul stood in
danger of being thawed in the sunshine of Lit…lit's eyes。 She was pretty；
and slender； and willowy； without the massive face and temperamental
stolidity of the average squaw。 〃Lit…lit；〃 so called from her fashion； even
as a child； of being fluttery； of darting about from place to place like a
butterfly； of being inconsequent and merry； and of laughing as lightly as
she darted and danced about。
Lit…lit was the daughter of Snettishane； a prominent chief in the tribe；
by a half…breed mother； and to
