第4章

Whenhediscoveredablood-blisterunderathumb-nail，whichhehadreceivedthepreviousweek，hisself-identificationbecamedoublysure，andheknewthatthoseunfamiliarhandsbelongedtoMarcusO’Brien，or，justasmuchtothepoint，thatMarcusO’Brienbelongedtothehands。Hisfirstthoughtwasthathewasill——thathehadhadriverfever。Ithurthimsomuchtoopenhiseyesthathekeptthemclosed。Asmallfloatingbranchstrucktheboatasharprap。Hethoughtitwassomeoneknockingonthecabindoor，andsaid，"Comein。"Hewaitedforawhile，andthensaidtestily，"Stayout，then，damnyou。"Butjustthesamehewishedtheywouldcomeinandtellhimabouthisillness。

Butashelaythere，thepastnightbegantoreconstructitselfinhisbrain。Hehadn’tbeensickatall，washisthought;hehadmerelybeendrunk，anditwastimeforhimtogetupandgotowork。

Worksuggestedhismine，andherememberedthathehadrefusedtenthousanddollarsforit。Hesatupabruptlyandsqueezedopenhiseyes。Hesawhimselfinaboat，floatingontheswollenbrownfloodoftheYukon。Thespruce-coveredshoresandislandswereunfamiliar。

Hewasstunnedforatime。Hecouldn’tmakeitout。Hecouldrememberthelastnight’sorgy，buttherewasnoconnectionbetweenthatandhispresentsituation。

Heclosedhiseyesandheldhisachingheadinhishands。Whathadhappened？Slowlythedreadfulthoughtaroseinhismind。Hefoughtagainstit，strovetodriveitaway，butitpersisted：hehadkilledsomebody。ThatalonecouldexplainwhyhewasinanopenboatdriftingdowntheYukon。ThelawofRedCowthathehadsolongadministeredhadnowbeenadministeredtohim。Hehadkilledsomeoneandbeensetadrift。Butwhom？Herackedhisachingbrainfortheanswer，butallthatcamewasavaguememoryofbodiesfallinguponhimandofstrikingoutatthem。Whowerethey？Maybehehadkilledmorethanone。Hereachedtohisbelt。Theknifewasmissingfromitssheath。Hehaddoneitwiththatundoubtedly。Buttheremusthavebeensomereasonforthekilling。Heopenedhiseyesandinapanicbegantosearchabouttheboat。Therewasnogrub，notanounceofgrub。Hesatdownwithagroan。Hehadkilledwithoutprovocation。Theextremerigourofthelawhadbeenvisiteduponhim。

Forhalfanhourheremainedmotionless，holdinghisachingheadandtryingtothink。Thenhecooledhisstomachwithadrinkofwaterfromoversideandfeltbetter。Hestoodup，andaloneonthewide-

stretchingYukon，withnaughtbuttheprimevalwildernesstohear，hecursedstrongdrink。Afterthathetieduptoahugefloatingpinethatwasdeepersunkinthecurrentthantheboatandthatconsequentlydriftedfaster。Hewashedhisfaceandhands，satdowninthestern-sheets，anddidsomemorethinking。ItwaslateinJune。ItwastwothousandmilestoBeringSea。Theboatwasaveragingfivemilesanhour。Therewasnodarknessinsuchhighlatitudesatthattimeoftheyear，andhecouldruntherivereveryhourofthetwenty-four。Thiswouldmean，daily，ahundredandtwentymiles。Strikeoutthetwentyforaccidents，andthereremainedahundredmilesaday。IntwentydayshewouldreachBeringSea。Andthiswouldinvolvenoexpenditureofenergy;theriverdidthework。Hecouldliedowninthebottomoftheboatandhusbandhisstrength。

Fortwodaysheatenothing。Then，driftingintotheYukonFlats，hewentashoreonthelow-lyingislandsandgatheredtheeggsofwildgeeseandducks。Hehadnomatches，andatetheeggsraw。Theywerestrong，buttheykepthimgoing。WhenhecrossedtheArcticCircle，hefoundtheHudsonBayCompany’spost。ThebrigadehadnotyetarrivedfromtheMackenzie，andthepostwascompletelyoutofgrub。

Hewasofferedwild-duckeggs，butheinformedthemthathehadabushelofthesameontheboat。Hewasalsoofferedadrinkofwhisky，whichherefusedwithanexhibitionofviolentrepugnance。

Hegotmatches，however，andafterthathecookedhiseggs。Towardthemouthoftheriverhead-windsdelayedhim，andhewastwenty-fourdaysontheeggdiet。Unfortunately，whileasleephehaddriftedbyboththemissionsofSt。PaulandHolyCross。Andhecouldsincerelysay，asheafterwarddid，thattalkaboutmissionsontheYukonwasallhumbug。Thereweren’tanymissions，andhewasthemantoknow。

OnceonBeringSeaheexchangedtheeggdietforsealdiet，andhenevercouldmakeuphismindwhichhelikedleast。InthefalloftheyearhewasrescuedbyaUnitedStatesrevenuecutter，andthefollowingwinterhemadequiteahitinSanFranciscoasatemperancelecturer。Inthisfieldhefoundhisvocation。"Avoidthebottle"

ishissloganandbattle-cry。Hemanagessubtlytoconveytheimpressionthatinhisownlifeagreatdisasterwaswroughtbythebottle。Hehasevenmentionedthelossofafortunethatwascausedbythathell-baitofthedevil，butbehindthatincidenthislistenersfeeltheloomofsometerribleandunguessedevilforwhichthebottleisresponsible。Hehasmadeasuccessinhisvocation，andhasgrowngreyandrespectedinthecrusadeagainststrongdrink。

ButontheYukonthepassingofMarcusO’Brienremainstradition。ItisamysterythatranksatparwiththedisappearanceofSirJohnFranklin。

THEWITOFPORPORTUK

El-SoohadbeenaMissiongirl。Hermotherhaddiedwhenshewasverysmall，andSisterAlbertahadpluckedEl-Sooasabrandfromtheburning，onesummerday，andcarriedherawaytoHolyCrossMissionanddedicatedhertoGod。El-Soowasafull-bloodedIndian，yetsheexceededallthehalf-breedandquarter-breedgirls。Neverhadthegoodsistersdealtwithagirlsoadaptableandatthesametimesospirited。

El-Soowasquick，anddeft，andintelligent;butaboveallshewasfire，thelivingflameoflife，ablazeofpersonalitythatwascompoundedofwill，sweetness，anddaring。Herfatherwasachief，andhisbloodraninherveins。Obedience，onthepartofEl-Soo，wasamatteroftermsandarrangement。Shehadapassionforequity，andperhapsitwasbecauseofthisthatsheexcelledinmathematics。

Butsheexcelledinotherthings。ShelearnedtoreadandwriteEnglishasnogirlhadeverlearnedintheMission。Sheledthegirlsinsinging，andintosongshecarriedhersenseofequity。Shewasanartist，andthefireofherflowedtowardcreation。Hadshefrombirthenjoyedamorefavourableenvironment，shewouldhavemadeliteratureormusic。

Instead，shewasEl-Soo，daughterofKlakee-Nah，achief，andshelivedintheHolyCrossMissionwherewerenoartists，butonlypure-

souledSisterswhowereinterestedincleanlinessandrighteousnessandthewelfareofthespiritinthelandofimmortalitythatlaybeyondtheskies。

Theyearspassed。ShewaseightyearsoldwhensheenteredtheMission;shewassixteen，andtheSisterswerecorrespondingwiththeirsuperiorsintheOrderconcerningthesendingofEl-SoototheUnitedStatestocompletehereducation，whenamanofherowntribearrivedatHolyCrossandhadtalkwithher。El-Soowassomewhatappalledbyhim。Hewasdirty。HewasaCaliban-likecreature，primitivelyugly，withamopofhairthathadneverbeencombed。Helookedatherdisapprovinglyandrefusedtositdown。

"Thybrotherisdead，"hesaidshortly。

El-Soowasnotparticularlyshocked。Sherememberedlittleofherbrother。"Thyfatherisanoldman，andalone，"themessengerwenton。"Hishouseislargeandempty，andhewouldhearthyvoiceandlookuponthee。"

Himsheremembered——Klakee-Nah，theheadmanofthevillage，thefriendofthemissionariesandthetraders，alargemanthewedlikeagiant，withkindlyeyesandmasterfulways，andstridingwithaconsciousnessofcruderoyaltyinhiscarriage。

"TellhimthatIwillcome，"wasEl-Soo’sanswer。

MuchtothedespairoftheSisters，thebrandpluckedfromtheburningwentbacktotheburning。AllpleadingwithEl-Soowasvain。

Therewasmuchargument，expostulation，andweeping。SisterAlbertaevenrevealedtohertheprojectofsendinghertotheUnitedStates。

El-Soostaredwide-eyedintothegoldenvistathusopeneduptoher，andshookherhead。Inhereyespersistedanothervista。ItwasthemightycurveoftheYukonatTana-nawStation。WiththeSt。GeorgeMissionononeside，andthetradingpostontheother，andmidwaybetweentheIndianvillageandacertainlargeloghousewherelivedanoldmantendeduponbyslaves。

AlldwellersontheYukonbankfortwiceathousandmilesknewthelargeloghouse，theoldmanandthetendingslaves;andwelldidtheSistersknowthehouse，itsunendingrevelry，itsfeastinganditsfun。SotherewasweepingatHolyCrosswhenEl-Soodeparted。

TherewasagreatcleaningupinthelargehousewhenEl-Sooarrived。

Klakee-Nah，himselfmasterful，protestedatthismasterfulconductofhisyoungdaughter;butintheend，dreamingbarbaricallyofmagnificence，hewentforthandborrowedathousanddollarsfromoldPorportuk，thanwhomtherewasnoricherIndianontheYukon。Also，Klakee-Nahranupaheavybillatthetradingpost。El-Soore-

createdthelargehouse。Sheinvesteditwithnewsplendour，whileKlakee-Nahmaintaineditsancienttraditionsofhospitalityandrevelry。

AllthiswasunusualforaYukonIndian，butKlakee-NahwasanunusualIndian。Notalonedidheliketorenderinordinatehospitality，but，whatofbeingachiefandofacquiringmuchmoney，hewasabletodoit。Intheprimitivetradingdayshehadbeenapoweroverhispeople，andhehaddealtprofitablywiththewhitetradingcompanies。Lateron，withPorportuk，hehadmadeagold-

strikeontheKoyokukRiver。Klakee-Nahwasbytrainingandnatureanaristocrat。Porportukwasbourgeois，andPorportukboughthimoutofthegold-mine。Porportukwascontenttoplodandaccumulate。

Klakee-Nahwentbacktohislargehouseandproceededtospend。

PorportukwasknownastherichestIndianinAlaska。Klakee-Nahwasknownasthewhitest。Porportukwasamoney-lenderandausurer。

Klakee-Nahwasananachronism——amediaevalruin，afighterandafeaster，happywithwineandsong。

El-SooadaptedherselftothelargehouseanditswaysasreadilyasshehadadaptedherselftoHolyCrossMissionanditsways。ShedidnottrytoreformherfatheranddirecthisfootstepstowardGod。Itistrue，shereprovedhimwhenhedrankovermuchandprofoundly，butthatwasforthesakeofhishealthandthedirectionofhisfootstepsonsolidearth。

Thelatchstringtothelargehousewasalwaysout。Whatwiththecomingandthegoing，itwasneverstill。Theraftersofthegreatliving-roomshookwiththeroarofwassailandofsong。Attablesatmenfromalltheworldandchiefsfromdistanttribes——EnglishmenandColonials，leanYankeetradersandrotundofficialsofthegreatcompanies，cowboysfromtheWesternranges，sailorsfromthesea，huntersanddog-mushersofascoreofnationalities。

El-Soodrewbreathinacosmopolitanatmosphere。ShecouldspeakEnglishaswellasshecouldhernativetongue，andshesangEnglishsongsandballads。ThepassingIndianceremonialssheknew，andtheperishingtraditions。Thetribaldressofthedaughterofachiefsheknewhowtowearuponoccasion。Butforthemostpartshedressedaswhitewomendress。NotfornothingwasherneedleworkattheMissionandherinnateartistry。Shecarriedherclotheslikeawhitewoman，andshemadeclothesthatcouldbesocarried。

Inherwayshewasasunusualasherfather，andthepositionsheoccupiedwasasuniqueashis。ShewastheoneIndianwomanwhowasthesocialequalwiththeseveralwhitewomenatTana-nawStation。

ShewastheoneIndianwomantowhomwhitemenhonourablymadeproposalsofmarriage。AndshewastheoneIndianwomanwhomnowhitemaneverinsulted。

ForEl-Soowasbeautiful——notaswhitewomenarebeautiful，notasIndianwomenarebeautiful。Itwastheflameofher，thatdidnotdependuponfeature，thatwasherbeauty。Sofarasmerelineandfeaturewent，shewastheclassicIndiantype。Theblackhairandthefinebronzewerehers，andtheblackeyes，brilliantandbold，keenassword-light，proud;andhersthedelicateeaglenosewiththethin，quiveringnostrils，thehighcheek-bonesthatwerenotbroadapart，andthethinlipsthatwerenottoothin。Butoverallandthroughallpouredtheflameofher——theunanalysablesomethingthatwasfireandthatwasthesoulofher，thatlaymellow-warmorblazedinhereyes，thatsprayedthecheeksofher，thatdistendedthenostrils，thatcurledthelips，or，whenthelipwasinrepose，thatwasstillthereinthelip，thelippalpitantwithitspresence。

AndEl-Soohadwit——rarelysharptohurt，yetquicktosearchoutforgivableweakness。Thelaughterofhermindplayedlikelambentflameoverallabouther，andfromallaboutheraroseansweringlaughter。Yetshewasneverthecentreofthings。Thisshewouldnotpermit。Thelargehouse，andallofwhichitwassignificant，washerfather’s;andthroughit，tothelast，movedhisheroicfigure——host，masteroftherevels，andgiverofthelaw。Itistrue，asthestrengthoozedfromhim，thatshecaughtupresponsibilitiesfromhisfailinghands。Butinappearancehestillruled，dozing，ofttimesattheboard，abacchanalianruin，yetinallseemingtherulerofthefeast。

AndthroughthelargehousemovedthefigureofPorportuk，ominous，withshakinghead，coldlydisapproving，payingforitall。Notthathereallypaid，forhecompoundedinterestinweirdways，andyearbyyearabsorbedthepropertiesofKlakee-Nah。PorportukoncetookituponhimselftochideEl-Soouponthewastefulwayoflifeinthelargehouse——itwaswhenhehadaboutabsorbedthelastofKlakee-

Nah’swealth——butheneverventuredsotochideagain。El-Soo，likeherfather，wasanaristocrat，asdisdainfulofmoneyashe，andwithanequalsenseofhonourasfinelystrung。

Porportukcontinuedgrudginglytoadvancemoney，andeverthemoneyflowedingoldenfoamaway。UpononethingEl-Soowasresolved——herfathershoulddieashehadlived。Thereshouldbeforhimnopassingfromhightolow，nodiminutionoftherevels，nolesseningofthelavishhospitality。Whentherewasfamine，asofold，theIndianscamegroaningtothelargehouseandwentawaycontent。Whentherewasfamineandnomoney，moneywasborrowedfromPorportuk，andtheIndiansstillwentawaycontent。El-Soomightwellhaverepeated，afterthearistocratsofanothertimeandplace，thatafterhercamethedeluge。InhercasethedelugewasoldPorportuk。Witheveryadvanceofmoney，helookeduponherwithamorepossessiveeye，andfeltbourgeoningwithinhimancientfires。

ButEl-Soohadnoeyesforhim。NorhadsheeyesforthewhitemenwhowantedtomarryherattheMissionwithringandpriestandbook。

ForatTana-nawStationwasayoungman，Akoon，ofherownblood，andtribe，andvillage。Hewasstrongandbeautifultohereyes，agreathunter，and，inthathehadwanderedfarandmuch，verypoor;hehadbeentoalltheunknownwastesandplaces;hehadjourneyedtoSitkaandtotheUnitedStates;hehadcrossedthecontinenttoHudsonBayandbackagain，andasseal-hunteronashiphehadsailedtoSiberiaandforJapan。

Whenhereturnedfromthegold-strikeinKlondikehecame，aswashiswont，tothelargehousetomakereporttooldKlakee-Nahofalltheworldthathehadseen;andtherehefirstsawEl-Soo，threeyearsbackfromtheMission。Thereat，Akoonwanderednomore。Herefusedawageoftwentydollarsadayaspilotonthebigsteamboats。Hehuntedsomeandfishedsome，butneverfarfromTana-nawStation，andhewasatthelargehouseoftenandlong。AndEl-Soomeasuredhimagainstmanymenandfoundhimgood。Hesangsongstoher，andwasardentandgloweduntilallTana-nawStationknewhelovedher。AndPorportukbutgrinnedandadvancedmoremoneyfortheupkeepofthelargehouse。

ThencamethedeathtableofKlakee-Nah。

Hesatatfeast，withdeathinhisthroat，thathecouldnotdrownwithwine。Andlaughterandjokeandsongwentaround，andAkoontoldastorythatmadetheraftersecho。Therewerenotearsorsighsatthattable。ItwasnomorethanfitthatKlakee-Nahshoulddieashehadlived，andnoneknewthisbetterthanEl-Soo，withherartistsympathy。Theoldroysteringcrowdwasthere，and，asofold，threefrost-bittensailorswerethere，freshfromthelongtraversefromtheArctic，survivorsofaship’scompanyofseventy-four。AtKlakee-Nah’sbackwerefouroldmen，allthatwerelefthimoftheslavesofhisyouth。Withrheumyeyestheysawtohisneeds，withpalsiedhandsfillinghisglassorstrikinghimonthebackbetweentheshoulderswhendeathstirredandhecoughedandgasped。

Itwasawildnight，andasthehourspassedandthefunlaughedandroaredalong，deathstirredmorerestlesslyinKlakee-Nah’sthroat。

ThenitwasthathesentforPorportuk。AndPorportukcameinfromtheoutsidefrosttolookwithdisapprovingeyesuponthemeatandwineonthetableforwhichhehadpaid。ButashelookeddownthelengthofflushedfacestothefarendandsawthefaceofEl-Soo，thelightinhiseyesflaredup，andforamomentthedisapprovalvanished。

PlacewasmadeforhimatKlakee-Nah’sside，andaglassplacedbeforehim。Klakee-Nah，withhisownhands，filledtheglasswithferventspirits。"Drink！"hecried。"Isitnotgood？"

AndPorportuk’seyeswateredashenoddedhisheadandsmackedhislips。

"When，inyourownhouse，haveyouhadsuchdrink？"Klakee-Nahdemanded。

"Iwillnotdenythatthedrinkisgoodtothisoldthroatofmine，"

Porportukmadeanswer，andhesitatedforthespeechtocompletethethought。

"Butitcostsovermuch，"Klakee-Nahroared，completingitforhim。

Porportukwincedatthelaughterthatwentdownthetable。Hiseyesburnedmalevolently。"Wewereboystogether，ofthesameage，"hesaid。"Inyourthroatisdeath。Iamstillaliveandstrong。"

Anominousmurmurarosefromthecompany。Klakee-Nahcoughedandstrangled，andtheoldslavessmotehimbetweentheshoulders。Heemergedgasping，andwavedhishandtostillthethreateningrumble。

"Youhavegrudgedtheveryfireinyourhousebecausethewoodcostovermuch！"hecried。"Youhavegrudgedlife。Tolivecostovermuch，andyouhaverefusedtopaytheprice。Yourlifehasbeenlikeacabinwherethefireisoutandtherearenoblanketsonthefloor。"

Hesignalledtoaslavetofillhisglass，whichheheldaloft。"ButIhavelived。AndIhavebeenwarmwithlifeasyouhaveneverbeenwarm。Itistrue，youshalllivelong。Butthelongestnightsarethecoldnightswhenamanshiversandliesawake。Mynightshavebeenshort，butIhavesleptwarm。"

Hedrainedtheglass。Theshakinghandofaslavefailedtocatchitasitcrashedtothefloor。Klakee-Nahsankback，panting，watchingtheupturnedglassesatthelipsofthedrinkers，hisownlipsslightlysmilingtotheapplause。Atasign，twoslavesattemptedtohelphimsituprightagain。Buttheywereweak，hisframewasmighty，andthefouroldmentotteredandshookastheyhelpedhimforward。

"Butmanneroflifeisneitherherenorthere，"hewenton。"Wehaveotherbusiness，Porportuk，youandI，to-night。Debtsaremischances，andIaminmischancewithyou。Whatofmydebt，andhowgreatisit？"

Porportuksearchedinhispouchandbroughtforthamemorandum。Hesippedathisglassandbegan。"ThereisthenoteofAugust，1889，forthreehundreddollars。Theinteresthasneverbeenpaid。Andthenoteofthenextyearforfivehundreddollars。Thisnotewasincludedinthenoteoftwomonthslaterforathousanddollars。

Thenthereisthenote——"

"Nevermindthemanynotes！"Klakee-Nahcriedoutimpatiently。"Theymakemyheadgoaroundandallthethingsinsidemyhead。Thewhole！

Theroundwhole！Howmuchisit？"

Porportukreferredtohismemorandum。"Fifteenthousandninehundredandsixty-sevendollarsandseventy-fivecents，"hereadwithcarefulprecision。

"Makeitsixteenthousand，makeitsixteenthousand，"Klakee-Nahsaidgrandly。"Oddnumberswereeveraworry。Andnow——anditisforthisthatIhavesentforyou——makemeoutanewnoteforsixteenthousand，whichIshallsign。Ihavenothoughtoftheinterest。

Makeitaslargeasyouwill，andmakeitpayableinthenextworld，whenIshallmeetyoubythefireoftheGreatFatherofallIndians。

Thenthenotewillbepaid。ThisIpromiseyou。ItisthewordofKlakee-Nah。"

Porportuklookedperplexed，andloudlythelaughteraroseandshooktheroom。Klakee-Nahraisedhishands。"Nay，"hecried。"Itisnotajoke。Ibutspeakinfairness。ItwasforthisIsentforyou，Porportuk。Makeoutthenote。"

"Ihavenodealingswiththenextworld，"Porportukmadeanswerslowly。

"HaveyounothoughttomeetmebeforetheGreatFather！"Klakee-Nahdemanded。Thenheadded，"Ishallsurelybethere。"

"Ihavenodealingswiththenextworld，"Porportukrepeatedsourly。

Thedyingmanregardedhimwithfrankamazement。

"Iknownaughtofthenextworld，"Porportukexplained。"Idobusinessinthisworld。"

Klakee-Nah’sfacecleared。"Thiscomesofsleepingcoldofnights，"

helaughed。Heponderedforaspace，thensaid，"Itisinthisworldthatyoumustbepaid。Thereremainstomethishouse。Takeit，andburnthedebtinthecandlethere。"

"Itisanoldhouseandnotworththemoney，"Porportukmadeanswer。

"TherearemyminesontheTwistedSalmon。"

"Theyhaveneverpaidtowork，"wasthereply。

"ThereismyshareinthesteamerKoyokuk。Iamhalfowner。"

"SheisatthebottomoftheYukon。"

Klakee-Nahstarted。"True，Iforgot。Itwaslastspringwhentheicewentout。"Hemusedforatimewhiletheglassesremaineduntasted，andallthecompanywaiteduponhisutterance。

"ThenitwouldseemIoweyouasumofmoneywhichIcannotpay……

inthisworld？"Porportuknoddedandglanceddownthetable。

"Thenitwouldseemthatyou，Porportuk，areapoorbusinessman，"

Klakee-Nahsaidslyly。AndboldlyPorportukmadeanswer，"No;thereissecurityyetuntouched。"

"What！"criedKlakee-Nah。"HaveIstillproperty？Nameit，anditisyours，andthedebtisnomore。"

"Thereitis。"PorportukpointedatEl-Soo。

Klakee-Nahcouldnotunderstand。Hepeereddownthetable，brushedhiseyes，andpeeredagain。

"Yourdaughter，El-Soo——herwillItakeandthedebtbenomore。I

willburnthedebtthereinthecandle。"

Klakee-Nah’sgreatchestbegantoheave。"Ho！ho！——ajoke。Ho！ho！

ho！"helaughedHomerically。"AndwithyourcoldbedanddaughtersoldenoughtobethemotherofEl-Soo！Ho！ho！ho！"Hebegantocoughandstrangle，andtheoldslavessmotehimontheback。"Ho！

ho！"hebeganagain，andwentoffintoanotherparoxysm。

Porportukwaitedpatiently，sippingfromhisglassandstudyingthedoublerowoffacesdowntheboard。"Itisnojoke，"hesaidfinally。"Myspeechiswellmeant。"

Klakee-Nahsoberedandlookedathim，thenreachedforhisglass，butcouldnottouchit。Aslavepassedittohim，andglassandliquorheflungintothefaceofPorportuk。

"Turnhimout！"Klakee-Nahthunderedtothewaitingtablethatstrainedlikeapackofhoundsinleash。"Androllhiminthesnow！"

Asthemadriotsweptpasthimandoutofdoors，hesignalledtotheslaves，andthefourtotteringoldmensupportedhimonhisfeetashemetthereturningrevellers，upright，glassinhand，pledgingthematoasttotheshortnightwhenamansleepswarm。

ItdidnottakelongtosettletheestateofKlakee-Nah。Tommy，thelittleEnglishman，clerkatthetradingpost，wascalledinbyEl-Sootohelp。Therewasnothingbutdebts，notesoverdue，mortgagedproperties，andpropertiesmortgagedbutworthless。NotesandmortgageswereheldbyPorportuk。Tommycalledhimarobbermanytimesasheponderedthecompoundingoftheinterest。

"Isitadebt，Tommy？"El-Sooasked。

"Itisarobbery，"Tommyanswered。

"Nevertheless，itisadebt，"shepersisted。

Thewinterworeaway，andtheearlyspring，andstilltheclaimsofPorportukremainedunpaid。HesawEl-Soooftenandexplainedtoheratlength，ashehadexplainedtoherfather，thewaythedebtcouldbecancelled。Also，hebroughtwithhimoldmedicine-men，whoelaboratedtohertheeverlastingdamnationofherfatherifthedebtwerenotpaid。Oneday，aftersuchanelaboration，El-SoomadefinalannouncementtoPorportuk。

"Ishalltellyoutwothings，"shesaid。"FirstIshallnotbeyourwife。Willyourememberthat？Second，youshallbepaidthelastcentofthesixteenthousanddollars——"

"Fifteenthousandninehundredandsixty-sevendollarsandseventy-

fivecents，"Porportukcorrected。

"Myfathersaidsixteenthousand，"washerreply。"Youshallbepaid。"

"How？"

"Iknownothow，butIshallfindouthow。Nowgo，andbothermenomore。Ifyoudo"——shehesitatedtofindfittingpenalty——"ifyoudo，Ishallhaveyourolledinthesnowagainassoonasthefirstsnowflies。"

Thiswasstillintheearlyspring，andalittlelaterEl-Soosurprisedthecountry。WordwentupanddowntheYukonfromChilcoottotheDelta，andwascarriedfromcamptocamptothefarthermostcamps，thatinJune，whenthefirstsalmonran，El-Soo，daughterofKlakee-Nah，wouldsellherselfatpublicauctiontosatisfytheclaimsofPorportuk。Vainweretheattemptstodissuadeher。ThemissionaryatSt。Georgewrestledwithher，butshereplied——OnlythedebtstoGodaresettledinthenextworld。Thedebtsofmenareofthisworld，andinthisworldaretheysettled。"

Akoonwrestledwithher，butshereplied，"Idolovethee，Akoon;buthonourisgreaterthanlove，andwhoamIthatIshouldblackenmyfather？"SisterAlbertajourneyedallthewayupfromHolyCrossonthefirststeamer，andtonobetterend。

"Myfatherwandersinthethickandendlessforests，"saidEl-Soo。

"Andtherewillhewander，withthelostsoulscrying，tillthedebtbepaid。Then，andnotuntilthen，mayhegoontothehouseoftheGreatFather。"

"Andyoubelievethis？"SisterAlbertaasked。

"Idonotknow，"El-Soomadeanswer。"Itwasmyfather’sbelief。"

SisterAlbertashruggedhershouldersincredulously。

"Whoknowsbutthatthethingswebelievecometrue？"El-Soowenton。

"Whynot？Thenextworldtoyoumaybeheavenandharps……

becauseyouhavebelievedheavenandharps;tomyfatherthenextworldmaybealargehousewherehewillsitalwaysattablefeastingwithGod。"

"Andyou？"SisterAlbertaasked。"Whatisyournextworld？"

El-Soohesitatedbutforamoment。"Ishouldlikealittleofboth，"

shesaid。"Ishouldliketoseeyourfaceaswellasthefaceofmyfather。"

Thedayoftheauctioncame。Tana-nawStationwaspopulous。Aswastheircustom，thetribeshadgatheredtoawaitthesalmon-run，andinthemeantimespentthetimeindancingandfrolicking，tradingandgossiping。Thentherewastheordinarysprinklingofwhiteadventurers，traders，andprospectors，and，inaddition，alargenumberofwhitemenwhohadcomebecauseofcuriosityorinterestintheaffair。

Ithadbeenabackwardspring，andthesalmonwerelateinrunning。

Thisdelaybutkeyeduptheinterest。Then，onthedayoftheauction，thesituationwasmadetensebyAkoon。HearoseandmadepublicandsolemnannouncementthatwhosoeverboughtEl-Soowouldforthwithandimmediatelydie。HeflourishedtheWinchesterinhishandtoindicatethemannerofthetaking-off。El-Soowasangeredthereat;butherefusedtospeakwithher，andwenttothetradingposttolayinextraammunition。

Thefirstsalmonwascaughtatteno’clockintheevening，andatmidnighttheauctionbegan。IttookplaceontopofthehighbankalongsidetheYukon。Thesunwasduenorthjustbelowthehorizon，andtheskywasluridred。Agreatcrowdgatheredaboutthetableandthetwochairsthatstoodneartheedgeofthebank。Totheforeweremanywhitemenandseveralchiefs。Andmostprominentlytothefore，rifleinhand，stoodAkoon。Tommy，atEl-Soo’srequest，servedasauctioneer，butshemadetheopeningspeechanddescribedthegoodsabouttobesold。Shewasinnativecostume，inthedressofachief’sdaughter，splendidandbarbaric，andshestoodonachair，thatshemightbeseentoadvantage。

"Whowillbuyawife？"sheasked。"Lookatme。Iamtwentyyearsoldandamaid。Iwillbeagoodwifetothemanwhobuysme。Ifheisawhiteman，Ishalldressinthefashionofwhitewomen;ifheisanIndian，Ishalldressas"——shehesitatedamoment——"asquaw。I

canmakemyownclothes，andsew，andwash，andmend。IwastaughtforeightyearstodothesethingsatHolyCrossMission。IcanreadandwriteEnglish，andIknowhowtoplaytheorgan。AlsoIcandoarithmeticandsomealgebra——alittle。Ishallbesoldtothehighestbidder，andtohimIwillmakeoutabillofsaleofmyself。

IforgottosaythatIcansingverywell，andthatIhaveneverbeensickinmylife。Iweighonehundredandthirty-twopounds;myfatherisdeadandIhavenorelatives。Whowantsme？"

Shelookedoverthecrowdwithflamingaudacityandsteppeddown。AtTommy’srequestshestooduponthechairagain，whilehemountedthesecondchairandstartedthebidding。

SurroundingEl-Soostoodthefouroldslavesofherfather。Theywereage-twistedandpalsied，faithfultotheirmeat，agenerationoutofthepastthatwatchedunmovedtheanticsofyoungerlife。InthefrontofthecrowdwereseveralEldoradoandBonanzakingsfromtheUpperYukon，andbesidethem，oncrutches，swollenwithscurvy，weretwobrokenprospectors。Fromthemidstofthecrowd，thrustoutbyitsownvividness，appearedthefaceofawild-eyedsquawfromtheremoteregionsoftheUpperTana-naw;astrayedSitkanfromthecoaststoodsidebysidewithaStickfromLakeLeBarge，and，beyond，ahalf-dozenFrench-Canadianvoyageurs，groupedbythemselves。Fromafarcamethefaintcriesofmyriadsofwild-fowlonthenesting-

grounds。SwallowswereskimmingupoverheadfromtheplacidsurfaceoftheYukon，androbinsweresinging。Theobliqueraysofthehiddensunshotthroughthesmoke，high-dissipatedfromforestfiresathousandmilesaway，andturnedtheheavenstosombrered，whiletheearthshoneredinthereflectedglow。Thisredglowshoneinthefacesofall，andmadeeverythingseemunearthlyandunreal。

Thebiddingbeganslowly。TheSitkan，whowasastrangerinthelandandwhohadarrivedonlyhalfanhourbefore，offeredonehundreddollarsinaconfidentvoice，andwassurprisedwhenAkoonturnedthreateninglyuponhimwiththerifle。Thebiddingdragged。AnIndianfromtheTozikakat，apilot，bidonehundredandfifty，andaftersometimeagambler，whohadbeenorderedoutoftheUpperCountry，raisedthebidtotwohundred。El-Soowassaddened;herpridewashurt;buttheonlyeffectwasthatsheflamedmoreaudaciouslyuponthecrowd。

TherewasadisturbanceamongtheonlookersasPorportukforcedhiswaytothefront。"Fivehundreddollars！"hebidinaloudvoice，thenlookedabouthimproudlytonotetheeffect。

Hewasmindedtousehisgreatwealthasabludgeonwithwhichtostunallcompetitionatthestart。Butoneofthevoyageurs，lookingonEl-Soowithsparklingeyes，raisedthebidahundred。

"Sevenhundred！"Porportukreturnedpromptly。

Andwithequalpromptnesscamethe"Eighthundred"ofthevoyageur。

ThenPorportukswunghisclubagain。

"Twelvehundred！"heshouted。

Withalookofpoignantdisappointment，thevoyageursuccumbed。

Therewasnofurtherbidding。Tommyworkedhard，butcouldnotelicitabid。

El-SoospoketoPorportuk。"Itweregood，Porportuk，foryoutoweighwellyourbid。HaveyouforgottenthethingItoldyou——thatI

wouldnevermarryyou！"

"Itisapublicauction，"heretorted。"Ishallbuyyouwithabillofsale。Ihaveofferedtwelvehundreddollars。Youcomecheap。"

"Toodamnedcheap！"Tommycried。"WhatifIamauctioneer？Thatdoesnotpreventmefrombidding。I’llmakeitthirteenhundred。"

"Fourteenhundred，"fromPorportuk。

"I’llbuyyouintobemy——mysister，"TommywhisperedtoEl-Soo，thencalledaloud，"Fifteenhundred！"

AttwothousandoneoftheEldoradokingstookahand，andTommydroppedout。

AthirdtimePorportukswungtheclubofhiswealth，makingacleanraiseoffivehundreddollars。ButtheEldoradoking’spridewastouched。Nomancouldclubhim。Andheswungbackanotherfivehundred。

El-Soostoodatthreethousand。Porportukmadeitthirty-fivehundred，andgaspedwhentheEldoradokingraiseditathousanddollars。Porportukagainraiseditfivehundred，andagaingaspedwhenthekingraisedathousandmore。

Porportukbecameangry。Hispridewastouched;hisstrengthwaschallenged，andwithhimstrengthtooktheformofwealth。Hewouldnotbeashamedforweaknessbeforetheworld。El-Soobecameincidental。Thesavingsandscrimpingsfromthecoldnightsofallhisyearswereripetobesquandered。El-Soostoodatsixthousand。

Hemadeitseventhousand。Andthen，inthousand-dollarbids，asfastastheycouldbeuttered，herpricewentup。Atfourteenthousandthetwomenstoppedforbreath。

Thentheunexpectedhappened。Astillheavierclubwasswung。Inthepausethatensued，thegambler，whohadscentedaspeculationandformedasyndicatewithseveralofhisfellows，bidsixteenthousanddollars。

"Seventeenthousand，"Porportuksaidweakly。

"Eighteenthousand，"saidtheking。

Porportukgatheredhisstrength。"Twentythousand。"

Thesyndicatedroppedout。TheEldoradokingraisedathousand，andPorportukraisedback;andastheybid，Akoonturnedfromonetotheother，halfmenacingly，halfcuriously，asthoughtoseewhatmannerofmanitwasthathewouldhavetokill。Whenthekingpreparedtomakehisnextbid，Akoonhavingpressedcloser，thekingfirstloosedtherevolverathiship，thensaid：

"Twenty-threethousand。"

"Twenty-fourthousand，"saidPorportuk。Hegrinnedviciously，forthecertitudeofhisbiddinghadatlastshakentheking。ThelattermovedoverclosetoEl-Soo。Hestudiedhercarefullyforalongwhile。

"Andfivehundred，"hesaidatlast。

"Twenty-fivethousand，"camePorportuk’sraise。

Thekinglookedforalongspace，andshookhishead。Helookedagain，andsaidreluctantly，"Andfivehundred。"

"Twenty-sixthousand，"Porportuksnapped。

ThekingshookhisheadandrefusedtomeetTommy’spleadingeye。InthemeantimeAkoonhadedgedclosetoPorportuk。El-Soo’squickeyenotedthis，and，whileTommywrestledwiththeEldoradokingforanotherbid，shebent，andspokeinalowvoiceintheearofaslave。AndwhileTommy’s"Going——going——going——"dominatedtheair，theslavewentuptoAkoonandspokeinalowvoiceinhisear。

Akoonmadenosignthathehadheard，thoughEl-Soowatchedhimanxiously。

"Gone！"Tommy’svoicerangout。"ToPorportuk，fortwenty-sixthousanddollars。"

PorportukglanceduneasilyatAkoon。AlleyeswerecentreduponAkoon，buthedidnothing。

"Letthescalesbebrought，"saidEl-Soo。

"Ishallmakepaymentatmyhouse，"saidPorportuk。

"Letthescalesbebrought，"El-Soorepeated。"Paymentshallbemadeherewhereallcansee。"

Sothegoldscaleswerebroughtfromthetradingpost，whilePorportukwentawayandcamebackwithamanathisheels，onwhoseshoulderswasaweightofgold-dustinmoose-hidesacks。Also，atPorportuk’sback，walkedanothermanwitharifle，whohadeyesonlyforAkoon。

"Herearethenotesandmortgages，"saidPorportuk，"forfifteenthousandninehundredandsixty-sevendollarsandseventy-fivecents。"

El-SooreceivedthemintoherhandsandsaidtoTommy，"Letthembereckonedassixteenthousand。"

"Thereremainstenthousanddollarstobepaidingold，"Tommysaid。

Porportuknodded，anduntiedthemouthsofthesacks。El-Soo，standingattheedgeofthebank，torethepaperstoshredsandsentthemflutteringoutovertheYukon。Theweighingbegan，buthalted。

"Ofcourse，atseventeendollars，"PorportukhadsaidtoTommy，asheadjustedthescales。

"Atsixteendollars，"El-Soosaidsharply。

"Itisthecustomofallthelandtoreckongoldatseventeendollarsforeachounce，"Porportukreplied。"Andthisisabusinesstransaction。"

El-Soolaughed。"Itisanewcustom，"shesaid。"Itbeganthisspring。Lastyear，andtheyearsbefore，itwassixteendollarsanounce。Whenmyfather’sdebtwasmade，itwassixteendollars。Whenhespentatthestorethemoneyhegotfromyou，foroneouncehewasgivensixteendollars’worthofflour，notseventeen。Wherefore，shallyoupayformeatsixteen，andnotatseventeen。"Porportukgruntedandallowedtheweighingtoproceed。

"Weighitinthreepiles，Tommy，"shesaid。"Athousanddollarshere，threethousandhere，andheresixthousand。"

Itwasslowwork，and，whiletheweighingwenton，Akoonwascloselywatchedbyall。

"Hebutwaitstillthemoneyispaid，"onesaid;andthewordwentaroundandwasaccepted，andtheywaitedforwhatAkoonshoulddowhenthemoneywaspaid。AndPorportuk’smanwiththeriflewaitedandwatchedAkoon。

Theweighingwasfinished，andthegold-dustlayonthetableinthreedark-yellowheaps。"ThereisadebtofmyfathertotheCompanyforthreethousanddollars，"saidEl-Soo。"Takeit，Tommy，fortheCompany。Andherearefouroldmen，Tommy。Youknowthem。

Andhereisonethousanddollars。Takeit，andseethattheoldmenareneverhungryandneverwithouttobacco。"

Tommyscoopedthegoldintoseparatesacks。Sixthousanddollarsremainedonthetable。El-Soothrustthescoopintotheheap，andwithasuddenturnwhirledthecontentsoutanddowntotheYukoninagoldenshower。Porportukseizedherwristasshethrustthescoopasecondtimeintotheheap。

"Itismine，"shesaidcalmly。Porportukreleasedhisgrip，buthegrittedhisteethandscowleddarklyasshecontinuedtoscoopthegoldintotherivertillnonewasleft。

ThecrowdhadeyesfornaughtbutAkoon，andtherifleofPorportuk’smanlayacrossthehollowofhisarm，themuzzledirectedatAkoonayardaway，theman’sthumbonthehammer。ButAkoondidnothing。

"Makeoutthebillofsale，"Porportuksaidgrimly。

AndTommymadeoutthetillofsale，whereinallrightandtitleinthewomanEl-SoowasvestedinthemanPorportuk。El-Soosignedthedocument，andPorportukfoldeditandputitawayinhispouch。

Suddenlyhiseyesflashed，andinsuddenspeechheaddressedEl-Soo。

"Butitwasnotyourfather’sdebt，"hesaid，"WhatIpaidwasthepriceforyou。Yoursaleisbusinessofto-dayandnotoflastyearandtheyearsbefore。Theouncespaidforyouwillbuyatthepostto-dayseventeendollarsofflour，andnotsixteen。Ihavelostadollaroneachounce。Ihavelostsixhundredandtwenty-fivedollars。"

El-Soothoughtforamoment，andsawtheerrorshehadmade。Shesmiled，andthenshelaughed。

"Youareright，"shelaughed，"Imadeamistake。Butitistoolate。

Youhavepaid，andthegoldisgone。Youdidnotthinkquick。Itisyourloss。Yourwitisslowthesedays，Porportuk。Youaregettingold。"

Hedidnotanswer。HeglanceduneasilyatAkoon，andwasreassured。

Hislipstightened，andahintofcrueltycameintohisface。

"Come，"hesaid，"wewillgotomyhouse。"

"DoyourememberthetwothingsItoldyouinthespring？"El-Sooasked，makingnomovementtoaccompanyhim。

"Myheadwouldbefullwiththethingswomensay，didIheedthem，"

heanswered。

"Itoldyouthatyouwouldbepaid，"El-Soowentoncarefully。"AndItoldyouthatIwouldneverbeyourwife。"

"Butthatwasbeforethebillofsale。"Porportukcrackledthepaperbetweenhisfingersinsidethepouch。"Ihaveboughtyoubeforealltheworld。Youbelongtome。Youwillnotdenythatyoubelongtome。"

"Ibelongtoyou，"El-Soosaidsteadily。

"Iownyou。"

"Youownme。"

Porportuk’svoiceroseslightlyandtriumphantly。"Asadog，Iownyou。"

"Asadogyouownme，"El-Soocontinuedcalmly。"But，Porportuk，youforgetthethingItoldyou。Hadanyothermanboughtme，Ishouldhavebeenthatman’swife。Ishouldhavebeenagoodwifetothatman。Suchwasmywill。ButmywillwithyouwasthatIshouldneverbeyourwife。Wherefore，Iamyourdog。"

Porportukknewthatheplayedwithfire，andheresolvedtoplayfirmly。"ThenIspeaktoyou，notasEl-Soo，butasadog，"hesaid;

"andItellyoutocomewithme。"Hehalfreachedtogripherarm，butwithagesturesheheldhimback。

"Notsofast，Porportuk。Youbuyadog。Thedogrunsaway。Itisyourloss。Iamyourdog。WhatifIrunaway？"

"Astheownerofthedog，Ishallbeatyou——"

"Whenyoucatchme？"

"WhenIcatchyou。"

"Thencatchme。"

Hereachedswiftlyforher，butsheeludedhim。Shelaughedasshecircledaroundthetable。"Catchher！"PorportukcommandedtheIndianwiththerifle，whostoodneartoher。ButastheIndianstretchedforthhisarmtoher，theEldoradokingfelledhimwithafistblowundertheear。Therifleclatteredtotheground。ThenwasAkoon’schance。Hiseyesglittered，buthedidnothing。

Porportukwasanoldman，buthiscoldnightsretainedforhimhisactivity。Hedidnotcirclethetable。Hecameacrosssuddenly，overthetopofthetable。El-Soowastakenoffherguard。Shesprangbackwithasharpcryofalarm，andPorportukwouldhavecaughtherhaditnotbeenforTommy。Tommy’slegwentout，Porportuktrippedandpitchedforwardontheground。El-Soogotherstart。

"Thencatchme，"shelaughedoverhershoulder，asshefledaway。

Sheranlightlyandeasily，butPorportukranswiftlyandsavagely。

Heoutranher。Inhisyouthhehadbeenswiftestofalltheyoungmen。ButEl-Soododgedinawillowy，elusiveway。Beinginnativedress，herfeetwerenotclutteredwithskirts，andherpliantbodycurvedaflightthatdefiedthegrippingfingersofPorportuk。

Withlaughterandtumult，thegreatcrowdscatteredouttoseethechase。ItledthroughtheIndianencampment;andeverdodging，circling，andreversing，El-SooandPorportukappearedanddisappearedamongthetents。El-Sooseemedtobalanceherselfagainsttheairwithherarms，nowoneside，nowontheother，andsometimesherbody，too，leanedoutupontheairfarfromtheperpendicularassheachievedhersharpestcurves。AndPorportuk，alwaysaleapbehind，oraleapthissideorthat，likealeanhoundstrainedafterher。

Theycrossedtheopengroundbeyondtheencampmentanddisappearedintheforest。Tana-nawStationwaitedtheirreappearance，andlongandvainlyitwaited。

InthemeantimeAkoonateandslept，andlingeredmuchatthesteamboatlanding，deaftotherisingresentmentofTana-nawStationinthathedidnothing。Twenty-fourhourslaterPorportukreturned。

Hewastiredandsavage。HespoketonoonebutAkoon，andwithhimtriedtopickaquarrel。ButAkoonshruggedhisshouldersandwalkedaway。Porportukdidnotwastetime。Heoutfittedhalfadozenoftheyoungmen，selectingthebesttrackersandtravellers，andattheirheadplungedintotheforest。

NextdaythesteamerSeattle，boundupriver，pulledintotheshoreandwoodedup。Whenthelineswerecastoffandshechurnedoutfromthebank，Akoonwasonboardinthepilot-house。Notmanyhoursafterward，whenitwashisturnatthewheel，hesawasmallbirchbarkcanoeputofffromtheshore。Therewasonlyonepersoninit。Hestudieditcarefully，putthewheelover，andsloweddown。

Thecaptainenteredthepilot-house。"What’sthematter？"hedemanded。"Thewater’sgood。"

Akoongrunted。Hesawalargercanoeleavingthebank，andinitwereanumberofpersons。AstheSeattlelostheadway，heputthewheeloversomemore。

Thecaptainfumed。"It’sonlyasquaw，"heprotested。

Akoondidnotgrunt。Hewasalleyesforthesquawandthepursuingcanoe。Inthelattersixpaddleswereflashing，whilethesquawpaddledslowly。

"You’llbeaground，"thecaptainprotested，seizingthewheel。

ButAkooncounteredhisstrengthonthewheelandlookedhimintheeyes。Thecaptainslowlyreleasedthespokes。

"Queerbeggar，"hesniffedtohimself。

AkoonheldtheSeattleontheedgeoftheshoalwaterandwaitedtillhesawthesquaw’sfingersclutchtheforwardrail。Thenhesignalledforfullspeedaheadandgroundthewheelover。Thelargecanoewasverynear，butthegapbetweenitandthesteamerwaswidening。

Thesquawlaughedandleanedovertherail。

"Thencatchme，Porportuk！"shecried。

AkoonleftthesteameratFortYukon。Heoutfittedasmallpoling-

boatandwentupthePorcupineRiver。AndwithhimwentEl-Soo。Itwasawearyjourney，andthewayledacrossthebackboneoftheworld;butAkoonhadtravelleditbefore。Whentheycametothehead-watersofthePorcupine，theylefttheboatandwentonfootacrosstheRockyMountains。

AkoongreatlylikedtowalkbehindEl-Sooandwatchthemovementsofher。Therewasamusicinitthatheloved。Andespeciallyhelovedthewell-roundedcalvesintheirsheathsofsoft-tannedleather，theslimankles，andthesmallmoccasinedfeetthatweretirelessthroughthelongestdays。

"Youarelightasair，"hesaid，lookingupather。"Itisnolabourforyoutowalk。Youalmostfloat，solightlydoyourfeetriseandfall。Youarelikeadeer，El-Soo;youarelikeadeer，andyoureyesarelikedeer’seyes，sometimeswhenyoulookatme，orwhenyouhearaquicksoundandwonderifitbedangerthatstirs。Youreyesarelikeadeer’seyesnowasyoulookatme。"

AndEl-Soo，luminousandmelting，bentandkissedAkoon。

"WhenwereachtheMackenzie，wewillnotdelay，"Akoonsaidlater。

"Wewillgosouthbeforethewintercatchesus。Wewillgotothesunlandswherethereisnosnow。Butwewillreturn。Ihaveseenmuchoftheworld，andthereisnolandlikeAlaska，nosunlikeoursun，andthesnowisgoodafterthelongsummer。"

"Andyouwilllearntoread，"saidEl-Soo。

AndAkoonsaid，"Iwillsurelylearntoread。"ButtherewasdelaywhentheyreachedtheMackenzie。TheyfellinwithabandofMackenzieIndians，and，hunting，Akoonwasshotbyaccident。Theriflewasinthehandsofayouth。ThebulletbrokeAkoon’srightarmand，rangingfarther，broketwoofhisribs。Akoonknewroughsurgery，whileEl-SoohadlearnedsomerefinementsatHolyCross。

Theboneswerefinallyset，andAkoonlaybythefireforthemtoknit。Also，helaybythefiresothatthesmokewouldkeepthemosquitoesaway。

ThenitwasthatPorportuk，withhissixyoungmen，arrived。AkoongroanedinhishelplessnessandmadeappealtotheMackenzies。ButPorportukmadedemand，andtheMackenzieswereperplexed。PorportukwasforseizinguponEl-Soo，butthistheywouldnotpermit。

Judgmentmustbegiven，and，asitwasanaffairofmanandwoman，thecounciloftheoldmenwascalled——thisthatwarmjudgmentmightnotbegivenbytheyoungmen，whowerewarmofheart。

Theoldmensatinacircleaboutthesmudge-fire。Theirfaceswereleanandwrinkled，andtheygaspedandpantedforair。Thesmokewasnotgoodforthem。Occasionallytheystruckwithwitheredhandsatthemosquitoesthatbravedthesmoke。Aftersuchexertiontheycoughedhollowlyandpainfully。Somespatblood，andoneofthemsatabitapartwithheadbowedforward，andbledslowlyandcontinuouslyatthemouth;thecoughingsicknesshadgrippedthem。Theywereasdeadmen;theirtimewasshort。Itwasajudgmentofthedead。

"AndIpaidforheraheavyprice，"Porportukconcludedhiscomplaint。"Suchapriceyouhaveneverseen。Sellallthatisyours——sellyourspearsandarrowsandrifles，sellyourskinsandfurs，sellyourtentsandboatsanddogs，selleverything，andyouwillnothavemaybeathousanddollars。YetdidIpayforthewoman，El-Soo，twenty-sixtimesthepriceofallyourspearsandarrowsandrifles，yourskinsandfurs，yourtentsandboatsanddogs。Itwasaheavyprice。"

Theoldmennoddedgravely，thoughtheirweazenedeye-slitswidenedwithwonderthatanywomanshouldbeworthsuchaprice。Theonethatbledatthemouthwipedhislips。"Isittruetalk？"heaskedeachofPorportuk’ssixyoungmen。Andeachansweredthatitwastrue。

"Isittruetalk？"heaskedEl-Soo，andsheanswered，"Itistrue。"

"ButPorportukhasnottoldthatheisanoldman，"Akoonsaid，"andthathehasdaughtersolderthanEl-Soo。"

"Itistrue，Porportukisanoldman，"saidEl-Soo。

"ItisforPorportuktomeasurethestrengthhisage，"saidhewhobledatthemouth。"Webeoldmen。Behold！Ageisneversooldasyouthwouldmeasureit。"

Andthecircleofoldmenchampedtheirgums，andnoddedapprovingly，andcoughed。

"ItoldhimthatIwouldneverbehiswife，"saidEl-Soo。

"Yetyoutookfromhimtwenty-sixtimesallthatwepossess？"askedaone-eyedoldman。

El-Soowassilent。

"Itistrue？"Andhisoneeyeburnedandboredintoherlikeafierygimlet。

"Itistrue，"shesaid。

"ButIwillrunawayagain，"shebrokeoutpassionately，amomentlater。"AlwayswillIrunaway。"

"ThatisforPorportuktoconsider，"saidanotheroftheoldmen。

"Itisforustoconsiderthejudgment。"

"Whatpricedidyoupayforher？"wasdemandedofAkoon。

"NopricedidIpayforher，"heanswered。"Shewasaboveprice。I

didnotmeasureheringold-dust，norindogs，andtents，andfurs。"

Theoldmendebatedamongthemselvesandmumbledinundertones。

"Theseoldmenareice，"AkoonsaidinEnglish。"Iwillnotlistentotheirjudgment，Porportuk。IfyoutakeEl-Soo，Iwillsurelykillyou。"

Theoldmenceasedandregardedhimsuspiciously。"Wedonotknowthespeechyoumake，"onesaid。

"Hebutsaidthathewouldkillme，"Porportukvolunteered。"Soitwerewelltotakefromhimhisrifle，andtohavesomeofyouryoungmensitbyhim，thathemaynotdomehurt。Heisayoungman，andwhatarebrokenbonestoyouth！"

Akoon，lyinghelpless，hadrifleandknifetakenfromhim，andtoeithersideofhisshoulderssatyoungmenoftheMackenzies。Theone-eyedoldmanaroseandstoodupright。"Wemarvelatthepricepaidforonemerewoman，"hebegan;"butthewisdomofthepriceisnoconcernofours。Weareheretogivejudgment，andjudgmentwegive。Wehavenodoubt。ItisknowntoallthatPorportukpaidaheavypriceforthewomanEl-Soo。WhereforedoesthewomanEl-SoobelongtoPorportukandnoneother。"Hesatdownheavily，andcoughed。Theoldmennoddedandcoughed。

"Iwillkillyou，"AkooncriedinEnglish。

Porportuksmiledandstoodup。"Youhavegiventruejudgment，"hesaidtothecouncil，"andmyyoungmenwillgivetoyoumuchtobacco。

Nowletthewomanbebroughttome。"

Akoongrittedhisteeth。TheyoungmentookEl-Soobythearms。Shedidnotresist，andwasled，herfaceasullenflame，toPorportuk。

"SitthereatmyfeettillIhavemademytalk，"hecommanded。Hepausedamoment。"Itistrue，"hesaid，"Iamanoldman。YetcanI

understandthewaysofyouth。Thefirehasnotallgoneoutofme。

YetamInolongeryoung，noramImindedtoruntheseoldlegsofminethroughalltheyearsthatremaintome。El-Soocanrunfastandwell。Sheisadeer。ThisIknow，forIhaveseenandrunafterher。Itisnotgoodthatawifeshouldrunsofast。Ipaidforheraheavyprice，yetdoessherunawayfromme。Akoonpaidnopriceatall，yetdoessheruntohim。

"WhenIcameamongyoupeopleoftheMackenzie，Iwasofonemind。

AsIlistenedinthecouncilandthoughtoftheswiftlegsofEl-Soo，Iwasofmanyminds。NowamIofonemindagainbutitisadifferentmindfromtheoneIbroughttothecouncil。Letmetellyoumymind。Whenadogrunsonceawayfromamaster，itwillrunawayagain。Nomatterhowmanytimesitisbroughtback，eachtimeitwillrunawayagain。Whenwehavesuchdogs，wesellthem。El-

Sooislikeadogthatrunsaway。Iwillsellher。Isthereanymanofthecouncilthatwillbuy？"

Theoldmencoughedandremainedsilent"Akoonwouldbuy，"Porportukwenton，"buthehasnomoney。

WhereforeIwillgiveEl-Sootohim，ashesaid，withoutprice。EvennowwillIgivehertohim。"

Reachingdown，hetookEl-SoobythehandandledheracrossthespacetowhereAkoonlayonhisback。

"Shehasabadhabit，Akoon，"hesaid，seatingheratAkoon’sfeet。

"Asshehasrunawayfrommeinthepast，inthedaystocomeshemayrunawayfromyou。Butthereisnoneedtofearthatshewilleverrunaway，Akoon。Ishallseetothat。Neverwillsherunawayfromyou——thisisthewordofPorportuk。Shehasgreatwit。Iknow，foroftenhasitbittenintome。YetamImindedmyselftogivemywitplayforonce。AndbymywitwillIsecurehertoyou，Akoon。"

Stooping，PorportukcrossedEl-Soo’sfeet，sothattheinstepofonelayoverthatoftheother;andthen，beforehispurposecouldbedivined，hedischargedhisriflethroughthetwoankles。AsAkoonstruggledtoriseagainsttheweightoftheyoungmen，therewasheardthecrunchofthebrokenbonerebroken。

"Itisjust，"saidtheoldmen，onetoanother。

El-Soomadenosound。Shesatandlookedathershatteredankles，onwhichshewouldneverwalkagain。

"Mylegsarestrong，El-Soo，"Akoonsaid。"Butneverwilltheybearmeawayfromyou。"

El-Soolookedathim，andforthefirsttimeinallthetimehehadknownher，Akoonsawtearsinhereyes。

"Youreyesarelikedeer’seyes，El-Soo，"hesaid。

"Isitjust？"Porportukasked，andgrinnedfromtheedgeofthesmokeashepreparedtodepart。

"Itisjust，"theoldmensaid。Andtheysatoninthesilence。