the faith of men(人们的信任)-第10节
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〃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。
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〃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。
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The Faith of Men
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。
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〃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 you
