the faith of men(人们的信任)-第24节
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gone but one step farther； perforce Snettishane would himself have
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mentioned the name of Lit…lit； butthe Factor had not gone that one step
farther。
The chief was non…committal concerning Lit…lit's suitability； till he
drove the white man into taking the next step in order of procedure。
〃Well；〃 the Factor meditated aloud； 〃the only way to find out is to
make a try of it。〃 He raised his voice。 〃So I will give for Lit… lit ten
blankets and three pounds of tobacco which is good tobacco。〃
Snettishane replied with a gesture which seemed to say that all the
blankets and tobacco in all the world could not compensate him for the
loss of Lit…lit and her manifold virtues。 When pressed by the Factor to
set a price； he coolly placed it at five hundred blankets； ten guns； fifty
pounds of tobacco； twenty scarlet cloths； ten bottles of rum； a music…box；
and lastly the good…will and best offices of the Factor； with a place by his
fire。
The Factor apparently suffered a stroke of apoplexy； which stroke was
successful in reducing the blankets to two hundred and in cutting out the
place by the firean unheard…of condition in the marriages of white men
with the daughters of the soil。 In the end； after three hours more of
chaffering； they came to an agreement。 For Lit…lit Snettishane was to
receive one hundred blankets； five pounds of tobacco； three guns； and a
bottle of rum； goodwill and best offices included； which according to John
Fox； was ten blankets and a gun more than she was worth。 And as he
went home through the wee sma' hours； the three…o'clock sun blazing in
the due north…east； he was unpleasantly aware that Snettishane had bested
him over the bargain。
Snettishane； tired and victorious； sought his bed； and discovered Lit…lit
before she could escape from the lodge。
He grunted knowingly： 〃Thou hast seen。 Thou has heard。
Wherefore it be plain to thee thy father's very great wisdom and
understanding。 I have made for thee a great match。 Heed my words
and walk in the way of my words； go when I say go； come when I bid thee
come； and we shall grow fat with the wealth of this big white man who is
a fool according to his bigness。〃
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The next day no trading was done at the store。 The Factor opened
whisky before breakfast； to the delight of McLean and McTavish； gave his
dogs double rations； and wore his best moccasins。 Outside the Fort
preparations were under way for a POTLATCH。 Potlatch means 〃a
giving；〃 and John Fox's intention was to signalize his marriage with Lit…lit
by a potlatch as generous as she was good… looking。 In the afternoon the
whole tribe gathered to the feast。 Men； women； children； and dogs gorged
to repletion； nor was there one person； even among the chance visitors and
stray hunters from other tribes； who failed to receive some token of the
bridegroom's largess。
Lit…lit； tearfully shy and frightened； was bedecked by her bearded
husband with a new calico dress； splendidly beaded moccasins； a gorgeous
silk handkerchief over her raven hair； a purple scarf about her throat； brass
ear…rings and finger…rings； and a whole pint of pinchbeck jewellery；
including a Waterbury watch。 Snettishane could scarce contain himself at
the spectacle； but watching his chance drew her aside from the feast。
〃Not this night； nor the next night；〃 he began ponderously； 〃but in the
nights to come； when I shall call like a raven by the river bank； it is for
thee to rise up from thy big husband； who is a fool； and come to me。
〃Nay； nay；〃 he went on hastily； at sight of the dismay in her face at
turning her back upon her wonderful new life。 〃For no sooner shall this
happen than thy big husband； who is a fool； will come wailing to my lodge。
Then it is for thee to wail likewise； claiming that this thing is not well； and
that the other thing thou dost not like； and that to be the wife of the Factor
is more than thou didst bargain for； only wilt thou be content with more
blankets； and more tobacco； and more wealth of various sorts for thy poor
old father； Snettishane。 Remember well； when I call in the night； like a
raven； from the river bank。〃
Lit…lit nodded； for to disobey her father was a peril she knew well； and；
furthermore； it was a little thing he asked； a short separation from the
Factor； who would know only greater gladness at having her back。 She
returned to the feast； and； midnight being well at hand； the Factor sought
her out and led her away to the Fort amid joking and outcry； in which the
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squaws were especially conspicuous。
Lit…lit quickly found that married life with the head…man of a fort was
even better than she had dreamed。 No longer did she have to fetch wood
and water and wait hand and foot upon cantankerous menfolk。 For the
first time in her life she could lie abed till breakfast was on the table。
And what a bed！clean and soft； and comfortable as no bed she had ever
known。 And such food！ Flour； cooked into biscuits； hot…cakes and
bread； three times a day and every day； and all one wanted！ Such
prodigality was hardly believable。
To add to her contentment； the Factor was cunningly kind。 He had
buried one wife； and he knew how to drive with a slack rein that went firm
only on occasion； and then went very firm。 〃Lit…lit is boss of this place；〃
he announced significantly at the table the morning after the wedding。
〃What she says goes。 Understand？〃 And McLean and McTavish
understood。 Also； they knew that the Factor had a heavy hand。
But Lit…lit did not take advantage。 Taking a leaf from the book of her
husband； she at once assumed charge of his own growing sons； giving
them added comforts and a measure of freedom like to that which he gave
her。 The two sons were loud in the praise of their new mother； McLean
and McTavish lifted their voices； and the Factor bragged of the joys of
matrimony till the story of her good behaviour and her husband's
satisfaction became the property of all the dwellers in the Sin Rock
district。
Whereupon Snettishane； with visions of his incalculable interest
keeping him awake of nights； thought it time to bestir himself。 On the
tenth night of her wedded life Lit…lit was awakened by the croaking of a
raven； and she knew that Snettishane was waiting for her by the river bank。
In her great happiness she had forgotten her pact； and now it came back to
her with behind it all the childish terror of her father。 For a time she lay
in fear and trembling； loath to go； afraid to stay。 But in the end the
Factor won the silent victory； and his kindness plus his great muscles and
square jaw； nerved her to disregard Snettishane's call。
But in the morning she arose very much afraid； and went about her
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duties in momentary fear of her father's coming。 As the day wore along；
however； she began to recover her spirits。 John Fox； soundly berating
McLean and McTavish for some petty dereliction of duty； helped her to
pluck up courage。 She tried not to let him go out of her sight； and when
she followed him into the huge cache and saw him twirling and tossing
great bales around as though they were feather pillows； she felt
strengthened in her disobedience to her father。 Als
