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You did not think quick. It is your loss. Your wit is slow these days, Porportuk. You are getting old." He did not answer. He glanced uneasily at Akoon, and was reassured. His lips tightened, and a hint of cruelty came into his face. "Come," he said, "we will go to my house." "Do you remember the two things I told you in the spring?" El-Soo asked, making no movement to accompany him.
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.
You will not deny that you belong to me." "I belong to you," El-Soo said steadily. "I own you." "You own me." Porportuk's voice rose slightly and triumphantly. "As a dog, I own you." "As a dog you own me," El-Soo continued calmly. "But, Porportuk, you forget the thing I told you. Had any other man bought me, I should have been that man's wife. I should have been a good wife to that man.
"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.
It was a weary journey, and the way led across the backbone of the world; but Akoon had travelled it before. When they came to the head-waters of the Porcupine, they left the boat and went on foot across the Rocky Mountains. Akoon greatly liked to walk behind El-Soo and watch the movements of her. There was a music in it that he loved.
The large canoe was very near, but the gap between it and the steamer was widening. The squaw laughed and leaned over the rail. "Then catch me, Porportuk!" she cried. Akoon left the steamer at Fort Yukon. He outfitted a small poling-boat and went up the Porcupine River. And with him went El-Soo.
In his youth he had been swiftest of all the young men. But El-Soo dodged in a willowy, elusive way. Being in native dress, her feet were not cluttered with skirts, and her pliant body curved a flight that defied the gripping fingers of Porportuk. With laughter and tumult, the great crowd scattered out to see the chase.
He sat at feast, with death in his throat, that he could not drown with wine. And laughter and joke and song went around, and Akoon told a story that made the rafters echo. There were no tears or sighs at that table. It was no more than fit that Klakee-Nah should die as he had lived, and none knew this better than El-Soo, with her artist sympathy.
One day, after such an elaboration, El-Soo made final announcement to Porportuk. "I shall tell you two things," she said. "First I shall not be your wife. Will you remember that? Second, you shall be paid the last cent of the sixteen thousand dollars " "Fifteen thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents," Porportuk corrected.
They fell in with a band of Mackenzie Indians, and, hunting, Akoon was shot by accident. The rifle was in the hands of a youth. The bullet broke Akoon's right arm and, ranging farther, broke two of his ribs. Akoon knew rough surgery, while El-Soo had learned some refinements at Holy Cross. The bones were finally set, and Akoon lay by the fire for them to knit.
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