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Snettishane looked interested； whereupon the Factor retraced his
steps； casually and carelessly to linger and discuss this new and
incidental topic。
〃Kattou？〃 suggested Snettishane。
〃She has but one eye；〃 objected the Factor。
〃Laska？〃
〃Her knees be wide apart when she stands upright。 Kips； your
biggest dog； can leap between her knees when she stands upright。〃
〃Senatee？〃 went on the imperturbable Snettishane。
But John Fox feigned anger； crying： 〃What foolishness is this？ Am
I old； that thou shouldst mate me with old women？ Am I toothless？
lame of leg？ blind of eye？ Or am I poor that no bright…eyed maiden
may look with favour upon me？ Behold！ I am the Factor； both rich
and great； a power in the land； whose speech makes men tremble and
is obeyed！〃
Snettishane was inwardly pleased； though his sphinx…like visage
never relaxed。 He was drawing the Factor； and making him break
ground。 Being a creature so elemental as to have room for but one
idea at a time； Snettishane could pursue that one idea a greater
distance than could John Fox。 For John Fox； elemental as he was；
was still complex enough to entertain several glimmering ideas at a
time； which debarred him from pursuing the one as single…heartedly
or as far as did the chief。
Snettishane calmly continued calling the roster of eligible
maidens； which； name by name； as fast as uttered； were stamped
ineligible by John Fox； with specified objections appended。 Again
he gave it up and started to return to the Fort。 Snettishane
watched him go； making no effort to stop him； but seeing him； in
the end； stop himself。
〃Come to think of it；〃 the Factor remarked； 〃we both of us forgot
Lit…lit。 Now I wonder if she'll suit me？〃
Snettishane met the suggestion with a mirthless face； behind the
mask of which his soul grinned wide。 It was a distinct victory。
Had the Factor gone but one step farther； perforce Snettishane
would himself have 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。〃
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 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。
Where