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man knoweth his own mind； and they be of many minds。 Everybody
hath drunken overmuch； and some be stringing bows； and some be
quarrelling one with another。 Never was there such a trouble。'
〃And the second one： 'And I did as thou biddest； O master；
whispering shrewd words in thirsty ears； and raising memories of the
things that were of old time。 The woman Ipsukuk waileth her poverty
and the wealth that no longer is hers。 And Tummasook thinketh himself
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The Faith of Men
once again chief； and the people are hungry and rage up and down。'
〃And a third one： 'And Neewak hath overthrown the altars of Moosu；
and maketh incantation before the time…honoured and ancient gods。 And
all the people remember the wealth that ran down their throats； and which
they possess no more。 And first； Esanetuk； who be SICK TUMTUM；
fought with Kluktu； and there was much noise。 And next； being
daughters of the one mother； did they fight with Tukeliketa。 And after that
did they three fall upon Moosu； like wind…squalls； from every hand； till he
ran forth from the igloo； and the people mocked him。 For a man who
cannot command his womankind is a fool。'
〃Then came Angeit： 'Great trouble hath befallen Moosu； O master；
for I have whispered to advantage； till the people came to Moosu； saying
they were hungry and demanding the fulfilment of prophecy。 And there
was a loud shout of 〃Itlwillie！ Itlwillie！〃 （Meat。） So he cried peace to
his womenfolk； who were overwrought with anger and with hooch； and
led the tribe even to thy meat caches。 And he bade the men open them
and be fed。 And lo； the caches were empty。 There was no meat。 They
stood without sound； the people being frightened； and in the silence I lifted
my voice。 〃O Moosu； where is the meat？ That there was meat we
know。 Did we not hunt it and drag it in from the hunt？ And it were a lie
to say one man hath eaten it； yet have we seen nor hide nor hair。 Where
is the meat； O Moosu？ Thou hast the ear of God。 Where is the meat？〃
〃'And the people cried； 〃Thou hast the ear of God。 Where is the
meat？〃 And they put their heads together and were afraid。 Then I went
among them； speaking fearsomely of the unknown things； of the dead that
come and go like shadows and do evil deeds； till they cried aloud in terror
and gathered all together； like little children afraid of the dark。 Neewak
made harangue； laying this evil that had come upon them at the door of
Moosu。 When he had done； there was a furious commotion； and they
took spears in their hands； and tusks of walrus； and clubs； and stones from
the beach。 But Moosu ran away home； and because he had not drunken of
hooch they could not catch him； and fell one over another and made haste
slowly。 Even now they do howl without his igloo； and his woman… folk
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The Faith of Men
within； and what of the noise； he cannot make himself heard。'
〃'O Angeit； thou hast done well；' I commanded。 'Go now； taking this
empty sled and the lean dogs； and ride fast to the igloo of Moosu； and
before the people； who are drunken； are aware； throw him quick upon the
sled and bring him to me。'
〃I waited and gave good advice to the faithful ones till Angeit returned。
Moosu was on the sled； and I saw by the fingermarks on his face that his
womankind had done well by him。 But he tumbled off and fell in the
snow at my feet； crying： 'O master； thou wilt forgive Moosu； thy servant；
for the wrong things he has done！ Thou art a great man！ Surely wilt
thou forgive！'
〃'Call me 〃brother；〃 Moosucall me 〃brother；〃' I chided； lifting him to
his feet with the toe of my moccasin。 'Wilt thou evermore obey？'
〃'Yea； master；' he whimpered； 'evermore。'
〃'Then dispose thy body； so； across the sled；' I shifted the dogwhip to
my right hand。 'And direct thy face downwards； toward the snow。 And
make haste； for we journey south this day。' And when he was well fixed I
laid the lash upon him； reciting； at every stroke； the wrongs he had done
me。 'This for thy disobedience in generalwhack！ And this for thy
disobedience in particular whack！ whack！ And this for Esanetuk！
And this for thy soul's welfare！ And this for the grace of thy authority！
And this for Kluktu！ And this for thy rights God…given！ And this for
thy fat firstlings！ And this and this for thy income…tax and thy loaves and
fishes！ And this for all thy disobedience！ And this； finally； that thou
mayest henceforth walk softly and with understanding！ Now cease thy
sniffling and get up！ Gird on thy snowshoes and go to the fore and break
trail for the dogs。 CHOOK！ MUSH…ON！ Git！'〃
Thomas Stevens smiled quietly to himself as he lighted his fifth cigar
and sent curling smoke…rings ceilingward。
〃But how about the people of Tattarat？〃 I asked。 〃Kind of rough；
wasn't it； to leave them flat with famine？〃
And he answered； laughing； between two smoke…rings； 〃Were there
not the fat dogs？〃
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The Faith of Men
THE FAITH OF MEN
〃Tell you what we'll do； we'll shake for it。〃
〃That suits me；〃 said the second man； turning； as he spoke； to the
Indian that was mending snow…shoes in a corner of the cabin。 〃Here； you
Billebedam； take a run down to Oleson's cabin like a good fellow； and tell
him we want to borrow his dice box。〃
This sudden request in the midst of a council on wages of men； wood；
and grub surprised Billebedam。 Besides； it was early in the day； and he
had never known white men of the calibre of Pentfield and Hutchinson to
dice and play till the day's work was done。 But his face was impassive as
a Yukon Indian's should be； as he pulled on his mittens and went out the
door。
Though eight o'clock； it was still da