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hand。 Then he re…entered the cabin and drew the latch in after him。 The
smoke from the cindered steak made his eyes smart。 He stood on the
bunk； passed the lashing over the ridge…pole； and measured the swing…off
with his eye。 It did not seem to satisfy； for he put the stool on the bunk
and climbed upon the stool。 He drove a noose in the end of the lashing
and slipped his head through。 The other end he made fast。 Then he
kicked the stool out from under。
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The Faith of Men
THE MARRIAGE OF LIT…LIT
When John Fox came into a country where whisky freezes solid and
may be used as a paper…weight for a large part of the year； he came
without the ideals and illusions that usually hamper the progress of more
delicately nurtured adventurers。 Born and reared on the frontier fringe of
the United States； he took with him into Canada a primitive cast of mind；
an elemental simplicity and grip on things； as it were； that insured him
immediate success in his new career。 From a mere servant of the Hudson
Bay Company； driving a paddle with the voyageurs and carrying goods on
his back across the portages； he swiftly rose to a Factorship and took
charge of a trading post at Fort Angelus。
Here； because of his elemental simplicity； he took to himself a native
wife； and； by reason of the connubial bliss that followed； he escaped the
unrest and vain longings that curse the days of more fastidious men； spoil
their work； and conquer them in the end。 He lived contentedly； was at
single purposes with the business he was set there to do； and achieved a
brilliant record in the service of the Company。 About this time his wife
died； was claimed by her people； and buried with savage circumstance in a
tin trunk in the top of a tree。
Two sons she had borne him； and when the Company promoted him；
he journeyed with them still deeper into the vastness of the North… West
Territory to a place called Sin Rock； where he took charge of a new post in
a more important fur field。 Here he spent several lonely and depressing
months； eminently disgusted with the unprepossessing appearance of the
Indian maidens； and greatly worried by his growing sons who stood in
need of a mother's care。 Then his eyes chanced upon Lit…lit。
〃Lit…litwell； she is Lit…lit；〃 was the fashion in which he despairingly
described her to his chief clerk； Alexander McLean。
McLean was too fresh from his Scottish upbringing〃not dry behind
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The Faith of Men
the ears yet；〃 John Fox put itto take to the marriage customs of the
country。 Nevertheless he was not averse to the Factor's imperilling his
own immortal soul； and； especially； feeling an ominous attraction himself
for Lit…lit； he was sombrely content to clinch his own soul's safety by
seeing her married to the Factor。
Nor is it to be wondered that McLean's austere Scotch soul stood in
danger of being thawed in the sunshine of Lit…lit's eyes。 She was pretty；
and slender； and willowy； without the massive face and temperamental
stolidity of the average squaw。 〃Lit…lit；〃 so called from her fashion； even
as a child； of being fluttery； of darting about from place to place like a
butterfly； of being inconsequent and merry； and of laughing as lightly as
she darted and danced about。
Lit…lit was the daughter of Snettishane； a prominent chief in the tribe；
by a half…breed mother； and to him the Factor fared casually one summer
day to open negotiations of marriage。 He sat with the chief in the smoke
of a mosquito smudge before his lodge； and together they talked about
everything under the sun； or； at least； everything that in the Northland is
under the sun； with the sole exception of marriage。 John Fox had come
particularly to talk of marriage； Snettishane knew it； and John Fox knew
he knew it； wherefore the subject was religiously avoided。 This is
alleged to be Indian subtlety。 In reality it is transparent simplicity。
The hours slipped by； and Fox and Snettishane smoked interminable
pipes； looking each other in the eyes with a guilelessness superbly
histrionic。 In the mid…afternoon McLean and his brother clerk； McTavish；
strolled past； innocently uninterested； on their way to the river。 When
they strolled back again an hour later； Fox and Snettishane had attained to
a ceremonious discussion of the condition and quality of the gunpowder
and bacon which the Company was offering in trade。 Meanwhile Lit…lit；
divining the Factor's errand； had crept in under the rear wall of the lodge；
and through the front flap was peeping out at the two logomachists by the
mosquito smudge。 She was flushed and happy…eyed； proud that no less a
man than the Factor （who stood next to God in the Northland hierarchy）
had singled her out； femininely curious to see at close range what manner
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The Faith of Men
of man he was。 Sunglare on the ice； camp smoke； and weather beat had
burned his face to a copper…brown； so that her father was as fair as he；
while she was fairer。 She was remotely glad of this； and more
immediately glad that he was large and strong； though his great black
beard half frightened her； it was so strange。
Being very young； she was unversed in the ways of men。 Seventeen
times she had seen the sun travel south and lose itself beyond the sky…line；
and seventeen times she had seen it travel back again and ride the sky day
and night till there was no night at all。 And through these years she had
been cherished jealously by Snettishane； who stood between her and all
suitors； listening disdainfully to the young hunters as they bid for her hand；
and turning them away as though she were beyond price。 Snettishane
was mercenary。 Lit…lit was to him an investment。 She represented so
much capital； from which he expected to receive； not a certain definite
intere