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money flowed in golden foam away。 Upon one thing El…Soo was
resolvedher father should die as he had lived。 There should be for him
no passing from high to low； no diminution of the revels； no lessening of
the lavish hospitality。 When there was famine； as of old； the Indians
came groaning to the large house and went away content。 When there
was famine and no money； money was borrowed from Porportuk； and the
Indians still went away content。 El…Soo might well have repeated； after
the aristocrats of another time and place； that after her came the deluge。
In her case the deluge was old Porportuk。 With every advance of money；
he looked upon her with a more possessive eye； and felt bourgeoning
within him ancient fires。
But El…Soo had no eyes for him。 Nor had she eyes for the white men
who wanted to marry her at the Mission with ring and priest and book。 For
at Tana…naw Station was a young man； Akoon； of her own blood； and tribe；
and village。 He was strong and beautiful to her eyes； a great hunter； and；
in that he had wandered far and much； very poor； he had been to all the
unknown wastes and places； he had journeyed to Sitka and to the United
States； he had crossed the continent to Hudson Bay and back again； and as
seal…hunter on a ship he had sailed to Siberia and for Japan。
When he returned from the gold…strike in Klondike he came； as was
his wont； to the large house to make report to old Klakee…Nah of all the
world that he had seen； and there he first saw El…Soo； three years back
from the Mission。 Thereat； Akoon wandered no more。 He refused a
wage of twenty dollars a day as pilot on the big steamboats。 He hunted
some and fished some； but never far from Tana…naw Station； and he was at
the large house often and long。 And El…Soo measured him against many
men and found him good。 He sang songs to her； and was ardent and
glowed until all Tana…naw Station knew he loved her。 And Porportuk but
grinned and advanced more money for the upkeep of the large house。
Then came the death table of Klakee…Nah。
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；
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and none knew this better than El…Soo； with her artist sympathy。 The old
roystering crowd was there； and； as of old； three frost…bitten sailors were
there； fresh from the long traverse from the Arctic； survivors of a ship's
company of seventy…four。 At Klakee…Nah's back were four old men； all
that were left him of the slaves of his youth。 With rheumy eyes they saw
to his needs； with palsied hands filling his glass or striking him on the
back between the shoulders when death stirred and he coughed and
gasped。
It was a wild night； and as the hours passed and the fun laughed and
roared along； death stirred more restlessly in Klakee…Nah's throat。 Then it
was that he sent for Porportuk。 And Porportuk came in from the outside
frost to look with disapproving eyes upon the meat and wine on the table
for which he had paid。 But as he looked down the length of flushed faces
to the far end and saw the face of El…Soo； the light in his eyes flared up；
and for a moment the disapproval vanished。
Place was made for him at Klakee…Nah's side； and a glass placed
before him。 Klakee…Nah； with his own hands； filled the glass with
fervent spirits。 〃Drink！〃 he cried。 〃Is it not good？〃
And Porportuk's eyes watered as he nodded his head and smacked his
lips。
〃When； in your own house； have you had such drink？〃 Klakee…Nah
demanded。
〃I will not deny that the drink is good to this old throat of mine；〃
Porportuk made answer； and hesitated for the speech to complete the
thought。
〃But it costs overmuch；〃 Klakee…Nah roared； completing it for him。
Porportuk winced at the laughter that went down the table。 His eyes
burned malevolently。 〃We were boys together； of the same age；〃 he said。
〃In your throat is death。 I am still alive and strong。〃
An ominous murmur arose from the company。 Klakee…Nah coughed
and strangled； and the old slaves smote him between the shoulders。 He
emerged gasping； and waved his hand to still the threatening rumble。
〃You have grudged the very fire in your house because the wood cost
overmuch！〃 he cried。 〃You have grudged life。 To live cost overmuch；
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and you have refused to pay the price。 Your life has been like a cabin
where the fire is out and there are no blankets on the floor。〃 He signalled
to a slave to fill his glass； which he held aloft。 〃But I have lived。 And I
have been warm with life as you have never been warm。 It is true； you
shall live long。 But the longest nights are the cold nights when a man
shivers and lies awake。 My nights have been short； but I have slept
warm。〃
He drained the glass。 The shaking hand of a slave failed to catch it as
it crashed to the floor。 Klakee…Nah sank back； panting； watching the
upturned glasses at the lips of the drinkers； his own lips slightly smiling to
the applause。 At a sign； two slaves attempted to help him sit upright
again。 But they were weak； his frame was mighty； and the four old men
tottered and shook as they helped him forward。
〃But manner of life is neither here nor there；〃 he went on。 〃We have
other business； Porportuk； you and I； to…night。 Debts are mischances； and
I am in mischance with you。 What of my debt； and how great is it？〃
Porportuk searched in his pouch and brought forth a memorandum。
He sipped at his glass and began。 〃There is the note of Aug