the faith of men(人们的信任)-第14章
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men。
But by now he was dreaming deeply； and he proclaimed he would
have the whole claim or nothing。 This was the cause of great pain to
Hootchinoo Bill。 He orated grandly against the 〃hawgishness〃 of
chechaquos and Swedes； albeit he dozed between periods； his voice dying
away to a gurgle； and his head sinking forward on his breast。 But
whenever roused by a nudge from Kink or Bidwell； he never failed to
explode another volley of abuse and insult。
Ans Handerson was calm under it all。 Each insult added to the value
of the claim。 Such unamiable reluctance to sell advertised but one thing
to him； and he was aware of a great relief when Hootchinoo Bill sank
snoring to the floor； and he was free to turn his attention to his less
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intractable partner。
Kink Mitchell was persuadable； though a poor mathematician。 He
wept dolefully； but was willing to sell a half…interest for two hundred and
fifty dollars or the whole claim for seven hundred and fifty。 Ans
Handerson and Bidwell laboured to clear away his erroneous ideas
concerning fractions； but their labour was vain。 He spilled tears and
regrets all over the bar and on their shoulders； which tears； however； did
not wash away his opinion； that if one half was worth two hundred and
fifty； two halves were worth three times as much。
In the end；and even Bidwell retained no more than hazy recollections
of how the night terminated；a bill of sale was drawn up； wherein Bill
Rader and Charles Mitchell yielded up all right and title to the claim
known as 24 ELDORADO； the same being the name the creek had
received from some optimistic chechaquo。
When Kink had signed； it took the united efforts of the three to arouse
Bill。 Pen in hand； he swayed long over the document； and； each time he
rocked back and forth； in Ans Handerson's eyes flashed and faded a
wondrous golden vision。 When the precious signature was at last
appended and the dust paid over； he breathed a great sigh； and sank to
sleep under a table； where he dreamed immortally until morning。
But the day was chill and grey。 He felt bad。 His first act；
unconscious and automatic； was to feel for his sack。 Its lightness startled
him。 Then； slowly； memories of the night thronged into his brain。
Rough voices disturbed him。 He opened his eyes and peered out from
under the table。 A couple of early risers； or； rather； men who had been
out on trail all night； were vociferating their opinions concerning the utter
and loathsome worthlessness of Eldorado Creek。 He grew frightened；
felt in his pocket； and found the deed to 24 ELDORADO。
Ten minutes later Hootchinoo Bill and Kink Mitchell were roused
from their blankets by a wild…eyed Swede that strove to force upon them
an ink…scrawled and very blotty piece of paper。
〃Ay tank Ay take my money back；〃 he gibbered。 〃Ay tank Ay take
my money back。〃
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Tears were in his eyes and throat。 They ran down his cheeks as he
knelt before them and pleaded and implored。 But Bill and Kink did not
laugh。 They might have been harder hearted。
〃First time I ever hear a man squeal over a minin' deal；〃 Bill said。
〃An' I make free to say 'tis too onusual for me to savvy。〃
〃Same here；〃 Kink Mitchell remarked。 〃Minin' deals is like horse…
tradin'。〃
They were honest in their wonderment。 They could not conceive of
themselves raising a wail over a business transaction； so they could not
understand it in another man。
〃The poor； ornery chechaquo；〃 murmured Hootchinoo Bill； as they
watched the sorrowing Swede disappear up the trail。
〃But this ain't Too Much Gold；〃 Kink Mitchell said cheerfully。
And ere the day was out they purchased flour and bacon at exorbitant
prices with Ans Handerson's dust and crossed over the divide in the
direction of the creeks that lie between Klondike and Indian River。
Three months later they came back over the divide in the midst of a
snow…storm and dropped down the trail to 24 ELDORADO。 It merely
chanced that the trail led them that way。 They were not looking for the
claim。 Nor could they see much through the driving white till they set
foot upon the claim itself。 And then the air lightened； and they beheld a
dump； capped by a windlass that a man was turning。 They saw him draw
a bucket of gravel from the hole and tilt it on the edge of the dump。
Likewise they saw another； man； strangely familiar； filling a pan with the
fresh gravel。 His hands were large； his hair wets pale yellow。 But
before they reached him； he turned with the pan and fled toward a cabin。
He wore no hat； and the snow falling down his neck accounted for his
haste。 Bill and Kink ran after him； and came upon him in the cabin；
kneeling by the stove and washing the pan of gravel in a tub of water。
He was too deeply engaged to notice more than that somebody had
entered the cabin。 They stood at his shoulder and looked on。 He
imparted to the pan a deft circular motion； pausing once or twice to rake
out the larger particles of gravel with his fingers。 The water was muddy；
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and； with the pan buried in it； they could see nothing of its contents。
Suddenly he lifted the pan clear and sent the water out of it with a flirt。 A
mass of yellow； like butter in a churn； showed across the bottom。
Hootchinoo Bill swallowed。 Never in his life had he dreamed of so
rich a test…pan。
〃Kind of thick； my friend；〃 he said huskily。 〃How much might you
reckon that…all to be？〃
Ans Handerson did not look up as he replied； 〃Ay tank fafty ounces。〃
〃You must be scrumptious rich； then； eh？〃
Still Ans Handerson kept his head down； absorbed in putting in the
fine touches which wash out the last particles of dross； though he
answered； 〃Ay tank Ay ban wort' five hundred t'ousand dollar。〃
〃Gosh！〃 said Hootchinoo Bill； and he said it reverently。
〃Yes； Bill； gosh！〃 said Kink Mitchell； and they went out softly and
closed the door。
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THE ONE THOUSAND DOZEN
David Rasmunsen was a hustler； and； like many a greater man； a man
of the one idea。 Wherefore； when the clarion call of the North rang on
his ear； he conceived an adventure in eggs and bent all his energy to its
achievement。 He figured briefly and to the point； and the adventure
became iridescent…hued； splendid。 That eggs would sell at Dawson for
five dollars a dozen was a safe working premise。 Whence it was
incontrovertible that one thousand dozen would bring； in the Golden
Metropolis； five thousand dollars。
On the other hand； expense was to be considered； and he considered it
well； for he was a careful man； keenly practical； with a hard head and a
heart that imagination never warmed。 At fifteen cents a dozen； the initial
cost of his thousand dozen would be one hundred and fifty dollars； a mere
bagatelle in face of the enormous profit。 And suppose； just suppose； to be
wildly extravagant for once； that transportation for himself and eggs
should run up eight hundred and fifty more； he would still have four
thousand clear cash and clean when the last egg was disposed of and the
last dust had rippled into his sack
〃You see； Alma；〃he figured it over with his wife； the cosy dining…
room submerged in a sea of maps； government surveys； guide… books； and
Alaskan itineraries；〃you see； expenses don't really begin till you make
Dyeafifty dollars'll cover it with a first… class passage thrown in。 Now
from Dyea to Lake Linderman； Indian packers take your goods over for
twelve cents a pound； twelve dollars a hundred； or one hundred and twenty
dollars a thousand。 Say I have fifteen hundred pounds； it'll cost one
hundred and eighty dollarscall it two hundred and be safe。 I am
creditably informed by a Klondiker just come out that I can buy a boat for
three hundred。 But the same man says I'm sure to get a couple of
passengers for one hundred and fifty each； which will give me the boat for
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nothing； and； further； they can help me manage it。 And 。 。 。 that's all； I
put my eggs ashore from the boat at Dawson。 Now let me see how much
is that？〃
〃Fifty dollars from San Francisco to Dyea； two hundred from Dyea to
Linderman； passengers pay for the boattwo hundred and fifty all told；〃
she summed up swiftly。
〃And a hundred for my clothes and personal outfit；〃 he went on
happily； 〃that leaves a margin of five hundred for emergencies。 And what
possible emergencies can arise？〃
Alma shrugged her shoulders and elevated her brows。 If that vast
Northland was capable of swallowing up a man and a thousand dozen eggs；
surely there was room and to spare for whatever else he m
