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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。
Whereupon Snettishane； with visions of his incalculable interest
keeping him awake of nights； thought it time to bestir himself。 On
the tenth night of her wedded life Lit…lit was awakened by the
croaking of a raven； and she knew that Snettishane was waiting for
her by the river bank。 In her great happiness she had forgotten
her pact； and now it came back to her with behind it all the
childish terror of her father。 For a time she lay in fear and
trembling； loath to go； afraid to stay。 But in the end the Factor
won the silent victory； and his kindness plus his great muscles and
square jaw； nerved her to disregard Snettishane's call。
But in the morning she arose very much afraid； and went about her
duties in momentary fear of her father's coming。 As the day wore
along； however； she began to recover her spirits。 John Fox；
soundly berating McLean and McTavish for some petty dereliction of
duty； helped her to pluck up courage。 She tried not to let him go
out of her sight； and when she followed him into the huge cache and
saw him twirling and tossing great bales around as though they were
feather pillows； she felt strengthened in her disobedience to her
father。 Also （it was her first visit to the warehouse； and Sin
Rock was the chief distributing point to several chains of lesser
posts）； she was astounded at the endlessness of the wealth there
stored away。
This sight and the picture in her mind's eye of the bare lodge of
Snettishane； put all doubts at rest。 Yet she capped her conviction
by a brief word with one of her step…sons。 〃White daddy good？〃 was
what she asked； and the boy answered that his father was the best
man he had ever known。 That night the raven croaked again。 On the
night following the croaking was more persistent。 It awoke the
Factor； who tossed restlessly for a while。 Then he said aloud；
〃Damn that raven；〃 and Lit…lit laughed quietly under the blankets。
In the morning； bright and early； Snettishane put in an ominous
appearance and was set to breakfast in the kitchen with Wanidani。
He refused 〃squaw food；〃 and a little later bearded his son…in…law
in the store where the trading was done。 Having learned； he said；
that his daughter was such a jewel； he had come for more blankets；
more tobacco； and more gunsespecially more guns。 He had
certainly been cheated in her price； he held； and he had come for
justice。 But the Factor had neither blankets nor justice to spare。
Whereupon he was informed that Snettishane had seen the missionary
at Three Forks； who had notified him that such marriages were not
made in heaven； and that it was his father's duty to demand his
daughter back。
〃I am good Christian man now；〃 Snettishane concluded。 〃I want my
Lit…lit to go to heaven。〃
The Factor's reply was short and to the point； for he directed his
father…in…law to go to the heavenly antipodes； and by the scruff of
the neck and the slack of the blanket propelled him on that trail
as far as the door。
But Snettishane sneaked around and in by the kitchen； cornering
Lit…lit in the great living…room of the Fort。
〃Mayhap thou didst sleep over…sound last night when I called by the
river bank；〃 he began； glowering darkly。
〃Nay； I was awake and heard。〃 Her heart was beating as though it
would choke her； but she went on steadily； 〃And the night before I
was awake and heard； and yet again the night before。〃
And thereat； out of her great happiness and out of the fear that it
might be taken from her； she launched into an original and glowing
address upon the status and rights of womanthe first new…woman
lecture delivered north of Fifty…three。
But it fell on unheeding ears。 Snettishane was still in the dark
ages。 As she paused for breath； he said threateningly； 〃To…night I
shall call again like the raven。〃
At this moment the Factor entered the room and again helped
Snettishane on his way to the heavenly antipodes。
That night the raven croaked more persistently than ever。 Lit…lit；
who was a light sleeper； heard and smiled。 John Fox tossed
restlessly。 Then he awoke and tossed about with greater
restlessness。 He grumbled and snorted； swore under his breath and
over his breath； and finally flung out of bed。 He groped his way
to the great living…room； and from the rack took down a loaded
shot…gunloaded with bird…shot； left therein by the careless
McTavish。
The Factor crept carefully out of the Fort and down to the river。
The croaking had ceased； but he stretched out in the long grass and
waited。 The air seemed a chilly balm； and the earth； after the
heat of the day； now and again breathed soothingly against him。
The Factor； gathered into the rhythm of it all； dozed off； with his
head upon his arm； and slept。
Fifty yards away； head resting on knees； and with his back to John
Fox； Snettishane likewise slept； gently conquered by the quietude
of the night。 An hour slipped by and then he awoke； and； without
lifting his head； set the night vibrating with the hoarse gutturals
of the raven call。
The Factor roused； not with the abrupt start of civilized man； but
with the swift and comprehensive glide from sleep to waking of the
savage。 In the night…light he made out a dark object in the midst
of the grass and brought his gun to bear upon it。 A second croak
began to rise； and he pulled the trigger。 The crickets ceased from
their sing…song chant； the wildfowl from their squabbling； and the
raven croak broke midmost and died away in gasping silence。
John Fox ran to the spot and reached for the thing he had killed；
but his fingers closed on a coarse mop of hair and he turned
Snettishane's face upward to the starlight。 He knew how a shotgun
scattered at fifty yards； and he knew that he had peppered
Snettishane across the shoulders and in the small of the back。 And
Snettishane knew that he knew； but neither