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He sipped at his glass and began。 〃There is the note of August； 1889； for
three hundred dollars。 The interest has never been paid。 And the note
of the next year for five hundred dollars。 This note was included in the
note of two months later for a thousand dollars。 Then there is the note〃
〃Never mind the many notes！〃 Klakee…Nah cried out impatiently。
〃They make my head go around and all the things inside my head。 The
whole！ The round whole！ How much is it？〃
Porportuk referred to his memorandum。 〃Fifteen thousand nine
hundred and sixty…seven dollars and seventy…five cents；〃 he read with
careful precision。
〃Make it sixteen thousand； make it sixteen thousand；〃 Klakee…Nah said
grandly。 〃Odd numbers were ever a worry。 And nowand it is for this
that I have sent for youmake me out a new note for sixteen thousand；
which I shall sign。 I have no thought of the interest。 Make it as large as
you will； and make it payable in the next world； when I shall meet you by
the fire of the Great Father of all Indians。 Then the note will be paid。
This I promise you。 It is the word of Klakee…Nah。〃
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Porportuk looked perplexed； and loudly the laughter arose and shook
the room。 Klakee…Nah raised his hands。 〃Nay；〃 he cried。 〃It is not a
joke。 I but speak in fairness。 It was for this I sent for you； Porportuk。
Make out the note。〃
〃I have no dealings with the next world；〃 Porportuk made answer
slowly。
〃Have you no thought to meet me before the Great Father！〃 Klakee…
Nah demanded。 Then he added； 〃I shall surely be there。〃
〃I have no dealings with the next world；〃 Porportuk repeated sourly。
The dying man regarded him with frank amazement。
〃I know naught of the next world；〃 Porportuk explained。 〃I do
business in this world。〃
Klakee…Nah's face cleared。 〃This comes of sleeping cold of nights；〃
he laughed。 He pondered for a space； then said； 〃It is in this world that
you must be paid。 There remains to me this house。 Take it； and burn
the debt in the candle there。〃
〃It is an old house and not worth the money；〃 Porportuk made answer。
〃There are my mines on the Twisted Salmon。〃
〃They have never paid to work；〃 was the reply。
〃There is my share in the steamer Koyokuk。 I am half owner。〃
〃She is at the bottom of the Yukon。〃
Klakee…Nah started。 〃True； I forgot。 It was last spring when the ice
went out。〃 He mused for a time while the glasses remained untasted； and
all the company waited upon his utterance。
〃Then it would seem I owe you a sum of money which I cannot pay 。 。 。
in this world？〃 Porportuk nodded and glanced down the table。
〃Then it would seem that you； Porportuk； are a poor business man；〃
Klakee…Nah said slyly。 And boldly Porportuk made answer； 〃No； there is
security yet untouched。〃
〃What！〃 cried Klakee…Nah。 〃Have I still property？ Name it； and it
is yours； and the debt is no more。〃
〃There it is。〃 Porportuk pointed at El…Soo。
Klakee…Nah could not understand。 He peered down the table；
brushed his eyes； and peered again。
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〃Your daughter； El…Sooher will I take and the debt be no more。 I
will burn the debt there in the candle。〃
Klakee…Nah's great chest began to heave。 〃Ho！ ho！a joke。 Ho！ ho！
ho！〃 he laughed Homerically。 〃And with your cold bed and daughters
old enough to be the mother of El…Soo！ Ho！ ho！ ho！〃 He began to
cough and strangle； and the old slaves smote him on the back。 〃Ho！ ho！〃
he began again； and went off into another paroxysm。
Porportuk waited patiently； sipping from his glass and studying the
double row of faces down the board。 〃It is no joke；〃 he said finally。
〃My speech is well meant。〃
Klakee…Nah sobered and looked at him； then reached for his glass； but
could not touch it。 A slave passed it to him； and glass and liquor he flung
into the face of Porportuk。 〃Turn him out！〃 Klakee…Nah thundered to the
waiting table that strained like a pack of hounds in leash。 〃And roll him
in the snow！〃
As the mad riot swept past him and out of doors； he signalled to the
slaves； and the four tottering old men supported him on his feet as he met
the returning revellers； upright； glass in hand； pledging them a toast to the
short night when a man sleeps warm。
It did not take long to settle the estate of Klakee…Nah。 Tommy； the
little Englishman； clerk at the trading post； was called in by El…Soo to help。
There was nothing but debts； notes overdue； mortgaged properties； and
properties mortgaged but worthless。 Notes and mortgages were held by
Porportuk。 Tommy called him a robber many times as he pondered the
compounding of the interest。
〃Is it a debt； Tommy？〃 El…Soo asked。
〃It is a robbery；〃 Tommy answered。
〃Nevertheless； it is a debt；〃 she persisted。
The winter wore away； and the early spring； and still the claims of
Porportuk remained unpaid。 He saw El…Soo often and explained to her at
length； as he had explained to her father； the way the debt could be
cancelled。 Also； he brought with him old medicine…men； who elaborated
to her the everlasting damnation of her father if the debt were not paid。
One day； after such an elaboration； El…Soo made final announcement to
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Porportuk。
〃I shall tell you two things；〃 she said。 〃First I shall not be your wife。
Will you remember that？ Second； you shall be paid the last cent of the
sixteen thousand dollars〃
〃Fifteen thousand nine hundred and sixty…seven dollars and seventy…
five cents；〃 Porportuk corrected。
〃My father said sixteen thousand；〃 was her reply。 〃You shall be
paid。〃
〃How？〃
〃I know not how； but I shall find out how。 Now go； and bother me no
more。 If you do〃she hesitated