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Porportuk nodded； and untied the mouths of the sacks。 El…Soo；
standing at the edge of the bank； tore the papers to shreds and sent them
fluttering out over the Yukon。 The weighing began； but halted。
〃Of course； at seventeen dollars；〃 Porportuk had said to Tommy； as he
adjusted the scales。
〃At sixteen dollars；〃 El…Soo said sharply。
〃It is the custom of all the land to reckon gold at seventeen dollars for
each ounce；〃 Porportuk replied。 〃And this is a business transaction。〃
El…Soo laughed。 〃It is a new custom；〃 she said。 〃It began this
spring。 Last year； and the years before； it was sixteen dollars an ounce。
When my father's debt was made； it was sixteen dollars。 When he spent
at the store the money he got from you； for one ounce he was given
sixteen dollars' worth of flour； not seventeen。 Wherefore； shall you pay
for me at sixteen； and not at seventeen。〃 Porportuk grunted and allowed
the weighing to proceed。
〃Weigh it in three piles； Tommy；〃 she said。 〃A thousand dollars here；
three thousand here； and here six thousand。〃
It was slow work； and； while the weighing went on； Akoon was closely
watched by all。
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〃He but waits till the money is paid；〃 one said； and the word went
around and was accepted； and they waited for what Akoon should do when
the money was paid。 And Porportuk's man with the rifle waited and
watched Akoon。
The weighing was finished； and the gold…dust lay on the table in three
dark…yellow heaps。 〃There is a debt of my father to the Company for
three thousand dollars；〃 said El…Soo。 〃Take it； Tommy； for the Company。
And here are four old men； Tommy。 You know them。 And here is one
thousand dollars。 Take it； and see that the old men are never hungry and
never without tobacco。〃
Tommy scooped the gold into separate sacks。 Six thousand dollars
remained on the table。 El…Soo thrust the scoop into the heap； and with a
sudden turn whirled the contents out and down to the Yukon in a golden
shower。 Porportuk seized her wrist as she thrust the scoop a second time
into the heap。
〃It is mine；〃 she said calmly。 Porportuk released his grip； but he
gritted his teeth and scowled darkly as she continued to scoop the gold
into the river till none was left。
The crowd had eyes for naught but Akoon； and the rifle of Porportuk's
man lay across the hollow of his arm； the muzzle directed at Akoon a yard
away； the man's thumb on the hammer。 But Akoon did nothing。
〃Make out the bill of sale；〃 Porportuk said grimly。
And Tommy made out the till of sale； wherein all right and title in the
woman El…Soo was vested in the man Porportuk。 El…Soo signed the
document； and Porportuk folded it and put it away in his pouch。 Suddenly
his eyes flashed； and in sudden speech he addressed El…Soo。
〃But it was not your father's debt；〃 he said； 〃What I paid was the price
for you。 Your sale is business of to…day and not of last year and the years
before。 The ounces paid for you will buy at the post to…day seventeen
dollars of flour； and not sixteen。 I have lost a dollar on each ounce。 I
have lost six hundred and twenty…five dollars。〃
El…Soo thought for a moment； and saw the error she had made。 She
smiled； and then she laughed。
〃You are right；〃 she laughed； 〃I made a mistake。 But it is too late。
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You have paid； and the gold is gone。 You did not think quick。 It is your
loss。 Your wit is slow these days； Porportuk。 You are getting old。〃
He did not answer。 He glanced uneasily at Akoon； and was reassured。
His lips tightened； and a hint of cruelty came into his face。 〃Come；〃 he
said； 〃we will go to my house。〃
〃Do you remember the two things I told you in the spring？〃 El…Soo
asked； making no movement to accompany him。
〃My head would be full with the things women say； did I heed them；〃
he answered。
〃I told you that you would be paid；〃 El…Soo went on carefully。 〃And
I told you that I would never be your wife。〃
〃But that was before the bill of sale。〃 Porportuk crackled the paper
between his fingers inside the pouch。 〃I have bought you before all the
world。 You belong to me。 You will not deny that you belong to me。〃
〃I belong to you；〃 El…Soo said steadily。
〃I own you。〃
〃You own me。〃
Porportuk's voice rose slightly and triumphantly。 〃As a dog； I own
you。〃
〃As a dog you own me；〃 El…Soo continued calmly。 〃But； Porportuk；
you forget the thing I told you。 Had any other man bought me； I should
have been that man's wife。 I should have been a good wife to that man。
Such was my will。 But my will with you was that I should never be your
wife。 Wherefore； I am your dog。〃
Porportuk knew that he played with fire； and he resolved to play firmly。
〃Then I speak to you； not as El…Soo； but as a dog；〃 he said； 〃and I tell you
to come with me。〃 He half reached to grip her arm； but with a gesture
she held him back。
〃Not so fast； Porportuk。 You buy a dog。 The dog runs away。 It is
your loss。 I am your dog。 What if I run away？〃
〃As the owner of the dog； I shall beat you〃
〃When you catch me？〃
〃When I catch you。〃
〃Then catch me。〃
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He reached swiftly for her； but she eluded him。 She laughed as she
circled around the table。 〃Catch her！〃 Porportuk commanded the Indian
with the rifle； who stood near to her。 But as the Indian stretched forth his
arm to her； the Eldorado king felled him with a fist blow under the ear。
The rifle clattered to the ground。 Then was Akoon's chance。 His eyes
glittered； but he did nothing。
Porportuk was an old man； but his cold nights retained for him his
activity。 He did not circle the table。 He came across suddenly； over the
top of the table。 El…Soo was taken off her guard。 She sprang back with