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Jack London

Keesh, the Son of Keesh

Keesh, syn Keesha

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KEESH, THE SON OF KEESH

"Thus will I give six blankets, warm and double; six files, large and hard; six Hudson Bay

knives, keen-edged and long; two canoes, the work of Mogum, The Maker of Things; ten dogs,

heavy-shouldered and strong in the harness; and three guns—the trigger of one be broken, but

it is a good gun and can doubtless be mended."

Keesh paused and swept his eyes over the circle of intent faces. It was the time of the Great

Fishing, and he was bidding to Gnob for Su-Su his daughter. The place was the St. George

Mission by the Yukon, and the tribes had gathered for many a hundred miles. From north, south,

east, and west they had come, even from Tozikakat and far Tana-naw.

"And further, O Gnob, thou art chief of the Tana-naw; and I, Keesh, the son of Keesh, am chief

of the Thlunget. Wherefore, when my seed springs from the loins of thy daughter, there shall

be a friendship between the tribes, a great friendship, and Tana-naw and Thlunget shall be

brothers of the blood in the time to come. What I have said I will do, that will I do. And how is

it with you, O Gnob, in this matter?"

Gnob nodded his head gravely, his gnarled and age-twisted face inscrutably masking the soul

that dwelt behind. His narrow eyes burned like twin coals through their narrow slits, as he piped

in a high-cracked voice, "But that is not all."

"What more?" Keesh demanded. "Have I not offered full measure? Was there ever yet a Tana-

naw maiden who fetched so great a price? Then name her!"

An open snicker passed round the circle, and Keesh knew that he stood in shame before these

people.

"Nay, nay, good Keesh, thou dost not understand." Gnob made a soft, stroking gesture. "The

price is fair. It is a good price. Nor do I question the broken trigger. But that is not all. What of

the man?"

"Ay, what of the man?" the circle snarled.

"It is said," Gnob's shrill voice piped, "it is said that Keesh does not walk in the way of his

fathers. It is said that he has wandered into the dark, after strange gods, and that he is become

afraid."

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