Roy Norton

“ The shaman insisted on my taking a seat.
“Very good you found trail here. Lady Malitka very angry by those trail. Young men go with no word from her or me—who must say 'yes' before anybody come or go.” ”

“ Many sleeps away, Indian village where live dirty. Starve when bad winter. Die. Here—no. There cold. Here—warm. There bad barrabara—here good cabeen. There dirty—here clean. There nothings—here rich. Long time natives here not unnerstan'; then, bimeby, see this way best. Lady tell us. We do. So what lady says, muss be done, ummh? Me shaman. ”

“ Think lady very bad spirit witch. Makeum die if come, maybe makeum die if talk. All keep long way—many sleeps off. Many not know that village here at all. Think, many years ago, this place got spirits—what you say—ghosts. ”

“ The only way through which they can be disciplined is by an example of regularity. I set their tasks, hear their complaints, render judgment in disputes. Sometimes it requires much patience, and—the demands for things that hurt! ”

“ With an absurd sense of being cornered by a mere savage, I blurted, “I don't give a damn what others do! I'll not visit the sins of the parents on their children who can't help themselves.”
“Ummh? Say again. Slow. No can unnerstan' when speak quick,” he said, and I repeated it. He made no response or comment.
“So you did as I would have done—took the boy in and cared for him, did you?” I asked when the wait became irksome.
“Yes,” he said. And then, after a time, “And Malitka stop all that kill girl who go bad. Same with many things. ”

“ When need things from outside—clocks, music machines, flour, medicine, white man's clothes, matches, tobacco—all that—must go myself. Must speak little English. Ummh? So learn all can. Me travel far. Once go on big ship to Juneau where mining ma chines go clumpety-clump all time. You been Juneau? ”

“ Two mans from village long way off come here. Make lies. Get one mans here who think like go with 'em and maybe come back with lots mans. We find out after they slip 'way. Klootch tell what she hear talk. Me take ten men. Go after. Very hard work. They go fast. Nine sleeps before we can catchum and shootum. One man white, same as you. Very big man. ”