True to this definition of him, Buck had built his log house--a combined dwelling-house, hotel and store--thirty miles up the Stickeen River, opposite the Great Glacier, right on the boundary line between Alaska and British Columbia. Here he sold blankets, guns, groceries and whiskey to the white miners and to the Indians. When the Canadian authorities attempted to arrest him for his illicit traffic he claimed to be on the American side. When the Alaska custom officers went after him, he was a Canadian. Thus for years he had carried on his crooked business and escaped punishment.
"You know Buck," Louie began, "he worse siwash dan anybody; but he alltam make fun odder Injun. One day Kokaekish come Buck store, buy powder.
"'Iskoot,' say Kokaekish, 'make dry dog salmon. Now too many hootz, me come back.'
"Buck laugh. 'Eehya-a-ah! You _shawat-too_ (woman-heart); you coward! What for you 'fraid hootz? S'pose me, I shootem all.' Buck much laugh.
"Kokaekish, he shame. He head hang down, so. Buck more laugh. Bimeby Kokaekish say, 'Buck, you strong heart. You want killem hootz?'
"Buck big bluff. 'Sure' he say. 'You show me hootz, me shootem quick.'
"'All light, come along. Me showem you hootz now.' Kokaekish go he canoe.
"Buck shame for back out. He get Winchester, all same you rifle. 'Where you go?'
"'No far. Ict tintin, nesika clap.' (One hour, we find.)
"Dey go up Iskoot, mebby tree mile. Fin' leetle stream. Plenty humpback an' dog salmon dere. Flap, flap, splash in shallow place. All roun' de grass all flat--plenty tail, fin, bone. Buck look. He scare, but shame go back. Leetle hill dere by de creek. Plenty bush. Kokaekish an' Buck go up; sit down; wait. Pitty soon sitkum polakly (half night--twilight), Kokaekish ketch Buck arm. Whisper, 'Hootz come.'
"Buck look. Bear all same house--delate hya-a-as! (very big), come down creek. Swing slow an' lazy. Go in water; slap out big salmon on bank pitty near two man; go an' eatem.
"Kokaekish whisper, 'Why you no shootem, Buck? You brave man! You much want killem hootz. Shootem quick!'
"Buck scare stiff. 'Sh-sh-sh! you ol' fool!' he say. He toof clap all same medicine-man rattle; water come out on he face; he shake like Cottonwood leaf.
"Kokaekish laugh. 'More hootz come,' he say. Nodder big bear come; growl, gr-r-r! go fishin'. Den she-bear an' two leetle feller come. Mamma ketch salmon; leetle bear play; run up-hill mos' on top man. Nodder bear come. _Six Hootz_; ketch salmon; scrap; one chase nodder; play.