SITKA CHARLEY MRS. EPPINGWELL How cold? SITKA CHARLEY Sixty-five below. Any dogs to sell? MRS. EPPINGWELL Still trying to buy dogs! For whom this time? Sitka Charley Vanderlip. He want eight dogs. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Startled and interested.)_ Mr. Vanderlip? Um. SITKA CHARLEY Mrs. Eppingwell What does he want with dogs? Sitka Charley Um. Got dogs? MRS. EPPINGWELL _(A sudden thought striking her.)_ Yes, I've dogs to sell. Or rather, Captain Eppingwell has. SITKA CHARLEY Fresh dogs? Strong dogs? MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Considering.)_ Well, no. You see, he just arrived yesterday. It was a long trip. SITKA CHARLEY Yes, me know--sixteen hundred miles. Dogs all bones, all played out, no good. MRS. EPPINGWELL How soon does he want the dogs? SITKA CHARLEY Right away, now, to-day. MRS. EPPINGWELL What does he want the dogs for? SITKA CHARLEY _(Stolidly.)_ Um? MRS. EPPINGWELL What does Mr. Vanderlip want the dogs for? SITKA CHARLEY That no Sitka Charley's business. That Vanderlip's business. MRS. EPPINGWELL But I want to know. SITKA CHARLEY Then you ask Vanderlip. MRS. EPPINGWELL Tell me. SITKA CHARLEY Much better you ask Vanderlip, I think so. _(A pause, during which Sitka Charley merely waits, while Mrs. Eppingwell seems to be thinking. When she speaks, it is in a changed, serious tone.)_ MRS. EPPINGWELL Charley, we have travelled the Long Trail together, you and I. SITKA CHARLEY Um. MRS. EPPINGWELL We journeyed through the Hills of Silence. We saw our last dogs drop in the traces. We staggered and fell, and crawled on our hands and knees through the snow because we had not enough to eat, and it was very cold. We had our last food stolen-- SITKA CHARLEY _(Eyes flashing, face stiffening, grimly and with satisfaction.)_ Captain Eppingwell kill one man who steal food. I kill other man. I know. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Shuddering.)_ Yes, it was terrible. But we kept the faith of food and blanket, you and I, Charley. SITKA CHARLEY And Captain Eppingwell. MRS. EPPINGWELL And Captain Eppingwell. And by that faith of food and blanket I want you to tell me the truth now. SITKA CHARLEY Um. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Eagerly.)_ Will you? SITKA CHARLEY _(Nodding his head.)_ Um. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Hurriedly.)_ Mr. Vanderlip wants dogs, fresh dogs--why? Sitka Charley He make a long travel, many sleeps. Mrs. Eppingwell Where? When? Tell me all. SITKA CHARLEY Um travel down river. Um start to-night. Mrs. Eppingwell He goes alone? SITKA CHARLEY _(Shaking his head.)_ No. MRS. EPPINGWELL Who goes with him? Me go. SITKA CHARLEY MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Irritably.)_ Yes, yes, of course. But you don't count. Anybody else? SITKA CHARLEY _(Nodding his head.)_ Um. MRS. EPPINGWELL _(Triumphantly.)_ Just as I thought. Tell me, Charley, it is--it is this--er--this horrid woman? You know. SITKA CHARLEY