It is a collection of short stories, both true and fiction, about Indians, trappers, and explores of the Arctic. I read one of the stories yesterday and really enjoyed it.
The story was about a Canadian police post. At the post was the commander of the post, his wife, and another member of the police force. The story opens with the barracks burning down. The wife tells her husband that there are some important letters in her room that he must get. He had seen these letters before, she had them the entire time they had been married. She would never tell him what they were about or allow him to read them. Being the good guy he was, he ran into the burning building, risking his life to get the letters. While trying to escape the building, he notices that one of the envelopes has burned enough for him to see that the letter is signed by a gentleman of the name of Marksmann. He successfully brings the letters to hier
Because the barracks have been destroyed, his wife heads south to the city to wait until he can send for her when the station is rebuilt. His partner escorts her to the town. A few days later, he hears the report on the radio that his wife made it to the town and was picked up by a man by the name of Marksmann. He becomes furiours and asks his partner when he returns all about the gentleman. The wife has sent a letter which the husband reads. The letter only says that she wants for him to wait for her but she may be gone a while. Frurious and thinking that his wife has left him for Marksmann, he leaves the post and heads to find the couple. After traveling a few days by dog sled, he comes across a small camp. Walking into the tent, he finds his wife and Marksmann. He demands an explanation and announces his intent to kill Marksmann if his assumption is correct. His wife asks him what is going on and he tells her that he saw the name on the letter and thinks that she is leaving. Marksmann stands up to defuse the situation saying that he is her cousin and that she is an heir to a very large estate. His wife tells him that the letters were the documents proving she was an heir. She tells him that she wanted the letters so bad because she wanted to make sure she got the inheritance to share with him.
Though he ended up with his foot in his mouth, the good guy won in the end.
It reminds me of the times I have put my foot in my mouth. Just a few days ago I was having lunch with a friend. I was lamenting about these trinkets that I kept receiving as gifts. When we were leaving, she said she had a gift for me in her car. I walk over to her car and she has one of these trinkets. Now I really did like the gift and it was different from the ones I kept receiving, but talk about a moment of awkwardness.
Several years ago, a friend of mine and I were hanging out Christmas night and were going to exchange gifts. I was complaining to her about how I had received boxers for Christmas. She was complaining about a pair of sandles. When then exchanged gifts. What did she give me? A pair of boxers. What did I give her? Those sandles but in brown. At least we all lost on that one.
I met a guy a few months ago who was involved in student government at my college. When I found out he was in it, I went into a short lecture about how I thought it was a horrible group that should be disbanded. I then asked him what he did in the student government. Turns out he was the student body president. Opps!
I do a good job of inserting my foot into my mouth. One of these days I am bound to win!
