Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-06
CHAPTER VII.
The Caribou Carnival.

Jan had not played upon his violin since
the coming Of Jean de Gravois; but one
evening he tuned his strings and said to
Melissa:
They have been good to you. my Me-
lisse. will give them 70 museek Of &c
violon.''
It was the big night at the post-the
night that is known from Athabasca to
Hudson bay as the night of the caribou
roast. A week had passed and there were
no more furs to be disposed Of. In the
company's ledger each man had received
his credit. and in the company's store the
furs were piled high and safe. Three Carl
bou had been killed by Perez and his
took down his violin from Its peg on the
wall. a huge fire blazed in the open. and
on splits six inches in diameter the carl
bou were roasting.
The air was filled with the sound ana
odor of the carnival. Above the fighting
and snarling of dogs. the forest people
lifted their voices in Wild celebration. for
getting. In this one holiday OF the year.
the silence that they would carry back
into the solitudes with them. Numbers
gave them courage OF voice. and In Its
manifestation there was the savagery OF
tho forests that hemmed them in. Shrill
voices rose in meaningless cries above
tho roaring Of the fre. Caribou whips
9naD0e0
Bskiinos ana breeds crowded in the red
glare. The factors men shouted and sang
Hike mad. for this was the company's an
| nual good time''-the show that would
lure many Of these same mel, back again
at the end Of another trapping season
Huge boxes of white bread were placed
near to the fire. A tub OF real butter
brought Ave thousand miles from across
! the sea for the occasion, was set on 9
gun case thrown where the heat played
"a t.. NlN IN a
per kettle, over a smaller fire, dubbed
| and steamed half barrel OF coffee
The richness of the doors that drifted
In the air set the dogs gathering upon
Of masters. their iips dripping. their fanes
| swapping IN an eagerrees that was not
| Tor the flesh Of battle. And above It al
| there cleaned down billion stars from
out Of the skies the aurora hung It's ban.
| the smoke rose straight ur and then hoat'
! ed into the north. carried there by the
| gentle breath that spring was Turing from
| out of the south.
| OF dogs and the inner circle of men until
he stood with The flrelight flashing In his
glossy hair and black eyes. and there
| seated upon the edge OF one of the bread
boxes. he began to play. ,. c
MINIS ard the little Melissa that he PLAYED
now. but wild wailing song that he had
| found in the autumn WINDS. 1t burst
aiove the cracking fire and the tumult OF
man and dog in q weird and savage age
beauty that hyshed , ell sSun s,;, and life
deyiv dead. with his head bowed jar
saw nothing-saw nothing Of the wonder
IN the faces Of the half-crtnging little
black men who were squatted in group
a dozen feet away, nothing OF the staring
amazement in the eyes that We're looking
| upon this miracle he was performing. He
knew only that about him there was a
! deep hush, and after while his violin
| sang a lower song and sweeter; and still
| softer 1t became and more sweet. until he
was playing that which he loved most OF
| all-the music that had filed the little
/ cabin when Cummins wife died.
interruption to the silence-a low refrain