Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10

caribou fell upon the snow. Fan drew
back and. with his violin Rugged un.
der one arm. watched the wild jewellers
as, with barred knives flashing in the
freight, they crowded to the feast
williams. the factor. Joined him.
Looks like a fight. doesn't II, JAM
Once snw fight at caribou ronst."
80 did l." said Jan. who had not
taken his eyes from the jostllng crowd
"1t was far to the west and NORTH"
continued williams. beyond the Great
Slave country"
Far beyond" said Jan. lifting his
eyes quietly. 1T was YER near to 20
Great Bear. For who you fight at 20
Great Bear?"
cles Of his arms grew like steel as he
saw the madness in JAMS face. Sud-
denly he reached out and gripped the
boys wrists. Jan made no effort to
evade the clutch.
"ror who you flght7' he cried again.
"Tor who yon fight at 70 Great Bear 2"
I'VE tried to kill a man. but he got
away" said Williams, speaking so low
that only Jan heard. He was"- The
factor stopped.
re missioner painted Jan.
The wild light went out Of his eyes
as ne stared up at Williams. and the
softer glow which came into them
loosened ut once the factors grip on
the boys wrists.
Yes. the missioner"
Jan drew back. He evaded meeting
the eyes Of Cummins as he made his
way among the men. There was a
new burst OF song as Muhee and his
Crees pulled down second caribou.
but the boy paid no attention to the
fresh excitement. He thrust his knife
into its sheath and ran-ran swiftly
through the packs of dogs fighting and
snnrling over the scraps that had been
thrown to them. past Maballa. who
was watching the savage banquet
around the big fire. and into the little
cabin to Melissa.
Here he flung himself upon his knees.
and for the first time he caught the
bnby In his arms. holding her close to
him and rocking her to and fro as he
cried out sobbingly the words which
she did not understand
AN when fin heem an kill heem
| will come back to you. my angel
Melisse." he whispered And then
yon will luf Jan Thoreau for letting
out the blood Of missioner
He put her hack into the little bed,
kissed her again and turned to the
| door,
For n few NOR ents Jan stood with
his back to Melissa and his eyes upon
the carnival about great fire. AS he
looked the third caribou was pulled
down from its spit. and the multitude
Of dogs rushed In upon the abandoned
carcasses of the other two.
He caught his breath quickly as n
loud shout and the wailing yelp Of a
hurt dog rose for an instant above all
other sounds. Only one thing was
wanting to complete another picture
in his brain-a scene which had burned
itself into his life forever and which
he strove to fight back as he stood
| Surfing lTOuI tuc OOoIWuN. ne tiu
expected 1t to come-the shrill scream
Of bOyish voice. an instnnt's suller
quiet, then the low thrOnted thunder o
impending vengeance-and the fight.
With marvellous quicknesS his excit
ed mind reconstructed the scene be
fore him into the scene that had heen
He heard the scream again. which had
been his voice. saw az II In a dream
the frenzied rush of men and the fash
Of knives. and then from where he lay
trampled and bleeding In the snow. the
long. lean team Of swift husties that
had carried In mad flight the one
whose life those knives sought
Williams had been there: he hat
seen the fight his knife had flashed
with the others in its demand for life
And yet he--.Ian Thoreau- had no
been recognized by the factor ont ther'
beside the caribou roast!
He hurried toward the IRE. Half
way across the open he stopped. From
out of the forest opposite Cummins
cabin there trailed slowly n team .
dogs. In the shadows Of the spruce
hidden from the revelers. the team
halted. Ian heard the low voices o
men. aud figure detached itself fror
the gloom. walking slowly and in tn
manner Of one near to exhaustion Il
the direction of the carnival.