The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-09-07


had no mission now except to roam in
his forests. He went down the Hayes.
getting his few supplies at Indian
camps and stopped at last. with the
beginning Of spring, far up on the Cut
away. Here he built himself n camp
and livld for a time. setting dead falls
for bear. Then he struck north again
and still east, keeping always away
from Lac Balm. When the first chill
winds of the bay brought warning Of
winter down to him he was filed for
a time With longing to strike north
and wee, to 60 once more back to his
Barren Lands. But. instead, he went
south, srd so II came to pass that
year after he had left Lac Balm he
built himself cabin deep in the for
est of Gods river, fifty miles from Ok
ford House, and trapped once more
for the company. He had not forgot
ten his promise to Thornton. and mt
oxford House left word where he could
be found II the man from civilization
should return.
In late midwinter Jan returned to
Oxford House with his furs. 1t was
on the night of the day that he came
into the post that he heard French
man who had come down from the
north speak of Lac Balm. None no
ticed the change in JAMS face as he
hung back In the shadows of the COM
pany's store. A little later he follow
ed the Frenchman outside and stopped
him where there were no others near
to overhear.
"Msieur, you spoke Of Lac Bain,"
he said in French. "You have been
there?"
Eyes," replied the other. ~ was
there for week waiting for the first
sledge snow"
ut is my old home" said Jan, trying
to keep his voice natural. ~ have
wondered II there are changes. You
saw Cummins, the factori"
Eyes, he was there
"And-and Jean de Gravols, the
chief MANI"
HE was away"
"The factor had daughter, Me-
lisse"--
"She left Lac Balm long time ago,
m'sieur," said the trapper. "Msieur
Cummins told me that he had not seen
her In long time l believe 1t was
almost year"
Jan went to the company's store.
He took his pack to the sledge and
dogs in the edge Of the spruce, and
Kazan leaped to greet him Mt the end
of his babiche. That night as Jan
Travelled through the forest he did not
notice the stars or the friendly shad-
ows.
| "a year" he repeated to himself
| again and again. and once when Ka-
ian rubbed against his leg and looked
up into his face he said: "Ah. Kazan.
our Melissa went away with the Eng.
lishman. May the great God give
them happiness"'
The forest claimed him more than
ever after this. He did not go back
to Oxford House In the spring, but
sold his furs TO n passing halfbreed
and wandered through all Of that
spring and summer In the country to
the west. 1t was January when he
returned to his cabin. when the SHOWS
were deepest. and three days later hC
set out to outfit ut the Hudson's ha'
post on Gods lake instead OF Mt OK
ford House. 1t was while they were
crossing part of the lake that kazar
leaped aside for an instant in his
traces and snapped at something In
the snow.
Jan saw the movement, but gave no
attention to II until a little later when
Kazan stopped and fell upon his belly,
biting at the harness and whining in
pain. The thought of Kazan's sudden
snap at the snow came to him then
like knife thrust. and with low cry
of horror and fear he fell upon his
knees beside the dog Kazan whim'
pered and his hushy tail swept the
snow as Jan lifted his great wolfsh
head between his two hands No other
sound came from JAMS lips now, and
slowly he drew the dog up to him until
he held him in his arms as he might
have held child. Kazan stilled the
| us LIE
one eye rested on his masters face
faithful, watching for some sign, fol
some language there, even as the burn
ing fires of a strange torture gnawet
at his life, and In that eye Jan saw the
deepening reddish film which he had
seen hundred times before in the eyes
Of foxes and wolves killed by poiSo.
bait.
A moan OF anguish burst from Jams
lips, and he held his face close down
against Ka"an's head and sobbed now
like child, while Kazan rubbed his
hot muzzle against his cheek and his
muscles hardened in a last desire tC
give battle to whatever was giving his
master grief. 1t was a long time be
fore Jan lifted his face from the shag
gy head, and when he did he knew
that the last of all love, of all compan
ionshlp, OF all that bound him TO tiesl
and blood In his lonely world, waS
| Qone Kazon WAS lpod