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

trail. Some Of the dull paralytic ache
was gone from his limbs, and as he
worked bis blood began to warm them
into new strength Until he stood up
and shifted like an animal in the wind
that was coming over the ridge from
the south.
There was something IN that wind
TINT thrilled him. It stung his nostrils
to a quick sensing of the nearness
Of something that was human. He
smelled smoke. In It there was the
pungent odor Of green balsam mixed
with faint perfume Of pitch pine.
and because the odor Of pitch grew
stronger as he assembled he knew that
1t was a small fire that was making
the smoke. with none Of the fierce. dry
woods to burn up the smell. It was
a fire hidden among the rocks. a tiny
fire. over which the fleeing missioner
was cooking his breakfast.
jan almost moaned aloud In his glad
ness, and the old mad strength return.
ed to his body. Near the summit OF
the ridge he picked up a club. 1t was
a short, thick club with the heavy end
knotted and twisted.
Cautiously he lifted his face over the
rocks and looked out upon plateau
still deep In snow swept bare by the
winters winds and covered with rocks
and bushes. His face was 80 white
that at a little distance 1t might ha We
been taken for a snow hare 1t went
winter when a few yards away he ga "
the fire. the man and the dogs
The man was close to the little blaze.
his broad shoulders hunched over.
steadying a small pot over the fame.
Beyond him were the dogs huddled
about the sledge. inanimate as death.
Jan drew himself over the rocks.
Once he hud seen big footed lynx
creep upon wide awake fox. and. like
that lynx. he crept upon the man be-
side the fire. One " the tired dogs
moved, and his pointed nostrils quiz.
cred IN the air. Jan lay fat In the
snow. Then the dogs muzzle dropped
between his paws. and the boy moved
on.
Inch by inch he advanced. The inch.
cs multiplied themselves into a foot.
the foot heightened into yards. and
still the man remained hunched over
his simmering pot In dash Jan took
the last leap. and his club crashed
down upon the missioners head. The
man pitched over like log. and. with
shrill cry. the boy was at his throat.
II am Jan Thoreau!' he shrieked.
II am Jan Thoreau-Jan Thoreau-
rome to keel you" He dropped his
rub and was upon the mans chest.
his slender fingers tightening like steel
wire about the thick throat of his en-.
"my II keel you Iow-slow!' he cried
rs the missioner struggled weakly.
The great thick body heaved under
nim. anc he put all his strength into
his hands. Something struck him In
the face. Something struck him again
md again, but he felt neither the pain
nor the force of it, and his voice sob
bed out his triumph as lie chOked. The
mans hands reached up and tore at
his hair. but Jan saw only the mis-
sioner's mottled face growing more
mottled and his eyes staring in greater
agony up into his own.
Il am Jan Thoreau," lie painted again
and again. II am Jan Thoreau, an l
lecl you-keel you!'
The blood poured from his face. 1t
blinded him until he could no longer
see the one from which he was chok-
ing life. He bent down his head to es-
cape the blows. The mans body
heavel more and more; 1t turned until
he was half under It, but still he hung
to the thick throat. as the weasel hangs
in tenacious death to the jugular Of its
prey.
The missioners weight was upon
him In crushing force now. His huge
hands struck and tore at the boys head