Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-02-14
,s:s:,of The r. BIG Shows
AuG60r Of ''The
Danger 1rrail''


pewayans. Crees. Eskimos and breeds
crowded in the red glare. The factors
men shouted and sang like mad. for
this was the company's annual good
time"-the show that would lure many
Of these same men back again at the
end OF another trapping seaSon.
Huge boxes Of white bread were
placed near TO the Gre. A tub Of real
butter. brought 5000 miles from across
the sea for the occasion. was set on q
gun case thrown where the heat played
upon II 10 yellow glory. In a giant cop
per kettle. over a smaller fire. dubbed
and steamed half barrel Of coffee.
The richness OF the odors that drift
ed in the air set the dogs gathering
upon their haunches beyond the wait
ing circle OF masters. their lips drip
ping. their rangs swapping In an eager.
ness that was not for the fesb Of bat
tie. And above Il all there CLEANED
down a billion stars from out OF the
skies and the aurora 6ung its banners
through the pale night
Seated upon the edge OF one OF the
bread boxes, Jan began to play. It
was not the low, sweet music Of Cum
Minis and the little Melisse that he play
ed now. but a wild, wailing song that
be had found In the autumn winds.
IL burst above the cracking dre and
the tlmult of man and dog In weird
and savage beauty that hushed all
sound. and life about him became like
life struck suddenly dead. After a
while his violin sang lower song, and
sweeter; and still softer 1t became. and
more sweet, until be was playing that
which he loved moat OF all-the music
that had filled the little cabin when
Cummins' wife died.
AS be continued to play there came
an interruption to the silence-a low re-
fraln that was almost like that of the
moaning wind. 1t grew beyond the
tense circle of men, until song Of In
dnite sadness rose from the throats OF
a hundred dogs in response to Jan
Thoreau's violin.
| Suuu1iuS SuW tuc oukkVuhNthb w
don become thinner as man crushed
lcloser to man. and he saw strained
faces turned from the player to where
the dogs sat full throated upon their
launches, with their heads pointed
straight to the stars in the sky.
For the love Of heaven, play no
more of thatT be cried in the boys
ear. "Play something fast"
Jan lifted his head as II from
dream. In an instant he perceived the
strange effect of his music. and his
bow raced across the strings of his
violin in a rhythm swift and buoyant-
his voice rising shrill and clear In
words familiar to them all:
"oh, ne cariboo-oo-oo. 70 cariboo-oo-oo,
He roas' on high,
Jes' under re sky.
Ze beeg white cariboo-oo-ooi
"oh, ne cariboo-oo-oo, ze cariboo-oo-oo,
He brown an juic' an sweet
Ze cariboo-oo-oo he YER polite
He roas' on high.
Jes' under re sky.
He ready now to come an eatF"
With yells that rose above the last
words OF the song Mukee and bis Crees
tugged at their poles. and the roasted
caribou fell upon the snow. Jan drew
back and. with bis violin Rugged un-
der one arm, watched the wild revelers
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, Jan?
Once | saw fight at caribou roast"
$50 did l." said Jan, who had not
taken his eyes from the jostling crowd.
"It was far to the west and north, !"
continued Williams, beyond the Great
Slave country"
Far beyond" said Jan. lifting bis
eyes quietly. ''It was YER near to ze
Great Bear. For who you fight at ze
Great Bear?"
The factor was silent, and the mus
cles of bis arms grew like steel as he
saw the madness in JAMS face. Sud-
denly he reached out and grlpped the
boys wrists. Jan made no effort to
evade the clutch.
"For who you fghtT" he cried again.
"Tor who you fight at re Great Bearr'
1--WE tried to kill a man, but he got
away" said Williams, speaking so low
that only Jan heard. "He was"- The
factor stopped.
"Ze missioner painted Jan.
The wild light went out of his eyes
as he stared up at Williams, and the
softer glow which came into them
loosened at once the factors grip on
the boys wrists.
"Yes, the missioner"
Jan drew back. He evaded meeting
the eyes of Cummins as he made hi:
way among the men. There was a
new burst of song as Mukee 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 anC
snarling over the scraps that had beer
thrown to them, past Maballa, who
was watching the savage banque'
around the big fire. and into the little