Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-04-04
Copyright 1911. BY the Bobbs-
Merrill Co.


Os-s-.-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-
II was on one of these days that Jean
had gone along the edge Of the caribou
swamp that lay between the Barrens
and the higher forest. He heard the
sound Of voices ahead Of him, and a
moment later he recognized them as
those Of Melisse and Dixon. His face
clouded, and his eyes snapped fire.
He peered forth from the bushes. his
loyal heart beating wrathful tattoo
when he saw that Dixon dared put his
hand on Melisse's arm. They were
coming very slowly, the Englishman
bending low over the girls bowed head.
talking to her with strange earnest
ness. Suddenly he stopped, and be-
fore Jean could comprehend what had
happened he had bent down and kissed
her.
With low cry Melisse tore herself
free. For an instant she faced Dixon.
who stood laughing into her blazing
eyes. Then she turned and ran swiftly
down the trail.
A second cry fell from her startled
lips when she found herself face to
face with Jean de Gravois. The little
Frenehman was smiling. His eyes
glIttered like black diamonds.
"Jcan. Jeanr' she sobbed. running
to him.
"He has insulted you." he said soft
ly, smiling into her white face. "Run
along to the post, my pretty Melisse."
He watched her. half turned from
the astonished Engllshman, until she
disappeared in a twist of the trail a
hundred yards away. Then he faced
Dixon.
at is the first time that our Mellsse
has ever suffered insult" he said.
speaking as coolly as II to a child.
IF Jan Thoreau were here. he would
kill you. He is gone, and win kill
you In his placer
He advanced, his white teeth still
cleaning In a smile. and not until he
launched himself like a cat at Dixon's
throat was the Englishman convinced
that he meant attack. In fash Dix
on stepped little to one side and sent
out crashing blow that caught Jean
on the side of the head and sent him
fat upon his back in the trail.
Half stunned, Gravois came to his
feet. He did not hear the shrill cry
of terror from the twist in the trail,
He did not look back to see Mellsse
standing there. But Dixon both saw
and heard, and he laughed tauntingly
over Jeans head as the little French
man came toward him again. more
cautiously than before.
1t was the first time that Jean had
ever come into contact with science.
He darted In again in his quick, cat
like way and received a blow that
daZed him. This time he held to his
feet.
bah, this Is like striking baby
exclaimed Dixon. What are you fight,
Ing about. Gravois? Is 1t crime up
here to kiss pretty girl?"
81 am going to kill you'll" said Jean,
as coolly as before.
There was something terribly calm
and decisive in his voice. He was not
excited. He was not afraid. His fin
gers did not go near the long knife In
his belt. Slowly the laugh faded from
Dixon's face. and tense lines gathered
around his mouth as Jean circled about
him.
'.Come, we don't want trouble like
this" he urged. I'm sorry-if Melisse
didn't like It."
II am going to kill your repeated
Jean.
1t was the science of the forest man
pitted against that of another world.
For sport Jean had played with
wounded lynx. His was the Quickness
of sight, of instinct-without the 9th
er's science-the quickness Of the great
loon that had often played this same
game with his rifle fire, of the sledge
dog whose ripping fangs carried death
SO quickly that eyes could not follow.
A third and fourth time he came
within striking distance and escaped.
He half drew his knife, and at the
movement Dixon sprang back until his
shoulders touched the brush. Smiling
" Gravois unsheathed the blade and
tossed it behind him in the trail. His
eyes were like a serpent's In their
steadiness. and the muscles Of his body