"Ze fight at ze Great Bear!" he cried in swift eagerness. "For who you
fight at ze Great Bear?"
The factor was silent, and the muscles of his arms grew like steel as
he saw the madness in Jan's face. Suddenly he reached out and gripped
the boy's wrists. Jan made no effort to evade the clutch.
"For who you fight?" he cried again. "For who you fight at ze Great
Bear?"
"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!" panted 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 factor's
grip on the boy's 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 Mukee and his
Crees pulled down a 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 snarling over the
scraps that had beep thrown to them; past Maballa who was watching the
savage banquet around the big fire, and into the little cabin, to
Melisse.
Here he flung himself upon his knees, and for the first time he caught
the baby 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.
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