A dozen rods ahead of him was the
trapper's cabin. Over it, hanging limply to a sapling pole, was the
red signal of horror.
With a terrified cry to the dogs, Jan ran back, and the team turned
about and followed him in a tangled mass. Then he stopped. There was
no smoke rising from the clay chimney on the little cabin. Its one
window was white with frost. Again and again he shouted, but no sign
of life responded to his cries. He fired his rifle twice, and waited
with his mittened hand over his mouth and nostrils. There was no
reply. Then, abandoning hope, he turned back into the north, and gave
his dogs no rest until he had reached Lac Bain.
His team came in half dead. Both Cummins and Williams rushed out to
meet him as he drove up before the company's store.
"The red flag is over Langlois' cabin!" he cried. "I fired my rifle
and shouted. There is no life! Langlois is dead!"
"Great God!" groaned Williams.
His red face changed to a sickly pallor, and he stood with his thick
hands clenched, while Cummins took charge of the dogs and Jan went
into the store for something to eat.
Mukee and Per-ee returned to the post the next day. Young Williams
followed close after them, filled with terror. He had found the plague
among the Crees of the Waterfound.
Pages:
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107