The little
Frenchman's face was ominously dark, and he puffed furiously upon his
pipe when Jan told him why he was leaving at once for the South.
"Running away!" he repeated for the tenth time in French, his thin
lips curling in a sneer. "I am sorry that I gave you my oath, Jan
Thoreau, else I would go myself and tell Melisse what I read in the
papers. Pish! Why can't you forget?"
"I may--some day," said Jan. "That is why I am going into the South
two weeks early, and I shall be gone until after the big roast. If I
remain here another week, I shall tell Melisse, and then--"
He shrugged his shoulders despairingly.
"And then--what?"
"I should go away for ever."
Jean snapped his fingers with a low laugh.
"Then remain another week, Jan Thoreau, and if it turns out as you
say, I swear I will abandon my two Iowakas and little Jean to the
wolves!"
"I am going the day after to-morrow."
The next morning Iowaka complained to Melisse that Gravois was as
surly as a bear.
"A wonderful change has come over him," she said. "He does nothing but
shrug his shoulders and say 'Le diable!' and 'The fool!' Last night I
could hardly sleep because of his growling. I wonder what bad spirit
has come into my Jean?"
Melisse was wondering the same of Jan.
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