They could hear Croisset's raucous voice and the loud cracking of his
big whip.
"I'll be back soon," said Jean, closing the door after him; but
instead of approaching Croisset and the fighting dogs he went in the
direction of Cummins' cabin. "Devil take an oath!" he growled under
his breath. "Neither one God nor the other will let me break it, and
Iowaka least of all!" He gritted his teeth as young Dixon's laugh
sounded loudly in the cabin. "Two fools!" he went on communing with
himself. "Cummins--Jan Thoreau--both fools!"
CHAPTER XX
A KISS AND THE CONSEQUENCES
During the week that followed, Jean's little black eyes were never far
distant from Cummins' cabin. Without being observed, he watched
Melisse and Dixon, and not even to Iowaka did he give hint of his
growing suspicions. Dixon was a man whom most other men liked. There
were a fascinating frankness in his voice and manner, strength in his
broad shoulders, and a general air of comradeship about him which won
all but Jean.
The trap-line runners began leaving the post at the end of the second
week, and after this Melisse and the young Englishman were more
together than ever. Dixon showed no inclination to accompany the
sledges, and when they were gone he and Melisse began taking walks in
the forest, when the sun was high and warm.
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