"I see that you are a bigger fool than ever," he said quietly. "Jan
Thoreau, what if I should break my oath--and tell Melisse?"
Unflinching the men's eyes met. A dull glare came into Jan's. Slowly
he unsheathed his long knife, and placed it upon the snow between his
feet, with the gleaming end of the blade pointing toward Gravois. With
a low cry Jean sprang to his feet.
"Do you mean that, Jan Thoreau? Do you mean to give the knife-
challenge to one who has staked his life for you and who loves you as
a brother?"
"Yes," said Jan deliberately. "I love you, Jean more than any other
man in the world; and yet I will kill you if you betray me to
Melisse!" He rose to his feet and stretched out his hands to the
little Frenchman. "Jean, wouldn't you do as I am doing? Wouldn't you
have done as much for Iowaka?"
For a moment Gravois was silent.
"I would not have taken her love without telling her," he said then.
"That is not what you and I know as honor, Jan Thoreau. But I would
have gone to her, as you should now go to Melisse, and she would have
opened her arms to me, as Melisse would opens hers to you. That is
what I would have done."
"And that is what I shall never do," said Jan decisively, turning
toward the post. "I could kill myself more easily.
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