The next day he was still gone,
and Gravois drove along the top of the mountain ridge until he came to
the Frenchman's, where he found that Dixon had started for Lac Bain
the preceding afternoon. He brought word back to the post. Then he
went to Melisse.
"It is as good as death to go out in search of him," he said. "We can
no longer use the dogs. Snowshoes will sink like leaden bullets by
morning, and to go ten miles from the post means that there will be
bones to be picked by the foxes when the crust comes!"
It was dark when Jan came into the cabin. Melisse started to her feet
with a little cry when he entered, covered white with the snow. A
light pack was strapped to his back, and he carried his rifle in his
hand.
"I am going to hunt for him," he said softly. "If he is alive, I will
bring him back to you."
She came to him slowly, and the beating of Jan's heart sounded to him
like the distant thrumming of partridge-wings. Ah, would he ever
forget that look? The old glory was in her eyes, her arms were
reaching out, her lips parted. Jan knew how the Great Spirit had once
appeared to Mukee, and how a white mist, like a snow-veil, had come
between the half-breed's eyes and the wondrous Thing he beheld. That
same veil drifted between Jan and the girl.
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