There was an
excited flush in his starved cheeks; his eyes shone.
"Did she send you?"
Jan struggled hard to speak calmly.
"Not in words, M'seur Dixon. But I know that if I get you safely back
to Lac Bain she will be very happy."
Something came in Dixon's sobbing breath which Jan did not hear. A
little later he stopped and built a fire over which he melted more
snow and boiled tea. The drink stimulated them, and they went on. A
little later still and Jan hung his rifle in the crotch of a sapling.
"We will return for the guns in a day or so," he said.
Dixon leaned upon him more heavily now, and the distances they
traveled between resting periods became shorter and shorter. Three
times they stopped to build fires and cook tea. It was night when they
descended from the ridge to the snow-covered ice of Lac Bain. It was
past midnight when Jan dragged Dixon from the spruce forest into the
opening at the post. There were no lights burning, and he went with
his half-conscious burden to the company's store. He awakened
Croisset, who let them in.
"Take care of Dixon," said Jan, "and don't arouse any of the people
to-night. It will be time enough to tell what has happened in the
morning."
Over the stove in his own room he cooked meat and coffee, and for a
long time sat silent before the fire.
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