"Jan," he said softly, "I thank you for
bringing me face to face with a God like yours. I have never met Him
before. We send missionaries up to save you, we look upon you as wild
and savage and with only half a soul--and we are blind. You have
taught me more than has ever been preached into me, and this great,
glorious world of yours is sending me back a better man for having
come into it. I am going--south. Some day I will return, and I will be
one of this world, and one of your people. I will come, and I will
bring no curse. If I could send this word to HER, ask her forgiveness,
tell her what I have almost been and that I still have hope--faith--I
could go easier down into that other world."
"You can," said Jan. "I will take this word for you, m'sieur, and I
will take more, for I will tell her what it has been the kind fate for
Jan Thoreau to find in the heart of M'sieur Thornton. She is one of my
people, and she will forgive, and love you more for what you have
done. For this, m'sieur, is what the Cree god has given to his people
as the honor of the great snows. She will still love you, and if there
is to be hope it will burn in HER breast, too. M'sieur--"
Something like a sob broke through Thornton's lips as he moved back
through the darkness.
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