In late mid-winter Jan returned to Oxford House with his furs. It was
on the night of the day that he came into the post that he heard a
Frenchman who had come down from the north speak of Lac Bain. None
noticed the change in Jan's face as he hung back in the shadows of the
company's store. A little later he followed the Frenchman outside, and
stopped him where there were no others near to overhear.
"M'sieur, you spoke of Lac Bain," he said in French. "You have been
there?"
"Yes," replied the other, "I was there for a week waiting for the
first sledge snow."
"It is my old home," said Jan, trying to keep his voice natural. "I
have wondered--if there are changes. You saw--Cummins--the factor?"
"Yes, he was there."
"And--and Jean de Gravois, the chief man?"
"He was away. Mon Dieu, listen to that! The dogs are fighting out
there!"
"A moment, m'sieur," begged Jan, as the Frenchman made a movement as
if to run in the direction of the tumult. "The factor had a daughter--
Melisse--"
"She left Lac Bain a long time ago, m'sieur," interrupted the trapper,
making a tremendous effort to be polite as he edged toward the sound
of battle. "M'sieur Cummins told me that he had not seen her in a long
time--I believe it was almost a year. Sacre, listen to that! They are
tearing one another to bits, and they are MY dogs, m'sieur, for I can
tell their voices among a thousand!"
He sprang through the darkness and Jan made a movement to follow.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241