United States or Liberia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
But I will come back, M'seur. Good-by!" Again the door was closed and bolted and the sound of Croisset's footsteps quickly died away beyond the log walls. Many minutes passed before Howland thought of his pipe, or a fire. Then, shiveringly, he went to seek the fuel which Jean had told him was behind the stove.
Listen, Jean she told me back there that it was not wrong for me to love her, and when I lay bound and gagged in the snow she came to me and and kissed me. I don't understand " Croisset interrupted him. "Did she do that, M'seur?" "I swear it." "Then you are fortunate," smiled Jean softly, "for I will stake my hope in the blessed hereafter that she has never done that to another man, M'seur.
To one of these Croisset motioned the engineer, and as Howland sat down the bearded man turned slowly and passed through a door. Jean shrugged his shoulders as the other disappeared. "Mon Dieu, that means that he leaves it all to me," he exclaimed. "I don't wonder that it is hard for him to talk, M'seur. Perhaps you have begun to understand!" "Yes, a little," replied Howland.
"Is there anything more, Croisset? Safe from what, man? Safe from what?" "From those who wish to kill you, M'seur. You would not go into the South, so la belle Meleese has compelled you to go into the North, Comprenez-vous?" For a moment Howland sat as if stunned. "Do you understand, M'seur?" persisted Croisset, smiling. "I I think I do," replied Howland tensely. "You mean Meleese "
I've learned a lot about you people up here in the snows since then, and I'll never do anything like that again." He laughed into Jean's face as they shook hands, and his voice was filled with unbounded sincerity. "How is Mrs. Gravois, and the little Gravois and Melisse?" he added, before Jean had spoken. "All well, M'seur Dixon," replied Jean.
There was no other sound save the excited beating of life in their own bodies when Jean spoke. "M'seur, our dogs howl like that only when some one is dead or about to die," he whispered. "It was Woonga who gave the cry. He has lived for eleven years and I have never known him to fail." There was an uneasy gleam in his eyes. "I must tie your hands, M'seur." "But I have given you my word, Jean "
"Then I will swear by it I will swear by all the crosses and all the Bibles in the world that I will make no effort to escape. I am paralyzed, Croisset! I couldn't run for a week!" Croisset was searching in his pockets. "Mon Dieu!" he cried excitedly, "I have lost it! Ah, come to think, M'seur, I gave the cross to my Mariane before I went into the South, But I will take your word."
He shrugged his shoulders and started the dogs into a trot. "Look here," cried Howland, running beside him. "Who is with this other sledge?" "Those who tried to kill you on the trail and at the coyote, M'seur," he answered quickly. Howland fell half a dozen paces behind. By the end of the first hour he was compelled to rest frequently by taking to the sledge, and their progress was much slower.
God's saints, and I did until hardly more than half an hour ago, when some one came from the South and exploded a mine under our feet. It was the youngest of the three brothers. M'seur we have made a great mistake, and we ask your forgiveness." In the silence the eyes of the two men met across the table.
But it will never happen again." "I believe that it will unless you kill me." "And I shall not hesitate to kill you if I think that it is likely to happen again. There are others who would kill you knowing that it has happened but once. But you must stop this talk, M'seur. If you persist I shall put the rawhide over your mouth again." "And if I object fight?"
Word Of The Day