low that only Jan heard. "He was--" The factor stopped.

"Ze missioner!" panted Jan.

The wild light went out of his eyes as he stared up at Williams, and
the softer glow which came into them loosened at once the factor's
grip on the boy's wrists.

"Yes, the missioner!"

Jan drew back. He evaded meeting the eyes of Cummins as he made his
way among the men. There was a new burst of song as Mukee and his
Crees pulled down a second caribou, but the boy paid no attention to
the fresh excitement. He thrust his knife into its sheath and ran--ran
swiftly through the packs of dogs fighting and snarling over the
scraps that had beep thrown to them; past Maballa who was watching the
savage banquet around the big fire, and into the little cabin, to
Melisse.

Here he flung himself upon his knees, and for the first time he caught
the baby in his arms, holding her close to him, and rocking her to and
fro, as he cried out sobbingly the words which she did not understand.

"An' when I fin' heem an' kill heem, I will come back to you, my angel
Melisse," he whispered. "And then you will luf Jan Thoreau for letting
out the blood of a missioner!"

He put her back into the little bed, kissed her again, took down his
violin from its peg in the wall, and turned to the door.