Classic Audiobook Collection - The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Curwood ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

Starting point is 00:00:00 the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter one the music listen john i hear music the words came in a gentle whisper from the woman's lips one white thin hand lifted itself weakly to the rough face of the man who was kneeling beside her bed and the great dark eyes from which he had hidden his own grew luminously bright for a moment as she was, she whispered again, "'John, I hear music.' A sigh fluttered from her lips. The man's head drooped until it rested very near to her bosom. He felt the quiver of her hand against his cheek, and in its touch there was something which told John Cummins

Starting point is 00:00:50 that the end of all life had come for him and for her. His heart beat fiercely, and his great shoulders shook with the agony that was eating at his soul. Yes, it is the pretty music, my milis, he murmured softly, choking back his sobs. It is the pretty music in the skies. The hand pressed more tightly against his face. It's not the music of the skies, John. It is real, real music that I hear. It's the sky music, my sweet Melisse.

Starting point is 00:01:29 Shall I open the door so that we can hear it better? The hand slipped from his cheek. Cummins lifted his head, slowly straightening his great shoulders as he looked down upon the white face, from which even the flush of fever was disappearing, as he had seen the pale glow of the northern sun fade before a thickening snow.

Starting point is 00:01:52 He stretched his long, gaunt arreys, straight up to the low roof of the cabin, and for the first time in his life he prayed, prayed to the God who had made for him this world of snow and ice, and endless forest very near to the dome of the earth, who had given him this woman, and who was now taking her from him.

Starting point is 00:02:14 When he looked again at the woman, her eyes were open, and there glowed in them still, the feeble fire of a great love. Her lips, too, pleaded with him in their old sweet way, which always meant that he was to kiss them and stroke her hair, and tell her again that she was the most beautiful thing in the whole world. My melisse!

Starting point is 00:02:38 He crushed his face to her, his sobbing breath smothering itself in the soft masses of her hair, while her arms rose weakly and fell around his neck. He heard the quick, gasping struggle for breath within her bosom. and faintly again the words, It is the music of my people. It is the music of the angels in the skies, my sweet Melisse. It is our music. I will open the door.

Starting point is 00:03:09 The arms had slipped from his shoulders. Gently he ran his rough fingers through the loose glory of the woman's hair and stroked her face as softly as he might have caressed the cheek of a sleeping child. i will open the door melisse his moccasined feet made no sound as he moved across the little room which was their home at the door he paused and listened then he opened it and the floods of the white night poured in upon him as he stood with his eyes turned to where the cold pale flashes of the aurora were playing over the pole there came to him the hissing saddening song of the northern lights a song of vast unending loneliness which they too had come to know as the music of the skies beyond that mystery music there was no sound to the eyes of john cummins there was no visible movement of life and yet he saw signs of it signs which drew his breath from him in choking gulps and-and he saw signs which drew his breath from him in choking gulps and and which sent him out into the night so that the woman might not hear it was an hour past midnight at the post which had the baron lands at its back door it was the hour of deep slumber for its people but to-night there was no sleep for any of them

Starting point is 00:04:38 lights burned dimly in the few rough log homes the company's store was aglow and the factor's office a haven for the men of the wilderness shot one gleaming yellow eye out into the white gloom the post was awake it was waiting it was listening it was watching as the woman's door opened wide and brimful of light a door of one of the log houses opened and then another and out into the night like dim shadows trod the moccasined men from the factor's office and stood there waiting for the word of life or death from john cummins in their own fashion these men who without knowing it lived very near to the ways of god sent mute prayers into the starry heavens that the most beautiful thing in the world might yet be spared to them it was just two summers before that this beautiful thing had come into cummins life and into the life of the post commons red-headed lithe as a cat big souled as the eternal mountain of the crees and the best of the company's hunters had brought melisse thither as his bride seventeen rough hearts had welcomed her they had assembled about that little cabin in which the light was shining now speechless in their adoration of this woman who had come among them their caps in their hands their faces shining their eyes shifting before the glorious ones that looked at them and smiled at them as the woman shook their hands one by one. Perhaps she was not strictly beautiful, as most people judge, but she was beautiful

Starting point is 00:06:31 here, four hundred miles beyond civilization. Mookie, the half Cree, had never seen a white woman, for even the factor's wife was part Chippewyian, and no one of the others went down to the edge of the southern wilderness more than once each twelve-month or so. Mayleese's hair was brown and soft, and it shone with a sunny glory that reached far back into their conception of things dreamed of but never seen. Her eyes were as blue as the early wildflowers that came after the spring floods, and her voice was the sweetest sound that had ever fallen upon their ears. So these men thought, when Cummins first brought home his wife, and the masterpiece which each had painted in his soul and brain was never changed.

Starting point is 00:07:26 Each week and month added to the deep-toned value of that picture as the passing of a century might add to a Raphael or a Van Dyke. The woman became more human and less an angel, of course, but that only made her more real and allowed them to become acquainted with her, to talk with her, and to love her more. There was no thought of wrong, for the devotion of these men was a great, passionless love, unhinting of sin.

Starting point is 00:07:59 Cummins and his wife accepted it, and added to it when they could, and were the happiest pair in all that vast Northland. The girl, she was scarce more than budding into womanhood, fell happily into the ways of her new life. She did nothing that was elementally unusual, nothing more than any pure woman reared in the love of God and of a home would have done. In her spare hours she began to teach the half-dozen wild little children about the post, and every Sunday she told them wonderful stories out of the Bible.

Starting point is 00:08:36 She ministered to the sick, for that was a part of her code of life. Everywhere she carried her glad smile, her cheery greeting, her wistful earnestness, to brighten what seemed to her. her the sad and lonely lives of these silent men of the North. And she succeeded, not because she was unlike other millions of her kind, but because of the difference between the 40th degree and the 60th, the difference in the viewpoint of men who fought themselves into moral shreds in the big game of life and those who lived a thousand miles nearer to the dome of the

Starting point is 00:09:13 earth. A few days before, there had come a wonderful event in the history of the company's post. A new life was born into the little cabin of Cummins and his wife. After this, the silent, wordless worship of their people was filled with something very near to pathos. Cummins' wife was a mother. She was one of them now, an indissoluble part of their existence, a part of it as truly as the strange lights forever hovering over the pole, as surely as the countless stars that never left the night skies, as surely as the endless forests and the deep snows.

Starting point is 00:09:57 Then had come the sudden change, and the gloom, that brought with it the shadow of death, fell like a pall upon the post, stifling its life, and bringing with it a grief that those who lived there had never known before. There came to them no word from Cummins now, he stood for a moment before his lighted door and then went back and the word passed softly from one to another that the most beautiful thing in the world was still living her sweet life in that little cabin at the end of the clearing you hear the music in the skies now my melisse whispered the man kneeling beside her again it is very pretty to-night it was not that

Starting point is 00:10:46 repeated the woman she attempted to stroke his face but cummins saw nothing of the effort for the hand lay all but motionless he saw nothing of the fading softness that glowed in the big loving eyes for his own eyes were blinded by a hot film and the woman saw nothing of the hot film so torture was saved them both but suddenly the woman quivered and cummins heard a thrilling sound It is the music, she panted. John, John, it is the music of my people. The man straightened himself, his face turned to the open door. He heard it now. Was it the blessed angels coming for his Malesce? He rose, a sobbing note in his throat, and went,

Starting point is 00:11:43 his arms stretched out to meet them. He had never heard a sound like that, never in all his life in this endless wilderness. He went from the door out into the night, and, step by step, through the snow toward the black edge of the spruce forest. The sobs fell chokingly from his lips, and his arms were still reaching out to greet this messenger of the god of his beloved. For Cummins was a man of the wild and mannerless ways of a sense. savage world, and he knew not what to make of this sweetness that came to them from out of the

Starting point is 00:12:21 depths of the black forest. My melees, my melisse, he sobbed. A figure came from the shadows, and with the figure came the music, sweet and soft and low. John Cummins stopped and turned his face straight up to the sky. His heart died within him. The music ceased, and when he looked again, the figure was close to him, staggering as it walked, and a face white and thin and starved came with it. It was a boy's face. For the music of de violin, something to eat, he heard, and the thin figure swayed and fell

Starting point is 00:13:10 almost into his arms. The voice came weak again. This is Jan. Jan's a-a-ean. Yon. and his violins the woman's bloodless face and her great staring dark eyes greeted them as they entered the cabin as the man knelt beside her again and lifted her head against his breast she whispered once more it is the music of my people the violin john cummins turned his head play he breathed he breathed ah the white angel is sique very sick murmured jan and he drew his bow gently across the strings of his violin from the instrument there came something so soft and sweet that john cummins closed his eyes as he held the woman against his breast and listened not until he opened them again and felt a strange chill against his cheek did he know that his beloved soul had gone from him on the gentle music of Jan Thoreau's violin. End of Chapter 1.

Starting point is 00:14:26 Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 2 of the Honor of the Big Snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 2. Mookie's story. For many minutes after the last gentle breath had

Starting point is 00:14:57 passed from the woman's lips, Jan Turot played softly upon his violin. It was the great, heartbroken sob of John Cummins that stopped him. As tenderly as if she had fallen into a sweet sleep from which he feared to awaken her, the man unclasped his arms and lowered his wife's head to the pillow. And with staring black eyes, Jan crushed his violin against his ragged breast and watched him as he smoothed back the shimmering hair and looked long and hungrily into the still white face. Cummins turned to him, and in the dim light of the cabin their eyes met.

Starting point is 00:15:39 It was then that Jan Turot knew what had happened. He forgot his starvation. He crushed his violin closer and whispered to himself, The white angel is gone. Cummins rose from the bedside, slowly, like a man who had suddenly grown old. His moccasined feet dragged as he went to the door. They stumbled when he went out into the pale star glow of the night. Jan followed, swaying weakly, for the last of his strength had gone in the playing of the violin.

Starting point is 00:16:16 Midway in the cabin he paused, and his eyes glowed with a wild, strained. grief as he gazed down upon the still face of Cummins' wife, beautiful in death as it had been in life, and with the sweet softness of life still lingering there. Some time, ages and ages ago, he had known such a face, and had felt the great clutching love of it. Something drew him to where John Cummins had knelt, and he fell upon his knees and gazed hungrily and longingly where John Cummins had gazed. His pulse was beating feebly. The weakness of seven days' starvation blurred his eyes,

Starting point is 00:16:58 and unconsciously he sank over the bed, and one of his thin hands touched the soft sweep of the woman's hair. A stifled cry fell from him as he jerked himself rigidly erect. And as if for the desecration of that touch there was but one way of forgiveness, he drew his violin half to his shoulder, and for a few moments played so softly that none but the spirit of the woman and himself could hear. Cummins had partly closed the door after him, but watchers had seen the opening of it. A door opened here and another there, and paths of yellow light flashed over the hard-trodden snow

Starting point is 00:17:43 as shadowy life came forth to greet what message he brought from the little cabin. Beyond those flashes of light there was no other movement and no sound. Dark figures stood motionless. The lonely howl of a sledge dog ended in a wail of pain as someone kicked it into terrified silence. The hollow cough of Mookie's father was smothered in the thick fur of his cap as he thrust his head from his little shack in the edge of the forest. A score of eyes watched Cummins as he came out into the snow,

Starting point is 00:18:22 and the rough, loyal hearts of those who looked throbbed in fearful anticipation of the word he might be bringing to them. Sometimes a nation ceases to breathe in the last moments of its dying chief, and the black wings of calamity gather over its people, enshrouding them in a strange gloom and a stranger fear. And so, because the greatest of allamity, all tragedies had come into their little world, Cummins people were speechless in their grief, and they're waiting for the final word. And when the word came to them at last, and passed

Starting point is 00:19:00 from lip to lip, and from one grim, tense face to another, the doors closed again, and the lights went out one by one, until there remained only the yellow eye of the factor's office, and the faint glow from the little cabin in which John Cummins knelt with his sobbing face, crushed close to that of his dead. There was no one who noticed Yon Tiroe when he came through the door of the factor's office. His coat of caribou skin was in tatters. His feet thrust themselves from the toes of his moccasins. His face was so thin and white that it shone with the pallor of death

Starting point is 00:19:42 from its frame of straight black hair. his eyes gleamed like black diamonds the madness of hunger was in him an hour before death had been gripping at his throat when he stumbled upon the lights of the post that night he would have died in the deep snows wrapped in its thick coat of bearskin he clutched his violin to his breast and sank down in a ragged heap beside the hot stove his eyes travelled about him in fierce demand there is no beggary among these strong-souled men of the far north and yon's lips did not beg he unwrapped the bearskin and whispered for the music of the violon something to eat he played even as the words fell from him but only for a moment for the bow slipped from his nerveless grip and his head sank forward upon his breast. In the half-Kree's eyes there was something of the wild beauty that gleamed in Yon's. For an instant those eyes had met in the savage recognition of blood,

Starting point is 00:20:57 and when Yon's head fell weakly and his violin slipped to the floor, Mookie lifted him in his strong arms and carried him to the shack in the edge of the spruce and balsam. And there was no one who noticed Yon the next day. except Mookie. He was fed. His frozen blood grew warm. As life returned, he felt more and more the pall of gloom that had settled over the spark of life in the heart of the wilderness. He had seen the woman, in life and in death, and he too loved her and grieved that she was no more. He said nothing, he asked nothing, but he saw the spirit of adoration in the sad, tense faces of the men.

Starting point is 00:21:47 He saw it in the terror-stricken eyes of the wild little children who had grown to worship Cummins' wife. He read it in the slinking stillness of the dogs, in the terrible, pulseless quiet that had settled about him. It was not hard for Jan to understand, for he too worshipped the memory of a white, sweet face. like the one that he had seen in the cabin. He knew that this worship at Lacbonne was a pure worship, for the honor of the big snows was a part of his soul. It was his religion,

Starting point is 00:22:24 and the religion of these others who lived 400 miles or more from a southern settlement. It meant what civilization could not understand, freezing and slow starvation rather than theft, and respect for the tenths, commandment above all other things. It meant that up here, under the cold, chill of the northern skies, things were as God meant them to be, and that a few of his creatures could live in a love that was neither possession nor sin. A year after Cummence brought his wife into the north,

Starting point is 00:23:03 a man came to the post from Fort Churchill on Hudson's Bay. He was an Englishman, belonging to the home office of the Hudson's Bay Company in London. He brought with him something new, as the woman had brought something new, only in this instance it was an element of life which Cummins people could not understand. It breathed of tragedy from the first, to the men of the post. To the Englishman, on the other hand,

Starting point is 00:23:33 it promised to be but an incident, a passing adventure and pleasure. Here again was that difference of viewpoint, the eternity of difference between the middle and the end of the earth. Cummins was away for a month on a trap-line that went into the barren lands. At these times the woman fell as a heritage to those who remained, and they watched over her as a parent might guard its child. Yet the keenest eyes would not have perceived that this was so. With Cummins gone, the tragedy progressed swiftly toward finality. The Englishman came from among women. For months he had been in a torment of desolation.

Starting point is 00:24:21 Cummins' wife was to him like a flower suddenly come to relieve the tantalizing barrenness of a desert, and with the wiles and ways of civilization he sought to breathe its fragrance. In the days and weeks that followed, he talked a great deal, when heated by the warmth of the box-stove and by his own thoughts, and this was because he had not yet measured the hearts of Cummins people. And because the woman knew nothing of what was said about the box-stove, she continued in the even course of her pure life, neither resisting nor encouraging the newcomer, yet ever tempting him with that sweetness which she gave to all. alike. As yet there was no suspicion in her soul. She accepted the Englishman's friendship, for he was a stranger among her people. She did not hear the false note, she saw no step that promised evil. Only the men at the post heard, and saw, and understood. Like so many faithful beasts, they were ready to spring, to rend flesh, to tear life out of him who

Starting point is 00:25:32 threatened the desecration of all that was good and pure and beautiful to them and yet dumb in their devotion and faith they waited and watched for a sign from the woman the blue eyes of cummins wife the words of her gentle lips the touch of her hands had made law at the post if she smiled upon the stranger and talked with him and was pleased with him that was only one other law that she had made for them to respect. So they were quiet, evaded the Englishman as much as possible, and watched, always watched. One day something happened. Cummins' wife came into the company's store, and a quick flush shot into her cheeks,

Starting point is 00:26:23 and the glitter of blue diamonds into her eyes, when she saw the stranger standing there. The man's face grew redder, and he shifted his gaze. When Cummins' wife passed him, she drew her skirt close to her, and there was the poise of a queen in her head, the glory of wife and womanhood,

Starting point is 00:26:43 the living, breathing essence of all that was beautiful in her people's honor of the big snows. That night, Mookie, the half Cree, slunk around in the edge of the forest to see that all was well in Cummins' little home. Once Mookie had seen, suffered a lynx bite that went clear to the bone, and the woman had saved his hand. After that, the savage in him was enslaved to her like an invisible spirit.

Starting point is 00:27:13 He crouched for a few minutes in the snow, looking at the pale filter of light that came through a hole in the curtain of the woman's window. And as he looked, something came between him and the light. against the cabin he saw the shadow of a sneaking human form and as silently as the steely flash of the aurora over his head as swiftly as a lean deer he sped through the gloom of the forest's edge and came up behind the woman's home with the caution of a lynx his head close to the snow he peered around the logs it was the englishman who stood looking through the tear in that curtained window muckey's moccasined feet made no sound his hand fell as gently as a child's upon the stranger's arm this is not the honor of the big snows he whispered come a sickly pallor filled the other man's face but mukie's voice was soft and dispassionate his touch was velvety in its hint and he went with the guiding hand away from the curtained window smiling in a companionable way muki's teeth gleamed back the englishman chuckled then muki's hands changed they flew to the thick reddening throat of the man from civilization and without a sound the two sank together upon the snow the next day a messenger behind six dogs set out for fort churchill with word for the company's home office that the englishman had died in the big snow which was true

Starting point is 00:29:01 muki told this to yon for there was the bond of blood between them it was a painting of life and love and purity deep down in the loneliness of his heart yon tiro in his own simple way thank the great god that had been given to him to play his violin as the woman died end of chapter two recording by roger maline chapter three of the honor of the big snows this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter three little little melisse the passing of cummins wife was as quiet as had been her coming with bare heads their shaggy hair falling wildly about their faces their lips set tight to choke back their grief the few at the post went one by one into the little cabin and gazed for the last time upon her face there was but one sound other than the gentle tread of their moccasined feet and that was a catching sobbing moan that fell from the thick gray beard of william's the old factor after that they carried her to where a clearing had been cut in the edge of the forest and at the foot of a giant spruce towering sentinel-like to the sky they lowered her into the frozen earth gaspingly william stumbled over the words on a ragged page that had been torn from a bible the rough men who stood about him bowed their wild heads upon their breasts and sobs broke from them at last william stopped his reading stretched his long arms above his head and cried chokingly

Starting point is 00:31:11 the great god keep me's cummins as the earth fell there came from the edge of the forest the low sweet music of yon tarot's violin no man in all the world could have told what he played for it was the music of yon's soul wild and whispering of the winds sweetened by some strange inheritance that had come to him with the picture which he carried in his throbbing heart he played until only the tall spruce and john cummins stood over the lone grave when he stopped the man turned to him and they went together to the little cabin where the woman had lived there was something new in the cabin now a tiny white breathing thing over which an indian woman watched the boy stood beside john cummins looking down upon it and trembling ah he whispered his great eyes glowing it is the little white angel it is the little melisse replied the man he dropped upon his knees with his sad face close to the new life that was to take the place of the one that had just gone out yon felt something tugging in a strange way at his heart and he too fell upon his knees beside john cummins and the one that had just gone out jan felt something tugging in a strange way at his heart and he too fell upon his knees beside john commons and the this first worship of the child. From this hour of their first kneeling before the little life in the cabin,

Starting point is 00:32:47 something sprang up between Jan Turot and John Cummins, which it would have been hard for man to break. Looking up after many moments' contemplation of the little Melisse, Jan gazed straight into Cummins' face and whispered softly the word which in Cree means father. This was Jan's first word for Melisse. When he looked back, the baby was wriggling and kicking as he had seen the tiny wolf whelps wriggle and kick before their eyes were open. His beautiful eyes laughed. As cautiously as if he were playing with hot iron, he reached out a thin hand, and when one of his fingers suddenly fell upon something very soft and warm, he jerked it back.

Starting point is 00:33:36 as quickly as if he had been burned. That night, when Jan picked up his violin to go back to Muky's cabin, Cummins put his two big hands on the boy's shoulders and said, Jan, who are you, and where did you come from? Jan stretched his arm vaguely to the north. Jan Tarot, he replied simply, This is my violon. We come alone through the big snow.

Starting point is 00:34:10 Come and stared as if he saw a wonderful picture in the boy's eyes. He dropped his hands and walked to the door. When they stood alone outside, he pointed up to the stars and to the mist-like veil of silver light that the awakening aurora was spreading over the northern skies. Get your bearings, and tell me again where you came from, Jan. unhesitatingly the boy pointed into the north we starve seven day in the big snow my violon keep the wolf off at night look again yawn didn't you come from there or there or there cummins turned slowly facing first to the east and hudson's bay then to the south and lastly to the west

Starting point is 00:35:06 there was something more than curiosity in the tense face that came back in staring inquiry to jan tarot the boy hunched his shoulders and his eyes flashed it is not lie that yan tarot and his violon came through the beak snow he replied softly it is not lie there was more than gentleness in john cummins touch now yon could not understand it but he yielded to it and went back into the cabin there was more than friendship in cummins's eyes when he placed his hands again upon the boy's shoulders and yon could not understand that there is plenty of room here now said cummins huskily will you stay with the little melisse and me with the little melisse gasped the boy softly he sped to the tiny cot and knelt beside it his thin shoulders hunched over his long black hair shining lustrously in the lamp glow his breath coming in quick sobbing happiness i-i stay with the little white angel for ever and ever he whispered his words meant only for the unhearing ears of the child yon terro will stay yes an his violon i give it to you an ze music he laid his precious violin across the foot of the cot end of chapter three recording by roger maline chapter four of the honor of the big snows this libravox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline

Starting point is 00:37:03 the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter four the problem in the days that followed there came other things which yon could not understand and which he made no great effort to understand he talked little even to commons he listened and his eyes would answer or he would reply with strange eerie little hunches of his shoulders which ruffled up his hair to the few simple souls at the post he brought with him more than his starved body from out of the unknown wilderness this was the chief cause of those things which he could not understand no man learned more of him than had cummins even to mukie his history was equally simple and short always he said that he came from out of the north which meant the baron lands and the baron lands meant death no man had ever come across them as yon had come and at another time and under other circumstances cummins and his people would have believed him mad but others had listened to that strange sweet music that came to them from out of the forest on the night when the woman died and they like cummins had been stirred by thrilling thoughts they knew little of god as god is preached but they knew a great deal about him in other ways they knew that jan turo had come like a messenger from the angels that the woman's soul had gone out to meet him and that she had died sweetly on john cummins breast while he played so the boy with his thin sensitive face and his great beautiful eyes became a part of what the woman had left

Starting point is 00:39:02 behind for them to love. As a part of her, they accepted him, without further questioning as to who he was or whence he came. In a way, he made up for her loss. The woman had brought something new and sweet into their barren lives, and he brought something new and sweet, the music of his violin. He played for them in the evening, in the factor's office, and at these times he was a they knew that Cummins' wife was very near to them, and that she was speaking to them through the things which Jan Turot played.

Starting point is 00:39:42 Music had long passed out of their lives, and to some, indeed, it had never come. Years ago, Williams had been at a post where there was an accordion. Cummins had heard music when he went down to civilization for his wife more than two years ago. To the others, it was mystery-werews. which stirred them to the depths of their souls and which revealed to them many things it had long been hidden in the dust of the past these were hours of triumph for yon in the factor's office perched on a box with his back to the wall his head thrown back his black eyes shining his long hair giving to his face a half-savage beauty he was more than king to the grim-visaged men about him they listened movelessly soundlessly and when he stopped there was still neither move nor sound until he had wrapped his violin in its bearskin and had returned to john cummins and the little melisse yon understood the silence and took it for what it meant but it was the audience in the little cabin that yon liked best and most of all he loved to have the little melisse alone

Starting point is 00:41:04 As the days of early spring trapping approached, and the wilderness for a hundred miles around the post was criss-crossed with the trails of the Cree and Chippewan fur-seekers, Cummins was absent for days at a time, strengthening the company's friendships and bargaining for the catch that would be coming to market about eight weeks later. This was a year of intense rivalry for the Revillon, French competitors of the company, had established a post 200 miles to the west, and rumour spread that they were to give 60 pounds of flour to the company's 40, and four feet of cloth to the yard. This meant action among Williams and his people, and the factor himself plunged into the wilderness. mouki the half cree went among his scattered tribesmen along the edge of the barons stirring them by the eloquence of new promises and by fierce condemnation of the interlopers to the west old peri with a strain of eskimo in him went boldly behind his dogs to meet the little black people from farther north who came down after foxes and half-starved polar bears that had been carried beyond

Starting point is 00:42:23 their own world on the ice flows of the preceding spring. Young Williams, the Factor's son, followed after Cummins, and the rest of the company's men went into the south and east. The exodus left desolate lifelessness at the post. The windows of the fireless cabins were thick with clinging frost. There was no movement in the Factor's office. The dogs were gone,

Starting point is 00:42:53 and wolves and lynx sniffed closer each night in the oppression of this desertion the few indian and half-breed children kept indoors and william's chippewy and wife fat and lazy left the company's store securely locked in this silence and lifelessness jan to row felt a new and ever-increasing happiness to him the sound of life was a thing vibrant with harshness. Quiet, the dead, pulseless quiet of lifelessness, was beautiful. He dreamed in it, and it was then that his fingers

Starting point is 00:43:35 discovered new things in his violin. He often sent Mabala, the Indian woman who cared for Males, to gossip with William's wife, so that he was alone a great deal with the baby. At these times, when the door was safely broken, barred against the outside world. It was a different Jan Turot who crouched upon his knees

Starting point is 00:43:59 beside the cot. His face was aflame with a great absorbing passion which at other times he concealed. His beautiful eyes glowed with hidden fires and he whispered soothing, sing-song things to the child and played softly upon his violin, leaning his black head far down, so that the baby Melisse could clutch her appreciative fingers in his hair. Ah, the sweet little white angel, he would cry as she tugged and kicked. I love you so, I love you, and will stay always. I play the violon. Ah, mon dieu, you will be the great, beautiful white angel, like her.

Starting point is 00:44:51 He would laugh and coo like a mother and talk, for at these times jan terro's tongue was as voluble as his violin sometimes melisse listened as if she understood the wonderful things he was telling her she would lie upon her back with her eyes fixed upon him her little red fists doubled over his bow or a thumb thrust into her mouth and the longer she lay like this gazing at him blankly the more convinced yon became that she was understanding him and his voice grew soft and low and his eyes shone with a soft mist as he told her those things which john commons would have given much to know some day you shall understand why it happened sweet melisse he whispered bringing his eyes so near that she reached up an inquiring finger to them then you will love yonterot there were other times when yon did not talk, but when the baby Melisse talked to him. And these were moments of even greater joy. With the baby wriggling and kicking and making queer noises in her tiny cot,

Starting point is 00:46:09 he would sit silently upon his heels, watching her with the pride and happiness of a mother lynx in the first tumbling frolics of her kittens. Once, when Melis straightened herself for an instant, and half reached up her tiny arms, to him, laughing and cooing into his face, he gave a glad cry, crushed his face down to hers, and did what he had not dared to do before, kissed her. There was something about it that frightened a little Melis,

Starting point is 00:46:43 and she set up a wailing that sent Jan, in a panic of dismay, for Mabala. It was a long time before he ventured to kiss her again. It was during this fortnight of desolation at the post that Jan discovered the big problem for himself and John Cummins. In the last days of the second week, he spent much of his time skirting the edge of the barons in search of caribou, that there might be meat and plenty when the dogs and men returned a little later. One afternoon he returned early,

Starting point is 00:47:20 while the pale sun was still in the sky, laden with the meat of a musk-ox. As he came from the edge of the forest, his slender body doubled over under the weight of his pack, a terrifying sight greeted him in the little clearing at the post. Upon her knees in front of their cabin was Mabala, industriously rolling the half-naked little Malesse about in a soft pile of snow and doing her work, as she firmly believed,

Starting point is 00:47:52 in a most faithful and thorough manner. With a shriek, Jan threw off his pack and darted toward her like a wild thing. Sacrebleu! You kill! Kill Zee little Melisse! he cried shrilly, snatching up the half-frozen child. Mon Dieu, she is not papoose.

Starting point is 00:48:14 She is civilize, civilize! and he ran swiftly with her into the cabin, flinging back a torrent of Cree anathema at the dumbly bewildered Mabala. Jan left the rest of his musk-ox to the wolves and foxes. He went out into the snow and found half a dozen other snow wallows in which the helpless Males had taken her chilling baths. He watched Mabala with a new growing terror,

Starting point is 00:48:45 and fifty times a day he said to her, Melisse is not Papoose. She is civilized, like her. And he would point to the lonely grave under the guardian spruce. At last, Mabala went into an ecstasy of understanding. Melisse was not to be taken out and rolled in the snow. So she brought in the snow and rolled it over Melisse. When Jan discovered this, his tongue twisted itself into sound so terrible, and his face writhed so fiercely, that Mabala began to comprehend that, thereafter, no snow at all, either outdoors or in, was to be used in the physical development of the little Melisse. This was the beginning of the problem, and it grew and burst forth in all its significance

Starting point is 00:49:41 on the day before Cummins came in from the wilderness. For a week, Mabala had been dropping sly hints of a wonderful thing which she and the factor's half-breed wife were making for the baby. Jan had visions of a gorgeous garment covered with beads and gaudy braid, which would give the little Melisse unending delight. On the day before Cummins' arrival, Yon came in from chopping wood and went to the cot. It was empty. Mabala was gone. A sudden fear thrilled him to the marrow, and he sprang back to the cabin door,

Starting point is 00:50:22 ready to shriek out the Indian woman's name. A sound stopped him, the softest, sweetest sound in all the world to Jan Turot, and he whirled around like a cat. Melyis was smiling and making queer, friendly little signals to him from the table. She was standing upright, wedged in a coffin-shaped thing from which only her tiny white face peered out at him, and Yon knew that this was Mabala's surprise. Melyse was in a papoose sling. "'Melis, I say you shall be no papoose,' he cried, running to the table. You is civilized. You shall be no papoos, not if twin thousand devil

Starting point is 00:51:14 come take Yantro. And he snatched her from her prison, flung Mabala's handiwork out into the snow, and waited impatiently for the return of John Cummins. End of Chapter 4. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 5 of the honor of the big snows. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerwood. Chapter 5. Love Patches

Starting point is 00:51:55 Cummins returned the next day, not that his work among the wild trappers to the south was finished, but because he had suffered a hurt in falling from a slippery ledge. When Jan, from his wood-chopping in the edge of the forest, saw the team race up to the little cabin and a strange Cree half carry the wounded man through the door, he sped swiftly across the open with visions of new misfortune before him. What he saw when he reached the door was reassuring. Cummins was upon his knees beside the cot, his big shoulders hunched over,

Starting point is 00:52:33 and Melisse was welcoming him with her whole vocabulary of sound. The injury to Cummins' leg was not serious, and, not being serious, it was accepted as a special incident of providence by Jan, for the new thoughts that had come into his head were causing him great uneasiness. He lost no time in revealing his fears, after Mabala had been sent to the factor's wife. With graphic gesture, he told of what had happened. Cummins hobbled to the door to look upon the wallows in the snow, and hobbled back to the table, when Jan ran there in excited imitation of the way in which he had found the little Melisse in Mabala's sling.

Starting point is 00:53:19 "'She is civilized,' finished Jan hotly. "'She is not Papoose. She must be like her!' His great eyes shone, and Cummins felt a thickening in his throat as he looked into them and saw what the boy meant. "'Mabala mak papoose out of Melisse! she grow not knowing like papoos talk like papoos yon's feelings overwhelmed his tongue his shining hair rumpled thickly about his face as he leaned anxiously toward cummins and cummins in turn stared down in dumb perplexity upon the joyful kickings and wrigglings of the growing problem is she not civilize demanded yon ecstatically bending his black head

Starting point is 00:54:10 over her. Ah, ze sweet meleese. Yes, she must be like her, Jan. Just as good and just as sweet and just as beautiful, interrupted Cummins gently. There was a quick intaking of his breath as he hobbled back to his own cot, leaving Jan at play with the baby.

Starting point is 00:54:33 That night, in the dim, sputtering glow of an oil lamp, john cummins and jan to row solemnly set to work to thrash out the great problem that had suddenly entered into their existence to these two there was no element of humor in what they were doing for into their keeping had been given a thing for which god had not schemed them the woman had she been there would have laughed at them and in a dozen gentle breaths might have told them all that the world held in secret between mother and child but leaving them she had passed on to them something that was life like herself and yet mystery had fate given mabala to melisse for a mother there would have been no mystery she would have developed as naturally as a wolfwelp or a lynx kitten a savage breath of life in a savage world waxing fat in snow baths arrow straight in papoose slings a moving natural thing in a desolation to which generations and centuries of forebears had given it birthright. But Melyse was like her mother. In the dreams of the two who were planning out her fate, she was to be a reincarnation of her mother.

Starting point is 00:55:54 That dream left a ray of comfort in Cummins' breast when his wife died. It stirred happy visions within Yan. And it ended with a serious shock when Mabala brought into their very first. mental perspective of things, the possibilities of environment. So far as Cummins knew, there was not a white woman nearer than Fort Churchill, 200 miles away. In all that region, he knew of only two full white men, and they were Williams and himself. The baby Melisse was hopelessly lost in a world of savagery, honest, loyal, big-souled savagery, but savagery. But savagery, but savagery was hopelessly lost.

Starting point is 00:56:37 for all that, and the thought of it brought the shadows of fear and foreboding to the two into whose lives the problem had just come. Long into the night they talked seriously of the matter while Melyse slept, and the longer they talked, the greater loomed the problem before them. Cummins fancied that he already began to see signs of the transformation in Males. She was passionately fond of the gaudy things Mabala gave. her, which was a sign of savagery. She was charmed by confinement in the papoose sling, which was another sign of it, and she had not died in the snow-wallows, which was still another. So far back as he could remember, Cummins had never come into finger-touch of a white baby.

Starting point is 00:57:30 Jan was as blissfully ignorant, so they determined upon immediate and strenuous action. Mabala would be ceaselessly watched and checked at every turn. The Indian children would not be allowed to come near, Males. They too, John Cummins and Jan Turot, would make her like the woman who slept under the sentinel spruce. "'She is civilize,' said Jan with finality, "'and we must keep her civilize.' Cummins counted back gravely upon his finger.

Starting point is 00:58:07 The little Melisse was four months and eighteen days old. Tomorrow we will make her one of those things with wheels, like the baby wagons they have in the south, he said. She must not go in the papoos slings. And I will teach her z' music, whispered Jan, his eyes glowing. That is civilize. Suddenly an eager light came into conversation. Cummins' face, and he pointed to a calico-covered box standing upon end in a corner of the room.

Starting point is 00:58:44 "'There are the books, her books, Jan,' he said softly, the trembling thrill of inspiration in his voice. He limped across the room, dropped upon his knees before the box, and drew back the curtain. Jan knelt beside him. "'They were her books,' he repeated. There was a sobbing catch in his throat, and his head fell a little upon his breast. Now we will give them to Melisse. He drew the books out, one by one, his fingers trembling and his breath coming quickly as he touched them. A dozen worn, dusty things, holding within them more than John Cummins would ever know of the woman he had lost.

Starting point is 00:59:31 These volumes of dead voices had come with her into the wilderness from that other world she had known. They breathed the pathos of her love from out of their ragged pages, mended in a hundred places to keep them from falling into utter ruin. Slowly the man gathered them against his breast, and held them there silently, as he might have held the woman, fighting hard to keep back his grief. Yon thrust a hand deeper into the box and brought forth something else, a few magazines and papers, as ragged and worn as the books.

Starting point is 01:00:09 In these other treasures there were pictures, pictures of the things in civilization, which Yon had never seen, and which were too wonderful for him to comprehend at first. His eyes burned excitedly as he held up a godily covered fashion paper to John Cummins. these are piche for melisse he whispered tensely we teach her we show her we make her know about civilized people commons replaced the books one at a time and each he held tenderly for a moment wiping and blowing away the dust gathered upon it at the last one of all which was more ragged and worn than the others he gazed for a long time it was a little bible his wife's bible finger-worn patched pathetic in its poverty the man gulped hard she loved this yon he said huskily she loved this worn old book more than anything else and little melisse must love it also melisse must be a christian ah yes ze little melisse must love ze great god "'A God,' said Jan softly.

Starting point is 01:01:30 Cummins rose to his feet and stood for a moment, looking at the sleeping baby. A missionary is coming over from Fort Churchill to talk to our trappers when they come in. She shall be baptized. Like a cat, Jan was on his feet, his eyes flashing, his long, thin fingers clenched, his body quivering with a terrible excitement. No, no, not baptized by Missioner, he cried. She shall be good and love ze great God, but not baptized by Missioner. No, no, no.

Starting point is 01:02:10 Cummins turned upon him in astonishment. Before him, Jan Tarot stood for a minute like one gone mad, his whole being consumed in a passion terrible to look upon. lithe giant of muscle and fearlessness that he was, Cummins involuntarily drew back a step, and the mainspring of instinct within him prompted him to lift a hand, as if to ward off a leaping thing from his breast. Yon noted the backward step, the guarded uplift of hand,

Starting point is 01:02:44 and with an agonized cry he buried his face in his hands. In another instant he had turned, and before coming's startled voice-found words had opened the door and run out into the night the man saw him darting swiftly toward the forest and called to him but there was no response there was a hot fire burning in yon's brain a blazing writhing contortion of things that brought a low moaning from his lips he ran tirelessly and swiftly until he sank down upon the snow in a silent place, far from where he had left John Cummins. His eyes still blazed with their strange fire upon the desolation about him, his fingers clenched and unclenched themselves, digging their nails into his flesh,

Starting point is 01:03:37 and he spoke softly to himself, over and over again, the name of the little Melisse. Painting itself each instant more plainly through the tumult of his emotions was what Jan had come to know as the picture in his brain. Shadowy and indistinct at first, in pale, elusive lines of mental fabric, he saw the picture growing, and in its growth he saw first the soft, sweet outlines of a woman's face,

Starting point is 01:04:09 and then great luring eyes, dark like his own, and before these eyes, which gazed upon him with overwhelming love, all else faded away from before Jan Terot. The fire went out of his eyes, his fingers relaxed, and after a little while he got up out of the snow, shivering, and went back to the cabin. Cummins asked no questions. He looked at Jan from his cot and watched the boy silently as he undressed and went to bed, and in the morning the whole incident passed from his mind.

Starting point is 01:04:46 The intangible holds but little fascination for the simple folk who live under the Arctic Circle. Their struggle is with life, their joys are in its achievement, and their constant struggle to keep life running strong and dread within them. Such an existence of solitude and of strife with nature leaves small room for curiosity. So the nature of John Cummins led him to him to, to forget what had happened, as he would have forgotten the senseless running away of a sledge-dog and its subsequent return. He saw no tragedy and no promise of tragedy in the thing that it occurred. There was no recurrence of the strange excitement in yon. He gave no hint of it in

Starting point is 01:05:36 word or action, and the thing seemed to be forgotten between the two. The education of the little Melisse began at once, while the post was still deserted. It began, first of all, with Mabala. She stared dumbly and with shattered faith at these two creatures who told her of wonderful things in the upbringing of a child, things of which she had never so much as heard rumor before. Her mother instincts were aroused, but with Cree Stoicism she made no betrayal of them. The leather-tanned immobility of her face.

Starting point is 01:06:14 underwent no whit of change when Cummins solemnly declared that the little Melisse was about to begin teething. She sat grimly and watched them in silence when, between them, upon a bare skin stretched on the floor, they tried vainly to persuade Melisse to use her feet. It was great fun for Melisse, and she enjoyed it immensely, so that as the days passed and the post still remained deserted, John Cummins and Jan Turot spent much of their time upon their knees. In their eyes, the child's progress was remarkable. They saw in her an unceasing physical growth

Starting point is 01:06:57 and countless symptoms of forthcoming mental development. She delighted to pull the strings of Jan's violin, which was an unmistakable token of her musical genius. She went into ecstasies over the gutters, gaudy plates in the fashion paper. She fingered them in suggestive and inquiring silence, or with still more suggestive grunts, and made futile efforts to eat them, which was the greatest token of all. Weeks passed, and Williams came in from the southern forests.

Starting point is 01:07:34 Mookie followed him from the edge of the barons. Perry returned from the Iskimo people, three-quarters starved, and with half of his dog stolen. From the north, east, west, and south, the post's fur rangers trailed back. Life was resumed. There was a softness in the air, a growing warmth in the midday sun. The days of the big chains were near, and when they came, John Cummins and Jan Turot, of all the factor's people, wore patches at their knee. 5. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 6 of the Honor of the Big Snows.

Starting point is 01:08:26 This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerwood. Chapter 6. Days of Triumph. One afternoon, in the beginning of the mush snow, a long team of rakeish malamutes, driven by an Athabasca French-Canadian raced wildly into the clearing about the post. A series of yells and the wild cracking of a 30-foot caribou gut whip

Starting point is 01:09:00 announced that the big change was at hand, that the wilderness was awakening and life was drawing near. The entire post rushed out to meet the newcomer, men and dogs, the little black and tan children, and even William's fat and lethargic wife. for a few moments there was a scene of wild disorder of fighting malamutes buried under a rush of angry huskies white men shouted and the yelling frenchman leaped about and cut his caribou gut in vicious slashes over the wolfish horde around his heavily laden sledge partial order being restored mukie and peri took charge of the snarling malamutes and surrounded by william's men the trapper stocked to the company's office he was jean de gravois the most important man in the fond de lac country for whose good-will the company paid a small bonus that he had made a record catch even the children knew by the size of the packs on his sledge and by the swagger in his walk. Gravoix was usually one of the last to appear at the annual gathering of the wilderness

Starting point is 01:10:15 fur gatherers. He was a big man in reputation as he was small in stature. He was known as far west as the Peace River and eastward to Fort Churchill. He loved to make his appearance at the post in a wild and picturesque rush when the rest of the forest rovers were there to look on, and to envy or admire. He was one of the few of his kind who had developed personal vanity

Starting point is 01:10:45 along with unerring cunning in the ways of the wild. Everybody liked Gravois, for he had a big soul in him and was as fearless as a lynx, and he liked everybody, including himself. He explained his early arrival by announcing in a nonchalant manner that after he had given his malamutes a day's

Starting point is 01:11:08 he was going on to Fort Churchill to bring back a wife. He hinted, with a punctuating crack of his whip, that he would make a second visit and a more interesting one at just about the same time when the trappers were there in force. Jan Turot listened to him, hunching his shoulders a little at the other's manifest air of importance. In turn, the French-Canadian scrutinized Jan good-naturedly, neither of them knew the part which jean de gravois was to play in yon's life every hour after the half-breed's arrival quickened the pulse of expectancy at the post

Starting point is 01:11:51 for six months it had been a small and solitary unit of life in the heart of a big desolation the first snow had smothered it in a loneliness that was almost the loneliness of desertion with that first snow began the harvest days of the people of the wilderness far and wide they were busy along their trap lines their lonely shacks hidden in the shelter of thick swamps in deep chasms and dense forests for six months the short days and the long nights had been days and nights of fur gathering during those months the post was silent it lived and breathed But that was all. Its life, for Williams and the few people whom the company kept with him, was a life of waiting. Now the change was at hand. It was like the breath of spring to the awakening wilderness.

Starting point is 01:12:52 The forest people were moving. Trapp lines were being broken, shacks abandoned, sledge dogs put to harness. On the day that Jean de Gravoix left for Hudson's Bay, The company's supplies came in from Fort Churchill, seven toboggins drawn by Eskimo dogs, laden with flour and claw, fifty pounds of beads,

Starting point is 01:13:17 ammunition, and a hundred other things to be exchanged for the furs that would soon be in London and Paris. Fearfully, Jan Turot ran out to meet the sledges. There were seven Indians and one white man. Jan thrust himself close to low, to look at the white man. He wore two revolver holsters and carried an automatic.

Starting point is 01:13:43 Unquestionably, he was not a missionary, but an agent of the company well prepared to care for the company's treasure. Jan hurried back to the cabin, his heart bubbling with a strange joy. There is no missionary, Melisse, he cried triumphantly, dropping beside her, his face glowing with the gladness of his tidings. You shall be good and beautiful, like her, but you shall not be baptized by missioner. He has not come.

Starting point is 01:14:14 A few minutes later, Cummins came in. One of his hands was torn and bleeding. Those Eskimo dogs are demons, he growled. If they knew how to stand on their legs, they'd eat our huskies alive. Will you help me with this? Jan was at work in an instant. bandaging the wounded hand. "'It is not deep,' he said,

Starting point is 01:14:40 and then, without looking up, he added, "'The missionary did not come.' "'No,' said coming shortly. "'Neither has the mail. He is with that.' He did not notice the sudden tremble of Jan's fingers, nor did he see the startled look that shot into the boy's downturned eyes.

Starting point is 01:15:02 Yon finished his bandaging without betraying his emotion and went back with Cummins to the company's store. The next morning, two Chippewyans trailed in with a team of mongrelkurs from the south. Thereafter, Cummins found but little time to devote to Milleise. The snow was softening rapidly, and the daily increasing warmth of the sun hastened the movement of the trappers. Mookie's people from the western barrenlands arrived first. first, bringing with them great loads of musk- ox and caribou skins, and an army of big-footed, long-legged Mackenzie hounds that pulled like horses and wailed like whipped puppies when the huskies and

Starting point is 01:15:49 Eskimo dogs set upon them. From east and west and south all trails now led to the post. By the end of the third day after the arrival of the company's supplies, a babble of fighting, yelling, ceaselessly moving discord had driven forth the peace and quiet in which Cummins' wife had died. The fighting and discord were among the dogs, and the yelling was a necessary human accompaniment. Half a hundred packs, almost as wild and as savage as the wolves from whom half of them possessed a strong inheritance of blood, were thrown suddenly into warring confusion. All the dogs were fighters except the big, soft-throated Mackenzie hounds, with the slow strength of oxen in their movements,

Starting point is 01:16:42 and the quarter-strained and half-strained mongrels from the south, and upon these unfortunates the others prayed. Packs of fierce Labrador dogs, never vanquished except by death, came from close to Hudson's Bay. Team after team of the list, little yellow and gray Eskimo dogs, as quick with their fangs as were their black and swift running masters with their hands and feet, met the much larger and darker-colored malamutes from the Athabasca. Enemies of all these, fighting, snapping and snarling, with the lust of

Starting point is 01:17:22 killing deep born in them from their wolf progenitors, packs of fierce huskies trailed in from all sides. There was no cessation in the battle of the fangs. It began with the first brute arrivals. It continued from dawn through the day and around the campfires at night. There was never an end to the strife between the dogs and between the men and the dogs. The snow was stained and trailed with blood, and the scent of it added greater fierceness to the wolf breeds. Half a dozen battles were fought to the death each day and night. Those that died were chiefly the south-bred curs, mixtures of mastiff, great Dane, and sheet-dogs, and the fatally slow Mackenzie hounds. From its towering height, the sentinel spruce frowned down upon the savage life that had come

Starting point is 01:18:21 to outrage the grave it guarded. Yet, beyond all this discord and bloody strife, there was was a great throbbing human happiness, a beating of honest hearts filled to overflowing with the joys of the moment, a welding of new friendships, a renewal of old ones, a closer union of the brotherhood that holds together all things under the cold gray of the northern skies. There were no bickering among the hunters, no anger of man against man in the fierce voices that emphasized the slashing cuts of the caribou whips. If the fangs of a Hudson's Bay Husky let out the lifeblood from the soft throat of a McKenzie hound,

Starting point is 01:19:08 it was a matter of the dogs and not of their owners. They did not quarrel. One day, a fierce Eskimo pack cornered a giant husky under the big spruce and slew him. When Cummins came from the company's store in the afternoon, he saw a number of men with bared heads working about the grave. He drew near enough to see that they were building around it a barricade of saplings, and his breath choked him as he turned to the cabin and may lease.

Starting point is 01:19:43 He noticed, too, that no fires were built near the spot consecrated to the memory of the dead woman, and to his cabin the paths in the snow became deeper and wider, where trod the wild forest men who came to look upon the little Melisse. These were days of unprecedented prosperity and triumph for the baby, as they were for the company. The cabin was half filled with strange things, for all who came gave something to Melisse. There were polar bears' teeth brought down by the little black men who in turn had got them from the coast people, strange gods carved from wood, bits of fur, bushy fox-tails, lynx paws, dried fruits, candy bought at fabulous prices in the store, and musk, always and incessantly musk,

Starting point is 01:20:40 from Mookie's people of the West Barons. To Jan, this homage to Meles was more than gratifying. It formed a bond between him and Cummins' people. people. His heart went out to them, and he went more freely among them, and made friends. End of Chapter 6. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 7 of the Honor of the Big Snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline.

Starting point is 01:21:20 The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 7. the caribou carnival yann had not played upon his violin since the coming of jean de gravois but one evening he tuned his strings and said to melisse they have been good to you my melisse i will give them ze music of the violon it was the big night at the post the night that is known from athabasket of hudson's bay as the night of the caribou roast a week had passed a week had passed and there were no more furs to be disposed of. In the company's ledger each man had received his credit, and in the company's store the furs were piled high and safe. Three caribou had been killed by Perri and his hunters,

Starting point is 01:22:13 and on this night, when Jan took down his violin from its peg in the wall, a huge fire blazed in the open, and on spits six inches in diameter the caribou were roasting. the air was filled with the sound and odor of the carnival above the fighting and snarling of dogs the forest people lifted their voices in wild celebration forgetting in this one holiday of the year the silence that they would carry back into the solitudes with them numbers gave them courage of voice and in its manifestation there was the savagery of the forests that hemmed them in shrill voices rose in meaningless cries above the roaring of the fire caribou whips snapped fiercely chippewyans crees eskimos and breeds crowded in the red glare the factors men shouted and sang like mad for this was the company's annual good time the show that would lure many of these same men back again at the end of another trapping season huge boxes of white bread were placed near to the fire a tub of real butter brought five thousand miles from across the sea for the occasion was set on a gun-case thrown where the heat played upon it in yellow glory in a giant copper kettle over a smaller fire

Starting point is 01:23:46 bubbled and steamed half a barrel of coffee. The richness of the odors that drifted in the air set the dogs gathering upon their haunches, beyond the waiting circle of masters, their lips dripping, their fangs snapping in an eagerness that was not for the flesh of battle. And above it all,

Starting point is 01:24:08 there gleamed down a billion stars from out of the skies, the aurora flung its banners through the pale night, and softly the smoke rose straight up and then floated into the north, carried there by the gentle breath that spring was luring from out of the south. Yon picked his way through the cordon of dogs and the inner circle of men until he stood with the firelight flashing in his glossy hair and black eyes, and there, seated upon the edge of one of the bread boxes, he began to play. It was not the low, sweet music of Cummins and the Little Melisse that he played now,

Starting point is 01:24:50 but a wild wailing song that he had found in the autumn winds. It burst above the crackling fire and the tumult of man and dog in a weird and savage beauty that hushed all sound, and life about him became like life struck suddenly dead. With his head bowed, Jan saw nothing, saw nothing of the wonder in the faces of the half-cringing little black men who were squatted in a group a dozen feet away nothing of the staring amazement in the eyes that were looking upon this miracle he was performing he knew only that about him there was a deep hush and after a while his violin sang a lower song and sweeter and still softer it became and more sweet until he was playing a lower song and sweeter and still softer it became and more sweet until he was playing playing that which he loved most of all, the music that had filled the little cabin when

Starting point is 01:25:48 Cummins' wife died. As he continued to play, there came an interruption to the silence, a low refrain that was almost like that of the moaning wind. It grew beyond the tent circles of men until a song of infinite sadness rose from the throes of a hundred dogs in response to Jan Toro's violin. To Jan, it was like the song of life. The unending loneliness and grief of it stirred him to the quick of his soul, and unconsciously his voice rose and fell softly with the wailing of the brute chorus. But to the others it was a thing that rose portentous above their understanding,

Starting point is 01:26:33 a miracle of mystery that smote them with awe, even as they surrendered themselves to the wreaths. wonderful sweetness of the music. Cumman saw the change in his people, and understood what it meant. He saw the surrounding cordon become thinner as man crushed closer to man, and he saw strained faces turned from the player to where the dogs sat full-throated upon their haunches, with their heads pointed straight to the stars in the sky. Suddenly he burst into a volume of wild song

Starting point is 01:27:10 and made his ways through the crouching Eskimos to Jan. For the love of heaven, play no more of that, he cried in the boy's ear. Play something fast! Jan lifted his head as if from a dream. In an instant he perceived the strange effect of his music and his bow raced across the strings of his violets, in a rhythm swift and buoyant, his voice rising shrill and clear in words familiar to them all.

Starting point is 01:27:43 Oh, the caribou, the caribou, he roast on high, just under the sky, the big white caribou! With a yell, Cummins joined in, waving his arms and leaping in the firelight. The spell was broken. Williams and Mookie and the rest of the comrade. company's men burst forth in song. Yon's violin leaped in crescendos of stirring sound, and where before there had been a silent circle of awestruck men, there was now a yelling din of voices.

Starting point is 01:28:21 The dogs lowered their heads again, and licked their chops at the odors in the air. With a yell, mooky and three Crees dashed toward the fire, long-hooked poles in their hands. And as the caribou carcasses were turned upon their huge spits, and their dripping fat fell sizzling into the flames, the wild chorus of men and dogs and Jan's violin rose higher until Cummins' great voice became only a whisper in the tumult.

Starting point is 01:28:54 The third caribou had been twice turned upon its spit, and Mookie and his Crees paused in waiting silence, their hooked poles gripping the long bar that rested horizontally across the arms of two stout posts driven into the earth close to the fire at this signal there was a final outburst from the waiting horde and then a momentary silence fell as cun sprang upon one of the bread boxes and waved his arms frantically above his head now he shouted now zikadaboo with eyes flashing with excitement yon stood before cummins and his violin shrieked out the wild tune to a still wilder response of untamed voices now yelled cummins again the wilderness song that was known from athabasca to hudson's bay burst forth in a savage enthusiasm that reached to the sun skies. Oh, the caribou, Zee caribou, he rose on high,

Starting point is 01:30:03 just under the sky, The big white caribou. Cummins drew his revolver and blazed fiercely into the air. Now, he shrieked. Oh, the caribou, Zee caribou, He brown and juice and sweet. The caribou, he verpolite, he rose on high, just under ze sky, he ready now to come and eat.

Starting point is 01:30:32 With yells that rose above the last words of the song, Mookie and his Crees tugged at their poles, and the roasted caribou fell upon the snow. Jan drew back, and with his violin, hugged under one arm, watched the wild revelers, as with bared knives flashing in the firelight, they crowded to the feast. Williams, the factor, who was puffing from his vocal exertions, joined him.

Starting point is 01:31:01 Looks like a fight, doesn't it, Jan? Once I saw a fight at a caribou roast. So did I, said Jan, who had not taken his eyes from the jostling crowd. It was far to the west and north, continued Williams, beyond the great slave country. Far beyond, said Jan, lifting his eyes quietly. It was ver near to the great bear. The factor stared at him in amazement. You saw it, he exclaimed.

Starting point is 01:31:41 But Jan turned away, as if he had heard nothing, and passed beyond the packs of waiting dogs to restore his precious violin to its peg on the cabin wall. The factor's words had stirred deep men memories within him, and for the first time since he had come to the post, he spoke no word to Melyse when he found her wakeful and friendly in her cot. Neither was it the old Yantirot who returned to the excitement about the great fire. With his long hunting-knife flashing above his head, he plunged into the throng around the

Starting point is 01:32:18 caribou, crowding and jostling with the others, his voice rising and shrill cries, as he forced himself through to the edge of the fire. Cummins was there, kneeling with turned-up sleeves and greasy hands beside the huge roast, and when he saw Jan, he stared at him in wonder. There was neither laughter nor song in Jan Turot's voice. It was vibrant with a strange savageness, which was more savage than the wildest yells of the half-breed Crees, and his great eyes burned feet.

Starting point is 01:32:54 fiercely as they rested for an instant upon cummins face close behind cummins stood williams yon saw him and his knife dropped to his side then so quickly that the startled factor drew back a step yon sprang to him ze fight at the great bear he cried in swift eagerness for who you fight at ze great bear the factor was silent and the muscles of his arms grew like steel as he saw the madness in yon's face suddenly he reached out and gripped the boy's wrists yon made no effort to evade the clutch for who you fight he cried again for who you fight at zieg re bear we tried to kill a man but he got away said williams speaking so low that only yon heard he was the factor stopped the missioner panted yon 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 yon 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 Mookie and his Crees pulled down a second caribou, but the boy paid no attention to the fresh excitement.

Starting point is 01:34:35 He thrust his knife into its sheath and ran, ran swiftly through the packs of dogs fighting and snarling over the scraps that had been thrown to them, past Mabala, who was watching the savage banquet around the big fire, and into the cabin to Malesse. 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 and when i find him and kill him i will come back to you my angel melisse he whispered and then you will love yontero 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

Starting point is 01:35:35 end of chapter seven recording by roger maline chapter eight of the honor of the big snows this libervox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter eight the fight at dawn for a few moments yon stood with his back to melisse and his eyes upon the carnival about the great fire as he looked the third caribou was pulled down from its spit and the multitude of dogs rushed in upon the abandoned carcasses of the other two he caught his breath quickly as a loud shout and the wailing yelp of a hurt dog rose for an instant above all other sounds only one thing was wanting to complete another picture in his brain a scene which had burned itself into his life forever and which he strove to fight back as he stood staring from the doorway he half expected it to come the shrill scream of a boyish voice an instant's sullen quiet, then the low-throated thunder of impending vengeance and the fight. With marvelous quickness his excited mind reconstructed the scene before him into the scene that had been. He heard the scream again, which had been his voice, saw as if in a dream the frenzied rush of men

Starting point is 01:37:18 and the flash of knives. And then, from where he lay trampled and bleeding in the snow, the long, lean team of swift huskies that had carried in mad flight, the one whose life those knives sought. Williams had been there. He had seen the fight. His knife had flashed with the others in its demand for life. And yet he, Jan Turot, had not been recognized by the factor out there beside the caribou roast. He hurried toward. the fire. Halfway across the open, he stopped. From out of the forest opposite Cummins' cabin, there trailed slowly a team of dogs. In the shadows of the spruce, hidden from the revelers,

Starting point is 01:38:09 the team halted. Jan heard the low voices of men, and a figure detached itself from the gloom, walking slowly and in the manner of one near to exhaustion in the direction of the carnival. it was a new team it had come from the trails to the east and jan's heart gave a sudden jump as he thought of the missionary who was expected with the overdue mail at first he had a mind to intercept the figure laboring across the open but without apparent reason he changed his course and approached the sledge as he came nearer he observed a second figure which rose from behind the dogs and he rose from behind the dogs and he changed his course and approached the sledge as he came nearer he observed a second figure which rose from behind the dogs and he had and advanced to meet him. A dozen paces ahead of the team, it stopped and waited. "'Our dogs are so near exhaustion that we're afraid to take them any nearer,' said a voice. "'They'd die like puppies under those packs.'

Starting point is 01:39:10 The voice thrilled, Jan. He advanced with his back to the fire so that he could see the stranger. "'You come from Churchill?' he asked. His words were hardly a question. They were more of an excuse for him to draw nearer, and he turned a little, so that for an instant the glowing fire flashed in his eyes. Yes, we started from the Itani just a week ago today.

Starting point is 01:39:41 Jan had come very near. The stranger interrupted himself to stare into the thin, fierce face that had grown like a white cameo almost within reach of him. With a startled cry, he drew a step back, and Jan's violin dropped to the snow. For no longer than a breath there was silence. The man warmed himself back into the shadows, inch by inch, followed by the white face of the boy. Then there came shrilly from Jan's lips, the mad shrieking of a name, and his knife flashed as he leaped at the other's breast.

Starting point is 01:40:21 the stranger was quicker than he with a sudden movement he cleared himself of the blow and as yon's arm went past him the point of the knife ripping his coat sleeve he shot out a powerful fist that sent the boy reeling to the ground stunned and bleeding yon dragged himself to his knees he saw the dogs turning heard a low voice urging them to the trail and saw the sledge disappear into the forest he staggered from his knees to his feet and stood swaying in his weakness then he followed he forgot that he was leaving his knife in the snow forgot that back there about the fire there were other dogs and other dogs and other men, he only knew that once before he had seen a sledge slip off into the wilderness, that its going had left him a life of hatred and bitterness and desire for vengeance, and that this was the same man who was slipping away from him in the same way again. He followed, sickened by the blow, but gaining strength as he pursued. Ahead of him he could hear the sound of the toboggan and the car.

Starting point is 01:41:39 cautious lashing of a whip over the backs of the tired huskies. The sounds filled him with fierce strength. He wiped away the warm trickle of blood that ran over his cheek and began to run, slowly at first, swinging in the easy wolf-lope of the forest runner, with his elbows close to his sides. At that pace he could have followed for hours, losing when the pack took a spurt, gaining when they lagged, an insistent nemesis just behind when the weighted dogs lay down in their traces. But there was neither the coolness of Muky nor the cleverness of Jean de Gravoix in the manner of Jan's running.

Starting point is 01:42:24 When he heard the cracking of the whip growing fainter, he dropped his arm straight to his sides and ran more swiftly, his brain reeling with the madness of his desire to reach the sledge, to drag from it the man who had struck him, to choke life from the face that haunted that mental picture of his, grinning at him and gloating always from the shadow world just beyond the pale, sweet loveliness of the woman who lived in it. That picture came to him now as he ran, more and more vividly, and from out of it, the woman urged him,

Starting point is 01:43:01 on in the vengeance which she demanded of him her great eyes glowing like fire her beautiful face torn with the agony which he had last seen in it in life to yon to row there seemed almost to come from that face a living voice crying to him its prayer for retribution pleading with him to fasten his lithe brown hands about the throat of the monster upon the sledge ahead and choke from it all life It drove reason from him, leaving him with the one thought that the monster was almost within reach. And he replied to the prayer with the breath that came in moaning exhaustion from between his lips. He did not feel the soft, sun-packed snow under the beat of his feet. He received the lash of low-hanging bushes without experiencing the sensation of their sting. only he knew that he wanted air, more and more air, and to get it he ran with open mouth,

Starting point is 01:44:08 struggling and gasping for it, and yet not knowing that Jean de Gravoix would have called him a fool for the manner in which he sought it. He heard more and more faintly the run of the sledge. Then he heard it no longer, and even the cracking of the whip died away. His heart swelled, in a final bursting effort, and he plunged on, until at last his legs crumpled under him,

Starting point is 01:44:36 and he pitched face downward in the snow, like a thing stung by sudden death. It was then, with his scratched and bleeding face lying in the snow, that Reason began to return to him. After a little while he dragged himself weakly to his knees, still panting from the mad effort he had made to overtake the slug. sledge. From a great distance he heard faintly the noise of shouting, the whispering echo of half a hundred voices, and he knew that the sound came from the revelers at the post. It was proof to him that there had been no interruption to the carnival, and that the scene at the edge of the forest had been witnessed by none. Quickly his mental faculties readjusted themselves. He rose to his feet, and for a few moments stood hesitatingly he had no weapon but as his hand rested upon the empty knife-sheath at his belt there came to him a thought of the way in which mukie had avenged cummins wife and he turned again upon the trail

Starting point is 01:45:46 he no longer touched the low-hanging bushes he was no more than a shadow appearing and disappearing without warning trailing as the white ermine follows its prey noiseless, alert, his body responding sinuously and without apparent effort to the working commands of his brain. Where the forest broke into an open, lighted by the stars, he found blood in the footprints of the leading dog. Halfway across the open, he saw where the leader had swung out from the trail and the others of the pack had crowded about him, to be urged on by the lashings of the man's wet,

Starting point is 01:46:29 other signs of the pack's growing exhaustion followed close the man now traveled beside the sledge where the trail was rough and rode where it was smooth and hard the deep imprints of his heeled boots in the soft snow showed that he ran for only a short distance at a time a hundred yards or less and that after each running spell he brought the pack to a walk he was heavy and lacked endurance and this discovery brought a low cry of exultation to yon's lips he fell into a dog-trot mile after mile dropped behind him other miles were ahead of him an endless wilderness of miles and through them the tired pack persisted keeping always beyond sound and vision the stars began fading out of the skies the shadows of the forest grew deeper and blacker and where the aurora had lightened the heavens there crept the somber gray film that preceded dawn by three hours yon followed more and more slowly there was hard breathing effort now in his running effort that caused him physical pain and discomfort his feet stumbled occasionally his feet stumbled occasionally in the snow. His legs from thigh to knee began to ache with the gnawing torment that centers in the marrow bone. And with this beginning of the runners' cramp, he was filled with a new and poignant terror. Would the dogs beat him out? Sluffing in the trail, bleeding at every foot, would they still drag their burden beyond the reach of his vengeance? The fear fastened itself upon.

Starting point is 01:48:23 upon him, urging him to greater effort, and he called upon the last of his strength in a spurt that carried him to where the thick spruce gave place to thin bush, and the bush to the barren and rocky side of a huge ridge, up which the trail climbed strong and well-defined. For a few paces he followed it, then slipped and rolled back as the fatal paralysis deadened all power of movement in his limbs. He lay where he fell, moaning out his grief with his wide-staring eyes turned straight up into the cold gray of the starless sky.

Starting point is 01:49:06 For a long time, he was motionless. From the top of the ridge, where the trail cut over the mountain, he looked like a bit of fire-blackened wood half buried in the snow. Halfway up the river, ridge, a wolf, slinking hungrily, sniffed first up the trail and then down, and broke the stillness of the gray night-end with a mournful howl. It did not stir Jan Turot. Long after the wolf had passed on, he moved a little, twisting himself so that his eyes could follow the tracks made by the sledge and dogs. When he came to where the snow-covered backbone

Starting point is 01:49:49 of the ridge cut itself in faint outline against the desolate coldness of the sky, there fell from him the first sound of returning life. Up there he was sure that he had seen something move, an object which at first he had taken for a bush and which he knew was not the wolf. He watched for its reappearance until all sorts of gray dawn shadows danced before his eyes. then he began slowly to crawl up the trail some of the dull paralytic ache was gone from his limbs and as he worked his blood began to warm them into new strength until he stood up and sniffed like an animal in the wind that was coming over the ridge from the south there was something in that wind that thrilled him it stung his nostrils to a quick sensing of the nearness of something that was human he smelled smoke in it there was the pungent odor of green balsam mixed with a faint perfume of pitch pine and because the odor of pitch grew stronger as he ascended he knew that it was a small fire that was making the smoke with none of the fierce dry woods to burn up the smell it was a fire hidden among the rocks a tiny fire over which the fleeing missioner was cooking

Starting point is 01:51:18 his breakfast. Jan almost moaned aloud in his gladness, and the old mad strength returned to his body. Near the summit of the ridge he picked up a club. It was a short, thick club, with the heavy end nodded and twisted. Causciously he lifted his face over the rocks and looked out upon a plateau, still deep in snow, swept bare by the winter's winds, and covered with rocks and bushes his face was so white that at a little distance it might have been taken for a snow-hair it went whiter when a few yards away he saw the fire the man and the dogs the man was close to the little blaze his broad shoulders hunched over steadying a small pot over the flame beyond him were the dogs huddled about the sledge inanimate as death. Jan drew himself over the rocks.

Starting point is 01:52:26 Once he had seen a big-footed lynx creep upon a wide-awake fox, and like that lynx he crept upon the man beside the fire. One of the tired dogs moved, and his pointed nostrils quivered in the air. Jan lay flat in the snow. Then the dog's muzzle dropped between his paws. and the boy moved on. Inch by inch he advanced. The inches multiplied themselves into a foot.

Starting point is 01:52:57 The foot lengthened into yards, and still the man remained hunched over his simmering pot. Jan rose gently from his hands and knees to his feet, a furnace of madness blazing in his eyes. The restless dog raised his head again. He sniffed danger. near menacing danger and sprang up with a snarling cry that brought the man over the fire to quick attention in a flash yon took the last leap and his club crashed down upon the missioner's head the man pitched over like a log and with a shrill cry the boy was at his throat i am yontero he shrieked i am yontero he shrieked i am yontero

Starting point is 01:53:48 jan terro come to kill you he dropped his club and was upon the man's chest his slender fingers tightening like steel wire about the thick throat of his enemy i kill you slow slow he cried as the missioner struggled weakly the great thick body heaved under him and he put all his strength into his hands something struck him in the face Something struck him again and again, but he felt neither the pain nor the force of it, and his voice sobbed out his triumph as he choked. The man's hands reached up and tore at his hair, but Jan saw only the missioner's modelled face growing more modeled, and his eyes staring in greater agony up into his own. "'I am Jan Tarot!' he panted again and again.

Starting point is 01:54:46 I am Jan Turot, and I kill you, kill you! The blood poured from his face. It blinded him until he could no longer see the one from which he was choking life. He bent down his head to escape the blows. The man's body heaved more and more. It turned until he was half under it. But still he hung to the thick throat, as the weasel hangs in tenacious death to the jugular.

Starting point is 01:55:16 of its prey. The missioner's weight was upon him in crushing force now. His huge hand struck and tore at the boy's head and face, and then they had fastened themselves at his neck. Jan was conscious of a terrible effort to take in breath, but he was not conscious of pain. The clutch did not frighten him. It did not make him loosen his grip.

Starting point is 01:55:43 His fingers dug deeper. He strove to cry out still his words of triumph, but he could make no sound, except a gasping like that which came from between the gaping jaws of the man whose life his body and soul were fighting to smother. There was death in each of the two grips, but the man's was the stronger, and his neck was larger and tougher,

Starting point is 01:56:08 so that after a time he staggered to his knees and then to his feet, while Jan lay upon his back. his face and hair red with blood, his eyes wide open and with a lifeless glare in them. The missionary looked down upon his victim in horror. As the life that had nearly ebbed out of him poured back into his body, he staggered among the dogs, fastened them to the sledge, and urged them down the mountain into the plain. There was soon no sound of the sledge.

Starting point is 01:56:44 From a bush a dozen yards away, a wondering moose bird had watched the terrible struggle. Now he hopped boldly upon Jan's motionless body, and perked his head inquisitively as he examined the strange face, covered with blood and twisted in torture. The gray film of dawn dissolved itself into the white beginning of day. Far to the south, a bit of the red sunrise, was creeping into the northern world. End of Chapter 8.

Starting point is 01:57:20 Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 9 of the Honor of the Big Snow's. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Curwood. Chapter 9. Jean and Jan. Half a mile down the ridge, where it

Starting point is 01:57:50 sloped up gradually from the forests and swamps of the plain, a team of powerful malamutes were running at the head of a toboggan. On the sledge was a young half-Kree woman. Now beside the sledge, now at the lead of the dogs, cracking his whip and shouting joyously, ran Jean de Gravois. "'Is it not beautiful, my iowaka?' he cried for the hundredth time, in Cree, leaping over a three-foot boulder in his boundless enthusiasm. Is this not the glorious world, with the sun just rising off there, and spring only a few days away?

Starting point is 01:58:33 It is not like the cold chills at Churchill, which come up with the icebergs and stay there all summer. What do you think of your Jean de Gravoix and his country now? Jean was bringing back with him a splendid young woman, with big, lustrous eyes and hair that shone with the gloss of a raven's wing in the sun. She laughed at him proudly as he danced and leaped beside her, replying softly in Cree, which is the most beautiful language in the world, to everything that he said.

Starting point is 01:59:10 Jean leaped and ran, cracked his caribou whip, and shouted and sang until he was panting and red in the face. just as iawaka had called upon him to stop and get a second wind the malamutes dropped back upon their haunches where yon tiro lay twisted and bleeding in the snow what is this cried jean he caught yon's limp head and shoulders up in his arms and called shrilly to iowaka who was disentangling herself from the thick furs in which he had wrapped her it is the fiddler i told you about who lives with williams at postlacbin he shouted excitedly in cree he has been murdered he has been choked to death and torn to pieces in the face as if by an animal jean's eyes roved about as iawaka kneeled beside him what a fight he gasped see the footprints a big man and a small boy and the murderer has gone on a sledge. He is warm, said Iowaka.

Starting point is 02:00:25 It may be that he is not dead. Jean de Gravois sprang to his feet, his little black eyes flashing with a dangerous fire. In a single leap he was at the side of the sledge, throwing off the furs and bundles and all other objects except his rifle. He is dead, Iowwaka. Look at the same. the purple and black in his face. It is Jean de Gravois who will catch the murderer,

Starting point is 02:00:53 and you will stay here and make yourself a camp. Hi-oh! he shouted to the Malamutes. The team twisted sinuously and swiftly in the trail as he sped over the edge of the mountain. Upon the plane below, he knelt upon the toboggan with his rifle in front of him, and at his low hissing commands, which reached no farther than the, the dog's ears, the team stretched their long bodies in pursuit of the missioner and his huskies. Jean knew that whoever was ahead of him was not far away, and he laughed and hunched his shoulders when he saw that his magnificent malamutes were making three times the speed of the huskies.

Starting point is 02:01:38 It was a short chase. It led across the narrow plain and into a dense tangle of swamp, where the huskies had picked their way in aimless wandering until they came out in thick balsam and banshan pine. Half a mile farther on, and the trail broke into an open, which led down to the smooth surface of a lake, and two-thirds across the lake was the fleeing missioner. The Malamute leader flung open his jaws in a deep baying triumph,

Starting point is 02:02:11 and with a savage yell, Jean cracked his caribou whip over, over his back. He saw the man ahead of him lean over the end of his sledge as he urged his dogs, but the huskies went no faster, and then he caught the glitter of something that flashed for a moment in the sun. Ah, said Jean softly, as a bullet sang over his head. He fires a Jean de Gravoix! He dropped his whip, and there was the warm glow of happiness in his little dark face as he leveled his rifle over the backs of his malamutes. He fires at Jean de Gravois, and it is Jean who can hamstring a caribou at three hundred yards

Starting point is 02:02:58 on the run. For an instant, at the crack of his rifle, there was no movement ahead. Then something rolled from the sledge and lay doubled up in the snow. A hundred yards beyond it, the huskies stopped in a round. rabble and turned to look at the approaching strangers. Beside it, Jean stopped, and when he saw the face that stared up at him, he clutched his thin hands in his long black hair and cried out in shrill amazement and horror, The saints in heaven! It is the missionary from Churchill!

Starting point is 02:03:38 He turned the man over, and found where his bullet had entered under one arm and come out from under the other. There was no spark of life left. The missioner was already dead. The missionary from Churchill, he gasped again. He looked up at the warm sun and kicked the melting snow under his moccasined feet. It will thaw very soon, he said to himself, looking again at the dead man, and then he will go into the lake. he headed his malamutes back to the forest then he ran out and cut the traces of the exhausted huskies and with his whip scattered them in freedom over the ice go to the wolves he shouted in cre hide yourselves from the post or jean de gravois will cut out your tongues and take your skins off alive when he came back to the top of the mountain jean found iawaka making hot coffee while Jan was bundled up in furs near the fire.

Starting point is 02:04:48 "'It is as I said,' she called. "'He is alive!' Thus it happened that the return of Jean de Gravoix to the post was even more dramatic than he had schemed it to be, for he brought back with him not only a beautiful wife from Churchill, but also the half-dead Jan Turot from the scene of battle on the mountain. and in the mystery of it all he reveled for two days. For Jean de Gravois said not a word about the dead man on the lake beyond the forest,

Starting point is 02:05:23 nor did the huskies come back into their bondage to give a hint of the missing missionary. End of Chapter 9, recording by Roger Malin. Chapter 10 of the honor of the big snows. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. recording by roger malim the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter ten red snow flowers from the day after the caribou roast the fur gatherers began scattering the eskimos left the next morning on the second day mookie's people from the west set off along the edge of the barons most of the others left by ones and twos into the wilderness to the south and east less than a dozen still put off their return to the late spring trapping and among these were jean de gravois and his wife jean waited until the third day then he went to see jan the boy was bolstered up in his cot with cummins balancing the little melisse on the edge of the bed when he came in

Starting point is 02:06:43 for a time jean sat and watched them in silence then he made a sign to cummins who joined him at the door i am going the athabasca way to-day he said i wish to talk with the boy before i go i have a word to say to him which no ears should hear but his own will it be right talk to him as long as you like said cummins but don't worry him about the missionary you'll not get a word from him. Jan's eyes spoke with a devotion greater than words as Jean de Gravoix came and sat close beside him. He knew that it was Jean who had brought him alive into the post, and now there was something in the suggestive grimacing of the Frenchman's face and in the eagerness with which he looked over his shoulder,

Starting point is 02:07:37 as if he was not quite sure but that the walls held ears, that caused the boy's heart to beat a little faster, as he speculated upon what Jean was going to say. For a few moments, Jean looked at the other steadily, with his thin, black face propped in his hands and a curious smile on his lips. He twisted his face into a dozen expressions of a language as voluble as that of his tongue,

Starting point is 02:08:05 hunched his shoulders up to his ears as he grinned at Jan, and chuckled between his grimaces. Ah! it was one beautiful fight he said softly you are a brave boy yon terot you did not see it asked yon unconsciously the words came from him in french jean caught one of his thin hands and laughed joyfully for the spirit of him was french to the bottom of his soul i see it no neither i nor iawaka but there it was in the snow as plain as the eyes in your face and did i not follow the trail that staggered down the mountain while iowaka brought you back to life and when i came to the lake did i not see something black out upon it like a charred log and when i came to it was it not the dead body of the missioner from churchill eh yonterot yon sat up in his bed with a sharp cry shhs admonished jean pressing him back gently there is no need of telling what is out there on the lake

Starting point is 02:09:25 only the blessed virgin made me dream last night that you would like to see with your own eyes that the missioner is dead the thaw will open up the lake in a few days then he will go down in the first slush and jean looked about him cautiously again and whispered low if you see anything about the dead missionary that you do not understand think o jean de gravois he rose to his feet and bent over yon's white face i am going the athabasca way to-day he finished perhaps yonterot you will hear after a time that it would be best for jean de gravoie never to return again to this post if so you will find him between fond du lac and the beaver river and you can make it in four days by driving your dogs close to the scrub edge of the barons keeping always where you can see the musk-ox to the north he turned to the door and hesitated there for a moment smiling and shrugging his shoulders jean de gravois wonders if yontero understands he said and passed out. When Cummins returned, he found Jan's cheeks flushed and the boy in a fever. "'Ah, devil take that grouvoir!' he growled. "'He has been a brother to me,' said Jan simply. I love him.

Starting point is 02:11:04 On the second day after the Frenchman's departure, Jan rose free of the fever which had threatened him for a time, and in the afternoon he harnessed Cummins dogs. The last of the trappers had started from the post that morning, their sledges and dogs sinking heavily in the deepening slush, and Jan set off over the smooth toboggan trail made by the company's agent in his return to Fort Churchill. This trail followed close along the base of the ridge

Starting point is 02:11:37 upon which he had fought the missionary, joining that of Jean de Gravoix miles beyond. Jan climbed the ridge. From where he had made his attack, he followed the almost obliterated trail of the Frenchman and his Malamute until he came to the lake, and then he knew that Jean de Gravoix had spoken the truth, for he found the missionary with his face half buried in the slush, stark dead.

Starting point is 02:12:08 He no long long. had to guess at the meaning of Jean's words. The bullet hole under the dead man's arms was too large to escape eyes like Jan's. Into the little hidden world which he treasured in his heart, there came another face to remain always with him, the face of the courageous little forest dandy who was hurrying with his bride back into the country of the Athabasca.

Starting point is 02:12:34 Yon allowed his dogs to walk all the way back to the post, and it was dusk before they arrived. Mabala had prepared supper, and Cummins was waiting for him. He glanced sharply at the boy. There was a smile on Jan's lips, and there was something in his eyes which Cummins had never seen there before. From that night they were no longer filled with the nervous, glittering flashes, which at times had given him an appearance almost of madness.

Starting point is 02:13:09 In place of their searching suspicions, there was a warmer and more companionable glow, and Cummins felt the effect of the change, as he ate his caribou steak and talked once more entirely of Melisse. A creetrapper had found Jan's violin in the snow, and had brought it to Mabala. Before Cummins finished his supper,

Starting point is 02:13:33 the boy began to play, and he continued to play until the lights at the post went out, and both the man and the child were deep in sleep. Then, Jan stopped. There was the fire of a keen wakefulness in his eyes, as he carefully unfastened the strings of his instrument and held it close to the oil lamp, so that he could peer down through the narrow aperture in the box. He looked again at Cummins.

Starting point is 02:14:03 the man was sleeping with his face to the wall with the hooked wire which he used for cleaning his revolver yon fished gently at the very end of the box and after three or four efforts the wire caught in something soft which he pulled toward him through the bulge in the f-hole he dragged forth a small tightly rolled cylinder of faded red cloth for a few moments he sat watching the deep breathing of cummins unrolling the cloth as he watched until he had spread out upon the table before him a number of closely written pages of paper he waited them at one end with his violin and held them down at the other with his hands the writing was in french several of the pages were in a heavy masculine hand the words running one upon another so closely that in places they seemed to be connected and from them yon took his fingers so that they rolled up like a spring over the others he bent his head and there came from him a low sobbing breath on these pages the writing was that of a woman and from the paper there still rose a faint sweet scent of heliotrope for half an hour yon gazed upon them reading the word slowly until he came to the last page when there came a movement from over against the wall he lifted from the wall he lifted for an instant a pair of startled eyes. Cummins was turning in his sleep.

Starting point is 02:15:47 Soundlessly, Jan tiptoed across the floor, opened the door, without disturbing the slumbering man, and went out into the night. In the south and east, there glowed a soft blaze of fire where the big spring moon was coming up over the forest. As Jan turned his face toward it, a new and strange longing crept into his heart he stretched out his arms with the papers and his violin clutched in his hands as if from out of that growing glory a wonderful spirit was calling to him

Starting point is 02:16:25 for the first time in his lonely life it came to him this call of the great world beyond the wilderness and suddenly he crushed the woman's letter to his lips and his voice burst from him in whispering thrilling eagerness i will come to you some day when ze little me lice come too he rolled the written pages together wrapped them in the faded red cloths and concealed them again in the box of his violin before he re-entered the cabin. The next morning, Cummins stood in the door and said, How warm the sun is! The snow and ice are going, Jan. It's spring. We'll house the sledges today and begin feeding the dogs on fish. Each day thereafter the sun rose earlier. The day was longer, and the day was longer, the air was warmer, and with the warmth there now came the sweet sense of the budding earth

Starting point is 02:17:31 and the myriad sounds of the deep, unseen life of the forest, awakening from its long slumber in its bed of snow. Moose-birds chirped their mating songs and flirted from morning until night in bow and air, ravens fluff themselves in the sun, and snowbirds, little black-and-white beauties that were wont to whisk about like so many flashing gems, changed their color from day to day until they became new creatures in a new world. The poplar buds swelled in their joy until they split like over fat peas.

Starting point is 02:18:12 The mother bears came out of their winter dens, accompanied by little ones born weeks before, and taught them how to pull down the slender saplings for these same buds. the moose returned from the blizzardy tops of the great ridges where for good reasons they had passed the winter followed by the wolves who fed upon their weak and sick everywhere were the rushing torrents of melting snow the crackle of crumbling ice the dying frost cries of rock and earth and tree and each night the pale glow of the aurora borealis crept farther and farther toward the pole in its fading glory the post fell back into its old ways now and then a visitor came in from out of the forest but he remained for a visiter came in from out of the forest but he remained for a woman only a day or two, taking back into the solitude with him a few of the necessaries of life.

Starting point is 02:19:15 Williams was busy preparing his books for the coming of the company's chief agent from London, and Cummins, who was helping the factor, had a good deal of extra time on his hands. Before the last of the snow was gone, he and Jan began dragging in logs for an addition which they planned for the little cabin. basking out in the sun with a huge bearskin for a floor melisse looked upon the new home building with wonderful demonstrations of interest commons's face glowed with pleasure as she kicked and scrambled on the bearskin and gave shrill-voiced approval of their efforts jan was the happiest youth in the world it was certain that the little melisse understood what they were doing and the word passed from cummins and yon to the others at the post so that it happened frequently during the building operations that mukie and peri and even williams himself would squat for an hour at a time in the snow near melisse marvelling at the early knowledge which the great god saw fit to put into a white baby's brain this miracle came to be a matter of deep discussion in which there were the few words but much thought of men born to silence one day mukie brought two little indian babies and set them on the bearskin where they continued to sit in stoic indifference

Starting point is 02:20:51 a clear proof of the superior development of melisse i wouldn't be surprised to hear her begin talking at any time confided cummins to yon one evening when the boy was tuning his violin. She is nearly six months old. Do you suppose she would begin in French? asked Jan, suddenly stopping the tightening of his strings. Come and stared. Why? Jan dropped his voice to an impressive whisper. Because I have heard her many times say, bon bon bon bon bon bon bon which means candy and always i have given her candy and now the little milis say bon bon bon all of the time well said cummins eyeing him in half belief could it happen like a shot jan replied i began in english and yan tarot is French. He began playing, but Cummins did not hear much of the music. He went to the door

Starting point is 02:22:06 and stared in lonely grief at the top of the tall spruce over the grave. Later, he said to Jan, It would be bad if that were so. Give her no more sweet stuff when she says bonbon, Jan. She must forget. The next day, Jan tore down the saffered down the saff barricade around the woman's grave and from noon until almost sunset he skirted the sunny side of a great ridge to the south when he came back he brought with him a basket of the early red snow-flowers with earth clinging to their roots these he planted thickly over the mound under the spruce and around its edge he put rows of the young shoots of labrador tea and bacneenies as the weather grew warmer and spring changed into summer he took melees upon short excursions with him into the forests and together they picked great armfuls of flowers and arctic ferns the grave was never without fresh offerings and the cabin with its new addition complete was always filled with the beautiful things that spring up out of the earth yon and melisse were happy and in the joys of these two there was pleasure for the others of the post as there had been happiness in the presence of the woman only upon cummins had there settled a deep grief the changes of spring and summer bringing with them all that this desolate world held of warmth and beauty filled him with the excruciating pain of his great grief as if the woman

Starting point is 02:23:58 had died but yesterday. When he first saw the red flowers glowing upon her grave, he buried his head in his arms and sobbed like a child. The woman had loved them. She had always watched for the first red blooms to shoot up out of the wet earth. A hundred times he had gone with her to search for them, and had fastened the first flower and the soft beauty of her hair. Those were the days.

Starting point is 02:24:28 when, like happy children, they had romped and laughed together out there beyond the black spruce. Often he had caught her up in his strong arms and carried her, tired and hungry, but gloriously happy, back to their little home in the clearing, where she would sit and laugh at him as he clumsily prepared their supper. Thoughts and pictures like these choked him and drove him off alone into the depths of the wilderness. When this spirit impelled him, his moccasined feet would softly tread the paths they had taken in their wanderings, and at every turn a new memory would spring up before him, and he longed to fling himself down there with the sweet spirit of the woman and die. Little did he dream at these times that Jan and Melisse were to cherish these same paths,

Starting point is 02:25:26 that out of the old dead joys there were to spring new joys, and that the new joys were to wither and die, even as his own, for a time. Beyond his own great sorrow, he saw nothing in the future. He gave up Melisse to Jan. At last, his gaunt frame thinned by sleepless nights and days of mental torture, he said that the company's business

Starting point is 02:25:55 was calling him to Churchill, and, early in August, he left for the bay. End of Chapter 10. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 11 of the Honor of the Big Snows. This Liverbach's recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 11. For Her. upon yon now fell a great responsibility melees was his own days passed before he could realize the fullness of his possession

Starting point is 02:26:43 he had meant to go by the athabasca water route to see jean de gravois leaving melisse to commons for a fortnight or so now he gave this up day and night he guarded the child and to jan's great joy it soon came to pass that whenever he was compelled to leave her for a short time melisse would cry for him at least mabala assured him that this was so and melisse gave evidence of it by her ecstatic joy when he returned when cummins came back from fort churchill in the autumn he brought with him a pack full of things for melisse including new books and papers for which he had spent a share of his season's earnings as he was freeing these treasures from their wrapping of soft caribou skin with yon and melisse both looking on he stopped suddenly and glanced from his knees up at the boy they're wondering over at churchill what became of the missionary who left with the mail yon they say he was last seen at the itani and not here replied yon quickly not that they know of said commons still keeping his eyes on the boy the man who drove him never got back to churchill they're wondering where the driver went too a company officer has gone up to the itani and it is possible he may come over to lakban i don't believe he'll find the missionary neither do i said jan quite coolly he is probably dead and the wolves and foxes have eaten him before this or maybe ze fish commons resumed his task of unpacking and among the books which he brought forth there were two which he gave to yon the supply ship from london came in while i was at churchill and those came with it he explained

Starting point is 02:28:43 there's school books there's going to be a school at churchill next winter and the winter after that it'll be at york factory down in the haze he settled back on his heels and looked at yon it's the first school that's ever come nearer than four hundred miles of us that's at prince albert for many succeeding days jan took long walks alone in the forest trails and silently thrashed out the two problems which cummins had brought back from churchill for him should he warn jean de gravois that a company officer was investigating the disappearance of the missionary at first his impulse was to go at once into jean to Jean's haunts beyond the Fond de Lac and give him the news. But even if the officer did come to post Lacbonne, how would he know that the missionary was at the bottom of the lake and that Jean de Gravoix was accountable for it? So, in the end, Jan decided that it would be folly

Starting point is 02:29:48 to stir up the little hunter's fears, and he thought no more of the company's investigator who had gone up to the Yatani. But the second problem was one whose perplexity, he's troubled him. Cummins' word of the school at Churchill had put a new and thrilling thought into his head, and always with that thought he coupled visions of the growing Melisse. This year the school would be at Churchill, and the next at York Factory, and after that it might be gone forever, so that when Melis grew up there would be none nearer than what Jan looked upon as the other end

Starting point is 02:30:24 of the world? Why could not he go to school for Melisse, and store up treasures which, in time, he might turn over to her? The scheme was a colossal one, by all odds, the largest that had ever entered into his dreams of what life held for him, that he, Jan Tarot, should learn to read and write, and do other things like the people of the far south, so that he might help to make the little creature in the cabin like her who slept under the watchful spruce. He was stirred to the depths of his soul, now with fear, again with hope and desire and ambition, and it was not until the first cold chills of approaching winter crept down from the north and east that the ultimate test came, and he told Cummins of his intention.

Starting point is 02:31:16 Once his mind was settled, Jan lost no time in putting his plans into action. Mookie knew the trail to Churchill and agreed to leave with him on the third day, which gave William's wife time to make him a new coat of caribou skin. On the second evening he played for the last time in the little cabin, and after Melyse had fallen asleep, he took her up gently in his arms and held her there for a long time while Cummins looked on in silence. When he replaced her in the little bed against the wall,

Starting point is 02:31:52 cummins put one of his long arms about the boy's shoulders and led him to the door where they stood looking out upon the grim desolation of the forest that rose black and silent against the starlit background of the sky high above the thick tops of the spruce rose the lone tree over the grave like a dark finger pointing up into the night and cummins eyes rested there she heard you first that night yawn he spoke softly. She knew that you were coming long before I could hear anything but the crackling in the skies. I believe she knows now. The arm about Jan's shoulder tightened, and Cummins' head dropped until his rough cheek rested upon the boy's hair.

Starting point is 02:32:44 There was something of the gentleness of love in what he did, and in response to it, Jan caught the hand that was hanging over his shoulder in both his own. boy won't you tell me who you are and why you came that night i will tell you now that i come from ze great bear whispered yon i am only yon tarot and the great god made me come that night because his heart throbbed with sudden inspiration as he looked up into his companion's face because ze little melisse was here he finished for a time cummins made no move or sound then he drew the boy back into the cabin and from the little gingham-covered box in the corner he took a buckskin bag you are going to churchill for melisse and for her he said in a voice pitched low that it might not awaken the baby take this yon drew a step back no i fin work with ze company at churchill that is ze gold for melisse when she grow up jan terot is no what you call him

Starting point is 02:34:01 his teeth gleamed in a smile but it lasted only for an instant cummins face darkened and he caught him firmly almost roughly by the arm then jan tarot will never come back to melisse he exclaimed with finality you are going to churchill to be at school and not to work with your hands they are sending you do you understand boy they there was a fierce tremor in his voice which will it be will you take the bag or will you never again come back to l'acbin dumbly jan reached out and took the buckskin pouch a dull flush burned in his cheeks cummins looked in wonder upon the strange look that came into his eyes i pay back this gold to you and may lease a hundred times he cried tensely i swear it and i swear that yamtero make no lie unconsciously with the buckskin bag clutched in one hand he had stretched out his other arm to the violin hanging against the wall cummins turned to look when he faced him again the boy's arm had fallen to his side and his cheeks were white the next day he left no one heard his last words to melisse or witnessed his final leave-taking of her for cummins sympathized with the boy's grief and went out of the cabin an hour before mukie was ready with his pack the last that he heard was yan's violin playing low sweet music to the child three weeks later when mukie returned to la

Starting point is 02:35:55 he said that jan had travelled to churchill like one who had lost his tongue and that far into the nights he had played lonely dirges upon his violin end of chapter eleven recording by roger maline chapter twelve of the honor of the big snows this libervox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter twelve a rumor from the south it was a long winter for cummins and melisse it was a longer one for yon he had taken with him a letter from the factor at l'acbein to the factor at churchill and he found quarters with the chief clerk's assistant at the post a young red-faced man who had come over on the ship from england he was a cheerful good-natured young fellow and when he learned that his new associate had tramped all the way from the barren land to attend the new public school he at once invested himself with the responsibilities of a private tutor he taught yon first of all to say is in place of ease it was a tremendous lesson for yon but he struggled with it manfully and a week after his arrival when one evening he was tuning his violin to play for young mcdonald he said with eager gravity ah i have it now mr mcdonald it is not ease it is ease mcdonald roared but persisted and in time Jan began to get the twist out of his tongue.

Starting point is 02:37:47 The school opened in November, and Jan found himself one of twenty or so, gathered there from forty thousand square miles of wilderness. Two white youths and a half-breed had come from the Atani, the factor at Nelson House sent up his son, and from the upper waters of the little Churchill, there came three others. From the first, Jan's music found,

Starting point is 02:38:12 him a premier place in the interest of the tutor sent over by the company he studied by night as well as by day and by the end of the second month his only competitor was the youth from nelson house his greatest source of knowledge was not the teacher but macdonald there was in him no inherent desire for the learning of the people to the south that he was storing away like a faithful machine for the use of melisse but mcdonald gave him that for which his soul longed a picture of life as it existed in the wonderful world beyond the wilderness to which some strange spirit within him growing stronger as the weeks and months passed seemed projecting his hopes and his ambitions between his thoughts of melisse and l'acques ban he dreamed of that other world and several times during the winter he took the little roll from the box of his violin and read again and again the written pages that it contained some time i will go he assured himself always some time when melisse is a little older and can go too to young macdonald the boy from laxbonne was a little older and can go too to young macdonald the boy from l'acbein was a find the scottish youth was filled with an immense longing for home and as his homesickness grew he poured more and more into yon's attentive years his knowledge of the world from which he had come he told him the history of the old brass cannon that lay abandoned among the vines and bushes where a fort had stood at churchill many years before he described the coming of the first ship into the great bay told of hudson and his men of great wars that his listener had never dreamed of of kings and queens and strange nations

Starting point is 02:40:11 at night he read a great deal to yon out of books that he had brought over with him as the weeks and months passed the strange spirit that was calling to the forest boy out of that other world stirred more restlessly within him at times it urged him to confide in mcdonald what was hidden away in the box of his violin the secret nearly burst from him one sunday when mcdonald said i'm going back on the ship that comes over next summer what do you say to going back with me yon the spirit surged through yon in a hot flood and it was only an accident that kept him from saying what was in his heart they were standing with the icy bay stretching off in interminable miles toward the pole a little way from them the restless tide was beating up through the broken ice and eating deeper into the frozen shore from out of the bank there projected here and there the ends of dark box-like objects which in the earlier days of the company had been gun cases in them were the bones of men who had lived and died an age ago and as yon looked at the silent coffins now falling into the sea another spirit the spirit that bound him to melisse entered into him and he shuddered as he thought of what might happen in the passing of a year it was this spirit that won in the spring jan went back to l'acbin with the company's supplies the next autumn he followed the school to york factory and the third year he joined it at nelson house then the company's teacher died and no one came to fill his place

Starting point is 02:42:03 in midwinter of this third year jan returned to lachbein and hugging the delighted melisse close in his arms he told her that never again would he go away without her melisse tightening her arms around his neck made his promise sacred by offering her little rose-butt of a mouth for him to kiss later the restless spirit slumbering within his breast urged him to speak to cummins when melisse is a little older should we not go with her into the south he said she must not live forever in a place like this cummins looked at him for an instant as if he did not understand when jan's meaning struck home his eyes hardened and there was the vibrant ring of steel in his quiet voice her mother will be out there under the old spruce until the end of time he said slowly and we will never leave her unless some day melisse goes alone from that hour jan no longer looked into the box of his violin he struggled against the desire that had grown with his years until he believed that he had crushed it and stamped it out of his existence in his life there came to be but one rising and one setting of the sun melees was his universe she crowded his heart until beyond her he began to lose visions of any other world each day added to his joy he called her my little sister and with sweet gravity melisse called him brother yon and returned in full measure his boundless love

Starting point is 02:43:54 he marked the slow turning of her flaxen hair into sunny gold and month by month watched joyfully the deepening of that gold into warm shades of brown she was to be like her mother yon's soul rejoiced and in his silent way commons offered up wordless prayers of thankfulness so matters stood at post-lac-bin in the beginning of melisse's ninth year when up from the south there came a rumor as civil war spreads its deepest gloom as the struggle of father against son and brother against brother stifles the breathing of nations so this rumor set creeping a deep paw over the forest people. Rumor grew into rumor. From the east, the south, and the west they multiplied, until on all sides the paw reveres of the wilderness carried news that the red terror was at their heels,

Starting point is 02:44:59 and the chill of a great fear swept like a shivering wind from the edge of civilization to the bay. End of chapter 12, recording. by Roger Maline. Chapter 13 of the Honor of the Big Snowes. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snow's by James Oliver Kerrwood.

Starting point is 02:45:34 Chapter 13. The Red Terror 19 years before, these same rumors had come up from the South, and the Red Terror had followed. The horror of it still remains, with the forest people, for a thousand unmarked graves shunned like a pestilence, and scattered from the lower waters of James Bay to the lake country of the Athabasca gave evidence of the toll it demanded. From Dubrochet on Reindeer Lake, authentic word first came to Lacbonne early in the winter.

Starting point is 02:46:13 Henderson was factor there, and he passed up the warning that had come to him from Nelson House and the country to the southeast. There's a smallpox on the Nelson, his messenger informed Williams, and it has struck the Crees in Walliston Lake. God only knows what it is doing to the Bay Indians, but we hear that it is wiping out the Chippewyans between the Albany and the Churchill. He left the same day with his winded dogs.

Starting point is 02:46:44 I'm off for the Revillon people to the west, with the compliments of our company he explained three days later word came from churchill that all of the company's servants and her majesty's subjects west of the bay should prepare themselves for the coming of the red terror william's thick face went as white as the paper he held as he read the words of the churchill factor it means dig graves he said that's the only preparation we can make He read the paper aloud to the men at Lacanbin, and every available man was detailed to spread the warning throughout the post territory. There was a quick harnessing of dogs, and on each sledge that went out was a roll of red cotton cloth. William's face was still white as he passed these rolls out from the company store.

Starting point is 02:47:43 They were ominous of death, lurid signals of a pestilence and hoar. and the touch of them sent shuddering chills through the men who were about to scatter them among the forest people. Jan went over the Churchill Trail and then swung southward along the Hasabala, where the country was criss-crossed with trap lines of the half-breeds and the French. First he struck the cabin of Cosset and his wife and left part of his cloth. Then he turned westward while Crosay harnessed his dogs and hurried with a quarter of the roll to the south. Between the Hassebala and Cloakal Lake,

Starting point is 02:48:26 Jan found three other cabins, and at each he left a bit of the red cotton. Forty miles to the south, somewhere on the porcupine, were the lines of Henry Langlois, the post's greatest fox hunter. On the morning of the third day, yon set off in search of langlois and late in the afternoon of the same day he came upon a well-beaten snow-shoe trail on this he camped until morning when dawn came he began following it

Starting point is 02:48:59 he passed half a dozen of langloire's trap houses in none of them was their bait in three the traps were sprung in the seventh he found the remains of a red fox that had been eaten until there was little but the bones left two houses beyond there was an ermine in a trap with its head eaten off with growing perplexity yon examined the snow-shoe trails in the snow The most recent of them were days old. He urged on his dogs, stopping no more at the trap-houses, until, with a shrieking command, he brought them to a halt at the edge of a clearing cut in the forest. A dozen rods ahead of him was the trapper's cabin. Over it, hanging limply to a sapling pole,

Starting point is 02:49:54 was the red signal of horror. With a terrified, cry to the dogs, Yon ran back, and the team turned about and followed him in a tangled mass. Then he stopped. There was no smoke rising from the clay chimney in the little cabin. Its one window was white with frost. Again and again he shouted, but no sign of life responded to his cries. He fired his rifle twice and waited with his mittened hand over his mouth and nostrils. There was no reply. Then, abandoning hope, he turned back into the north and gave his dogs no rest until he had reached Lacanix. His team came in half dead. Both Cummins and Williams

Starting point is 02:50:48 rushed out to meet him as he drove up before the company's store. "'The red flag is over Langlois's cabin,' he cried. "'I fired my rifle. and shouted, There is no life. Langlois is dead. Great God, groaned Williams. His red face changed to a sickly pallor, and he stood with his thick hands clenched,

Starting point is 02:51:15 while Cummins took charge of the dogs, and Jan went into the store for something to eat. Mookie and Perri returned to the post the next day. Young Williams followed close after, them filled with terror. He had found the plague among the crees of the water found. Each day added to the gloom at Lachbein. For a time, Jan could not fully understand, and he still played his violin and romped joyfully with Melyis in the little cabin. He had not lived through the plague of nineteen years before. Most of the others had,

Starting point is 02:51:55 even to Mookie, the youngest of them all. yon did not know that it was this red terror that came like a nemesis of the gods to cut down the people of the great northland until they were fewer in number than those of the sahara desert but he learned quickly in february the crees along the wallaston lake were practically wiped out red flags marked the trail of the nelson death leaped from cabin to cabin in the wilderness to the west by the middle of the month l'acquesbain was hemmed in by the plague on all sides but the north the post's trap lines had been shortened now they were abandoned entirely and the great fight began williams assembled his men and told them how that same battle had been fought nearly two decades before for sixty miles about the post every cabin and wigwam that floated a red flag must be visited and burned if the occupants were dead. In learning whether life or death existed in these places lay the peril for those who undertook the task.

Starting point is 02:53:10 It was a dangerous mission. It meant facing a death from which those who listened to the old factor shrank with dread. Yet, when the call came, they responded to a man. Cummins and Jan ate their last supper together with Melyse sitting between them and wondering at their silence. When it was over, the two went outside. Mookiey wasn't at the store, said Cummins, in a thick, strained voice,

Starting point is 02:53:41 halting yon in the gloom behind the cabin. Williams thought he was off to the south with his dogs. But he isn't. I saw him drag himself into his shack, like a sick dog, an hour before dusk. there'll be a red flag over l'acques ben in the morning yon stifled the sharp cry on his lips ah there's a light cried cummins it's a pitch-torch burning in front of his door a shrill quavering cry came from the direction of mukie's cabin and the two recognized it as the voice of the half-breed's father a wordless cry rising and the two recognized it as the voice of the half-breed's father a wordless cry rising and dying away again and again like the wailing of a dog.

Starting point is 02:54:33 Sudden lights flashed into the night as they had flashed years ago when Cummins staggered forth from his home with word of the woman's death. He gripped Jan's arm in a sudden spasm of horror. The flag is up now, he whispered huskily. Go back to Melisse. There is food in the house for a month, and you can bring the wood in to-night bar the door open only the back window for air stay inside with her until it is all over go to the red flags that is where i will go cried yon fiercely wrenching his arm free it is your place to stay with melisse my place is with the men

Starting point is 02:55:26 and mine yon drew himself up rigid one of us must shut himself up with her pleaded cummins it must be you his face gleamed white in the darkness you came that night because maylice was here something sent you something don't you understand and since then she has never been near to death until now you must stay with melisse with your violin melees herself shall choose replied yon we will go into the cabin and the one to whom she comes first goes among the red flags the other shuts himself in the cabin until the plague is gone he turned swiftly back to the door as he opened it he stepped aside to let cummins enter first and behind the others broad back he leaped quickly to one side his eyes glowing his white teeth gleaming in a smile unseen by cummins he stretched out his arms to melisse who was playing with the strings of his violin on the table he had done this a thousand times and melisse knew what it meant a kiss and a joyous toss halfway to the ceiling she jumped from her stool and ran to him but this time instead of hoisting her above his head he hugged her up close to his breast and buried his face in her soft hair his eyes looked over her in triumph to cummins up yon up way up cried milise he tossed her until she half turned in mid-air kissed her again as he caught her in his arms and set her laughing and happy on the edge of the table

Starting point is 02:57:25 i am going down among the sick crees in cummins place said yon to williams half an hour later now that the plague has come to l'acbin he must stay with melisse end of chapter thirteen recording by roger maline chapter fourteen of the honor of the big snows this libervox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter fourteen a long waiting the next morning jan struck out over his old trail to the hossabala the crees were gone he spent a day swinging east and west and found old trails leading into the north they have gone up among the eskimos he said to himself ah kazan what in the name of the saints is that the leading dog dropped upon his haunches with a menacing growl as a lone figure staggered across the snow toward them it was coassee with a groan he dropped upon the sledge i am sick and starving he wailed the fiend himself has got into my cabin and for three days i've had nothing but snow and a raw whistle "'Skey Jack!' "'Sick!' cried Jan, drawing a step away from him.

Starting point is 02:59:08 "'Yes, sick from an empty belly. And this! And this!' he showed a forearm done up in a bloody rag, and pointed to his neck from which the skin was peeling. "'I was gone ten days with that red cloth you gave me, and when I came back, if there wasn't the horror itself grinning at me from the top of my own shanty. I tried to get in, but my wife barred the door and said that she would shoot me if I didn't get back into the woods. I tried to steal in at night through a window, and she drenched me in hot water. I built a wigwam at the edge of the forest, and stayed there for five days. Hungry! Blessed saints, I had no matches, no grub. and when I got close enough to yell these things to her,

Starting point is 03:00:00 she kept her word and plunked me through a crack in the door, so that I lost a pint of blood from this arm. I'll give you something to eat, laughed Yon, undoing his pack. How long has the red flag been up? I've lost count of time, but it's twelve days if an hour, and I swear it's going to take all winter to get it down. "'It's not the plague. Go back and tell your wife so.' "'And get shot for my pains?' groaned Cosset,

Starting point is 03:00:34 digging into meat and biscuit. "'I'm bound for Lac-Bain, if you'll give me a dozen matches. That whiskey-jack will remain with me until I die, for when I ate him I forgot to take out his insides.' "'You're a lucky man, Crosay. It's good proof that she loves you.' if bullets and hot water and an empty belly are proofs she loves me a great deal yan tarot though i don't believe she meant to hit me it was a woman's bad aim yon left him beside a good fire and turned into the southwest to burn langlois and his cabin the red flag still floated where he had seen it weeks before the windows were thicker with frost he shouted beat upon the door with the butt of his rifle and broke in the windows the silence of death quickened the beating of his heart when he stopped to listen

Starting point is 03:01:37 there was no doubt that langlois lay dead in his little home yon brought dry brushwood from the forest and piled it high against the logs upon his sledge he sat and watched the fire until the cabin was a furnace of leaping flame he continued westward at the head of the porcupine he found the remains of three burned wigwams and from one of them he dug out charred bones down the porcupine he went slowly doubling to the east and west until at its junction with gray otter creek he met a cre who told him that twenty miles farther on there was an abandoned village of six tepees toward these he boldly set forth praying as he went that the angels were guarding melisse at post lacbonne croisset reached the post forty-eight hours after he had encountered yon The red flag is everywhere, he cried, catching sight of the signal over Mukhi's cabin. It is to the east and west of the Hasebala, as thick as jays and springtime. The Cree from the Grey Otter drove in on his way north. Six wigwams with dead in them, he reported in his own language to Williams.

Starting point is 03:03:04 A company man with a one-eyed leader and four trailers left. the gray otter to burn them williams took down his birch-bark moose horn and bellowed a weird signal to cummins who opened a crack of his door to listen with melisse close beside him thoreau is in the thick of it to the south he called there's too much of it for him and i'm going down with the dogs croiss will stay in the store for a few days melisse heard the words and her eyes were big with fear when her father turned from closing and bolting the door in more than a childish way she knew that jan had gone forth to face a great danger the grim laws of the savage world in which she lived had already begun to fix their influence upon her quickening her instinct and reason just as they hastened the lives of indian children into the responsibilities of men and women before they had reached fifteen she knew what the red flag over mukie's cabin meant she knew that the air of this world of hers had become filled with peril to those who breathed it and that people were dying out in the foreman meant she knew that the air of this world of hers had become filled with peril to those who breathed it and that people were dying out in the forests that all about them there was a terrible unseen thing which her father called the plague and that yon had gone forth to fight it to breathe it and perhaps to die in it their own door was locked and bolted against it she dared not even thrust her head from the window which was opened for a short time each day

Starting point is 03:04:44 and until cummins assured her that there was no danger in the sunshine she shunned the few pale rays that shot through the cabin window at midday unconsciously cummins added to her fears in more ways than one and as he answered her questions truthfully her knowledge increased day by day. She thought more and more of Jan. She watched for him through the two windows of her home. Every sound from outside brought her to them with eager hope, and always her heart sank with disappointment, and the tears would come very near to her eyes when she saw nothing but the terrible red flag clinging to the pole over Mookie's cabin. In the little Bible which her mother had left, there was written, on the ragged fly-leaf, a simple prayer. Each night, as she knelt beside her cot and repeated this prayer, she paused at the end and added, "'Dear Father in heaven, please take care of Jan.' The days brought quick changes now. One morning the moose-horn called

Starting point is 03:05:57 Cummins to the door. It was the fifth day after Williams had gone south. There was no smoke this morning, and I looked through the window, shouted Clause. Mookie and the old man are both dead. I'm going to burn the cabin. A stifled groan of anguish fell from Cummins' lips as he went like a dazed man to his cot and flung himself face downward upon it. Melyes could see his strong frame shaking, as if he were crying like a child, entwining her arms tightly about his neck, She sobbed out her passionate grief against his rough cheek. She did not know the part that Mookie had played in the life of the sweet woman

Starting point is 03:06:42 who had once lived in this sane little cabin. She knew only that he was dead, that the terrible thing had killed him, and that, next to her father and Jan, she had loved him more than anyone else in the world. Soon she heard a strange sound and ran to the window. Mookie's cabin was in flames. Wild-eyed and tearless with horror, she watched the fire as it burst through the broken windows and leaped high up among the black spruce.

Starting point is 03:07:16 In those flames was Mookie. She screamed and her father sprang to her with a strange cry, running with her from the window into the little room where she slept. The next morning, when Cummins went to awake, her, his face was as white as death. Melisse was not asleep. Her eyes were wide open and staring at him, and her soft cheeks burned with the hot glow of fire.

Starting point is 03:07:45 You are sick, Melyes, he whispered hoarsely. You are sick! He fell upon his knees beside her, and lifted her face in his hands. The touch of it sent a chill to his heart, such as he had not felt since men, many years ago, in that other room a few steps away. "'I want Jan,' she pleaded.

Starting point is 03:08:09 "'I want Jan to come back to me.' "'I will send for him, dear. He will come back soon. I will go out and send Kwasse.' He hid his face from her as he dragged himself away. Cosset saw him coming and came out of the store to meet him. A hundred yards away, Cumman stopped. "'Croix, for the love of God, "'take a team and go after Jan Toro,' he called. "'Tell him that Melisse is dying of the plague.

Starting point is 03:08:43 "'Hurry! Hurry!' "'Night and day!' shouted Crosse. "'Twenty minutes later, from the cabin window, "'Come and saw him start. "'Yon will be here very soon, Melisse.' he said running his fingers gently through her hair it fell out upon the pillow in thick brown waves and the sight of it choked him with the memory of another vision which would remain with him until the end of time it was her mother's hair shining softly in the dim light her mother's eyes looked up at him as he sat beside her through all this long day toward evening there came a change the fever left the tree child's cheeks. Her eyes closed and she fell asleep. Through the night, Cumman sat near the door,

Starting point is 03:09:37 but in the gray dawn, overcome by his long vigil, his head dropped upon his breast, and he slumbered. When he awoke, the cabin was filled with light. He heard a sound, and startled sprang to his feet. Maylees was at the stove, building a fire. I'm better this morning, father? Why didn't you sleep until breakfast was ready? Come and stared. Then he gave a shout, made a rush for her, and catching her up in his arms, danced about the cabin like a great bear, overturning the chairs and allowing the room to fill with smoke in his wild joy. It's what you saw through the window that made you sick, Melyse, he cried, putting her down at last.

Starting point is 03:10:29 I thought—he paused and added, his voice trembling, "'I thought you were going to be sick for more than one day, my sweet little woman.' He opened one of the windows to let in the fresh air of the morning. When Cosset returned, he did not find a red flag over Cummins' cabin, nor did he bring word of yon. For three days he had followed the trails to the south without finding the boy. but he brought back other news. Williams was sick with the plague in a Cree wigwam on the lower porcupine.

Starting point is 03:11:07 It was the last they ever heard of the factor, except that he died sometime in March and was burned by the Crees. Clauseux went back over the Churchill Trail and found his wife ready to greet him with open arms. After that he joined Perry, who came in from the north, in another search for Jan. They found neither trace nor word of him after passing the gray otter,

Starting point is 03:11:34 and Cummins gave up hope. It was not for long that their fears could be kept from Melisse. This first bitter grief that had come into her life fell upon her with a force which alarmed Cummins and cast him into deep gloom. She no longer loved to play with her things in the cabin. for days at a time she would not touch the books which yon had brought from churchill and which he had taught her to read she found little to interest her in the things which had been her life a few weeks before with growing despair comyn saw his own efforts fail as the days passed melisse mingled more and more with the indian and half-breed children

Starting point is 03:12:21 and spent much of her time at the company's store listening to the talk of the men silent attentive unresponsive to any efforts they might make to engage her smiles from her own heart she looked out upon a world that had become a void for her Jan had been mother, brother, and everything that was tender and sweet to her, and he was gone. Mookie, whom she had loved, was gone. Williams was gone. The world was changed, terribly and suddenly, and it added years to her perspective of things. Each day, as the weeks went on, and the spring sun began to soften the snow, she became a little more like the wild children at Lacinne and in the forest. For Jan she had kept her hair soft and bright,

Starting point is 03:13:18 because he praised her for it and told her it was pretty. Now it hung in tangles down her back. There came a night when she forgot her prayer, and Cummins did not notice it. He failed to notice it the next night, and the next. plunged deep into his own gloom, he was unobservant of many other things, so that in place of laughter and joy and merry rompings, only gloomy and oppressive shadows of things that had come and gone

Starting point is 03:13:51 filled the life of the little cabin. They were eating dinner one day in the early spring, with the sunshine flooding in upon them, when a quick, low footfall caused Malesce to lift her eyes in the direction of the open door, A strange figure stood there with bloodless face, staring eyes, and garments hanging in tatters. But its arms were stretched out, as those same arms had been held out to her a thousand times before, and with the old glad cry, Melisse darted with the swiftness of a sunshadow beyond Cummins, crying, "'Yon! Yon! Yon! My yon!'

Starting point is 03:14:37 Words choked in Cummins' throat when he saw the white-faced figure clutching Melisse to its breast. At last, he gasped, Yon! And threw out his arms, so that both were caught in their embrace. For an instant, Jan turned his face up to the light. The other stared and understood. You have been sick, he said, but it has left no marks. Thank God, breathed Jan.

Starting point is 03:15:10 Maylees raised her head and stroked his cheeks with her two hands. That night she remembered her prayer, and at its end, she added, Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for sending back Jan. End of Chapter 14, recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 15 of the honor of the Big Snow. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerwood.

Starting point is 03:15:52 Chapter 15. Almost a Woman Peace followed in the blighted trails of the Red Terror. Again, the forest world breathed without fear, but from Hudson's Bay to Athabasca, and as far south as the thousand waters of the rain, reindeer country, the winds whispered of a terrible grief that would remain until babes were men and men went to their graves. Life had been torn and broken in a cataclysm more fearful than that which levels cities and disrupts the earth.

Starting point is 03:16:29 Slowly it began its readjustment. There was no other life to give aid or sympathy, and just as they had suffered alone, so now the forest people struggled to. back into life alone, building up from the wreck of what had been the things that were to be. For months the Crees wailed their death-durges as they sought out the bones of their dead. Men dragged themselves into the posts, wifeless and childless, leaving deep in the wilderness all that they had known to love and give them comfort. Now and then came a woman, and around the black scars of burned cabins and tepees, dogs howled mournfully for masters that were gone.

Starting point is 03:17:17 The plague had taken a thousand souls, and yet the laughing, dancing millions in that other big world beyond the edge of the wilderness caught only a passing rumor of what had happened. Lachbein suffered least of the far northern posts, with the exception of Churchill, where the icy winds downpouring from the Arctic had sent the red terror shivering to the westward. in the late snows word came that cummins was to take william's place as factor and peri at once set off for the fond du lac to bring back jean de gravois as chief man coasse gave up his fox-hunting to phil mukie's place the changes brought new happiness to melisse cuisais's wife was a good woman who had spent her girlhood in montreal and iowaqua now the mother of a fire-eating little jean and a handsome daughter was a soft voice young venus who had grown sweeter and prettier with her years which is not usually the case with half-breed women bud is good blood in her beautiful blood vaunted jean proudly whenever the opportunity came her mother was a princess and her father a pure frenchman whose father's father was a chef de

Starting point is 03:18:41 battalion what's better than that eh i say what better could there be than that so for the first time in her life may least discovered the joys of companionship with those of her own kind this new companionship pleasant as it was did not come between her and yon if anything they were more to each other than ever the terrible months through which they had passed had changed them both and had given them, according to their years, the fruits which are often ripened in the black gloom of disaster, rather than in the sunshine of prosperity. To Meles, they had opened up a new world of thought, a new vision of the things that existed about her. The sternest teacher of all had brought to her the knowledge that comes of grief, of terror, and of death, and she had passed beyond her years, just as the cumulative processes of generations made the Indian children pass beyond theirs. She no longer looked upon Jan as a mere playmate, a being whose diversion was to

Starting point is 03:19:53 amuse and to love her. He had become a man. In her eyes he was a hero, who had gone forth to fight the death of which she still heard word and whisper all about her. croiss's wife and iowaca told her that he had done the bravest thing that a man might do on earth she spoke proudly of him to the indian children who called him the torch-bearer she noticed that he was as tall as coasse and taller by half a head than jean and that he lifted her now with one arm as easily as if she were no heavier than a stick of wood together they resumed their studies devoting hours to them each day and through all that summer he taught her to play upon his violin the warm months were a time of idleness at l'acques and jan had made the most of them in his teaching of melisse she learned to read the books which he had used at fort churchill and by midsummer she could read those which he had used at york factory at night they wrote letters to each other and delivered them across the table in the cabin while cummins looked on and smoked laughing happily at what they read aloud to him one night late enough in the season for a fire to be crackling merrily in the stove yon was reading one of these letters when melisse cried stop yon stop there yon caught himself and he blushed mightily when he read the next line

Starting point is 03:21:33 I think you have beautiful eyes. I love them. What is it? cried Cummins, interestedly. Read on, Jan. Don't, commanded Melisse, springing to her feet and running around the table. I didn't mean you to read that. She snatched the paper from Jan's hand and threw it into the fire. Yon's blood filled with pleasure, and at the bottom of his next letter he wrote back, I think you have beautiful hair. I love it. That winter, Jan was appointed post-hunter,

Starting point is 03:22:13 and this gave him much time at home, for meat was plentiful along the edge of the barons. The two continued at their books until they came to the end of what Jan knew in them. After that, like searchers in strange places, they felt their way onward, slowly and with caution. During the next summer, they labored through all the books which were in the little box in the corner of the cabin. It was Melyse who now played most on the violin, and Jan listened, his eyes glowing proudly as he saw how cleverly her little fingers danced over the strings. His face flushed with a joy that was growing stronger in him every day. One day she looked curiously into the F-hole of the instrument,

Starting point is 03:23:05 and her pretty mouth puckered itself into a round red oh of astonishment when yon quickly snatched the violin from her hands excuse me moe ma belle melees he laughed at her in french i am going to play you something new that same day he took the little cloth-covered roll from the violin and gave it another hiding-place it recalled to him the strange spirit which had once moved him at Fort Churchill, and which had remained with him for a time at Lacin. That spirit was now gone, luring him no longer. Time had drawn a softening veil over things that had passed. He was happy. The wilderness became more beautiful to him, as Melisse grew older. Each summer increased his happiness. Each succeeding winter made it larger and more complete. Every fiber of his being sang in joyful response

Starting point is 03:24:09 as he watched Mely's pass from childhood into young girlhood. He marked every turn in her development the slightest change in her transformation as if she had been a beautiful flower. He possessed none of the quick impetuosity of Jean de Gravoix. Years gave the silence of the North to his tongue and his exultation was quiet and deep in his own heart. With an eagerness which no one guessed,

Starting point is 03:24:40 he watched the growing beauty of her hair, marked its brightening luster when he saw it falling in thick waves over her shoulders, and he knew that at last it had come to be like the woman's. The changing lights in her eyes fascinated him, and he rejoiced again when he saw that they were deepening into the violet blue of the Bacchini flowers that bloomed on the tops of the ridges. To him, Melyse was growing into everything that was beautiful. She was his world, his life, and at post-Lacbein there was nothing to come between the two.

Starting point is 03:25:19 Yon noticed that in her thirteenth year she could barely stand under his outstretched arm. The next year she had grown so tall that she could have grown so tall that she could not stand there at all. Very soon she would be a woman. The thought leaped from his heart, and he spoke it aloud. It was on the girl's fifteenth birthday. They had come up to the top of the ridge on which he had fought the missionary, to gather red sprigs of the Bacneesh for the festival that they were to have in the cabin that night. High up on the face of a jagged rock, Yon saw a bit of the crimson vine thrusting itself out into the sun, and, with Melisse laughing and encouraging him from below, he climbed up until he had secured it. He tossed it down to her.

Starting point is 03:26:12 "'It's the last one!' she cried, seeing his disadvantage, "'and I'm going home. You can't catch me!' She darted away swiftly along the snow-covered ridge, taunting him with merry laughter as she left him clambering in cautious descent down the rock. Jan followed in pursuit, shouting to her in French, in Cree, and in English, and their two voices echoed happily in their wild frolic. Jan slackened his steps. It was a joy to see Mely springing from rock to rock and darting across the thin

Starting point is 03:26:50 openings close ahead of him, her hair loosening and sweeping out in the sun, her slender figure fleeing with the lightness of the pale sunshadows that ran up and down the mountain. He would not have overtaken her of his own choosing, but at the foot of the ridge, Melis gave up. She returned toward him, panting and laughing, shimmering like a sea naiad under the glistening veil of her dis shelved hair. Her face glowed with excitement, her eyes, filled with the light of the sun, dazzled Jan in their laughing defiance. Before her he stopped and made no effort to catch her. Never had he seen her so beautiful, still daring him with her laugh,

Starting point is 03:27:39 quivering and panting, flinging back her hair. Half reaching out his arms, he cried, "'Melis, you are beautiful, you are almost a woman!' The flush deepened in her cheeks, and there was no long, the sweet, taunting mischief in her eyes. She made no effort to run from him when he came to her. "'Do you think so, brother Jan?' "'If you did your hair up like the pictures we have in the books, you would be a woman,' he answered softly.

Starting point is 03:28:13 "'You are more beautiful than the pictures!' He drew a step back, and her eyes flashed at him again with the sparkle of the old fun in them. "'You say that I am pretty, and that I am almost a woman,' she shouted. "'And yet,' she shrugged her shoulders at him in mock disdain. "'Yon Tiro, this is the third time in the last week that you have not played the game right. I won't play with you any more!' In a flash he was at her side, her face between his two hands, and bending down he kissed her upon the mouth.

Starting point is 03:28:51 "'There,' she said, as he released her. "'Isn't that the way we have played it ever since I can remember? "'Whenever you catch me, you may have that.' "'I am afraid, Melyis,' he said seriously. "'You are growing so tall and so pretty that I am afraid.' "'Afraid! "'My brother afraid to kiss me! "'And what will you do when I get to be a woman, Yon?'

Starting point is 03:29:21 "'Yon, which will be very soon, you say?' "'I don't know, M'Elys.' She turned her back to him and flung out her hair, and Jan, who had done this same thing for her a hundred times before, divided the silken mass into three strands and plated them into a braid. "'I don't believe that you care for me as much as you used to, Jan. I wish I were a woman, so that I might know if you were going to forget me entirely. Her shoulders trembled, and when he had finished his task, he found that she was laughing,

Starting point is 03:29:59 and that her eyes were swimming with a new mischief which she was trying to hide from him. In that laugh there was something which was not like, Melyse. Slight as the change was, he noticed it. But instead of displeasing him, it set a vague sensation of pleasure trilling like a new song within him. when they reached the post maylice went to the cabin with her bacchneesh and yon to the company's store tossing the vines upon the table maylice ran back to the door and watched him until he disappeared her cheeks were flushed her lips half parted in excitement and no sooner had he gone from view than she hurried to iowaqa's home across the clearing it was fully three-quarters of an hour later when yon saw melisse with iawaka's red shawl over her head walking slowly and with extreme precision of step back to the cabin i wonder if she has the ear-ache he said to himself watching her curiously that is iawaka's shawl and she has it all about her head a clear half-inch of the rarest wolf from london added the cheque the cheery voice of Jean de Gravois,

Starting point is 03:31:23 whose moccasins had made no sound behind him. He always spoke in French to Jan. There is but one person in the world who looks better in it than your melisse, Jan Toro, and that is Iowaka, my wife. Blessed saints, man, but is she not growing more beautiful every day? Yes, said Jan.

Starting point is 03:31:48 She will soon be a woman. a woman shouted jean who not having his caribou whip jumped up and down to emphasize his words she will soon be a woman did you say yamterot and if she is not a woman at thirty with two children god send others like them when will she be i ask you i meant melisse laughed jan and i meant iowaqa said jean ah there she is now come out to see if her jean de gravois is on his way home with a sugar for which she sent him something like an hour ago for you know she is chef de cuisine in this affair to-night ah she sees me not and she turns back heartily disappointed i'll swear by all the saints in the calendar did you ever see a figure like that yantot and did you ever see hair that shines so like the top feathers of a raven who's nibbling at himself in the hottest bit of sunshine he can find deliver us but i'll go with the sugar this minute the happy jean hopped out like a cricket overburdened with life calling loudly to his wife who came to meet him a few minutes later jan thrust his head in at their door as he was passing i knew i should get a beating or something worse for forgetting that sugar cried the little frenchman holding up his bared arms dough dough dough i'm rolling dough dough dough for the bread dough for the cakes dough for the pies dough yantereau just common flour and water mixed and swab

Starting point is 03:33:44 i jean de gravois chief man at postlac ben am mixing dough she is as beautiful as an angel and sweeter than sugar my iowaqua i mean but there is more flesh in her earthly tabernacles than in mine so i am compelled to mix this dough mona mii oaka my dear tell yon what you were telling me about melisse and hush cried iawaka in her sweet cre that is for yon to find out for himself so so it is exclaimed the irrepressible jean plunging himself to the elbows in his pan of dough. Then hurry to the cabin, Jan, and see what sort of a birthday gift Melyis has got for you. End of Chapter 15,

Starting point is 03:34:40 recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 16 of the Honor of the Big Snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 16. Birthday Days The big room was empty when Jan came quietly through the open door. He stopped to listen and caught a faint laugh from the other room and then another.

Starting point is 03:35:20 And to give warning of his presence, he coughed loudly and scraped a chair along the floor. A moment's silence followed. The farther door opened a little, and then it opened wide, Milleise came out. Now what do you think of me, brother Jan? She stood in the light of the window through which came the afternoon sun. Her hair piled in glistening coils upon the crown of her head, as they had seen them in the pictures.

Starting point is 03:35:51 Her cheeks flushed, her eyes glowing questioningly at Jan. Do I look as you thought I would, Jan? She persisted, a little doubtful at his silence. she turned so that he saw the cluster of soft curls that fell upon her shoulder with sprigs of bachnish half smothered in them do i you are prettier than i have ever seen you melisse he replied softly there was a seriousness in his voice that made her come to him in her old impulsive half-childish way she lifted her hands and rested them on his shoulders as she had always done when inviting him to toss her above his head if i am prettier and you like me this way why don't you she finished with a sweet upturned pouting of her mouth and with a sudden laughing cry yawn caught her in his arm and kissed the lips she held up to him. It was but an instant, and he freed her,

Starting point is 03:36:58 a hot blush burning in his brown cheeks. "'My dear brother!' she laughed at him, gathering up the Bacquniche on the table. "'I love to have you kiss me, and now I have to make you do it. Father kisses me every morning when he goes to the store. I remember when you used to kiss me every time you came home, but now you forget to do it.

Starting point is 03:37:22 it at all. Do brothers love their sisters less as they grow older? Sometimes they love the sister less, and the other girl more, ma belle melyse, came a quick voice from the door, and Jean de Gravoix bounded in like a playful cat, scraping and bowing before Melisse, until his head nearly touched the floor. Lovely saints, Janterot, but she is a woman. just as my iowaaka told me and the cakes the bread the pies you must delay the supper my lady for the good lord deliver me if i haven't spilled all the dough on the floor swush such a mess and my iawaka did nothing but laugh and call me a clumsy dear you're terribly in love jean cried melisse laughing until her eyes were wet just like some of the people in the books which yon and i read and i always shall be my dear so long as the daughter of a princess and the great-granddaughter of a chef de battalion allows me to mix her dough

Starting point is 03:38:39 meelise flung the red shawl over her head still laughing i will go and help her jean mon dieu gasped gravois looking searchingly at yon when she had left shall i give you my best wishes yon terro does it signify signify what the little frenchman's eyes snapped why when our pretty creed maiden becomes engaged she puts up her hair for the first time that is all my dear jan when i asked my blessed iowaqua to be my wife she answered by running away from me taunting me until i thought my heart had shrivelled into a bit of salt but she came back to me before i had completely died with her braids done up on the top of her head he stopped suddenly startled into silence by the strange look that had come into the other's face for a full minute yon stood as if the power of movement had gone from him he was staring over the frenchman's head a ghastly pallor growing in his cheeks no it means nothing he said finally speaking as if the words were forced from him one by one he dropped into a chair beside the table like one whose senses had been dulled by an unexpected blow with a great sighing breath that was almost a sob he bowed his head upon his arms jan tarot whispered jean softly have you forgotten that it was eyes who killed the missioner for you and that through all of these years jean de gravois has never questioned you about the fight on the mountain top there was in his voice as gentle as a woman's the vibrant note of a comradeship which is next to love

Starting point is 03:40:40 the comradeship of man for man in a world where friendship is neither bought nor sold have you forgotten yantito if there is anything jean de grouis can do he sat down opposite yon his thin eager face propped in his hands and watched silently until the other lifted his head their eyes met steady unflinching and in that look there were the oath and the seal of all the honor of the big snows held for those two still without words yon reached within his breast and drew forth the little roll which he had taken from his violin one by one he handed the pages over to jean de gravois mon dieu said jean when he had finished reading he spoke no other words white-faced the two men stared yon's throat twitching gravois's brown fingers crushing the rolls he held that was why i tried to kill the missioner said yon at last he pointed to the more coarsely written pages under jean's hand and that that is why it could not signify that melisse has done up her hair he rose to his feet straining to keep his voice even and gathered up the papers so that they shot back into the little cylinder-shaped roll again now do you understand i understand replied jean in a low voice but his eyes glittered like dancing dragonflies as he raised his elbows slowly from the table and stretched his arms above his head i understand yan tarot and i praise the blessed virgin that it was jean de gravois who killed the missioner out upon the ice of l'acques

Starting point is 03:42:44 but the other persisted yon the other which says that i stop cried jean sharply he came around the table and seized yon's hands in the iron grip of his lithe brown fingers that is something for you to forget it means nothing nothing at all yon taro does any one know but you and me no one i intended that some day may least you may least and her father should know, but I waited too long. I waited until I was afraid, until the horror of telling her frightened me. I made myself forget, burying it deeper each year, until today, on the mountain. And today, in this cabin, you will forget again, and you will bury it so deep that it will never come back. I am proud of you, Yantot, I love you, and it is the first time de gervoir has ever said this to a man ah i hear them coming with an absurd bow in the direction of the laughing voices which they now heard the melodramatic little frenchman pulled yon to the door half way across the open were melees and iowaka carrying a large indian basket between them and making merry over the task

Starting point is 03:44:12 when they saw gravois and yan they set down their burden and waved an invitation for the two men to come to their assistance you should be the second happiest man in the world yonterot exclaimed jean the first is jean de he set off like a bolt from a spring gun in the direction of the two who were waiting for them he had hoisted the basket upon his shoulder by the time yon arrived are you growing old too yon bantered melyse as she dropped a few steps behind jean and his wife you come so slowly i think i'm twenty-nine you think her dancing eyes shot up to his bubbling over with the mischief which she had been unable to suppress that day why yon he had never spoken to melisse as he did now i was born some time in the winter meelisse like you perhaps it was yesterday perhaps it is to-morrow that is all i know he looked at her steadily the grief which he was fighting to keep back tightening the muscles about his mouth like the quick passing of sunshine the fun swept from her face leaving her blue eyes staring up at him filled with a pain which he had never seen in them before in a moment he knew that she had understood him and he could have cut out his tongue her hand reached his arm and she stopped him her hand reached his arm and she stopped him her face lifted pleadingly, the tears slowly gathering in her eyes.

Starting point is 03:46:00 "'Forgive me,' she whispered, her voice breaking into a sob. "'Dear, dear, Jan, forgive me!' she caught one of his hands in both her own, and for an instant held it so that he could feel the throbbing of her heart. "'Today is your birthday, Jan, yours and mine, mine and yours, and we will also have it that way. Always. Won't we, Jan? End of Chapter 16. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 17 of the honor of the big snows. This Libravox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 03:46:48 Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 17. The Renunciation. Yon was glad when the evening came and was gone. Not until Jean and Iowaka had said good-night with Crosse and his wife, and both Cummins and Melyse had gone to their rooms, did he find himself relieved of the tension under which he had struggled during all of that night's merry-making in the cabin.

Starting point is 03:47:20 From the first he knew that his nerves were strung by some strange and indefinable sensation that was growing within him, something which he could hardly have explained at first, but which swiftly took form and meaning, and oppressed him more as the hours flew by. Almost fiercely he strove to fight back the signs of it from his face and voice. Never had he played, as on this night.

Starting point is 03:47:49 His violin leaped with life. His voice rose high in the wild forest songs of Jean de Gravoix, and cuirasset he sprang aloft in the caribou dance until the tips of his fingers touched the log beams overhead and yet there was none of the flush of excitement in his face no joyous fire flashing from his eyes upon melisse she saw this and wondered a dozen times her eyes encountered his straight and questioning when the others were not looking she saw in response only a dull lustreless glow that was not like the yon who had pursued her that day on the mountain top yon was unaware of what was lacking in him he smiled when she gave him these glances deep down on him his heart trembled at the beauty of her flushed cheeks the lustre of her coiled hair the swimming depths of her clear eyes but the mask of the thing at which she wondered still remained after the others had gone cummins sat up to smoke a pipe when he had finished he went to his room yon was now sleeping in a room at the company's store and after a time he rose silently to take down his cap and coat he opened the outer door quietly so as not to arouse melisse who had gone to bed half an hour before

Starting point is 03:49:22 as he was about to go out there came a sound a low gentle whispered word yon he turned melisse stood in her door she had not undressed and her hair was still done up in its soft coils with the crimson bacheneas shining in it she came to him hesitatingly until she stood with her two hands upon his arm gazing into his tense face with that same question in her eyes. Jan, you were not pleased with me tonight, she whispered. Tell me, why. I was pleased with you, Melisse, he replied. He took one of the hands that was clinging to his arm and turned his face to the open night.

Starting point is 03:50:13 Countless stars gleaned in the sky as they had shown on another night fifteen years ago. From where they stood, they saw the pale flicker of the aurora, sending its shivering arrows out over the dome of the earth, with the same lonely song that it had played when the woman died. Gaunt and solitary, the tall spruce loomed up against the silver glow, its thick head sighing faintly in the night wind, as if in wailing answer to that faraway music in the skies. Suddenly there leaped up from Yantereau's breast, a breath that burst from his

Starting point is 03:50:52 lips in a low cry. "'Melees, Melisse, it was just fifteen years ago that I came in through that forest out there, starved and dying, and played my violin when your mother died. You were a little baby then, and since that night you have never pleased me more than now.' He dropped her hand and turned squarely to the door to hide what he knew had come into his face. he heard a soft heart-broken little sob behind him and something fell rustling upon his arm yon dear yon melisse crowded herself into his arms her hair torn down and tumbling about her shoulders in her eyes there were the old pride and the old love the love and pride of what seemed to yon to be years ago the old childish pleases the old childish pleases for his comradeship for the fun of his strong arms the frolic of his laugh irresistibly they called to him and in the old glad way he tightened his arms about her shoulders his eyes glowing

Starting point is 03:52:07 and life leaping back flushed and full into his face she laughed happy and trembling her lips held up to him i didn't please you to-day she whispered i will never do up my hair again he kissed her and his arms dropped from her shoulders never never again until you have forgotten to love me she repeated good-night brother jan across the open through the thinned edge of the black spruce deeper and deeper into the cold unquivering lifelessness of the forest, Jan went from the door that closed between him and Melisse, her last words still whispering in his ears, the warm touch of her hair on his cheeks, and the knowledge of what this day had meant for him,

Starting point is 03:53:01 swiftly surging upon him, bringing with it a torment which racked him to the soul. Fifteen years ago! He stopped and looked up, the starlight whitening his face. There was no one of the starlight whitening his face. change in this night from that other one of ages and ages ago. There were the same stars, like fierce eyes of pale fire, robbed of softness by the polar cold. There were the same cloudless

Starting point is 03:53:31 blue space, the same hissing flashes of the aurora leaping through its infinity, the same trees that had listened to his moaning prayers on that night when he had staggered into L'Aq-Bin. He went on until he came to where the beaten trail swept up and away from a swamp. As vividly as if it had happened but yesterday, he remembered how he had dragged himself through the swamp, bleeding and starving, his violin clutched to his breast, guided by the barking of dogs, which seemed to come from a million miles away.

Starting point is 03:54:10 He plunged into it now, picking his tangled way, until he stood upon a giant ridge from which he looked out through the white night into the limitless barons to the north. Along the edge of those barons he had come, daring the hundred deaths between hunter's cabin and Indian wigwam, starving at times,

Starting point is 03:54:32 almost dying of cold, building fires to keep the wolves back, and playing, always playing to keep up his courage, until he found melisse fifteen years had passed since then and the cumulative force of the things that had grown out of those years had fallen upon him this day he had felt it first when melisse turned upon him at the foot of the mountain and after that in the cabin in every breath he drew in every look that he gave her for him she had changed for all time she was no longer though little melisse his sister and yet he was almost saying her last words aloud good-night brother yan she had come to him that day to let him kiss her as she had come to him a thousand times before but he had not kissed her in the old way it was a different love that his lips had given and even now the hot blood surged again into his face as he thought of what he had done

Starting point is 03:55:44 his was a different idea of honor from that held by men born to the ways of passion in that which had stirred his blood thrilling him with strange joy as he held her in his arms he saw more than the shadow of sin sacrilege against a thing which was more precious to him than life melees came to him still as his sister abiding in her glorious faith in him unaware of his temptation while he yon tiroe he thrust a hand inside his coat and clutched at the papers that jean de gravoie had read then he drew them forth slowly and held them crumpled in his fingers while for many minutes he stared straight out into the gray gloom of the treeless plain his eyes shifted searchingly they traveled up the face of the crags behind him they hunted where the starlight made deep pits of gloom in the twisting edge of the mountains they went from rock to rock and from tree to tree until at last they rested upon a giant spruce which hung out over the precipitous wall of the ridge its thick top beckoning and sighing to the black rocks that shot up out upon a giant spruce which hung out over the precipitous wall of the ridge its thick top beckoning and sighing to the black rocks that shot up of the snow five hundred feet below it was a strange tree weird and black free of stub or bow for a hundred feet and from far out on the barons those who traveled their solitary ways east and west knew that it was a monument shaped by men mookie had told yon its story in the first autumn of the woman's life at lachbein he and paris had climbed the old

Starting point is 03:57:37 spruce, lopping off its branches until only the black cap remained, and after that it was known far and wide as the lobstick of Cummins' wife. It was a voiceless cenotaph which signified that all the honor and love known to the wilderness people had been given to her. To it went yon, the paper still held in his hand. He had seen a pair of whiskey jacks storing food in the butt of the tree, two or three summers before, and now his fingers groped for the hole. When he found it, he thrust in the papers, crowded them down, and filled the hole with chunks of bark.

Starting point is 03:58:24 "'Always, my sister, and never anything more, to Jan Toro,' he said gently in French, as if he were speaking to a spirit in the old tree. That is the honor of the tree. these snows. It is what the great God means us to be. The strife had gone from his voice. It rose strong and clear as he stretched his arms high up along the shorn side of the spruce, his eyes upon the silent plume that heard his oath. I swear that Yon Taro will never do wrong to the little Melis. With a face white and set in its determination, he turns to the slowly away from the tree.

Starting point is 03:59:10 Far away from the lonely depths of the swamp, there came the wailing howl of a wolf, a cry of hungerful savageness that died away in echoes of infinite sadness. It was like the howling of a dog at the door of a cabin in which his master lay dead, and the sound of it swept a flood of loneliness into Jan's heart.

Starting point is 03:59:35 It was the death wail of his own last, hope which had gone out of him forever that night. He listened, and it came again, but in the middle of it, when the long, moaning grief of the voice was rising to its full despair, there broke in a sharp interruption, a shrieking, yelping cry such as a dog makes when it is suddenly struck. In another moment, the forest thrilled with the deep-throated pack-call of the wolf who had started a fresh kill.

Starting point is 04:00:07 hardly had its echoes died away when from deeper in the swamp there came another cry and still another from the mountain and up and out of the desolation rose the calls of others of the scattered pack in quick response to the comrade who had first found meat all the cries were alike filled with that first wailing grief except that of the swelling throat which was sending forth the call to food a few minutes and another of the mournful howells changed into the fierce hunt cry then a second a third and a fourth and the sound of the chase swept swiftly from the swamp to the mountain up the mountain and down into the barrens a caribou cried yon softly a caribou and he is going into the barons there is no water and he is lost he ran and leaned over beside the old tree so that the great plain stretched out below him into the west turned the pack the hunt cry growing fainter until it almost died away then slowly it grew again in volume swinging into the north then to the east approaching nearer and nearer until yon saw dark swiftly moving blot in the white gloom the caribou passed by within half a rifle shot of him another half rifle shot behind followed the wolves flung out fan shape their gray bodies moving like spectres in a half-moon cordon and their leaders almost abreast the caribou a dozen rods to each side there was no sound now below him yon could see the pale glimmer of ice and snow where in summer there was a small lake

Starting point is 04:02:07 lake. Desperately, the caribou made an effort to reach this lake. The wolves drew in. The moon shape of their bodies shrunk until it was nearer a circle. From the plain side, the leading wolf closed until he was running at the caribou's forelegs. The mountain wolf responded on the opposite side. Then came the end, quick, decisive, and without sound. after a few moments there came faintly the snapping of jaws and the crunching of bones torn and bleeding and yet quivering with life the caribou was given up to the feast yon turned away from the scene torn and bleeding at his own heart he went back to l'akbin end of chapter seventeen recording by roger maline chapter eighteen of the honor of the big snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerwood.

Starting point is 04:03:25 Chapter 18. Brother Jan. When he came into the cabin for breakfast that morning, Jan's face showed signs of the struggle through which he had gone. Cummins had already finished, and he found Melisse alone. her hair was brushed back in its old smooth way and when she heard him she flung her long braid over her shoulder so that it fell down in front of her he saw the movement and smiled his thanks without speaking you don't look well jan she said anxiously you are pale and your eyes are bloodshot i am not feeling right he admitted trying to appear cheerful but this coffee will make a new man of me you make the best coffee in the world melisse how do you know brother she asked have you drunk any other than mine since years ago at churchill and york factory only iowaqas but i know that yours is best from what i remember of the coffee at the bay it was a long time ago wasn't it she asked gently looking at him across the table i dreamed of those days last night jan though i don't remember anything about your going to churchill i must have been too young but i remember when you went to nelson house and how lonely i was

Starting point is 04:04:56 last night i dreamed that we both went and that we stood together looking out over the bay where the tides are washing away the gun-case coffins i saw the ship that you described to me too and thought that we wanted to go out to it but couldn't do you suppose we'll ever go to churchill together yon and ride on a wonderful ship like that it may be melisse and then i dreamed that you are gone-and-and-you-since you are gone and i was alone and someone else came to me whom i didn't like it all and tried to make me go to the ship wasn't that strange she laughed softly as she rose to give him another cup of coffee what did you mean nantiro by running away from me like that to get even with you for running away from me on the mountain he replied quickly she paused the cup half filled and jan looking up caught her eyes full of mock astonishment and were you sorry i ran away from you despite himself his pale cheeks flushed do you think i was he replied equivocally i don't know she answered slowly filling his cup what are you going to do to do yon drive out on the churchill trail le doke wants supplies and he's too busy with his trap lines to come in will you take me i am afraid not melisse it's a twelve-mile run and a heavy load very well i'll get ready immediately she jumped up from the table darting fun at him with her eyes and ran to her room

Starting point is 04:06:51 "'It's too far, Melisse,' he called after her. "'It's too far, and I've a heavy load.' "'Didn't I take that twenty-mile run with you over to—' "'Oh, dear! Yan, have you seen my new lynxkin cap?' "'It's out here, hanging on the wall,' replied Jan, falling into her humor despite himself. "'But I say, Melyse, are the dogs ready?' she called. If they're not, I'll be dressed before you can harness them, Jan. They'll be here within fifteen minutes, he replied, surrendering to her.

Starting point is 04:07:31 Her merry face, laughing triumph at him through the partly open door, destroyed the last vestige of his opposition, and he left her with something of the old cheeriness of manner, whistling a gay forest tune as he hurried toward the store. When he returned with that, the team, Melisse was waiting for him, a gray thing of silvery link's fur, with her cheeks, lips and eyes aglow, her trim little feet clad in soft caribou boots that came to her knees, and with a bunch of the brilliant Bacniche fastened yontily in her cap.

Starting point is 04:08:09 "'I've made room for you,' he said in greeting, pointing to the sledge. "'Which I'm not going to fill for five miles, at least,' declared. Melyse. Isn't it a glorious morning, Jan? I feel as if I can run from here to Le Docks. With a crack of his whip and a shout, Jan swung the dogs across the open, with Melyis running lightly at his side.

Starting point is 04:08:37 From their cabin, Jean and Iowaka called out shrill adieu's. The day is not far off when they too will be as you and I, my Iowaka, said Jean. in his poetic cree i wager you that it will be before her next birthday and melisse was saying i wonder if there are many people as happy as jean and iowacca she caught her breath and yon cracked on the dogs in a spurt that left her panting a full dozen rods behind him with a wild hello he stopped the team and waited that's unfair yon you'll have to put me on the sledge he tucked her in among the firs and the dogs strained at their traces with yon's whip curling and snapping over their backs until they were leaping swiftly and with unbroken rhythm of motion over the smooth trail then yon gathered in his whip and ran close to the leader his moccasined feet taking the short quick light steps of the train forest-runner, his chest thrown a little out, his eyes upon the twisting trail ahead.

Starting point is 04:09:55 It was a glorious ride, and Melisa's eyes danced with joy. Her blood thrilled to the tireless effort of the grayish yellow pack of magnificent brutes ahead of her. She watched the muscular play of their backs and legs, the eager outreaching of their wolfish heads and their half-gaping jaws, and from them she looked to yawn. There was no effort in his running. His pale cheeks were flushed, his black hair swept back from the gray of his cap, gleaming in the sun. Like the dogs, there was music in his movement, there was the beauty of strength, of endurance, of manhood born to the forests. Her eyes shone proudly, the color deepened in her cheeks as she looked at him, wondering if there was another man in the world like Jan Turot.

Starting point is 04:10:53 Mile after miles slipped behind, and not until they reached the mountain on which he had fought the missionary, did Jan bring his dogs to a walk. Maylees jumped from the sledge and ran quickly to his side. "'I can beat you to the top now,' she cried. "'If you catch me!' there was the old witching challenge in her eyes. She sped up the side of the ridge. Panting and breathless, Jan pursued with the dogs. Her advantage was too great for him to overcome this time, and she stood laughing down at him when he came to the top of the ridge. "'You're as pretty as a fairy, Melyse,' he exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration. "'Prettier than the fairy in the book!'

Starting point is 04:11:45 Thank you, brother. The one with golden hair? Yes, all of them. I can't imagine how a girl would look with golden hair. Can you, Jan? Before he could answer, she added mischievously, Did you see any fairies at Churchill or York Factory? None that could compare with you, Melyis. Thank you again, brother mine. I believe you do still love me a little. More than ever in my life, replied Jan quickly, though he tried to hold his tongue. As they went on to Le Docks, he found that the joyousness of the morning

Starting point is 04:12:31 was giving away again to the old gloom and heartache. Brother Jan, brother Jan, brother Jan. The words pounded themselves incessantly in his brain, until they seemed to keep time with his steps beside the sledge they drove him back into his thoughts of the preceding night and he felt a sense of relief when they reached the trappers le doc was stripping the hair fat from a fox skin when the team pulled up in front of his cabin when he saw the daughter of the factor at l'acbein with yon he jumped briskly to his feet flung his cap through the door of the shaft and began bowing and scraping to her with all his might it was well known in the province of l'acbein that many years before jean de gravoie had lost a little brother who had disappeared one day in the woods and there were those who hinted that le doc was that brother for jean and he were as like two peas in the ready use of their tongues and were of the same build and the same bristness melees laughed merrily as le doc continued to bow before her rattling away in a delighted torrent of french ah this is one great compliment mademoiselle melisse he finished at last breaking for an instant into english

Starting point is 04:14:03 he straightened like a spring and turned to yon did you meet the strange team we met no team le duck looked puzzled half a mile away the top of a snow-covered ridge was visible from the cabin he pointed to it an hour ago i saw it going westward along the mountain three men and six dogs whom have you out from l'acbein no one replied yon it must have been the new agent from churchill we expect him early this winter shall we hurry back melisse and see if he has brought our books and violin strings you must have dinner with me objected le doc yon caught a quick signal from melisse not to-day le doc it's early and we have a lunch for the trail what do you say melees if you're not tired jan he tossed the last package from the sledge and he tossed the last package from the sledge and and cracked his long whip over the dog's backs as they both cried out their farewell to the little Frenchman. Tired, he repeated, running close beside her

Starting point is 04:15:24 as the team swung lightly back into the trail and laughing down into her face. How could I ever get tired with you watching me run, Melisse? I wouldn't mind if you did, just a little, Jan. Isn't there room for two? She gave a co-cate. kettish little shrug of her shoulders, and Jan leaped upon the moving sledge, kneeling close beside her.

Starting point is 04:15:52 "'Always, always, I have to ask you,' she pouted. "'You needn't get too near, you know, if you don't want to.' The old sweet challenge in her voice was irresistible, and for a moment Yon felt himself surrendering to it. He leaned forward until his chin was buried in the silken lynx fur of her coat, and for a single breath he felt the soft touch of her cheek against his own. Then he gave a sudden shout to the dogs, so loud that it startled her, and his whip writhed and snapped twenty feet above their heads like a thing filled with life. He sprang from the sledge and again ran with the team, urging them on faster and faster

Starting point is 04:16:42 until they dropped into a panting walk when they came to the ridge along which Le Dock, two hours before, had seen the strangers hurrying toward L'Aqban. "'Stop!' cried Melyse, taking this first opportunity to scramble from the sledge. "'You're cruel to the dogs, Jan. Look at their jaws. See them pant?

Starting point is 04:17:06 Yon Tiro, I've never seen you drive like that since the night we were chased in front of the barons by the wolves. "'And did you ever see me run any faster?' He struggled, dropping exhausted upon the ledge. "'I remember only one other time.' He took a long breath, flinging back his arms to bring greater volume of air into his lungs. "'Wasn't that the night we heard the wolves howling behind us?'

Starting point is 04:17:36 Males asked. No, it was many years ago when I heard, far to the south, that my little Melisse was dying of the plague. Melyse sat down upon the sledge beside him without speaking, and nestled one of her hands a little timidly in one of his big brown palms. Tell me about it, Jan. That was all. I ran. You wouldn't run as fast for me now, would you? He looked at her boldly and saw that there was not half of the brilliant flush in her cheeks. "'I ran for you just now, and you didn't like it,' he replied.

Starting point is 04:18:22 "'I don't mean that,' she looked up at him, and her fingers tightened round his own. "'Away back, years and years and years ago, "'Yon, you went out to fight the plague, and nearly died in it. for me. Would you do that much again?' "'I would do more, Melyse.' She looked at him, doubtfully, her eyes searching him, as if in quest of something in his face which he scarce believed in his words. Slowly he rose to his feet, lifting her with him,

Starting point is 04:19:00 and when he had done this, he took her face between his two hands and looked straight into her eyes. some day i will do a great deal more for you than that melisse and then-what she questioned as he hesitated then you will know whether i love you as much now as i did years and years and years ago he finished gently repeating her words there was something in his voice that held melisse silent as he turned to straighten out the dogs but when he came back making her comfortable in the sledge she whispered i wish you would do it soon brother yan end of chapter eighteen recording by roger maline chapter nineteen of the honor of the big snows this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver kerwood chapter nineteen the new agent and his son they did not lunch on the trail but drove into the post in time for dinner jean de gravois and corset came forth from the store to meet them you have company my dear cried jean to melisse two gentlemen fresh from london on the last boat and one of them younger and handsomer than your own yonterot they are

Starting point is 04:20:42 waiting for you in the cabin where Montpere is getting them dinner, and telling them how beautifully you would have made the coffee if you were there. "'Two,' said Jan, as Melisse left them. "'Who are they?' "'The new agent, M. Timothy Dixon, as red as the plague, and fatter than a spawning fish. "'And his son, who has come along for fun,' he says, "'and I believe he will get what he's after if he remains here very long,

Starting point is 04:21:12 Jantero, for he looked a little too boldly at my Iowaka when she came into the store just now. "'Mondieu!' laughed Jan, as Gravois took in the four quarters of the earth with a terrible gesture. "'Can you blame him, Jean? I tell you that I look at Iiowocca whenever I get the chance.' "'Is she not worth it?' cried Jean in rapture. "'You are welcome to every look that you can get, Jantero.' but the foreigner i will skin him alive and spit him with devilthorn if he so much as peeps at her out of the wrong way of his eye croce spoke there was once a foreigner who came you remember i remember said jan he looked to the white cross which marked mukie's grave in the edge of the forest where the shadow of the big spruce fell across it at the end of summer evenings and he died said jean de gravois his dark hands clenched god forgive me but i hate these red-necked men from across the sea

Starting point is 04:22:23 hosset shrugged his shoulders breeders of two-legged carrion-eaters he exclaimed fiercely la charon there are two at nelson house and two on the holdaya and one a sharp cry fell from yon's lips. When Crosay whirled toward him, he stood among his dogs, as white as death, his black eyes blazing as if just beyond him he saw something which filled him with terror. As the man turned, startled by the look, Jean sprang to his side. Saints preserve us, but that was an ugly twist of the hand, he cried shrilly. Next time, turn your sledge by the rib instead of the nose when your dogs are still in the traces. Under his breath, he whispered, as he made pretense of looking at Jan's hand,

Starting point is 04:23:19 "'Le diablo, do you want to tell him?' Jan tried to laugh as Cosset came to see what had happened. "'Will you care for the dogs, Henri?' asked Jean. "'It's only a trifling sprain of the wrist, which Iowaka can cure with one dose of her liniment.' As they walked away, Jan's face still as pallid as the gray snow under their feet, Gouavoie added,

Starting point is 04:23:46 You're a fool, Jan Terot. There's a crowd at your cabin, and you'll have dinner with me. La Charon, muttered Jan. Le Bette de Charon! Jean gripped him by the arm. I tell you that it means nothing, nothing, he said, repeating his words of the previous day in the cabin. You are a man.

Starting point is 04:24:10 You must fight it down and forget. No one knows but you and me. You will never tell what you read in the papers, cried Jan quickly. You swear it? By the Blessed Virgin, I swear it. Then, said Jan softly, Melisse will never know. Never, said Jean.

Starting point is 04:24:37 His dark face flashed joyously as evil. iowa's sweet voice came to them singing a cre lullaby in the little home some day melees will be singing that same way over there and it will be for you yon turo as my iowaqa is now singing for me an hour later yon went slowly across the open to cummins cabin as he paused for an instant at the door he heard a laugh that was strange to him and when he opened it to enter he stood purploid and undecided. Melyse had risen from the table at the sound of his approach, and his eyes quickly passed from her flushed face to the young man who was sitting opposite her. He caught a nervous tremble in her voice when she said,

Starting point is 04:25:29 Mr. Dixon, this is my brother, Jan. The stranger jumped to his feet and held out a hand. I'm glad to know you, Cummins. Terot! directed Jan quietly as he took the extended hand. Jan Turot. Oh, I beg your pardon. I thought, he turned inquiringly to Melisse.

Starting point is 04:25:55 The flush deepened in her cheeks as she began to gather up the dishes. We are of no relation, continued Jan, something impelling him to speak the words with cool precision. Only we have lived under the same roof since she was a baby. and so we have come to be like brother and sister. Miss Melyse has been telling me about your wonderful run this morning, exclaimed the young Englishman, his face reddening slightly as he detected the girl's embarrassment. I wish I had seen it.

Starting point is 04:26:30 There will be plenty of it very soon, replied Jan, caught by the frankness of the other's manner. Our runners will be going out among the trappers within a fortnight. And will they take me? You may go with me, if you can run. I leave the day after tomorrow. Thanks, said Dixon, moving toward the door. Melisse did not lift her head as he went out.

Starting point is 04:26:58 Faintly, she said, I've kept your dinner for you, Jan. Why didn't you come sooner? I had dinner with Gravois, he replied. jean said that you would hardly be prepared for five melisse so i accepted his invitation he took down from the wall a fur sledge-coat in which melisse had mended a rent a day or two before and throwing it over his arm turned to leave "'Yon!' he faced her slowly, knowing that in spite of himself, there was a strangeness in his manner which she would not understand. "'Why are you going away the day after to-morrow, two weeks before the others? You didn't tell me.' "'I'm going a hundred miles into the south,' he answered.

Starting point is 04:27:51 "'Over the Nelson House Trail?' "'Yes.' oh her lips curled slightly as she looked at him then she laughed and a bright spot leaped into either cheek i understand brother she said softly pardon me for questioning you so i had forgotten that the mcvay girl lives on the nelson trail i iawaka says that she is as sweet as a wildflower i wish you would have her come up and visit us some time yon's face went red then white but melisse saw only the first effect of a random shot and was briskly gathering up the dishes i turn off into the cre lake country before i reach mcvays he was on the point of saying but the words hung upon his lips and he remained silent a few minutes later he was talking with jean de gravois the little frenchman's face was ominously dark and he puffed furiously upon his pipe when jan told him why he was leaving at once for the south running away he repeated for the tenth time in french his thin lips curling in a sneer i am sorry that i gave you my oath yon turo else i would go myself and tell me lise what i read in the papers pish why can't you forget

Starting point is 04:29:22 "'I may, some day,' said Jan. "'That is why I am going into the South two weeks early, "'and I shall be gone until after the big roast. "'If I remain here another week, I shall tell Melisse, "'and then,' he shrugged his shoulders despairingly. "'And then what?' "'I should go away forever.' "'Jean snapped his fingers with a low laugh.

Starting point is 04:29:52 then remain another week yonterot and if it turns out as you say i swear i will abandon my two iiawakas and little jean to the wolves i am going the day after to-morrow the next morning iiwaka complained to melisse that gravois was as surly as a bear a wonderful change has come over him she said he does nothing but shrug his shoulders and say the diablo and the fool. Last night I could hardly sleep because of his growling. I wonder what bad spirit has come in to my Jean. Melyse was wondering the same of Jan. She saw a little of him during the day. At noon, Dixon told her that he had made up his mind

Starting point is 04:30:45 not to accompany Tiro on the trip south. The following morning, before she was up, Yan had gone. She was deeply hurt. Never before had he left on one of his long trips without spending his last moments with her. She had purposely told her father to entertain the agent and his son at the store that evening, so that Jan might have an opportunity of bidding her goodbye alone. Outside of her thoughts of Jan, the days and evenings that followed were pleasant ones for her. The new agent was as jolly as he was fat and took an immense liking to Melisse. Young Dixon was good-looking and brimming with life and spent a great deal of his time in her company.

Starting point is 04:31:35 For hours at a time she listened to his stories of the wonderful world across the sea. As McDonald had described that life to Jan at Fort Churchill, so he told of it to Melisse, filling her with visions of great cities painting picture after picture until her imagination was riot with the beauty and the marvel of it all and she listened with flaming cheeks and glowing eyes one day a week after jan had gone he told her about the women in the world which had come to be a fairyland to melisse they are all beautiful over there she asked wonderingly when he had finished many of them are beautiful but none so beautiful as you melisse he replied leaning near to her his eyes shining do you know that you are beautiful his words frightened her so much that she bowed her head to hide the signs of it in her face jan had often spoken those same words a thousand times he had told her that she was beautiful but there had never been this fluttering of her heart before there were few things which iawaka and she did not hold in secret between them and a day or two later maylise told her friend what dixon had said for the first time iawaka abused the confidence placed in her and told jean le dieuble gritted jean his face blackening he said no more until night when the children were asleep

Starting point is 04:33:16 then he drew iowocco close beside him on a bench near the stove and asked carelessly mon ange if one makes an oath to the blessed virgin and breaks it what happens he evaded the startled look in his wife's big black eyes it means that one will forever be damned unless he confesses to a priest soon after doesn't it marcherie and if there is no priest nearer than four hundred miles it is a dangerous thing to do is it not but he did not wait for an answer if one might have the oath broken and not do it himself what then i don't know said iowaqa simply staring at him in amazed question questioning. "'Nor do I,' said Jean, lighting his pipe. "'But there is enough of the devil in Jean de Gravois to make him break a thousand-olds if it was for you, my Iowaca.' Her eyes glowed upon him softly. A maiden's soul leaves her body when she becomes the wife of the man she loves, she whispered tenderly in Cree, resting her dark head on Jean's shoulder.

Starting point is 04:34:33 That is what my people believe, Jean. And if I have given my soul to you, why should I not break oath for you? For me alone, Iiwaka? For you alone. And not for a friend? For no one else in the world, Jean. You are the only one to whom the God of my people bids me make all sacrifice.

Starting point is 04:35:00 But you do not believe in that God, Iowwaka. sometimes it is better to believe in the god of my people than in yours she replied gently i believed in him fifteen years ago at churchill do you wish me to take back what i gave to you then with a low cry of happiness jean crushed his face against her soft cheek believe in him always my iowaqua and jean de gravois will cut the throat of any missionary who says you will not go to paradise but this other you are sure that you would break oath for none but me and the children they are a part of you jean a fierce snarling and barking of dogs brought gravois to the door they could hear cuisse's raucous voice and the loud cracking of his big whip i'll be back soon said jean closing the door after him but instead of approaching croisset and the fighting dogs he went in the direction of cummins cabin devil take an oath he growled under his breath neither one god nor the other will let me break it and iawaka least of all he gritted his teeth as young dixon's laugh sounded loudly in the cabin two fools he went on communing with himself commons yonterot both fools end of chapter nineteen recording by roger maline chapter twenty of the honor of the big snows

Starting point is 04:36:50 this liber vogue's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver A KISS AND THE CONSEQUENDS During the week that followed, Jean's little black eyes were never far distant from Cummins' cabin. Without being observed, he watched Melisse and Dixon, and not even to Iowaka did he give hint of his growing suspicions. Dixon was a man whom most other men liked. There were a fascinating frankness in his voice and manner, strength of his. in his broad shoulders, and a general air of comradeship about him, which won all but Jean. The trap-line runners began leaving the post at the end of the second week, and after this,

Starting point is 04:37:45 Melyse and the young Englishman were more together than ever. Dixon showed no inclination to accompany the sledges, and when they were gone he and Melyse began taking walks in the forest when the sun was high and warm. it was on one of these days that jean had gone along the edge of the caribou swamp that lay between the barons and the higher forest as he stopped to examine a fresh lynx trail that cut across the path beaten down by dog and sledge he heard the sound of voices ahead of him and a moment later he recognized them as those of melisse and dixon his face clouded and his eyes snapped fire ah if i was only yonterot a yonterot with the heart of jean de grappois what a surprise i'd give that foreigner he said to himself leaping quickly from the trail into the thicket he peered forth from the bushes his loyal heart beating a wrathful tattoo when he saw that dixon dared put his hand on melisse's arm they were coming very slowly the englishman bending low over the girl's bowing head, talking to her with strange earnestness.

Starting point is 04:39:05 Suddenly he stopped, and before Jean could comprehend what had happened, he had bent down and kissed her. With a low cry, Melisse tore herself free. For an instant she faced Dixon, who stood laughing into her blazing eyes. Then she turned and ran swiftly down the trail. A second cry fell from her startled lips when she found herself face to face with Jean de Gravois. The little Frenchman was smiling. His eyes glittered like black diamonds. Jean, Jean, she sobbed, running to him. He has insulted you, he said softly, smiling into her white face. Run along to the post, ma belle melyse.

Starting point is 04:39:55 He watched her, half turned from the astonished Englishman. until she disappeared in a twist of the trail a hundred yards away. Then he faced Dixon. It is the first time that Armelis has ever suffered insult, he said, speaking as coolly as if to a child. If Jan Turot were here, he would kill you. He is gone, and I will kill you in his place. He advanced, his white teeth still gleaming in a smile,

Starting point is 04:40:27 and not until he launched himself like a cat at Dixon's throat was the Englishman convinced that he meant attack. In a flash, Dixon stepped a little to one side and sent out a crashing blow that caught Jean on the side of the head and sent him flat upon his back in the trail. Half stunned, Gravois came to his feet. He did not hear the shrill cry of terror from the twist in the trail. He did not look back to see Milly,

Starting point is 04:40:57 standing there. But Dixon both saw and heard, and he laughed tauntingly over Jean's head as the little Frenchman came toward him again more cautiously than before. It was the first time that Jean had ever come into contact with science. He darted in again, in his quick, cat-like way, and received a blow that dazed him. This time he held to his feet. bah this is like striking a baby exclaimed dixon what are you fighting about gravois is it a crime up here to kiss a pretty girl i am going to kill you said jean as coolly as before there was something terribly calm and decisive in his voice he was not excited he was not afraid his fingers did not go near the long knife in his belt slowly the laugh faded from dixon's face and tense lines gathered around his mouth as jean circled about him come we don't want trouble like this he urged i'm sorry if melisse didn't like it i am going to kill you repeated jean there was an appalling confidence in his eyes from those eyes dixon found himself retreating rather than from the man They followed him, never taking themselves from his face. The fire in them grew deeper.

Starting point is 04:42:33 Two dull red spots began to glow in Jean's cheeks, and he laughed softly when he suddenly leaped in so that the Englishman struck at him and missed. It was the science of the forest man pitted against that of another world. For sport, Jean had played with wounded links. his was the quickness of sight of instinct without the other's science the quickness of the great loon that had often played this same game with his rifle fire of the sledge-dog whose ripping fangs carried death so quickly that eyes could not follow a third and a fourth time he came within striking distance and escaped he half drew his knife and at the movement dixon sprang back until his short time he came within striking distance and escaped he half drew his knife and at the movement dixon sprang back until his short shoulders touched the brush. Smilingly, Gravoix

Starting point is 04:43:29 unsheathed the blade and tossed it behind him in the trail. His eyes were like a serpent's in their steadiness, and the muscles of his body were drawn as tight as steel springs, ready to loose themselves when the chance came. There were tricks in his fighting, as well as in the others, and a dawning of it began to grow upon Dixon. He dropped his arms to his side, side, inviting Jean within reach.

Starting point is 04:43:59 Suddenly, the little Frenchman straightened. His glittering eyes shot from the Englishman's face to the brush behind him, and a piercing yell burst from his lips. Involuntarily, Dixon started, half-turning his face, and before he had come to his guard, Gravoix flung himself under his arms, striking with the full force of his body against his antagonist's knees. together they went down in the trail there was only one science now that of the forest man the lithe brown figures that could have crushed the life of a lynx fastened themselves around the englishman's throat

Starting point is 04:44:41 and there came one gasping quickly throttled cry as they tightened in their neck-breaking grip i will kill you said jean again dixon's arms fell limply to his side his eyes bulged from their sockets his mouth was agape but jean did not see his face was buried on the other's shoulder the whole life of him in the grip he would not have raised his head for a full minute longer had there not come a sudden interruption the terrified voice of melisse the frantic tearing of her hands at his hands he is dead she shrieked you have killed him jean he loosed his fingers and sat up melisse staggered back clutching with her hands at her breast her face as white as the snow you have killed him jean looked into dixon's eyes he is not dead he said rising and going to her side come my cher run home to I will not kill him." Her slender form shook with agonized sobs as he led her to the turn in the trail. "'Run home to Iawaka,' he repeated gently. "'I will not kill him, Melisse.' He went back to Dixon and rubbed snow over the man's face.

Starting point is 04:46:13 "'Mondieu, but it was near to it,' he exclaimed as there came a flicker of life into the eyes. A little more, and he would have been with the missionary. He dragged the Englishman to the side of the trail and set his back to a tree. When he saw that fallen foeman's breath was coming more strongly, he followed slowly after Melisse. Unobserved, he went into the store and washed the blood from his face, chuckling with huge satisfaction when he looked at himself in the little glass which hung over the wash-base. "'Ah, my sweet Iowocca, "'but would you guess now that Jean de Gravoix

Starting point is 04:46:56 "'had received two clouts on the side of the head "'that almost sent him into the blessed hereafter? "'I would not have had you see it "'for all the gold in this world.' "'A little later he went to the cabin. "'Iiowaka and the children were at Quassays, "'and he sat down to smoke a pipe. "'S scarce had he begun sending up blue clouds

Starting point is 04:47:19 of smoke when the door opened, and Melisse came in. "'Hello, my cher,' he cried gaily, laughing at her with a wave of his pipe. In an instant she had flung the shawl from her head and was upon her knees at his feet. Her white face turned up to him pleadingly, her breath falling upon him in panting, sobbing excitement. "'Jean, Jean, Jean,' she whispered, stretching up her hands to his face. please tell me that you will never tell jan please tell me that you never will jean never never i will say nothing melisse never jean never for a sobbing breath she dropped her head upon his knees then suddenly she drew down his face and kissed him thank you jean for what you have done mon dieu gasped jean when she had gone what if iawaka had been here then end of chapter twenty recording by roger maline chapter twenty one of the honor of the big snows

Starting point is 04:48:43 this liverbox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter twenty one a broken heart the day following the fight in the forest dixon found jean de gravois alone and came up to him gravois will you shake hands with me he said i want to thank you for what you did to me yesterday I deserved it. I have asked Miss Melyse to forgive me, and I want to shake hands with you. Jean was thunderstruck. He had never met this kind of man. Could he anter, he ejaculated,

Starting point is 04:49:29 when he had come to his senses. Yes, I will shake hands. For several days after this, Jean could see that Melyse made an effort to evade him. She did not visit Iowocca when he was in the cab. cabin neither did she and dixon go again into the forest the young englishman spent more of his time at the store and just before the trappers began coming in he went on a three days sledge trip with the change delighted jean the first time he met melisse after the fight his eyes flashed pleasure yon will surely be coming home soon he greeted her what if the birds tell him what happened out there on the trail she flushed scarlet perhaps the same birds will tell us what has happened down in the nelson house trail jean she retorted

Starting point is 04:50:26 poof yonterot doesn't give a snap of his small finger for the mcvay girl jean replied warm in defense of his friend she is pretty laughed melisse and i have just learned that is why men like to like them i mean jean strutted before her like a peacock am i pretty melisse no then why-why he said why he said before her like a peacock am i pretty melisse no then why he shrugged his shoulder suggestively in the cabin because you are brave jean i love brave men you are glad that i pummeled the stranger then melisse did not answer but he caught a laughing sparkle in the corner of her eye as she left him come home yon tadoe he hummed softly as he went to the store come home come home come home for the little melisse has grown into a woman and is learning to use her eyes among the first of the trappers to come in with his furs was mcvay he brought word that jan had gone south to spend the annual holiday at nelson house and cummins told melisse whence the message came he did not observe the slight change that came into her face and went on i don't understand this in yon he is needed here for the carnival did you know that he was going to nelson house melees shook her head m'gway says they have made him an offer to go down there as chief man continued the factor it is strange that he has sent no explanation to me it was a week after the big caribou roast before yon returned to l'acbin

Starting point is 04:52:19 maylie saw him drive in from the churchill trail but while her heart fluttered excitedly she steeled herself to meet him with at least an equal show of the calm indifference with which he had left her six weeks before the coolness of his leave-taking still rankled bitterly in her bosom he had not kissed her he had not even passed his last evening with her but she was not prepared for the changed yonterot who came slowly through the cabin door. His hair and beard had grown, covering the smooth cheeks which he had always kept closely shaven. His eyes glowed with dull pleasure as she stood waiting for him, but there was none of the old flash and fire in them. There was a strangeness in his manner,

Starting point is 04:53:12 an uneasiness in the shifting of his eyes, which caused the half-defiant flush to fade slowly from her cheeks before either had spoken. She had never known this Jan before, and her fortitude left her as she approached him, wonderingly, silent, her hands reaching out to him. "'Yon!' she said. Her voice trembled, her lips quivered.

Starting point is 04:53:39 There was the old glorious pleading in her eyes, and before it Jan bowed his unkempt head and crushed her hands tightly in his own. for a half-minute there was silence and in that half-minute there came a century between them at last yan spoke i'm glad to see you again melisse it had seemed like a very long time he lifted his eyes before them the girl involuntarily shrank back and jan freed her hands in them she saw none of the old love-gloved her hands in them she saw none of the old love-gloved low, nothing of their old comradeship. Inscrutable, reflecting no visible emotion, they passed from her to the violin hanging on the wall.

Starting point is 04:54:29 "'I have not played in so long,' he said, turning from her, "'that I believe I have forgotten.' He took down the instrument, and his fingers traveled clumsily over the strings. His teeth gleamed at her from out his half-inch growth of beard, as he said, "'Ah, you must play for me now, Melyse. It has surely gone from Jan Toro.'

Starting point is 04:54:55 He held out the violin to her. "'Not now, Jan,' she said tremulously. "'I will play for you tonight.' She went to the door of her room, hesitating for a moment with her back to him. "'You will come to supper, Jan?' "'Surely, Melisse, if you are prepared.' he hung up the violin as she closed the door and went from the cabin jean de gravois and iowaqua were watching for him and jean hurried across the open to meet him

Starting point is 04:55:31 i am coming to offer you the loan of my razor he cried gaily iowaka says that you will be taken for a bear if the trappers see you a beard is good to keep off the black flies replied jan it is a man it is a little to keep off the black flies replied jan it is a little bit of a bear it is a little bit of a bear if the trappers see you it is a little bit of a bear you it is a bear you approaching summer, and the black flies love to feast upon me. Let us go down the trail, Jean. I want to speak with you. Where there had been wood-cutting in the deep spruce, they sat down, facing each other. Jan spoke in French. I have traveled far since leaving L'Aqbin, he said. I went first to Nelson House, and from there to the Haldaya. I found them at Nelson House.

Starting point is 04:56:17 but not in the holdaia what asked jean though he knew well what the other meant my brothers jean de gravois answered jan drawing his lips until his teeth gleaned in a sneering smile my brothers le bates de charon devil te quace for telling you where they were muttered jean under his breath i saw the two at nelson house continued Jan. One of them is a half-wit, and the other, he hunched his shoulders, is worse. Petro, one of the two who were at Holdaya, was killed by a Cree father last winter for dishonoring his daughter. The other disappeared. Jean was silent, his head leaning forward, his face resting in his hands. So you see, Jean de Gravoix, what sort of creature is your friend, Jan Toro?

Starting point is 04:57:23 Jean raised his head until his eyes were on a level with those of his companion. I see that you are a bigger fool than ever, he said quietly. Jan Terot, what if I should break my oath and tell me lise? Unflinching, the men's eyes met. A dull glare came into Jantero. yon's slowly he unsheathed his long knife and placed it upon the snow between his feet with the gleaming end of the blade pointing toward gravois with a low cry jean sprang to his feet do you mean that yonterot do you mean to give the knife challenge to one who has staked his life for you and who loves you as a brother yes said yon deliberately i love you you, Jean, more than any other man in the world, and yet I will kill you if you betray me to

Starting point is 04:58:21 me lice.' He rose to his feet and stretched out his hands to the little Frenchman. "'Jean, wouldn't you do as I am doing? Wouldn't you have done as much for Iiawaka?' For a moment, Gravois was silent. "'I would not have taken her love without telling her,' he said then. That is not what you and I know as honor, Jan Toro. But I would have gone to her, as you should now go to Melisse, and she would have opened her arms to me, as Melisse would open hers to you.

Starting point is 04:58:58 That is what I would have done. And that is what I shall never do, said Jan decisively, turning toward the post. I could kill myself more easily. That is what I want to be. to tell you, Jean. No one but you and I must ever know. I would like to choke that fool of a croissé for sending you to hunt up those people at Nelson House and Aldaya, grumbled Jean. It was best for me.

Starting point is 04:59:32 They saw Melyis leaving Iowaka's home when they came from the forest. Both waved their hands to her, and Jan cut across the open to the store. jean went to the cummins cabin as soon as he was sure that he was not observed there was a little of the old vivacity in his manner as he greeted melisse he noted too that the girl was not her natural cell there was a redness under her eyes which told him that she had been crying melees he said at last speaking to her with his eyes fixed on the cap he was twisting in his fingers There has come a great change over Jan. A very great change, Jean. If I were to guess, I should say that his heart has been broken down on the Nelson Trail. Gravoix caught the sharp meaning in her voice, which trembled a little as she spoke.

Starting point is 05:00:34 He was before her in an instant, his cap fallen to the floor, his eyes blazing as he caught her by the arms. Yes, the heart of Yon Tiro is broken, he cried, but it has been broken by nothing that lives in the Nelson House trail. It is broken because of you. I, Melyis drew back from him with a breathless cry. I, I have broken? I did not say that, interrupted Jean. I say that it is broken because of you.

Starting point is 05:01:10 "'Mon Dieu, if only I might tell you.' "'Do, do, Jean, please tell me,' she put her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes implored him. "'Tell me what I have done, what I can do, Jean.' "'I can say that much to you, and no more,' he said quietly. "'Only know this, ma'cher, that there is a great grief eating at the soul of Jan Turot, and that because of this grief he is changed. I know what this grief is, but I am pledged never to reveal it. It is for you to find out, and to do this, above all else, let him know that

Starting point is 05:01:57 you love him. The color had faded from her startled face, but now it came back again in a swift flood. That I love him? Yes. Not as a sister any longer, Melyse. But as a woman. End of Chapter 21. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 22 of the honor of the big snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 05:02:36 Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 22. Her Promise. Grasvoix did not stay to see the effect of his last words. Only he knew, as he went through the door, that her eyes were following him, and that if he looked at her, she would call him back. So he shut the door quickly behind him, fearing that he had already said too much. Cummins and Jan came in together at suppertime.

Starting point is 05:03:10 The factor was in high humor. An Indian from the porcupine had brought in two silver fox that much, morning, and he was immensely pleased at Jan's return, a combination of incidents which put him in the best of moods. Maylees sat opposite Jan at the table. She had twisted a sprig of red bachnish into her glossy braid, and a cluster of it nestled at her throat, but Jan gave no sign that he had noticed this little favor, which was meant entirely for him. He smiled at her, but there was a clear coolness in the depths of his dark eyes which checked any of the old familiarity on her part has mcvay put in his new trap-line commons inquired after asking yon many questions about his trip i don't know replied jan i didn't go to mcvay's purposely he held his eyes from melisse she understood his effort and a quick flush gathered in her cheeks it was mac vay who brought in word of you persisted the factor oblivious of the effect of his questions

Starting point is 05:04:22 i met him in the creed lake country but he said nothing of his trap lines he rose from the table with cummins and started to follow him from the cabin melisse came between. For a moment her hand rested upon his arm. "'You are going to stay with me, Jan,' she smiled. "'I want your help with the dishes, and then we're going to play on the violin.' She pulled him into a chair, as Cummins left, and tied an apron about his shoulders. "'Close your eyes, and don't move,' she commanded, laughing into his surprised face as she ran into her room. A moment later she returned with one hand held behind her back. The hot blood surged through Jan's veins

Starting point is 05:05:12 when he felt her fingers running gently through his long hair. There came the snip of scissors, a little nervous laugh close to his head, and then again the snip, snip, snip, snip of the scissors. It's terribly long, Jan, her soft hand brushed his bearded cheek. Oh, she shuddered. You must take that off your face. If you don't.

Starting point is 05:05:39 Why? he asked, through lack of anything else to say. She lowered her head until her cheek pressed against his own. Because it feels like bristles, she whispered. She reddened fiercely when he remained silent, and the scissors snipped more rapidly between her fingers. I'm going to prosper. the big swamp along the edge of the barons this summer, he explained soon, laughing to relieve the tension. A beard will protect me from the black flies. You can grow another. She took the apron from

Starting point is 05:06:17 about his shoulders and held it so that he could see the result of her work. He looked up, smiling. Thank you, Meles. Do you remember when you last cut my hair? Yes, it was over on the mountain. We had taken the scissors along for cutting Bachniche, and you looked so like a wild Indian that I made you sit on a rock and let me trim it. And you cut my ear, he reminded. For which you made me pay, she retorted quickly, almost under her breath. She went to the cupboard behind the stove and brought out her father's shaving mug and razor. I insist that you shall use them, she said,

Starting point is 05:07:01 stirring the soap into a lather and noting the indecision on his face. I am afraid of you. Afraid of me? He stood for a moment in front of the little mirror, turning his face from side to side. Melyse handed him the razor and cup. You don't seem like the yawn that I used to know once upon a time. There has been a great change in you since—

Starting point is 05:07:27 Since—she hesitated. "'Since when, Melyse? "'Since the day we came in from the mountain "'and I put up my hair.' "'With timid sweetness,' she added, "'I haven't had it up again, Jan.' She caught a glimpse of his lathered face in the glass, staring at her with big, seeking eyes.

Starting point is 05:07:51 He turned them quickly away when he saw that she was looking, and Melyse set to work at the dishes. She had washed them before he finished chasing. Then she took down the old violin from the wall and began to play, her low, sweet voice accompanying the instrument in a Cree melody which Iiawaka had taught her during Jan's absence at Nelson House and the Hualdaya. Surprised, he faced her, his eyes glowing as there fell from her lips, the gentle love-song of a heart-broken Indian maiden, filled with its infinite sadness and despair. He knew the song. It was a lyric of the Crees. He had heard it before, but never as it came to him now, sobbing its grief in the low notes of the violin, speaking to him with immeasurable pathos from the trembling throat of Melisse. He stood silent until she had finished, staring down upon her bowed head.

Starting point is 05:08:53 When she lifted her eyes to him, he saw that her long lashes were wet and glistening. in the lamp glow. "'It is wonderful, Melisse. You have made beautiful music for it.' "'Thank you, Jan.' She played again, her voice humming with exquisite sweetness the wordless music which he had taught her.

Starting point is 05:09:17 At last she gave him the violin. "'Now you must play for me.' "'I have forgotten a great deal, Melisse.' she was astonished to see how clumsily his brown fingers travelled over the strings as she watched him her heart thrilled uneasily it was not the old yawn who was playing for her now but a new yon whose eyes shone dull and passionless in whom there was no stir of the old spirit of the violin he wandered listlessly from one thing to another and after a few minutes gave her the instrument again without speaking she rose from her chair and hung the violin upon the wall you must practise a great deal she said quietly at her movement he too rose from his seat and when she turned to him again he had his cap in his hand a flash of surprise shot into her eyes are you going so soon yon i am tired he said in excuse it has been two days since i have slept maylis good-night

Starting point is 05:10:34 he smiled at her from the door but the good night which fell from her lips was lifeless and unmeaning yon shivered when he went out under the cold stars he clenched his hands knowing that he had come from the cabin none too soon choking back the grief of this last meeting with melisse he crossed to the company's store it was late when cummins returned home meelisse was still up he looked at her sharply over his shoulder as he hung up his coat and hat has anything come between you and yon he asked suddenly why have you been crying sometimes the tears come when i am playing the violin father i know of nothing that has come between yon and me only i-i don't understand she stopped struggling hard to keep back the sobs that were trembling in her throat. "'Neither do I understand,' exclaimed the factor, going to the stove to light his pipe. "'He gave me his resignation as a paid servant of the company tonight.'

Starting point is 05:11:52 "'He is not going to leave the post,' breathed Melisse. "'He is leaving the service,' reiterated her father. "'That means he cannot long long. live at Lacanbein. He says he is going into the woods, perhaps into Jean's country of the Athabasca. Has he told you more? "'Nothing,' said Melisse. She was upon her knees in front of the little bookcase. A blinding film burned in her eyes. She caught her breath, struggling hard to master herself before she faced her father again. For a moment the factor went into his room, and she took this opportunity of slipping into her own, calling good night to him from the

Starting point is 05:12:40 partly closed door. The next day it was Cossé who went along the edge of the barons for meat. Gravoix found Jan filling a new shoulder pack with supplies. It was their first encounter since he had learned that Jan had given up the service. Diablo, he fairly hissed, standing over him as he packed his flower and salt in a rubber bag. Diablo, I say, Monsieur Janterot. Jan looked up, smiling,

Starting point is 05:13:14 to see the little Frenchman fairly quivering with rage. Bonjour, Monsieur, Monsieur Jean de Gravois, he laughed back. You see, I am going out among the foxes. The devils, snapped Jean. No, the foxes, my dear Jean.

Starting point is 05:13:33 I am tired of the post. i can make better wade from my time in the swamps to the west think of it jean it has been many years since you have trapped there and the foxes must be eating up the country jean's thin lips were almost snarling blessed saints and it was i who he spun upon his heels without another word and went straight to melisse yon tarot is going to leave the post he announced fiercely throwing out his chest and glaring at her accusingly. "'So father has told me,' said Melisse. Her cheeks were colorless, and there were purplish lines under her eyes, but she spoke with exceeding calmness.

Starting point is 05:14:21 "'Mon dear!' exclaimed Jean, whirling again. "'You take it so coolly!' A little later, Melis saw Jan coming from the store. When he entered the cabin, his dark face betrayed the strain under which he was laboring, but his voice was unnaturally calm. I have come to say goodbye, Melis, he said. I am going to prospect for a good trapline among the barons.

Starting point is 05:14:52 I hope you will have good luck, Jan. In her voice, too, was a firmness almost metallic. For the first time in his life, Jan held out his hand to her. she started and for an instant the blood surged from her heart to her face then she gave him her own and looked him squarely and unflinchingly in the eyes will you wait a moment she asked she hurried into her room and scarcely had she gone before she reappeared again this time with a flush burning in her cheeks and her eyes shining brightly she had unbraided her hair and it lay coiled upon the crown of her head glistening with crimson sprigs of bacniche she came to him a second time and once more gave him her hand i don't suppose you care now she said coldly and yet laughing in his face i have not broken my promise it was silly wasn't it he felt as if his blood had been suddenly chilled to water and he fought to choke back the thick throbbing in his throat you promised he could not go further

Starting point is 05:16:16 i promised that i would not do up my hair again until you had forgotten to love me she finished for him i will do it up now he bowed his head and she could see his shoulders quiver under their thick caribou coat her tense lips parted and she raised her arms as if on the point of stretching them out to him but his voice came evenly without a quiver yet filled with the dispassionate truth of what he spoke i have not forgotten to love you melise i shall never cease to love my little sister but you are older now and it is time for you to do up your hair he turned without looking at her again leaving her standing with her arm still half stretched out to him and went from the cabin good-bye yon the words fell in a sobbing whisper from her but he had gone too far to hear through the window she saw him shake hands with cummins in front of the company's store she watched him as he went to the cabin of iowaaka and jean then she saw him shoulder his pack and with bowed head disappear slowly into the depths of the black spruce forest end of chapter twenty two recording by roger maline chapter twenty three of the honor of the big snows this libervox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter twenty three yon returns all that spring and summer yon spent in the thick caribou swamps and low ridge mountains along the barrens

Starting point is 05:18:19 it was two months before he appeared at the post again and then he remained only long enough to patch himself up and secure fresh supplies melisse had suffered quietly during these two months a grief and loneliness filling her heart which none knew but herself even from iowaqa she kept her unhappiness a secret and yet when the gloom had settled heaviest upon her she was still buoyed up by a persistent hope until yon's last visit to l'akbin this hope never quite went out the first evening after his arrival from the swamps to the west he came to the cabin his beard had grown again his hair was long and shaggy and fell in shining dishevelment upon his shoulders the sensitive beauty of his great eyes once responsive to every passing humor in melisse flashing fun at her laughter glowing softly in their devotion was gone his face was filled with the age-old silence of the forest man firmly and yet gently it repelled whatever of the old things she might have said and done holding her away from him as if by power of a strong hand this time melisse knew that there was left not even the last comforting spark of hope within her bosom yon had gone out of her life forever leaving to her her as a haunting ghost of what they two had once been to each other,

Starting point is 05:20:01 the old violin on the cabin wall. After he went away again, the violin became more and more to her what it had once been to him. She played it as he had played it, sobbing her loneliness and her heartbreak through its strings, in lone hours, clasping it to her breast and speaking to it as Jan had talked to it in years gone by.

Starting point is 05:20:27 if you could only tell me if you only could she whispered to it one day when the autumn was drawing near if you could tell me about him and what i might do dear old violin once during the autumn yon came in for supplies and traps and his dogs and sledge he was planning to spend the winter two hundred miles to the west in the country of the athabasca he was at l'acques ban for a week and during this time a mail-runner came in from fort churchill the runner brought a new experience into the life of melisse her first letter it was from young dixon twenty or more closely written pages of it in which he informed her that he was going to spend a part of the approaching winter at l'acques bain she was reading the last page when jan came into the cabin her cheeks were slightly flushed by this new excitement which was reflected in her eyes as she looked at yon a letter she cried holding out her two hands filled with the pages a letter to me yon all the way from fort churchill who in the world he began smiling at her and stopped it's from mr dixon she said the flush deepening in her cheeks he's going to spend part of the winter with us i'm glad of that melisse said jan quietly i like him and would like to know him better i hope he will bring you some more books and strings he glanced at the old violin do you play much a great deal she replied won't you play for me yan my hands are too rough and besides i've forgotten all that i ever knew

Starting point is 05:22:31 even the things you played when i was a baby i think i have melisse but you must never forget them i shall remember them always she answered softly some day it may be that i will teach them to you again he did not see her again until six months later when he came into the caribou roast with his furs then he learned that another letter had come to melisse and that dixon had gone to london instead of coming to l'aacbin the day after the carnival he went back into the country of the athabasca spring did not see him at l'aacbon early summer brought no news of him in the floods jean went by the waterway to the athabasca and found thoreau's cabin abandoned there had not been life in it for a long time the indians said that since the melting snows they had not seen jan a half-breed whom jean met at fond du lac said that he had found the bones of a white man on the beaver with the hudson's bay gun and a horn-handled knife beside them. Jean came back to Lacinnebein, heavy at heart. There is no doubt but that he is dead, he told Iowaka.

Starting point is 05:24:02 I do not believe that it will hurt very much if you tell Melis. One day, early in September, a lone figure came in to the post at noon, when the company's people were at dinner. He carried a pack and said, six dogs trailed at his heels. It was Jan Turot. I have been down to civilization, was his explanation. I have returned to spend this winter at Lacinne.

Starting point is 05:24:36 End of Chapter 23. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 24 of the honor of the big snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Malin. the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter twenty four the rescue on the first snow came young dixon from fort churchill jean de gravoie met him on the trail near le docks when the englishman recognized the little frenchman he leaped from his sledge and advanced with outstretched hand his face lighting up with pleasure bless me if it isn't my old friend jean he cried i was just thinking of you gravois and how you trimmed me to a finish two winters ago i've learned a lot about you people up here in the snows since then and i'll never do anything like that again

Starting point is 05:25:44 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 the little gravois and maelisse he added before jean had spoken all well m deixon replied jean only the little gravois have almost grown into a man and woman an hour or so later he said to iowaqa i can't help liking this man dixon and yet i don't want to why is it do you suppose is it because you are afraid that maylise will like him asked his wife smiling over her shoulder blessed saints i believe that it is said jean frankly i hate foreigners and melisse belongs to jan she did once but that was a long time ago jean it may be and yet i doubt it my belle amy if jan would tell her a woman will not wait always interrupted Iowaka softly. Jan Terot has waited too long. A week later, as they stood together in front of their door,

Starting point is 05:27:07 they saw Dixon and Melyse walking slowly in the edge of the forest. The woman laughed into Jean's face. Did I not say that Jan had waited too long? Jean's face was black with disapprobation. then you would have taken up with some foreigner if i had remained in the Athabasca country another year or two he demanded questioningly very likely retorted Iowocca mischievously running into the cabin the devil said Jean sourly stalking in the direction of the store he was angered at the coolness with which Jan accepted the situation this dixon is with melisse afternoon and evening and they walk together every day in the bush he said to him soon there will be a wedding at l'aqbein melees deserves a good man replied yon unmoved i like dixon deep down in his soul he knew that each day was bringing the end of it all much nearer for him

Starting point is 05:28:19 he did not tell melisse that he had returned to l'acabin to be near her once more nor did he confide in jean he had anticipated that this winter at the post would be filled with a certain painful pleasure for him but he had not anticipated dixon day after day he saw melisse and the englishman together and while they awakened in him none of the fiery jealousy which might have rankled in the bosom of jean de the knowledge that the girl was at last passing from him forever added a deeper grief to that which was already eating at his heart dixon made no effort to conceal his feelings he loved melisse frankly he told this to jean one day-he was told this to jean one day when they were on the Churchill trail. In his honest way, he said things which broke down the last of Jean's hereditary prejudices, and compelled him to admit that this was a different sort of foreigner than he had ever known before. "'Deaub, I like him,' he said to himself. "'And yet I would rather see him in the blessed hereafter

Starting point is 05:29:32 than have him take me lease from Jan.' "'The big snow, disson. it came early in december dixon had set out alone for le docks early in the morning by noon the sky was a leaden black and a little later one could not see a dozen paces ahead of him for the snow the englishman did not return that day the next day he was still gone and gravois drove along the top of the mountain ridge until he came to the frenchman's where he found found that dixon had started for l'acquesbain the preceding afternoon he brought word back to the post then he went to melisse it is as good as death to go out in search of him he said we can no longer use the dogs snow-shoes will sink like leaden bullets by morning and to go ten miles from the post means that there will be bones to be picked up by the foxes when the crust comes it was dark when yon came into the cabin melisse started to her feet with a little cry when he entered covered white with the snow a light pack was strapped to his back and he carried his rifle in his hand i am going to hunt for him he said softly if he is alive i will bring him back to you she came to him slowly and the beating of yon's heart sounded to him like the distant thrumming of partridge wings

Starting point is 05:31:10 ah would he ever forget that look the old glory was in her eyes her arms were reaching out her lips parted yon knew how the great spirit had once appeared to mookie and how a white mist like a snow veil had come between the half-breed's eyes and the wondrous thing he beheld that same veil drifted between yon and the girl as in a vision he saw her face so near to him that he felt the touch of her sweet breath and he knew that one of his rough hands was clasped in both of her own and that after a moment it was crushed tightly against her bosom yon my hero he struggled back almost sobbing as he plunged out into the night again he heard her voice crying after him but the wild wailing of the spruce and the storm in his brain drowned its words he had seen the glorious light of love in her eyes her love for dixon and he would find him at last he yonterot would prove that the old love was not dead within him he would do for melisse this night to-morrow the next day and until he fell down to die what he had promised to do on their sledge ride to le docks and then he went to le docks now following the top of the mountain and reached his cabin in the late dawn the frenchman stared at him in amazement when he learned that he was about to set out on a search for dixon you will not find him he said slowly in french but if you are determined to go i will hunt with you it is a big chance that we will not come back

Starting point is 05:33:09 i don't want you to go objected jan one will do as much as two unless we search alone i came your way to find if it had begun to snow before dixon left an hour after he had gone you could not see your hand before your face replied le doc preparing his pack there is no doubt but that he circled out over l'acbin we will go that far together and then search alone. They went back over the mountain, and stopped when instinct told them that they were opposite the spruce forests of the lake. There they separated, Yon going as nearly as he could guess into the northwest, Le Dock, trailing slowly and hopelessly into the south. It was no great sacrifice for Jan, this struggle with the big snows, for the happiness of Melyse. what it was till a duck no man ever guessed or knew for it was not until the late spring snows had gone that the people at l'acbein found what the foxes and the wolves had left of him far to the south fearlessly yon plunged into the white world of the lake there was neither rock nor tree to guide him for everywhere was the heavy ghost raiment of the indian god

Starting point is 05:34:38 the balsams were bending under it the spruces were breaking into hunchback forms the whole world was twisted in noiseless torture under its increasing weight out through the still terror of it all yon's voice went in wild echoing shouts now and then he fired his rifle and always he listened long and intently the echoes came back to him laughing taunting and then each time fell the mirthless silence of the storm day came only a little lighter than the night he crossed the lake his snow-shoes sinking ankle-deep at every step and once each half-hour he fired a single shot from his rifle he heard shots to the south and knew that it was le doc each report coming to him more faintly than the last until he heard shots to the south and knew that it was le docque each report coming to him more faintly than the last until they had died away entirely. Across the lake he struck the forest again, and his shouts echoed in futile inquiry in its weird depths. About him there was no sign of life, no sound except the faint fluttering of falling snow. Under five feet of this snow, the four-footed creatures of the wilderness were snugly buried, close against the trunks of the spruces, sheltered within their tent-like

Starting point is 05:36:07 coverings, the birds waited like lifeless things for the breaking of the storm. At noon, Jan stopped and ate his lunch. Then he went on, carrying his rifle always upon his right shoulder, so that the steps of his right leg would be shortened, and he would travel in a circle, as he believed Dixon had done. The storm thickened with the falling of night, and he burrowed himself a great hole in the soft snow and filled it with balsam bows for a bed. When he awakened, hours later, he stood up and thrust out his head and found himself buried to the armpits.

Starting point is 05:36:51 With the aid of his broad snow-shoes, he drew himself out until he stood knee-deep in the surface. He lifted his pack. As he swung it before him, one arm thrust through a strap, he gave a startled cry. Half of one side of the pack was eaten away. He thrust his hands through the breach, and a moan of despair sobbed on his lips when he found that his food was gone. A thin trickle of flour ran through his fingers upon the snow.

Starting point is 05:37:25 He pulled out a gnawed pound of bacon, a little tea, and that was all. Frantically he ripped the rent wider in his search, and when he stood up, his wild face staring into the chaos about him, he held only the bit of bacon in his hand. In it were the imprints of tiny teeth, sharp little razor-edge teeth that told him what had happened. While he had slept, a mink had robbed him of his food.

Starting point is 05:37:58 With one of his shoes he began digging furiously on the snow. He tore his balsam bed to pieces. somewhere somewhere not very far away the little animal must have cast its theft he dug down until he came to the frozen earth for an hour he worked and found nothing then he stopped over a small fire he melted snow for tea and broiled a slice of bacon which he ate with the few biscuit crumbs he found in the pack every particle of flower that he could find he scraped up with his knife and put into one of the deep pockets of his caribou coat after that he set out in the direction in which he thought he would find l'acbin still he shouted for dixon and fired an occasional shot from his rifle by noon he should have struck the lake noon came and passed the gloom of a second night fell upon him. He built himself a fire and ate two-thirds of what remained of the bacon. The handful of flour in his pocket he did not disturb. It was still night when he broke his rest

Starting point is 05:39:20 and struggled on. His first fears were gone. In place of them there filled him now a grim sort of pleasure. A second time he was battling with death for Melyse. and this after all was not a very hard fight for him he had feared death in the red plague but he did not fear the thought of this death that threatened him in the big snows it thrilled him instead with a strange sort of exhilaration if he died it would be for melisse and for all time she would remember him for what he had done when he ate the last bit of his bacon he made up his mind what he would do when the end came. In the stock of his rifle, he would scratch a few last words to Malesse. He even arranged the words in his brain,

Starting point is 05:40:16 four of them. Melisse, I love you. He repeated them to himself as he staggered on, and that night, beside the fire he built, he began by carving her name. "'Tomorrow,' he said softly, "'I will do the rest.' He was growing very hungry,

Starting point is 05:40:41 but he did not touch the flour. For six hours he slept and then drank his fill of hot tea. "'We will travel until day, Yantaro,' he informed himself, "'and then, if nothing turns up, "'we will build our last camp and eat the flour.' it will be the last of us for there will be no meat above this snow for days his snow-shoes were an impediment now and he left them behind along with one of his two blankets which had grown to be like lead upon his shoulders he counted his cartridges ten of them one of these he fired into the air was that an echo he heard a sudden thrill shot through him

Starting point is 05:41:31 He strained his ears to catch a repetition of the sound. In a moment it came again, clearly no echo this time. The duck! He cried aloud. He fired again. Back to him came the distant, splitting crack of a rifle. He forced his way toward it. After a little he heard the signal again, much nearer than before,

Starting point is 05:41:57 and he fired in response. a few hundred yards farther on he came to a low mountain ridge and lifted his voice in a loud shout a shot came from just over the mountain waist deep in the light snow he began the ascent dragging himself up by the tops of the slender saplings stopping every few yards to half stretch himself out in the soft mass through which he was struggling panting with exhaustion he shouted when he gained the top of the ridge up through the white blur of snow on the other side there came to him faintly a shout yet in spite of its faintness yaw knew that it was very near something has happened to le doc he told himself but he surely has food and we can live it out until the storm is over it was easier going down the ridge and he went quickly in the direction from which the voice had come until a mass of huge boulders loomed up before him there was a faint odor of smoke in the air and he followed it in among the rocks where it grew stronger ho le doc he shouted a voice replied a dozen yards away slowly as he advanced he made out the dim shadow of life in the white gloom a bit of smoke climbing weakly in the storm the black opening of a brush shelter and then between the opening and the spring between the opening and the smoke spiral of smoke, a living thing that came creeping toward him on all fours like an animal.

Starting point is 05:43:43 He plunged toward it, and the shadow staggered upward, and would have fallen had it not been for the support of the deep snow. Another step, and a sharp cry fell from Jan's lips. It was not Lidoc, but Dixon, who stood there with white, starved face and staring eyes in the snow gloom. My God, I am starving and dying for a drink of water, gasped the Englishman chokingly, thrusting out his arms. Terot! God be praised! He staggered and fell in the snow. Yon dragged him back to the shelter. I will have water for you, and something to eat very soon, he said. His voice sounded unreal. There was a mistiness,

Starting point is 05:44:36 before his eyes which was not caused by the storm a twisting of strange shadows that bothered his vision and made him swayed dizzily when he threw off his pack to stir the fire he suspended his two small pails over the embers which he coaxed into a blaze both he filled with snow into one he emptied the handful of flour that he had carried in his pocket into the other he put tea fifteen minutes later he carried them to the englishman dixon sat up a glazed passion filling his eyes he drank the hot tea greedily and as greedily ate the boiled flour pudding jan watched him hungrily until the last crumb of it was gone he refilled the pails with snow added more tea and then rejoined the englishman new life was already shining in dixon's eyes not a moment too soon thoreau he said thankfully reaching over to grip the other's hand another night and suddenly he stopped great heaven what is the matter he noticed for the first time the pinched torture in his companion's face yon's head dropped weakly upon his breast His hands were icy cold. Nothing, he murmured drowsily.

Starting point is 05:46:13 Only, I'm starving too, Dixon. He recovered himself with an effort and smiled into Dixon's startled face. There is nothing to eat, he continued, as he saw the other direct his gaze toward the pack. I gave you the last of the flour. There is nothing but salt and tea. He rolled over upon the balsam boughs with a restful sigh.

Starting point is 05:46:42 Let me sleep. Dixon went to the pack. One by one in his search for food, he took out the few articles that it contained. After that he drank more tea, crawled back into the balsam shelter, and lay down beside yon. It was broad day when he awoke, and he called hoarsely to his companion when he saw that the snow had ceased falling.

Starting point is 05:47:11 Jan did not stir. For a moment Dixon leaned over to listen to his breathing, and then dragged himself slowly and painfully out into the day. The fire was out. A leaden blackness still filled the sky. Deep, silent gloom hung in the wake of the storm. Suddenly there came to Dixon's ears a sound. It was a sound that would have been unheard in the gentle whispering of a wind, in the swaying of the spruce tops,

Starting point is 05:47:44 but in this silence it fell upon the starving man's hearing with a distinctness that drew his muscles rigid and set his eyes staring about him in wild search. Just beyond the hanging pails, a moose bird hopped out upon the snow. it chirped hungrily its big owl-like eyes scrutinizing dixon the man stared back fearing to move slowly he forced his right foot through the snow to the rear of his left and as cautiously brought his left behind his right working himself backward step by step until he reached the shelter just inside was his rifle he drew it out and sank upon his knees in the snow to aim at the report of the rifle yon stirred but did not open his eyes he made no movement when dixon called out in shrill joy that he had killed meat he heard he strove to arouse himself but something more powerful than his own will seemed pulling him down into oblivion

Starting point is 05:48:56 it seemed in eternity before he was conscious of a voice again he felt himself lifted and opened his eyes with his head resting against the englishman's shoulder drink this toro he heard he drank and knew that it was not tea that ran down his throat whisky jack soup he heard how is it he became wide awake dixon was offering him a dozen small bits of meat on a tin plate and he ate without questioning suddenly when there were only two or three of the smallest scraps left he stopped mon dieu it was whisky jack he cried i have eaten it all the young englishman's white face grinned at him i've got the flour inside of me thoreau you've got the flour inside of me thoreau you've got got the moose-bird. Isn't that fair? The plate dropped between them. Over it their hands met in a great clutching grip, and up from Yon's heart their welled words which almost burst from his lips and voice, words which rang in his brain, and which were an unspoken prayer. Melyse, I thank the great God that it is this man whom you love. But it was a

Starting point is 05:50:26 in silence that he staggered to his feet and went out into the gloom. This may be only a lull in the storm, he said. We must lose no time. How long did you travel before you made this camp? About ten hours, said Dixon. I made due west by compass until I knew that I had passed L'Aqubin, and then struck north. Ah, you have the compass, cried Yon, his eyes lighting up.

Starting point is 05:50:59 Monsieur Dixon, we are very near to the post if you camp so soon. Tell me, which is north? That is north. Then we go south, south and east. If you travel ten hours,

Starting point is 05:51:15 first west and then north, we are northwest of Lacan. Jan spoke no more, but got his rifle from the shelter and put only the tea and two pails in his pack, leaving the remaining blanket upon the snow. The Englishman followed close behind him, bending weakly under the weight of his gun. Tidiously, they struggled to the top of the ridge, and as Jan stopped to look through the

Starting point is 05:51:45 gray day about him, Dixon sank down into the snow. When the other turned toward him, he grinned up feebly into his face. "'Bushed,' he gasped. "'Don't believe I can make it through this snow, Thoreau.' "'There was no fear in his eyes. There was even a cheerful ring in his voice. A sudden glow leaped into Jan's face. "'I know this ridge,' he exclaimed.

Starting point is 05:52:17 "'It runs within a mile of Loch Ben. "'You'd better leave your rifle behind.' dixon made an effort to rise and yon helped him they went on slowly resting every few hundred yards and each time that he rose from these periods of rest dixon's face was twisted with pain it's the flower and water anchored amid ships he smiled grimly cramps oh we'll make it by supper time assured yon cheerfully dixon leaned heavily on his arm i wish you'd go on alone he urged you could send help i promised melisse that i would bring you back if i found you replied jan his face turned away if the storm broke again you would be lost tell me tell me he heard dixon pant eagerly did she send you to hunt for me to row something in the englishman's voice drew his eyes to him there was an excited flush in his starved cheeks his eyes shone did she send you yon struggled hard to speak calmly not in words monsieur dixon but i knew that if i get you safely back to l'acques she will be very happy

Starting point is 05:53:51 something came in dixon's sobbing breath which yon 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 yawn 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 cooked tea it was night when they descended from the ridge to the snow-covered ice of l'acques ban it was past midnight when yon 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 cuisse who let them in take care of dixon said yon and don't arouse any of the people tonight. It'll 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. He had brought back Dixon. In the morning, Males would know. First she would go to the

Starting point is 05:55:27 Englishman. Then she would come to him. He rose. He rose. and went to the rude board table in the corner of his room no melisse must not come to me in the morning he whispered to himself she must never again look upon he took pencil and paper and wrote page after page he crumpled in his hand and flung into the fire at last swiftly and despairingly he ended with half a dozen lines. What he said came from his heart in French. I have brought him back to you, my Melisse, and pray that the good God may give you happiness. I leave you the old violin, and always when you play, it will tell you of the love of Jan Terot. He folded the page and sealed it in one of the company's envelopes. Very quietly he went from his room down into the deserted store. Without striking a light, he found a new pack, a few articles

Starting point is 05:56:43 of food, and ammunition. The envelope, addressed to Melisse, he left where Quasse or the factor would find it in the morning. His dogs were housed in a shack behind the store, and he called out their names softly and warningly as he went among them. As stealthily as their master, they trailed behind him to the edge of the forest. And close under the old spruce that guarded the grave, Jan stopped, and silently he stretched out his arms to the little cabin. The dogs watched him. Kazan, the one-eyed leader, glared from him into the dimness of the night, whining softly.

Starting point is 05:57:31 A low, morning wind, swept through the spruce tops and from yon's throat their burst sobbingly words which he had heard beside this same grave more than seventeen years before when william's choking voice had risen in a last prayer for the woman may the great god care for melisse he turned into the trail upon which jean de gravois had fought the englishman led his dogs and sledge in a twisting path through the caribou swamp, and stood at last beside the lobster tree that leaned out over the edge of the white barons. With his knife, he dug out the papers which he had concealed in that whiskey jack hole. It was near dawn when he recovered the rifle which he had abandoned on the mountain top. A little later it began to snow. He was glad for it would conceal his trail. For 13 days he forced his dogs

Starting point is 05:58:35 Through the deep snows into the south On the 14th day they came to Le Pa Which is the edge of civilization It was night when he came out of the forest So that he could see the faint glow of lights beyond the Saskatchewan For a few moments before crossing He stopped his tired dogs and turned his face back into the grim desolation of the north,

Starting point is 05:59:03 where the aurora was playing feebly in the skies, and beckoning to him, and telling him that the old life of centuries and centuries ago would wait for him always at the dome of the earth. "'The good God bless you, and keep you, and care for you ever more, my melisse,' he whispered, and he walked slowly ahead of his dogs, across the river, and into the other world.

Starting point is 05:59:32 End of Chapter 24. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 25 of the honor of the big snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerrwood. Chapter 25. Jack Thornton.

Starting point is 06:00:06 There was music that night in Lip-Eyne. pa. Jan heard it before he came to the first of the scattered lights, and the dogs pricked up their ears. Kazan, the one-eyed, whined under his breath, and the weight at Jan's heart grew heavier as the dog turned up his head to him in the starlight. It was strange music, nothing like Jan had ever heard. It was strange to Kazan, and set him whining, and he thrust his muzzle up to his master's touch, inquiringly. they passed on like shadows close to a big lighted log building from which the music came and with it a tumult of laughter of shuffling and stamping feet of coarse singing and loud voices a door opened and a man and a woman came out the man was cursing and the woman was laughing at him laughing as yon had never heard a woman laugh before and he held his breath as he listened to the taunting man was laughing at him laughing as yon had never heard a woman laugh before and he held his breath as he listened to the taunting mockery in it others followed the first man and the first woman some passed quietly

Starting point is 06:01:17 a woman escorted between two men screamed with merriment as she flung toward his shadowy figure an object which fell with a crash against the sledge it was a bottle kaisan snarled the trace dog slunk close to the leader's heels with a low word yon led them on close down to the river where the saskatchewan swung in a half moon to the south and west he found a low squat building with a light hung over the door illuminating a bit of humor in the form of a printed legend which said that it was king edward's hotel the scrub bush of the forest grew within a hundred yards of it and in this bush yon tied his dogs and left his sledge it did not occur to him that now when he had entered civilization he had come also into the land of lock and bolt of robbers and thieves it was loneliness and not suspicion that sent him back to unleash kazan and take him with him they entered the hotel kazan with suspicious caution the door opened into a big room lighted by an oil lamp turned low the room was empty except for a solitary figure sitting in a chair facing a wide window which looked into the north making no sound that he might not disturb this other occupant yan also seated himself before the window kazan laid his wolfish head across his master's knees his one eye upon him steadily and questioningly never in all his years of life had yon felt the depth of loneliness that swept upon him now as he looked into the north below him the saskatchewan lay white and silent

Starting point is 06:03:14 beyond it he could see the dark edge of the forest and far far beyond that hovering low in the sky the polar star it burned faintly now almost like a thousand other stars that he saw and the aurora was only a fading glow something rose up in yon's throat and choked him and he closed his eyes with his fingers clutching kisan's head in spite of the battle that he had fought his mind swept back back through the endless silent spaces over mountains and through forests swift resistless until once more the polar star flashed in all its glory over his head and he was at l'acques he did not know that he was surrendering to hunger exhaustion the cumulative effects of his thirteen days fight in the forests he was with melisse again with the old violin with the things that they had loved he forgot in these moments that there was another in the room he heard no sound as the man shifted his position so that he looked steadily at him and kazan it was the low heart-broken sob of grief that fell from his own lips that awakened him again to a consciousness of the present he jerked himself erect and found kizan with his fangs gleaming. The stranger had risen. He was standing close to him,

Starting point is 06:04:48 leaning down, staring at him in the dim lamplight, and as Jan lifted his own eyes, he knew that in the pale, eager face of the man above him, there was written a grief which might have been a reflection of his own. For a full breath or two they looked, neither speaking, and the hair along Kazan's spine stood stiff. Something reached out to Jan and set his tired blood tingling. He knew that this man was not a forest man. He was not of his people. His face bore the stamp of the people to the south, of civilization.

Starting point is 06:05:28 And yet something passed between them, leaped all barriers, and made them friends before they had spoken. The stranger reached down his hand, and Jan reached up his. of the loneliness, the clinging to hope, the starving desire of two men for companionship, passed in the long grip of their hands. "'You have just come down?' said the man, half-questioningly. "'That was your sledge out there?' "'Yes,' said Jan.

Starting point is 06:06:04 The stranger sat down in the chair next to Jan. "'From the camps?' he questioned eagerly. "'What camps, monsieur?' "'The railroad camps, "'where they are putting the new line through "'Beyond O'Cusco.' "'I know of no camps,' said Jan simply. "'I know of no railroad,

Starting point is 06:06:25 "'except this that comes to Le Pas. "'I come from Lac-Bain on the edge of the barren lands.' "'You have never been down before?' asked the stranger softly. "'Yon wondered at the light in his eyes. a long time ago he said for a day i have passed all of my life up there yon pointed to the north and the other's eyes turned to where the polar star was fading low in the sky and i have passed all of my life down there he replied nodding his head to the south a year ago i came up here for-for health and happiness he laughed he laughed nervously i found them both but i'm leaving them i'm going back to-morrow my name is thornton he added holding out his hand again i come from chicago my name is terot jan terot said jan terro i have read of chicago in a book and have seen pictures of it is it larger than the city that is called winnipeg

Starting point is 06:07:39 he looked at thornton and thornton turned his head a little so that the light did not shine in his face the grip of his fingers tightened about yon's hand yes it is larger the officers of the great company are at winnipeg and le commissionaire are they not monsieur of the hudson's bay company yes and if there was business to do important business monsieur monsieur Would it not be best to go to Le Commissionaire? questioned Jan. Thornton looked hard at the tense eagerness in Jan's face. There are nearer headquarters at Prince Albert, he said. That is not far, exclaimed Jan, rising. And they would do business there? Important business? He dropped his hand to Cazan's head and half turned toward the door.

Starting point is 06:08:39 perhaps better than the commissioner replied thornton it might depend on what your business is to them as each stood for a moment in silence there came the low wailing of a dog out in the night they are calling for kaisan said jan quietly as though he had not read the question in thornton's last words good-night monsieur the dogs were sitting upon their haunches waiting when jan and kazan went back to them yon drew them farther back where the thick spruce shut them out from the clearing and built a fire over this he hung his coffee pail and a big chunk of frozen caribou meat and tossed frozen fish to the hungry dogs then he pulled down spruce bows and spread his heavy blankets out near the fire and waited for the coffee and meat to cook the huskies were through when he began eating and they lay down in their bellies close about his feet ready to snap at the scraps which he threw them yon noticed as he ate that there was left in them none of the old fierce fighting spirit they did not snap or snarl there was no quarrelling when he threw bits of meat to them and he found himself wondering if they too were filled with the sickness which was eating at his own heart With this sickness, this deathly feeling of loneliness and heartache, there had entered into ya now a strange sensation that was almost excitement,

Starting point is 06:10:18 an eagerness to fasten the dogs in their traces, to hurry on, in spite of his exhaustion, to that place which Thornton had told him of, Prince Albert, and to free himself there, for all time, of the thing which had oppressed him since that night many years ago, when he had staggered into Lock Bant to play his v. violin as Cummins' wife died. He reached inside his skin coat, and there he felt papers which he had taken from the hole in the lobstick tree. They were safe. For twenty years he had guarded them.

Starting point is 06:10:55 Tomorrow he would take them to the great company at Prince Albert, and after that, after he had done this thing, what would there remain in life for Jan Turot? Perhaps the company might have. him and he would remain in civilization that would be best for him he would fight against the call of his forests as years and years ago he had fought against that call of the other world that had filled him with unrest for a time he had killed that if he did return to his forests he would go far to the west or far to the east no one that had ever known him would hear again of yon tarot kazan had crept to his blanket daring to encroach upon it inch by inch until his great wolfhead lay upon yon's arm it was ten years ago that yon had taken kazan a little half-blind puppy that he and melisse had chosen from a litter of half a dozen stronger brothers and sisters kazan was all that was left to him now he loved the other dogs but they were not like kazan he tightened his arm about the dog's head exhaustion and the warmth of the fire made him drowsy and after a time he slept with his head thrown back against the tree something awoke him hours afterward he opened his eyes and found that the fire was still burning brightly on the far side of it beyond the dogs sat thornton a look at the sky where the stars were dying and yon knew that it was just before the gray break of dawn he sat upright

Starting point is 06:12:43 thornton laughed softly at him and puffed out clouds of smoke from his pipe you were freezing he said as yon stared and sleeping like a dead man i waited for you back there and then hunted you up. You know, I thought, he hesitated, and knocked the ash from his pipe-bowl. Then he looked frankly and squarely at Jan. See here, old man, if you're hard up, had trouble of any sort, bad luck, got no money, won't you let me help you out? Thank you, monsieur, I have money, said Jan. I prefer to sleep outside. with the dogs.

Starting point is 06:13:30 Montieu, I guess I would have been stiff with the frost if you had not come. You have been here all night? Thornton nodded. And it is morning, exclaimed Jan, rising and looking above the spruce tops. You are kind, monsieur. I wish I might do as much for you. You can, said Thornton quietly. Where are you going from here?

Starting point is 06:13:58 to the company's offices at prince albert we will start within an hour will you take me with you thornton asked with pleasure cried yon but it will be a hard journey monsieur i must hurry and you may not be accustomed to running behind the dogs thornton rose and stretched out a hand it can't be too hard for me he said i wish he stopped and something in his low voice made yon look straight into his eyes for a moment they gazed at each other in silence and again yon saw in thornton's face the look of loneliness and grief which he had first seen in the half-gloom of the hotel it was the suppressed note in thornton's voice of despair almost that struck him deepest and made him hold the other's hand a moment longer then he turned to his pack upon the sledge i've got meat and coffee and hard biscuits he said will you have breakfast with me that day jan and thornton made fifty miles westward over the level surface of the saskeram and camped again on the Saskatchewan. The second day they followed the river, past the Sipanak,

Starting point is 06:15:24 and struck south and west over the snow-covered ice for Prince Albert. It was early afternoon of the fourth day when at last they came to the town. We will go to the offices of the great company, said Jan. We will lose no time. It was Thornton who now guided him to the century-old building

Starting point is 06:15:46 at the west edge of the town. it was thornton who led him into an office filled mostly with young women who were laboring at clicking machines and it was thornton who presented a square bit of white card to a gray-haired man at a desk who after reading it rose from his chair bowed and shook hands with him and a few moments later a door opened and jan terro alone passed through it his heart quivering his breath choking him his hand clutching at the papers in his breast pocket outside thornton waited an hour passed and still the door did not reopen the man at the desk glanced curiously at thornton two girls at typewriters exchanged whispered opinions as to who who might be this wild-looking creature from the north who was taking up an hour of the sub-commissioner's time nearly two hours passed before yon appeared thornton still patient rose as the door opened his eyes first encountered the staring face of the sub-commissioner then yon came out he had aged five years in two hours there was a tired stoop to his shoulders a strange pallor in his cheeks to thornton his thin face seemed to have grown thinner with bowed head looking nowhere but ahead of him yon passed on and as the last door opened to let them out into the pale winter sun thornton heard the muffled sobbing of his breath his fingers gripped yon's arm his eyes were blazing

Starting point is 06:17:35 if you're getting the wrong end of anything up there he cried fiercely if you're in trouble and they're taking the blood out of you tell me and i'll put the clamps on em so help me god they'll buck the devil when they buck jack thornton and if it needs money to show em so i've got half a million to teach em the game thanks monsieur struggled yon striving to keep a lump out of his throat it's nothing like that i don't need money half a million would just about buy what i've given away up there he clutched his hand for an instant to the empty pocket where the papers had been end of chapter twenty five recording by roger maline chapter twenty six of the honor of the big snows this liberbox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerwood Chapter 26 Temptation That night, leaving Thornton still at supper in the little old Windsor Hotel,

Starting point is 06:18:57 Jan slipped away, and, with Kazan at his heels, crossed the frozen Saskatchewan to the spruce forest on the north shore. He wanted to be alone, to think, to fight with himself against a desire which was on, almost overpowering him. Once, long ago, he had laid his soul bare to Jean de Gravois, and Jean had given him comfort. Tonight he longed to go to Thornton, as he had gone to Jean, and to tell him the same story, and what had passed that day in the office of the sub-commissioner.

Starting point is 06:19:33 In his heart there had grown something for Thornton that was stronger than friendship, something that would have made him fight for him and die for him, as he would have fought and died for Jean de Gravoix. It was a feeling cemented by a belief that something was troubling Thornton, that he too was filled with a loneliness and a grief which he was trying to conceal. And yet he fought to restrain himself from confiding in his new friend. It would do no good he knew, except by relieving him of a part of his mental burden. he walked along the shore of the river and recrossed it again near the company's offices all were dark with the exception of the sub-commissioner's room in that there glowed a light

Starting point is 06:20:22 The sub-commissioner was keeping his promise. He was working. He worked until late, for Jan came back two hours after and saw the light still there. A week, it might be ten days, the sub-commissioner had told him, and it would be over. Always something in the north drew Jan's eyes, and he looked there now, wondering what would happen to him after that week was over? lights were out and people were in bed when he and Kazan returned to the hotel. But Thornton was up, sitting by himself in the gloom, as Jan had first seen him at Le Pa. Jan sat down beside him.

Starting point is 06:21:06 There was an uneasy tremor in Thornton's voice when he said, Jan, did you ever love a woman? Love her until you were ready and willing to die for her? The suddenness of the question wrung the truth from Jan's lips in a low, choking voice. For an instant he thought that Thornton must have guessed his secret. Yes, monsieur! Thornton leaned toward him, gripping his knees,

Starting point is 06:21:35 and the misery in his face was deeper than Jan had ever seen it before. I love a woman like that, he went on tensely. A girl, not a woman. and she is one of your people yon of the north as innocent as a flower more beautiful to me than than all the women i have ever seen before she is at oxford house i am going home to-to save myself save yourself cried jan mon dieu monsieur does she not love you she would follow me to the end of the earth then thornton straightened himself and wiped his pale face suddenly he rose to his feet and motioned for jan to follow him he walked swiftly out into the night and still faster after that until they passed beyond the town from where he stopped they could look over the forests far into the pale light of the south that's hell for me said thornton pointing it's what we call civilization but it's mostly hell and it's all hell for me it's a hell of big cities of strife of bloodletting of wickedness i never knew how great a hell it was until i came up here among you

Starting point is 06:23:04 I wish to God I could stay, always. You love her, breathed Jan. You can stay. I can't, groaned Thornton. I can't, unless— What, monsieur? Unless I lose everything but her. Jan's fingers trembled as they sought Thornton's hand. And everything is—is nothing. when you give it for love and happiness, he urged.

Starting point is 06:23:37 The great God, I know. Everything, cried Thornton. Don't you understand? I said everything. He turned almost fiercely upon his companion. I'd give up my name, for her. I'd bury myself back there in the forests and never go out of them, for her.

Starting point is 06:23:59 I'd give up fortune, friends, lose myself forever, her. But I can't. Good God, don't you understand? Jan stared. His eyes grew large and dark. I've spent ten years of worse than hell down there with a woman, went on Thornton. It happens among us, frequently, this sort of hell. I came up here to get out of it for a time. You know, now. There is a woman down there who... who is my wife she would be glad if i never returned she is happy now when i am away and i have been happy for a time

Starting point is 06:24:45 i know what love is i have felt it i have lived it god forgive me but i am almost tempted to go back to her he stopped at the change which had come in yon who stood as straight and as still as the blank spruce behind them with only his eyes showing that there was life in him those eyes held thorntons they burned upon him through the gray gloom as he had never seen human eyes burn before He waited, half startled, and Jan spoke. In his voice there was nothing of that which Thornton saw in his eyes. It was low and soft. And though it had that which wrung like steel, Thornton could not have understood or feared it more. Monsieur, how far have you gone with her?

Starting point is 06:25:39 Thornton understood and advanced with his hands reaching out to Jan. Only as far as one might go with the purest thing on earth, he said. I have sinned in loving her, and in letting her love me. But that is all, Yantiro, I swear that is all. And you are going back into the south? Yes, I am going back into the south. The next day Thornton did not go. He made no sign of going on the second day.

Starting point is 06:26:15 so it was with the third the fourth and the fifth on each of these days jan went once in the afternoon to the office of the sub-commissioner and thornton always accompanied him at times when yon was not looking there was a hungry light in his eyes as he followed the other's movements and once or twice yon caught what was left of this look when he turned unexpectedly he knew what was in thornton's mind and he pitied him grieved with him in his own heart until his own secret almost wrung itself from his lips somehow in a way that he could not understand thornton's sacrifice to honor and his despair gave yon's strength and a hundred times he asked himself if a confession of his own misery would do as much for the other he repeated this thought to himself again and again on the afternoon of the ninth day when he went to the sub-commissioner's office alone this time thornton had remained behind he had left him in a gloomy corner of the hotel room from which he had not looked up when yon went out with kazan this ninth day was the last day for yon to row in a dazed sort of way he listened as the sub-commissioner told him that the work was ended they shook hands it was dark when yon came out from the company's offices dark with a pale gloom through which the stars were beginning to glow with a ghostly gloom, lightened still more in the north, with the rising fires of the northern lights.

Starting point is 06:28:01 Alone, Jan stood for a few moments close down to the river. Across from him was the forest, silent, black, reaching to the end of the earth, and over it, like a signal light, beckoning him back to his world, the aurora sent out its shafts of red and gold. and as he listened there came to him faintly a distant wailing sound that he knew was the voice from that world and at the sound the hair rose along kaz's spine and he whined deep down in his throat yon's breath grew quicker his blood warmer over there across the river his world was calling to him and he yon tarot was now free to go this very night he would bury himself in the forest again and when he lay down to sleep it would be with his beloved stars above him and the winds whispering sympathy and brotherhood to him in the spruce tops He would go, now. He would say good-bye to Thornton, and go.

Starting point is 06:29:12 He found himself running, and Kazan ran beside him. He was breathless when he came to the one-lighted street of the town. He hurried to the hotel and found Thornton sitting where he had left him. "'It is ended, monsieur,' he cried in a low voice. "'It is over, and I am going. I am going to-night. thornton rose to-night he repeated yes to-night now i am going to pick up my things will you come he went ahead of thornton to the bare little room in which he had slept while at the hotel he did not notice the change in thornton until he had lighted a lamp thornton was looking at him doggedly there was an unpleasant look in his face a flush about his eyes, a rigid tenseness in the muscles of his jaws. "'And I, I too, am going to-night,' he said.

Starting point is 06:30:17 "' Into the south, monsieur?' "'No, into the north.' There was a fierceness in Thornton's emphasis. He stood opposite yon, leaning over the table on which the light was placed. "'I've broken loose,' he went on. I'm not going south, back to that hell of mine. I'm never going south again. I'm dead down there, dead for all time.

Starting point is 06:30:45 They'll never hear of me again. They can have my fortune, everything. I'm going north. I'm going to live with you people, and God, and her. Jan sank into a chair. Thornton sat down and won across from him. i'm going back to her he repeated no one will ever know he could not account for the look in yon's eyes nor for the nervous twitching of the lithe brown hands that reached half across the table but kaisan's one eye told him more than thornton could guess and in response to it that ominous shivering wave rose along his spine thornton would never know that yon's

Starting point is 06:31:34 fingers twitched for an instant in their old mad desire to leap at a human throat. "'You will not do that?' he said quietly. "'Yes, I will,' replied Thornton. "'I have made up my mind. Nothing can stop me but death.' "'There is one other thing that can stop you, and will, monsieur,' said Jan, as quietly as before. "'I, Janterot, will stop you. you." Thornton rose slowly, staring down into Jan's face. The flush about his eyes grew deeper.

Starting point is 06:32:15 "'I will stop you,' repeated Jan, rising also. And I am not death.' He went to Thornton and placed his two hands upon his shoulders, and in his eyes there glowed now that gentle light which had made Thornton love him as he had loved no other man on earth. "'Monsieur, I will stop you,' he said again, speaking as though to a brother. "'Sit down. I am going to tell you something. "'And when I have told you this, you will take my hand, "'and you will say, Yon Tiro,

Starting point is 06:32:52 "'I thank the great God that something like this has happened before, "'and that it has come to my ears in time to save the one I love. "'Sit down, monsieur. End of Chapter 26. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 27 of the honor of the big snows. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline.

Starting point is 06:33:25 The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Kerwood. Chapter 27. Jan's story. Jan had aged five years during those two hours in the office. of the sub-commissioner. He aged now as Thornton looked at him. There came the same tired, hopeless glow into his eyes, the same tense lines in his face. And yet, quickly, he changed, as he had not changed on that afternoon. Two livid spots began to burn in his cheeks as he sat down opposite Thornton. He turned the light low, and his eyes glowed more darkly,

Starting point is 06:34:08 and with an animal-like lustre in the half-gloom something in him now a quivering struggling passion that lay behind those eyes held thornton white and silent monsieur he began in the low voice which thornton was beginning to understand i am going to tell you something which i have told to but two other human beings it is the story of another man a man from civilization like you who came up into this country of ours years and years ago and who met a woman as you have met this girl at oxford house and who loved her as you love this one and perhaps more it is singular that the case should be so similar monsieur and it is because of this that i believe our blessed lady gives me courage to tell it to you for this man like you left a wife and two children when he came into the north monsieur i pray the great god to forgive him for he left a third child unborn yon leaned upon his hand so that it shaded his face it is not so much of that as of what followed that i am going to tell you monsieur he went on it was a beautiful love on the woman's part and it would have been a beautiful love on the man's part if it had been pure for her he gave up everything even his god as you would give up everything and your god for this girl at oxford house monsieur i will speak mostly of the woman now she was beautiful she was one of the three most beautiful things that god ever placed in our world and she loved this man

Starting point is 06:36:03 she married him believed in him was ready to die for him to follow him to the ends of the earth as our women will do for the men that they love god in heaven can you not guess what happened monsieur a child was born so fiercely did yon cry out the words that thornton jerked back as though a blow had been struck at him from out of the gloom a child was born repeated yon and thornton heard his nails digging in the table that was the first curse of god a child la charon le bet de charon that is what we call them beasts of carrion beasts of carion and carrion-eaters, breeders of devils and sin. Mondeur, that is what happened. A child was born with the curse of God upon him. Jan stopped, his nails digging deeper, his breath escaping from him as though he had been running.

Starting point is 06:37:08 Down in your world he would have grown up a man, he continued, speaking more calmly. I have heard that since. It is common, down. down there to be a two-legged carrion a man or a woman born out of wedlock i have been told so and that it is a curse not without hope but here it is different the curse never dies it follows day after day year after year and this child more unfortunate than the wild things was born one of them do you understand monsieur if the winds had whispered the secret nothing would have come near him the indian women would sooner have touched the plague he would have been an outcast despised as he grew older pointed at and taunted called names which are worse than those called to the lowest and meanest dogs that is what it means to be borne under that curse up here he waited for thornton to speak but the other sat silent and moveless across the table

Starting point is 06:38:18 the curse worked swiftly monsieur it came first in remorse to the man it gnawed at his soul ate him alive and drove him from place to place with the woman and the child the purity and love of the woman added to his suffering and at last he came to know that the hand of god had fallen upon his head the woman saw his grief but did not know the reason for it and so the curse first came to her they went north far north above the barren lands and the curse followed there it gnawed at his life until he died that was seven years after the child was born the oil lamp sputtered and began to smoke and with a quick movement yon turned the wick down until they were left in darkness monsieur it was then that the curse began to fall upon the woman and the child do you not believe that about the sins of the fathers falling upon others mon dieu it is so it is so it came in many small ways and then the curse it came suddenly like this yon's voice came in a hissing whisper now thornton could feel his hot breath as he leaned over the thornton could feel his hot breath as he leaned over the table and in the darkness yon's eyes shone like two coals of fire it came like this panted yon there was a new missionary at the post a-a christian from the south and he was a great friend to the woman and preached god and she believed him the boy was very young and saw things but did not understand it

Starting point is 06:40:13 first he knew afterward that the missioner loved his mother's beauty and that he tried hard to win it and failed for the woman until death would love only the one to whom she had given herself first great god it happened then one night when every soul was about the big fires at the caribou roast and there was no one near the lonely little cabin where the boy and his mother lived the boy was at the feast but he ran home with a bit of dripping meat as a gift for his mother and he heard her cries and ran in to be struck down by the missioner it happened then and even the boy knew and followed the man shrieking that he had killed his mother there was a terrible calmness now in yon's voice monsieur it was true she wasted away like a flower after that night. She died and left the boy alone with the curse. And that boy, monsieur, was Jan Turot. The woman was his mother. There was silence now, a dead, pulseless quiet, broken after a moment by a movement. It was Thornton, groping across the table. Yon felt his hands touch his arm. they groped farther in the darkness until yon to row's hands were clasped tightly in thornton's and that is all he questioned hoarsely

Starting point is 06:41:52 no it is but the beginning said yon softly the curse has followed me monsieur until i am the unhappiest man in the world to-day i have done all that is to be done when my father died he left papers which my mother was to give to me when I had attained manhood. When she died, they came to me. She knew nothing of that which was in them, and I am glad. For they told the story that I have told to you, monsieur, and from his grave my father prayed to me to make what restitution I could. When he came into the north for good, he brought with him most of his fortune, which was large, monsieur,

Starting point is 06:42:39 and placed it where no one would ever find it in the stock of the great company. A half of it, he said, should be mine. The other half he asked me to return to his children, and to his real wife, if she were living. I have done more than that, monsieur. I have given up all, for none of it is mine. A half will go to the two children whom he deserted. The other half will go to the child,

Starting point is 06:43:09 that was unborn. The mother is dead. After a time, Thornton said, There is more, Jan. Yes, there is more, monsieur, said Jan. So much more that, if I were to tell it to you, it would not be hard for you to understand why Jan Turot is the unhappiest man in the world. I have told you that this is but the beginning. I have not told you of how the curse has followed me and robbed me of all that is greatest in life, how it has haunted me day and night, monsieur, like a black spirit, destroying my hopes, turning me at last into an outcast, without people, without friends, without that which you too will give up in this girl at Oxford house.

Starting point is 06:44:03 Monsieur, am I right? You will not go back to her. you will go south and some day the great god will reward you he heard thornton rising in the dark shall i strike a light monsieur no said thornton close to him in the gloom their hands met there was a change in the other's voice now something of pride of triumph of a glory just achieved yon 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 self. Someday 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.

Starting point is 06:45:26 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 monsieur and i will take more for i will tell her what it has been the kind fate for jan toro to find in the heart of m she is one of my people and she will forgive and love you more for what you have done for this monsieur is what the cre 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 monsieur something like a sob broke through thornton's lips as he moved back through the darkness and you i will find you again they will know where i go from oxford house i will leave word with her said yon good-bye said thornton huskily yon listened until his footsteps had died away and for a long time after that he sat with his head buried in his arms upon the little table and kaisan whining softly seemed to know that in the darkened room had come to pass the thing which broke at last his master's overburdened heart end of chapter twenty seven recording by roger chapter twenty eight of the honor of the big snows this livervox recording is in the public domain recording by roger malyne the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood chapter twenty eight the music again

Starting point is 06:47:30 that night yonterot passed for the last time back into the shelter of his forests and all that night he travelled and with each mile that he left behind him something larger and bolder grew in his breast until he cracked his whip in the old way and shouted to the dogs in the old way and the blood in him sang to the wild spirit of the wilderness once more he was home to him the forest had always been home filled with the low voice of whispering winds and trees and to-night it was more his home than ever lonely and sick at heart with no other desire than to bury himself deeper and deeper into it he felt the life and sympathy and love of it creeping into his heart grieving with him in his grief warming him with its hope pledging him again the eternal friendship of its trees its mountains and all of the wild that it held therein and from above him the stars looked down like a billion tiny fires kindled by loving hands to light his way the stars that had given him music peace since he could remember and that had taught him more of the silent power of god than the lips of man could ever tell from this time forth yontero knew that these things would be his life his god a thousand times in fanciful play he had given life in life and form to the star shadows about him to the shadows of the tall spruce the twisted shrub the rocks and even the mountains

Starting point is 06:49:16 and now it was no longer play with each hour that passed this night and with each day and night that followed they became more real to him and his fires in the black gloom painted him pictures as they had never painted them before and the trees and the rocks and the twisted shrub comforted him more and more in his loneliness and gave to him the presence of life in their movement in the coming and going of their shadow form everywhere they were the same old friends unvarying and changeless the spruce shadow of to-night nodding to him in its silent way was the same that had nodded to him last night a hundred nights ago the stars were the same the winds whispering to him and the tree-tops were the same everything was as it was yesterday years ago unchanged never leaving him never growing cold in their devotion. He had loved the forest, now he worshipped it. In its vast silence he still possessed Melisse. It whispered to him still of her old love, of their days and years of happiness, and with his forest he lived these days over and over again, and when he slept with his forest he dreamed of them. Nearly a month passed before he reached Oxford House, and

Starting point is 06:50:46 found the sweet-faced girl whom Thornton loved. He did as Thornton had asked, and went on into the north and east. He had no mission now except to roam in his forests. He went down the haze, getting his few supplies at Indian camps, and stopped at last with the beginning of spring, far up on the cutaway.

Starting point is 06:51:12 Here he built himself a camp and lived for a time, setting deadfalls for bear. Then he struck north again, and still east, keeping always away from Lacban. When the first chill winds of the bay brought warning of winter down to him, he was filled for a time with a longing to strike north and west,

Starting point is 06:51:36 to go once more back to his barren lands. But instead he went south, and so it came to pass that a year after he had left, Lachbein, he built himself a cabin deep in the forest of God's River, fifty miles from Oxford House, and trapped once more for the company. He had not forgotten his promise to Thornton, and, at Oxford House, left word where he could be found

Starting point is 06:52:04 if the man from civilization should return. In late midwinter, Jan returned to Oxford House with his furs. It was on the night of the deep, 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 over here monsieur 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.

Starting point is 06:52:51 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 Jean de Grasois, the chief man? He was away. "'Montieu, listen to that. The dogs are fighting out there.' "'A moment, monsieur,' begged Jan, as the Frenchman made a movement as if to run in the direction of the tumult. "'The factor had a daughter, Melyse.' "'She left L'Aqbin a long time ago, monsieur,' interrupted the trapper, making a tremendous effort to be polite as he edged toward the sound of battle.

Starting point is 06:53:41 "'Monsieur told me that he said he, he had not seen her in a long time i believe it was almost a year sark listen to that they are tearing one another to bits and they are my dogs monsieur for i can tell their voices among a thousand he sprang through the darkness and yon made a movement to follow then he stopped and turned instead to the company store he took his pack to the sledge and dogs in the edge of the spruce and Kezan leaped to greet him at the end of his babiche. This night, as Jan traveled through the forest, he did not notice the stars or the friendly shadows. A year, he repeated to himself again and again, and once, when Kezan rubbed against his leg and looked up into his face, he said, Ah, Kazan, our Melisse went away with the Englishman. May the great God give them happiness. The forest claimed him more than ever after this. He did not go back to Oxford House

Starting point is 06:54:52 in the spring, but sold his furs to a passing half-breed and wandered through all of that spring and summer in the country to the west. It was January when he returned to his cabin, when the snows were deepest, and three days later he set out to outfit at the Hudson's Bay Post on God's lake instead of at Oxford House. It was while they were crossing a part of the lake that Kazan leaped aside for an instant in his traces and snapped at something in the snow. Jan saw the movement but gave no attention to it until a little later when Kazan stopped and fell upon his belly, biting at the harness and whining in pain.

Starting point is 06:55:39 The thought of Kazan's sudden snap at the snow came to him then like a nice thrust and with a low cry of horror and fear he fell upon his knees beside the dog kazan whimpered and his bushy tail swept the snow as yon lifted his great wolfish head between his two hands no other sound came from yon's lips now and slowly he drew the dog up to him until he held him in his arms as he might have held a child kaisan stilled the whimpering sounds in his throat his one eye rested on his master's face faithful watching for some sign for some language there even as the burning fires of a strange torture gnawed at his life and in that eye yon saw the deepening reddish film which he had seen a hundred times before in the eyes of foxes and wolves killed by poison bait a moan of anguish burst from yon's lips and he held his face close down against kaysan's head and sobbed now like a child while kaisan rubbed his hot muzzle against his cheek and his muscles hardened in a last desire to give battle to whatever was giving his master grief it was a long time before yon lifted his face from the shaggy head and when he did he knew that the last of all love of all companionship of all that bound him to flesh and blood in his lonely world was gone kaysan was dead from the sledge he took a blanket and wrapped kazan in it

Starting point is 06:57:25 and carried him a hundred yards back from the trail. With bowed head he came behind his four dogs into God's house. Half an hour later he turned back into the wilderness with his supplies. It was dark when he returned to where he had left Kazan. He placed him upon the sledge and the four huskies whined as they dragged on their burden, from which the smell of death came to them. They stopped in the deep forests beyond the lake, and Jan built a fire. This night, as on all nights in his lonely life,

Starting point is 06:58:03 Jan drew Kazan close to him, and he shivered as the other dog slunk back from him suspiciously, and the fire and the spruce tops broke the stillness of the forest. He looked at the crackling flames, at the fitful shadows which they set dancing and grimacing about him, and it seemed to him now that they were no longer friends but were taunting him gloating in kazan's death and telling him that he was alone alone alone he let the fire die down stirring it into life only when the cold stiffened him and when at last he fell into an unquiet slumber it was still to hear the spruce tops whispering to him that kazan was dead and that in dying he had broken the last fragile link between jan thoreau and melisse he went on at dawn with kazan wrapped in his blanket on the sledge

Starting point is 06:59:06 he planned to reach the cabin that night and the next day he would bury his old comrade it was dark when he came to the narrow plain that lay between him and the river the sky was brilliant with stars when he slowly climbed the big barren ridge at the foot of which was his home at the summit he stopped and seated himself on the edge of a rock with nothing but a thousand miles of space between him and the pale glow of the northern lights At his feet lay the forest, black and silent, and he looked down to where he knew his cabin was waiting for him, black and silent too. For the first time it came upon him that this was home, that the forest and the silence and the little cabin hidden under the spruce tops below held a deeper meaning for him than a few hours before,

Starting point is 07:00:01 when Cézahn was a leaping, living comrade at his side, kaisan was dead down there he would bury him and he had loved kazan he knew now as he clutched his hands to his aching breast that he would have fought for kaisan given up his life for him as he would have done for a brother down there under the silent spruce he would bury the last that had remained to him of the old life and there swelled up in his heart a longing almost a prayer that Melisse might know that he, Jan Turot, would have nothing left to him tomorrow but a grave, and that in that grave was their old chum, their old playmate, Kazan. Hutt tears blinded Jan's eyes, and he covered his face with his hands,

Starting point is 07:00:55 and sobbed as he had sobbed years before, when in the southern wilderness word came to him that Melisse was dying. "'Melees! "'Melees!' he moaned her name aloud "'and stared through the hot film in his eyes "'away into the north, sobbing to her, "'calling to her in his grief, "'and looking through that thousand miles of starlet space

Starting point is 07:01:21 "'as though from out of it her sweet face "'would come to him once more. "'And as he called, "'there seemed to come to him from out of that space "'a sound, so sweet and lovely, low and tender, that his heart stood still, and he stood up straight and stretched his arms up to heaven. For Jan Toro knew that it was the sound of a violin that came to him from out of the north,

Starting point is 07:01:49 that Melisse, an infinity away, had heard his call, his prayer, and was playing for him and Kazan. And suddenly, as he listened, his arms fell to his sides, and there shot into his eyes all of the concentrated light of the stars for the music came nearer and nearer and still nearer to him until he caught kaisan in his arms and ran with him down the side of the mountain it died now in the forest then rose again softer and more distant it seemed to him luring him on into the forest gloom for a few moments consciousness of all else but that sound remained with him only in a dazed half-real way and as john cummence had called upon the angels at l'acbein many years ago when he too had gone out into the night to meet this wonderful music so jan terro's soul cried to them now as he clutched kaisan to him and stumbled on then suddenly he came upon the cabin and in the cabin there was a light Gently he laid Kazan down upon the snow, and for a full minute he stood and listened,

Starting point is 07:03:10 and heard, lower and sweeter still, the gentle music of the violin. Someone was in his cabin. Living hands were playing. After all, it was not the spirit of Males that had come to him in the hour of his deepest grief, and a sob rose in his throat. He went on, step by step. and at the door he stopped again wondering if he was mad if the spirits of the forest were taunting him still if if one step more the great god he heard it now the low sweet music of the old creed love song played in the old old way with all of its old sadness its whispering joy its weeping song of life of death, of love. With a great cry he flung open the door and leaped in, with his arms reaching out,

Starting point is 07:04:12 his eyes blinded for a moment by the sudden light, and with a cry as piercing as his own, something ran through that light to meet him. Melisse, the old, glorious Melisse, crushing her arms about his neck, sobbing his name, pleading with him in her old sweet voice, to kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, while Jan Tiro, for the first time in his life, felt sweeping over him a resistless weakness. And in this vision, he knew the Jean de Gravoix came to him too, and held him in his arms,

Starting point is 07:04:51 and that as the light faded away from about him, he still heard Melyse calling to him, felt her arms about him, her face crushed to his own. and as the deep gloom enveloped him more densely, and he felt himself slipping down through it, he whispered to the faces which he could no longer see, Cazan died tonight. For a long time, Jan fought to throw off the darkness,

Starting point is 07:05:21 and when he succeeded and opened his eyes again, he knew that it was Melyse who was sitting beside him, and that it was Melyse who flung her arms about, him when he awoke from his strange sleep and held his wild head pressed against her bosom melisse with her glorious hair flowing about her as he had loved it in their old days and with the old love shining in her eyes only more glorious now as he heard her voice yon yon we have been hunting for you so long she cried softly we have been searching ever since you left l'cbein yon dear jan i loved you so and you almost broke my heart dear dear jan she sobbed stroking his face now i know why you ran away i know and i love you so that-that i will die if you go away again you know breathed yon he was in his cot and raised himself clasping her beautiful face between his two hands staring at her with the old horror in his eyes you know and you come to me

Starting point is 07:06:43 i love you said melisse she slipped up to him and laid her face upon his breast and with her fingers clutched in his long hair she leaned over to him and kissed him i love you yon's arms closed about her and he bowed his face so that it was smothered in her hair and he felt against it the joyous tremble of her bosom i love you she whispered again and under her cloud of hair their lips met and she whispered again with her sweet breath still upon his lips i love you outside jean de gruevoix was dancing up and down in the starlit edge of the forest and iowaqa was looking at him and now what do you think of your jean de gravois cried jean for the hundredth time at least now what do you think of him my beautiful one and he caught iowaka's head in his arms for the hundredth time too and kissed her until she pushed him away was it not right for me to break my oath to the blessed virgin and tell melisse why yonterot had gone mad was it not right i say and did not melisse do as i told that fool of a yon that she would do and didn't she hate the englishman all the time eh can you not speak my raven-haired angel he hugged iawaka again in his arms and this time he did not speak my raven-haired angel he hugged iowaqa again in his arms and this time he did not let her go, but turned her face so that the starlight fell upon it.

Starting point is 07:08:26 And now, what if Jan Toro still feels that the curse is upon him? He asked softly. Ho, ho, we have fixed that! You, my sweet Iiawaka, and your husband, Jean de Gravoix. I have it, here, in my pocket, the letter signed by the sub-commissioner at Prince Albert, to whom I told Jan's story when I followed his trail down there, the letter which says that the other woman died before the man who was to be Yantirot's father married the woman who was to be his mother.

Starting point is 07:09:02 And now do you understand why I did not tell me lease of this letter, ma cherie? It was to prove to that fool of a Yant-Tarot that she loved him, whatever he was. Now what do you think of Jean-Torri? to Gravois, you daughter of a princess, you, you, wife of the greatest man in the world, laughed Iawaka softly. Come, my foolish, Jean, we cannot stand out forever. I am growing cold, and besides, do you not suppose that Jan would like to see me? Foolish, foolish, foolish, murmured Jean as they walked hand in hand through the starlight.

Starting point is 07:09:47 she my iawaka my beloved says that i am foolish and after this mon dieu what can a man do to make himself great in the eyes of his wife the end of chapter twenty eight end of the honor of the big snows by james oliver curwood

Classic Audiobook Collection - The Honor of the Big Snows by James Oliver Curwood ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

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