oups of Crees critically
inspected the dogs of Baptiste Laval, who fretted and yelped, eagerly
waiting the "_Marche!_" which would send them off on the river trail.
Inside, the grave-faced Gillies gave big Jules his parting instructions.

"He never started home in that blizzard, Jules; McKenzie wouldn't allow
the missionary to take such a chance. But Jean surely left yesterday
morning and with fresh dogs he'll come through in four days, even with a
heavy trail. You ought to meet him this side the Cape."

"Yes, M'sieu. But I t'ink he travel more fas' dan dat. I see heem
to-morrow, maybe."

"No, he never started that last day of the blow. It would have been
suicide. Poor lad! he must have been half crazy, with her on his mind."

"How ees she dis noon, M'sieu?"

"The fever holds about the same--no worse; but she must be operated on
very soon. The poison is extending. If you meet them at the Cape you
ought to get the doctor here a day ahead of Jean, with his tired dogs."

Surrounded by the Crees who were wishing them luck on their trip to meet
and relay Marcel home, Baptiste had cracked his dog-whip with a loud,
"_Marche!_" when an Indian with arms raised to attract attention came
running from the shore across the clearing.

"Whoa!" shouted Jules, and Baptiste checked his dogs.

"What does he say?" called Angus McCain. "A dog-team down river? Do you
hear that, Gillies?"

"Husky," replied the factor drily. "Couldn't possibly be Marcel!"

"No, he couldn't have come through that norther," agreed McCain.

"What's that he says, Jules?" demanded Gillies.

Jules Duroc, hands and shoulders in motion, was talking excitedly to the
Cree who had joined the group by the sled. Turning suddenly, he ran back
to the factor.

"Felix say dat a team crawl up de riviere trail lak' dey ver' tired. He
watch dem long tam."

"That's queer, but it's some Husky--can't be Marcel. Why, good Lord,
man! he hasn't been away six days."

Angus disappeared, to return with an old brass-bound telescope and
hurried to the river shore with Jules, followed by the scoffing
Gillies. To the naked eye, a black spot was discernible on the river
ice.

"There are two men following a team," announced Angus, the glass at his
eye. "They're barely moving. Now they've stopped; the dogs must be
played out. The driver's trying to get them up! Now he's got them
going!"

Gillies took the telescope and looked for a long space. Suddenly to
those who watched h