THE COMRADES 247 



constantly becoming- richer, while he the further corner, the sight of the si- 



himself lent crow greeted him. WJith a roar of 



Unconscious of anything except his demoniac fury, he leaped toward it, 



own griefs, he wandered aimlessly over crushing it to death with one crash of 



the frozen snow. No, he would not re- his fist. 



turn to Detanges to be reminded of his Then Andre dashed through the door, 



pinched family and his debts. He over the hard crust into the woods. In 



would flee, he knew not where, and es- and out among the trees he fled, think- 



cape the man he hated. ing only of separating himself as far as 



With these thoughts ever before him, possible from the scene of his act. He 



for two hours, he rushed along, un- darted glances constantly behind him, 



heeding. At the end of that time, he expecting to be greeted by the sight of 



found himself before the cabin again, Detanges pursuing. The breaking of 



where he had started. As he gazed at a twig or the cracking of the crust 



it w T ith glowing eyes, a cruel, ignomin- frightened him, causing him to redouble 



ious thought entered his mind. his efforts. 



The very devil himself seemed to Always on and on, into the very teeth 

 stand before him and present the idea, of a storm, he ran, a maniac, stagger- 

 At first, Andre was staggered at the ing, stumbling, whimpering, 

 plan, putting it quickly aside, only to The snow fell in a blinding cloud ; 

 reconsider it again. He pondered upon the cold was intense. As darkness was 

 it. If he should follow the suggestion, beginning to fall over the stormy world, 

 his family would be free from want, Andre, at last completely exhausted, 

 his debts at the store could be paid, and sank sobbing and crying into a soft, 

 he would again be free. cold drift. His senses quickly corn- 

 He was paralyzed at the vividness of menced to numb of their delirious fire, 

 the thought ; he was dazed. He could and he entered into the dangerous sleep 

 not put it out of his mind. No, he of the cold. 



could not do it. But the dark figure be- Meanwhile, Detanges had returned to 



fore him still beckoned him on reassur- his cabin, seeing there the still fresh 



ingly. Surely, no harm could result for signs of his companion's work. Stifling 



himself. The longer he dwelt on the anger filled his heart; he longed for 



subject, the harder the devilish urged, vengeance. Hastily snatching his rifle, 



Yes, he would do the deed! De- he closely followed the slight impres- 



tanges was the cause of all his misfor- sions made by Andre's worn heels on 



tunes, he reasoned, insanely, and De- the hard crust, 



tanges would have to pay the penalty. Even when the snow commenced to 



Bereft of his sane senses at the ter- fall, which obliterated the faint trail, he 



ribleness of his resolution, he entered kept doggedly on, intent upon his re- 



the cabin. His comrade was away ; venge. At last, guided by some in- 



everything was favorable for his work, stinct, as he wandered aimlessly in the 



Hesitating only for a moment, he set gloom, he suddenly happened upon 



quickly to his cruel task. With hurry- Andre, motionless and still in the snow, 



ing fingers, he tied Detanges large and rapidly being covered by the storm, 



bundle of furs, surmounted by the rich He stopped, and half lifted his rifle, 



silver fox, together with his own insig- Then suddenly, another spirit seized 



nificant pile, into a tight pack. Into a him. Was Andre already dead? He 



second bundle, he hastily stored all the bent over him. Warmth was needed at 



provisions in the camp. once! 



His breath came in short gasps ; his Slinging his gun into the snow, he 



eyes burned an unnatural fire. Sling- carried his insensible comrade to a 



ing the pack upon his shoulders, he neighboring belt of woods. After a 



gazed about the dismantled cabin. In great deal of work, a fire was kindled, 



