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"I won't tell you the details They were terrible It happened while Donald and I were out on a hunt Three men--white men--remember that, Kent; WHITE MEN--came out of the North and stopped at the cabin When we returned, e found there drove usher there, alone, we set out after the white-skinned brutes who had destroyed her Only a blizzard saved them, Kent Their trail was fresh when the storm came Had it held off another two hours, I, too, would have killed
"From that day Donald and I became man-hunters We traced the back trail of the three fiends and discovered who they were Two years later Donald found one of the three on the Yukon, and before he killed hi search after that, Kent It has covered thirty years Donald grew old faster than I, and I knew, after a tione forfor the two men Ten years passed, and then, one day, in the deep of Winter, we caue--the smallpox It was the home of Pierre Radisson and his wife Andrea Both were dead But there was a little child still living, almost a babe in arms We took her, Donald and I The child was--Marette"
McTrigger had spoken almost in a monotone He had not raised his eyes from the ash of the fireplace But now he looked up suddenly at Kent
"We worshipped her fro," he said, his voice a bit husky "I hoped that love for her would save Donald It did, in a way But it did not cure his eance We caold in the mountains, untouched by other lory of this neorld we had discovered would help Donald to forget I married, and my wife loved Marette We had a child, and then another, and both died We loved Marette hter of aMarette up to a certain point You will find this place filled with all kinds of books, and reading, and ht we must send Marette to Montreal It broke her heart And then--a long time after--"