Tritou was not overfond of Le Grand, because he felt that in some way Verbaux and he were friends. It was strange that no one could say a word against Verbaux without Le Grand contradicting him quietly and firmly. When asked his reasons for this, he would refuse to explain, saying always, “Ah know of vat Ah say!” So Tritou was suspicious of the visit, feeling uncomfortable in Le Grand’s presence, as though the latter knew that revenge was his object for going away into the Montaignis country.
Le Grand opened the conversation. “You goin’ get des skeens, hein, Tritou?”
“’Ope so!” the latter answered shortly, and went on folding up his blankets in small bundles, tying them with caribou-thongs.
“Ah see Verbaux hees track yes’day!” announced Le Grand suddenly, watching Tritou closely. This was a lie, but Le Grand wanted to know how much of Tritou’s desire for the long, hard trip with the Montaignis was actuated by his madness to find Verbaux.
Tritou looked up quickly, and his breath came faster. “Vat figure, den, dose Montaignis dey talk h’about?” he asked.
Le Grand did not answer at once, but stared fixedly at his host. Then he spoke. “Tritou, you goin’ h’aftaire Verbaux; Ah know eet, an’ Ah goin’ warn you, Tritou, dat you veel be keel, keel! Ond’stan’, Tritou?”
Tritou’s face was ugly to see: the black eyes gleamed dully, and the broad nostrils quivered; the lips were drawn back in a half-snarl, and the tobacco-stained teeth looked like the fangs of a wolf.
“An’ Ah tell to you, Le Grand, dat eet ees no you’ affaire. You lak’ Verbaux, Ah t’ink, an’ Ah goin’ breeng back Verbaux hees head cut hoff, to show to la poste, tu comprends ça?” and he leered horribly.
“You veel t’ink somme taime of Le Grand, vat he tol’ to you! Bon soi’, Tritou!” With these words Le Grand left the tepee.
Tritou chuckled. “Ah ça, you no can sauf Verbaux!” he said to himself. Then, his preparations completed, he rolled up in his blankets and slept.
The next morning was a beautiful one, and amid laughter, cheers and au r’voirs the Montaignis left the post, bound for home, two hundred and thirty miles away to the northwest. Tritou accompanied them with his big sledge and ten dogs. As he went out of the gate Le Grand called to him, “Gare Jules Verbaux!” and Tritou scowled.