the foreigner-第25章

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ar　lest　this　painful　fact　should　be　known　to　his　new　master　and　friend。

〃Well；　youngster；〃　said　French；　noticing　his　glum　face；　〃you　did　me　a　good　turn　that　time。　　That　beggar　had　me　foul　then；　sure　enough；　and　I　won't　forget　it。〃

Kalman　brightened　up　under　his　words；　and　without　further　speech；　each　busy　with　himself；　they　sped　along　the　trail　till　the　day　faded　toward　the　evening。

But　the　Edmonton　trail　that　day　set　its　mark　on　the　lives　of　boy　and　man；a　mark　that　was　never　obliterated。　　To　Kalman　the　day　brought　a　new　image　of　manhood。　　Of　all　the　men　whom　he　knew　there　was　none　who　could　command　his　loyalty　and　enthral　his　imagination。　It　is　true；　his　father　had　been　such　a　man；　but　now　his　father　moved　in　dim　shadow　across　the　horizon　of　his　memory。　　Here　was　a　man　within　touch　of　his　hand　who　illustrated　in　himself　those　qualities　that　to　a　boy's　heart　and　mind　combine　to　make　a　hero。　With　what　ease　and　courage　and　patience　and　perfect　self…command　he　had　handled　those　plunging　bronchos！　　The　same；　qualities　too；　in　a　higher　degree；　had　marked　his　interview　with　the　wrathful　and　murderous　Galician；　and；　in　addition；　all　that　day　Kalman　had　been　conscious　of　a　consideration　and　a　quickness　of　sympathy　in　his　moods　that　revealed　in　this　man　of　rugged　strength　and　forceful　courage　a　subtle　something　that　marks　the　finer　temper　and　nobler　spirit；　the　temper　and　the　spirit　of　the　gentleman。　　Not　that　Kalman　could　name　this　thing；　but　to　his　sensitive　soul　it　was　this　in　the　man　that　made　appeal　and　that　called　forth　his　loyal　homage。

To　French；　too；　the　day　had　brought　thoughts　and　emotions　that　had　not　stirred　within　him　since　those　days　of　younger　manhood　twenty　years　ago　when　the　world　was　still　a　place　of　dreams　and　life　a　tourney　where　glory　might　be　won。　　The　boy's　face；　still　with　its　spiritual　remembrances　in　spite　of　all　the　sordidness　of　his　past；　the　utter　and　obvious　surrender　of　soul　that　shone　from　his　eyes；　made　the　man　almost　shudder　with　a　new　horror　of　the　foulness　that　twenty　years　of　wild　license　upon　the　plains　had　flung　upon　him。　A　fierce　hate　of　what　he　had　become；　an　appalling　vision　of　what　he　was　expected　to　be；　grew　upon　him　as　the　day　drew　to　a　close。　Gladly　would　he　have　refused　the　awful　charge　of　this　young　soul　as　yet　unruined　that　so　plainly　exalted　him　to　a　place　among　the　gods；　but　for　a　vision　that　he　carried　ever　in　his　heart　of　a　face　sad　and　sweet　and　eloquent　with　trustful　love。

〃No；　by　Jove！〃　he　said　to　himself　between　his　shut　teeth；　〃I　can't　funk　it。　　I'd　be　a　cad　if　I　did。〃

And　with　these　visions　and　these　resolvings　they；　boy　and　man；　swung　off　from　the　Edmonton　trail　black　and　well　worn；　and　into　the　half…beaten　track　that　led　to　Wakota；　the　centre　of　the　Galician　colony。



CHAPTER　XII

THE　MAKING　OF　A　MAN


Wakota；　consisting　of　the　mud…house　of　a　Galician　homesteader　who　owned　a　forge　and　did　blacksmithing　for　the　colony　in　a　primitive　way；　they　left　behind　half　an　hour　before　nightfall；　with　ten　miles　of　bad　going　still　before　them。　　The　trail　wound　through　bluffs　and　around　sleughs；　dived　into　coulees　and　across　black　creeks；　and　only　the　most　skilful　handling　could　have　piloted　the　bronchos　through。

It　was　long　after　dark　when　they　reached　the　ravine　of　the　Night　Hawk　Creek；　through　which　they　must　pass　before　arriving　at　the　Lake。　　Down　the　sides　of　this　ravine　they　zigzagged；　dodging　trees　and　boulders　till　they　came　to　the　last　sharp　pitch；　at　the　foot　of　which　ran　the　Creek。　　During　this　whole　descent　Kalman　sat　clinging　to　the　back　and　side　of　the　seat；　expecting　every　moment　to　have　the　buckboard　turn　turtle　over　him；　but　when　they　reached　the　edge　of　the　final　pitch；　were　it　not　for　sheer　shame；　he　would　have　begged　permission　to　scramble　down　on　hands　and　knees　rather　than　trust　himself　to　the　swaying；　pitching　vehicle。　　A　moment　French　held　his　bronchos　steady；　poised　on　the　brink　of　this　rocky　steep；　and　then　reaching　back；　he　seized　the　hind　wheel　and；　holding　it　fast；　used　it　as　a　drag；　while　the　bronchos　slid　down　on　their　haunches　over　the　mass　of　gravel　and　rolling　stones　till　they　reached　the　bed　of　the　Creek　in　safety。　　A　splash　through　the　water；　a　scramble　up　the　other　bank；　a　long　climb；　and　they　were　out　again　on　the　prairie。　　A　mile　of　good　trail　and　they　were　at　home；　welcomed　by　the　baying　of　two　huge　Russian　wolf　hounds。

Through　the　dim　light　Kalman　could　discover　the　outlines　of　what　seemed　a　long　heap　of　logs；　but　what　he　afterwards　discovered　to　be　a　series　of　low　log　structures　which　did　for　house；　stable　and　sheds　of　various　kinds。

〃Down！　Bismark。　　Down！　Blucher。　　Hello　there；　Mac！　　Where　in　the　world　are　you？〃

After　some　time　Mackenzie　appeared　with　a　lantern；　a　short；　grizzled；　thick…set　man；　rubbing　his　eyes　and　yawning　prodigiously。

〃I　nefer　thought　you　would　be　coming　home　tonight；〃　he　said。　　〃What　brought　ye　at　this　time？〃

〃Never　mind；　Mac；〃　said　French。　　〃Get　the　horses　out；　and　Kalman　and　I　will　unload　this　stuff。〃

In　what　seemed　to　be　an　outer　shed；　they　deposited　the　pork；　flour；　and　other　articles　that　composed　the　load。　　As　Kalman　seized　the　straw…packed　case　to　carry　it　in；　French　interfered。

〃Here；　boy；　I'll　take　that；〃　he　said　quickly。

〃I'll　not　break　them；〃　said　Kalman；　lifting　the　case　with　great　care。

〃You　won't；　eh？〃　replied　French　in　rather　a　shamed　tone。　　〃Do　you　know　what　it　is？〃

〃Why；　sure；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃Lots　of　that　stuff　used　to　come　into　our　home　in　Winnipeg。〃

〃Well；　let　me　have　the　case；〃　said　French。　　〃And　you　needn't　say　anything　to　Mac　about　it。　　Mac　is　all　right；　but　a　case　of　liquor　in　the　house　makes　him　unhappy。〃

〃Unhappy？　　Doesn't　he　drink　any？〃

〃That's　just　it；　my　boy。　　He　is　unhappy　while　it's　outside　of　him。　He's　got　Indian　blood　in　him；　you　see；　and　he'd　die　for　whiskey。〃　So　saying；　French　took　up　the　case　and　carried　it　to　the　inner　room　and　stowed　it　away　under　his　bed。

But　as　he　rose　up　from　making　this　disposition　of　the　dangerous　stuff　Mac　himself　appeared　in　the　room。

〃What　are　you　standing　there　looking　at？〃　said　French　with　unusual　impatience。

〃Oh；　nothing　at　all；〃　said　Mackenzie；　whose　strong　Highland　accent　went　strangely　with　his　soft　Indian　voice　and　his　dark　Indian　face。　〃It　iss　a　good　place　for　it；　whatefer。〃

French　stood　for　a　moment　in　disgusted　silence；　and　then　breaking　into　a　laugh　he　said：　　〃All　right；　Mac。　　There's　no　use　trying　to　keep　it　from　you。　　But；　mind　you；　it's　fair　play　in　this　thing。　Last　time；　you　remember；　you　got　into　trouble。　　I　won't　stand　that　sort　of　thing　again。〃

〃Oh；　well；　well；〃　said　Mackenzie　cheerfully；　〃it　will　not　be　for　long　anyway；　more's　the　peety。〃

〃Now　then；　get　us　a　bite　of　supper；　Mackenzie；〃　said　French　sharply；　〃and　let　us　to　bed。〃

Some　wild　duck　and　some　bannock　with　black　molasses；　together　with　strong　black　tea；　made　a　palatable　supper　after　a　long　day　on　the　breezy　prairie。　　After　supper　the　men　sat　smoking。

〃The　oats　in；　Mac？〃

〃They　are　sowed；　but　not　harrowed　yet。　　I　will　be　doing　that　to…　morrow　in　the　morning。〃

〃Potato　ground　ready？〃

〃Yes；　the　ground　is　ready；　and　the　seed　is　over　at　Garneau's。〃

〃What　in　thunder　were　you　waiting　for？　　Those　potatoes　should　have　been　in　ten　days　ago。　　It's　hardly　worth　while　putting　them　in　now。〃

〃Garneau　promised　to　bring　them　ofer；〃　said　Mackenzie；　〃but　you　cannot　tell　anything　at　all　about　that　man。〃

〃Well；　we　must　get　them　in　at　once。　　We　must　not　lose　another　day。　And　now　let's　get　to　bed。　　The　boy　here　will　sleep　in　the　bunk；〃　pointing　to　a　large…sized　box　which　did　for　a　couch。　　〃Get　some　blankets　for　him；　Mac。〃

The　top　of　the　box　folded　back；　revealing　a　bed　inside。

〃There；　Kalman；〃　said　French；　while　Mackenzie　arranged　the　blankets；　〃will　that　do？〃

〃Fine；〃　said　the　boy；　who　could　hardly　keep　his　eyes　open　and　who　in　five　minutes　after　he　had　tumbled　in　was　sound　asleep。

It　seemed　as　if　he　had　been　asleep　but　a　few　moments　when　he　was　wakened　by　a　rude　shock。　　He　started　up　to　find　Mackenzie　fallen　drunk　and　helpless　across　his　bunk。

〃Here；　you　pig！〃　French　was　saying　in　a　stern　undertone；　〃can't　you　tell　when　you　have　had　enough？　　Come　out　of　that！〃

With　an　oath　he　dragged　Mackenzie　to　his　feet。

〃Come；　get　to　your　bed！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　yes；〃　grumbled　Mackenzie；　〃and　I　know　well　what　you　will　be　doing　after　I　am　in　bed；　and　never　a　drop　will　you　be　leaving　in　that　bottle。〃　　Mackenzie　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。

〃Get　on；　you　beast！〃　said　French　in　tones　of　disgusted　dignity；　pushing　the　man　before　him　into　the　next　room。

Kalman　was　wide　awake；　but；　feigning　sleep；　watched　French　as　he　sat　with　gloomy　face；　drinking　steadily　till　even　his　hard　head　could　stand　no　more；　and　he　swayed　into　the　inner　room　and　fell　heavily　on　the　bed。　　Kalman　waited　till　French　was　fast　asleep；　then　rising　quietly；　pulled　off　his　boots；　threw　a　blanket　over　him；　put　out　the　lamp　and　went　back　to　the　bunk。　　The　spectre　of　the　previous　night　which　had　been　laid　by　the　events　of　the　day　came　back　to　haunt　his　broken　slumber。　　For　hours　he　tossed；　and　not　till　morning　began　to　dawn　did　he　quite　lose　consciousness。

Broad　morning　wakened　him　to　unpleasant　memories；　and　more　unpleasant　realities。　　French　was　still　sleeping　heavily。　Mackenzie　was　eating　breakfast；　with　a　bottle　beside　him　on　the　table。

〃You　will　find　a　basin　on　the　bench　outside；〃　observed　Mackenzie；　pointing　to　the　open　door。

When　Kalman　returned　from　his　ablutions；　the　bottle　had　vanished；　and　Mackenzie；　with　breath　redolent　of　its　contents；　had　ready　for　him　a　plate　of　porridge；　to　which　he　added　black　molasses。　　This；　with　toasted　bannock；　the　remains　of　the　cold　duck　of　the　night　before；　and　strong　black　tea；　constituted　his　breakfast。

Kalman　hurried　through　his　meal；　for　he　hated　to　meet　French　as　he　woke　from　his　sleep。

〃Will　he　not　take　breakfast？〃　said　the　boy　as　he　rose　from　the　table。

〃No；　not　him；　nor　denner　either；　like　as　not。　　It　iss　a　good　thing　he　has　a　man　to　look　after　the　place；〃　said　Mackenzie　with　the　pride　of　conscious　fidelity。　　〃We　will　just　be　going　on　with　the　oats　and　the　pitaties。　　You　will　be　taking　the　harrows。〃

〃The　what？〃　said　Kalman。

〃The　harrows。〃

Kalman　looked　blank。

〃Can　you　not　harrow？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃What　is　that？〃

〃Can　you　drop　pitaties；　then？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　repeated　Kalman；　shrinking　very　considerably　in　his　own　estimation。

〃Man；〃　said　Mackenzie　pityingly；　〃where　did　ye　come　from　anyway？〃

〃Winnipeg。〃

〃Winnipeg？　　I　know　it　well。　　I　used　to。　　But　that　was　long　ago。　But　did　ye　nefer　drive　a　team？〃

〃Never；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃But　I　want　to　learn。〃

〃Och！　then；　and　what　will　he　be　wanting　with　you　here？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Kalman。

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Mackenzie。　　〃He　iss　a　quare　man　at　times；　and　does　quare　things。〃

〃He　is　not；〃　said　Kalman　hotly。　　〃He　is　just　a　splendid　man。〃

Mackenzie　gazed　in　mild　surprise　at　the　angry　face。

〃Hoot！　toot！〃　he　said。　　〃Who　was　denyin'　ye？　　He　iss　all　that；　but　he　iss　mighty　quare；　as　you　will　find　out。　　But　come　away　and　we　will　get　the　horses。　　It　iss　a　peety　you　cannot　do　nothing。〃

〃You　show　me　what　to　do；〃　said　Kalman　confidently；　〃and　I'll　do　it。〃

The　stable　was　a　tumble…down　affair；　and　sorely　n