the foreigner-第27章

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ard　before　him　with　eyes　bloodshot　and　sunken；　and　face　of　a　livid　hue。　　He　neither　moved　nor　spoke　when　Kalman　entered；　but　continued　staring　steadily　before　him。

The　boy　was　faint　with　hunger。　　He　was　too　heartsick　to　attempt　to　prepare　food。　　He　found　a　piece　of　bannock　and；　washing　this　down　with　a　mug　of　water；　he　crept　into　his　bunk；　and　there；　utterly　miserable；　waited　till　his　master　should　sink　into　sleep。　　Slowly　the　light　faded　from　the　room　and　the　shadows　crept　longer　and　deeper　over　the　floor　till　all　was　dark。　　But　still　the　boy　could　see　the　outline　of　the　silent　man；　who　sat　without　sound　or　motion　except　for　the　filling　and　emptying　of　his　glass　from　time　to　time。　At　length　the　shadowy　figure　bowed　slowly　toward　the　table　and　there　remained。

Sick　with　grief　and　fear；　the　boy　sprang　from　his　bunk　and　sought　to　rouse　the　man　from　his　stupor；　but　without　avail；　till　at　last；　wearied　with　his　ineffectual　attempts　and　sobbing　in　the　bitterness　of　his　grief；　he　threw　a　blanket　over　the　bowed　form　and　retreated　to　his　bunk　again。　　But　sleep　to　him　was　impossible；　for　often　throughout　the　night　he　was　brought　to　his　feet　with　horrid　dreams；　to　be　driven　shivering　again　to　his　bunk　with　the　more　horrid　realities　of　his　surroundings。

At　length　as　day　began　to　dawn　he　fell　into　a　dead；　dreamless　slumber；　waking；　when　it　was　broad　day；　to　find　Mackenzie　sitting　at　the　table　eating　breakfast；　and　with　a　bottle　beside　him。　French　was　not　to　be　seen；　but　Kalman　could　hear　his　heavy　breathing　from　the　inner　room。　　To　Kalman　it　seemed　as　if　he　were　still　in　the　grip　of　some　ghastly　nightmare。　　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　looked　again　at　Mackenzie　in　stupid　amazement。

〃What　are　you　glowering　at　yonder；　Callum；　man？〃　said　Mackenzie；　pleasantly　ignoring　the　events　of　the　previous　day。　　〃Your　breakfast　iss　ready　for　you。　　You　will　be　hungry　after　your　day's　work。　　Oh；　yes；　I　haf　been　seeing　it；　and　it　iss　well　done；　Callum；　mannie。〃

Somehow　his　smiling　face　and　his　kindly　tone　filled　Kalman　with　rage。　　He　sprang　out　of　his　bunk　and　ran　out　of　the　house。　　He　hated　the　sight　of　the　smiling；　pleasant…voiced　Mackenzie。　　But　his　boy's　hunger　drove　him　in　to　breakfast。

〃Well；　Callum；　man；〃　began　Mackenzie　in　pleasant　salutation。

〃My　name　is　Kalman；〃　snapped　the　boy。

〃Never　mind；　it　iss　a　good　name；　whatefer。　　But　I　am　saying　we　will　be　getting　into　the　pitaties　after　breakfast。　　Can　ye　drop　pitaties？〃

〃Show　me　how；〃　said　Kalman　shortly。

〃And　that　I　will；〃　said　Mackenzie　affably；　helping　himself　to　the　bottle。

〃How　many　bottles　of　that　stuff　are　there　left？〃　asked　Kalman　disgustedly。

〃And　why　would　you　be　wanting　to　know？〃　enquired　Mackenzie　cautiously。　　〃You　would　not　be　taking　any　of　the　whiskey　yourself？〃　he　added　in　grave　reproof。

〃Oh；　go　on！　you　old　fool！〃　replied　the　boy　angrily。　　〃You　will　never　be　any　good　till　it　is　all　done；　I　know。〃

Kalman　spoke　out　of　full　and　varied　experience　of　the　ways　of　men　with　the　lust　of　drink　in　them。

〃Well；　well；　maybe　so。　　But　the　more　there　iss　for　me；　the　less　there　iss　for　him；〃　said　Mackenzie；　jerking　his　head　toward　the　inner　door。

〃Why　not　empty　it　out？〃　said　Kalman　in　an　eager　undertone。

〃Hoot！　toot！　man；　and　would　you　be　guilty　of　sinful　waste　like　yon？　No；　no；　never　with　Malcolm　Mackenzie's　consent。　　And　you　would　not　be　doing　such　a　deed　yourself？〃　Mackenzie　enquired　somewhat　anxiously。

Kalman　shook　his　head。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃he　might　be　angry。　　But；〃　continued　the　boy；　〃those　potatoes　must　be　finished　today。　　I　heard　him　speaking　about　them　yesterday。〃

〃And　that　iss　true　enough。　　They　are　two　weeks　late　now。〃

〃Come　on；　then；〃　cried　Kalman；　as　Mackenzie　reached　for　the　bottle。　〃Come　and　show　me　how。〃

〃There　iss　no　hurry；〃　said　the　deliberate　Mackenzie；　drinking　his　glass　with　slow　relish。　　〃But　first　the　pitaties　are　to　be　got　over　from　Garneau's。〃

Again　and　again；　and　with　increasing　rage；　Kalman　sought　to　drag　Mackenzie　away　from　his　bottle　and　to　his　work。　　By　the　time　the　bottle　was　done　Mackenzie　was　once　more　helpless。

Three　days　later　French　came　forth　from　his　room；　haggard　and　trembling；　to　find　every　bottle　empty；　Mackenzie　making　ineffective　attempts　to　prepare　a　meal；　and　Kalman　nowhere　to　be　seen。

〃Where　is　the　boy？〃　he　enquired　of　Mackenzie　in　an　uncertain　voice。

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Mackenzie。

〃Go　and　look　for　him；　then；　you　idiot！〃

In　a　short　time　French　was　summoned　by　Mackenzie's　voice。

〃Come　here；　will　you？〃　he　was　crying。　　〃Come　here　and　see　this　thing。〃

With　a　dread　of　some　nameless　horror　in　his　heart；　French　hurried　toward　the　little　knoll　upon　which　Mackenzie　stood。　　From　this　vantage　ground　could　be　seen　far　off　in　the　potato　field　the　figure　of　the　boy　with　two　or　three　women；　all　busy　with　the　potatoes。

〃What　do　you　make　that　out　to　be？〃　enquired　French。　　〃Who　in　the　mischief　are　they？　　Go　and　see。〃

It　was　not　long　before　Mackenzie　stood　before　his　master　with　Kalman　by　his　side。

〃As　sure　as　death；〃　said　Mackenzie；　〃he　has　a　tribe　of　Galician　women　yonder；　and　the　pitaties　iss　all　in。〃

〃What　do　you　say？〃　stammered　French。

〃It　iss　what　I　am　telling　you。　　The　pitaties　iss　all　in；　and　this　lad　iss　bossing　the　job；　and　the　Galician　women　working　like　naygurs。〃

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　said　French；　turning　his　eyes　slowly　upon　Kalman。　　The　boy　looked　older　by　years。　　He　was　worn　and　haggard。

〃I　saw　a　woman　passing；　she　was　a　Galician；　she　brought　the　others；　and　the　potatoes　are　done。　　They　have　come　here　two　days。　　But；〃　said　the　boy　slowly；　〃there　is　nothing　to　eat。〃

With　a　mighty　oath　French　sprang　to　his　feet。

〃Do　you　tell　me　you　are　hungry；　boy？〃　he　roared。

〃I　could　not　find　much；〃　said　Kalman；　his　lip　trembling　in　spite　of　himself。

〃What　are　you　standing　there　for；　Mackenzie？〃　roared　French。　〃Confound　you　for　a　drunken　dog！　　Confound　us　both　for　two　drunken　fools！　　Get　something　to　eat！〃

There　was　something　so　terrible　in　his　look　and　in　his　voice　that　Mackenzie　fairly　ran　to　obey　his　order。　　Kalman　stood　before　his　master　pale　and　shaking。　　He　was　weak　from　lack　of　food；　but　more　from　anxiety　and　grief。

〃I　did　the　best　I　could；〃　he　said；　struggling　manfully　to　keep　his　voice　steady；　〃andI　amawful　gladyou'rebetter。〃　　His　command　was　all　gone。　　He　threw　himself　upon　the　grass　while　sobs　shook　his　frame。

French　stood　a　moment　looking　down　upon　him；　his　face　revealing　thoughts　and　feelings　none　too　pleasant。

〃Kalman；　you're　a　good　sort；〃　he　said　in　a　hoarse　voice。　　〃You're　a　man；　by　Jove！　and；〃　in　an　undertone；　〃I'm　hanged；　if　I　don't　think　you'll　make　a　man　of　me　yet。〃　　Then　kneeling　by　his　side；　he　raised　him　in　his　arms。　　〃Kalman；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　brick　and　a　gentleman。　　I　have　been　a　brute　and　a　cad。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；　no！〃　sobbed　the　boy。　　〃You　are　a　good　man。　　But　I　wishyou　wouldleaveit　alone。〃

〃In　God's　name；〃　said　French　bitterly；　〃I　wish　it　too。〃



CHAPTER　XIII

BROWN


Two　weeks　of　life　in　the　open；　roaming　the　prairie　alone　with　the　wolf　hounds；　or　with　French　after　the　cattle；　did　much　to　obliterate　the　mark　which　those　five　days　left　upon　Kalman's　body　and　soul。　From　the　very　first　the　boy　had　no　difficulty　in　mastering　the　art　of　sticking　on　a　broncho's　back；　partly　because　he　was　entirely　without　fear；　but　largely　because　he　had　an　ear　and　an　eye　for　rhythm　in　sound　and　in　motion。　　He　conceived　clearly　the　idea　by　watching　French　as　he　loped　along　on　his　big　iron　grey；　and　after　that　it　was　merely　a　matter　of　translating　the　idea　into　action。　Every　successful　rider　must　first　conceive　himself　as　a　rider。　　In　two　weeks'　time　Kalman　could　sit　the　buckskin　and　send　him　across　the　prairie；　swinging　him　by　the　neck　guide　around　badger　holes　and　gopher　holes；　up　and　down　the　steep　sides　of　the　Night　Hawk　ravine；　without　ever　touching　leather。　　The　fearless　ease　he　displayed　in　mastering　the　equestrian　art　did　more　than　anything　else　to　win　him　his　place　in　the　old　half…breed　Mackenzie's　affection。

The　pride　of　the　ranch　was　Black　Joe；　a　Percheron　stallion　that　French　a　year　before　had　purchased；　with　the　idea　of　improving　his　horse　stock　to　anticipate　the　market　for　heavy　horses；　which　he　foresaw　the　building　of　railroads　would　be　sure　to　provide。　　Black　Joe　was　kept　in　a　small　field　that　took　in　a　bit　of　the　bluff　and　ran　down　to　the　lake；　affording　shelter；　drink；　and　good　feeding。

Dismay；　therefore；　smote　the　ranch；　when　Mackenzie　announced　one　morning　that　Black　Joe　had　broken　out　and　was　gone。

〃He　can't　be　far　away；〃　said　French；　〃take　a　circle　round　towards　the　east。　　He　has　likely　gone　off　with　Garneau's　bunch。〃

But　at　noon　Mackenzie　rode　back　to　report　that　nowhere　could　the　stallion　be　seen；　that　he　had　rounded　up　Garneau's　ponies　without　coming　across　any　sign　of　the　stallion。

〃I　am　afraid　he　has　got　across　the　Eagle；〃　said　French；　〃and　if　he　has　once　got　on　to　those　plains；　there　will　be　the　very　deuce　to　pay。　　Well；　get　a　move　on；　and　try　the　country　across　the　creek　first。　　No；　hold　on。　　I'll　go　myself。　　Throw　the　saddle　on　Roanoke；　I'll　put　some　grub　together；　for　there's　no　time　to　be　lost。〃

Kalman　started　up　and　stood　eagerly　expectant。　　French　glanced　at　him。

〃It　will　be　a　hard　ride；　Kalman；　I　am　a　little　afraid。〃

〃Try　me；　sir；〃　said　the　boy；　who　had　unconsciously　in　conversation　with　French　dropped　much　of　his　street　vernacular；　and　had　adopted　to　a　large　extent　his　master's　forms　of　speech。

〃All　right；　boy。　　Get　ready　and　come　along。〃

While　the　horses　were　being　saddled；　French　rolled　up　into　two　neat　packs　a　couple　of　double　blankets；　grub　consisting　of　Hudson's　Bay　biscuits；　pork；　tea　and　sugar；　a　camp　outfit　comprising　a　pan；　a　teapail；　and　two　cups。

〃So　long；　Mackenzie；〃　said　French；　as　they　rode　away。　　〃Hold　down　the　ranch　till　we　get　back。　　We'll　strike　out　north　from　here；　then　swing　round　across　the　Night　Hawk　toward　the　hills　and　back　by　the　Eagle　and　Wakota；　and　come　up　the　creek。〃

To　hunt　up　a　stray　beast　on　the　wide　open　prairie　seems　to　the　uninitiated　a　hopeless　business；　but　it　is　a　simple　matter；　after　all。　　One　has　to　know　the　favourite　feeding…grounds；　the　trails　that　run　to　these　grounds；　and　have　an　idea　of　the　limits　within　which　cattle　and　horses　will　range。　　As　a　rule；　each　band　has　its　own　feeding…grounds　and　its　own　spots　for　taking　shelter。　　The　difficulties　of　search　are　enormously　increased　by　the　broken　character　of　a　rolling　bluffy　prairie。　　The　bluffs　intercept　the　view；　and　the　rolls　on　the　prairie　can　hide　successfully　a　large　bunch　of　cattle　or　horses；　and　it　may　take　a　week　to　beat　up　a　country　thickly　strewn　with　bluffs；　and　diversified　with　coulees　that　might　easily　be　searched　in　a　single　afternoon。

The　close　of　the　third　day　found　the　travellers　on　Wakota　trail。

〃We'll　camp　right　here；　Kalman；〃　said　French；　as　they　reached　a　level　tongue　of　open　prairie；　around　three　sides　of　which　flowed　the　Eagle　River。

Of　all　their　camps　during　the　three　days'　search　none　was　so　beautiful；　and　none　lived　so　long　in　Kalman's　memory；　as　the　camp　by　the　Eagle　River　near　Wakota。　　The　firm　green　sward；　cropped　short　by　a　succession　of　campers'　horses；for　this　was　a　choice　spot　for　travellers；the　flowing　river　with　its　soft　gurgling　undertone；　the　upstan