the foreigner-第34章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


h　savage　fury。

〃Oh！　the　poor　thing！　　Call　off　the　dogs！〃　cried　the　girl；　turning　to　Kalman。

〃No！　　No！　　Don't　you　think　of　it！〃　cried　the　man　from　the　tent　door　〃He　will　attack　us。〃

Kalman　stepped　forward；　and　beating　the　dogs　from　their　quarry；　drew　his　pistol　and　shot　the　beast　through　the　head。

〃Get　back；　Captain！　　Back！　　Back！　I　say。　　Down！〃　　With　difficulty　he　drew　the　wolf　from　the　jaws　of　the　eager　hounds；　and　swung　it　into　the　wagon　out　of　the　dogs'　reach。

〃My　word！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　leaping　from　the　wagon　with　precipitate　haste。　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃

〃He　won't　hurt　you；　sir。　　He　is　dead。〃

The　young　man's　red；　chubby　face；　out　of　which　peered　his　little　round　eyes；　his　red　hair　standing　in　a　disordered　halo　about　his　head；　his　strange　attire；　with　trailing　braces　and　tag…ends　of　his　night…robe　hanging　about　his　person；　made　a　picture　so　weirdly　funny　that　the　girl　went　off　into　peals　of　laughter。

〃Marjorie！　　Marjorie！〃　cried　an　indignant　voice；　〃what　are　ye　daein'　there？　　Tak'　shame　to　yersel'；　ye　hizzie。〃

Marjorie　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　voice；　and　again　her　peals　of　laughter　burst　forth。　　〃Oh！　Aunt　Janet；　you　do　look　so　funny。〃　But　at　once　the　head　with　its　aureole　of　curl…papers　was　whipped　inside　the　tent。

〃Ye're　no　that　fine　to　look　at　yersel'；　ye　shameless　lassie；〃　cried　Aunt　Janet。

With　a　swift　motion　the　girl　put　her　hand　to　her　head；　gathered　her　garments　about　her；　and　fled　to　the　cover　of　her　tent；　leaving　Kalman　and　the　young　man　together；　the　latter　in　a　state　of　indignant　wrath；　for　no　man　can　bear　with　equanimity　the　ridicule　of　a　maiden　whom　he　is　especially　anxious　to　please。

〃By　Jove；　sir！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃What　the　deuce　did　you　mean；　running　your　confounded　dogs　into　a　camp　like　that？〃

Kalman　heard　not　a　word。　　He　was　standing　as　in　a　dream；　gazing　upon　the　tent　into　which　the　girl　had　vanished。　　Ignoring　the　young　man；　he　got　his　horse　and　mounted；　and　calling　his　dogs；　rode　off　up　the　trail。

〃Hello　there！〃　cried　Harris；　the　engineer；　after　him。　　Kalman　reined　up。　　〃Do　you　know　where　I　can　get　any　oats？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Kalman；　〃up　at　our　ranch。〃

〃And　where　is　that？〃

〃Ten　miles　from　here；　across　the　Night　Hawk　Creek。〃　　Then；　as　if　taking　a　sudden　resolve；　〃I'll　bring　them　down　to　you　this　afternoon。　　How　much　do　you　want？〃

〃Twenty…five　bushels　would　do　us　till　we　reach　the　construction　camp。〃

〃I'll　bring　them　to…day；〃　said　Kalman；　riding　away；　his　dogs　limping　after　him。

In　a　few　moments　the　girl　came　out　of　the　tent。　　〃Oh！〃　she　cried　to　the　engineer；　〃is　he　gone？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Harris；　〃but　he'll　be　back　this　afternoon。　　He　is　going　to　bring　me　some　oats。〃　　His　smile　brought　a　quick　flush　to　the　girl's　cheeks。

〃Oh！　has　he？〃　she　said；　with　elaborate　indifference。　　〃What　a　lovely　morning！　　It's　wonderful　for　so　late　in　the　year。　　You　have　a　splendid　country　here；　Mr。　Harris。〃

〃That's　right；〃　he　said；　〃and　the　longer　you　stay　in　it；　the　better　you　like　it。　　You'll　be　going　to　settle　in　it　yourself　some　day。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　about　that；〃　cried　the　girl；　with　a　deeper　blush；　and　a　saucy　toss　of　her　head。　　〃It　is　a　fine　country；　but　it's　no'　Scotland；　ye　ken；　as　my　Aunt　would　say。　　My！　but　I'm　fair　starving。〃

It　happened　that　the　ride　to　the　Galician　colony；　planned　for　that　afternoon　by　Mr。　Penny　the　day　before；　had　to　be　postponed。　　Miss　Marjorie　was　hardly　up　to　it。　　〃It　must　be　the　excitement　of　the　country；〃　she　explained　carefully　to　Mr。　Penny；　〃so　I'll　just　bide　in　the　camp。〃

〃Indeed；　you　are　wise　for　once　in　your　life；〃　said　her　Aunt　Janet。　〃As　for　me；　I'm　fair　dune　out。　　With　this　hurly…burly　of　such　terrible　excitement　I　wonder　I　did　not　faint　right　off。〃

〃Hoots　awa'；　Aunt　Janet；〃　said　her　niece；　〃it　was　no　time　for　fainting；　I'm　thinking；　with　yon　wolf　in　the　tent　beside　ye。〃

〃Aye；　lassie；　you　may　well　say　so；〃　said　Aunt　Janet；　lapsing　into　her　native　tongue；　into　which　in　unguarded　moments　she　was　rather　apt　to　fall；　and　which　her　niece　truly　loved　to　use；　much　to　her　Aunt's　disgust；　who　considered　it　a　form　of　vulgarity　to　be　avoided　with　all　care。

As　the　afternoon　was　wearing　away；　a　wagon　appeared　in　the　distance。　The　gentlemen　were　away　from　camp　inspecting　the　progress　of　the　work　down　the　line。

〃There's　something　coming　yonder；〃　said　Miss　Marjorie；　whose　eyes　had　often　wandered　down　the　trail　that　afternoon。

〃Mercy　on　us！　　What　can　it　be；　and　them　all　away；〃　said　her　Aunt　in　distress。　　〃Put　your　saddle　on　and　fly　for　your　father　or　Mr。　Harris。　　I　am　terrified。　　It　is　this　awful　country。　　If　ever　I　get　out　alive！〃

〃Hoots　awa'；　Aunt；　it's　just　a　wagon。〃

〃Marjorie；　why　will　you　use　such　vulgar　expressions？　　Of　course；　it's　a　wagon。　　Wha'swho's　in　it？〃

〃Indeed；　I'm　not　caring；〃　said　her　niece；　〃they'll　no'　eat　us。〃

〃Marjorie；　behave　yourself；　I'm　saying；　and　speak　as　you　are　taught。　　Run　away　for　your　father。〃

〃Indeed；　Aunt；　how　could　I　do　this　and　leave　you　here　by　yourself？　A　wild　Indian　might　run　off　with　you。〃

〃Mercy　me！　　What　a　lassie！　　I'm　fair　distracted。〃

〃Oh；　Auntie　dear；〃　said　Marjorie；　with　a　change　of　voice；　〃it　is　just　a　man　bringing　some　oats。　　Mr。　Harris　told　me　he　was　to　get　a　load　this　afternoon。　　We　will　need　to　take　them　from　him。　　Have　you　any　money？　　We　must　pay　him；　I　suppose。〃

〃Money？〃　cried　her　Aunt。　　〃What　is　the　use　of　money　in　this　country？　　No；　your　father　has　it　all。〃

〃Why；〃　suddenly　exclaimed　her　niece；　〃it's　not　the　man　after　all。〃

〃What　man　are　you　talking　about？〃　enquired　her　Aunt。　　〃What　man　is　it　not？〃

〃It's　a　stranger。　　I　meanit'sanother　man；〃　said　Marjorie；　distinct　disappointment　in　her　tone。

〃Here；　who　is　it；　or　who　is　it　no'？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Marjorie　innocently。　　〃Mr。　Harris　is　expecting　that　young　man　who　was　here　this　morning；the　one　who　saved　us　from　that　awful　wolf；　you　know。〃

〃That　man！　　The　impudent　thing　that　he　was；〃　cried　her　Aunt。　　〃Wait　till　I　set　my　eyes　on　him。　　Indeed；　I　will　not　look　at　any　one　belonging　to　him。〃　　Aunt　Janet　flounced　into　the　tent；　leaving　her　niece　to　meet　the　stranger　alone。

〃Good　afternoon！　　Am　I　right　in　thinking　that　this　is　the　engineer's　camp；　for　which　a　load　of　oats　was　ordered　this　morning？〃　　Jack　French　was　standing；　hat　in　hand；　looking　his　admiration　and　perplexity；　for　Kalman　had　not　told　him　anything　of　this　girl。

〃Yes；　this　is　the　camp。　　At　least；　I　heard　Mr。　Harris　say　he　expected　a　load　of　oats；　but；〃　she　added　in　slight　confusion；　〃it　was　from　another　man；　a　young　man；　the　man；　I　mean；　who　was　here　this　morning。〃

〃Confusion；　indeed！〃　came　a　muffled　voice　from　the　closed　tent。

Jack　French　glanced　quickly　around；　but　saw　no　one。

〃Oh；〃　said　Miss　Marjorie；　struggling　with　her　laughter；　〃it's　my　Aunt；　she　was　much　alarmed　this　morning。　　You　see；　the　wolf　and　the　dogs　ran　right　into　her　tent。　　It　was　terrible。〃

〃Terrible；　indeed；〃　said　Jack　French；　with　grave　politeness。　　〃I　could　only　get　the　most　incoherent　account　of　the　whole　matter。　　I　hope　your　Aunt　was　not　hurt。〃

〃Hurt；　indeed！〃　ejaculated　a　muffled　voice。　　〃It　was　nearer　killed；　I　was。〃

Upon　this；　Miss　Marjorie　ran　to　the　tent　door。　　〃Aunt；〃　she　cried；　lifting　up　the　flap；　〃you　might　as　well　come　out　and　meet　Mr。〃

〃French；　Jack　French；　as　I　am　known　in　this　free　country。〃

〃My　Aunt；　Miss　Menzies。〃

〃Very　happy　to　meet　you；　madam。〃　　Jack's　bow　was　so　inexpressibly　elegant　that　Aunt　Janet　found　herself　adopting　her　most　gracious；　Glasgow　society　manner。

French　was　profuse　in　his　apologies　and　sympathetic　regrets；　as　he　gravely　listened　to　Aunt　Janet's　excited　account　of　her　warm　adventure。　　The　perfect　gravity　and　the　profuse　sympathy　with　which　he　heard　the　tale　won　Aunt　Janet's　heart；　and　she　privately　decided　that　here；　at　last；　she　had　found　in　this　wild　and　terrible　country　a　man　in　whom　she　could　entirely　confide。

Under　Miss　Marjorie's　direction；　French　unloaded　his　oats；　the　girl　pouring　forth　the　while　a　stream　of　observations；　exclamations；　and　interrogations　upon　all　subjects　imaginable；　and　with　such　an　abandonment　of　good　fellowship　that　French；　for　the　first　time　in　twenty　years；　found　himself　offering　hospitality　to　a　party　in　which　ladies　were　to　be　found。　　Miss　Menzies　accepted　the　invitation　with　eager　alacrity。

〃Oh！　it　will　be　lovely；　won't　it；　Aunt　Janet？　　We　have　not　yet　seen　a　real　ranch；　and　besides；〃　she　added；　〃we　have　no　money　to　pay　for　our　oats。〃

〃That　matters　not　at　all；〃　said　French；　〃but　if　your　Aunt　will　condescend　to　grace　with　her　presence　my　poor　bachelor's　hall；　we　shall　be　most　grateful。〃

Aunt　Janet　was　quite　captivated；　and　before　she　knew　it；　she　had　accepted　the　invitation　for　the　party。

〃Oh；　good！〃　cried　Miss　Marjorie　in　ecstasy；　〃we　shall　come　to…　morrow；　Mr。　French。〃

And　with　this　news　French　drove　back　to　the　ranch；　to　the　disgust　of　old　Mackenzie；　who　dreaded　〃women　folks；〃　and　to　Kalman's　alternating　delight　and　dismay。　　That　short　visit　had　established　between　the　young　girl　and　Jack　French　a　warm　and　abiding　friendship　that　in　a　more　conventional　atmosphere　it　would　have　taken　years　to　develop。　　To　her　French　realized　at　once　all　her　ideals　of　what　a　Western　rancher　should　be；　and　to　French　the　frank；　fresh　innocence　of　her　unspoiled　heart　appealed　with　irresistible　force。　　They　had　discovered　each　other　in　that　single　hour。



CHAPTER　XVI

HOW　KALMAN　FOUND　HIS　MINE


The　girl's　enthusiasm　for　her　new…found　friend　was　such　that　the　whole　party　decided　to　accept　his　invitation。　　And　so　they　did；　spending　a　full　day　and　night　on　the　ranch；　exploring；　under　French's　guidance；　the　beauty　spots；　and　investigating　with　the　greatest　interest；　especially　on　Miss　Marjorie's　part；　the　farming　operations；　over　which　Kalman　was　presiding。

That　young　man；　in　dumb　and　abashed　confusion　of　face；　strictly　avoided　the　party；　appearing　only　at　meals。　　There；　while　he　made　a　brave　show；　he　was　torn　between　the　conflicting　emotions　of　admiration　of　the　easy　nonchalance　and　self…possession　with　which　Jack　played　the　host；　and　of　furious　rage　at　the　air　of　proprietorship　which　Mr。　Edgar　Penny　showed　towards　Miss　Marjorie。　Gladly　would　he　have　crushed　into　a　shapeless　pulp　the　ruddy；　chubby　face　of　that　young　man。　　Kalman　found　himself　at　times　with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　very　spot　where　his　fingers　itched　to　grip　that　thick…set　neck；　but　in　spite　of　these　passing　moments　of　fury；　the　whole　world　was　new　to　him。　　The　blue　of　the　sky；　the　shimmer　of　the　lake；　the　golden　yellow　of　the　poplars；　all　things　in　earth　and　heaven；　were　shining　with　a　new　glory。　　For　him　the　day's　work　had　no　weariness。　　He　no　longer　trod　the　solid　ground；　but　through　paths　of　airy　bliss　his　soul　marched　to　the　strains　of　celestial　music。

Poor　Kalman！　　When　on　that　fateful　morning　upon　his　virgin　soul　there　dawned　the　vision　of　the　maid；　the　hour　of　fate　struck　for　him。　　That　most　ancient　and　most　divine　of　frenzies　smote　him。　　He　was　deliciously；　madly　in　love；　though　he　knew　it　not。　　It　is　something　to　his　credit；　however；　that　he　allowed　the　maiden　to　depart　without　giving　visible　token　of　this　divine　frenzy　raging　within　his　breast；　unless　it　were　that　in　the　blue　of　his　eyes　there　came　a　deeper　blue；　and　that　under　the　tan　of　his　cheek　a　pallor　crept。　　But　when　o