the foreigner-第38章

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；　by　virtue　of　the　fact　that　it　was　his　people　who　had　erected　the　building。　　On　a　Sunday　afternoon；　as　the　winter　was　nearing　an　end；　Klazowski；　under　the　influence　of　a　too　complete　devotion　to　the　beer　barrel　that　stood　in　his　host's　kitchen；　spent　an　hour　in　a　furious　denunciation　of　the　opponents　of　his　holy　religion；　and　especially　of　the　heretic　Brown　and　all　his　works；　threatening　with　excommunication　those　who　in　any　degree　would　dare　after　this　date　to　countenance　him。　　His　character　was　impugned；　his　motives　declared　to　be　of　the　basest。　　This　was　too　much　for　his　congregation。　　Deep　murmurs　rose　among　the　people；　but　unwarned；　the　priest　continued　his　execrations　of　the　hated　heretic。

At　length　Kalman；　unable　any　longer　to　contain　his　indignation；　sprang　to　his　feet；　gave　the　priest　the　lie　direct　and　appealed　to　the　people。

〃You　all　know　Mr。　Brown；〃　he　cried；　〃what　sort　of　man　is　he？　　And　what　sort　of　man　is　this　priest　who　has　spoken　to　you？　　You；　Simon　Simbolik；　when　your　child　lay　dead　and　you　sought　help　of　this　Klazowski；　what　answer　did　he　give　you？〃

〃He　asked　me　for　ten　dollars；〃　said　Simon　promptly；　〃and　when　I　could　not　give　it　he　cursed　me　from　him。　　Yes；〃　continued　Simbolik；　〃and　Mr。　Brown　made　the　coffin　and　paid　for　it；　and　would　take　no　money。　　My　daughter　is　in　his　school；　and　is　learning　English　and　sewing；　beautiful　sewing；　and　she　will　stay　there。〃

〃You；　Bogarz；〃　cried　Kalman；　〃when　your　children　were　down　with　scarlet　fever　and　you　went　to　the　priest　for　help；　what　was　his　reply？〃

〃He　drove　me　from　his　house。　　He　was　afraid　to　death。〃

〃Yes；〃　continued　Kalman；　〃and　Mr。　Brown　came　and　took　the　children　to　his　hospital；　and　they　are　well　to…day。〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　Bogarz；　〃and　he　would　take　nothing　for　it　all；　but　I　paid　him　all　I　could；　and　I　will　gladly　pay　him　more。〃

And　so　from　one　to　another　went　the　word。　　The　friends　of　Klazowski；　for　he　still　had　a　following；　were　beaten　into　silence。　　Then　rose　more　ominous　murmurs。

〃I　would　not　have　Klazowski　in　my　house　with　my　family；〃　cried　one；　〃a　single　day。　　It　would　not　be　safe。　　I　need　say　no　more。〃

Others　were　found　with　similar　distrust　of　Klazowski's　morals。　Klazowski　was　furious；　and　sought　with　loud　denunciations　and　curses　to　quell　the　storm　of　indignation　that　had　been　roused　against　him。　　Then　Kalman　executed　a　flank　movement。

〃This　man；〃　he　cried；　his　loud；　clear　voice　gaining　him　a　hearing；　〃This　man　is　promising　to　build　us　a　church。　　He　has　been　collecting　money。　　How　much　money　do　you　think　he　has　by　this　time？　I；　myself；　gave　him　ten　dollars；　Mr。　French　gave　him　twenty…five。〃

At　once　cries　came　from　all　parts　of　the　building。　　〃I　gave　him　twenty…five。〃　　〃And　I　ten。〃　　〃And　I　five。〃　　And　so　on；　Kalman　keeping　count。

〃I　make　it　nearly　two　hundred　dollars；〃　he　cried。　　〃Has　any　one　seen　the　books？　　Does　any　one　know　where　the　money　is？〃

〃No；　no；〃　cried　the　crowd。

〃Then；〃　cried　Kalinan；　〃let　us　enquire。　　We　are　not　sheep。　　This　is　a　free　country；　and　we　are　free　men。　　The　days　of　the　old　tyranny　are　gone。〃　　The　house　rocked　with　the　wild　cheers　of　the　excited　crowd。　　〃Let　us　examine　into　this。　　Let　us　appoint　a　committee　to　find　out　how　much　money　has　been　paid　and　where　it　is。〃

With　enthusiasm　Kalman's　suggestion　was　carried　into　effect。　　A　committee　was　appointed　and　instructed　to　secure　the　information　with　all　speed。

Next　day　Klazowski　was　not　to　be　found　in　the　colony。　　He　had　shaken　the　Wakota　snow　from　off　his　feet；　and　had　departed；　carrying　with　him　the　people's　hard…earned　money；　their　fervent　curses；　and　a　deep；　deep　grudge　against　the　young　man　upon　whom　he　laid　the　responsibility　for　the　collapse　of　his　influence　among　the　faithful　and　long…suffering　people　of　Wakota。

A　few　days　later；　to　an　interested　and　devout　congregation　in　the　city　of　Winnipeg；　he　gave　an　eloquent　account　of　his　labours　as　a　missionary　in　the　remote　colony　of　Wakota；　depicted　in　lurid　colours　the　persecutions　he　had　endured　at　the　hands　of　the　heretic　Brown；　reserving　his　most　fervid　periods　for　the　denunciation　of　the　unscrupulous　machinations　of　an　apostate　and　arch　traitor；　Kalman　Kalmar；　whose　name　would　forever　be　remembered　by　his　people　with　infamy。

Among　those　who　remained　to　congratulate　and　sympathize　with　the　orator；　none　was　more　cordial　than　Mr。　Rosenblatt；　with　whom　the　preacher　went　home　to　dine；　and　to　whom；　under　the　mellowing　influence　of　a　third　bottle；　he　imparted　full　and　valuable　information　in　regard　to　Wakota；　its　possibilities　as　a　business　centre；　its　railroad　prospects；　its　land　values；　its　timber　limits；　and　especially　in　regard　to　the　character　and　work　of　Kalman　Kalmar；　and　the　wonderful　mine　which　the　young　man　had　discovered。

The　information　thus　obtained　Rosenblatt　was　careful　to　impart　to　his　friend　and　partner；　Samuel　Sprink。　　As　a　result　of　further　interviews　with　the　priest　and　of　much　shrewd　bargaining　with　railroad　contractors　and　officials；　in　early　spring；　before　the　break　up　of　the　roads；　Mr。　Samuel　Sprink　had　established　himself　along　the　line　of　construction　as　a　vendor　of　〃gents'　furnishings；〃　working　men's　supplies；　tobaccos　and　cigars；　and　other　useful　and　domestic　articles。　　It　was　not　announced；　however；　in　the　alluring　posters　distributed　among　the　people　in　language　suited　to　their　comprehension；　that　among　his　stores　might　be　found　a　brand　of　whiskey　of　whose　virtues　none　could　speak　with　more　confidence　than　Mr。　Sprink　himself；　for　the　sufficient　reason　that　he　was　for　the　most　part　the　sole　manufacturer　thereof。

Chief　among　Mr。　Sprink's　activities　was　that　of　〃claim　jumping；〃　to　wit；　the　securing　for　himself　of　homesteads　for　which　patents　had　not　been　obtained；　the　homesteaders　for　one　reason　or　another　having　not　been　able　to　complete　the　duties　required　by　Government。　In　the　prosecution　of　this　business　Mr。　Sprink　made　a　discovery；　which　he　conveyed　in　a　letter　to　Mr。　Rosenblatt；　who　was　still　in　charge　of　the　Winnipeg　end　of　the　Company's　business。

〃You　must　come　at　once；〃　wrote　Mr。　Sprink。　　〃I　save　a　great　business　on　hand。　　I　have　discovered　that　no　application　has　been　made　for　the　coal　mine　claimed　by　young　Kalmar；　and　this　means　that　the　mine　is　still　open。　　Had　I　the　full　description　of　the　property；　I　should　have　jumped　the　claim　at　once；　you　bet。　　So　get　a　move　on　and　come。　Get　the　description　of　the　land　on　the　quiet；　and　then　do　some　work　among　the　Galician　people　to　prepare　for　the　change　of　ownership；　because　there　will　be　trouble；　sure。　　So；　come　along。　　There　is　other　big　business　too；　so　you　must　come。〃

Rosenblatt　needed　no　further　urging。　　In　a　week　he　was　on　the　ground。

Meanwhile；　Kalman　was　developing　his　mine；　and　dreaming　great　dreams　as　to　what　he　should　do　when　he　had　become　a　great　mine　owner。　　It　was　his　custom；　ever　since　Irma's　coming；　to　spend　the　Sunday　evening　with　her　at　the　hospital。　　His　way　to　the　mine　lay　through　scrub　and　sleugh；　a　heavy　trail；　and　so　he　welcomed　the　breaking　up　of　the　ice　on　the　Eagle　River。　　For；　taking　Brown's　canoe；　he　could　paddle　down　to　the　Saskatchewan；　and　thence　to　the　mouth　of　the　Night　Hawk　Creek；　from　which　point　it　was　only　a　short　walk　to　camp。

It　was　a　most　fortunate　thing　for　old　Pere　Garneau　that　Kalman　had　adopted　this　method　of　transportation　on　the　very　night　the　old　priest　had　chosen　for　his　trip　down　the　Eagle。　　Pere　Garneau；　a　pioneer　priest　of　the　North　Saskatchewan　country；　had　ministered　for　twenty　years；　by　river　and　by　trail；　to　the　spiritual　and　temporal　needs　of　the　half…breeds　and　the　Indians　under　the　care　of　his　church。　　A　heroic　soul　was　the　old　Father；　not　to　be　daunted　by　dangers；　simple　as　a　child；　and　kindly。　　But　the　years　had　done　their　work　with　him　on　eye　and　hand。　　The　running　ice　in　the　spring　flood　of　the　Eagle　River　got　itself　under　the　nose　of　the　good　Father's　canoe；　and　the　current　did　the　rest。　　His　feeble　cry　would　have　brought　no　aid；　had　not　Kalman；　at　the　very　moment；　been　shoving　out　his　canoe　into　the　current　of　the　Eagle。　　A　few　strong　sweeps　of　the　paddle；　and　Kalman　had　the　old　priest　in　tow；　and　in　a　few　minutes；　with　Brown's　aid；　into　the　hospital　and　snugly　in　bed；　with　his　canoe；　and　what　of　his　stuff　could　be　rescued；　safe　under　cover。　　Two　days　of　Irma's　nursing　and　of　Brown's　treatment；　and　the　ill　effects　of　his　chilly　dip　had　disappeared　sufficiently　to　allow　the　Father　to　proceed　on　his　way。

〃Eet　will　be　to　me　a　pleasant　remembrance　of　your　hospitalite；〃　he　said　to　Brown　on　the　morning　of　the　third　day。

〃And　to　us　of　your　stay；　Father　Garneau；〃　replied　Brown。　　〃But　you　need　not　go　to…day。　　You　are　not　strong　enough；　and；　besides；　I　have　some　work　for　you。　　There　is　a　poor　Galician　woman　with　us　here　who　cannot　see　the　morning。　　She　could　not　bear　the　priest　Klazowski。　　She　had　trouble　with　him；　and　I　think　you　could　comfort　her。〃

〃Ah；　dat　Klazowski！〃　exclaimed　Pere　Garneau。　　〃Eet　ees　not　a　good　man。　　Many　peep'　tell　me　of　dat　man。　　He　will　be　no　more　priest；　for　certainly。　　I　would　see　dis　woman；　poor　soul！〃

〃To…night　Kalman　will　be　here；〃　said　Brown；　〃and　he　will　interpret　for　you。〃

〃Ah；　he　ees　a　fine　young　man；　Kalman。　　He　mak'　troub'　for　dat　priest；　ees　eet　not？〃

〃Well；　I　am　afraid　he　did；〃　said　Brown；　laughing。　　〃But　I　fancy　it　was　the　priest　made　trouble　for　himself。〃

〃Yes；　dat　ees　so；　and　dat　ees　de　worse　troub'　of　all；〃　said　the　wise　old　man。

The　poor　woman　made　her　confession；　received　her　Sacrament；　and　thus　comforted　and　at　peace；　made　exit　from　this　troubled　life。

〃My　son；〃　said　the　priest　to　Kalman　when　the　service　was　over；　〃I　would　be　glad　to　confess　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　Father；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃I　make　my　confession　to　God。〃

〃Ah；　my　son；　you　have　been　injured　in　your　faith　by　dat　bad　priest　Klazowski。〃

〃No；　I　think　not；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃I　have　for　some　years　been　reading　my　Bible；　and　I　have　lived　beside　a　good　man　who　has　taught　me　to　know　God　and　our　Lord　and　Saviour　Jesus　Christ。　　I　seek　to　follow　him　as　Peter　and　the　others　did。　　But　I　am　no　longer　of　the　Galician　way　of　religion；　neither　Greek　nor　Roman。〃

〃My　son；〃　exclaimed　the　old　priest　in　horror；　〃you　are　not　an　apostate？　　You　have　not　denied　your　faith？〃

〃No；　I　have　not。　　I　try　to　please　Christ。〃

Long　and　painfully；　and　with　tears；　did　the　old　priest　labour　with　Kalman；　to　whom　his　soul　went　out　in　gratitude　and　affection；　but　without　making　any　change　in　the　young　man's　mind。　　The　teaching；　but　more　the　life；　of　his　friend　had　not　been　lost；　and　Kalman　had　come　to　see　clearly　his　way。

Next　morning　the　good　Father　was　ready　for　his　journey。

〃I　leave　to　you；〃　he　said　to　Brown；　〃my　double　blessing；　of　the　stranger　whom　you　received；　and　of　the　sick　to　whom　you　served。　Ah！　what　a　peety　you　are　in　the　darkness　of　error；〃　he　continued　with　a　gentle　smile；　〃but　I　will　pray　for　you；　for　you　both；　my　children；　many　times。〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；〃　said　Brown　warmly。　　〃The　prayers　of　a　good　man　bring　blessing；　and　I　love　to　remember　the　words　of　our　Master；　'He　that　is　not　against　us　is　on　our　part。'〃

Ah！　dat　ees　true；　dat　ees　true。　　Dat　ees　like　Heem。　　Adieu。〃

For　some　days　Rosenblatt　had　been　at　work　quietly　in　the　colony；　obtaining　information　and　making　friends。　　Among　the　first　who　offered　their　services　w