the foreigner-第40章

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Four　weeks　passed　before　Kalman　saw　him　again。　　Those　four　weeks　he　spent　in　toil　from　early　dawn　till　late　at　night　at　the　oats　and　the　potatoes；　working　to　the　limit　of　their　endurance　Mackenzie　and　the　small　force　of　Galicians　he　could　secure；　for　the　mine　and　the　railroad　offered　greater　attractions。　　At　length　the　level　black　fields　lay　waiting　the　wooing　of　the　sun　and　rain　and　genial　air。　Then　Kalman　rode　down　for　a　day　at　Wakota；　for　heart　and　body　were　exhausted　of　their　vital　forces。　　He　wanted　rest；　but　he　wanted　more　the　touch　of　a　friend's　hand。

At　Wakota；　the　first　sight　that　caught　his　eye　was　French's　horse　tethered　on　the　grassy　sward　before　Brown's　house；　and　as　he　rode　up；　from　within　there　came　to　his　ear　the　sound　of　unusual　and　hilarious　revelry。

〃Hello　there！〃　yelled　Kalman；　still　sitting　his　horse。　　〃What's　happened　to　you　all？〃

The　cry　brought　them　all　out；Brown　and　his　wife；　French　and　Irma；　with　Paulina　in　the　background。　　They　crowded　around　him　with　vociferous　welcome；　Brown　leading　in　a　series　of　wild　cheers。　After　the　cheering　was　done；　Brown　rushed　for　him。

〃Congratulations；　old　boy！〃　he　cried；　shaking　him　by　the　hand。　〃It's　all　right；　we've　won；　after　all！　　Hurrah！　　Hurrah！　　Hurrah！〃　Brown　had　clearly　gone　mad。

Then　Irma　came　running　toward　him。

〃Yes；　it's　all　true；　Kalman　dear；〃　she　cried；　pulling　down　his　head　to　kiss　him；　her　voice　breaking　in　a　sob　and　her　eyes　radiant　with　smiles　and　tears。

〃Don't　be　alarmed；　old　man；〃　said　French；　taking　him　by　the　hand　when　Irma　had　surrendered　her　place。　　〃They　are　all　quite　sane。　We've　got　it；　right　enough。　　We've　won　out。〃

Kalman　sat　still　on　his　horse；　looking　from　one　to　the　other　in　utter　bewilderment。　　Brown　was　still　yelling　at　intervals；　and　wildly　waving　his　hat。　　At　length　Kalman　turned　to　Mrs。　Brown。

〃You　seem　to　be　sane；　anyway；〃　he　said；　〃perhaps　you　will　tell　me　what　they　all　mean？〃

〃It　means；　Kalman；〃　said　the　little　woman；　offering　him　both　hands；　〃we　are　so　glad　that　we　don't　know　what　to　do。　　We　have　got　back　our　mine。〃

〃The　mine！〃　gasped　Kalman　faintly。　　〃Impossible！　　Why；　Brown　there〃

〃Yes！　　Brown　here；〃　yelled　that　individual；　〃I　know　Brown。　　He's　a　corker！　　But　he's　sometimes　wrong；　and　this　is　one　of　the　times。　　A　mine；　and　a　company！　　And　there's　the　man　that　did　it！　　Jack　French；　to　whom　I　take　off　my　hat！　　He　has　just　got　home；　and　we　have　just　heard　his　tale；　andschool's　out　and　the　band's　going　to　play　and　the　game　begin。　　And　get　down　from　your　broncho；　you　graven　image！〃　　Here　Brown　pulled　Kalman　headlong　from　his　horse。　〃And　Jack　will　perform。　　I　have　not　been　mad　like　this　for　a　thousand　years。　　I　have　been　in　Hades　for　the　last　month；　and　now　I'm　out！　　I　know　I　am　quite　mad；　but　it's　fine　while　it　lasts。　Now；　Jack；　the　curtain's　up。　　Let　the　play　proceed。〃

The　story　was　simple　enough。　　Immediately　after　the　discovery　of　the　mine　French　had　arranged　with　Mr。　Robert　Menzies　that　he　should　make　application　with　the　Department　of　the　Interior　at　Ottawa　for　the　necessary　mining　rights。　　The　application　had　been　made；　but　the　Department　had　failed　to　notify　the　local　agent。

〃So；〃　said　Jack；　〃the　mine　is　yours　again；　Kalman。〃

〃No；〃　said　Kalman；　〃not　mine；　ours；　yours　as　much　as　mine；　Jack；　or　not　mine　at　all。〃

〃And　the　Company！〃　yelled　Brown。　　〃Tell　him　about　the　Company。　　Let　the　play　proceed。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　French；　with　an　air　of　indifference；　〃Mr。　Menzies　has　a　company　all　organized　and　in　his　pocket；　waiting　only　approval　of　the　owner　of　the　mine。〃

〃And　the　party　will　arrive　in　about　three　weeks；　I　think　you　said；　French；〃　remarked　Brown；　with　a　tone　of　elaborate　carelessness。

Kalman's　face　flushed　hot。　　The　eyes　of　both　men　were　upon　him。

〃Yes；　in　about　three　weeks；〃　replied　French。

〃If　it　were　not　that　I　am　constitutionally　disinclined　to　an　active　life；　I　should　like　to　join　myself；〃　said　Brown；　〃for　it　will　be　a　most　remarkable　mining　company；　if　I　know　anything　of　the　signs。〃

But　Kalman　could　not　speak。　　He　put　his　arm　around　Jack's　shoulder；　saying；　〃You　are　a　great　man；　Jack。　　I　might　have　known　better。〃

〃All　right；　boy；〃　said　Jack。　　〃From　this　time　we　shall　play　the　man。　　Life　is　too　good　to　lose　for　nothing。　　A　mine　is　good；　but　there　are　better　things　than　mines。〃

〃Meaning？〃　said　Brown。

〃Men！〃　said　Jack　with　emphasis。

〃AND；〃　shouted　Brown；　slipping　his　arm　round　his　wife；　〃women。〃

〃Brown；〃　said　Jack　solemnly；　〃as　my　friend　Pierre　Lamont　would　say；　'you　have　reason。'〃



CHAPTER　XVIII

FOR　FREEDOM　AND　FOR　LOVE


The　hut　of　the　Nihilist　Portnoff　stood　in　a　thick　bluff　about　midway　between　Wakota　and　the　mine；　but　lying　off　the　direct　line　about　two　miles　nearer　the　ranch。　　It　was　a　poor　enough　shack；　made　of　logs　plastered　over　with　mud；　roofed　with　poplar　poles；　sod；　and　earth。　　The　floor　was　of　earth；　the　walls　were　whitewashed；　and　with　certain　adornments　that　spoke　of　some　degree　of　culture。　　Near　one　side　of　the　shack　stood　the　clay　oven　stove；　which　served　the　double　purpose　of　heating　the　room　and　of　cooking　Portnoff's　food。　Like　many　of　the　Galician　cabins；　Portnoff's　stood　in　the　midst　of　a　garden；　in　which　bloomed　a　great　variety　of　brilliant　and　old…　fashioned　flowers　and　shrubs；　while　upon　the　walls　and　climbing　over　the　roof；　a　honeysuckle　softened　the　uncouthness　of　the　clay　plaster。

It　was　toward　the　end　of　the　third　week　which　followed　French's　return　that　Portnoff　and　Malkarski　were　sitting　late　over　their　pipes　and　beer。　　The　shack　was　illumined　with　half　a　dozen　candles　placed　here　and　there　on　shelves　attached　to　the　walls。　　The　two　men　were　deep　in　earnest　conversation。　　At　length　Portnoff　rose　and　began　to　pace　the　little　room。

〃Malkarski；〃　he　cried；　〃you　are　asking　too　much。　　This　delay　is　becoming　impossible　to　me。〃

〃My　brother；〃　said　Malkarski；　〃you　have　waited　long。　　There　must　be　no　mistake　in　this　matter。　　The　work　must　be　thoroughly　done；　so　let　us　be　patient。　　And　meantime；〃　he　continued　with　a　laugh；　〃he　is　having　suffering　enough。　　The　loss　of　this　mine　is　like　a　knife　thrust　in　his　heart。　　It　is　pleasant　to　see　him　squirm　like　a　reptile　pierced　by　a　stick。　　He　is　seeking　large　compensation　for　the　work　he　has　done；　three　thousand　dollars；　I　believe。　　It　is　worth　about　one。〃

Portnoff　continued　pacing　up　and　down　the　room。

〃Curse　him！　　Curse　him！　　Curse　him！〃　he　cried；　lifting　his　clenched　hands　above　his　head。

〃Be　patient；　brother。〃

〃Patient！〃　cried　Portnoff。　　〃I　see　blood。　　I　hear　cries　of　women　and　children。　　I　fall　asleep　and　feel　my　fingers　in　his　throat。　　I　wake　and　find　them　empty！〃

〃Aha！　I　too；〃　growled　Malkarski。　　〃But　patience；　patience；　brother！〃

〃Malkarski；〃　cried　Portnoff；　pausing　in　his　walk；　〃I　have　suffered　through　this　man　in　my　country；　in　my　people；　in　my　family；　in　my　heart！〃

〃Aha！〃　ejaculated　old　Malkarski　with　fierce　emphasis；　〃have　you？　Do　you　know　what　suffering　is？　　Butyes；　Portnoff；　we　must　be　patient　yet。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　took　on　a　dignity　of　manner　and　assumed　an　attitude　of　authority　that　Portnoff　was　quick　to　recognize。

〃You　speak　truly；〃　replied　the　latter　gravely。　　〃I　heard　a　good　thing　to…day；〃　he　continued　with　a　change　of　tone。　　〃It　seems　that　Sprink〃

〃Sprink！〃　muttered　Malkarski　with　infinite　contempt；　〃a　rat；　a　pig！　Why　speak　of　him？〃

〃It　is　a　good　story；〃　replied　Portnoff　with　a　laugh；　〃but　not　pleasant　for　Sprink　to　tell。　　It　appears　he　was　negotiating　with　Mr。　French；　suggesting　a　partnership　in　the　mine；　but　Mr。　French　kicked　him　out。　　It　was　amusing　to　hear　Sprink　tell　the　tale　with　many　oaths　and　curses。　　He　loves　not　French　any　more。〃

〃Bah！〃　said　Malkarski；　〃the　rest　of　the　tale　I　heard。　　He　had　the　impudence　to　proposethe　dog！alliance　with　the　young　lady　Irma。　Bah！〃　he　spat　upon　the　ground。　　〃And　French　very　properly　kicked　him　out　of　his　house　and　gave　him　one　minute　to　remove　himself　out　of　gun　range。　　There　was　quick　running；〃　added　old　Malkarski　with　a　grim　smile。　　〃But　he　is　a　cur。　　I　wipe　him　out　of　my　mind。〃

〃We　must　keep　close　watch　these　days；〃　said　Portnoff。　　〃They　are　both　like　mad　dogs；　and　they　will　bite。〃

〃Ha！〃　cried　Malkarski　with　sudden　vehemence；　〃if　we　could　strike　at　once；　now！　　To…night！〃　his　voice　rose　in　a　cry；　〃Ah；　if　it　were　to…　night！　　But　patience；〃　he　muttered。　　〃Ah；　God！　how　long？〃

〃Not　long；　my　brother；　surely；〃　said　Portnoff。

〃No；　not　long；〃　answered　Malkarski。　　〃Let　them　go　away　from　the　mine；　away　from　these　people。　　On　the　railroad　line　many　accidents　occur。　　Let　us　not　spoil　all　by　undue　haste。〃

〃It　is　your　day　to　watch　to…morrow；　Malkarski；〃　said　Portnoff。

〃I　shall　keep　watch　to…morrow；〃　said　Malkarski。　　〃After　all；　it　is　joy　to　look　on　his　face　and　think　how　it　will　appear　when　we　have　done　our　work。〃　　He　rose　and　paced　the　floor；　his　deep…set　eyes　gleaming　like　live　coals　in　his　haggard　old　face。　　〃Ah；〃　he　continued　in　his　deep　undertone；　〃that　will　be　joy。〃

Ever　since　the　arrival　of　Rosenblatt　in　the　country　he　had　been　under　surveillance　of　one　of　these　two　old　Nihilists；　walking；　though　he　knew　it　not；　side　by　side　with　death。　　To　Malkarski　fell　the　task　of　keeping　within　sight　and　sound　of　Rosenblatt　during　the　following　day。

The　negotiations　in　connection　with　the　transfer　of　the　mine　property　were　practically　completed。　　The　money　for　the　improvements　effected　had　been　paid。　　There　remained　only　a　few　minor　matters　to　be　settled；　and　for　that　a　meeting　was　arranged　at　the　mine　on　the　evening　of　the　following　day。　　At　this　meeting　Kalman　had　with　great　reluctance　agreed　to　be　present。　　The　place　of　meeting　was　the　original　cave；　which　had　been　enlarged　to　form　a　somewhat　spacious　room；　from　which　there　had　been　run　back　into　the　hill　a　tunnel。　　At　the　entrance　to　this　tunnel　a　short　cross…tunnel　had　been　cut；　with　an　exit　on　the　side　of　the　hill　and　at　right　angles　to　the　mouth。　Across　the　ravine　from　the　cave　stood　a　small　log　building　which　Messrs。　Rosenblatt　and　Sprink　had　used　as　an　office　during　the　month　of　their　regime。　　Further　down　the　ravine　were　scattered　the　workmen's　cabins；　now　deserted。

In　the　preparing　of　plans　for　this　last　meeting　Rosenblatt　and　Sprink　spent　long　hours　that　day。　　Indeed；　it　was　late　in　the　afternoon　when　their　conference　broke　up。

An　hour　later　found　Malkarski；　pale　and　breathless；　at　the　door　of　Portnoff's　cabin；　unable　to　recover　his　speech　till　Portnoff　had　primed　him　with　a　mug　of　Sprink's　best　whiskey。

〃What　is　it；　my　brother？〃　cried　Portnoff；　alarmed　at　his　condition。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃A　plot！〃　gasped　Malkarski；　〃a　most　damnable　plot！　　Give　me　another　drink。〃

Under　the　stimulus　of　the　potent　liquid；　Malkarski　was　able　in　a　few　minutes　between　his　gasps　to　tell　his　story。　　Concealed　by　a　lumber　pile　behind　Rosenblatt's　shack；　with　his　ear　close　to　a　crack　between　the　logs；　he　had　heard　the　details　of　the　plot。　　In　the　cross　tunnel　at　the　back　of　the　cave　bags　of　gunpowder　and　dynamite　were　to　be　hidden。　　To　this　mass　a　train　was　to　be　laid　through　the　cross　tunnel　to　a　convenient　distance。　　At　a　certain　point　during　the　conference　Rosenblatt　would　leave　the　cave　on　the　pretext　of　securing　a　paper　left　in　his　cabin。　　A　pile　of　brushwood　at　some　distance　from　the　cave　would　be　burning。　　On　his　way　to　his　cabin　Rosenbla