the man from glengarry-第4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！



〃Ah！　would　ye？　　Take　that；　then；　and　be　quate！〃　and　so　saying；　he
caught　LeNoir　on　the　side　of　the　head　and　sent　him　to　the　floor。

〃Keep　him　off　a　while；　Yankee！〃　said　Macdonald；　for　LeNoir　was　up
again；　and　coming　at　him。

Then　kneeling　beside　his　brother　he　wiped　the　bloody　froth　that　was
oozing　from　his　lips；　and　said　in　a　low；　anxious　tone：

〃Hugh；　bhodaich　（old　man）；　are　ye　hurted？　　Can　ye　not　speak　to　me；
Hugh？〃

〃Oich…oh；〃　Black　Hugh　groaned。　　〃It　was　a　necessityDonald　man
andhe　took　meunawareswith　hiskeeck。〃

〃Indeed；　and　I'll　warrant　you！〃　agreed　his　brother；　〃but　I　will　be
attending　to　him；　never　you　fear。〃

Macdonald　was　about　to　rise；　when　his　brother　caught　his　arm。

〃You　willnot　bekilling　him；〃　he　urged；　between　his　painful
gasps；　〃because　I　will　be　doing　that　myself　some　day；　by　God's
help。〃

His　words　and　the　eager　hate　in　his　face　seemed　to　quiet　Macdonald。

〃Alas！　alas！〃　he　said；　sadly；　〃it　is　not　allowed　me　to　smite　him
as　he　deserves'Vengeance　is　mine　saith　the　Lord；'　and　I　have
solemnly　promised　the　minister　not　to　smite　for　glory　or　for
revenge！　　Alas！　alas！〃

Then　turning　to　LeNoir；　he　said；　gravely：　　〃It　is　not　given　me　to
punish　you　for　your　coward's　blow。　　Go　from　me！〃　　But　LeNoir
misjudged　him。

〃Bah！〃　he　cried；　contemptuously；　〃you　tink　me　one　baby；　you　strike
me　on　de　head　side　like　one　little　boy。　　Bon！　　Louis　LeNware；　de
bes　bully　on　de　Hottawa；　he's　not　'fraid　for　hany　man；　by　Gar！〃　　He
pranced　up　and　down　before　Macdonald；　working　himself　into　a　great
rage；　as　Macdonald　grew　more　and　more　controlled。

Macdonald　turned　to　his　men　with　a　kind　of　appeal〃I　hev　given　my
promise；　and　Macdonald　will　not　break　his　word。〃

〃Bah！〃　cried　LeNoir；　spitting　at　him。

〃Now　may　the　Lord　give　me　grace　to　withstand　the　enemy；〃　said
Macdonald；　gravely；　〃for　I　am　greatly　moved　to　take　vengeance　upon
you。〃

〃Bah！〃　cried　LeNoir　again；　mistaking　Macdonald's　quietness　and
self…control　for　fear。　　〃You　no　good！　　Your　brother　is　no　good！
Beeg　sheep！　　Beeg　sheep！　　Bah！〃

〃God　help　me；〃　said　Macdonald　as　if　to　himself。　　〃I　am　a　man　of
grace！　　But　must　this　dog　go　unpunished？〃

LeNoir　continued　striding　up　and　down；　now　and　then　springing　high
in　the　air　and　knocking　his　heels　together　with　blood…curdling
yells。　　He　seemed　to　feel　that　Macdonald　would　not　fight；　and　his
courage　and　desire　for　blood　grew　accordingly。

〃Will　you　not　be　quate？〃　said　Macdonald；　rising　after　a　few　moments
from　his　brother's　side；　where　he　had　been　wiping　his　lips　and
giving　him　water　to　drink。　　〃You　will　be　better　outside。〃

〃Oui！　you　strike　me　on　the　head　side。　　Bon！　　I　strike　you　de　same
way！　　By　Gar！〃　so　saying　he　approached　Macdonald　lightly；　and
struck　him　a　slight　blow　on　the　cheek。

〃Ay；〃　said　Macdonald；　growing　white　and　rigid。　　〃I　struck　you
twice；　LeNoir。　　Here！〃　he　offered　the　other　side　of　his　face。
LeNoir　danced　up　carefully；　made　a　slight　pass；　and　struck　the
offered　cheek。

〃Now；　that　is　done；　will　it　please　you　to　do　it　again？〃　said
Macdonald；　with　earnest　entreaty　in　his　voice。　　LeNoir　must　have
been　mad　with　his　rage　and　vanity；　else　he　had　caught　the　glitter
in　the　blue　eyes　looking　through　the　shaggy　hair。　　Again　LeNoir
approached；　this　time　with　greater　confidence；　and　dealt　Macdonald
a　stinging　blow　on　the　side　of　the　head。

〃Now　the　Lord　be　praised；〃　he　cried；　joy　breaking　out　in　his　face。
〃He　has　delivered　my　enemy　into　my　hand。　　For　it　is　the　third　time
he　has　smitten　me；　and　that　is　beyond　the　limit　appointed　by
Himself。〃　　With　this　he　advanced　upon　LeNoir　with　a　glad　heart。
His　conscience　was　clear　at　last。

LeNoir　stood　up　against　his　antagonist。　　He　well　knew　he　was　about
to　make　the　fight　of　his　life。　　He　had　beaten　men　as　big　as
Macdonald；　but　he　knew　that　his　hope　lay　in　keeping　out　of　the
enemy's　reach。　　So　he　danced　around　warily。　　Macdonald　followed
him　slowly。　　LeNoir　opened　with　a　swift　and　savage　reach　for
Macdonald's　neck；　but　failed　to　break　the　guard　and　danced　out
again；　Macdonald　still　pressing　on　him。　　Again　and　again　LeNoir
rushed；　but　the　guard　was　impregnable；　and　steadily　Macdonald
advanced。　　That　steady；　relentless　advance　began　to　tell　on　the
Frenchman's　nerves。　　The　sweat　gathered　in　big　drops　on　his
forehead　and　ran　down　his　face。　　He　prepared　for　a　supreme　effort。
Swiftly　retreating；　he　lured　Macdonald　to　a　more　rapid　advance；
then　with　a　yell　he　doubled　himself　into　a　ball　and　delivered
himself　head；　hands；　and　feet　into　Macdonald's　stomach。　　It　is　a
trick　that　sometimes　avails　to　break　an　unsteady　guard　and　to
secure　a　clinch　with　an　unwary　opponent。　　But　Macdonald　had　been
waiting　for　that　trick。　　Stopping　short；　he　leaned　over　to　one
side；　and　stooping　slightly；　caught　LeNoir　low　and　tossed　him　clear
over　his　head。　　LeNoir　fell　with　a　terrible　thud　on　his　back；　but
was　on　his　feet　again　like　a　cat　and　ready　for　the　ever…advancing
Macdonald。　　But　though　he　had　not　been　struck　a　single　blow　he　knew
that　he　had　met　his　master。　　That　unbreakable　guard；　the　smiling
face　with　the　gleaming；　unsmiling　eyes；　that　awful　unwavering
advance；　were　too　much　for　him。　　He　was　pale；　his　breath　came　in
quick　gasps；　and　his　eyes　showed　the　fear　of　a　hunted　beast。　　He
prepared　for　a　final　effort。　　Feigning　a　greater　distress　than　he
felt；　he　yielded　weakly　to　Macdonald's　advance；　then　suddenly
gathering　his　full　strength　he　sprang　into　the　air　and　lashed　out
backward　at　that　hated；　smiling　face。　　His　boot　found　its　mark；
not　on　Macdonald's　face；　but　fair　on　his　neck。　　The　effect　was
terrific。　　Macdonald　staggered　back　two　or　three　paces；　but　before
LeNoir　could　be　at　him；　he　had　recovered　sufficiently　to　maintain
his　guard；　and　shake　off　his　foe。　　At　the　yell　that　went　up　from
Murphy's　men；　the　big　Highlander's　face　lost　its　smile　and　became
keen　and　cruel；　his　eyes　glittered　with　the　flash　of　steel　and　he
came　forward　once　more　with　a　quick；　light　tread。　　His　great　body
seemed　to　lose　both　size　and　weight；　so　lightly　did　he　step　on
tiptoe。　　There　was　no　more　pause；　but　lightly；　swiftly；　and　eagerly
he　glided　upon　LeNoir。　　There　was　something　terrifying　in　that
swift；　cat…like　movement。　　In　vain　the　Frenchman　backed　and　dodged
and　tried　to　guard。　　Once；　twice；　Macdonald's　fists　fell。　　LeNoir's
right　arm　hung　limp　by　his　side　and　he　staggered　back　to　the　wall
helpless。　　Without　an　instant's　delay；　Macdonald　had　him　by　the
throat；　and　gripping　him　fiercely；　began　to　slowly　bend　him
backward　over　his　knee。　　Then　for　the　first　time　Macdonald　spoke：

〃LeNoir；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃the　days　of　your　boasting　are　over。
You　will　no　longer　glory　in　your　strength；　for　now　I　will　break
your　back　to　you。〃

LeNoir　tried　to　speak；　but　his　voice　came　in　horrible　gurgles。　　His
face　was　a　ghastly　greenish　hue；　lined　with　purple　and　swollen
veins；　his　eyes　were　standing　out　of　his　head；　and　his　breath
sobbing　in　raucous　gasps。　　Slowly　the　head　went　back。　　The　crowd
stood　in　horror…stricken　silence　waiting　for　the　sickening　snap。
Yankee；　unable　to　stand　it　any　longer；　stepped　up　to　his　chief；　and
in　a　most　matter　of　fact　voice　drawled　out；　〃About　an　inch　more
that　way　I　guess　'll　do　the　trick；　if　he　ain't　double…jointed。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Macdonald；　holding　grimly　on。

〃Tonald；〃Black　Hugh's　voice　sounded　faint　but　clear　in　the　awful
silence〃Tonaldyou　will　notbe　killinghim。　　Remember　that
now。　　I　willneverforgive　youif　you　willtake　thatfrom　my
hands。〃

The　cry　for　vengeance　smote　Macdonald　to　the　heart；　and　recalled
him　to　himself。　　He　paused；　threw　back　his　locks　from　his　eyes；
then　relaxing　his　grip；　stood　up。

〃God　preserve　me！〃　he　groaned；　〃what　am　I　about？〃

For　some　time　he　remained　standing　silent；　with　head　down　as　if　not
quite　sure　of　himself。　　He　was　recalled　by　a　grip　of　his　arm。　　He
turned　and　saw　his　nephew；　Ranald；　at　his　side。　　The　boy's　dark
face　was　pale　with　passion。

〃And　is　that　all　you　are　going　to　do　to　him？〃　he　demanded。
Macdonald　gazed　at　him。

〃Do　you　not　see　what　he　has　done？〃　he　continued；　pointing　to　his
father；　who　was　still　lying　propped　up　on　some　coats。　　〃Why　did　you
not　break　his　back？　　You　said　you　would！　　The　brute；　beast！〃

He　hurled　out　the　words　in　hot　hate。　　His　voice　pierced　the　noise
of　the　room。　　Macdonald　stood　still；　gazing　at　the　fierce；　dark
face　in　solemn　silence。　　Then　he　sadly　shook　his　head。

〃My　lad；　'Vengeance　is　mine　saith　the　Lord。'　　It　would　have　pleased
me　well；　but　the　hand　of　the　Lord　was　laid　upon　me　and　I　could　not
kill　him。〃

〃Then　it　is　myself　will　kill　him；〃　he　shrieked；　springing　like　a
wildcat　at　LeNoir。　　But　his　uncle　wound　his　arms　around　him　and
held　him　fast。　　For　a　minute　and　more　he　struggled　fiercely；　crying
to　be　set　free；　till　recognizing　the　uselessness　of　his　efforts　he
grew　calm；　and　said　quietly；　〃Let　me　loose；　uncle；　I　will　be
quiet。〃　　And　his　uncle　set　him　free。　　The　boy　shook　himself；　and
then　standing　up　before　LeNoir　said；　in　a　high；　clear　voice：

〃Will　you　hear　me；　LeNoir？　　The　day　will　come　when　I　will　do　to　you
what　you　have　done　to　my　father；　and　if　my　father　will　die；　then　by
the　life　of　God　＇a　common　oath　among　the　shanty…men＇　I　will　have
your　life　for　it。〃　　His　voice　had　an　unearthly　shrillness　in　it；
and　LeNoir　shrank　back。

〃Whist；　whist；　lad！　be　quate！〃　said　his　uncle；　〃these　are　not　goot
words。〃　　The　lad　heeded　him　not；　but　sank　down　beside　his　father　on
the　floor。　　Black　Hugh　raised　himself　on　his　elbow　with　a　grim
smile　on　his　face。

〃It　is　a　goot　lad　whatever；　but　please　God　he　will　not　need　to　keep
his　word。〃　　He　laid　his　hand　in　a　momentary　caress　upon　his　boy's
shoulder；　and　sank　back　again；　saying；　〃Take　me　out　of　this。〃

Then　Macdonald　Bhain　turned　to　Dan　Murphy　and　gravely　addressed
him：

〃Dan　Murphy；　it　is　an　ungodly　and　cowardly　work　you　have　done　this
day；　and　the　curse　of　God　will　be　on　you　if　you　will　not　repent。〃
Then　he　turned　away；　and　with　Big　Mack's　help　bore　his　brother　to
the　pointer；　followed　by　his　men；　bloody；　bruised；　but　unconquered。
But　before　he　left　the　room　LeNoir　stepped　forward；　and　offering
his　hand；　said；　〃You　mak　friends　wit'　me。　　You　de　boss　bully　on　de
reever　Hottawa。〃

Macdonald　neither　answered　nor　looked　his　way；　but　passed　out　in
grave　silence。

Then　Yankee　Jim　remarked　to　Dan　Murphy；　〃I　guess　you'd　better　git
them　logs　out　purty　mighty　quick。　　We'll　want　the　river　in　about
two　days。〃　　Dan　Murphy　said　not　a　word；　but　when　the　Glengarry　men
wanted　the　river　they　found　it　open。

But　for　Macdonald　the　fight　was　not　yet　over；　for　as　he　sat　beside
his　brother；　listening　to　his　groans；　his　men　could　see　him
wreathing　his　hands　and　chanting　in　an　undertone　the　words；
〃Vengeance　is　mine　saith　the　Lord。〃　　And　as　he　sat　by　the　camp…fire
that　night　listening　to　Yankee's　account　of　the　beginning　of　the
trouble；　and　heard　how　his　brother　had　kept　himself　in　hand；　and
how　at　last　he　had　been　foully　smitten；　Macdonald's　conflict
deepened；　and　he　rose　up　and　cried　aloud：

〃God　help　me！　　Is　this　to　go　unpunished？　　I　will　seek　him　to…morrow。〃
And　he　passed　out　into　the　dark　woods。

After　a　few　moments　the　boy　Ranald　slipped　away　after　him　to　beg
that　he　might　be　allowed　to　go　with　him　to…morrow。　　Stealing