the man from glengarry-第1章

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The　Man　From　Glengarry

by　Ralph　Connor


A　TALE　OF　THE　OTTAWA







DEDICATION

TO　THE　MEN　OF　GLENGARRY　WHO　IN　PATIENCE；　IN　COURAGE　AND　IN　THE　FEAR
OF　GOD　ARE　HELPING　TO　BUILD　THE　EMPIRE　OF　THE　CANADIAN　WEST　THIS
BOOK　IS　HUMBLY　DEDICATED




PREFACE


The　solid　forests　of　Glengarry　have　vanished；　and　with　the　forests
the　men　who　conquered　them。　　The　manner　of　life　and　the　type　of
character　to　be　seen　in　those　early　days　have　gone　too；　and
forever。　　It　is　part　of　the　purpose　of　this　book　to　so　picture
these　men　and　their　times　that　they　may　not　drop　quite　out　of　mind。
The　men　are　worth　remembering。　　They　carried　the　marks　of　their
blood　in　their　fierce　passions；　their　courage；　their　loyalty；　and
of　the　forest　in　their　patience；　their　resourcefulness；　their　self…
reliance。　　But　deeper　than　all；　the　mark　that　reached　down　to　their
hearts'　core　was　that　of　their　faith；　for　in　them　dwelt　the　fear　of
God。　　Their　religion　may　have　been　narrow；　but　no　narrower　than　the
moulds　of　their　lives。　　It　was　the　biggest　thing　in　them。　　It　may
have　taken　a　somber　hue　from　their　gloomy　forests；　but　by　reason　of
a　sweet；　gracious　presence　dwelling　among　them　it　grew　in　grace　and
sweetness　day　by　day。

In　the　Canada　beyond　the　Lakes；　where　men　are　making　empire；　the
sons　of　these　Glengarry　men　are　found。　　And　there　such　men　are
needed。　　For　not　wealth；　not　enterprise；　not　energy；　can　build　a
nation　into　sure　greatness；　but　men；　and　only　men　with　the　fear　of
God　in　their　hearts；　and　with　no　other。　　And　to　make　this　clear　is
also　a　part　of　the　purpose　of　this　book。




CONTENTS


CHAPTER

I　　THE　OPEN　RIVER

II　　VENGEANCE　IS　MINE

III　　THE　MANSE　IN　THE　BUSH

IV　　THE　RIDE　FOR　LIFE

V　　FORGIVE　US　OUR　DEBTS

VI　　A　NEW　FRIEND

VII　　MAIMIE

VIII　　THE　SUGARING…OFF

IX　　A　SABBATH　DAY'S　WORK

X　　THE　HOME…COMING　OF　THE　SHANTYMEN

XI　　THE　WAKE

XII　　SEED…TIME

XIII　　THE　LOGGING　BEE

XIV　　SHE　WILL　NOT　FORGET

XV　　THE　REVIVAL

XVI　　AND　THE　GLORY

XVII　　LENOIR'S　NEW　MASTER

XVIII　　HE　IS　NOT　OF　MY　KIND

XIX　　ONE　GAME　AT　A　TIME

XX　　HER　CLINGING　ARMS

XXI　　I　WILL　REMEMBER

XXII　　FORGET　THAT　I　LOVED　YOU

XXIII　　A　GOOD；　TRUE　FRIEND

XXIV　　THE　WEST

XXV　　GLENGARRY　FOREVER




THE　MAN　FROM　GLENGARRY


CHAPTER　I

THE　OPEN　RIVER


The　winter　had　broken　early　and　the　Scotch　River　was　running　ice…
free　and　full　from　bank　to　bank。　　There　was　still　snow　in　the
woods；　and　with　good　sleighing　and　open　rivers　every　day　was　golden
to　the　lumbermen　who　had　stuff　to　get　down　to　the　big　water。　　A　day
gained　now　might　save　weeks　at　a　chute　farther　down；　where　the
rafts　would　crowd　one　another　and　strive　for　right　of　way。

Dan　Murphy　was　mightily　pleased　with　himself　and　with　the　bit　of
the　world　about　him；　for　there　lay　his　winter's　cut　of　logs　in　the
river　below　him　snug　and　secure　and　held　tight　by　a　boom　across　the
mouth；　just　where　it　flowed　into　the　Nation。　　In　a　few　days　he
would　have　his　crib　made；　and　his　outfit　ready　to　start　for　the
Ottawa　mills。　　He　was　sure　to　be　ahead　of　the　big　timber　rafts　that
took　up　so　much　space；　and　whose　crews　with　unbearable　effrontery
considered　themselves　the　aristocrats　of　the　river。

Yes；　it　was　a　pleasant　and　satisfying　sight；　some　three　solid　miles
of　logs　boomed　at　the　head　of　the　big　water。　　Suddenly　Murphy
turned　his　face　up　the　river。

〃What's　that　now；　d'ye　think；　LeNware？〃　he　asked。

LeNoir；　or　〃LeNware；〃　as　they　all　called　it　in　that　country；　was
Dan　Murphy's　foreman；　and　as　he　himself　said；　〃for　haxe；　for　hit
（eat）；　for　fight　de　boss　on　de　reever　Hottawa！　by　Gar！〃　　Louis
LeNoir　was　a　French…Canadian；　handsome；　active；　hardy；　and
powerfully　built。　　He　had　come　from　the　New　Brunswick　woods　some
three　years　ago；　and　had　wrought　and　fought　his　way；　as　he　thought；
against　all　rivals　to　the　proud　position　of　〃boss　on　de　reever；〃
the　topmost　pinnacle　of　a　lumberman's　ambition。　　It　was　something
to　see　LeNoir　〃run　a　log〃　across　the　river　and　back；　that　is；　he
would　balance　himself　upon　a　floating　log；　and　by　spinning　it
round；　would　send　it　whither　he　would。　　At　Murphy's　question　LeNoir
stood　listening　with　bent　head　and　open　mouth。　　Down　the　river　came
the　sound　of　singing。　　〃Don…no　me！　　Ah　oui！　be　dam！　　Das　Macdonald
gang　for　sure！　　De　men　from　Glengarrie；　les　diables！　　Dey　not　hout
de　reever　yet。〃　　His　boss　went　off　into　a　volley　of　oaths

〃They'll　be　wanting　the　river　now；　an'　they're　divils　to　fight。〃

〃We　give　em　de　full　belly；　heh？　　Bon！〃　said　LeNoir；　throwing　back
his　head。　　His　only　unconquered　rival　on　the　river　was　the　boss　of
the　Macdonald　gang。


　　　　　Ho　ro；　mo　nighean　donn　bhoidheach；
　　　　　Hi…ri；　mo　nighean　donn　bhoidheach；
　　　　　Mo　chaileag；　laghach；　bhoidheach；
　　　　　　　　Cha　phosainn　ach　thu。


Down　the　river　came　the　strong；　clear　chorus　of　men's　voices；　and
soon　a　〃pointer〃　pulled　by　six　stalwart　men　with　a　lad　in　the　stern
swung　round　the　bend　into　view。　　A　single　voice　took　up　the　song


　　　　　'S　ann　tha　mo　run's　na　beanntaibh；
　　　　　Far　bheil　mo　ribhinn　ghreannar；
　　　　　Mar　ros　am　fasach　shamhraidh
　　　　　　　　An　gleann　fad　o　shuil。


After　the　verse　the　full　chorus　broke　forth　again


　　　　　Ho　ro；　mo　nighean；　etc。


Swiftly　the　pointer　shot　down　the　current；　the　swaying　bodies　and
swinging　oars　in　perfect　rhythm　with　the　song　that　rose　and　fell
with　melancholy　but　musical　cadence。　　The　men　on　the　high　bank
stood　looking　down　upon　the　approaching　singers。　　〃You　know　dem
fellers？〃　said　LeNoir。　　Murphy　nodded。　　〃Ivery　divil　iv　thimBig
Mack　Cameron；　Dannie　Ross；　Finlay　Campbellthe　redheaded　onethe
next　I　don't　know；　and　yes！　be　dad！　there's　that　blanked　Yankee；
Yankee　Jim；　they　call　him；　an'　bad　luck　till　him。　　The　divil　will
have　to　take　the　poker　till　him；　for　he'll　bate　him　wid　his　fists；
and　so　he　willand　that　big　black　divil　is　Black　Hugh；　the　brother
iv　the　boss　Macdonald。　　He'll　be　up　in　the　camp　beyant；　and　a
mighty　lucky　thing　for　you；　LeNoir；　he　is。〃

〃Bah！〃　spat　LeNoir；　〃Dat　beeg　Macdonald　I　mak　heem　run　like　one
leetle　sheep；　one　tam　at　de　long　Sault；　bah！　　No　good！〃　　LeNoir's
contempt　for　Macdonald　was　genuine　and　complete。　　For　two　years　he
had　tried　to　meet　the　boss　Macdonald；　but　his　rival　had　always
avoided　him。

Meantime；　the　pointer　came　swinging　along。　　As　it　turned　the　point
the　boy　uttered　an　exclamation〃Look　there！〃　　The　song　and　the
rowing　stopped　abruptly；　the　big；　dark　man　stood　up　and　gazed　down
the　river；　packed　from　bank　to　bank　with　the　brown　saw…logs；　deep
curses　broke　from　him。　　Then　he　caught　sight　of　the　men　on　the
bank。　　A　word　of　command　and　the　pointer　shot　into　the　shore；　and
the　next　moment　Macdonald　Dubh；　or　Black　Hugh；　as　he　was　sometimes
called；　followed　by　his　men；　was　climbing　up　the　steep　bank。

〃What　the　blank；　blank；　do　these　logs　mean；　Murphy？〃　he　demanded；
without　pause　for　salutation。

〃Tis　a　foine　avenin'　Misther　Macdonald；〃　said　Murphy；　blandly
offering　his　hand；　〃an'　Hiven　bliss　ye。〃

Macdonald　checked　himself　with　an　effort　and　reluctantly　shook
hands　with　Murphy　and　LeNoir；　whom　he　slightly　knew。　　〃It　is　a　fery
goot　evening；　indeed；〃　he　said；　in　as　quiet　a　voice　as　he　could
command；　〃but　I　am　inquiring　about　these　logs。〃

〃Shure；　an'　it　is　a　dhry　night；　and　onpolite　to　kape　yez　talking
here。　　Come　in　wid　yez；〃　and　much　against　his　will　Black　Hugh
followed　Murphy　to　the　tavern；　the　most　pretentious　of　a　group　of
log　buildingsonce　a　lumber　campwhich　stood　back　a　little
distance　from　the　river；　and　about　which　Murphy's　men；　some　sixty
of　them；　were　now　camped。

The　tavern　was　full　of　Murphy's　gang；　a　motley　crew；　mostly　French
Canadians　and　Irish；　just　out　of　the　woods　and　ready　for　any
devilment　that　promised　excitement。　　Most　of　them　knew　by　sight；
and　all　by　reputation；　Macdonald　and　his　gang；　for　from　the
farthest　reaches　of　the　Ottawa　down　the　St。　Lawrence　to　Quebec　the
Macdonald　gang　of　Glengarry　men　was　famous。　　They　came；　most　of
them；　from　that　strip　of　country　running　back　from　the　St。　Lawrence
through　Glengarry　County；　known　as　the　Indian　Landsonce　an　Indian
reservation。　　They　were　sons　of　the　men　who　had　come　from　the
highlands　and　islands　of　Scotland　in　the　early　years　of　the　last
century。　　Driven　from　homes　in　the　land　of　their　fathers；　they　had
set　themselves　with　indomitable　faith　and　courage　to　hew　from　the；
solid　forest；　homes　for　themselves　and　their　children　that　none
might　take　from　them。　　These　pioneers　were　bound　together　by　ties
of　blood；　but　also　by　bonds　stronger　than　those　of　blood。　　Their
loneliness；　their　triumphs；　their　sorrows；　born　of　their　common
life…long　conflict　with　the　forest　and　its　fierce　beasts；　knit　them
in　bonds　close　and　enduring。　　The　sons　born　to　them　and　reared　in
the　heart　of　the　pine　forests　grew　up　to　witness　that　heroic
struggle　with　stern　nature　and　to　take　their　part　in　it。　　And
mighty　men　they　were。　　Their　life　bred　in　them　hardiness　of　frame；
alertness　of　sense；　readiness　of　resource；　endurance；　superb　self…
reliance；　a　courage　that　grew　with　peril；　and　withal　a　certain
wildness　which　at　times　deepened　into　ferocity。　　By　their　fathers
the　forest　was　dreaded　and　hated；　but　the　sons；　with　rifles　in
hand；　trod　its　pathless　stretches　without　fear；　and　with　their
broad…axes　they　took　toll　of　their　ancient　foe。　　For　while　in
spring　and　summer　they　farmed　their　narrow　fields；　and　rescued　new
lands　from　the　brule；　in　winter　they　sought　the　forest；　and　back　on
their　own　farms　or　in　〃the　shanties〃　they　cut　sawlogs；　or　made
square　timber；　their　only　source　of　wealth。　　The　shanty　life　of　the
early　fifties　of　last　century　was　not　the　luxurious　thing　of　to…
day。　　It　was　full　of　privation；　for　the　men　were　poorly　housed　and
fed；　and　of　peril；　for　the　making　of　the　timber　and　the　getting　it
down　the　smaller　rivers　to　the　big　water　was　a　work　of　hardship　and
danger。　　Remote　from　the　restraints　of　law　and　of　society；　and
living　in　wild　surroundings　and　in　hourly　touch　with　danger；　small
wonder　that　often　the　shanty…men　were　wild　and　reckless。　　So　that
many　a　poor　fellow　in　a　single　wild　carouse　in　Quebec；　or　more
frequently　in　some　river　town；　would　fling　into　the　hands　of　sharks
and　harlots　and　tavern…keepers；　with　whom　the　bosses　were　sometimes
in　league；　the　earnings　of　his　long　winter's　work；　and　would　wake
to　find　himself　sick　and　penniless；　far　from　home　and　broken　in
spirit。

Of　all　the　shanty…men　of　the　Ottawa　the　men　of　Glengarry；　and　of
Glengarry　men　Macdonald's　gang　were　easily　first；　and　of　the　gang
Donald　Bhain　Macdonald；　or　Macdonald　More；　or　the　Big　Macdonald；
for　he　was　variously　known；　was　not　only　the　〃boss〃　but　best　and
chief。　　There　was　none　like　him。　　A　giant　in　size　and　strength；　a
prince　of　broad…axe　men；　at　home　in　the　woods；　sure…footed　and
daring　on　the　water；　free　with　his　wages；　and　always　ready　to　drink
with　friend　or　fight　with　foe；　the　whole　river　admired；　feared；　or
hated　him；　while　his　own　men　followed　him　into　the　woods；　on　to　a
jam；　or　into　a　fight　with　equal　joyousness　and　devotion。　　Fighting
was　like　wine　to　him；　when　the　fight　was　worth　while；　and　he　went
into　the　fights　his　admirers　were　always　arranging　for　him　with　the
easiest　good