the man from glengarry-第2章

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into　the　fights　his　admirers　were　always　arranging　for　him　with　the
easiest　good　humor　and　with　a　smile　on　his　face。　　But　Macdonald
Bhain's　carousing；　fighting　days　came　to　an　abrupt　stop　about　three
years　before　the　opening　of　this　tale；　for　on　one　of　his　summer
visits　to　his　home；　〃The　word　of　the　Lord　in　the　mouth　of　his
servant　Alexander　Murray；〃　as　he　was　wont　to　say；　〃found　him　and　he
was　a　new　man。〃　　He　went　into　his　new　life　with　the　same　whole…
souled　joyousness　as　had　marked　the　old；　and　he　announced　that　with
the　shanty　and　the　river　he　was　〃done　for　ever　more。〃　　But　after
the　summer's　work　was　done；　and　the　logging　over；　and　when　the　snap
of　the　first　frost　nipped　the　leaves　from　the　trees；　Macdonald
became　restless。　　He　took　down　his　broad…axe　and　spent　hours
polishing　it　and　bringing　it　to　an　edge；　then　he　put　it　in　its
wooden　sheath　and　laid　it　away。　　But　the　fever　was　upon　him；　ten
thousand　voices　from　the　forest　were　shouting　for　him。　　He　went
away　troubled　to　his　minister。　　In　an　hour　he　came　back　with　the
old　good　humor　in　his　face；　took　down　the　broad…axe　again；　and
retouched　it；　lovingly；　humming　the　while　the　old　river　song　of　the
Glengarry　men


　　　　　Ho　ro　mo　nighean；　etc。


He　was　going　back　to　the　bush　and　to　the　biggest　fight　of　his　life。
No　wonder　he　was　glad。　　Then　his　good　little　wife　began　to　get
ready　his　long；　heavy　stockings；　his　thick　mits；　his　homespun
smock；　and　other　gear；　for　she　knew　well　that　soon　she　would　be
alone　for　another　winter。　　Before　long　the　word　went　round　that
Macdonald　Bhain　was　for　the　shanties　again；　and　his　men　came　to　him
for　their　orders。

But　it　was　not　to　the　old　life　that　Macdonald　was　going；　and　he
gravely　told　those　that　came　to　him　that　he　would　take　no　man　who
could　not　handle　his　axe　and　hand…spike；　and　who　could　not　behave
himself。　　〃Behaving　himself〃　meant　taking　no　more　whiskey　than　a
man　could　carry；　and　refusing　all　invitations　to　fight　unless
〃necessity　was　laid　upon　him。〃　　The　only　man　to　object　was　his　own
brother；　Macdonald　Dubh；　whose　temper　was　swift　to　blaze；　and　with
whom　the　blow　was　quicker　than　the　word。　　But　after　the　second　year
of　the　new　order　even　Black　Hugh　fell　into　line。　　Macdonald　soon
became　famous　on　the　Ottawa。　　He　picked　only　the　best　men；　he　fed
them　well；　paid　them　the　highest　wages；　and　cared　for　their
comfort；　but　held　them　in　strictest　discipline。　　They　would　drink
but　kept　sober；　they　would　spend　money　but　knew　how　much　was　coming
to　them。　　They　feared　no　men　even　of　〃twice　their　own　heavy　and
big；〃　but　would　never　fight　except　under　necessity。　　Contracts
began　to　come　their　way。　　They　made　money；　and　what　was　better；
they　brought　it　home。　　The　best　men　sought　to　join　them；　but　by
rival　gangs　and　by　men　rejected　from　their　ranks　they　were　hated
with　deepest　heart　hatred。　　But　the　men　from　Glengarry　knew　no　fear
and　sought　no　favor。　　They　asked　only　a　good　belt　of　pine　and　an
open　river。　　As　a　rule　they　got　both；　and　it　was　peculiarly
maddening　to　Black　Hugh　to　find　two　or　three　miles　of　solid　logs
between　his　timber　and　the　open　water　of　the　Nation。　　Black　Hugh
had　a　temper　fierce　and　quick；　and　when　in　full　flame　he　was　a　man
to　avoid；　for　from　neither　man　nor　devil　would　he　turn。　　The　only
man　who　could　hold　him　was　his　brother　Macdonald　Bhain；　for　strong
man　as　he　was；　Black　Hugh　knew　well　that　his　brother　could　with　a
single　swift　grip　bring　him　to　his　knees。

It　was　unfortunate　that　the　command　of　the　party　this　day　should
have　been　Macdonald　Dubh's。　　Unfortunate；　too；　that　it　was　Dan
Murphy　and　his　men　that　happened　to　be　blocking　the　river　mouth。
For　the　Glengarry　men；　who　handled　only　square　timber；　despised　the
Murphy　gang　as　sawlog…men；　〃log…rollers〃　or　〃mushrats〃　they　called
them；　and　hated　them　as　Irish　〃Papishes〃　and　French　〃Crapeaux；〃
while　between　Dan　Murphy　and　Macdonald　Dubh　there　was　an　ancient
personal　grudge；　and　to…day　Murphy　thought　he　had　found　his　time。
There　were　only　six　of　the　enemy；　he　had　ten　times　the　number　with
him；　many　of　them　eager　to　pay　off　old　scores；　and　besides　there
was　Louis　LeNoir　as　the　〃Boss　Bully〃　of　the　river。　　The　Frenchman
was　not　only　a　powerful　man；　active　with　hands　and　feet；　but　he　was
an　adept　in　all　kinds　of　fighting　tricks。　　Since　coming　to　the
Ottawa　he　had　heard　of　the　big　Macdonald；　and　he　sought　to　meet
him。　　But　Macdonald　avoided　him　once　and　again　till　LeNoir；　having
never　known　any　one　avoiding　a　fight　for　any　reason　other　than
fear；　proclaimed　Macdonald　a　coward；　and　himself　〃de　boss　on　de
reever。〃　　Now　there　was　a　chance　of　meeting　his　rival　and　of
forcing　a　fight；　for　the　Glengarry　camp　could　not　be　far　away　where
the　big　Macdonald　himself　would　be。　　So　Dan　Murphy；　backed　up　with
numbers；　and　the　boss　bully　LeNoir；　determined　that　for　these
Macdonald　men　the　day　of　settlement　had　come。　　But　they　were
dangerous　men；　and　it　would　be　well　to　take　all　precautions；　and
hence　his　friendly　invitation　to　the　tavern　for　drinks。

Macdonald　Dubh；　scorning　to　show　hesitation；　though　he　suspected
treachery；　strode　after　Murphy　to　the　tavern　door　and　through　the
crowd　of　shanty…men　filling　the　room。　　They　were　as　ferocious
looking　a　lot　of　men　as　could　well　be　got　together；　even　in　that
country　and　in　those　daysshaggy　of　hair　and　beard；　dressed　out　in
red　and　blue　and　green　jerseys；　with　knitted　sashes　about　their
waists；　and　red　and　blue　and　green　tuques　on　their　heads。　　Drunken
rows　were　their　delight；　and　fights　so　fierce　that　many　a　man　came
out　battered　and　bruised　to　death　or　to　life…long　decrepitude。
They　were　sitting　on　the　benches　that　ran　round　the　room；　or
lounging　against　the　bar　singing；　talking；　blaspheming。　　At　the
sight　of　Macdonald　Dubh　and　his　men　there　fell　a　dead　silence；　and
then　growls　of　recognition；　but　Murphy　was　not　yet　ready；　and
roaring　out　〃Dh…r…r…i…n…k…s；〃　he　seized　a　couple　of　his　men　leaning
against　the　bar；　and　hurling　them　to　right　and　left；　cried；
〃Ma…a…ke　room　for　yer　betthers；　be　the　powers！　　Sthand　up；　bhoys；
and　fill　yirsilves！〃

Black　Hugh　and　his　men　lined　up　gravely　to　the　bar　and　were
straightway　surrounded　by　the　crowd　yelling　hideously。　　But　if
Murphy　and　his　gang　thought　to　intimidate　those　grave　Highlanders
with　noise；　they　were　greatly　mistaken；　for　they　stood　quietly
waiting　for　their　glasses　to　be　filled；　alert；　but　with　an　air　of
perfect　indifference。　　Some　eight　or　ten　glasses　were　set　down　and
filled；　when　Murphy；　snatching　a　couple　of　bottles　from　the　shelf
behind　the　bar；　handed　them　out　to　his　men；　crying；　〃Here；　ye
bluddy　thaves；　lave　the　glasses　to　the　gintlemen！〃

There　was　no　mistaking　the　insolence　in　his　tone；　and　the　chorus　of
derisive　yells　that　answered　him　showed　that　his　remark　had　gone　to
the　spot。

Yankee　Jim；　who　had　kept　close　to　Black　Hugh；　saw　the　veins　in　his
neck　beginning　to　swell；　and　face　to　grow　dark。　　He　was　longing　to
be　at　Murphy's　throat。　　〃Speak　him　fair；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone；
〃there's　rather　a　good　string　of　'em　raound。〃　　Macdonald　Dubh
glanced　about　him。　　His　eye　fell　on　his　boy；　and　for　the　first　time
his　face　became　anxious。　　〃Ranald；〃　he　said；　angrily；　〃take
yourself　out　of　this。　　It　is　no　place　for　you　whatever。〃　　The　boy；
a　slight　lad　of　seventeen；　but　tall　and　well…knit；　and　with　his
father's　fierce；　wild；　dark　face；　hesitated。

〃Go；〃　said　his　father；　giving　him　a　slight　cuff。

〃Here；　boy！〃　yelled　LeNoir；　catching　him　by　the　arm　and　holding　the
bottle　to　his　mouth；　〃drink。〃　　The　boy　took　a　gulp；　choked；　and
spat　it　out。　　LeNoir　and　his　men　roared。　　〃Dat　good　whiskey；〃　he
cried；　still　holding　the　boy。　　〃You　not　lak　dat；　hey？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　boy；　〃it　is　not　good　at　all。〃

〃Try　heem　some　more；〃　said　LeNoir；　thrusting　the　bottle　at　him
again。

〃I　will　not；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　at　LeNoir　straight　and　fearless。

〃Ho…ho！　mon　brave　enfant！　　But　you　have　not　de　good　mannere。　　Come；
drink！〃　　He　caught　the　boy　by　the　back　of　the　neck；　and　made　as　if
to　pour　the　whiskey　down　his　throat。　　Black　Hugh；　who　had　been　kept
back　by　Yankee　Jim　all　this　time；　started　forward；　but　before　he
could　take　a　second　step　Ranald；　squirming　round　like　a　cat；　had
sunk　his　teeth　into　LeNoir's　wrist。　　With　a　cry　of　rage　and　pain
LeNoir　raised　the　bottle　and　was　bringing　it　down　on　Ranald's　head；
when　Black　Hugh；　with　one　hand；　caught　the　falling　blow；　and　with
the　other　seized　Ranald；　and　crying；　〃Get　out　of　this！〃　he　flung
him　towards　the　door。　　Then　turning　to　LeNoir；　he　said；　with
surprising　self…control；　〃It　is　myself　that　is　sorry　that　a　boy　of
mine　should　be　guilty　of　biting　like　a　dog。〃

〃Sa…c…r…re　le　chien！〃　yelled　LeNoir；　shaking　off　Macdonald　Dubh；
〃he　is　one　dog；　and　the　son　of　a　dog！〃　　He　turned　and　started　for
the　boy。　　But　Yankee　Jim　had　got　Ranald　to　the　door　and　was
whispering　to　him。　　〃Run！〃　cried　Yankee　Jim；　pushing　him　out　of　the
door；　and　the　boy　was　off　like　the　wind。　　LeNoir　pursued　him　a
short　way　and　returned　raging。

Yankee　Jim；　or　Yankee；　as　he　was　called　for　short；　came　back　to
Macdonald　Dubh's　side；　and　whispering　to　the　other　Highlanders；
〃Keep　your　backs　clear；〃　sat　up　coolly　on　the　counter。　　The　fight
was　sure　to　come　and　there　were　seven　to　one　against　them　in　the
room。　　If　he　could　only　gain　time。　　Every　minute　was　precious。　　It
would　take　the　boy　fifteen　minutes　to　run　the　two　miles　to　camp。
It　would　be　half　an　hour　before　the　rest　of　the　Glengarry　men　could
arrive；　and　much　fighting　may　be　done　in　that　time。　　He　must　avert
attention　from　Macdonald　Dubh；　who　was　waiting　to　cram　LeNoir's
insult　down　his　throat。　　Yankee　Jim　had　not　only　all　the　cool
courage　but　also　the　shrewd；　calculating　spirit　of　his　race。　　He
was　ready　to　fight；　and　if　need　be　against　odds；　but　he　preferred
to　fight　on　as　even　terms　as　possible。

Soon　LeNoir　came　back；　wild　with　fury；　and　yelling　curses　at　the
top　of　his　voice。　　He　hurled　himself　into　the　room；　the　crowd
falling　back　from　him　on　either　hand。

〃Hola！〃　he　yelled；　〃Sacre　bleu！〃　　He　took　two　quick　steps；　and
springing　up　into　the　air　he　kicked　the　stovepipe　that　ran　along
some　seven　feet　above　the　floor。

〃Purty　good　kicking；〃　called　out　Yankee；　sliding　down　from　his
seat。　　〃Used　to　kick　some　myself。　　Excuse　ME。〃　　He　stood　for　a
moment　looking　up　at　the　stovepipe；　then　without　apparent　effort
he　sprang　into　the　air；　shot　up　his　long　legs；　and　knocked　the
stovepipe　with　a　bang　against　the　ceiling。　　There　was　a　shout　of
admiration。

〃My　damages；〃　he　said　to　Pat　Murphy；　who　stood　behind　the　counter。
〃Good　thing　there　ain't　no　fire。　　Thought　it　was　higher。　　Wouldn't
care　to　kick　for　the　drinks；　would　ye？〃　he　added　to　LeNoir。

LeNoir　was　too　furious　to　enter　into　any　contest　so　peaceful；　but
as　he　specially　prided　himself　on　his　high　kick；　he　paused　a　moment
and　was　about　to　agree　when　Black　Hugh　broke　in；　harshly；　spoiling
all　Yankee's　plans。

〃There　is　no　time　for　such　foolishness；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Dan
Murphy。　　〃I　want　to　know　when　we　can　get　our　timber　out。〃

〃Depinds　intoirly　on　yirsilf；〃　said　Murphy。

〃When　will　your　logs　be　out　of　the　way？〃

〃Indade　an'　that's　a　ha…r…r…d　one；〃　laughed　Murphy。

〃And　will　you　tell　me　what　right　hev　you　to　close　up　the　river？〃