the man from glengarry-第20章

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the　sight　of　the　old　man's　agony。　　Then；　turning　back　to　him；　he
said：　　〃The　minister's　wife　is　coming　yonder　with　Bella。〃

The　old　man　started；　and　with　a　mighty　effort　commanding　himself；
said；　〃Now　may　God　help　me！〃　and　went　to　meet　his　daughter。

Through　the　gloom　of　the　falling　night　Ranald　could　see　the
frightened　white　face　and　the　staring；　tearless　eyes。　　They　came
quite　near　before　Bella　caught　sight　of　her　father。　　For　a　moment
she　hesitated；　till　the　old　man；　without　a　word；　beckoned　her　to
him。　　With　a　quick　little　run　she　was　in　his　arms；　where　she　lay
moaning；　as　if　in　sore　bodily　pain。　　Her　father　held　her　close　to
him；　murmuring　over　her　fond　Gaelic　words；　while　Ranald　and　Mrs。
Murray　went　over　to　the　horses　and　stood　waiting　there。

〃I　will　go　now　to　Donald　Ross；〃　Ranald　said；　in　a　low　voice；　to　the
minister's　wife。　　He　mounted　the　colt　and　was　riding　off；　when
Peter　called　him　back。

〃The　boys　will　take　the　wagon　to…morrow；〃　he　said。

〃They　will　meet　at　the　Sixteenth　at　daylight；〃　replied　Ranald；　and
then　to　Mrs。　Murray　he　said；　〃I　will　come　back　this　way　for　you。
It　will　soon　be　dark。〃

But　Bella；　hearing　him；　cried　to　her：　　〃Oh；　you　will　not　go？〃

〃Not　if　you　need　me；　Bella；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　putting　her　arms
around　her。　　〃Ranald　will　run　in　and　tell　them　at　home。〃　　This
Ranald　promised　to　do；　and　rode　away　on　his　woeful　journey；　and
before　he　reached　home　that　night；　the　news　had　spread　far　and
wide；　from　house　to　house；　like　a　black　cloud　over　a　sunny　sky。

The　home…coming　of　the　men　from　the　shanties　had　ever　been　a　time
of　rejoicing　in　the　community。　　The　Macdonald　gang　were　especially
welcome；　for　they　always　came　back　with　honor　and　with　the　rewards
of　their　winter's　work。　　There　was　always　a　series　of　welcoming
gatherings　in　the　different　homes　represented　in　the　gang；　and
there；　in　the　midst　of　the　admiring　company；　tales　would　be　told　of
the　deeds　done　and　the　trials　endured；　of　the　adventures　on　the
river　and　the　wonders　of　the　cities　where　they　had　been。　　All　were
welcome　everywhere；　and　none　more　than　Big　Mack　Cameron。　　Brimming
with　good　nature；　and　with　a　remarkable　turn　for　stories；　he　was
the　center　of　every　group　of　young　people　wherever　he　went；　and　at
the　〃bees〃　for　logging　or　for　building　or　for　cradling；　Big　Mack
was　held　in　honor；　for　he　was　second　in　feats　of　strength　only　to
Macdonald　Bhain　himself。　　It　was　with　no　common　grief　that　people
heard　the　word　that　they　were　bringing　him　home　dead。

At　the　Sixteenth　next　morning；　before　the　break　of　day；　Ranald
stood　in　the　gloom　waiting　for　the　coming　of　the　teams。　　He　had
been　up　most　of　the　night　and　he　was　weary　in　body　and　sore　at
heart；　but　Macdonald　Bhain　had　trusted　him；　and　there　must　be　no
mistake。　　One　by　one　the　teams　arrived。　　First　to　appear　was　Donald
Ross；　the　elder。　　For　years　he　had　given　over　the　driving　of　his
team　to　his　boys；　but　to…day　he　felt　that　respect　to　the　family
demanded　his　presence　on　such　an　errand　as　this；　and　besides；　he
knew　well　that　his　son　Dannie；　Mack's　special　chum；　would　expect
him　to　so　honor　the　home…coming　of　his　dead　friend。　　Peter
McGregor；　fearing　to　leave　his　daughter　for　that　long　and　lonely
day；　sent　his　son　John　in　his　place。　　It　was　with　difficulty　that
Mack's　father；　Long　John　Cameron；　had　been　persuaded　to　remain　with
the　mother　and　to　allow　Murdie　to　go　in　his　stead。

The　last　to　arrive　was　Farquhar　McNaughton；　Kirsty's　Farquhar；　with
his　fine　black　team　and　new　light　wagon。　　To　him　was　to　be　given
the　honor　of　bearing　the　body　home。　　Gravely　they　talked　and
planned；　and　then　left　all　to　Ranald　to　execute。

〃You　will　see　to　these　things；　Ranald；　my　man；　said　Donald　Ross；
with　the　air　of　one　giving　solemn　charge。　　〃Let　all　things　be　done
decently　and　in　order。〃

〃I　will　try；〃　said　Ranald；　simply。　　But　Farquhar　McNaughton　looked
at　him　doubtfully。

〃It　is　a　peety；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　not　one　with　more　experience。
He　is　but　a　lad。〃

But　Donald　Ross　had　been　much　impressed　with　Ranald's　capable
manner　the　night　before。

〃Never　you　fear；　Farquhar；〃　he　replied；　〃Ranald　is　not　one　to　fail
us。〃

As　Ranald　stood　watching　the　wagons　rumbling　down　the　road　and　out
of　sight；　he　felt　as　if　years　must　have　passed　since　he　had
received　the　letter　that　had　laid　on　him　the　heavy　burden　of　this
sad　news。　　That　his　uncle；　Macdonald　Bhain；　should　have　sent　the
word　to　him　brought　Ranald　a　sense　of　responsibility　that　awakened
the　man　in　him；　and　he　knew　he　would　feel　himself　a　boy　no　more。
And　with　that　new　feeling　of　manhood　stirring　within　him；　he　went
about　his　work　that　day；　omitting　no　detail　in　arrangement　for　the
seemly　conduct　of　the　funeral。

Night　was　falling　as　the　wagons　rumbled　back　again　from　Cornwall；
bringing　back　the　shantymen　and　their　dead　companion。　　Up　through
the　Sixteenth；　where　a　great　company　of　people　stood　silent　and
with　bared　heads；　the　sad　procession　moved；　past　the　old　church；　up
through　the　swamp；　and　so　onward　to　the　home　of　the　dead。　　None　of
the　Macdonald　gang　turned　aside　to　their　homes　till　they　had　given
their　comrade　over　into　the　keeping　of　his　own　people。　　By　the　time
the　Cameron's　gate　was　reached　the　night　had　grown　thick　and　black；
and　the　drivers　were　glad　enough　of　the　cedar　bark　torches　that
Ranald　and　Don　waved　in　front　of　the　teams　to　light　the　way　up　the
lane。　　In　silence　Donald　Ross；　who　was　leading；　drove　up　his　team
to　the　little　garden　gate　and　allowed　the　great　Macdonald　and
Dannie　to　alight。

At　the　gate　stood　Long　John　Cameron；　silent　and　self…controlled；
but　with　face　showing　white　and　haggard　in　the　light　of　the　flaring
torches。　　Behind　him；　in　the　shadow；　stood　the　minister。　　For　a　few
moments　they　all　remained　motionless　and　silent。　　The　time　was　too
great　for　words；　and　these　men　knew　when　it　was　good　to　hold　their
peace。　　At　length　Macdonald　Bhain　broke　the　silence；　saying　in　his
great　deep　voice；　as　he　bared　his　head：　　〃Mr。　Cameron；　I　have
brought　you　back　your　son；　and　God　is　my　witness；　I　would　his　place
were　mine　this　night。〃

〃Bring　him　in；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　replied　the　father；　gravely　and
steadily。　　〃Bring　him　in。　　It　is　the　Lord；　let　Him　do　what　seemeth
Him　good。〃

Then　six　of　the　Macdonald　men　came　forward　from　the　darkness；　Curly
and　Yankee　leading　the　way；　and　lifted　the　coffin　from　Farquhar's
wagon；　and　reverently；　with　heads　uncovered；　they　followed　the
torches　to　the　door。　　There　they　stopped　suddenly；　for　as　they
reached　the　threshold；　there　arose　a　low；　long；　heart…smiting　cry
from　within。　　At　the　sound　of　that　cry　Ranald　staggered　as　if
struck　by　a　blow；　and　let　his　torch　fall　to　the　ground。　　The
bearers　waited；　looking　at　each　other　in　fear。

〃Whisht；　Janet；　woman！〃　said　Long　John；　gravely。　　〃Your　son　is　at
the　door。〃

〃Ah；　indeed；　that　he　is；　that　he　is！　　My　son！　　My　son！〃

She　stood　in　the　doorway　with　hands　uplifted　and　with　tears
streaming　down　her　face。　　〃Come　in；　Malcolm；　come　in；　my　boy。　　Your
mother　is　waiting　for　you。〃

Then　they　carried　him　in　and　laid　him　in　the　〃room；〃　and　retiring
to　the　kitchen；　sat　down　to　watch　the　night。

In　half　an　hour　the　father　came　out　and　found　them　there。

〃You　have　done　what　you　could；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　he　said；　addressing
him　for　all；　〃and　I　will　not　be　unmindful　of　your　kindness。　　But
now　you　can　do　no　more。　　Your　wife　and　your　people　will　be　waiting
you。〃

〃And；　please　God；　in　good　time　they　will　be　seeing　us。　　As　for　me；
I　will　neither　go　to　my　home　nor　up　into　my　bed；　but　I　will　watch
by　the　man　who　was　my　faithful　friend　and　companion　till　he　is　laid
away。〃

And　in　this　mind　he　and　his　men　remained　firm；　taking　turns　at　the
watching　all　that　night　and　the　next　day。

As　Macdonald　finished　speaking；　the　minister　came　into　the　kitchen；
bringing　with　him　the　mother　and　the　children。　　The　men　all　rose　to
their　feet；　doing　respect　to　the　woman　and　to　her　grief。　　When　they
were　seated　again；　the　minister　rose　and　said：　　〃My　friends；　this
is　a　night　for　silence　and　not　for　words。　　The　voice　of　the　Lord　is
speaking　in　our　ears。　　It　becomes　us　to　hear；　and　to　submit
ourselves　to　His　holy　will。　　Let　us　pray。〃

As　Ranald　listened　to　the　prayer；　he　could　not　help　thinking　how
different　it　was　from　those　he　was　accustomed　to　hear　from　the
pulpit。　　Solemn；　simple；　and　direct；　it　lifted　the　hearts　of　all
present　up　to　the　throne　of　God；　to　the　place　of　strength　and　of
peace。　　There　was　no　attempt　to　explain　the　〃mystery　of　the
Providence；〃　but　there　was　a　sublime　trust　that　refused　to　despair
even　in　the　presence　of　impenetrable　darkness。

After　the　minister　had　gone；　Macdonald　Bhain　took　Ranald　aside　and
asked　him　as　to　the　arrangements　for　the　funeral。　　When　Ranald　had
explained　to　him　every　detail；　Macdonald　laid　his　hand　on　his
nephew's　shoulder　and　said；　kindly；　〃It　is　well　done；　Ranald。　　Now
you　will　be　going　home；　and　in　the　morning　you　will　see　your　aunt；
and　if　she　will　be　wishing　to　come　to　the　wake　to…morrow　night；
then　you　will　bring　her。〃

Then　Ranald　went　home；　feeling　well　repaid　for　his　long　hours　of
anxiety　and　toil。



CHAPTER　XI

THE　WAKE


The　wake　was　an　important　feature　in　the　social　life　of　the　people
of　Indian　Lands。　　In　ancient　days；　in　the　land　of　their　forefathers；
the　wake　had　been　deemed　a　dire　necessity　for　the　safeguarding　of
the　dead；　who　were　supposed　to　be　peculiarly　exposed　to　the
malicious　attacks　of　evil　spirits。　　Hence；　with　many　lighted
candles；　and　with　much　incantation；　friends　would　surround　the　body
through　the　perilous　hours　of　darkness。　　It　was　a　weird　and　weary
vigil；　and　small　wonder　if　it　appeared　necessary　that　the　courage
and　endurance　of　the　watchers　should　be　fortified　with　copious
draughts　of　〃mountain　dew；〃　with　bread　and　cheese　accompaniments。
And　the　completeness　of　their　trust　in　the　efficacy　of　such　supports
was　too　often　evidenced　by　the　condition　of　the　watchers　toward　the
dawn　of　the　morning。　　And；　indeed；　if　the　spirits　were　not　too
fastidious；　and　if　they　had　so　desired；　they　could　have　easily　flown
away；　not　only　with　the　〃waked；〃　but　with　the　〃wakers〃　as　well。

But　those　days　and　those　notions　had　long　passed　away。　　The　wake
still　remained；　but　its　meaning　and　purpose　had　changed。　　No　longer
for　the　guarding　of　the　dead；　but　for　the　comfort　of　the　living；
the　friends　gathered　to　the　house　of　mourning　and　watched　the　weary
hours。　　But　Highland　courtesy　forbade　that　the　custom　of　refreshing
the　watchers　should　be　allowed　to　die　out；　and　hence；　through　the
night；　once　and　again；　the　whisky；　bread；　and　cheese　were　handed
around　by　some　close　friend　of　the　family；　and　were　then　placed
upon　the　table　for　general　use。　　It　was　not　surprising　that；　where
all　were　free　to　come　and　welcome　to　stay；　and　where　anything　like
scantiness　in　providing　or　niggardliness　in　serving　would　be　a
matter　of　family　disgrace；　the　wake　often　degenerated　into　a
frolic；　if　not　a　debauch。　　In　order　to　check　any　such　tendency；　it
had　been　the　custom　of　late　years　to　introduce　religious　services；
begun　by　the　minister　himself　and　continued　by　the　elders。

As　the　evening　fell；　a　group　of　elders　stood　by　the　back　door　of
Long　John　Cameron's　sorrow…stricken　home；　t