the man from glengarry-第22章

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Then；　when　you　have　fetched　him　down　to　the　right　figure；　you　pulls
out　your　wad；　thinkin'　how　that　colt　will　make　the　rest　look　like　a
line　of　fence…posts。　　'But　hold　on；'　says　you；　'is　this　here　colt
Blue　Grass　bred？'　　'Blue　Grass！　　Not　much。　　This　here's　Grey　Eagle
stock；　North　Virginny'　says　he。　　'Don't　want　her；'　says　you。
'What's　the　matter　with　the　colt？'　says　he。　　'Nothin'；　only　she
ain't　Blue　Grass。　　Got　to　be　Blue　Grass。'　　'But　she's　got　the　gait；
ain't　she？'　　'Yes；　the　gait's　all　right；　action　fine；　good…looking；
too；　nothing　wrong；　but　she　ain't　Blue　Grass　bred。'　　And　so　you
lose　your　race。　　Now　what　kind　of　a　name　would　you　call　yourself？〃

Peter　saw　Yankee's　point；　but　he　only　shook　his　head　more
hopelessly　than　before；　and　turned　to　enter　the　house；　followed　by
Straight　Rory；　still　sighing　deeply；　and　old　Donald　Ross。　　But
Kenny　remained　a　moment　behind　the　others；　and　offering　his　hand　to
Yankee；　said：　　〃You　are　a　right　man；　and　I　will　be　proud　to　know
you　better。〃

Yankee　turned　a　puzzled　face　to　Kenny。　　〃I　say；〃　he　inquired；　in　an
amazed　voice；　〃do　you　think　he　didn't　catch　on　to　me？〃

Kenny　nodded。　　〃Yes；　he　understood　your　point。〃

〃But　look　here；〃　said　Yankee；　〃they　don't　hold　thatthat　he　is〃
Yankee　paused。　　The　thought　was　too　horrible；　and　these　men　were
experts；　and　were　supposed　to　know。

〃It's　hard　to　say；〃　said　Kenny；　diplomatically。

〃See　here；〃　said　Yankee；　facing　Kenny　squarely；　〃you're　a　purty
level…headed　man；　and　you're　up　in　this　business。　　Do　you　think
with　them？　　No　monkeying。　　Straight　talk　now。〃　　Yankee　was　in　no
mood　to　be　trifled　with。　　He　was　in　such　deadly　earnest　that　he　had
forgotten　all　about　Ranald；　who　was　now　standing　behind　him；
waiting；　with　white　face　and　parted　lips；　for　Kenny's　answer。

〃Whisht！〃　said　Kenny；　pointing　into　the　kitchen　behind。　　Yankee
looked　and　saw　Bella　Peter　and　her　father　entering。　　But　Ranald　was
determined　to　know　Kenny's　opinion。

〃Mr。　Campbell；〃　he　whispered；　eagerly；　and　forgetting　the　respect
due　to　an　elder；　he　grasped　Kenny's　arm；　〃do　you　think　with　them？〃

〃That　I　do　not；〃　said　Kenny；　emphatically；　and　Yankee；　at　that
word；　struck　his　hand　into　Kenny's　palm　with　a　loud　smack。

〃I　knew　blamed　well　you　were　not　any　such　dumb　fool；〃　he　said；
softening　his　speech　in　deference　to　Kenny's　office　and　the
surrounding　circumstances。　　So　saying；　he　went　away　to　the　stable；
and　when　Ranald　and　his　uncle；　Macdonald　Bhain；　followed　a　little
later　to　put　up　Peter　McGregor's　team；　they　heard　Yankee　inside；
swearing　with　a　fluency　and　vigor　quite　unusual　with　him。

〃Whisht；　man！〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　sternly。　　〃This　is　no　place
or　time　to　be　using　such　language。　　What　is　the　matter　with　you；
anyway？〃

But　Macdonald　could　get　no　satisfaction　out　of　him；　and　he　said　to
his　nephew；　〃What　is　it；　Ranald？〃

〃It　is　the　elders；　Peter　McRae　and　Straight　Rory；〃　said　Ranald；
sullenly。　　〃They　were　saying　that　Mack　wasthat　Mack　was〃

〃Look　here；　boss；〃　interrupted　Yankee；　〃I　ain't　well　up　in
Scriptures；　and　don't　know　much　about　these　things；　and　them　elders
do；　and　they　saysome　of　them；　anywayare　sending　Mack　to　hell。
Now；　I　guess　you're　just　as　well　up　as　they　are　in　this　business；
and　I　want　your　solemn　opinion。〃　　Yankee's　face　was　pale；　and　his
eyes　were　glaring　like　a　wild　beast's。　　〃What　I　say　is；〃　he　went
on；　〃if　a　feller　like　Mack　goes　to　hell；　then　there　ain't　any。　　At
least　none　to　scare　me。　　Where　Mack　is　will　be　good　enough　for　me。
What　do　you　say；　boss？〃

〃Be　quiet；　man；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　gravely；　but　kindly。　　〃Do
you　not　know　you　are　near　to　blasphemy　there？　　But　I　forgive　you
for　the　sore　heart　you　have；　and　about　poor　Mack　yonder；　no　one
will　be　able　to　say　for　certain。　　I　am　a　poor　sinner；　and　the　only
claim　I　have　to　God's　mercy　is　the　claim　of　a　poor　sinner。　　But　I
will　dare　to　say　that　I　have　hope　in　the　Lord　for　myself；　and　I
will　say　that　I　have　a　great　deal　more　for　Mack。〃

〃I　guess　that　settles　it　all　right；　then；〃　said　Yankee；　drawing　a
big　breath　of　content　and　biting　off　a　huge　chew　from　his　plug。
〃But　what　the　blank　blank；〃　he　went　on；　savagely；　〃do　these　fellers
mean；　stirring　up　a　man's　feelin's　like　that？　　Seem　to　be　not　a　bad
sort；　either；〃　he　added；　meditatively。

〃Indeed；　they　are　good　men；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　〃but　they　will
not　be　knowing　Mack　as　I　knew　him。　　He　never　made　any　profession　at
all；　but　he　had　the　root　of　the　matter　in　him。〃

Ranald　felt　as　if　he　had　wakened　out　of　a　terrible　nightmare；　and
followed　his　uncle　into　the　house；　with　a　happier　heart　than　he　had
known　since　he　had　received　Yankee's　letter。

As　they　entered　the　room　where　the　people　were　gathered；　Donald
Ross　was　reading　the　hundred　and　third　psalm；　and　the　words　of　love
and　pity　and　sympathy　were　dropping　from　his　kindly　lips　like
healing　balm　upon　the　mourning　hearts；　and　as　they　rose　and　fell
upon　the　cadences　of　〃Coleshill；〃　the　tune　Straight　Rory　always
chose　for　this　psalm；　the　healing　sank　down　into　all　the　sore
places；　and　the　peace　that　passeth　understanding　began　to　take
possession　of　them。

Softly　and　sweetly　they　sang；　the　old　women　swaying　with　the　music：


　　　　　〃For；　as　the　heaven　in　its　height
　　　　　　　　The　earth　surmounteth　far；
　　　　　　So　great　to　those　that　do　him　fear；
　　　　　　　　His　tender　mercies　are。〃


When　they　reached　that　verse；　the　mother　took　up　the　song　and　went
bravely　on　through　the　words　of　the　following　verse：


　　　　　〃As　far　as　east　is　distant　from
　　　　　　　　The　west；　so　far　hath　he
　　　　　　From　us　removed；　in　his　love；
　　　　　　　　All　our　iniquity。〃


As　she　sang　the　last　words　her　hand　stole　over　to　Bella；　who　sat
beside　her　quiet　but　tearless；　looking　far　away。　　But　when　the　next
words　rose　on　the　dear　old　minor　strains；


　　　　　〃Such　pity　as　a　father　hath
　　　　　　Unto　his　children　dear；〃


Bella's　lip　began　to　tremble；　and　two　big　tears　ran　down　her　pale
cheeks；　and　one　could　see　that　the　sore　pain　in　her　heart　had　been
a　little　eased。

After　Donald　Ross　had　finished　his　part　of　the　〃exercises；〃　he
called　upon　Kenny　Crubach；　who　read　briefly；　and　without　comment；
the　exquisite　Scottish　paraphrase　of　Luther's　〃little　gospel〃：


　　　　　〃Behold　the　amazing　gift　of　love
　　　　　　　　The　Father　hath　bestowed
　　　　　　On　us；　the　sinful　sons　of　men；
　　　　　　　　To　call　us　sons　of　God〃


and　so　on　to　the　end。

All　this　time　Peter　McRae；　the　man　of　iron；　had　been　sitting　with
hardening　face；　his　eyes　burning　in　his　head　like　glowing　coals；
and　when　Donald　Ross　called　upon　him　for　〃some　words　of　exhortation
and　comfort　suitable　to　the　occasion；〃　without　haste　and　without
hesitation　the　old　man　rose；　and　trembling　with　excitement　and
emotion；　he　began　abruptly：　　〃An　evil　spirit　has　been　whispering　to
me；　as　to　the　prophet　of　old；　'Speak　that　which　is　good；'　but　the
Lord　hath　delivered　me　from　mine　enemy；　and　my　answer　is；　'As　the
Lord　liveth；　what　the　Lord　said　unto　me；　that　will　I　speak'；　and　it
is　not　easy。〃

As　the　old　man　paused；　a　visible　terror　fell　upon　all　the　company
assembled。　　The　poor　mother　sat　looking　at　him　with　the　look　of　one
shrinking　from　a　blow；　while　Bella　Peter's　face　expressed　only
startled　fear。

〃And　this　is　the　word　of　the　Lord　this　night　to　me；〃　the　elder　went
on；　his　voice　losing　its　tremor　and　ringing　out　strong　and　clear：
〃'There　is　none　righteous；　no；　not　one；　for　all　have　sinned　and
come　short　of　the　glory　of　God。　　He　that　believeth　shall　be　saved；
and　he　that　believeth　not　shall　be　damned。'　　That　is　my　message；
and　it　is　laid　upon　me　as　a　sore　burden　to　hear　the　voice　of　the
Lord　in　this　solemn　Providence；　and　to　warn　one　and　all　to　flee
from　the　wrath　to　come。〃

He　paused　long；　while　men　could　hear　their　hearts　beat。　　Then；
raising　his　voice；　he　cried　aloud：　　〃Woe　is　me！　　Alas！　it　is　a
grievous　burden。　　The　Lord　pity　us　all；　and　give　grace　to　this
stricken　family　to　kiss　the　rod　that　smites。〃

At　this　word　the　old　man's　voice　suddenly　broke；　and　he　sat　down
amid　an　awful　silence。　　No　one　could　misunderstand　his　meaning。　　As
the　awful　horror　of　it　gradually　made　its　way　into　her　mind；　Mrs。
Cameron　threw　up　her　apron　over　her　head　and　rocked　in　an　agony　of
sobs；　while　Long　John　sat　with　face　white　and　rigid。　　Bella　Peter；
who　had　been　gazing　with　a　fascinated　stare　upon　the　old　elder's
face　while　he　was　speaking　his　terrible　words；　startled　by　Mrs。
Cameron's　sobs；　suddenly　looked　wildly　about　as　if　for　help；　and
then；　with　a　wild　cry；　fled　toward　the　door。　　But　before　she　had
reached　it　a　strong　hand　caught　her　and　a　great　voice；　deep　and
tender；　commanded　her：　　〃Wait；　lassie；　sit　down　here　a　meenute。〃
It　was　Macdonald　Bhain。　　He　stood　a　short　space　silent　before　the
people；　then；　in　a　voice　low；　deep；　and　thrilling；　he　began：　　〃You
have　been　hearing　the　word　of　the　Lord　through　the　lips　of　his
servant；　and　I　am　not　saying　but　it　is　the　true　word；　but　I　believe
that　the　Lord　will　be　speaking　by　different　voices；　and　although　I
hev　not　the　gift；　yet　it　is　laid　upon　me　to　declare　what　is　in　my
heart；　and　a　sore　heart　it　is；　and　sore　hearts　hev　we　all。　　But　I
will　be　thinking　of　a　fery　joyful　thing；　and　that　is　that　'He　came
to　call；　not　the　righteous；　but　sinners；'　and　that　in　His　day　many
sinners　came　about　Him　and　not　one　would　He　turn　away。　　And　I　will
be　remembering　a　fery　great　sinner　who　cried　out　in　his　dying　hour；
'Lord；　remember　me；'　and　not　in　vain。　　And　I'm　thinking　that　the
Lord　will　be　making　it　easy　for　men　to　be　saved；　and　not　hard；　for
He　was　that　anxious　about　it　that　He　gave　up　His　own　life。　　But　it
is　not　given　me　to　argue；　only　to　tell　you　what　I　know　about　the
lad　who　is　lying　yonder　silent。　　It　will　be　three　years　since　he
will　be　coming　on　the　shanties　with　me；　and　from　the　day　that　he
left　his　mother's　door；　till　he　came　back　again；　never　once　did　he
fail　me　in　his　duty　in　the　camp；　or　on　the　river；　or　in　the　town；
where　it　was　fery　easy　to　be　forgetting。　　And　the　boys　would　be
telling　me　of　the　times　that　he　would　be　keeping　them　out　of　those
places。　　And　it　is　not　soon　that　Dannie　Ross　will　be　forgetting　who
it　was　that　took　him　back　from　the　camp　when　the　disease　was　upon
him　and　all　were　afraid　to　go　near　him；　and　for　seex　weeks；　by　day
and　by　night；　watched　by　him　and　was　not　thinking　of　himself　at
all。　　And　sure　am　I　that　the　lessons　he　would　be　hearing　from　his
mother　and　in　the　Bible　class　and　in　the　church　were　not　lost　on
him　whatever。　　For　on　the　river；　when　the　water　was　quiet　and　I
would　be　lying　in　the　tent　reading；　it　is　often　that　Mack　Cameron
would　come　in　and　listen　to　the　Word。　　Aye；　he　was　a　good　lad〃the
great　voice　shook　a　little〃he　would　not　be　thinking　of　himself；
and　at　the　last；　it　was　for　another　man　he　gave　his　life。〃

Macdonald　stood　for　a　few　moments　silent；　his　face　working　while　he
struggled　with　himself。　　And　then　all　at　once　he　grew　calm；　and
throwing　back　his　head；　he　looked　through　the　door；　and　pointing
into　the　darkness；　said：　　〃And　yonder　is　the　lad；　and　with　him　a
great　company；　and　his　face　is　smiling；　and；　oh！　it　is　a　good　land；
a　good　land！〃　　His　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper；　and　he　sank　into　his
seat。

〃God　preserve　us！〃　Kenny　Crubach　ejaculated；　but　old　Donald　Ros