the man from glengarry-第23章

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seat。

〃God　preserve　us！〃　Kenny　Crubach　ejaculated；　but　old　Donald　Ross
rose　and　said；　〃Let　us　call　upon　the　name　of　the　Lord。〃　　From　his
prayer　it　was　quite　evident　that　for　him　at　least　all　doubts　and
fears　as　to　poor　Mack's　state　were　removed。　　And　even　Peter　McRae；
subdued　not　so　much　by　any　argument　of　Macdonald　Bhain's　as　by　his
rapt　vision；　followed　old　Donald's　prayer　with　broken　words　of　hope
and　thanksgiving；　and　it　was　Peter　who　was　early　at　the　manse　next
morning　to　repeat　to　the　minister　the　things　he　had　seen　and　heard
the　night　before。　　And　all　next　day；　where　there　had　been　the
horror　of　unnamable　fear；　hope　and　peace　prevailed。

The　service　was　held　under　the　trees；　and　while　the　mother　and
Bella　Peter　sat　softly　weeping；　there　was　no　bitterness　in　their
tears；　for　the　sermon　breathed　of　the　immortal　hope；　and　the　hearts
of　all　were　comforted。　　There　was　no　parade　of　grief；　but　after　the
sermon　was　over　the　people　filed　quietly　through　the　room　to　take
the　last　look；　and　then　the　family；　with　Bella　and　her　father；　were
left　alone　a　few　moments　with　their　dead；　while　the　Macdonald　men
kept　guard　at　the　door　till　the　time　for　〃the　lifting〃　would　come。

After　Long　John　passed　out；　followed　by　the　family；　Macdonald　Bhain
entered　the　room；　closed　the　lid　down　upon　the　dead　face；　and　gave
the　command　to　bear　him　forth。

So；　with　solemn　dignity；　as　befitted　them；　they　carried　Big　Mack
from　his　home　to　Farquhar　McNaughton's　light　wagon。　　Along　the
concession　road；　past　the　new　church；　through　the　swamp；　and　on　to
the　old　churchyard　the　long　procession　slowly　moved。　　There　was　no
unseemly　haste；　and　by　the　time　the　last　words　were　spoken；　and　the
mound　decently　rounded；　the　long　shadows　from　the　woods　lay　far
across　the　fields。　　Quietly　the　people　went　their　ways　homeward；
back　to　their　life　and　work；　but　for　many　days　they　carried　with
them　the　memory　of　those　funeral　scenes。　　And　Ranald；　though　he
came　back　from　Big　Mack's　grave　troubled　with　questions　that
refused　to　be　answered；　still　carried　with　him　a　heart　healed　of
the　pain　that　had　torn　it　these　last　days。　　He　believed　it　was　well
with　his　friend；　but　about　many　things　he　was　sorely　perplexed；　and
it　was　this　that　brought　him　again　to　the　minister's　wife。



CHAPTER　XII

SEED…TIME


The　day　after　Big　Mack's　funeral；　Ranald　was　busy　polishing
Lizette's　glossy　skin；　before　the　stable　door。　　This　was　his
favorite　remedy　for　gloomy　thoughts；　and　Ranald　was　full　of　gloomy
thoughts　to…day。　　His　father；　though　going　about　the　house；　was
still　weak；　and　worse　than　all；　was　fretting　in　his　weakness。　　He
was　oppressed　with　the　terrible　fear　that　he　would　never　again　be
able　to　do　a　man's　work；　and　Ranald　knew　from　the　dark　look　in　his
father's　face　that　day　and　night　the　desire　for　vengeance　was
gnawing　at　his　heart；　and　Ranald　also　knew　something　of　the
bitterness　of　this　desire　from　the　fierce　longing　that　lay　deep　in
his　own。　　Some　day；　when　his　fingers　would　be　feeling　for　LeNoir's
throat；　he　would　drink　long　and　fully　that　sweet　draught　of
vengeance。　　He　knew；　too；　that　it　added　to　the　bitterness　in　his
father's　heart　to　know　that；　in　the　spring's　work　that　every　warm
day　was　bringing　nearer；　he　could　take　no　part；　and　that　was　partly
the　cause　of　Ranald's　gloom。　　With　the　slow…moving　oxen；　he　could
hardly　hope　to　get　the　seed　in　in　time；　and　they　needed　the　crop
this　year　if　ever　they　did；　for　last　year's　interest　on　the
mortgage　was　still　unpaid　and　the　next　installment　was　nearly　due。

As　he　was　putting　the　finishing　touches　upon　Lisette's　satin　skin；
Yankee　drove　up　to　the　yard　with　his　Fox　horse　and　buckboard。　　His
box　was　strapped　on　behind；　and　his　blankets；　rolled　up　in　a
bundle；　filled　the　seat　beside　him。

〃Mornin'；〃　he　called　to　Ranald。　　〃Purty　fine　shine；　that；　and　purty
fine　mare；　all　round；〃　he　continued；　walking　about　Lisette　and
noting　admiringly　her　beautiful　proportions。

〃Purty　fine　beast；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone；　running　his　hands　down
her　legs。　　〃Guess　you　wouldn't　care　to　part　with　that　mare？〃

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　shortly；　but　as　he　spoke　his　heart　sank　within
him。

〃Ought　to　fetch　a　fairly　good　figure；〃　continued　Yankee；
meditatively。　　〃Le's　see。　　She's　from　La　Roque's　Lisette；　ain't
she？　　Ought　to　have　some　speed。〃　　He　untied　Lisette's　halter。
〃Take　her　down　in　the　yard　yonder；〃　he　said　to　Ranald。

Ranald　threw　the　halter　over　Lisette's　neck；　sprang　on　her　back；
and　sent　her　down　the　lane　at　a　good　smart　pace。　　At　the　bottom　of
the　lane　he　wheeled　her；　and　riding　low　upon　her　neck；　came　back　to
the　barn　like　a　whirlwind。

〃By　jings！〃　exclaimed　Yankee；　surprised　out　of　his　lazy　drawl；
〃she's　got　it；　you　bet　your　last　brick。　　See　here；　boy；　there's
money　into　that　animal。　　Thought　I　would　like　to　have　her　for　my
buckboard；　but　I　have　got　an　onfortunit　conscience　that　won't　let
me　do　up　any　partner；　so　I　guess　I　can't　make　any　offer。〃

Ranald　stood　beside　Lisette；　his　arm　thrown　over　her　beautiful
neck；　and　his　hand　fondling　her　gently　about　the　ears。　　〃I　will　not
sell　her。〃　　His　voice　was　low　and　fierce；　and　all　the　more　so
because　he　knew　that　was　just　what　he　would　do；　and　his　heart　was
sick　with　the　pain　of　the　thought。

〃I　say；〃　said　Yankee；　suddenly；　〃cudn't　bunk　me　in　your　loft；　cud
you！　　Can't　stand　the　town。　　Too　close。〃

The　confining　limitations　of　the　Twentieth；　that　metropolitan
center　of　some　dozen　buildings；　including　the　sawmill　and
blacksmith　shop；　were　too　trying　for　Yankee's　nervous　system。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　Ranald；　heartily。　　〃We　will　be　very　glad　to
have　you；　and　it　will　be　the　very　best　thing　for　father。〃

〃S'pose　old　Fox　cud　nibble　round　the　brule；〃　continued　Yankee；
nodding　his　head　toward　his　sorrel　horse。　　〃Don't　think　I　will　do
much　drivin'　machine　business。　　Rather　slow。〃　　Yankee　spent　the
summer　months　selling　sewing…machines　and　new　patent　churns。

〃There's　plenty　of　pasture；〃　said　Ranald；　〃and　Fox　will　soon　make
friends　with　Lisette。　　She　is　very　kind；　whatever。〃

〃Ain't　ever　hitched　her；　have　you？〃　said　Yankee。

〃No。〃

〃Well；　might　hitch　her　up　some　day。　　Guess　you　wudn't　hurt　the
buckboard。〃

〃Not　likely；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　at　the　old；　ramshackle　affair。

〃Used　to　drive　some　myself；〃　said　Yankee。　　But　to　this　idea　Ranald
did　not　take　kindly。

Yankee　stood　for　a　few　moments　looking　down　the　lane　and　over　the
fields；　and　then；　turning　to　Ranald；　said；　〃Guess　it's　about　ready
to　begin　plowin'。　　Got　quite　a　lot　of　it　to　do；　too；　ain't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　was　thinking　I　would　be　beginning　to…morrow。〃

〃Purty　slow　business　with　the　oxen。　　How　would　it　do　to　hitch　up
Lisette　and　old　Fox　yonder？〃

Then　Ranald　understood　the　purpose　of　Yankee's　visit。

〃I　would　be　very　glad；〃　said　Ranald；　a　great　load　lifting　from　his
heart。　　〃I　was　afraid　of　the　work　with　only　the　oxen。〃　　And　then；
after　a　pause；　he　added；　〃What　did　you　mean　about　buying　Lisette？〃
He　was　anxious　to　have　that　point　settled。

〃I　said　what　I　meant；〃　answered　Yankee。　　〃I　thought　perhaps　you
would　rather　have　the　money　than　the　colt；　but　I　tell　you　what；　I
hain't　got　money　enough　to　put　into　that　bird；　and　don't　you　talk
selling　to　any　one　till　we　see　her　gait　hitched　up。　　But　I　guess　a
little　of　the　plow　won't　hurt　for　a　few　weeks　or　so。〃

Next　day　Lisette　left　behind　her　forever　the　free；　happy　days　of
colthood。　　At　first　Ranald　was　unwilling　to　trust　her　to　any　other
hands　than　his　own；　but　when　he　saw　how　skillfully　and　gently
Yankee　handled　her；　soothing　her　while　he　harnessed　and　hitched　her
up；　he　recognized　that　she　was　safer　with　Yankee　than　with　himself；
and　allowed　him　to　have　the　reins。

They　spent　the　morning　driving　up　and　down　the　lane　with　Lisette
and　Fox　hitched　to　the　stone…boat。　　The　colt　had　been　kindly
treated　from　her　earliest　days；　and　consequently　knew　nothing　of
fear。　　She　stepped　daintily　beside　old　Fox；　fretting　and　chafing　in
the　harness；　but　without　thought　of　any　violent　objection。　　In　the
afternoon　the　colt　was　put　through　her　morning　experience；　with　the
variation　that　the　stone…boat　was　piled　up　with　a　fairly　heavy　load
of　earth　and　stone。　　And　about　noon　the　day　following；　Lisette　was
turning　her　furrow　with　all　the　steadiness　of　a　horse　twice　her
age。

Before　two　weeks　were　over；　Yankee；　with　the　horses；　and　Ranald；
with　the　oxen；　had　finished　the　plowing；　and　in　another　ten　days
the　fields　lay　smooth　and　black；　with　the　seed　harrowed　safely　in；
waiting　for　the　rain。

Yankee's　visit　had　been　a　godsend；　not　only　to　Ranald　with　his
work；　but　also　to　Macdonald　Dubh。　　He　would　talk　to　the　grim；
silent　man　by　the　hour；　after　the　day's　work　was　done；　far　into　the
night；　till　at　length　he　managed　to　draw　from　him　the　secret　of　his
misery。

〃I　will　never　be　a　man　again；〃　he　said；　bitterly；　to　Yankee。　　〃And
there　is　the　farm　all　to　pay　for。　　I　have　put　it　off　too　long　and
now　it　is　too　late；　and　it　is　all　because　of　thatthatbrute
beast　of　a　Frenchman。〃

〃Mean　cuss！〃　ejaculated　Yankee。

〃And　I　am　saying；〃　continued　Macdonald　Dubh；　opening　his　heart
still　further；　〃I　am　saying；　it　was　no　fair　fight；　whatever。　　I
could　whip　him　with　one　hand。　　It　was　when　I　was　pulling　out　Big
Mack；　poor　fellow；　from　under　the　heap；　that　he　took　me　unawares。〃

〃That's　so；〃　assented　Yankee。　　〃Blamed　lowdown　trick。〃

〃And；　oh；　I　will　be　praying　God　to　give　me　strength　just　to　meet
him！　　I　will　ask　no　more。　　But；〃　he　added；　in　bitter　despair；
〃there　is　no　use　for　me　to　pray。　　Strength　will　come　to　me　no
more。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Yankee；　brightly；　〃needn't　worry　about　that　varmint。
He　ain't　worth　it；　anyhow。〃

〃Aye；　he　is　not　worth　it；　indeed；　and　that　is　the　man　who　has
brought　me　to　this。〃　　That　was　the　bitter　part　to　Macdonald　Dubh。
A　man　he　despised　had　beaten　him。

〃Now　look　here；〃　said　Yankee；　〃course　I　ain't　much　good　at　this；
but　if　you　will　just　quit　worryin'；　I'll　undertake　to　settle　this
little　account　with　Mr。　LeNware。〃

〃And　what　good　would　that　be　to　me？〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh。　　〃It　is
myself　that　wants　to　meet　him。〃　　It　was　not　so　much　the　destruction
of　LeNoir　that　he　desired　as　that　he　should　have　the　destroying　of
him。　　While　he　cherished　this　feeling　in　his　heart；　it　was　not
strange　that　the　minister　in　his　visits　found　Black　Hugh
unapproachable；　and　concluded　that　he　was　in　a　state　of　settled
〃hardness　of　heart。〃　　His　wife　knew　better；　but　even　she　dared　not
approach　Macdonald　Dubh　on　that　subject；　which　had　not　been
mentioned　between　them　since　the　morning　he　had　opened　his　heart　to
her。　　The　dark；　haggard；　gloomy　face　haunted　her。　　She　longed　to
help　him　to　peace。　　It　was　this　that　sent　her　to　his　brother；
Macdonald　Bhain；　to　whom　she　told　as　much　of　the　story　as　she
thought　wise。

〃I　am　afraid　he　will　never　come　to　peace　with　God　until　he　comes　to
peace　with　this　man；〃　she　said；　sadly；　〃and　it　is　a　bitter　load
that　he　is　carrying　with　him。〃

〃I　will　talk　with　him；〃　answered　Macdonald　Bhain；　and　at　the　end　of
the　week　he　took　his　way　across　to　his　brother's　home。

He　found　him　down　in　the　brule；　where　he　spent　most　of　his　days
toiling　hard　with　his　ax；　in　spite　of　the　earnest　entreaties　of
Ranald。　　He　was　buttin