the man from glengarry-第26章

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more　than　this。　　He　determined　to　clear　away　the　whole　tree　at　a
single　load。　　As　soon　as　he　heard　Farquhar's　voice；　he　seized　hold
of　the　whiffletrees；　struck　his　team　a　sharp　blow　with　the　lines
their　first　blow　that　dayswung　them　round　to　the　top　of　the　tree；
ran　the　chain　through　its　swivel；　hooked　an　end　round　each　of　the
top　lengths；　swung　them　in　toward　the　butt；　unhooked　his　chain；
gathered　all　three　lengths　into　a　single　load；　faced　his　horses
toward　the　pile；　and　shouted　at　them。　　The　blacks；　unused　to　this
sort　of　treatment；　were　prancing　with　excitement；　and　when　the　word
came　they　threw　themselves　into　their　collars　with　a　fierceness
that　nothing　could　check；　and　amid　the　admiring　shouts　of　the
crowd；　tore　the　logs　through　the　black　soil　and　landed　them　safely
at　the　pile。　　It　was　the　work　of　only　a　few　minutes　to　unhitch　the
chain；　haul　the　logs；　one　by　one；　into　place；　and　dash　back　with
his　team　at　the　gallop　for　the　stumps；　while　Aleck　had　still
another　load　of　logs　to　draw。

Ranald's　first　stump　came　out　with　little　trouble；　and　was　borne　at
full　speed　to　the　pile。　　The　second　stump　gave　him　more　difficulty；
and　before　it　would　yield　he　had　to　sever　two　or　three　of　its
thickest　roots。

Together　the　teams　swung　round　to　their　last　stump。　　The　excitement
in　the　crowd　was　intense。　　Aleck's　team　was　moving　swiftly　and　with
the　steadiness　of　clockwork。　　The　blacks　were　frantic　with
excitement　and　hard　to　control。　　Ranald's　last　stump　was　a　pine　of
medium　size；　whose　roots　were　partly　burned　away。　　It　looked　like
an　easy　victim。　　Aleck's　was　an　ugly…looking　little　elm。

Ranald　thought　he　would　try　his　first　pull　without　the　use　of　the
ax。　　Quickly　he　backed　up　his　team　to　the　stump；　passed　the　chain
round　a　root　on　the　far　side；　drew　the　big　hook　far　up　the　chain；
hitched　it　so　as　to　give　the　shortest　possible　draught；　threw　the
chain　over　the　top　of　the　stump　to　give　it　purchase；　picked　up　his
lines；　and　called　to　his　team。　　With　a　rush　the　blacks　went　at　it。
The　chain　slipped　up　on　the　root；　tightened；　bit　into　the　wood；　and
then　the　blacks　flung　back。　　Ranald　swung　them　round　the　point　and
tried　them　again；　but　still　the　stump　refused　to　budge。

All　this　time　he　could　hear　Aleck　chopping　furiously　at　his　elm…
roots；　and　he　knew　that　unless　he　had　his　stump　out　before　his
rival　had　his　chain　hitched　for　the　pull　the　victory　was　lost。

For　a　moment　or　two　he　hesitated；　looking　round　for　the　ax。

〃Try　them　again；　Ranald；〃　cried　Farquhar。　　〃Haw　them　a　bit。〃

Once　more　Ranald　picked　up　the　lines；　swung　his　horses　round　to　the
left；　held　them　steady　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　with　a　yell　sent
them　at　their　pull。　　Magnificently　the　blacks　responded；　furiously
tearing　up　the　ground　with　their　feet。　　A　moment　or　two　they　hung
straining　on　their　chain；　refusing　to　come　back；　when　slowly　the
stump　began　to　move。

〃You　have　got　it；〃　cried　Farquhar。　　〃Gee　them　a　point　or　two。〃

But　already　Ranald　had　seen　that　this　was　necessary；　and　once　more
backed　his　team　to　readjust　the　chain　which　had　slipped　off　the
top。　　As　he　fastened　the　hook　he　heard　a　sharp　〃Back！〃　behind　him；
and　he　knew　that　the　next　moment　Aleck's　team　would　be　away　with
their　load。　　With　a　yell　he　sprang　at　his　lines；　lashed　the　blacks
over　the　back；　and　called　to　them　once　more。　　Again　his　team
responded；　and　with　a　mighty　heave；　the　stump　came　slowly　out；
carrying　with　it　what　looked　like　half　a　ton　of　earth。　　But　even　as
it　heaved；　he　heard　Aleck's　call　and　the　answering　crash；　and
before　he　could　get　his　team　a…going；　the　French…Canadians　were　off
for　their　pile　at　a　gallop；　with　the　lines　flying　in　the　air　behind
them。　　A　moment　later　he　followed；　the　blacks　hauling　their　stump
at　a　run。

Together　he　and　Aleck　reached　the　pile。　　It　only　remained　now　to
unhook　the　chain。　　In　vain　he　tugged　and　hauled。　　The　chain　was
buried　deep　beneath　the　stump　and　refused　to　move；　and　before　he
could　swing　his　team　about　and　turn　the　stump　over；　he　heard
Aleck's　shout　of　victory。

But　as　he　dropped　his　chain　and　was　leisurely　backing　his　horses；
he　heard　old　Farquhar　cry；　〃Hurry；　man！　　Hurry；　for　the　life　of
you！〃

Without　waiting　to　inquire　the　reason；　Ranald　wheeled　his　team；
gave　the　stump　a　half　turn；　released　his　chain；　and　drove　off　from
the　pile；　to　find　Aleck　still　busy　hooking　his　chain　to　his
whiffletree。

Aleck　had　had　the　same　difficulty　in　freeing　his　chain　as　Ranald；
but　instead　of　trying　to　detach　it　from　the　stump；　he　had　unhooked
the　other　end；　and　then；　with　a　mighty　backward　jerk；　had　snatched
it　from　the　stump。　　But　before　he　could　attach　it　to　his　place　on
the　whiffletree　again；　Ranald　stood　ready　for　work。

〃A　win；　lad！　　A　win！〃　cried　old　Farquhar；　more　excited　than　he　had
been　for　years。

〃It　is　no　win；〃　said　Aleck；　hotly。

〃No；　no；　lads；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　before　Farquhar　could　reply。
〃It　is　as　even　a　match　as　could　well　be。　　It　is　fine　teams　you　both
have　got；　and　you　have　handled　them　well。〃

But　all　the　same；　Ranald's　friends　were　wildly　enthusiastic　over
what　they　called　his　victory；　and　Don　could　hardly　keep　his　hands
off　him；　for　very　joy。

Aleck；　on　the　other　hand；　while　claiming　the　victory　because　his
team　was　at　the　pile　first；　was　not　so　sure　of　it　but　that　he　was
ready　to　fight　with　any　one　venturing　to　dispute　his　claim。　　But
the　men　all　laughed　at　him　and　his　rage；　until　he　found　it　wiser　to
be　good…humored　about　it。

〃Yon　lad　will　be　making　as　good　a　man　as　yourself；〃　said　Farquhar；
enthusiastically；　to　Macdonald　Bhain；　as　Ranald　drove　his　team　to
the　stable。

〃Aye；　and　a　better；　pray　God；〃　said　Macdonald　Bhain；　fervently；
looking　after　Ranald　with　loving　eyes。　　There　was　no　child　in　his
home；　and　his　brother's　son　was　as　his　own。

Meanwhile　Don　had　hurried　on；　leaving　his　team　with　Murdie　that　he
might　sing　Ranald's　praises　to　〃the　girls；〃　with　whom　Ranald　was
highly　popular；　although　he　avoided　them；　or　perhaps　because　he　did
so；　the　ways　of　women　being　past　understanding。

To　Mrs。　Murray　and　Maimie；　who　with　the　minister　and　Hughie；　had
come　over　to　the　supper；　he　went　first　with　his　tale。　　Graphically
he　depicted　the　struggle　from　its　beginning　to　the　last　dramatic
rush　to　the　pile；　dilating　upon　Ranald's　skill　and　pluck；　and　upon
the　wonderful　and　hitherto　unknown　virtues　of　Farquhar's　shiny
blacks。

〃You　ought　to　see　them！〃　cried　Don。　　〃You　bet　they　never　moved　in
their　lives　the　way　they　did　today。　　Tied　him！〃　he　continued。
〃Tied　him！　　Beat　him；　I　say；　but　Macdonald　Bhain　says　'Tied　him'
Aleck　McRae；　who　thinks　himself　so　mighty　smart　with　his　team。〃

Don　forgot　in　his　excitement　that　the　McRaes　and　their　friends　were
there　in　numbers。

〃So　he　is；〃　cried　Annie　Ross；　one　of　Aleck's　admirers。　　〃There　is
not　a　man　in　the　Indian　Lands　that　can　beat　Aleck　and　his　team。〃

〃Well；〃　exulted　Don；　〃a　boy　came　pretty　near　it　to…day。〃

But　Annie　only　stuck　out　her　lip　at　him　in　the　inimitable　female
manner；　and　ran　off　to　add　to　the　mischief　that　Don　had　already
made　between　Ranald　and　his　rival。

But　now　the　day's　work　was　over；　and　the　hour　for　the　day's　event
had　come；　for　supper　was　the　great　event　to　which　all　things　moved
at　bees。　　The　long　tables　stood　under　the　maple　trees；　spread　with
the　richest；　rarest；　deadliest　dainties　known　to　the　housewives　and
maidens　of　the　countryside。　　About　the　tables　stood　in　groups　the
white…aproned　girls；　tucked　and　frilled；　curled　and　ribboned　into
all　degrees　of　bewitching　loveliness。　　The　men　hurried　away　with
their　teams；　and　then　gave　themselves　to　the　serious　duty　of
getting　ready　for　supper；　using　many　pails　of　water　in　their
efforts　to　remove　the　black　from　the　burnt　wood　of　the　brule。

At　length　the　women　lost　all　patience　with　them；　and　sent　Annie
Ross；　with　two　or　three　companions；　to　call　them　to　supper。　　With
arms　intertwined；　and　with　much　chattering　and　giggling；　the　girls
made　their　way　to　the　group　of　men；　some　of　whom　were　engaged　in
putting　the　finishing　touches　to　their　toilet。

〃Supper　is　ready；〃　cried　Annie；　〃and　long　past　ready。　　You　need　not
be　trying　to　fix　yourselves　up　so　fine。　　You　are　just　as　bad　as　any
girls。　　Oh！〃　　Her　speech　ended　in　a　shriek；　which　was　echoed　by　the
others；　for　Aleck　McRae　rushed　at　them；　stretching　out　his　black
hands　toward　them。　　But　they　were　too　quick　for　him；　and　fled　for
protection　to　the　safe　precincts　of　the　tables。

At　length；　when　the　last　of　the　men　had　made　themselves；　as　they
thought；　presentable；　they　began　to　make　their　approach　to　the
tables；　slowly　and　shyly　for　the　most　part；　each　waiting　for　the
other。　　Aleck　McRae；　however；　knew　little　of　shyness；　but　walked
past　the　different　groups　of　girls；　throwing　on　either　hand　a
smile；　a　wink；　or　a　word；　as　he　might　find　suitable。

Suddenly　he　came　upon　the　group　where　the　minister's　wife　and　her
niece　were　standing。　　Here；　for　the　moment；　his　ease　forsook　him；
but　Mrs。　Murray　came　to　meet　him　with　outstretched　hand。

〃So　you　still　retain　your　laurels？〃　she　said；　with　a　frank　smile。
〃I　hear　it　was　a　great　battle。〃

Aleck　shook　hands　with　her　rather　awkwardly。　　He　was　not　on　the
easiest　terms　with　the　minister　and　his　wife。　　He　belonged
distinctly　to　the　careless　set；　and　rather　enjoyed　the　distinction。

〃Oh；　it　was　not　much；〃　he　said；　〃the　teams　were　well　matched。〃

〃Oh；　I　should　like　to　have　been　there。　　You　should　have　told　us
beforehand。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　more　than　I　expected　myself；〃　he　said。　　〃I　didn't　think
it　was　in　Farquhar's　team。〃

He　could　not　bring　himself　to　give　any　credit　to　Ranald；　and　though
Mrs。　Murray　saw　this；　she　refused　to　notice　it。　　She　was　none　the
less　anxious　to　win　Aleck's　confidence；　because　she　was　Ranald's
friend。

〃Do　you　know　my　niece？〃　she　said；　turning　to　Maimie。

Aleck　looked　into　Maimie's　face　with　such　open　admiration　that　she
felt　the　blush　come　up　in　her　cheeks。

〃Indeed；　she　is　worth　knowing；　but　I　don't　think　she　will　care　to
take　such　a　hand　as　that；〃　he　said；　stretching　out　a　hand　still
grimy　in　spite　of　much　washing。　　But　Maimie　had　learned　something
since　coming　to　her　aunt；　and　she　no　longer　judged　men　by　the　fit
of　their　clothes；　or　the　color　of　their　skin；　or　the　length　of
their　hair；　and　indeed；　as　she　looked　at　Aleck；　with　his　close…
buttoned　smock；　and　overalls　with　the　legs　tucked　neatly　into　the
tops　of　his　boots；　she　thought　he　was　the　trimmest　figure　she　had
seen　since　coming　to　the　country。　　She　took　Aleck's　hand　and　shook
it　warmly；　the　full　admiration　in　his　handsome　black　eyes　setting
her　blood　tingling　with　that　love　of　conquest　that　lies　in　every
woman's　heart。　　So　she　flung　out　her　flag　of　war；　and　smiled　back
at　him　her　sweetest。

〃You　have　a　fine　team；　I　hear；〃　she　said；　as　her　aunt　moved　away　to
greet　some　of　the　other　men；　who　were　evidently　waiting　to　get　a
word　with　her。

〃That　I　have；　you　better　believe；〃　replied　Aleck；　proudly。

〃It　was　very　clever　of　Ranald　to　come　so　near　beating　you；　wasn't
it？〃　she　said；　innocently。　　〃He　must　be　a　splendid　driver。〃

〃He　drives　pretty　well；〃　admitted　Aleck。　　〃He　did　nothing　else　all
last　winter　in　the　shanties。〃

〃He　is　so　young；　too；〃　went　on　Maimie。　　〃Just　a　boy；　isn't　he