the man from glengarry-第3章

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〃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？〃
Black　Hugh's　wrath　was　rising。

〃You　wud　think　now　it　wuz　yirsilf　that　owned　the　river。　　An'　bedad
it's　the　thought　of　yir　mind；　it　is。　　An'　it's　not　the　river　only；
but　the　whole　creation　ye　an　yir　brother　think　is　yours。　　Dan
Murphy　was　close　up　to　Macdonald　Dubh　by　this　time。　　〃Yis；　blank；
blank；　yir　faces；　an'　ye'd　like　to　turn　better　than　yirsilves　from
aff　the　river；　so　ye　wud；　ye　black…hearted　thaves　that　ye　are。〃

This；　of　course；　was　beyond　all　endurance。　　For　answer　Black　Hugh
smote　him　sudden　and　fierce　on　the　mouth；　and　Murphy　went　down。

〃Purty　one；〃　sang　out　Yankee；　cheerily。　　〃Now；　boys；　back　to　the
wall。〃

Before　Murphy　could　rise；　LeNoir　sprang　over　him　and　lit　upon
Macdonald　like　a　cat；　but　Macdonald　shook　himself　free　and　sprang
back　to　the　Glengarry　line　at　the　wall。

〃Mac　an'　Diabboil；〃　he　roared；　〃Glengarry　forever！〃

〃Glengarry！〃　yelled　the　four　Highlanders　beside　him；　wild　with　the
delight　of　battle。　　It　was　a　plain　necessity；　and　they　went　into　it
with　free　consciences　and　happy　hearts。

〃Let　me　at　him；〃　cried　Murphy；　struggling　past　LeNoir　towards
Macdonald。

〃Non！　　He　is　to　me！〃　yelled　LeNoir；　dancing　in　front　of　Macdonald。

〃Here；　Murphy；〃　called　out　Yankee；　obligingly；　〃help　yourself　this
way。〃　　Murphy　dashed　at　him；　but　Yankee's　long　arm　shot　out　to　meet
him；　and　Murphy　again　found　the　floor。

〃Come　on；　boys；〃　cried　Pat　Murphy；　Dan's　brother；　and　followed　by
half　a　dozen　others；　he　flung　himself　at　Yankee　and　the　line　of　men
standing　up　against　the　wall。　　But　Yankee's　arms　flashed　out　once；
twice；　thrice；　and　Pat　Murphy　fell　back　over　his　brother；　two
others　staggered　across　and　checked　the　oncoming　rush；　while　Dannie
Ross　and　big　Mack　Cameron　had　each　beaten　back　their　man；　and　the
Glengarry　line　stood　unbroken。　　Man　for　man　they　were　far　more　than
a　match　for　their　opponents；　and　standing　shoulder　to　shoulder；
with　their　backs　to　the　wall；　they　taunted　Murphy　and　his　gang　with
all　the　wealth　of　gibes　and　oaths　at　their　command。

〃Where's　the　rest　of　your　outfit；　Murphy？〃　drawled　Yankee。　　〃Don't
seem's　if　you'd　counted　right。〃

〃It　is　a　cold　day　for　the　parley　voos；〃　laughed　Big　Mack　Cameron。
〃Come　up；　lads；　and　take　a　taste　of　something　hot。〃

Then　the　Murphy　men；　clearing　away　the　fallen；　rushed　again。　　They
strove　to　bring　the　Highlanders　to　a　clinch；　but　Yankee's　voice　was
high　and　clear　in　command。

〃Keep　the　line；　boys！　　Don't　let　'em　draw　you！〃　　And　the　Glengarry
men　waited　till　they　could　strike；　and　when　they　struck　men　went
down　and　were　pulled　back　by　their　friends。

〃Intil　them；　bhoys！〃　yelled　Dan　Murphy；　keeping　out　of　range
himself。　　〃Intil　the　divils！〃　　And　again　and　again　his　men　crowded
down　upon　the　line　against　the　wall；　but　again　and　again　they　were
beaten　down　or　hurled　back　bruised　and　bleeding。

Meantime　LeNoir　was　devoting　himself　to　Black　Hugh　at　one　end　of
the　line；　dancing　in　upon　him　and　away　again；　but　without　much
result。　　Black　Hugh　refused　to　be　drawn　out；　and　fought　warily　on
defense；　knowing　the　odds　were　great　and　waiting　his　chance　to
deliver　one　good　blow；　which　was　all　he　asked。

The　Glengarry　men　were　enjoying　themselves　hugely；　and　when　not
shouting　their　battle…cry；　〃Glengarry　forever！〃　or　taunting　their
foes；　they　were　joking　each　other　on　the　fortunes　of　war。　　Big　Mack
Cameron；　who　held　the　center；　drew　most　of　the　sallies。　　He　was
easy…tempered　and　good…natured；　and　took　his　knocks　with　the　utmost
good　humor。

〃That　was　a　good　one；　Mack；〃　said　Dannie　Ross；　his　special　chum；　as
a　sounding　whack　came　in　on　Big　Mack's　face。　　〃As　true　as　death　I
will　be　telling　it　to　Bella　Peter。　　Bella；　the　daughter　of　Peter
McGregor；　was　supposed　to　be　dear　to　Big　Mack's　heart。

〃What　a　peety　she　could　not　see　him　the　now；〃　said　Finlay　Campbell。
〃Man　alive；　she　would　say　the　word　queeck！〃

〃'Tis　more　than　she　will　do　to　you　whatever；　if　you　cannot　keep　off
that　crapeau　yonder　a　little　better；〃　said　Big　Mack；　reaching　for　a
Frenchman　who　kept　dodging　in　upon　him　with　annoying　persistence。
Then　Mack　began　to　swear　Gaelic　oaths。

'Tain't　fair；　Mack！〃　called　out　Yankee　from　his　end　of　the　line；
〃bad　language　in　English　is　bad　enough；　but　in　Gaelic　it　must　be
uncommon　rough。〃　　So　they　gibed　each　other。　　But　the　tactics　of　the
enemy　were　exceedingly　irritating；　and　were　beginning　to　tell　upon
the　tempers　of　the　Highlanders。

〃Come　to　me；　ye　cowardly　little　devil；〃　roared　Mack　to　his
persisting　assailant。　　〃No　one　will　hurt　you！　　Come　away；　man！
A…a…ah…ouch！〃　　His　cry　of　satisfaction　at　having　grabbed　his　man
ended　in　a　howl　of　pain；　for　the　Frenchman　had　got　Mack's　thumb
between　his　teeth；　and　was　chewing　it　vigorously。

〃Ye　would；　would　you；　ye　dog？〃　roared　Big　Mack。　　He　closed　his
fingers　into　the　Frenchman's　gullet；　and　drew　him　up　to　strike；　but
on　every　side　hands　reached　for　him　and　stayed　his　blow。　　Then　he
lost　himself。　　With　a　yell　of　rage　he　jambed　his　man　back　into　the
crowd；　sinking　his　fingers　deeper　and　deeper　into　his　enemy's
throat　till　his　face　grew　black　and　his　head　fell　over　on　one　side。
But　it　was　a　fatal　move　for　Mack；　and　overcome　by　numbers　that
crowded　upon　him；　he　went　down　fighting　wildly　and　bearing　the
Frenchman　beneath　him。　　The　Glengarry　line　was　broken。　　Black　Hugh
saw　Mack's　peril；　and　knew　that　it　meant　destruction　to　all。　　With
a　wilder　cry　than　usual；　〃Glengarry！　　Glengarry！〃　he　dashed
straight　into　LeNoir；　who　gave　back　swiftly；　caught　two　men　who
were　beating　Big　Mack's　life　out；　and　hurled　them　aside；　and
grasping　his　friend's　collar；　hauled　him　to　his　feet；　and　threw　him
back　against　the　wall　and　into　the　line　again　with　his　grip　still
upon　his　Frenchman's　throat。

〃Let　dead　men　go；　Mack；〃　he　cried；　but　even　as　he　spoke　LeNoir；
seeing　his　opportunity；　sprang　at　him　and　with　a　backward　kick
caught　Macdonald　fair　in　the　face　and　lashed　him　hard　against　the
wall。　　It　was　the　terrible　French　'lash'　and　was　one　of　LeNoir's
special　tricks。　　Black　Hugh；　stunned　and　dazed；　leaned　back　against
the　wall；　spreading　out　his　hands　weakly　before　his　face。　　LeNoir；
seeing　victory　within　his　grasp；　rushed　in　to　finish　off　his
special　foe。　　But　Yankee　Jim；　who；　while　engaged　in　cheerfully
knocking　back　the　two　Murphys　and　others　who　took　their　turn　at
him；　had　been　keeping　an　eye　on　the　line　of　battle；　saw　Macdonald's
danger；　and　knowing　that　the　crisis　had　come；　dashed　across　the
line；　crying　〃Follow　me；　boys。〃　　His　long　arms　swung　round　his　head
like　the　sails　of　a　wind…mill；　and　men　fell　back　from　him　as　if
they　had　been　made　of　wood。　　As　LeNoir　sprang；　Yankee　shot　fiercely
at　him；　but　the　Frenchman；　too　quick　for　him；　ducked　and　leaped
upon　Black　Hugh；　who　was　still　swaying　against　the　wall；　bore　him
down　and　jumped　with　his　heavy　〃corked〃　boots　on　his　breast　and
face。　　Again　the　Glengarry　line　was　broken。　　At　once　the　crowd
surged　about　the　Glengarry　men；　who　now　stood　back　to　back；　beating
off　the　men　leaping　at　them　from　every　side；　as　a　stag　beats　off
dogs；　and　still　chanting　high　their　dauntless　cry；　〃Glengarry
forever；〃　to　which　Big　Mack　added　at　intervals；　〃To　hell　with　the
Papishes！〃　　Yankee；　failing　to　check　LeNoir's　attack　upon　Black
Hugh；　fought　off　the　men　crowding　upon　him；　and　made　his　way　to　the
corner　where　the　Frenchman　was　still　engaged　in　kicking　the
prostrate　Highlander　to　death。

〃Take　that；　you　blamed　cuss；〃　he　said；　catching　LeNoir　in　the　jaw
and　knocking　his　head　with　a　thud　against　the　wall。　　Before　he
could　strike　again　he　was　thrown　against　his　enemy；　who　clutched
him　and　held　like　a　vice。



CHAPTER　II

VENGEANCE　IS　MINE


The　Glengarry　men　had　fought　their　fight；　and　it　only　remained　for
their　foes　to　wreak　their　vengeance　upon　them　and　wipe　out　old
scores。　　One　minute　more　would　have　done　for　them；　but　in　that
minute　the　door　came　crashing　in。　　There　was　a　mighty　roar；
〃Glengarry！　　Glengarry！〃　and　the　great　Macdonald　himself；　with　the
boy　Ranald　and　some　half…dozen　of　his　men　behind　him；　stood　among
them。　　On　all　hands　the　fight　stopped。　　A　moment　he　stood；　his
great　head　and　shoulders　towering　above　the　crowd；　his　tawny　hair
and　beard　falling　around　his　face　like　a　great　mane；　his　blue　eyes
gleaming　from　under　his　shaggy　eyebrows　like　livid　lightning。　　A
single　glance　around　the　room；　and　again　raising　his　battle…cry；
〃Glengarry！〃　he　seized　the　nearest　shrinking　Frenchman；　lifted　him
high；　and　hurled　him　smashing　into　the　bottles　behind　the　counter。
His　men；　following　him；　bounded　like　tigers　on　their　prey。　　A　few
minutes　of　fierce；　eager　fighting；　and　the　Glengarry　men　were　all
freed　and　on　their　feet；　all　except　Black　Hugh；　who　lay　groaning　in
his　corner。　　〃Hold；　lads！〃　Macdonald　Bhain　cried；　in　his　mighty
voice。　　〃Stop；　I'm　telling　you。〃　　The　fighting　ceased。

〃Dan　Murphy！〃　he　cried；　casting　his　eye　round　the　room；　〃where　are
you；　ye　son　of　Belial？〃

Murphy；　crouching　at　the　back　of　the　crowd　near　the　door；　sought　to
escape。

〃Ah！　there　you　are！〃　cried　Macdonald；　and　reaching　through　the
crowd　with　his　great；　long　arm；　he　caught　Murphy　by　the　hair　of　the
head　and　dragged　him　forward。

〃R…r…r…a…a…t！　　R…r…r…a…a…t！　　R…r…r…a…a…t！〃　he　snarled；　shaking　him
till　his　teeth　rattled。　　〃It　is　yourself　that　is　the　cause　of　this
wickedness。　　Now；　may　the　Lord　have　mercy　on　your　soul。〃　　With　one
hand　he　gripped　Murphy　by　the　throat；　holding　him　at　arm's　length；
and　raised　his　huge　fist　to　strike。　　But　before　the　blow　fell　he
paused。

〃No！〃　he　muttered；　in　a　disappointed　tone；　〃it　is　not　good　enough。
I　will　not　be　demeaning　myself。　　Hence；　you　r…r…a…a…t！〃　　As　he
spoke　he　lifted　the　shaking　wretch　as　if　he　had　been　a　bundle　of
clothes；　swung　him　half　round　and　hurled　him　crashing　through　the
window。

〃Is　there　no　goot　man　here　at　all　who　will　stand　before　me？〃　he
raged　in　a　wild；　joyous　fury。　　〃Will　not　two　of　you　come　forth；
then？〃　　No　one　moved。　　〃Come　to　me！〃　he　suddenly　cried；　and
snatching　two　of　the　enemy；　he　dashed　their　heads　together；　and
threw　them　insensible　on　the　floor。

Then　he　caught　sight　of　his　brother　for　the　first　time　lying　in　the
corner　with　Big　Mack　supporting　his　head；　and　LeNoir　standing　near。

〃What　is　this？　　What　is　this？〃　he　cried；　striding　toward　LeNoir。
〃And　is　it　you　that　has　done　this　work？〃　he　asked；　in　a　voice　of
subdued　rage。

〃Oui！〃　cried　LeNoir；　stepping　back　and　putting　up　his　hands；　〃das
me；　Louis　LeNoir！　by　Gar！〃　　He　struck　himself　on　the　breast　as　he
spoke。

〃Out　of　my　way！〃　cried　Macdonald；　swinging　his　open　hand　on　the
Frenchman's　ear。　　With　a　swift　sweep　he　brushed　LeNoir　aside　from
his　place；　and　ignoring　him　stooped　over　his　brother。　　But　LeNoir
was　no　coward；　and　besides　his　boasted　reputation　was　at　stake。　　He
thought　he　saw　his　chance；　and　rushing　at　Macdonald　as　he　was
bending　over　his　brother；　delivered　his　terrible　'lash'。　　But
Macdonald　had　not　lived　with　and　fought　with　Frenchmen　all　these
years　without　knowing　their　tricks　and　ways。　　He　saw　LeNoir's
'lash'　coming；　and　quickly　turning　his　head；　avoided　the　blow。

〃Ah！　would　ye？　　Take　that；　then；　and　be　quate！〃