the man from glengarry-第48章

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grateful。〃　　Ranald's　voice　was　low　and　even；　but　unknown　to　himself
there　was　in　it　a　tone　of　stern　resolve　that　struck　Mr。　St。　Clair's
ear。　　He　knew　his　manager。　　That　tone　meant　war。　　Hastily　he
changed　his　front。

〃Yes；　yes；　we　are　quite　sure　of　that；〃　he　said；　with　increasing
nervousness；　〃but　we　are　thinking　of　our　own　interests　as　well　as
yours。　　Indeed；　I　feel　sure〃here　his　voice　became　even　more
kindly　and　confidential〃that　in　advancing　your　position　and
prospects　we　areI　am　only　doing　what　will　bring　myself　the
greatest　satisfaction　in　the　end；　for　you　know；　Ranald；　Iwe　do
not　regard　you　as　a　stranger。〃　　Ranald　winced　and　grew　pale。　　〃We
my　familyhave　always　felt　toward　you　aswell；　in　fact；　as　if　you
were　one　of　us。〃

Mr。　St。　Clair　had　delivered　his　last　and　deadliest　blow　and　it
found　Ranald's　heart；　but　with　pain　blanching　his　cheek　Ranald
stood　up　determined　to　end　the　fight。　　It　was　by　no　means　easy　for
him　to　strike。　　Before　him　he　saw　not　this　man　with　his　ingenious
and　specious　pleadingit　would　not　have　been　a　difficult　matter　to
have　brushed　him　asidebut　he　was　looking　into　the　blue　eyes　of
the　woman　he　had　for　seven　years　loved　more　than　he　loved　his　life；
and　he　knew　that　when　his　blow　fell　it　would　fall　upon　the　face
that；　only　a　few　hours　ago；　had　smiled　upon　him；　and　upon　the　lips
that　had　whispered　to　him；　〃I　will　remember；　Ranald。〃　　Yet　he　was
none　the　less　resolved。　　With　face　set　and　bloodless；　and　eyes　of
gleaming　fire；　he　faced　the　man　that　represented　what　was　at　once
dearest　in　life　and　what　was　most　loathsome　in　conduct。

〃Give　me　a　moment；　Mr。　St。　Clair；〃　he　said；　with　a　note　of
authority　in　his　tone。　　〃You　have　made　me　an　offer　of　a　position
such　as　I　could　hardly　hope　to　expect　for　years　to　come；　but　I
value　it　chiefly　because　it　means　you　have　absolute　confidence　in
me；　you　believe　in　my　ability　and　in　my　integrity。　　I　am　determined
that　you　will　never　have　cause　to　change　your　opinion　of　me。　　You
are　about　to　complete　a　deal　involving　a　very　large　sum　of　money。
I　have　a　report　here；〃　tapping　his　desk；　〃which　you　have　not　yet
seen。〃

〃It　really　doesn't　matter！〃　interjected　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃you　see；　my
dear　fellow〃

〃It　matters　to　me。　　It　is　a　report　which　not　only　you　ought　to
have；　but　which；　in　justice；　the　buyer　of　the　Bass　River　Limits
ought　to　see。　　That　report；　Mr。　St。　Clair；　ought　to　be　given　to
Colonel　Thorp。〃

〃This　is　sheer　folly；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　St。　Clair；　impatiently。

〃It　is　the　only　honorable　course。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　insult　me；　sir？〃

〃There　is　only　one　other　thing　I　would　rather　not　do；〃　said　Ranald；
in　a　grave　voice；　〃and　that　is　refuse　Colonel　Thorp　the　information
he　is　entitled　to　from　us。〃

〃Sir！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃this　is　outrageous；　and　I　demand
an　apology　or　your　resignation！〃

〃Colonel　Thorp；〃　announced　a　clerk；　opening　the　door。

〃Tell　Colonel　Thorp　I　cannotah；　Colonel　Thorp；　I　am　glad　to　see
you。　　Will　you　step　this　way？〃　opening　the　door　leading　to　his　own
office。

The　colonel；　a　tall；　raw…boned；　typical　〃Uncle　Sam；〃　even　to　the
chin　whisker　and　quid　of　tobacco；　had　an　eye　like　an　eagle。　　He
shot　a　keen　glance　at　Mr。　St。　Clair　and　then　at　Ranald。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　helping　himself　to　a　chair；　〃this　here's　all　right。
This　is　your　manager；　eh？〃

〃Mr。　Macdonald；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　introducing　him。

〃How　do　you　do？　　Heard　about　you　some；〃　said　the　colonel；　shaking
hands　with　him。　　〃Quite　a　knocker；　I　believe。　　Well；　you　rather
look　like　it。　　Used　to　do　some　myself。　　Been　up　north；　so　the　boss
says。　　Good　country；　eh？〃

〃Fine　sporting　country；　Colonel；〃　interrupted　St。　Clair。　　〃The
game；　Mr。　Macdonald　says；　come　right　into　your　tent　and　bed　to　be
shot。〃

〃Do；　eh？〃　　The　colonel's　eagle　eye　lighted　up。　　〃Now；　what　sort　of
game？〃

〃Almost　every　kind；　Colonel；〃　replied　Ranald。

〃Don't　say！　　Used　to　do　a　little　myself。　　Moose？〃

〃Yes；　I　saw　a　number　of　moose　and　any　amount　of　other　deer　and；　of
course；　plenty　of　bear。〃

〃Don't　say！　　How'd　you　come　to　leave　them？　　Couldn't　have　done　it
myself；　by　the　great　Sam！　　Open　timber？〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Ranald；　slowly；　〃on　the　east　of　the　Bass　River〃

〃All　that　north　country；　Colonel；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃is　pretty
much　the　same；　I　imagine；　a　little　of　all　kinds。〃

〃Much　water；　streams；　and　such？〃

〃Yes；　on　the　west　side　of　the　Bass　there　is　plenty　of　water；　a
number　of　small　streams　and　lakes；　but〃

〃Oh；　all　through　that　north　country；　Colonel；　you　are　safe　in
having　a　canoe　in　your　outfit；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　again
interrupting　Ranald。

〃Lots　of　water；　eh？　　Just　like　Maine；　ha；　ha！〃　　The　colonel's　quiet
chuckle　was　good　to　hear。

〃Reminds　me〃here　he　put　his　hand　into　his　inside　pocket　and
pulled　out　a　flask；　〃excuse　the　glass；〃　he　said；　offering　it　to　Mr。
St。　Clair；　who　took　a　slight　sip　and　handed　it　back。

〃Have　a　little　refreshment；〃　said　the　colonel；　offering　it　to
Ranald。

〃I　never　take　it；　thank　you。〃

〃Don't？　　Say；　by　the　great　Sam；　how'd　you　get　through　all　that　wet
country？　　Wall；　it　will　not　hurt　you　to　leave　it　alone；〃　solemnly
winking　at　St。　Clair；　and　taking　a　long　pull　himself。　　〃Good　for
the　breath；〃　he　continued；　putting　the　flask　in　his　pocket。　　〃Now；
about　those　limits　of　mine；　the　boss　here　has　been　telling　you
about　our　deal？〃

〃A　little；〃　said　Ranald。

〃We've　hardly　had　time　to　look　into　anything　yet；〃　said　Mr。　St。
Clair；　〃but　if　you　will　step　into　my　office；　Colonel；　I　have　the
papers　and　maps　there。〃　　Mr。　St。　Clair's　tone　was　anxious。　　Once
more　the　colonel　shot　a　glance　at　him。

〃You　have　been　on　the　spot；　I　judge；〃　he　said　to　Ranald；　rising　and
following　Mr。　St。　Clair。

〃Yes；　over　it　all。〃

〃Wall；　come　along；　you're　the　map　we　want；　eh？　　Maps　are　chiefly
for　purposes　of　deception；　I　have　found；　ha；　ha！　and　there　ain't
none　of　'em　right；〃　and　he　held　the　door　for　Ranald　to　enter。

Mr。　St。　Clair　was　evidently　annoyed。　　Unfolding　a　map　he　laid　it
out　on　the　table。　　〃This　is　the　place；　I　believe；〃　he　said；　putting
his　finger　down　upon　the　map。

〃Ain't　surveyed；　I　judge；〃　said　the　colonel　to　Ranald。

〃No；　only　in　part；　the　old　Salter　lines　are　there；　but　I　had　to　go
away　beyond　these。〃

〃Warn't　'fraid　of　gettin'　lost；　eh？　　Ha；　ha！　　Wall　show　us　your
route。〃

Ranald　put　his　finger　on　the　map；　and　said：　　〃I　struck　the　Bass
River　about　here；　and　using　that　as　a　base；　first　explored　the
whole　west　side；　for；　I　should　say；　about　ten　miles　back　from　the
river。〃

〃Don't　say！　　How'd　you　grub？　　Game　mostly？〃

〃Well；　we　carried　some　pork　and　Hudson　Bay　hard　tack　and　tea；　and
of　course；　we　could　get　all　the　fish　and　game　we　wanted。〃

〃Lots　of　game；　eh？　　Small　and　big？〃　　The　colonel　was　evidently　much
interested　in　this　part　of　Ranald's　story。　　〃By　the　great　Sam；　must
go　up　there！〃

〃It　would　do　you　all　the　good　in　the　world；　Colonel；〃　said　Mr。　St。
Clair；　heartily。　　〃You　must　really　go　up　with　your　men　and　help
them　lay　out　the　ground；　you　know。〃

〃That's　so！　　Now　if　you　were　lumbering　in　there；　how'd　you　get　the
timber　out？〃

〃Down　the　Bass　River　to　Lake　Nipissing；〃　said　Ranald；　pointing　out
the　route。

〃Yes；　but　how'd　you　get　it　to　the　Bass？　　These　limits；　I　understand；
lie　on　both　sides　of　the　Bass；　don't　they？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　the　Bass　cuts　through　it　the　short　way？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Wall；　does　that　mean　six　or　eight　or　ten　miles　of　a　haul？〃

〃On　the　west　side；〃　replied　Ranald；　〃no。　　There　are　a　number　of
small　streams　and　lakes　which　you　could　utilize。〃

〃And　on　the　east　side？〃

〃You　see；　Colonel；〃　broke　in　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃that　whole　country　is
one　net…work　of　water…ways。　　Notice　the　map　here；　and　there　are
always　a　number　of　lakes　not　marked。〃

〃That　is　quite　true；〃　said　Ranald；　〃as　a　rule；　but　on　the　east
side〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　hastily；　〃you　will　find　great
differences　in　different　parts　of　the　country。〃

Mr。　St。　Clair　folded　up　the　map　and　threw　it　on　the　table。

〃Let's　see；〃　said　the　colonel；　taking　up　the　map　again。　　〃Now　how
about　the　camps；　Mr。　Macdonald；　where　do　you　locate　them？〃

〃I　have　a　rough　draught　here　in　which　the　bases　for　camps　are
indicated；〃　said　Ranald；　ignoring　the　imploring　and　angry　looks　of
his　chief。

〃Let's　have　a　look　at　'em；〃　said　the　colonel。

〃Oh；　you　haven't　shown　me　this；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　taking　the
draught　from　Ranald。

〃No；　sir；　you　have　not　seen　my　final　report。〃

〃No；　not　yet；　of　course。　　We　have　hardly　had　time　yet；　Colonel；　but
Mr。　Macdonald　will　make　a　copy　of　this　for　you　and　send　it　in　a　day
or　two；〃　replied　Mr。　St。　Clair；　folding　up　the　sketch；　nervously；
and　placing　it　on　his　desk。　　The　colonel　quietly　picked　up　the
sketch　and　opened　it　out。

〃You　have　got　that　last　report　of　yours；　I　suppose；〃　he　said；　with
a　swift　glance　at　Mr。　St。　Clair。　　That　gentleman's　face　was　pallid
and　damp；　his　whole　fortune　hung　on　Ranald's　reply。　　It　was　to　him
a　moment　of　agony。

Ranald　glanced　at　his　face；　and　paused。　　Then　drawing　his　lips　a
little　tighter；　he　said：　　〃Colonel　Thorp；　my　final　report　has　not
yet　been　handed　in。　　Mr。　St。　Clair　has　not　seen　it。　　In　my
judgment〃　here　Mr。　St。　Clair　leaned　his　hand　hard　upon　his　desk
〃you　are　getting　full　value　for　your　money；　but　I　would　suggest
that　you　go　yourself　or　send　your　inspector　to　explore　the　limits
carefully　before　you　complete　the　deal。〃

Colonel　Thorp；　who　had　been　carefully　scanning　the　sketch　in　his
hand；　suddenly　turned　and　looked　Ranald　steadily　in　the　eye。
〃These　marks　on　the　west　side　mean　camps？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃There　are　very　few　on　the　east　side？〃

〃There　are　very　few；　the　east　side　is　inferior　to　the　west。〃

〃Much？〃

〃Yes；　much　inferior。〃

〃But　in　your　opinion　the　limit　is　worth　the　figure？〃

〃I　would　undertake　to　make　money　out　of　it；　it　is　good　value。〃

The　colonel　chewed　hard　for　a　minute；　then　turning　to　Mr。　St。
Clair；　he　said：　　〃Wall；　Mr。　St。　Clair；　I'll　give　you　one　hundred
thousand　for　your　limit；　but　by　the　great　Sam；　I'd　give　twice　the
sum　for　your　manager；　if　he's　for　sale！　　He's　a　man！〃　　The　emphasis
on　the　he　was　ever　so　slight；　but　it　was　enough。　　Mr。　St。　Clair
bowed；　and　sinking　down　into　his　chair；　busied　himself　with　his
papers。

〃Wall；〃　said　the　colonel；　〃that's　settled；　and　that　reminds　me；〃　he
added；　pulling　out　his　flask；　〃good　luck　to　the　Bass　River　Limits！〃

He　handed　the　flask　to　Mr。　St。　Clair；　who　eagerly　seized　it　and
took　a　long　drink。

〃Goes　good　sometimes；〃　said　the　colonel；　innocently。　　〃Wall；　here's
lookin'　at　you；〃　he　continued；　bowing　toward　Ranald；　〃and　by　the
great　Sam；　you　suit　me　well！　　If　you　ever　feel　like　a　change　of
air；　indicate　the　same　to　Colonel　Thorp。〃

〃Ah；　Colonel；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　who　had　recovered　his　easy；
pleasant　manner；　〃we　can　sell　limits　but　not　men。〃

〃No；　by　the　great　Sammy；〃　replied　the　colonel；　using　the　more
emphatic　form　of　his　oath；　〃ner　buy　'em！　　Wall；〃　he　added；　〃when
you　have　the　papers　ready；　let　me　know。　　Good　day！〃

〃Very　good；　Colonel；　good　by；　good　by！〃

The　colonel　did　not　notice　Mr。　St。　Clair's　offered　hand；　but
nodding　to　Ranald；　sauntered　out　of　the　office；　leaving　the　two　men
alone。　　For　a　few　moments　Mr。　St。　Clair　turned　over　his　papers　in
silence。　　His　face　was　flu