the man from glengarry-第5章

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After　a　few　moments　the　boy　Ranald　slipped　away　after　him　to　beg
that　he　might　be　allowed　to　go　with　him　to…morrow。　　Stealing
silently　through　the　bushes　he　came　to　where　he　could　see　the
kneeling　figure　of　his　uncle　swaying　up　and　down；　and　caught　the
sounds　of　words　broken　with　groans：

〃Let　me　go；　O　Lord！　　Let　me　go！〃　　He　pled　now　in　Gaelic　and　again
in　English。　　〃Let　not　the　man　be　escaping　his　just　punishment。
Grant　me　this；　O；　Lord！　　Let　me　smite　but　once！〃　　Then　after　a
pause　came　the　words；　〃'Vengeance　is　mine　saith　the　Lord！'
Vengeance　is　mine！　　Ay；　it　is　the　true　word！　　But；　Lord；　let　not
this　man　of　Belial；　this　Papish；　escape！〃　　Then　again；　like　a
refrain　would　come　the　words；　〃Vengeance　is　mine。　　Vengeance　is
mine；〃　in　ever…deeper　agony；　till　throwing　himself　on　his　face；　he
lay　silent　a　long　time。

Suddenly　he　rose　to　his　knees　and　so　remained；　looking　steadfastly
before　him　into　the　woods。　　The　wind　came　sighing　through　the　pines
with　a　wail　and　a　sob。　　Macdonald　shuddered　and　then　fell　on　his
face　again。　　The　Vision　was　upon　him。　　〃Ah；　Lord；　it　is　the　bloody
hands　and　feet　I　see。　　It　is　enough。〃　　At　this　Ranald　slipped　back
awe…stricken　to　the　camp。　　When；　after　an　hour；　Macdonald　came　back
into　the　firelight；　his　face　was　pale　and　wet；　but　calm；　and　there
was　an　exalted　look　in　his　eyes。　　His　men　gazed　at　him　with　wonder
and　awe　in　their　faces。

〃Mercy　on　us！　　He　will　be　seeing　something；〃　said　Big　Mack　to
Yankee　Jim。

〃Seein'　somethin'？　　What？　　A　bar？〃　inquired　Yankee。

〃Whist　now！〃　said　Big　Mack；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃He　has　the　sight。　　Be
quate　now；　will　you？　　He　will　be　speaking。〃

For　a　short　time　Macdonald　sat　gazing　into　the　fire　in　silence；
then　turning　his　face　toward　the　men　who　were　waiting；　he　said：
〃There　will　be　no　more　of　this。　　'Vengeance　is　mine　saith　the
Lord！'　　It　is　not　for　me。　　The　Lord　will　do　His　own　work。　　It　is
the　will　of　the　Lord。〃　　And　the　men　knew　that　the　last　word　had
been　said　on　that　subject；　and　that　LeNoir　was　safe。



CHAPTER　III

THE　MANSE　IN　THE　BUSH


Straight　north　from　the　St。　Lawrence　runs　the　road　through　the
Indian　Lands。　　At　first　its　way　lies　through　open　country；　from
which　the　forest　has　been　driven　far　back　to　the　horizon　on　either
side；　for　along　the　great　river　these　many　years　villages　have
clustered；　with　open　fields　about　them　stretching　far　away。　　But
when　once　the　road　leaves　the　Front；　with　its　towns　and　villages
and　open　fields；　and　passes　beyond　Martintown　and　over　the　North
Branch；　it　reaches　a　country　where　the　forest　is　more　a　feature
of　the　landscape。　　And　when　some　dozen　or　more　of　the　crossroads
marking　the　concessions　which　lead　off　to　east　and　west　have　been
passed；　the　road　seems　to　strike　into　a　different　world。　　The
forest　loses　its　conquered　appearance；　and　dominates　everything。
There　is　forest　everywhere。　　It　lines　up　close　and　thick　along　the
road；　and　here　and　there　quite　overshadows　it。　　It　crowds　in　upon
the　little　farms　and　shuts　them　off　from　one　another　and　from　the
world　outside；　and　peers　in　through　the　little　windows　of　the　log
houses　looking　so　small　and　lonely；　but　so　beautiful　in　their
forest　frames。　　At　the　nineteenth　cross…road　the　forest　gives
ground　a　little；　for　here　the　road　runs　right　past　the　new　brick
church；　which　is　almost　finished；　and　which　will　be　opened　in　a　few
weeks。　　Beyond　the　cross；　the　road　leads　along　the　glebe；　and　about
a　quarter　of　a　mile　beyond　the　corner　there　opens　upon　it　the　big；
heavy　gate　that　the　members　of　the　Rev。　Alexander　Murray's
congregation　must　swing　when　they　wish　to　visit　the　manse。　　The
opening　of　this　gate；　made　of　upright　poles　held　by　auger…holes　in
a　frame　of　bigger　poles；　was　almost　too　great　a　task　for　the
minister's　seven…year…old　son　Hughie；　who　always　rode　down；
standing　on　the　hind　axle　of　the　buggy；　to　open　it　for　his　father。
It　was　a　great　relief　to　him　when　Long　John　Cameron；　who　had　the
knack　of　doing　things　for　people's　comfort；　brought　his　ax　and　big
auger　one　day　and　made　a　kind　of　cradle　on　the　projecting　end　of
the　top　bar；　which　he　then　weighted　with　heavy　stones；　so　that　the
gate；　when　once　the　pin　was　pulled　out　of　the　post；　would　swing
back　itself　with　Hughie　straddled　on　the　top　of　it。

It　was　his　favorite　post　of　observation　when　waiting　for　his　mother
to　come　home　from　one　of　her　many　meetings。　　And　on　this　particular
March　evening　he　had　been　waiting　long　and　impatiently。

Suddenly　he　shouted：　　〃Horo；　mamma！　　Horo！〃　　He　had　caught　sight　of
the　little　black　pony　away　up　at　the　church　hill；　and　had　become　so
wildly　excited　that　he　was　now　standing　on　the　top　bar　frantically
waving　his　Scotch　bonnet　by　the　tails。　　Down　the　slope　came　the
pony　on　the　gallop；　for　she　knew　well　that　soon　Lambert　would　have
her　saddle　off；　and　that　her　nose　would　be　deep　into　bran　mash
within　five　minutes　more。　　But　her　rider　sat　her　firmly　and　brought
her　down　to　a　gentle　trot　by　the　time　the　gate　was　reached。

〃Horo；　mamma！〃　shouted　Hughie；　clambering　down　to　open　the　gate。

〃Well；　my　darling！　have　you　been　a　good　boy　all　afternoon？〃

〃Huh…huh！　　Guess　who's　come　back　from　the　shanties！〃

〃I'm　sure　I　can't　guess。　　Who　is　it？〃　　It　was　a　very　bright　and
very　sweet　face；　with　large；　serious；　gray…brown　eyes　that　looked
down　on　the　little　boy。

〃Guess；　mamma！〃

〃Why；　who　can　it　be？　　Big　Mack？〃

〃No！〃　　Hughie　danced　delightedly。　　〃Try　again。　　He's　not　big。〃

〃I　am　sure　I　can　never　guess。　　Whoa；　Pony！〃　　Pony　was　most
unwilling　to　get　in　close　enough　to　the　gate…post　to　let　Hughie
spring　on　behind　his　mother。

〃You'll　have　to　be　quick；　Hughie；　when　I　get　near　again。　　There
now！　　Whoa；　Pony！　　Take　care；　child！〃

Hughie　had　sprung　clean　off　the　post；　and　lighting　on　Pony's　back
just　behind　the　saddle；　had　clutched　his　mother　round　the　waist；
while　the　pony　started　off　full　gallop　for　the　stable。

〃Now；　mother；　who　is　it？〃　insisted　Hughie；　as　Lambert；　the　French…
Canadian　man…of…all…work；　lifted　him　from　his　place。

〃You'll　have　to　tell　me；　Hughie！〃

〃Ranald！〃

〃Ranald？〃

〃Yes；　Ranald　and　his　father；　Macdonald　Dubh；　and　he's　hurted　awful
bad；　and〃

〃Hurt；　Hughie；〃　interposed　the　mother；　gently。

〃Huh…huh！　　Ranald　said　he　was　hurted。〃

〃Hurt；　you　mean；　Hughie。　　Who　was　hurt？　　Ranald？〃

〃No；　his　father　was　hurtedhurtawful　bad。　　He　was　lying　down　in
the　sleigh；　and　Yankee　Jim〃

〃Mr。　Latham；　you　mean；　Hughie。〃

〃Huh…huh；〃　went　on　Hughie；　breathlessly；　〃and　YankeeMr。　Latham
asked　if　the　minister　was　home；　and　I　said　'No；'　and　then　they　went
away。〃

〃What　was　the　matter？　　Did　you　see　them；　Lambert？〃

〃Oui〃　（〃Way；〃　Lambert　pronounced　it）；　〃but　dey　not　tell　me　what
he's　hurt。〃

The　minister's　wife　went　toward　the　house；　with　a　shadow　on　her
face。　　She　shared　with　her　husband　his　people's　sorrows。　　She　knew
even　better　than　he　the　life…history　of　every　family　in　the
congregation。　　Macdonald　Dubh　had　long　been　classed　among　the　wild
and　careless　in　the　community；　and　it　weighed　upon　her　heart　that
his　life　might　be　in　danger。

〃I　shall　see　him　to…morrow；〃　she　said　to　herself。

For　a　few　moments　she　stood　on　the　doorstep　looking　at　the　glow　in
the　sky　over　the　dark　forest；　which　on　the　west　side　came　quite　up
to　the　house　and　barn。

〃Look；　Hughie；　at　the　beautiful　tints　in　the　clouds；　and　see　the
dark　shadows　pointing　out　toward　us　from　the　bush。〃　　Hughie　glanced
a　moment。

〃Mamma；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　just　dead　for　supper。〃

〃Oh；　not　quite；　I　hope；　Hughie。　　But　look；　I　want　you　to　notice
those　clouds　and　the　sky　behind　them。　　How　lovely！　　Oh；　how
wonderful！〃

Her　enthusiasm　caught　the　boy；　and　for　a　few　moment　she　forgot　even
his　hunger；　and　holding　his　mother's　hand；　gazed　up　at　the　western
sky。　　It　was　a　picture　of　rare　beauty　that　lay　stretched　out　from
the　manse　back　door。　　Close　to　the　barn　came　the　pasture…field
dotted　with　huge　stumps；　then　the　brule　where　the　trees　lay　fallen
across　one　another；　over　which　the　fire　had　run；　and　then　the　solid
wall　of　forest　here　and　there　overtopped　by　the　lofty　crest　of　a
white　pine。　　Into　the　forest　in　the　west　the　sun　was　descending　in
gorgeous　robes　of　glory。　　The　treetops　caught　the　yellow　light；　and
gleamed　like　the　golden　spires　of　some　great　and　fabled　city。

〃Oh；　mamma；　see　that　big　pine　top！　　Doesn't　it　look　like　windows？〃
cried　Hughie；　pointing　to　one　of　the　lofty　pine　crests　through
which　the　sky　quivered　like　molten　gold。

〃And　the　streets　of　the　city　are　pure　gold；〃　said　the　mother；
softly。

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Hughie；　confidently；　for　to　him　all　the　scenes
and　stories　of　the　Bible　had　long　been　familiar。　　〃Is　it　like　that；
mamma？〃

〃Much　better；　ever　so　much　better　than　you　can　think。〃

〃Oh；　mamma；　I'm　just　awful　hungry！〃

〃Come　away；　then；　so　am　I。　　What　have　you　got；　Jessie；　for　two　very
hungry　people？〃

〃Porridge　and　pancakes；〃　said　Jessie；　the　minister's　〃girl；〃　who
not　only　ruled　in　the　kitchen；　but　using　the　kitchen　as　a　base；
controlled　the　interior　economy　of　the　manse。

〃Oh；　goody！〃　yelled　Hughie；　〃just　what　I　like。〃　　And　from　the
plates　of　porridge　and　the　piles　of　pancakes　that　vanished　from　his
plate　no　one　could　doubt　his　word。

Their　reading　that　night　was　about　the　city　whose　streets　were　of
pure　gold；　and　after　a　little　talk；　Hughie　and　his　baby　brother
were　tucked　away　safely　for　the　night；　and　the　mother　sat　down　to
her　never…ending　task　of　making　and　mending。

The　minister　was　away　at　Presbytery　meeting　in　Montreal；　and　for
ten　days　his　wife　would　stand　in　the　breach。　　Of　course　the　elders
would　take　the　meeting　on　the　Sabbath　day　and　on　the　Wednesday
evening；　but　for　all　other　ministerial　duties　when　the　minister　was
absent　the　congregation　looked　to　the　minister's　wife。　　And　soon　it
came　that　the　sick　and　the　sorrowing　and　the　sin…burdened　found　in
the　minister's　wife　such　help　and　comfort　and　guidance　as　made　the
absence　of　the　minister　seem　no　great　trial　after　all。　　Eight　years
ago　the　minister　had　brought　his　wife　from　a　home　of　gentle
culture；　from　a　life　of　intellectual　and　artistic　pursuits；　and
from　a　circle　of　loving　friends　of　which　she　was　the　pride　and　joy；
to　this　home　in　the　forest。　　There；　isolated　from　all　congenial
companionship　with　her　own　kind；　deprived　of　all　the　luxuries　and
of　many　of　the　comforts　of　her　young　days；　and　of　the　mental
stimulus　of　that　contact　of　minds　without　which　few　can　maintain
intellectual　life；　she　gave　herself　without　stint　to　her　husband's
people；　with　never　a　thought　of　self…pity　or　self…praise。　　By　day
and　by　night　she　labored　for　her　husband　and　family　and　for　her
people；　for　she　thought　them　hers。　　She　taught　the　women　how　to
adorn　their　rude　homes；　gathered　them　into　Bible　classes　and　sewing
circles；　where　she　read　and　talked　and　wrought　and　prayed　with　them
till　they　grew　to　adore　her　as　a　saint；　and　to　trust　her　as　a
leader　and　friend；　and　to　be　a　little　like　her。　　And　not　the　women
only；　but　the　men；　too；　loved　and　trusted　her；　and　the　big　boys
found　it　easier　to　talk　to　the　minister's　wife　than　to　the　minister
or　to　any　of　his　session。　　She　made　her　own　and　her　children's
clothes；　collars；　hats；　and　caps；　her　husband's　shirts　and
neckties；　toiling　late