the man from glengarry-第52章

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Macdonald　Bhain　a　rare　letter　came　from　Ranald　now　and　then；　which
he　would　carry　to　Mrs。　Murray　with　a　difficult　pretense　of　modesty。
For　with　Macdonald　Bhain；　Ranald　was　a　great　man。

〃But　he　is　not　quite　sure　of　him；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray。　　〃He　thinks
it　is　a　very　queer　way　of　lumbering；　and　the　wages　he　considers
excessive。〃

〃Does　he　say　that？〃　asked　Kate。　　〃That's　just　what　Colonel　Thorp
says　his　company　are　saying。　　But　he　stands　up　for　Ranald　even　when
he　can't　see　that　his　way　is　the　best。　　The　colonel　is　not　very　sure
about　Ranald's　schemes　for　the　men；　his　reading…room；　library；　and
that　sort　of　thing。　　But　I'm　sure　he　will　succeed。〃　　But　Kate's
tone　belied　her　confident　words。

Mrs。　Murray　noticed　the　anxiety　in　Kate's　voice。　　〃At　least　we　are
sure；〃　she　said；　gently；　〃that　he　will　do　right；　and　after　all　that
is　success。〃

〃I　know　that　right　well；〃　replied　Kate；　〃but　it　is　hard　for　him　out
there　with　no　one　to　help　him　or　to　encourage　him。〃

Again　Mrs。　Murray　looked　at　Kate；　curiously。

〃It　must　be　a　terrible　place；〃　Kate　went　on；　〃especially　for　one
like　Ranald；　for　he　has　no　mind　to　let　things　go。　　He　will　do　a
thing　as　it　ought　to　be　done；　or　not　at　all。〃　　Soon　after　this　Kate
gave　her　mind　to　her　horses；　and　in　a　short　time　headed　them　for
home。

〃What　a　delightful　drive　we　have　had；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　gratefully；
as　Kate　took　her　upstairs　to　her　room。

〃I　hope　I　have　not　worried　you　with　my　dismal　forebodings；〃　she
said；　with　a　little　laugh。

〃No；　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　drawing　her　face　down　to　the　pillow
where　Kate　had　made　her　lay　her　head。　　〃I　think　I　understand；〃　she
added；　in　a　whisper。

Then　Kate　laid　her　face　beside　that　of　her　friend　and　whispered；
〃Oh；　auntie；　it　is　so　hard　for　him〃；　but　Mrs。　Murray　stroked　her
head　softly　and　said：　　〃There　is　no　fear；　Kate；　all　will　be　well
with　him。〃

Immediately　after　dinner　Kate　carried　Mrs。　Murray　with　her　to　her
own　room；　and　after　establishing　her　in　all　possible　comfort；　she
began　to　read　extracts　from　Coley's　letters。

〃Here　is　the　first；　auntie；　they　are　more　picturesque　than　elegant；
but　if　you　knew　Coley；　you　wouldn't　mind；　you'd　be　glad　to　get　any
letter　from　him。〃　　So　saying　Kate　turned　her　back　to　the　window；　a
position　with　the　double　advantage　of　allowing　the　light　to　fall
upon　the　paper　and　the　shadow　to　rest　upon　her　face；　and　so
proceeded　to　read：


DEAR　MISS　KATE：　　We　got　here（〃That　is　to　New　Westminster。〃）　last
night；　and　it　is　a　queer　town。　　The　streets　run　every　way；　the
houses　are　all　built　of　wood；　and　almost　none　of　them　are　painted。
The　streets　are　full　of　all　sorts　of　people。　　I　saw　lots　of
Chinamen　and　Indians。　　It　makes　a　feller　feel　kind　o'　queer　as　if
he　was　in　some　foreign　country。　　The　hotel　where　we　stopped　was　a
pretty　good　lookin'　place。　　Of　course　nothin'　like　the　hotel　we
stopped　at　in　San　Francisco。　　It　was　pretty　fine　inside；　but　after
supper　when　the　crowd　began　to　come　in　to　the　bar　you　never　saw
such　a　gang　in　your　life！　　They　knew　how　to　sling　their　money；　I
can　tell　you。　　And　then　they　begun　to　yell　and　cut　up。　　I　tell　you
it　would　make　the　Ward　seem　like　a　Sunday　school。　　The　Boss；　that's
what　they　call　him　here；　I　guess　didn't　like　it　much；　and　I　don't
think　you　would；　either。　　Next　morning　we　went　to　look　at　the
mills。　　They　are　just　sheds　with　slab　roofs。　　I　don't　think　much　of
them　myself；　though　I　don't　know　much　about　mills。　　The　Boss　went
round　askin'　questions　and　I　don't　think　he　liked　the　look　of　them
much　either。　　I　know　he　kept　his　lips　shut　pretty　tight　as　we　used
to　see　him　do　sometimes　in　the　Institute。　　I　am　awful　glad　he
brought　me　along。　　He　says　I　have　got　to　write　to　you　at　least　once
a　month；　and　I've　got　to　take　care　of　my　writin'　too　and　get　the
spellin'　right。　　When　I　think　of　the　fellers　back　in　the　alleys
pitchin'　pennies　I　tell　you　I'd　ruther　die　than　go　back。　　Here　a
feller　feels　he's　alive。　　I　wish　I'd　paid　more　attention　to　my
writin'　in　the　night　school；　but　I　guess　I　was　pretty　much　of　a
fool　them　days；　and　you　were　awful　good　to　me。　　The　Boss　says　that
a　man　must　always　pay　his　way；　and　when　I　told　him　I　wanted　to　pay
for　them　clothes　you　gave　me　he　looked　kind　o'　funny；　but　he　said
〃that's　right；〃　so　I　want　you　to　tell　me　what　they　cost　and　I　will
pay　you　first　thing；　for　I'm　goin'　to　be　a　man　out　in　this　country。
We're　goin'　up　the　river　next　week　and　see　the　gangs　workin'　up
there　in　the　bush。　　It's　kind　o'　lonesome　here　goin'　along　the
street　and　lookin'　people　in　the　faces　to　see　if　you　can　see　one
you　know。　　Lots　of　times　I　though　I　did　see　some　one　I　knew　but　it
wasn't。　　Good　by；　I'll　write　you　soon　again。

Yours　truly；

MICHAEL　COLE。


〃The　second　letter；〃　Kate　went　on；　〃is　written　from　the　camp；
Twentymile　Camp；　he　calls　it。　　He　tells　how　they　went　up　the　river
in　the　steamer；　taking　with　them　some　new　hands　for　their　camp；　and
how　these　men　came　on　board　half　drunk；　and　how　all　the　way　up　to
Yale　they　were　drinking　and　fighting。　　It　must　have　been　horrible。
After　that　they　went　on　smaller　boats　and　then　by　wagons。　　On　the
roads　it　must　have　been　terrible。　　Coley　seems　much　impressed　with
the　big　trees。　　He　says：


〃These　big　trees　are　pretty　hard　to　write　about　without　sayin'
words　the　Boss　don't　allow。　　It　makes　you　think　of　bein'　in　St。
Michaels；　it's　so　quiet　and　solemn…like；　and　I　never　felt　so　small
in　all　my　life。　　The　Boss　and　me　walked　the　last　part　of　the　way；
and　got　to　camp　late　and　pretty　tired；　and　the　men　we　brought　in
with　us　was　all　pretty　mad；　but　the　Boss　never　paid　no　attention　to
'em　but　went　whistlin'　about　as　if　everything　was　lovely。　　We　had
some　pork　and　beans　for　supper；　then　went　to　sleep　in　a　bunk　nailed
up　against　the　side　of　the　shanty。　　It　was　as　hard　as　a　board；　but
I　tell　you　it　felt　pretty　good。　　Next　day　I　went　wanderin'　'round
with　the　foreman　and　the　Boss。　　I　tell　you　I　was　afraid　to　get　very
far　away　from　'em；　for　I'd　be　sure　to　get　lost；　the　bush　is　that
thick　that　you　can't　see　your　own　length　ahead　of　you。　　That　night；
when　the　Boss　and　me　and　the　foreman　was　in　the　shanty　they　call
the　office；　after　supper；　we　heard　a　most　awful　row。　　'What's
that？'　says　the　Boss。　　'O；　that's　nothin'；'　says　the　foreman；　'the
boys　is　havin'　a　little　fun；　I　guess。'　　He　didn't　say　anything；　but
went　on　talkin'；　but　in　a　little　while　the　row　got　worse；　and　we
heard　poundin'　and　smashin'。　　'Do　you　allow　that　sort　of　thing？'
says　the　Boss。　　'Well；'　he　says；　'Guess　the　boys　got　some　whiskey
last　night。　　I　generally　let　'em　alone。'　　'Well；'　says　the　Boss；
quiet…like；　'I　think　you'd　better　go　in　and　stop　it。'　　'Not　if　I
know　myself；'　says　the　foreman；　'I　ain't　ordered　my　funeral　yet。'
'Well；　we'll　go　in　and　see；　anyway；'　says　the　Boss。　　I　tell　you　I
was　kind　o'　scared；　but　I　thought　I　might　as　well　go　along。　　When
we　got　into　the　sleepin'　shanty　there　was　a　couple　of　fellers　with
hand…spikes　breakin'　up　the　benches　and　knockin'　things　around　most
terrible。　　'Say；　boys；'　yelled　the　foreman；　and　then　he　began　to
swear　most　awful。　　They　didn't　seem　to　pay　much　attention；　but　kept
on　knockin'　around　and　swearin'。　　'Come；　now；'　says　the　foreman；
kind　o'　coaxin'　like；　'this　ain't　no　way　to　act。　　Get　down　and
behave　yourselves。'　　But　still　they　didn't　pay　no　attention。　　Then
the　Boss　walked　up　to　the　biggest　one；　and　when　he　got　quite　close
to　'em　they　all　got　still　lookin'　on。　　'I'll　take　that　hand…spike；'
says　the　Boss。　　'Help　yourself；'　says　the　man　swingin'　it　up。　　I
don't　know　what　happened；　it　was　done　so　quick；　but　before　you
could　count　three　that　feller　was　on　his　knees　bleedin'　like　a　pig
and　the　hand…spike　was　out　of　the　door；　and　the　Boss　walks　up　to
the　other　feller　and　says；　'Put　that　hand…spike　outside。'　　He　begun
to　swear。　　'Put　it　out；'　says　the　Boss；　quiet…like；　and　the　feller
backs　up　and　throws　his　hand…spike　out。　　And　the　Boss　up　and　speaks
and　says；　'Look　here；　men；　I　don't　want　to　interfere　with　nobody；
and　won't　while　he　behaves　himself；　but　there　ain't　goin'　to　be　any
row　like　that　in　this　camp。　　Say；　you　ought　to　have　seen　'em！　　They
sat　like　the　gang　used　to　in　the　night　school；　and　then　he　turned
and　walked　out　and　we　all　follered　him。　　I　guess　they　ain't　used　to
that　sort　of　thing　in　this　camp。　　I　heard　the　men　talkin'　next　day
pretty　big　of　what　they　was　goin'　to　do；　but　I　don't　think　they'll
do　much。　　They　don't　look　that　kind。　　Anyway；　if　there's　goin'　to
be　a　fight；　I'd　feel　safer　with　the　Boss　than　with　the　whole　lot　of
'em。〃


〃The　letter　after　this；〃　went　on　Kate；　〃tells　of　what　happened　the
Sunday　following。〃


〃We'd　gone　out　in　the　afternoon；　Boss　and　me；　for　a　walk；　and　when
we　got　back　the　camp　was　just　howlin'　drunk；　and　the　foreman　was
worst　of　all。　　They　kind　o'　quieted　down　for　a　little　when　we　come
in　and　let　us　get　into　the　office；　but　pretty　soon　they　began
actin'　up　funny　again　and　swearin'　most　awful。　　Then　I　see　the　Boss
shut　up　his　lips　hard；　and　I　says　to　myself　'Look　out　for　blood。'
Then　he　starts　over　for　the　bunk　shanty。　　I　was　mighty　scared；　and
follered　him　close。　　Just　as　we　shoved　open　the　door　a　bottle　come
singin'　through　the　air　and　smashed　to　a　thousand　bits　on　the　beam
above。　　'Is　that　the　kind　of　cowards　you　are？'　says　the　Boss；　quite
cool。　　He　didn't　speak　loud；　but　I　tell　you　everybody　heard　him　and
got　dead　still。　　'No；　Boss；'　says　one　feller；　'not　all。'　　'The　man
that　threw　that　bottle；'　says　the　boss；　'is　a　coward；　and　the
meanest　kind。　　He's　afraid　to　step　out　here　for　five　minutes。'
Nobody　moved。　　'Step　up；　ye　baste；'　says　an　Irishman；　'or　it's
mesilf　will　kick　ye　out　of　the　camp。'　　And　out　the　feller　comes。
It　was　the　same　duck　that　the　Boss　scared　out　of　the　door　the　first
night。　　'Sthand　up　till　'im　Billie；'　says　the　Irishman；　'we'll　see
fair　play。　　Sthand　up　to　the　gintleman。'　　'Billie；'　says　the　Boss；
and　his　eyes　was　blazin'　like　candles；　'yer　goin'　to　leave　this
camp　to…morrow　mornin'。　　You　can　take　your　choice；　will　you　get
onto　your　knees　now　or　later？'　　With　that　Billie　whipped　out　a
knife　and　rushes　at　him；　but　the　Boss　grabs　his　wrist　and　gives　it
a　twist；　and　the　knife　fell　onto　the　floor。　　The　Boss　holds　him
like　a　baby；　and　picks　up　the　knife　and　throws　it　into　the　fire。
'Now；'　says　he；　'get　onto　your　knees。　　Quick！'　　And　the　feller
drops　on　his　knees；　and　bellered　like　a　calf。

〃'Let's　pray；'　says　some　one；　and　the　crowd　howls。　　'Give　us　yer
hand；　Boss；'　says　the　Irishman。　　'Yer　the　top　o'　this　gang。'　　The
Irishman　shoves　out　his　clipper；　and　the　Boss　takes　it　in　an　easy
kind　of　a　way。　　My　you　o't　to　seen　that　Irishman　squirm。　　'Howly
Mither！'　he　yells；　and　dances　round；　'what　do　ye　think　yer　got？'
and　he　goes　off　lookin'　at　his　fingers；　and　the　Boss　stands　lookin'
at　'em；　and　says；　'You'r　a　nice　lot　of　fellers；　you　don't　deserve
it；　but　I'm　goin'　to　treat　you　fair。　　I　know　you　feel　Sunday　pretty
slow；　and　I'll　try　to　make　it　better　for　you；　but　I　want　you　to
know　that　I　won't　have　any　more　row　in　this　camp；　and　I　won't　have
any　man　here　that　can't　behave　himself。　　To…morrow　morning；　YOU；'
pointin'　at　the　foreman；　'and　you；　Billie；'　and　YOU；　pointin'　at
another　chap；　leave　the　camp；　and　they　did　too；　tho