the major-第36节

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〃Wait　till　I　get　the　birds　back　to　the　car；〃　he　cried。

〃He…l…l…o；〃　cried　his　sister　as　he　came　running。　　〃What；　four　of　them？〃

〃Four；〃　he　answered。　　〃By　jove；　she's　a　wonder；　isn't　she。　　She　really　bowls　me　over。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　his　sister　in　a　low　voice。　　〃She's　just　a　fine　girl　with　a　steady　hand　and　a　quick　eye；　and；〃　she　added　as　Jack　turned　away　from　her；　〃a　true　heart。〃

〃A　true　heart；〃　Jack　muttered　to　himself；　〃and　given　to　that　confounded　bully　of　a　German。　　If　it　had　been　any　other　manbut　we　have　got　one　day　at　least。〃　　Resolutely　he　brushed　away　the　thoughts　that　maddened　him　as　he　ran　to　Kathleen's　side。　　Meantime；　Tom　and　Nora　had　gone　circling　around　toward　the　left　with　Sweeper　ranging　widely　before　them。

〃Let's　beat　round　this　bluff；〃　suggested　Kathleen。　　〃They　may　not　have　left　the　trees　yet。〃

Together　they　strolled　away　through　the　stubble；　the　girl　moving　with　an　easy　grace　that　spoke　of　balanced　physical　strength；　and　with　an　eagerness　that　indicated　the　keen　hunter's　spirit。　　The　bluff　brought　no　result。

〃That　bluff　promised　chickens　if　ever　a　bluff　did；〃　said　Kathleen　in　a　disappointed　voice。　　〃We'll　get　them　further　down；　and　then　again　in　the　stubble。〃

〃Cheer…o；〃　cried　Jack。　　〃The　day　is　fine　and　we　are　having　a　ripping　time；　at　least　I　am。〃

〃And　I；　too；〃　cried　the　girl。　　〃I　love　this；　the　open　fields；and　the　sport；　too。〃

〃And　good　company；〃　said　Jack　boldly。

〃Yes；　good　company；　of　course；〃　she　said　with　a　quick；　friendly　glance。　　〃And　you　ARE　good　company　to…day。〃

〃To…day？〃

〃Yes。　　Sometimes；　you　know；　you　are　ratherI　don't　know　what　to　saybut　queer；　as　if　you　did　not　likepeople；　or　were　carrying　some　terrible　secret；〃　she　added　with　a　little　laugh。

〃Secret？　　I　am；　but　not　for　long。　　I　am　going　to　tell　you　the　secret。　　Do　you　want　to　hear　it　now？〃

The　note　of　desperation　in　his　voice　startled　the　girl。　　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　cried　hurriedly。　　〃Where　have　we　got　to？　　There　are　no　birds　in　this　open　prairie　here。　　We　must　get　back　to　the　stubble。〃

〃You　are　not　interested　in　my　secret；　then？〃　said　Jack。　　〃But　I　am　going　to　tell　you　all　the　same；　Kathleen。〃

〃Oh；　please　don't；〃　she　replied　in　a　distressed　voice。　　〃We　are　having　such　a　splendid　time；　and　besides　we　are　after　birds；　aren't　we？　　And　there　are　the　others；〃　she　added；　pointing　across　the　stubble　field；　〃and　Sweeper　is　on　point　again。　　Oh；　let's　run。〃　She　started　forward　quickly；　her　foot　caught　in　a　tangle　of　vetch　vine　and　she　pitched　heavily　forward。　　Jack　sprang　to　catch　her。　　A　shot　crashed　at　their　ears。　　The　girl　lay　prone。

〃My　God；　Kathleen；　are　you　hurt？〃　said　Jack。

〃No；　no；　not　a　bit；　but　awfully　scared；〃　she　panted。　　Then　she　shrieked；　〃Oh；　oh；　oh；　Jack；　you　are　wounded；　you　are　bleeding！〃

He　looked　down　at　his　hand。　　It　was　dripping　blood。　　〃Oh；　oh；〃　she　moaned；　covering　her　face　with　her　hands。　　Then　springing　to　her　feet；　she　caught　up　his　hand　in　hers。

〃It　is　nothing　at　all；〃　he　said。　　〃I　feel　nothing。　　Only　a　bit　of　skin。　　See；〃　he　cried；　lifting　his　arm　up。　　〃There's　nothing　to　it。　No　broken　bones。〃

〃Let　me　see；　JackMr。　Romayne；〃　she　said　with　white　lips。

〃Say　'Jack；'〃　he　begged。

〃Let　me　take　off　your　coatJack；　then。　　I　know　a　little　about　this。　　I　have　done　something　at　it　in　Winnipeg。〃

Together　they　removed　the　coat。　　The　shirt　sleeve　was　hanging　in　a　tangled；　bloody　mass　from　the　arm。

〃Awful！〃　groaned　Kathleen。　　〃Sit　down。〃

〃Oh；　nonsense；　it　is　not　serious。〃

〃Sit　down；　Jack；　dear；〃　she　entreated；　clasping　her　hands　about　his　sound　arm。

〃Say　it　again；〃　said　Jack。

〃Oh；　Jack；　won't　you　sit　down；　please？〃

〃Say　it　again；〃　he　commanded　sternly。

〃Oh；　Jack；　dear；　please　sit　down；〃　she　cried　in　a　pitiful　voice。

He　sat　down；　then　lay　back　reclining　on　his　arm。　　〃Now　your　knife；　Jack；〃　she　said；　feeling　hurriedly　through　his　pockets。

〃Here　you　are；〃　he　said；　handing　her　the　knife；　biting　his　lips　the　while　and　fighting　back　a　feeling　of　faintness。

Quickly　slipping　behind　him；　she　whipped　off　her　white　petticoat　and　tore　it　into　strips。　　Then　cutting　the　bloody　shirt　sleeve；　she　laid　bare　the　arm。　　The　wound　was　superficial。　　The　shot　had　torn　a　wide　gash　little　deeper　than　the　skin　from　wrist　to　shoulder；　with　here　and　there　a　bite　into　the　flesh。　　Swiftly；　deftly；　with　fingers　that　never　fumbled；　she　bandaged　the　arm；　putting　in　little　pads　where　the　blood　seemed　to　be　pumping　freely。

〃That's　fine；〃　said　Jack。　　〃You　are　a　brick；　Kathleen。　　I　thinkI　willjust　lie　downa　bit。　　I　feelrather　rotten。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　caught　hold　of　her　arm　to　steady　himself。　　She　caught　him　in　her　arms　and　eased　him　down　upon　the　stubble。　　With　eyes　closed　and　a　face　that　looked　like　death　he　lay　quite　still。

〃Jack；〃　she　cried　aloud　in　her　terror。　　〃Don't　faint。　　You　must　not　faint。〃

But　white　and　ghastly　he　lay　unconscious；　the　blood　still　welling　right　through　the　bandages　on　his　wounded　arm。　　She　knew　that　in　some　way　she　must　stop　the　bleeding。　　Swiftly　she　undid　the　bandages　and　found　a　pumping　artery　in　the　forearm。　　〃What　is　it　that　they　do？〃　she　said　to　herself。　　Then　she　remembered。　　Making　a　tourniquet；　she　applied　it　to　the　upper　arm。　　Then　rolling　up　a　bloody　bandage　into　a　pad；　she　laid　it　upon　the　pumping　artery　and　bound　it　firmly　down　into　place。　　Then　flexing　the　forearm　hard　upon　it；　she　bandaged　all　securely　again。　　Still　the　wounded　man　lay　unconscious。　　The　girl　was　terrified。　　She　placed　her　hand　over　his　heart。　　It　was　beating　but　very　faintly。　　In　the　agony　and　terror　of　the　moment　as　in　a　flash　of　light　her　heart　stood　suddenly　wide　open　to　her；　and　the　thing　that　for　the　past　months　had　lain　hidden　within　her　deeper　than　her　consciousness；　a　secret　joy　and　pain；　leaped　strong　and　full　into　the　open；　and　she　knew　that　this　man　who　lay　bleeding　and　ghastly　before　her　was　dearer　to　her　than　her　own　life。　　The　sudden　rush　of　this　consciousness　sweeping　like　a　flood　over　her　soul　broke　down　and　carried　away　the　barrier　of　her　maidenly　reserve。　　Leaning　over　him　in　a　passion　of　self…abandonment；　she　breathed；　〃Oh；　Jack；　dear；　dear　Jack。〃　　As　he　lay　there　white　and　still；　into　her　love　there　came　a　maternal　tender　yearning　of　pity。　　She　lifted　his　head　in　her　arm；　and　murmured　brokenly；　〃Oh；　my　love；　my　dear　love。〃　　She　kissed　him　on　his　white　lips。

At　the　touch　of　her　lips　Jack　opened　his　eyes；　gazed　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　with　dawning　recognition；　he　said　with　a　faint　smile；　〃Doitagain。〃

〃Oh；　you　heard；〃　she　cried；　the　red　blood　flooding　face　and　neck；　〃but　I　don't　care；　only　don't　go　off　again。　　You　will　not；　Jack；　you　must　not。〃

〃NoI　won't；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　rottenof　meto　actlike　this　andscare　youto　death。　　Give　mea　littletime。　　I　will　beall　right。〃

〃If　they　would　only　come！　　If　I　could　only　do　something！〃

〃You're　all　rightKathleen。　　Just　bepatient　with　mea　bit。　　I　am　feelingbetter　every　minute。〃

For　a　few　moments　he　lay　quiet。　　Then　with　a　little　smile　he　looked　up　at　her　again　and　said；　〃I　would　go　off　again　just　to　hear　you　say　those　words　once　more。〃

〃Oh；　please　don't；〃　she　entreated；　hiding　her　face。

〃Forgive　me；　Kathleen；　I　am　a　beast。　　Forget　it。　　I　am　feeling　all　right。　　I　believe　I　could　sit　up。〃

〃No；　no；　no；〃　she　cried。　　〃Lie　a　little　longer。〃

She　laid　his　head　down；　ran　a　hundred　yards　to　the　wheat　field；　returning　with　two　sheeves；　and　made　a　support　for　his　head　and　shoulders。　　〃That　is　better；〃　she　said。

〃Good　work；〃　he　said。　　〃Now　I　am　going　to　be　fit　for　anything　in　a　few　moments。　　But；〃　he　added；　〃you　look　rather　badly；　as　if　you　might　faint　yourself。〃

〃I？　　What　difference　does　it　make　how　I　look？　　I　am　quite　right。　If　they　would　only　come！　　I　know　what　I　will　do；〃　she　cried。　〃Where　are　your　cartridges？〃　　She　loaded　the　gun　and　fired　in　quick　succession　half　a　dozen　shots。　　〃I　think　I　see　them；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃but　I　am　not　sure　that　they　heard　me。〃　　Again　she　fired　several　shots。

〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　said　Jack；　into　whose　face　the　colour　was　beginning　to　come　back。　　〃They　are　sure　to　look　us　up。　　Just　sit　down；　won't　you　please；　beside　me　here？　　There；　that's　good；〃　he　continued；　taking　her　hand。　　〃Kathleen；〃　he　cried；　〃I　think　you　know　my　secret。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；　please　don't；〃　she　implored；　withdrawing　her　hand　and　hiding　her　face　from　him。　　〃Please　don't　be　hard　on　me。　　I　really　do　not　know　what　I　am　doing　and　I　am　feeling　dreadfully。〃

〃You　have　reason　to　feel　so；　Kathleen。　　You　have　been　splendidly　brave；　and　I　give　you　my　word　I　am　not　going　to　worry　you。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　you　are　so　good；　and　I　love　you　for　it；〃　she　cried　in　a　passion　of　gratitude。　　〃You　understand；　don't　you？〃

〃I　think　I　do；〃　he　said。　　〃By　the　way；　do　you　know　I　think　I　could　smoke。〃

〃Oh；　splendid！〃　she　cried；　and；　springing　up；　she　searched　through　his　coat　pockets；　found　pipe；　pouch；　matches；　and　soon　he　had　his　pipe　going。　　〃There；　that　looks　more　like　living；〃　said　Kathleen；　laughing　somewhat　hysterically。　　〃Oh；　you　did　frighten　me！〃　　Again　the　red　flush　came　into　her　face　and　she　turned　away　from　him。

〃There　they　are　coming。　　Sure　enough；　they　are　coming；〃　she　cried　with　a　sob　in　her　voice。

〃Steady；　Kathleen；〃　said　Jack　quietly。　　〃You　won't　blow　up　now；　will　you？　　You　have　been　so　splend