the foreigner-第13节

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〃Rosenblatt？　　Who　is　he？〃

〃De　man　dat　live　here；　dis　house。　　He　run　store。　　Lots　mon'。　　My　God！　　He　dead！〃

〃Looks　like　it；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　opening　his　coat。　　〃He's　got　a　bad　hole　in　him　here；〃　he　continued；　pointing　to　a　wound　in　the　chest。　　〃Looks　deep；　and　he　is　bleeding；　too。〃

There　was　a　knocking　at　the　door。

〃Let　him　in；〃　cried　the　Sergeant；　〃it　is　the　doctor。　　Hello；　Doctor！　　Here　is　something　for　you　all　right。〃

The　doctor；　a　tall；　athletic　young　fellow　with　a　keen；　intellectual　face；　pushed　his　way　through　the　crowd　to　the　corner　and　dropped　on　his　knees　beside　the　Polak。

〃Why；　the　man　is　dead！〃　said　the　doctor；　putting　his　hand　over　the　Polak's　heart。

Even　as　he　spoke；　a　shudder　passed　through　the　man's　frame；　and　he　lay　still。　　The　doctor　examined　the　hole　in　his　neck。

〃Yes；　he's　dead；　sure　enough。　　The　jugular　vein　is　severed。〃

〃Well；　here　is　another；　Doctor；　who　will　be　dead　in　a　few　minutes；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；〃　said　the　Sergeant。

〃Let　me　see；〃　said　the　doctor；　turning　to　Rosenblatt。　　〃Heavens　above！〃　he　cried；　as　his　knees　sank　in　the　bloody　mud；　〃it's　blood！〃

He　passed　round　the　other　side　of　the　unconscious　man；　got　out　his　syringe　and　gave　him　a　hypodermic。　　In　a　few　minutes　Rosenblatt　showed　signs　of　life。　　He　began　to　breathe　heavily；　then　to　cough　and　spit　mouthfuls　of　blood。

〃Ha；　lung；　I　guess；〃　said　the　doctor；　examining　a　small　clean　wound　high　up　in　the　left　breast。　　〃Better　send　for　an　ambulance；　Sergeant；　and　hurry　them　up。　　The　sooner　we　get　him　to　the　hospital；　the　better。　　And　here　is　another　man。　　What's　wrong　with　him？〃

Beyond　Rosenblatt　lay　a　black…bearded　man　upon　his　face；　breathing　heavily。　　The　doctor　turned　him　over。

〃He's　alive　anyway；　and；〃　after　examination；　〃I　can't　find　any　wound。　　Heart　all　right；　nothing　wrong　with　him；　I　guess；　except　that　he's　got　a　bad　jag　on。〃

A　cursory　examination　of　the　crowd　revealed　wounds　in　plenty；　but　nothing　serious　enough　to　demand　the　doctor's　attention。

〃Now　then；〃　said　the　Sergeant　briskly；　〃I　want　to　get　your　names　and　addresses。　　You　can　let　me　have　them？〃　he　continued；　turning　to　Jacob。

〃Me　not　know　all　mens。〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　the　Sergeant　curtly。

〃Dis　man　Rosenblatt。　　Dis　man　Polak；　Kravicz。　　Not　know　where　he　live。〃

〃It　would　be　difficult；　I　am　thinking；　for　any　one　to　tell　where　he　lives　now；〃　said　the　Sergeant　grimly；　〃and　it　does　not　much　matter　for　my　purpose。〃

〃Poor　chap；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃it's　too　bad。〃

〃What？〃　said　the　Sergeant；　glancing　at　him；　〃well；　it　is　too　bad；　that　is　true。　　But　they　are　a　bad　lot；　these　Galicians。〃

〃Poor　chap；〃　continued　the　doctor；　looking　down　upon　him；　〃perhaps　he　has　got　a　wife　and　children。〃

A　murmur　rose　among　the　men。

〃No；　he　got　no　wife；〃　said　Jacob。

〃Thank　goodness　for　that！〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃These　fellows　are　a　bit　rough；〃　he　continued；　〃but　they　have　never　had　a　chance；　nor　even　half　a　chance。　　A　beastly　tyrannical　government　at　home　has　put　the　fear　of　death　on　them　for　this　world；　and　an　ignorant　and　superstitious　Church　has　kept　them　in　fear　of　purgatory　and　hell　fire　for　the　next。　　They　have　never　had　a　chance　in　their　own　land；　and　so　far；　they　have　got　no　better　chance　here；　except　that　they　do　not　live　in　the　fear　of　Siberia。〃　　The　doctor　had　his　own　views　upon　the　foreign　peoples　in　the　West。

〃That　is　all　right；　Doctor；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　despite　the　Calvinism　of　generations　beating　in　his　heart；　〃it　is　hard　on　them；　but　there　is　nobody　compelling　them　here　to　drink　and　fight　like　a　lot　of　brutes。〃

〃But　who　is　to　teach　them　any　better？〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Come　on；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　〃who　is　this？〃　pointing　to　the　dark…　bearded　man　lying　in　the　corner。

〃Dis　man；〃　said　Jacob；　〃strange　man。〃

〃Any　of　you　know　him　here？〃　asked　the　Sergeant。

There　was　a　murmur　of　voices。

〃What　do　they　say？〃

〃No　one　know　him。　　He　drink　much　beer。　　He　very　drunk。　　He　play　cards　wit'　Rosenblatt；〃　said　Jacob。

〃Playing　cards；　eh？　　I　think　we　will　be　finding　something　now。　　Who　else　was　in　the　card　game？〃

Again　a　murmur　of　voices　arose。

〃Dis　Polak　man；〃　said　Jacob；　〃and　Rosenblatt；　and　dat　man　dere；　and〃

Half　a　dozen　voices　rose　in　explanation；　and　half　a　dozen　hands　eagerly　pointed　out　the　big　Dalmatian；　who　stood　back　among　the　crowd　pale　with　terror。

〃Come　up　here；　you；〃　said　the　Sergeant　to　him。

Instead　of　responding；　with　one　bound　the　Dalmatian　was　at　the　door；　and　hurled　the　two　men　aside　as　if　they　were　wooden　pegs。　But　before　he　could　tear　open　the　door；　the　Sergeant　was　on　him。　At　once　the　Dalmatian　grappled　with　him　in　a　fierce　struggle。　There　was　a　quick　angry　growl　from　the　crowd。　　They　all　felt　themselves　to　be　in　an　awkward　position。　　Once　out　of　the　room；　it　would　be　difficult　for　any　police　officer　to　associate　them　in　any　way　with　the　crime。　　The　odds　were　forty　to　one。　　Why　not　make　a　break　for　liberty？　　A　rush　was　made　for　the　struggling　pair　at　the　door。

〃Get　back　there！〃　roared　the　Sergeant；　swinging　his　baton　and　holding　off　his　man　with　the　other　hand。

At　the　same　instant　the　doctor；　springing　up　from　his　patient；　and　taking　in　the　situation；　put　down　his　head　and　bored　through　the　crowd　in　the　manner　which　at　one　time　had　been　the　admiration　and　envy　of　his　fellow…students　in　Manitoba　College；　till　he　found　himself　side　by　side　with　the　Sergeant。

〃Well　done！〃　cried　the　Sergeant；　in　cheerful　approval；　〃you　are　the　lad！　　We　will　just　be　teaching　these　chaps　a　fery　good　lesson；　whateffer；〃　continued　the　Sergeant；　lapsing　in　his　excitement　into　his　native　dialect。　　〃Here　you；〃　he　cried　to　the　big　Dalmatian　who　was　struggling　and　kicking　in　a　frenzy　of　fear　and　rage；　〃will　you　not　keep　quiet？　　Take　that　then。〃　　And　he　laid　no　gentle　tap　with　his　baton　across　the　head　of　his　captive。

The　Dalmatian　staggered　to　the　wall　and　collapsed。　　There　was　a　flash　of　steel　and　a　click；　and　he　lay　handcuffed　and　senseless　at　the　Sergeant's　side。

〃I　hate　to　do　that；〃　said　the　Sergeant　apologetically；　〃but　on　this　occasion　it　cannot　be　helped。　　That　was　a　good　one；　Doctor；〃　he　continued；　as　the　doctor　planted　his　left　upon　an　opposing　Galician　chin；　thereby　causing　a　sudden　subsidence　of　its　owner。　　〃These　men　have　not　got　used　to　us　yet；　and　we　will　just　have　to　be　patient　with　them；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　laying　about　with　his　baton　as　opportunity　offered；　not　in　any　slashing　wholesale　manner；　but　making　selection；　and　delivering　his　blows　with　the　eye　and　hand　of　an　artist。　　He　was　handling　the　situation　gently　and　with　discretion。　　Still　the　crowd　kept　pressing　hard　upon　the　two　men　at　the　door。

〃We　must　put　a　stop　to　this；〃　said　the　Sergeant　seriously。　　〃Here　you！〃　he　called　to　Jacob　above　the　uproar。

Jacob　pushed　nearer　to　him。

〃Tell　these　fellows　that　I　am　not　wanting　to　hurt　any　of　them；　but　if　they　do　not　get　quiet　soon；　I　will　attack　them　and　will　not　spare　them；　and　that　if　they　quit　their　fighting；　none　of　them　will　be　hurt　except　the　guilty　party。〃

At　once　Jacob　sprang　upon　a　beer　keg　and　waving　his　arms　wildly；　he　secured　a　partial　silence；　and　translated　for　them　the　Sergeant's　words。

〃And　tell　them；　too；〃　said　the　doctor　in　a　high；　clear　voice；　〃there　is　a　man　dying　over　there　that　I　have　got　to　attend　to　right　now；　and　I　haven't　time　for　this　foolishness。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　once　more　bored　his　way　through　the　crowd　to　the　side　of　Rosenblatt；　who　was　continuing　to　gasp　painfully　and　spit　blood。　　The　moment　of　danger　was　past。　　The　excited　crowd　settled　down　again　into　an　appearance　of　stupid　anxiety；　awaiting　they　knew　not　what。

〃Now　then；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　turning　to　the　Dalmatian　who　had　recovered　consciousness　and　was　standing　sullen　and　passive。　　He　had　made　his　attempt　for　liberty；　he　had　failed；　and　now　he　was　ready　to　accept　his　fate。　　〃Ask　him　what　is　his　name；〃　said　the　Sergeant。

〃He　say　his　name　John　Jarema。〃

〃And　what　has　he　got　to　say　for　himself？〃

At　this　the　Dalmatian　began　to　speak　with　eager　gesticulation。

〃What　is　he　saying？〃　enquired　the　Sergeant。

〃Dis　man　say　he　no　hurt　no　man。　　Dis　man；〃　pointing　to　the　dead　Polak；　〃play　cards；　fight；　stab　knife　into　his　arm；〃　said　Jacob；　pulling　up　the　Dalmatian's　coat　sleeve　to　show　an　ugly　gash　in　the　forearm。　　〃Jarema　bit　him　on　head；　shake　him　bad；　and　trow　him　in　corner　on　noder　man。〃

Again　the　Dalmatian　broke　forth。

〃He　say　he　got　no　knife　at　all。　　He　cannot　make　hole　like　dat　wit'　his　finger。〃

〃Well；　we　shall　see　about　that；〃　said　the　Sergeant。　　〃Now　where　is　that　other　man？〃　　He　turned　toward　the　corner。　　The　corner　was　empty。　　〃Where　has　he　gone？〃　said　the　Sergeant；　peering　through　the　crowd　for　a　black…whiskered　face。

The　man　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　The　Sergeant　was　puzzled　and　angered。　　He　lined　the　men　up　around　the　walls；　but　the　man　was　not　to　be　found。　　As　each　man　uttered　his　name；　there　were　always　some　to　recognize　and　to　corroborate　the　information。　　One　man　alone　seemed　a　stranger　to　all　in　the　company。　　He　was　clean　shaven；　but　for　a　moustache　with　ends　turned　up　in　military　manner；　and　with　an　appearance　of　higher　intelligence　than　the　average　Galician。

〃Ask　him　his　name；〃　said　the　Sergeant。

The　man　replied　volubly；　and　Jacob　interpreted。

〃His　na