the foreigner-第50节

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d　a　Sergeant　of　the　Mounted　Police；　who　was　present　on　the　Queen's　business。　Before　the　tale　was　done　the　Sergeant　was　on　his　feet。

〃Where　are　French　and　Kalman？〃　he　said　sharply。

〃Gone　hours　ago；〃　cried　Brown。　　〃They　must　be　at　the　mine　by　now。〃

〃Can　this　man　be　relied　upon？〃　enquired　the　Sergeant。

〃Absolutely；〃　said　Brown。　　〃Fly！　　I'll　follow。〃

Without　further　word　the　Sergeant　was　out　of　the　house　and　on　his　horse。

〃What　trail？〃　he　shouted。

〃It　is　best　by　the　river；〃　cried　Brown。　　〃The　cross　trail　you　might　lose。　　Go！　　Go；　in　God's　name！〃　he　added；　rushing　toward　his　stable；　followed　by　Portnoff　and　his　wife。　　〃Where　is　Paulina？〃　he　cried。

〃Paulina；〃　said　his　wife；　〃is　gone。　　She　is　acting　strangely　these　days；goes　and　comes；　I　don't　know　where。〃

〃Get　a　boy；　then；〃　said　her　husband；　〃and　send　him　to　the　ranch。　There　is　a　bare　chance　we　may　stop　them　there。　　Portnoff；　there　is　another　pony　here；　saddle　and　follow　me。　　We'll　take　the　cross　trail。　　And　pray　God；〃　he　added；　〃we　may　be　in　time！〃

Great　masses　of　liver…coloured　clouds　were　piling　up　in　the　west；　blotting　out　the　light　from　the　setting　sun。　　Over　all　a　heavy　silence　had　settled　down；　so　that　in　all　the　woods　there　was　no　sound　of　living　thing。　　Lashing　his　pony　into　a　gallop；　heedless　of　the　obstacles　on　the　trail；　or　of　the　trees　overhead；　Brown　crashed　through　scrub　and　sleugh；　with　old　Portnoff　following　as　best　he　could。　　Mile　after　mile　they　rode；　now　and　then　in　the　gathering　darkness　losing　the　trail；　and　with　frantic　furious　haste　searching　it　again；　till　at　length；　with　their　ponies　foaming　and　trembling；　and　their　own　faces　torn　and　bleeding　with　the　brush；　they　emerged　into　the　clearing　above　the　ravine。

Meantime；　the　ghastly　tragedy　was　being　enacted。　　Impatiently　at　the　cave　mouth　French　and　Kalman　waited　the　coming　of　those　they　were　to　meet。　　At　length；　in　the　gathering　gloom；　Rosenblatt　appeared；　coming　up　the　ravine。　　He　was　pale　and　distraught。

〃I　have　ridden　hard；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　am　shaken　with　my　ride。　　My　papers　are　in　my　cabin。　　I　shall　get　them。〃

In　a　few　moments　he　returned；　bringing　with　him　a　bottle　and　two　cups。

〃Drink！〃　he　said。　　〃No？　　Then　I　will。〃　　He　poured　out　a　cup　full　of　raw　whiskey　and　drank　it　off。　　〃My　partner　is　late；〃　he　said。　　〃He　will　be　here　in　a　few　moments。　　Meantime；　we　can　look　over　the　papers。〃

〃It　is　too　dark　here；〃　said　French。　　〃We　can't　see　to　read。　　You　have　in　your　cabin　a　light；　let　us　go　there。〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　Rosenblatt　hastily；　〃it　is　more　comfortable　here。　　I　have　a　lantern。〃

He　rummaged　in　the　sides　of　the　cave　and　produced　a　lantern。

〃Here　is　a　light；〃　said　French；　striking　a　match。

Rosenblatt　snatched　the　match　from　his　hand；　crushed　it　in　his　fingers　and　hurried　out　of　the　cave。

〃Ah；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　am　shaking　with　my　hurried　ride。〃

With　great　care　he　lighted　his　lantern　outside　of　the　cave　and　set　it　upon　a　table　that　had　been　placed　near　the　cave's　mouth。　　French　drew　out　his　pipe；　slowly　filled　it　and　proceeded　to　light　it；　when　Rosenblatt　in　a　horror…stricken　voice　arrested　him。

〃Don't　smoke！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　meanit　makes　me　very　illwhen　I　am　in　thisconditionthe　smell　of　tobacco　smoke。〃

French　looked　at　him　with　cool　contempt。

〃I　am　sorry　for　you；〃　he　said；　lighting　his　pipe　and　throwing　the　match　down。

Rosenblatt　sprang　to　the　cave　mouth；　came　back　again；　furtively　treading　upon　the　match。　　The　perspiration　was　standing　out　upon　his　forehead。

〃It　is　a　terrible　night；〃　he　said。　　〃Let　us　proceed。　　We　can't　wait　for　my　partner。　　Read；　read。〃

With　fingers　that　trembled　so　that　he　could　hardly　hold　the　papers；　he　thrust　the　documents　into　Kalman's　hand。

〃Read；〃　he　cried；　〃I　cannot　see。〃

Opening　the　papers；　Kalman　proceeded　to　read　them　carefully；　by　the　light　of　the　lantern；　French　smoking　calmly　the　while。

〃Have　you　no　better　light　than　this；　Rosenblatt？〃　said　French　at　length。　　〃Surely　there　are　candles　about　here。〃　　He　walked　toward　the　back　of　the　cave。

〃Ah；　my　God！〃　cried　Rosenblatt；　seizing　him　and　drawing　him　toward　the　table　again。　　〃Sit　down；　sit　down。　　If　you　want　candles；　let　me　get　them。　　I　know　where　they　are。　　But　we　need　no　candles　here。　Yes；〃　he　cried　with　a　laugh；　〃young　eyes　are　better　than　old　eyes。　The　young　man　reads　well。　　Read；　read。〃

〃There　is　another　paper；〃　said　French　after　Kalman　had　finished。　〃There　is　a　further　agreement。〃

〃Yes；　truly；〃　said　Rosenblatt。　　〃Is　it　not　there？　　It　must　be　there。　　No；　I　must　have　left　it　at　my　cabin。　　I　will　bring　it。〃

〃Well；　hurry　then；〃　said　French。　　〃Meantime；　my　pipe　is　out。〃

He　drew　a　match；　struck　it　on　the　sole　of　his　boot；　lighted　his　pipe　and　threw　the　blazing　remnant　toward　the　back　of　the　cave。

〃Ah；　my　God！〃　cried　Rosenblatt；　his　voice　rising　almost　to　a　shriek。　　Both　men　looked　curiously　at　him。　　〃Ah；〃　he　said；　with　his　hand　over　his　heart；　〃I　have　pain　here。　　But　I　will　get　the　paper。〃

His　face　was　livid；　and　the　sweat　was　running　down　his　beard。　　As　he　spoke　he　ran　out　and　disappeared；　leaving　the　two　men　poring　over　the　papers　together。　　Beside　the　burning　heap　of　brushwood　he　stood　a　moment；　torn　in　an　agony　of　uncertainty　and　fear。

〃Oh！〃　he　said；　wringing　his　hands；　〃I　dare　not　do　it！　　I　dare　not　do　it！〃

He　rushed　past　the　blazing　heap；　paused。　　〃Fool！〃　he　said；　〃what　is　there　to　fear？〃

He　crept　back　to　the　pile　of　burning　brush；　seized　a　blazing　ember；　ran　with　it　to　the　train　he　had　prepared　of　rags　soaked　in　kerosene；　leading　toward　the　mouth　of　the　cross　tunnel；　dropped　the　blazing　stick　upon　it；　and　fled。　　Looking　back；　he　saw　that　in　his　haste　he　had　dashed　out　the　flame　and　that　besides　the　saturated　rags　the　stick　lay　smoking。　　With　a　curse　he　ran　once　more　to　the　blazing　brush　heap；　selected　a　blazing　ember；　carried　it　carefully　to　the　train；　and　set　the　saturated　rags　on　fire；　waiting　until　they　were　fully　alight。　　Then　like　a　man　pursued　by　demons；　he　fled　down　the　ravine；　splashed　through　the　Creek　and　up　the　other　side；　not　pausing　to　look　behind　until　he　had　shut　the　door　of　his　cabin。

As　he　closed　the　door；　a　dark　figure　appeared；　slipped　up　to　the　door；　there　was　a　click；　a　second；　and　a　third；　and　the　door　stood　securely　fastened　with　three　stout　padlocks。　　In　another　moment　Rosenblatt's　livid　face　appeared　at　the　little　square　window　which　overlooked　the　ravine。

At　the　same　instant；　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　ravine；　appeared　Brown；　riding　down　the　slope　like　a　madman；　and　shouting　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　〃French！　　French！　　Kalman！　　For　God's　sake；　come　here！〃

Out　of　the　cave　rushed　the　two　men。　　As　they　appeared　Brown　stood　waving　his　hands　wildly。　　〃Come　here！　　Come；　for　God's　sake！　Come！〃　　His　eyes　fell　upon　the　blazing　train。　　〃Run！　run！〃　he　shouted；　〃for　your　lives！　　Run！〃

He　dashed　toward　the　blazing　rags　and　trampled　them　under　his　feet。　But　the　fire　had　reached　the　powder。　　There　was　a　quick　hissing　sound　of　a　burning　fuse；　and　then　a　great　puff。　　Brown　threw　himself　on　his　face　and　waited；　but　there　was　nothing　more。　　His　two　friends　rushed　to　him　and　lifted　him　up。

〃What；　in　Heaven's　name；　is　it；　Brown？〃　cried　French。

〃Come　away！〃　gasped　Brown；　stumbling　down　the　ravine　and　dragging　them　with　him。

Meantime；　the　whole　hillside　was　in　flames。　　In　the　clear　light　of　the　blazing　trees　the　Sergeant　was　seen　riding　his　splendid　horse　at　a　hard　gallop。　　Soon　after　his　appearing　came　Portnoff。

〃What　does　all　this　mean？〃　said　French；　looking　around　from　one　to　the　other　with　a　dazed　face。

Before　they　could　answer；　a　voice　clear　and　sonorous　drew　their　eyes　across　the　ravine　towards　Rosenblatt's　cabin。　　At　a　little　distance　from　the　cabin　they　could　distinguish　the　figure　of　a　man　outlined　in　the　lurid　light　of　the　leaping　flames。　　He　was　speaking　to　Rosenblatt；　whose　head　could　be　seen　thrust　far　out　of　the　window。

〃Who　is　that　man？〃　cried　the　Sergeant。

〃Mother　of　God！〃　said　old　Portnoff　in　a　low　voice。　　〃It　is　Malkarski。　　Listen。〃

〃Rosenblatt；〃　cried　the　old　man　in　the　Russian　tongue；　〃I　have　something　to　say　to　you。　　Those　bags　of　gunpowder；　that　dynamite　with　which　you　were　to　destroy　two　innocent　men；　are　now　piled　under　your　cabin；　and　this　train　at　my　feet　will　fire　them。〃

With　a　shriek　Rosenblatt　disappeared；　and　they　could　hear　him　battering　at　the　door。　　Old　Malkarski　laughed　a　wild；　unearthly　laugh。

〃Rosenblatt；〃　he　cried　again；　〃the　door　is　securely　fastened！　Three　stout　locks　will　hold　it　closed。〃

The　wretched　man　thrust　his　head　far　out　of　the　window；　shrieking；　〃Help！　　Help！　　Murder！　　Help！〃

〃Listen；　you　dog！〃　cried　Malkarski；　his　voice　ringing　down　through　the　ravine；　〃your　doom　has　come　at　last。　　All　your　crimes；　your　treacheries；　your　bloody　cruelties　are　now　to　be　visited　upon　you。　Ha！　scream！　pray！　but　no　power　in　earth　can　save　you。　　Aha！　for　this　joy　I　have　waited　long！　　See；　I　now　light　this　train。　　In　one　moment　you　will　he　in　hell。〃

He　deliberately　struck　a　match。　　A　slight　puff　of　wind　blew　it　out。　Once　more　he　struck　a　match。　　A　cry　broke　forth　from　Kalman。

〃Stop！　stop！　　Malkarski；　do　not　commit　this　crime！〃

〃What　is　he　doing？〃　said　the　Sergeant；　pulling　his　pistol。

〃He　is　going　to　blow　the　man　up！〃　groaned　Kalman。