the man from glengarry-第3节

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his　face　became　anxious。　　〃Ranald；〃　he　said；　angrily；　〃take
yourself　out　of　this。　　It　is　no　place　for　you　whatever。〃　　The　boy；
a　slight　lad　of　seventeen；　but　tall　and　well…knit；　and　with　his
father's　fierce；　wild；　dark　face；　hesitated。

〃Go；〃　said　his　father；　giving　him　a　slight　cuff。

〃Here；　boy！〃　yelled　LeNoir；　catching　him　by　the　arm　and　holding　the
bottle　to　his　mouth；　〃drink。〃　　The　boy　took　a　gulp；　choked；　and
spat　it　out。　　LeNoir　and　his　men　roared。　　〃Dat　good　whiskey；〃　he
cried；　still　holding　the　boy。　　〃You　not　lak　dat；　hey？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　boy；　〃it　is　not　good　at　all。〃

〃Try　heem　some　more；〃　said　LeNoir；　thrusting　the　bottle　at　him
again。

〃I　will　not；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　at　LeNoir　straight　and　fearless。

〃Ho…ho！　mon　brave　enfant！　　But　you　have　not　de　good　mannere。　　Come；
drink！〃　　He　caught　the　boy　by　the　back　of　the　neck；　and　made　as　if
to　pour　the　whiskey　down　his　throat。　　Black　Hugh；　who　had　been　kept
back　by　Yankee　Jim　all　this　time；　started　forward；　but　before　he
could　take　a　second　step　Ranald；　squirming　round　like　a　cat；　had
sunk　his　teeth　into　LeNoir's　wrist。　　With　a　cry　of　rage　and　pain
LeNoir　raised　the　bottle　and　was　bringing　it　down　on　Ranald's　head；
when　Black　Hugh；　with　one　hand；　caught　the　falling　blow；　and　with
the　other　seized　Ranald；　and　crying；　〃Get　out　of　this！〃　he　flung
him　towards　the　door。　　Then　turning　to　LeNoir；　he　said；　with
surprising　self…control；　〃It　is　myself　that　is　sorry　that　a　boy　of
mine　should　be　guilty　of　biting　like　a　dog。〃

〃Sa…c…r…re　le　chien！〃　yelled　LeNoir；　shaking　off　Macdonald　Dubh；
〃he　is　one　dog；　and　the　son　of　a　dog！〃　　He　turned　and　started　for
the　boy。　　But　Yankee　Jim　had　got　Ranald　to　the　door　and　was
whispering　to　him。　　〃Run！〃　cried　Yankee　Jim；　pushing　him　out　of　the
door；　and　the　boy　was　off　like　the　wind。　　LeNoir　pursued　him　a
short　way　and　returned　raging。

Yankee　Jim；　or　Yankee；　as　he　was　called　for　short；　came　back　to
Macdonald　Dubh's　side；　and　whispering　to　the　other　Highlanders；
〃Keep　your　backs　clear；〃　sat　up　coolly　on　the　counter。　　The　fight
was　sure　to　come　and　there　were　seven　to　one　against　them　in　the
room。　　If　he　could　only　gain　time。　　Every　minute　was　precious。　　It
would　take　the　boy　fifteen　minutes　to　run　the　two　miles　to　camp。
It　would　be　half　an　hour　before　the　rest　of　the　Glengarry　men　could
arrive；　and　much　fighting　may　be　done　in　that　time。　　He　must　avert
attention　from　Macdonald　Dubh；　who　was　waiting　to　cram　LeNoir's
insult　down　his　throat。　　Yankee　Jim　had　not　only　all　the　cool
courage　but　also　the　shrewd；　calculating　spirit　of　his　race。　　He
was　ready　to　fight；　and　if　need　be　against　odds；　but　he　preferred
to　fight　on　as　even　terms　as　possible。

Soon　LeNoir　came　back；　wild　with　fury；　and　yelling　curses　at　the
top　of　his　voice。　　He　hurled　himself　into　the　room；　the　crowd
falling　back　from　him　on　either　hand。

〃Hola！〃　he　yelled；　〃Sacre　bleu！〃　　He　took　two　quick　steps；　and
springing　up　into　the　air　he　kicked　the　stovepipe　that　ran　along
some　seven　feet　above　the　floor。

〃Purty　good　kicking；〃　called　out　Yankee；　sliding　down　from　his
seat。　　〃Used　to　kick　some　myself。　　Excuse　ME。〃　　He　stood　for　a
moment　looking　up　at　the　stovepipe；　then　without　apparent　effort
he　sprang　into　the　air；　shot　up　his　long　legs；　and　knocked　the
stovepipe　with　a　bang　against　the　ceiling。　　There　was　a　shout　of
admiration。

〃My　damages；〃　he　said　to　Pat　Murphy；　who　stood　behind　the　counter。
〃Good　thing　there　ain't　no　fire。　　Thought　it　was　higher。　　Wouldn't
care　to　kick　for　the　drinks；　would　ye？〃　he　added　to　LeNoir。

LeNoir　was　too　furious　to　enter　into　any　contest　so　peaceful；　but
as　he　specially　prided　himself　on　his　high　kick；　he　paused　a　moment
and　was　about　to　agree　when　Black　Hugh　broke　in；　harshly；　spoiling
all　Yankee's　plans。

〃There　is　no　time　for　such　foolishness；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Dan
Murphy。　　〃I　want　to　know　when　we　can　get　our　timber　out。〃

〃Depinds　intoirly　on　yirsilf；〃　said　Murphy。

〃When　will　your　logs　be　out　of　the　way？〃

〃Indade　an'　that's　a　ha…r…r…d　one；〃　laughed　Murphy。

〃And　will　you　tell　me　what　right　hev　you　to　close　up　the　river？〃
Black　Hugh's　wrath　was　rising。

〃You　wud　think　now　it　wuz　yirsilf　that　owned　the　river。　　An'　bedad
it's　the　thought　of　yir　mind；　it　is。　　An'　it's　not　the　river　only；
but　the　whole　creation　ye　an　yir　brother　think　is　yours。　　Dan
Murphy　was　close　up　to　Macdonald　Dubh　by　this　time。　　〃Yis；　blank；
blank；　yir　faces；　an'　ye'd　like　to　turn　better　than　yirsilves　from
aff　the　river；　so　ye　wud；　ye　black…hearted　thaves　that　ye　are。〃

This；　of　course；　was　beyond　all　endurance。　　For　answer　Black　Hugh
smote　him　sudden　and　fierce　on　the　mouth；　and　Murphy　went　down。

〃Purty　one；〃　sang　out　Yankee；　cheerily。　　〃Now；　boys；　back　to　the
wall。〃

Before　Murphy　could　rise；　LeNoir　sprang　over　him　and　lit　upon
Macdonald　like　a　cat；　but　Macdonald　shook　himself　free　and　sprang
back　to　the　Glengarry　line　at　the　wall。

〃Mac　an'　Diabboil；〃　he　roared；　〃Glengarry　forever！〃

〃Glengarry！〃　yelled　the　four　Highlanders　beside　him；　wild　with　the
delight　of　battle。　　It　was　a　plain　necessity；　and　they　went　into　it
with　free　consciences　and　happy　hearts。

〃Let　me　at　him；〃　cried　Murphy；　struggling　past　LeNoir　towards
Macdonald。

〃Non！　　He　is　to　me！〃　yelled　LeNoir；　dancing　in　front　of　Macdonald。

〃Here；　Murphy；〃　called　out　Yankee；　obligingly；　〃help　yourself　this
way。〃　　Murphy　dashed　at　him；　but　Yankee's　long　arm　shot　out　to　meet
him；　and　Murphy　again　found　the　floor。

〃Come　on；　boys；〃　cried　Pat　Murphy；　Dan's　brother；　and　followed　by
half　a　dozen　others；　he　flung　himself　at　Yankee　and　the　line　of　men
standing　up　against　the　wall。　　But　Yankee's　arms　flashed　out　once；
twice；　thrice；　and　Pat　Murphy　fell　back　over　his　brother；　two
others　staggered　across　and　checked　the　oncoming　rush；　while　Dannie
Ross　and　big　Mack　Cameron　had　each　beaten　back　their　man；　and　the
Glengarry　line　stood　unbroken。　　Man　for　man　they　were　far　more　than
a　match　for　their　opponents；　and　standing　shoulder　to　shoulder；
with　their　backs　to　the　wall；　they　taunted　Murphy　and　his　gang　with
all　the　wealth　of　gibes　and　oaths　at　their　command。

〃Where's　the　rest　of　your　outfit；　Murphy？〃　drawled　Yankee。　　〃Don't
seem's　if　you'd　counted　right。〃

〃It　is　a　cold　day　for　the　parley　voos；〃　laughed　Big　Mack　Cameron。
〃Come　up；　lads；　and　take　a　taste　of　something　hot。〃

Then　the　Murphy　men；　clearing　away　the　fallen；　rushed　again。　　They
strove　to　bring　the　Highlanders　to　a　clinch；　but　Yankee's　voice　was
high　and　clear　in　command。

〃Keep　the　line；　boys！　　Don't　let　'em　draw　you！〃　　And　the　Glengarry
men　waited　till　they　could　strike；　and　when　they　struck　men　went
down　and　were　pulled　back　by　their　friends。

〃Intil　them；　bhoys！〃　yelled　Dan　Murphy；　keeping　out　of　range
himself。　　〃Intil　the　divils！〃　　And　again　and　again　his　men　crowded
down　upon　the　line　against　the　wall；　but　again　and　again　they　were
beaten　down　or　hurled　back　bruised　and　bleeding。

Meantime　LeNoir　was　devoting　himself　to　Black　Hugh　at　one　end　of
the　line；　dancing　in　upon　him　and　away　again；　but　without　much
result。　　Black　Hugh　refused　to　be　drawn　out；　and　fought　warily　on
defense；　knowing　the　odds　were　great　and　waiting　his　chance　to
deliver　one　good　blow；　which　was　all　he　asked。

The　Glengarry　men　were　enjoying　themselves　hugely；　and　when　not
shouting　their　battle…cry；　〃Glengarry　forever！〃　or　taunting　their
foes；　they　were　joking　each　other　on　the　fortunes　of　war。　　Big　Mack
Cameron；　who　held　the　center；　drew　most　of　the　sallies。　　He　was
easy…tempered　and　good…natured；　and　took　his　knocks　with　the　utmost
good　humor。

〃That　was　a　good　one；　Mack；〃　said　Dannie　Ross；　his　special　chum；　as
a　sounding　whack　came　in　on　Big　Mack's　face。　　〃As　true　as　death　I
will　be　telling　it　to　Bella　Peter。　　Bella；　the　daughter　of　Peter
McGregor；　was　supposed　to　be　dear　to　Big　Mack's　heart。

〃What　a　peety　she　could　not　see　him　the　now；〃　said　Finlay　Campbell。
〃Man　alive；　she　would　say　the　word　queeck！〃

〃'Tis　more　than　she　will　do　to　you　whatever；　if　you　cannot　keep　off
that　crapeau　yonder　a　little　better；〃　said　Big　Mack；　reaching　for　a
Frenchman　who　kept　dodging　in　upon　him　with　annoying　persistence。
Then　Mack　began　to　swear　Gaelic　oaths。

'Tain't　fair；　Mack！〃　called　out　Yankee　from　his　end　of　the　line；
〃bad　language　in　English　is　bad　enough；　but　in　Gaelic　it　must　be
uncommon　rough。〃　　So　they　gibed　each　other。　　But　the　tactics　of　the
enemy　were　exceedingly　irritating；　and　were　beginning　to　tell　upon
the　tempers　of　the　Highlanders。

〃Come　to　me；　ye　cowardly　little　devil；〃　roared　Mack　to　his
persisting　assailant。　　〃No　one　will　hurt　you！　　Come　away；　man！
A…a…ah…ouch！〃　　His　cry　of　satisfaction　at　having　grabbed　his　man
ended　in　a　howl　of　pain；　for　the　Frenchman　had　got　Mack's　thumb
between　his　teeth；　and　was　chewing　it　vigorously。

〃Ye　would；　would　you；　ye　dog？〃　roared　Big　Mack。　　He　closed　his
fingers　into　the　Frenchman's　gullet；　and　drew　him　up　to　strike；　but
on　every　side　hands　reached　for　him　and　stayed　his　blow。　　Then　he
lost　himself。　　With　a　yell　of　rage　he　jambed　his　man　back　into　the
crowd；　sinking　his　fingers　deeper　and　deeper　into　his　enemy's
throat　till　his　face　grew　black　and　his　head　fell　over　on　o