the man from glengarry-第4节

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crowd；　sinking　his　fingers　deeper　and　deeper　into　his　enemy's
throat　till　his　face　grew　black　and　his　head　fell　over　on　one　side。
But　it　was　a　fatal　move　for　Mack；　and　overcome　by　numbers　that
crowded　upon　him；　he　went　down　fighting　wildly　and　bearing　the
Frenchman　beneath　him。　　The　Glengarry　line　was　broken。　　Black　Hugh
saw　Mack's　peril；　and　knew　that　it　meant　destruction　to　all。　　With
a　wilder　cry　than　usual；　〃Glengarry！　　Glengarry！〃　he　dashed
straight　into　LeNoir；　who　gave　back　swiftly；　caught　two　men　who
were　beating　Big　Mack's　life　out；　and　hurled　them　aside；　and
grasping　his　friend's　collar；　hauled　him　to　his　feet；　and　threw　him
back　against　the　wall　and　into　the　line　again　with　his　grip　still
upon　his　Frenchman's　throat。

〃Let　dead　men　go；　Mack；〃　he　cried；　but　even　as　he　spoke　LeNoir；
seeing　his　opportunity；　sprang　at　him　and　with　a　backward　kick
caught　Macdonald　fair　in　the　face　and　lashed　him　hard　against　the
wall。　　It　was　the　terrible　French　'lash'　and　was　one　of　LeNoir's
special　tricks。　　Black　Hugh；　stunned　and　dazed；　leaned　back　against
the　wall；　spreading　out　his　hands　weakly　before　his　face。　　LeNoir；
seeing　victory　within　his　grasp；　rushed　in　to　finish　off　his
special　foe。　　But　Yankee　Jim；　who；　while　engaged　in　cheerfully
knocking　back　the　two　Murphys　and　others　who　took　their　turn　at
him；　had　been　keeping　an　eye　on　the　line　of　battle；　saw　Macdonald's
danger；　and　knowing　that　the　crisis　had　come；　dashed　across　the
line；　crying　〃Follow　me；　boys。〃　　His　long　arms　swung　round　his　head
like　the　sails　of　a　wind…mill；　and　men　fell　back　from　him　as　if
they　had　been　made　of　wood。　　As　LeNoir　sprang；　Yankee　shot　fiercely
at　him；　but　the　Frenchman；　too　quick　for　him；　ducked　and　leaped
upon　Black　Hugh；　who　was　still　swaying　against　the　wall；　bore　him
down　and　jumped　with　his　heavy　〃corked〃　boots　on　his　breast　and
face。　　Again　the　Glengarry　line　was　broken。　　At　once　the　crowd
surged　about　the　Glengarry　men；　who　now　stood　back　to　back；　beating
off　the　men　leaping　at　them　from　every　side；　as　a　stag　beats　off
dogs；　and　still　chanting　high　their　dauntless　cry；　〃Glengarry
forever；〃　to　which　Big　Mack　added　at　intervals；　〃To　hell　with　the
Papishes！〃　　Yankee；　failing　to　check　LeNoir's　attack　upon　Black
Hugh；　fought　off　the　men　crowding　upon　him；　and　made　his　way　to　the
corner　where　the　Frenchman　was　still　engaged　in　kicking　the
prostrate　Highlander　to　death。

〃Take　that；　you　blamed　cuss；〃　he　said；　catching　LeNoir　in　the　jaw
and　knocking　his　head　with　a　thud　against　the　wall。　　Before　he
could　strike　again　he　was　thrown　against　his　enemy；　who　clutched
him　and　held　like　a　vice。



CHAPTER　II

VENGEANCE　IS　MINE


The　Glengarry　men　had　fought　their　fight；　and　it　only　remained　for
their　foes　to　wreak　their　vengeance　upon　them　and　wipe　out　old
scores。　　One　minute　more　would　have　done　for　them；　but　in　that
minute　the　door　came　crashing　in。　　There　was　a　mighty　roar；
〃Glengarry！　　Glengarry！〃　and　the　great　Macdonald　himself；　with　the
boy　Ranald　and　some　half…dozen　of　his　men　behind　him；　stood　among
them。　　On　all　hands　the　fight　stopped。　　A　moment　he　stood；　his
great　head　and　shoulders　towering　above　the　crowd；　his　tawny　hair
and　beard　falling　around　his　face　like　a　great　mane；　his　blue　eyes
gleaming　from　under　his　shaggy　eyebrows　like　livid　lightning。　　A
single　glance　around　the　room；　and　again　raising　his　battle…cry；
〃Glengarry！〃　he　seized　the　nearest　shrinking　Frenchman；　lifted　him
high；　and　hurled　him　smashing　into　the　bottles　behind　the　counter。
His　men；　following　him；　bounded　like　tigers　on　their　prey。　　A　few
minutes　of　fierce；　eager　fighting；　and　the　Glengarry　men　were　all
freed　and　on　their　feet；　all　except　Black　Hugh；　who　lay　groaning　in
his　corner。　　〃Hold；　lads！〃　Macdonald　Bhain　cried；　in　his　mighty
voice。　　〃Stop；　I'm　telling　you。〃　　The　fighting　ceased。

〃Dan　Murphy！〃　he　cried；　casting　his　eye　round　the　room；　〃where　are
you；　ye　son　of　Belial？〃

Murphy；　crouching　at　the　back　of　the　crowd　near　the　door；　sought　to
escape。

〃Ah！　there　you　are！〃　cried　Macdonald；　and　reaching　through　the
crowd　with　his　great；　long　arm；　he　caught　Murphy　by　the　hair　of　the
head　and　dragged　him　forward。

〃R…r…r…a…a…t！　　R…r…r…a…a…t！　　R…r…r…a…a…t！〃　he　snarled；　shaking　him
till　his　teeth　rattled。　　〃It　is　yourself　that　is　the　cause　of　this
wickedness。　　Now；　may　the　Lord　have　mercy　on　your　soul。〃　　With　one
hand　he　gripped　Murphy　by　the　throat；　holding　him　at　arm's　length；
and　raised　his　huge　fist　to　strike。　　But　before　the　blow　fell　he
paused。

〃No！〃　he　muttered；　in　a　disappointed　tone；　〃it　is　not　good　enough。
I　will　not　be　demeaning　myself。　　Hence；　you　r…r…a…a…t！〃　　As　he
spoke　he　lifted　the　shaking　wretch　as　if　he　had　been　a　bundle　of
clothes；　swung　him　half　round　and　hurled　him　crashing　through　the
window。

〃Is　there　no　goot　man　here　at　all　who　will　stand　before　me？〃　he
raged　in　a　wild；　joyous　fury。　　〃Will　not　two　of　you　come　forth；
then？〃　　No　one　moved。　　〃Come　to　me！〃　he　suddenly　cried；　and
snatching　two　of　the　enemy；　he　dashed　their　heads　together；　and
threw　them　insensible　on　the　floor。

Then　he　caught　sight　of　his　brother　for　the　first　time　lying　in　the
corner　with　Big　Mack　supporting　his　head；　and　LeNoir　standing　near。

〃What　is　this？　　What　is　this？〃　he　cried；　striding　toward　LeNoir。
〃And　is　it　you　that　has　done　this　work？〃　he　asked；　in　a　voice　of
subdued　rage。

〃Oui！〃　cried　LeNoir；　stepping　back　and　putting　up　his　hands；　〃das
me；　Louis　LeNoir！　by　Gar！〃　　He　struck　himself　on　the　breast　as　he
spoke。

〃Out　of　my　way！〃　cried　Macdonald；　swinging　his　open　hand　on　the
Frenchman's　ear。　　With　a　swift　sweep　he　brushed　LeNoir　aside　from
his　place；　and　ignoring　him　stooped　over　his　brother。　　But　LeNoir
was　no　coward；　and　besides　his　boasted　reputation　was　at　stake。　　He
thought　he　saw　his　chance；　and　rushing　at　Macdonald　as　he　was
bending　over　his　brother；　delivered　his　terrible　'lash'。　　But
Macdonald　had　not　lived　with　and　fought　with　Frenchmen　all　these
years　without　knowing　their　tricks　and　ways。　　He　saw　LeNoir's
'lash'　coming；　and　quickly　turning　his　head；　avoided　the　blow。

〃Ah！　would　ye？　　Take　that；　then；　and　be　quate！〃　and　so　saying；　he
caught　LeNoir　on　the　side　of　the　head　and　sent　him　to　the　floor。

〃Keep　him　off　a　while；　Yankee！〃　said　Macdonald；　for　LeNoir　was　up
again；　and　coming　at　him。

Then　kneeling　beside　his　brother　he　wiped　the　bloody　froth　that　was
oozing　from　his　lips；　and　said　in　a　low；　anxious　tone：

〃Hugh；　bhodaich　（old　man）；　are　ye　hurted？　　Can　ye　not　speak　to　me；
Hugh？〃

〃Oich…oh；〃　Black　Hugh　groaned。　　〃It　was　a　necessityDonald　man
andhe　took　meunawareswith　hiskeeck。〃

〃Indeed；　and　I'll　warrant　you！〃　agreed　his　brother；　〃but　I　will　be
attending　to　him；　never　you　fear。〃

Macdonald　was　about　to　rise；　when　his　brother　caught　his　arm。

〃You　willnot　bekilling　him；〃　he　urged；　between　his　painful
gasps；　〃because　I　will　be　doing　that　myself　some　day；　by　God's
help。〃

His　words　and　the　eager　hate　in　his　face　seemed　to　quiet　Macdonald。

〃Alas！　alas！〃　he　said；　sadly；　〃it　is　not　allowed　me　to　smite　him
as　he　deserves'Vengeance　is　mine　saith　the　Lord；'　and　I　have
solemnly　promised　the　minister　not　to　smite　for　glory　or　for
revenge！　　Alas！　alas！〃

Then　turning　to　LeNoir；　he　said；　gravely：　　〃It　is　not　given　me　to
punish　you　for　your　coward's　blow。　　Go　from　me！〃　　But　LeNoir
misjudged　him。

〃Bah！〃　he　cried；　contemptuously；　〃you　tink　me　one　baby；　you　strike
me　on　de　head　side　like　one　little　boy。　　Bon！　　Louis　LeNware；　de
bes　bully　on　de　Hottawa；　he's　not　'fraid　for　hany　man；　by　Gar！〃　　He
pranced　up　and　down　before　Macdonald；　working　himself　into　a　great
rage；　as　Macdonald　grew　more　and　more　controlled。

Macdonald　turned　to　his　men　with　a　kind　of　appeal〃I　hev　given　my
promise；　and　Macdonald　will　not　break　his　word。〃

〃Bah！〃　cried　LeNoir；　spitting　at　him。

〃Now　may　the　Lord　give　me　grace　to　withstand　the　enemy；〃　said
Macdonald；　gravely；　〃for　I　am　greatly　moved　to　take　vengeance　upon
you。〃

〃Bah！〃　cried　LeNoir　again；　mistaking　Macdonald's　quietness　and
self…control　for　fear。　　〃You　no　good！　　Your　brother　is　no　good！
Beeg　sheep！　　Beeg　sheep！　　Bah！〃

〃God　help　me；〃　said　Macdonald　as　if　to　himself。　　〃I　am　a　man　of
grace！　　But　must　this　dog　go　unpunished？〃

LeNoir　continued　striding　up　and　down；　now　and　then　springing　high
in　the　air　and　knocking　his　heels　together　with　blood…curdling
yells。　　He　seemed　to　feel　that　Macdonald　would　not　fight；　and　his
courage　and　desire　for　blood　grew　accordingly。

〃Will　you　not　be　quate？〃　said　Macdonald；　rising　after　a　few　moments
from　his　brother's　side；　where　he　had　been　wiping　his　lips　and
giving　him　water　to　drink。　　〃You　will　be　better　outside。〃

〃Oui！　you　strike　me　on　the　head　side。　　Bon！　　I　strike　you　de　same
way！　　By　Gar！〃　so　saying　he　approached　Macdonald　lightly；　and
struck　him　a　slight　blow　on　the　cheek。

〃Ay；〃　said　Macdonald；　growing　white　and　rigid。　　〃I　struck　you
twice；　LeNoir。　　Here！〃　he　offered　the　other　side　of　his　face。
LeNoir　danced　up　carefully；　made　a　slight　pass；　and　struck　the
offered　cheek。

〃Now；　that　is　done；　will　it　please　you　to　do　it　again？〃　said
Macdonald；　with　earnest　entreaty　in　his　voice。　　LeNoir　must　have
been　mad　with　his　rag