the man from glengarry-第44节

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　　　　　〃En　roulant　ma　boule　roulant；
　　　　　　　　En　roulant　me　boule。〃


〃This；　I　suppose；　is　one　of　your　beloved　shantymen；〃　said　the
lieutenant；　turning　to　Kate；　who　was　walking　with　Harry　behind。

〃Isn't　he　lovely！〃　exclaimed　Kate。

〃Oh；〃　cried　Maimie；　in　terror；　〃let　us　get　into　a　shop！〃

〃Quite　unnecessary；　I　assure　you；〃　said　the　lieutenant；
indifferently；　〃I　have　not　the　least　idea　that　he　will　molest　you。〃

The　lumberman　by　this　time　had　swaggered　up　to　the　party；　expecting
them　to　make　way；　but　instead；　De　Lacy　stiffened　his　shoulder；
caught　the　Frenchman　in　the　chest；　and　rolled　him　off　into　the
street。　　Surprised　and　enraged；　the　Frenchman　turned　to　demolish
the　man　who　had　dared　to　insult　the　〃boss　bully　on　de　reever
Hottawa。〃

〃Vous　n'avez　pas　remarque　la　demoiselle；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　in　a
tone　of　politeness。

The　lumberman；　who　had　swaggered　up　ready　to　strike；　glanced　at
Maimie；　took　off　his　hat；　and　made　a　ceremonious　bow。

〃Eh　bien！　　Non！　　Pardon；　Mams'elle。〃

〃Bon　jour；〃　said　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；　with　a　military　salute；　and
moved　on；　leaving　the　lumberman　staring　after　them　as　if　he　had
seen　a　vision。

〃Beauty　and　the　Beast；〃　murmured　the　lieutenant。　　〃Thought　I　was　in
for　it；　sure。　　Really　wonderful；　don't　you　know！〃

〃Do　you　think　we　had　better　go　on？〃　said　Maimie；　turning　to　Kate
and　Harry。

〃Why　not？　　Why；　certainly！〃　they　exclaimed。

〃These　horrid　men；〃　replied　Maimie。

〃Dear　creatures！〃　said　the　lieutenant；　glancing　at　Kate　with　a
mildly　pathetic　look。　　〃Sweet；　but　not　always　fragrant。〃

〃Oh；　they　won't　hurt　us。　　Let　us　go　on。〃

〃Certainly；　go　on；〃　echoed　Harry；　impatiently。

〃Safe　enough；　Miss　St。　Clair；　but；〃　pulling　out　his　perfumed
handkerchief；　〃rather　trying。〃

〃Oh；　get　on；　De　Lacy；〃　cried　Harry；　and　so　they　moved　on。

The　office　of　Raymond　&　St。　Clair　stood　near　the　wharves。　　Harry
paused　at　the　door；　not　quite　sure　whether　to　go　in　or　not。　　It　was
easy　to　discover　work　in　that　office。

〃You　might　ask　if　Ranald　has　come；〃　said　Kate。　　〃Maimie　is　too
shy。〃

Harry　returned　in　a　few　moments；　quite　excited。

〃The　Macdonald　gang　are　in；　and　the　Big　Macdonald　was　here　not　half
an　hour　ago；　and　Ranald　is　down　at　the　raft　beyond　the　last　wharf。
I　know　the　place。〃

〃Oh；　do　let　us　go　on！〃　cried　Kate；　to　whom　Harry　had　been　extolling
Ranald　on　the　way　down。　　〃You　really　ought　to　inspect　your　timber；
Harry；　shouldn't　you？〃

〃Most　certainly；　and　right　away。　　No　saying　what　might　happen。〃

〃Awful　slush；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　glancing　at　Maimie's　face。　　〃Do
you　think　the　timber　wouldn't　keep　for　a　week？〃

〃Oh；　rubbish！　　A　week！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃He　is　thinking　of　his　boots
again。〃

To　be　quite　fair　to　the　lieutenant；　it　was　Maimie's　doubtful　face；
rather　than　his　shiny　boots；　that　made　him　hesitate。　　She　was
evidently　nervous　and　embarrassed。　　The　gay；　easy　manner　which　was
her　habit　was　gone。

〃I　think　perhaps　we　had　better　go；　since　we　are　here；〃　she　said；
doubtfully。

〃Exactly；　it　is　what　I　most　desired；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　gallantly。

Scores　of　rafts　lay　moored　along　the　wharves　and　shore；　and　hundred
of　lumbermen　were　to　be　seen　everywhere；　not　only　on　the　timber　and
wharves；　but　crowding　the　streets　and　the　doors　of　the　little
saloons。

For　half　an　hour　they　walked　along；　watching　the　men　at　work　with
the　timber　on　the　river。　　Some　were　loading　the　vessels　lying　at
anchor；　some　were　shifting　the　loose　timber　about。　　When　they
reached　the　end　of　the　last　wharf；　they　saw　a　strapping　young
lumberman；　in　a　shanty　costume　that　showed　signs　of　the　woods；
running　some　loose　sticks　of　timber　round　the　end　of　the　raft。
With　great　skill　he　was　handling　his　pike；　walking　the　big　sticks
and　running　lightly　over　the　timber　too　small　to　carry　him；
balancing　himself　on　a　single　stick　while　he　moved　the　timber　to
the　bit　of　open　water　behind　the　raft；　and　all　with　a　grace　and
dexterity　that　excited　Kate's　admiration　to　the　highest　degree。

〃Rather　clever；　that；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　lazily。　　〃Hello！　close
call；　that；　ha！　bravo！〃　　It　was　not　often　the　lieutenant　allowed
himself　the　luxury　of　excitement；　but　the　lumberman　running　his
timber　slipped　his　pike　pole　and　found　himself　balancing　on　the
edge　of　open　water。　　With　a　mighty　spring　he　cleared　the　open
space；　touched　a　piece　of　small　timber　that　sank　under　him；　and　at
the　next　spring　landed　safe　on　the　raft。　　Maimie's　scream　sounded
with　the　lieutenant's　〃bravo。〃　　At　the　cry　the　young　fellow　looked
up。　　It　was　Ranald。

〃Hello；　there！〃　cried　Harry；　and　with　an　answering　shout；　Ranald；
using　his　pike　as　a　jumping…pole；　cleared　the　open　space；　ran
lightly　over　the　floating　sticks；　and　with　another　spring　reached
the　shore。　　Without　a　moment's　hesitation　he　dropped　his　pole　and
came　almost　running　toward　them；　his　face　radiant　with　delight。

〃Maimie！〃　he　exclaimed；　holding　out　his　hand；　wet　and　none　too
clean。

〃How　do　you　do？〃　said　Maimie。　　She　had　noticed　the　look　of　surprise
and　mild　disgust　on　the　lieutenant's　face；　and　she　was　embarrassed。
Ranald　was　certainly　not　lovely　to　look　at。　　His　shirt　was　open　at
the　neck；　torn；　and　dirty。　　His　trousers　and　boots　were　much　the
worse　of　their　struggle　with　the　bush。

〃This　is　Mr。　Macdonald；　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；〃　Maimie　hurried　to　say。
The　lieutenant　offered　a　limp　hand。

〃Chawmed；　I'm　suah；〃　he　murmured。

〃What？〃　said　Ranald。

〃Lovely　weather；〃　murmured　the　lieutenant　again；　looking　at　his
fingers　that　Ranald　had　just　let　go。

〃Well；　old　chap；〃　said　Harry；　grasping　Ranald's　hand　and　throwing
his　arm　about　his　shoulder；　〃I　am　awfully　glad　to　find　you。　　We
have　been　hunting　you　for　half　an　hour。　　But　hold　up；　here　you　are。
Let　me　introduce　you　to　Miss　Kate　Raymond；　the　best　girl　anywhere。〃

Kate　came　forward　with　a　frank　smile。　　〃I　am　very　glad　to　meet
you；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　heard　so　much　about　you；　and　I　am　going　to
call　you　Ranald；　as　they　all　do。〃

〃How　lovely！〃　sighed　De　Lacy。

Her　greeting　warmed　Ranald's　heart　that　somehow　had　been　chilled　in
the　meeting。　　Something　was　wrong。　　Was　it　this　fop　of　a　soldier；
or　had　Maimie　changed？　　Ranald　glanced　at　her　face。　　No；　she　was
the　same；　only　more　beautiful　than　he　had　dreamed。

But　while　she　was　shaking　hands　with　him；　there　flashed　across　his
mind　the　memory　of　the　first　time　he　had　seen　her；　and　the　look　of
amusement　upon　her　face　then；　that　had　given　him　such　deadly
offense。　　There　was　no　amusement　now；　but　there　was　embarrassment
and　something　else。　　Ranald　could　not　define　it；　but　it　chilled　his
heart；　and　at　once　he　began　to　feel　how　badly　dressed　he　was。　　The
torn　shirt；　the　ragged　trousers；　and　the　old；　unshapely　boots　that
he　had　never　given　a　thought　to　before；　now　seemed　to　burn　into　his
flesh。　　Unconsciously　he　backed　away　and　turned　to　go。

〃Where　are　you　off　to？〃　cried　Harry；　〃do　you　think　we　are　going　to
let　you　go　now？　　We　had　hard　enough　work　finding　you。　　Come　up　to
the　office　and　see　the　governor。　　He　wants　to　see　you　badly。〃

Ranald　glanced　at　the　lieutenant；　immaculate　except　where　the　slush
had　speckled　his　shiny　boots；　and　then　at　his　own　ragged　attire。
〃I　think　I　will　not　go　up　now；〃　he　said。

〃Well；　come　up　soon；〃　said　Maimie；　evidently　relieved。

〃No！〃　said　Kate；　impetuously；　〃come　right　along　now。〃　　As　she　spoke
she　ranged　herself　beside　him。

For　a　moment　or　two　Ranald　hesitated；　shot　a　searching　glance　at
Maimie's　face；　and　then；　with　a　reckless　laugh；　said；　〃I　will　go
now；〃　and　set　off　forthwith；　Kate　proudly　marching　at　one　side；　and
Harry　on　the　other；　leaving　Maimie　and　the　lieutenant　to　follow
after。

And　a　good　thing　it　was　for　Ranald　that　he　did　go　that　day　with
Harry　to　his　〃governor's〃　office。　　They　found　the　office　in　a
〃swither；〃　as　Harry　said；　over　the　revelations　of　fraud　that　were
coming　to　light　every　daybook…keeper；　clerk；　and　timber…checker
having　all　been　in　conspiracy　to　defraud　the　company。

〃Where　have　you　been；　Harry？〃　said　his　father　in　an　annoyed　tone　as
his　son　entered　the　office。　　〃You　don't　seem　to　realize　how　much
there　is　to　do　just　now。〃

〃Looking　up　Ranald；　father；〃　said　Harry；　cheerfully。

〃Ah；　the　young　man　from　Glengarry？〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　rising。　　〃I
am　glad　to　know　you；　and　to　thank　you　in　person　for　your　prompt
courage　in　saving　my　daughter。〃

〃Lucky　dog！〃　groaned　the　lieutenant；　in　an　undertone　to　Maimie。

Mr。　St。　Clair　spoke　to　Ranald　of　his　father　and　his　uncle　in　words
of　highest　appreciation；　and　as　Ranald　listened；　the　reckless　and
hard　look　which　had　been　gathering　ever　since　his　meeting　with
Maimie　passed　away；　and　his　face　became　earnest　and　touched　with　a
tender　pride。

〃I　hear　about　you　frequently　from　my　sister；　Mr。　Macdonaldor
shall　I　say　Ranald？〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　kindly。　　〃She　apparently
thinks　something　of　you〃

〃I　am　proud　to　think　so；〃　replied　Ranald；　his　face　lighting　up　as
he　spoke；　〃but　every　one　loves　her。　　She　is　a　wonderful　woman；　and
good。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃that's　it；　wonderful　and　good。〃

Then　Maimie　drew　nearer。　　〃How　is　auntie？〃　she　said。　　〃What　a　shame
not　to　have　asked　before！〃

〃She　was　very　well　last　fall；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　keenly　into
Maimie's　face；