the man from glengarry-第45节

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not　to　have　asked　before！〃

〃She　was　very　well　last　fall；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　keenly　into
Maimie's　face；　〃but　she　is　working　too　hard　at　the　meetings。〃

〃Meetings！〃　exclaimed　Harry。

〃Aye；　for　a　year　and　more　she　has　been　at　them　every　night　till
late。〃

〃At　meetings　for　a　year！　　What　meetings？〃　cried　Harry；　astonished。

〃Oh；　Harry；　you　know　about　the　great　revival　going　on　quite　well；〃
said　Maimie。

〃Oh；　yes。　　I　forgot。　　What　a　shame！　　What　is　the　use　of　her　killing
herself　that　way？〃

〃There　is　much　use；〃　said　Ranald；　gravely。　　〃They　are　making　bad
men　good；　and　the　whole　countryside　is　new；　and　she　is　the　heart　of
it　all。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　about　that；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair。　　〃She　will　be　the
head　and　heart　and　hands　and　feet。〃

〃You're　just　right；　governor；〃　said　Harry；　warmly。　　〃There　is　no
woman　living　like　Aunt　Murray。〃

There　was　silence　for　a　few　moments。　　Then　Mr。　St。　Clair　said
suddenly：　　〃We　are　in　an　awful　fix　here。　　Not　a　man　to　be　found
that　we　can　depend　upon　for　book…keeper；　clerk；　or　checker。〃

Harry　coughed　slightly。

〃Oh；　of　course；　Harry　is　an　excellent　book…keeper；〃　Harry　bowed
low；　〃while　he　is　at　it；〃　added　Mr。　St。　Clair。

〃Very　neat　one；〃　murmured　the　lieutenant。

〃Now；　father；　do　not　spoil　a　fine　compliment　in　that　way；〃　cried
Harry。

〃But　now　the　checker　is　gone；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃and　that　is
extremely　awkward。〃

〃I　say；〃　cried　Harry；　〃what　will　you　give　me　for　a　checker　right
now？〃

Mr。　St。　Clair　looked　at　him　and　then　at　the　lieutenant。

〃Pardon　me；　Mr。　St。　Clair；〃　said　that　gentleman；　holding　up　his
hand。　　〃I　used　to　check　a　little　at　Rugby；　but〃

〃Not　you；　by　a　long　hand；〃　interrupted　Harry；　disdainfully。

〃This　awfully　charming　brother　of　yours；　so　very　frank；　don't　you
know！〃　said　the　lieutenant；　softly；　to　Maimie；　while　they　all
laughed。

〃But　here　is　your　man；　governor；〃　said　Harry；　laying　his　hand　on
Ranald。

〃Ranald！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　St。　Clair。　　〃Why；　the　very　man！　　You
understand　timber；　and　you　are　honest。〃

〃I　will　answer　for　both　with　my　head；〃　said　Harry。

〃What　do　you　say；　Ranald？〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair。　　〃Will　you　take　a
day　to　think　it　over？〃

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　will　be　your　checker。〃　　And　so　Ranald　became
part　of　the　firm　of　Raymond　&　St。　Clair。

〃Come　along；　Ranald；〃　said　Harry。　　〃We　will　take　the　girls　home；
and　then　come　back　to　the　office。〃

〃Yes；　do　come；〃　said　Kate；　heartily。　　Maimie　said　nothing。

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　will　go　back　to　the　raft　first；　and　then　come
to　the　office。　　Shall　I　begin　tonight？〃　he　said　to　Mr。　St。　Clair。

〃To…morrow　morning　will　do；　Ranald；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair。　　〃Come　up
to　the　hotel　and　see　us　tonight。〃　　But　Ranald　said　nothing。　　Then
Maimie　went　up　to　him。

〃Good　by；　just　now；〃　she　said；　smiling　into　his　face。　　〃You　will
come　and　see　us　to…night；　perhaps？〃

Ranald　looked　at　her；　while　the　blood　mounted　slowly　into　his　dark
cheek；　and　said：　　〃Yes；　I　will　come。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Maimie？〃　said　Harry；　indignantly；　when
they　had　got　outside。　　〃You　would　think　Ranald　was　a　stranger；　the
way　you　treat　him。〃

〃And　he　is　just　splendid！　　I　wish　he　had　pulled　ME　out　of　the
fire；〃　cried　Kate。

〃You　might　try　the　river；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃I　fancy　he　would
go　in。　　Looks　that　sort。〃

〃Go　in？〃　cried　Harry；　〃he　would　go　anywhere。〃　　The　lieutenant　made
no　reply。　　He　evidently　considered　that　it　was　hardly　worth　the
effort　to　interest　himself　in　the　young　lumberman；　but　before　he
was　many　hours　older　he　found　reason　to　change　his　mind。

After　taking　the　young　ladies　to　their　hotel　there　was　still　an
hour　till　the　lieutenant's　dinner；　so；　having　resolved　to　cultivate
the　St。　Clair　family；　he　proposed　accompanying　Harry　back　to　the
office。

As　they　approached　the　lower　portion　of　the　town　they　heard　wild
shouts；　and　sauntering　down　a　side　street；　they　came　upon　their
French…Canadian　friend　of　the　afternoon。　　He　was　standing　with　his
back　against　a　wall　trying　to　beat　off　three　or　four　men；　who　were
savagely　striking　and　kicking　at　him；　and　crying　the　while：
〃Gatineau！　　Gatineau！〃

It　was　the　Gatineau　against　the　Ottawa。

〃Our　friend　seems　to　have　found　the　object　of　his　search；〃　said　the
lieutenant；　as　he　stood　across　the　street　looking　at　the　melee。

〃I　say；　he's　a　good　one；　isn't　he？〃　cried　Harry；　admiring　the
Ottawa's　dauntless　courage　and　his　fighting　skill。

〃His　eagerness　for　war　will　probably　be　gratified　in　a　few　minutes；
by　the　look　of　things；〃　replied　the　lieutenant。

The　Gatineaus　were　crowding　around；　and　had　evidently　made　up　their
minds　to　bring　the　Ottawa　champion　to　the　dust。　　That　they　were
numbers　to　one　mattered　not　at　all。　　There　was　little　chivalry　in　a
shantymen's　fight。

〃Ha！　　Rather　a　good　one；　that；〃　exclaimed　the　lieutenant；　mildly
interested。　　〃He　put　that　chap　out　somewhat　neatly。〃　　He　lit　a
cigar　and　stood　coolly　watching　the　fight。

〃Where　are　the　Ottawasthe　fellow's　friends？〃　said　Harry；　much
excited。

〃I　rather　think　they　camp　on　another　street　further　down。〃

The　Ottawa　champion　was　being　sorely　pressed；　and　it　looked　as　if
in　a　moment　or　two　more　he　would　be　down。

〃What　a　shame！〃　cried　Harry。

〃Well；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　languidly；　〃it's　beastly　dirty；　but
the　chap's　done　rather　well；　so　here　goes。〃

Smoking　his　cigar；　and　followed　by　Harry；　he　pushed　across　the
street　to　the　crowd；　and　got　right　up　to　the　fighters。

〃Here；　you　fellows；〃　he　called　out；　in　a　high；　clear　voice；　〃what
the　deuce　do　you　mean；　kicking　up　such　a　row？　　Come　now；　stop；　and
get　out　of　here。〃

The　astonished　crowd　stopped　fighting　and　fell　back　a　little。　　The
calm；　clear　voice　of　command　and　her　majesty's　uniform　awed　them。

〃Mon　camarade！〃　said　the　lieutenant；　removing　his　cigar　and
saluting；　〃rather　warm；　eh？〃

〃You　bet！　　Ver'　warm　tam；〃　was　the　reply。

〃Better　get　away；　mon　ami。　　The　odds　are　rather　against　you；〃　said
the　lieutenant。　　〃Your　friends　are　some　distance　down　the　next
street。　　You　better　go　along。〃　　So　saying；　he　stepped　out　toward
the　crowd　of　Gatineaus　who　were　consulting　and　yelling。

〃Excuse　me；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　politely；　waving　his　little　cane。
Those　immediately　in　front　gave　back；　allowed　the　lieutenant；
followed　by　the　Ottawa　man　and　Harry；　to　pass；　and　immediately
closed　in　behind。　　They　might　have　escaped　had　it　not　been　that　the
Ottawa　man　found　it　impossible　to　refrain　from　hurling　taunts　at
them　and　inviting　them　to　battle。　　They　had　gone　not　more　than　two
blocks　when　there　was　a　rush　from　behind；　and　before　they　could
defend　themselves　they　were　each　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd；　fighting
for　their　lives。　　The　principal　attack　was；　of　course；　made　upon
the　Ottawa　man；　but　the　crowd　was　quite　determined　to　prevent　the
lieutenant　and　Harry　from　getting　near　him。　　In　vain　they　struggled
to　break　through　the　yelling　mass　of　Gatineaus；　who　now　had　become
numerous　enough　to　fill　the　street　from　wall　to　wall；　and　among
whom　could　be　seen　some　few　of　the　Ottawa　men　trying　to　force　their
way　toward　their　champion。　　By　degrees　both　Harry　and　De　Lacy
fought　their　way　to　the　wall；　and　toward　each　other。

〃Looks　as　if　our　man　had　met　his　Waterloo；〃　said　the　lieutenant；
waiting　for　his　particular　man　to　come　again。

〃What　a　lot　of　beasts　they　are！〃　said　Harry；　disgustedly；　beating
off　his　enemy。

〃Hello！　　Here　they　come　again。　　We　shall　have　to　try　another　shot；
I　suppose；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　as　the　crowd；　which　had　for　a　few
moments　surged　down　the　street；　now　came　crushing　back；　with　the
Ottawa　leader；　and　some　half…dozen　of　his　followers　in　the　center。

〃Well；　here　goes；〃　said　De　Lacy；　leaving　the　wall　and　plunging　into
the　crowd；　followed　by　Harry。　　As　they　reached　the　center　a　voice
called　out：　　〃A　bas　les　Anglais！〃

And　immediately　the　cry；　a　familiar　enough　one　in　those　days；　was
taken　up　on　all　sides。　　The　crowd　stiffened；　and　the　attack　upon
the　center　became　more　determined　than　ever。　　The　little　company
formed　a　circle；　and　standing　back　to　back；　held　their　ground　for　a
time。

〃Make　for　the　wall。　　Keep　together；〃　cried　De　Lacy；　pushing　out
toward　the　side；　and　followed　by　his　company。　　But；　one　by　one；　the
Ottawas　were　being　dragged　down　and　trampled　beneath　the　〃corked〃
boots　of　their　foes；　till　only　two　of　them；　with　their　leader；
beside　Harry　and　De　Lacy；　were　left。

At　length　the　wall　was　gained。　　There　they　faced　about　and　for　a
time　held　their　lives　safe。　　But　every　moment　fresh　men　rushed　in
upon　them；　yelling　their　cries；　〃Gatineau！　　Gatineau！　　A　bas　les
Anglais！〃

The　Ottawa　leader　was　panting　hard；　and　he　could　not　much　longer
hold　his　own。　　His　two　companions　were　equally　badly　off。　　Harry
was　pale　and　bleeding；　but　still　in　good　heart。　　The　lieutenant　was
unmarked　as　yet；　and　coolly　smoking　his　cigar；　but　he　knew　well
that　unless　help　arrived　their　case　was　hopeless。

〃We　can't　run；〃　he　remarked；　calmly；　〃but　a　dignified　and　speedy
retreat　is　in　order　if　it　can　be　executed。　　There　is　a　shop　a
little　distance　down　here。　　Let　us　make　for　it。〃

But　as　soon　as　they　moved　two　more　of　the　Ottawas　were　dragged　down
and　trampled　on。

〃It　begins　to　look　interesting；〃　said　the　lieutenant　to　Harry。