the man from glengarry-第53节

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He's　mak　eet　all　right　wit　Rouleau！　　He's　pay　de　cash　money　and
he's　mak　eet　de　good　posish　for　him；　an'　set　him　up　the　champagne；
too；　by　gar！〃

〃Huh；〃　grunted　Ranald。　　〃Run　that　crib　around　the　boom　there
LeNoir；　break　it　up　and　keep　your　gang　moving　to…day！〃

〃Bon！〃　said　LeNoir；　with　alacrity。　　〃I　give　'em　de　big　move；　me！〃

But　however　unwilling　Ranald　was　to　listen　to　LeNoir　singing　the
lieutenant's　praises；　when　he　met　Harry　at　noon　in　the　office　he
was　even　more　enthusiastic　than　LeNoir　in　his　admiration　of　De
Lacy。

〃I　never　saw　the　likes　of　him；〃　he　said。　　〃He　could　bring　the　birds
out　of　the　trees　with　that　tongue　of　his。　　Indeed；　I　could　not　have
done　what　he　did　whatever。　　Man；　but　he　is　a　gentleman！〃

〃And　are　you　going　this　evening？〃

〃That　I　am；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃What　else　could　I　do？　　I　could　not　help
myself；　he　made　me　feel　that　mean　that　I　was　ready　to　do　anything。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Harry；　delighted；　〃I　will　take　my　canoe　around
for　you　after　six。〃

〃And；〃　continued　Ranald；　with　a　little　hesitation；　〃he　told　me　he
would　be　wearing　a　jersey　and　duck　trousers；　and　I　think　that　was
very　fine　of　him。〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　said　Harry；　quite　mystified；　〃what　else　would　he
wear？〃

Ranald　looked　at　him　curiously　for　a　moment；　and　said：　　〃A　swallow…
tail；　perhaps；　or　a　blanket；　maybe；〃　and　he　turned　away　leaving
Harry　more　mystified　than　ever。

Soon　after　six；　Harry　paddled　around　in　his　canoe；　and　gave　the
stern　to　Ranald。　　What　a　joy　it　was　to　him　to　be　in　a　canoe　stern
again；　to　feel　the　rush　of　the　water　under　his　knees；　to　have　her
glide　swiftly　on　her　soundless　way　down　the　full…bosomed；　sunbathed
river；　to　see　her　put　her　nose　into　the　little　waves　and　gently；
smoothly　push　them　asunder　with　never　a　splash　or　swerve；　to　send
her　along　straight　and　true　as　an　arrow　in　its　flight；　and　then
flip！　flip　to　swing　her　off　a　floating　log　or　around　an　awkward
boat　lumbering　with　clumsy　oars。　　That　was　to　be　alive　again。　　Oh；
the　joy　of　it！　　Of　all　things　that　move　to　the　will　of　man　there　is
none　like　the　canoe。　　It　alone　has　the　sweet；　smooth　glide；　the
swift；　silent　dart　answering　the　paddle　sweep；　the　quick　swerve　in
response　to　the　turn　of　the　wrist。　　Ranald　felt　as　if　he　could　have
gladly　paddled　on　right　out　to　the　open　sea；　but　sweeping　around　a
bend　a　long；　clear　call　hailed　them；　and　there；　far　down　at　the
bottom　of　a　little　bay；　at　the　foot　of　the　big；　scarred；　and
wrinkled　rock　the　smoke　and　glimmer　of　the　camp…fire　could　be　seen。
A　flip　of　the　stern　paddle；　and　the　canoe　pointed　for　the　waving
figure；　and　under　the　rhythmic　sweep　of　the　paddles；　sped　like　an
arrow　down　the　waters；　sloping　to　the　shore。　　There；　on　a　great
rock；　stood　Kate；　directing　their　course。

〃Here's　a　good　landing；〃　she　cried。　　Right　at　the　rock　dashed　the
canoe　at　full　speed。　　A　moment　more　and　her　dainty　nose　would　be
battered　out　of　all　shape　on　the　cruel　rock；　but　a　strong　back
stroke；　a　turn　of　the　wrist；　flip；　and　she　lay　floating　quietly
beside　the　rock。

〃Splendid！〃　cried　Kate。

〃Well　done；　by　Jove！〃　exclaimed　the　lieutenant；　who　was　himself　an
expert　with　the　paddle。

〃I　suppose　you　have　no　idea　how　fine　you　look；〃　cried　Kate。

〃And　I　am　quite　sure；〃　answered　Harry；　〃you　have　no　suspicion　of
what　a　beautiful　picture　you　all　make。〃　　And　a　beautiful　picture　it
was：　the　great　rocky　cliff　in　the　background；　tricked　out　in　its
new　spring　green　of　moss　and　shrub　and　tree；　the　grassy　plot　at　its
foot　where　a　little　stream　gurgled　out　from　the　rock；　the　blazing
camp…fire　with　the　little　group　about　it；　and　in　front　the　sunlit
river。　　How　happy　they　all　were！　　And　how　ready　to　please　and　to　be
pleased。　　Even　little　Mr。　Sims　had　his　charm。　　And　at　the　making　of
the　tea；　which　Kate　had　taken　in　charge　with　Ranald　superintending；
what　fun　there　was　with　burning　of　fingers　and　upsetting　of
kettles！　　And　then；　the　talk　and　the　laughter　at　the　lieutenant's
brilliant　jokes；　and　the　chaffing　of　the　〃lumbermen〃　over　their
voracious　appetites！　　It　was　an　hour　of　never…to…be…forgotten
pleasure。　　They　were　all　children　again；　and　with　children's　hearts
were　happy　in　childhood's　simple　joys。　　And　why　not？　　There　are　no
joys　purer　than　those　of　the　open　air；　of　grass　and　trees　flooded
with　the　warm　light　and　sweet　scents　of　the　soft　springtime。　　Too
soon　it　all　came　to　an　end；　and　then　they　set　off　to　convoy　the
stately　old　lady　to　her　carriage　at　the　top　of　the　cliff。　　Far　in
front　went　Kate；　disdaining　the　assistance　of　Harry　and　Mr。　Sims；
who　escorted　her。　　Near　at　hand　the　lieutenant　was　in　attendance
upon　Maimie；　who　seemed　to　need　his　constant　assistance；　for　the
way　was　rough；　and　there　were　so　many　jutting　points　of　rock　for
wonderful　views；　and　often　the　very　prettiest　plants　were　just　out
of　reach。　　Last　of　all　came　Madame　De　Lacy；　climbing　the　steep　path
with　difficulty　and　holding　fast　to　Ranald's　arm。　　With　charming
grace　she　discoursed　of　the　brave　days　of　old　in　which　her
ancestors　had　played　a　worthy　part。　　An　interesting　tale　it　was；
but　in　spite　of　all　her　charm　of　speech；　and　grace　of　manner；
Ranald　could　not　keep　his　mind　from　following　his　heart　and　eyes
that　noted　every　step　and　move　of　the　beautiful　girl；　flitting　in
and　out　among　the　trees　before　them。　　And　well　it　was　that　his　eyes
were　following　so　close；　for；　as　she　was　reaching　for　a　dainty
spray　of　golden　birch；　holding　by　the　lieutenant's　hand；　the
treacherous　moss　slipped　from　under　Maimie's　feet；　and　with　a
piercing　shriek　she　went　rolling　down　the　sloping　mountain…side；
dragging　her　escort　with　her。　　Like　a　flash　of　light　Ranald　dropped
madame's　arm；　and　seizing　the　top　of　a　tall　birch　that　grew　up　from
the　lower　ledge；　with　a　trick　learned　as　a　boy　in　the　Glengarry
woods；　he　swung　himself　clear　over　the　edge；　and　dropping　lightly
on　the　mossy　bank　below；　threw　himself　in　front　of　the　rolling
bodies；　and　seizing　them　held　fast。　　In　another　moment　leaving　the
lieutenant　to　shift　for　himself；　Ranald　was　on　his　knees　beside
Maimie；　who　lay　upon　the　moss；　white　and　still。　　〃Some　water；　for
God's　sake！〃　he　cried；　hoarsely；　to　De　Lacy；　who　stood　dazed　beside
him；　and　then；　before　the　lieutenant　could　move；　Ranald　lifted
Maimie　in　his　arms；　as　if　she　had　been　an　infant；　and　bore　her　down
to　the　river's　edge；　and　laid　her　on　the　grassy　bank。　　Then；　taking
up　a　double　handful　of　water；　he　dashed　it　in　her　face。　　With　a
little　sigh　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　letting　them　rest　upon　his
face；　said；　gently；　〃Oh；　Ranald；　I　am　so　glad　youI　am　so　sorry　I
have　been　so　bad　to　you。〃　　She　could　say　no　more；　but　from　her
closed　eyes　two　great　tears　made　their　way　down　her　pale　cheeks。

〃Oh；　Maimie；　Maimie；〃　said　Ranald；　in　a　broken　voice；　〃tell　me　you
are　not　hurt。〃

Again　she　opened　her　eyes　and　said；　〃No；　I　am　not　hurt；　but　you
will　take　me　home；　you　will　not　leave　me！〃　　Her　fingers　closed　upon
his　hand。

With　a　quick；　strong　clasp；　he　replied：　　〃I　will　not　leave　you。〃

In　a　few　minutes　she　was　able　to　sit　up；　and　soon　they　were　all
about　her；　exclaiming　and　lamenting。

〃What　a　silly　girl　I　am；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　tremulous　laugh；
〃and　what　a　fright　I　must　have　given　you　all！〃

〃Don't　rise；　my　dear；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy；　〃until　you　feel　quite
strong。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　quite　right；〃　said　Maimie；　confidently；　〃I　am　sure　I　am
not　hurt　in　the　least。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　so　thankful！〃　cried　Kate。

〃It　is　the　Lord's　mercy；〃　said　Ranald；　in　a　voice　of　deep　emotion。

〃Are　you　quite　sure　you　are　not　hurt？〃　said　Harry；　anxiously。

〃Yes；　I　really　think　I　am　all　right；　but　what　a　fright　I　must
look！〃

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Harry　fervently；　〃I　guess　you're　improving；〃　at
which　they　all　laughed。

〃Now　I　think　we　must　get　home；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy。　　〃Do　you　think
you　can　walk；　Maimie？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　cried　Maimie；　and　taking　Ranald's　hand；　she　tried　to
stand　up；　but　immediately　sank　back　with　a　groan。

〃Oh；　it　is　my　foot；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　afraid　it　is　hurt。〃

〃Let　me　see！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃I　don't　think　it　is　broken；〃　he　said；
after　feeling　it　carefully；　〃but　I　have　no　doubt　it　is　a　very　bad
sprain。　　You　can't　walk　for　certain。〃

〃Then　we　shall　have　to　carry　her；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy；　and　she
turned　to　her　son。

〃I　fear　I　can　offer　no　assistance；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　pointing
to　his　arm　which　was　hanging　limp　at　his　side。

〃Why；　Albert；　are　you　hurt？　　What　is　the　matter？　　You　are　hurt！〃
cried　his　mother；　anxiously。

〃Not　much；　but　I　fear　my　arm　is　useless。　　You　might　feel　it；〃　he
said　to　Ranald。

Carefully　Ranald　passed　his　hand　down　the　arm。

〃Say　nothing；〃　whispered　the　lieutenant　to　him。　　〃It's　broken。　　Tie
it　up　some　way。〃　　Without　a　word　Ranald　stripped　the　bark　of　a
birch　tree；　and　making　a　case；　laid　the　arm　in　it　and　bound　it
firmly　with　his　silk　handkerchief。

〃We　ought　to　have　a　sling；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Kate；。

〃Here；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy；　untying　a　lace　scarf　from　her　neck；
〃take　this。〃

Kate　took　the　scarf；　and　while　Ranald　held　the　arm　in　place　she
deftly　made　it　into　a　sling。

〃There；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃that　feels　quite　comfortable。　　Now
let's　go。〃

〃Come；　Maimie；　I'll　carry　you　up　the　hill；〃　said　Harry。

〃No；〃　sa