the foreigner-第30部分

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pless。

Three　days　later　French　came　forth　from　his　room；　haggard　and　trembling；　to　find　every　bottle　empty；　Mackenzie　making　ineffective　attempts　to　prepare　a　meal；　and　Kalman　nowhere　to　be　seen。

〃Where　is　the　boy？〃　he　enquired　of　Mackenzie　in　an　uncertain　voice。

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Mackenzie。

〃Go　and　look　for　him；　then；　you　idiot！〃

In　a　short　time　French　was　summoned　by　Mackenzie's　voice。

〃Come　here；　will　you？〃　he　was　crying。　　〃Come　here　and　see　this　thing。〃

With　a　dread　of　some　nameless　horror　in　his　heart；　French　hurried　toward　the　little　knoll　upon　which　Mackenzie　stood。　　From　this　vantage　ground　could　be　seen　far　off　in　the　potato　field　the　figure　of　the　boy　with　two　or　three　women；　all　busy　with　the　potatoes。

〃What　do　you　make　that　out　to　be？〃　enquired　French。　　〃Who　in　the　mischief　are　they？　　Go　and　see。〃

It　was　not　long　before　Mackenzie　stood　before　his　master　with　Kalman　by　his　side。

〃As　sure　as　death；〃　said　Mackenzie；　〃he　has　a　tribe　of　Galician　women　yonder；　and　the　pitaties　iss　all　in。〃

〃What　do　you　say？〃　stammered　French。

〃It　iss　what　I　am　telling　you。　　The　pitaties　iss　all　in；　and　this　lad　iss　bossing　the　job；　and　the　Galician　women　working　like　naygurs。〃

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　said　French；　turning　his　eyes　slowly　upon　Kalman。　　The　boy　looked　older　by　years。　　He　was　worn　and　haggard。

〃I　saw　a　woman　passing；　she　was　a　Galician；　she　brought　the　others；　and　the　potatoes　are　done。　　They　have　come　here　two　days。　　But；〃　said　the　boy　slowly；　〃there　is　nothing　to　eat。〃

With　a　mighty　oath　French　sprang　to　his　feet。

〃Do　you　tell　me　you　are　hungry；　boy？〃　he　roared。

〃I　could　not　find　much；〃　said　Kalman；　his　lip　trembling　in　spite　of　himself。

〃What　are　you　standing　there　for；　Mackenzie？〃　roared　French。　〃Confound　you　for　a　drunken　dog！　　Confound　us　both　for　two　drunken　fools！　　Get　something　to　eat！〃

There　was　something　so　terrible　in　his　look　and　in　his　voice　that　Mackenzie　fairly　ran　to　obey　his　order。　　Kalman　stood　before　his　master　pale　and　shaking。　　He　was　weak　from　lack　of　food；　but　more　from　anxiety　and　grief。

〃I　did　the　best　I　could；〃　he　said；　struggling　manfully　to　keep　his　voice　steady；　〃andI　amawful　gladyou'rebetter。〃　　His　command　was　all　gone。　　He　threw　himself　upon　the　grass　while　sobs　shook　his　frame。

French　stood　a　moment　looking　down　upon　him；　his　face　revealing　thoughts　and　feelings　none　too　pleasant。

〃Kalman；　you're　a　good　sort；〃　he　said　in　a　hoarse　voice。　　〃You're　a　man；　by　Jove！　and；〃　in　an　undertone；　〃I'm　hanged；　if　I　don't　think　you'll　make　a　man　of　me　yet。〃　　Then　kneeling　by　his　side；　he　raised　him　in　his　arms。　　〃Kalman；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　brick　and　a　gentleman。　　I　have　been　a　brute　and　a　cad。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；　no！〃　sobbed　the　boy。　　〃You　are　a　good　man。　　But　I　wishyou　wouldleaveit　alone。〃

〃In　God's　name；〃　said　French　bitterly；　〃I　wish　it　too。〃



CHAPTER　XIII

BROWN


Two　weeks　of　life　in　the　open；　roaming　the　prairie　alone　with　the　wolf　hounds；　or　with　French　after　the　cattle；　did　much　to　obliterate　the　mark　which　those　five　days　left　upon　Kalman's　body　and　soul。　From　the　very　first　the　boy　had　no　difficulty　in　mastering　the　art　of　sticking　on　a　broncho's　back；　partly　because　he　was　entirely　without　fear；　but　largely　because　he　had　an　ear　and　an　eye　for　rhythm　in　sound　and　in　motion。　　He　conceived　clearly　the　idea　by　watching　French　as　he　loped　along　on　his　big　iron　grey；　and　after　that　it　was　merely　a　matter　of　translating　the　idea　into　action。　Every　successful　rider　must　first　conceive　himself　as　a　rider。　　In　two　weeks'　time　Kalman　could　sit　the　buckskin　and　send　him　across　the　prairie；　swinging　him　by　the　neck　guide　around　badger　holes　and　gopher　holes；　up　and　down　the　steep　sides　of　the　Night　Hawk　ravine；　without　ever　touching　leather。　　The　fearless　ease　he　displayed　in　mastering　the　equestrian　art　did　more　than　anything　else　to　win　him　his　place　in　the　old　half…breed　Mackenzie's　affection。

The　pride　of　the　ranch　was　Black　Joe；　a　Percheron　stallion　that　French　a　year　before　had　purchased；　with　the　idea　of　improving　his　horse　stock　to　anticipate　the　market　for　heavy　horses；　which　he　foresaw　the　building　of　railroads　would　be　sure　to　provide。　　Black　Joe　was　kept　in　a　small　field　that　took　in　a　bit　of　the　bluff　and　ran　down　to　the　lake；　affording　shelter；　drink；　and　good　feeding。

Dismay；　therefore；　smote　the　ranch；　when　Mackenzie　announced　one　morning　that　Black　Joe　had　broken　out　and　was　gone。

〃He　can't　be　far　away；〃　said　French；　〃take　a　circle　round　towards　the　east。　　He　has　likely　gone　off　with　Garneau's　bunch。〃

But　at　noon　Mackenzie　rode　back　to　report　that　nowhere　could　the　stallion　be　seen；　that　he　had　rounded　up　Garneau's　ponies　without　coming　across　any　sign　of　the　stallion。

〃I　am　afraid　he　has　got　across　the　Eagle；〃　said　French；　〃and　if　he　has　once　got　on　to　those　plains；　there　will　be　the　very　deuce　to　pay。　　Well；　get　a　move　on；　and　try　the　country　across　the　creek　first。　　No；　hold　on。　　I'll　go　myself。　　Throw　the　saddle　on　Roanoke；　I'll　put　some　grub　together；　for　there's　no　time　to　be　lost。〃

Kalman　started　up　and　stood　eagerly　expectant。　　French　glanced　at　him。

〃It　will　be　a　hard　ride；　Kalman；　I　am　a　little　afraid。〃

〃Try　me；　sir；〃　said　the　boy；　who　had　unconsciously　in　conversation　with　French　dropped　much　of　his　street　vernacular；　and　had　adopted　to　a　large　extent　his　master's　forms　of　speech。

〃All　right；　boy。　　Get　ready　and　come　along。〃

While　the　horses　were　being　saddled；　French　rolled　up　into　two　neat　packs　a　couple　of　double　blankets；　grub　consisting　of　Hudson's　Bay　biscuits；　pork；　tea　and　sugar；　a　camp　outfit　comprising　a　pan；　a　teapail；　and　two　cups。

〃So　long；　Mackenzie；〃　said　French；　as　they　rode　away。　　〃Hold　down　the　ranch　till　we　get　back。　　We'll　strike　out　north　from　here；　then　swing　round　across　the　Night　Hawk　toward　the　hills　and　back　by　the　Eagle　and　Wakota；　and　come　up　the　creek。〃

To　hunt　up　a　stray　beast　on　the　wide　open　prairie　seems　to　the　uninitiated　a　hopeless　business；　but　it　is　a　simple　matter；　after　all。　　One　has　to　know　the　favourite　feeding…grounds；　the　trails　that　run　to　these　grounds；　and　have　an　idea　of　the　limits　within　which　cattle　and　horses　will　range。　　As　a　rule；　each　band　has　its　own　feeding…grounds　and　its　own　spots　for　taking　shelter。　　The　difficulties　of　search　are　enormously　increased　by　the　broken　character　of　a　rolling　bluffy　prairie。　　The　bluffs　intercept　the　view；　and　the　rolls　on　the　prairie　can　hide　successfully　a　large　bunch　of　cattle　or　horses；　and　it　may　take　a　week　to　beat　up　a　country　thickly　strewn　with　bluffs；　and　diversified　with　coulees　that　might　easily　be　searched　in　a　single　afternoon。

The　close　of　the　third　day　found　the　travellers　on　Wakota　trail。

〃We'll　camp　right　here；　Kalman；〃　said　French；　as　they　reached　a　level　tongue　of　open　prairie；　around　three　sides　of　which　flowed　the　Eagle　River。

Of　all　their　camps　during　the　three　days'　search　none　was　so　beautiful；　and　none　lived　so　long　in　Kalman's　memory；　as　the　camp　by　the　Eagle　River　near　Wakota。　　The　firm　green　sward；　cropped　short　by　a　succession　of　campers'　horses；for　this　was　a　choice　spot　for　travellers；the　flowing　river　with　its　soft　gurgling　undertone；　the　upstanding　walls　of　the　poplar　bluffs　in　all　the　fresh　and　ample　beauty　of　the　early　summer　drapery；　the　over…　arching　sky；　deep　and　blue；　through　which　peeped　the　shy　stars；　and　the　air；　so　sweet　and　kindly；　breathing　about　them。　　It　was　all　so　clean；　so　fresh；　so　unspoiled　to　the　boy　that　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　dropped　into　a　new　world；　remote　from　and　unrelated　to　any　other　world　he　had　hitherto　known。

They　picketed　their　horses；　and　with　supper　over；　they　sat　down　before　their　fire；　for　the　evening　air　was　chill；　in　weary；　dreamy　delight。　　They　spoke　few　words。　　Like　all　men　who　have　lived　close　to　Nature；　whether　in　woods　or　in　plains；　French　had　developed　a　habit　of　silence；　and　this　habit；　as　all　others；　Kalman　was　rapidly　taking　on。

As　they　reclined　thus　dreamily　watching　the　leaping　fire；　a　canoe　came　down　the　river；　in　the　stern　of　which　sat　a　man　whose　easy　grace　proclaimed　long　practice　in　the　canoeman's　art。　　As　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　fire；　he　paused　in　his　paddling；　and　with　two　or　three　swift　flips　he　turned　his　canoe　toward　the　bank；　and　landing；　pulled　it　up　on　the　shore。

He　was　a　young　man　of　middle　height；　stoutly　built；　and　with　a　strong；　good…natured　face。

〃Good　evening；〃　he　said　in　a　cheery　voice；　〃camped　for　the　night？〃

〃Yes；　camped　for　the　night；〃　replied　French。

〃I　have　a　tent　up　stream　a　little　way。　　I　should　be　glad　to　have　you　camp　with　me。　　It　is　going　to　be　a　little　chilly。〃

〃Oh；　we're　all　right；　aren't　we；　Kalman？〃　said　French。

The　boy　turned　and　gave　him　a　quick　look　of　perfect　satisfaction。　〃First　rate！　　You　bet！〃

〃The　dew　is　going　to　be　heavy；　though；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃and　it　will　be　cold　before　the　night　is　over。　　I　have　not　much　to　offer　you；　only　shelter；　but　I'd　like　awfully　to　have　you　come。　　A　visitor　is　a　rare　thing　here。〃

〃Well；〃　said　French；　〃since　you　put　it　that　way　we'll　go；　and　I　am　sure　it　is　very　decent　of　you。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　The　favour　will　be　to　me。　　My　name　is　Brown。〃

〃And　mine　is　French；　Jack　French　throughout　this　country；　as　perhaps　you　have　heard。〃

〃I　have　been　here　only　a　few　days；　and　have　heard　very　little；〃　said　Brown。

〃And　this；〃　continued　French；　〃is　Kalman　Kalmar；　a　friend　of　mine　from　Winnipeg；　and　more　remotely　from　Russia；　but　now　a　good　Canadian。〃

Brown　gave　each　a　strong　cordial　grasp　of　his　hand。

〃You　can't　think；〃　he　said；　〃how　glad　I　am　to　see　you。〃

〃Is　there　a　trail？〃　asked　French。

〃Yes；　a　trail　of　a　sort。　　Follow　the　winding　of　the　river　and　you　will　come　to　my　camp　at　the　next　bend。　　You　can't　miss　it。　　I'll　go　up　in　the　canoe　and　come　down　to　meet　you。〃

〃Don't　trouble；〃　said　French；　〃we　know　our　way　about　this　country。〃

Following　a　faint　trail　for　a　quarter　of　a　mile　through　the　bluffs；　they　came　upon　an　open　space　on　the　river　bank　similar　to　the　one　they　had　left；　in　the　midst　of　which　stood　Brown's　tent。　　That　tent　was　a　wonder　to　behold；　not　only　to　Kalman；　but　also　to　French；　who　had　a　large　experience　in　tents　of　various　kinds。　　Ten　by　twelve；　and　with　a　four…foot　wall；　every　inch