the man from glengarry-第4章
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all the wealth of gibes and oaths at their command。
〃Where's the rest of your outfit； Murphy？〃 drawled Yankee。 〃Don't
seem's if you'd counted right。〃
〃It is a cold day for the parley voos；〃 laughed Big Mack Cameron。
〃Come up； lads； and take a taste of something hot。〃
Then the Murphy men； clearing away the fallen； rushed again。 They
strove to bring the Highlanders to a clinch； but Yankee's voice was
high and clear in command。
〃Keep the line； boys！ Don't let 'em draw you！〃 And the Glengarry
men waited till they could strike； and when they struck men went
down and were pulled back by their friends。
〃Intil them； bhoys！〃 yelled Dan Murphy； keeping out of range
himself。 〃Intil the divils！〃 And again and again his men crowded
down upon the line against the wall； but again and again they were
beaten down or hurled back bruised and bleeding。
Meantime LeNoir was devoting himself to Black Hugh at one end of
the line； dancing in upon him and away again； but without much
result。 Black Hugh refused to be drawn out； and fought warily on
defense； knowing the odds were great and waiting his chance to
deliver one good blow； which was all he asked。
The Glengarry men were enjoying themselves hugely； and when not
shouting their battle…cry； 〃Glengarry forever！〃 or taunting their
foes； they were joking each other on the fortunes of war。 Big Mack
Cameron； who held the center； drew most of the sallies。 He was
easy…tempered and good…natured； and took his knocks with the utmost
good humor。
〃That was a good one； Mack；〃 said Dannie Ross； his special chum； as
a sounding whack came in on Big Mack's face。 〃As true as death I
will be telling it to Bella Peter。 Bella； the daughter of Peter
McGregor； was supposed to be dear to Big Mack's heart。
〃What a peety she could not see him the now；〃 said Finlay Campbell。
〃Man alive； she would say the word queeck！〃
〃'Tis more than she will do to you whatever； if you cannot keep off
that crapeau yonder a little better；〃 said Big Mack； reaching for a
Frenchman who kept dodging in upon him with annoying persistence。
Then Mack began to swear Gaelic oaths。
'Tain't fair； Mack！〃 called out Yankee from his end of the line；
〃bad language in English is bad enough； but in Gaelic it must be
uncommon rough。〃 So they gibed each other。 But the tactics of the
enemy were exceedingly irritating； and were beginning to tell upon
the tempers of the Highlanders。
〃Come to me； ye cowardly little devil；〃 roared Mack to his
persisting assailant。 〃No one will hurt you！ Come away； man！
A…a…ah…ouch！〃 His cry of satisfaction at having grabbed his man
ended in a howl of pain； for the Frenchman had got Mack's thumb
between his teeth； and was chewing it vigorously。
〃Ye would； would you； ye dog？〃 roared Big Mack。 He closed his
fingers into the Frenchman's gullet； and drew him up to strike； but
on every side hands reached for him and stayed his blow。 Then he
lost himself。 With a yell of rage he jambed his man back into the
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 hi
