the foreigner-第11节

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creaking　runners　and　jingling　bells；　and　of　a　sleighing　party　returning　from　Silver　Heights；　their　four…horse　team　smoking；　their　sleigh　bells　ringing　out；　carrying　with　them　hoarse　laughter　and　hoarser　songs；　for　the　frosty　air　works　mischief　with　the　vocal　chords；　and　leaving　behind　them　silence　again。

All　through　Fort　Rouge；　lying　among　its　snow…laden　trees；　across　the　frost…bound　Assiniboine；　all　through　the　Hudson's　Bay　Reserve；　there　was　no　sign　of　life；　for　it　was　long　past　midnight。　　Even　Main　Street；　that　most　splendid　of　all　Canadian　thoroughfares；　lay　white　and　spotless　and；　for　the　most　part；　in　silence。　　Here　and　there　men　in　furs　or　in　frieze　coats　with　collars　turned　up　high；　their　eyes　peering　through　frost…rimmed　eyelashes　and　over　frost　rimmed　coat　collars；　paced　comfortably　along　if　in　furs；　or　walked　hurriedly　if　only　in　frieze；　whither　their　business　or　their　pleasure　led。

Near　the　northern　limits　of　the　city　the　signs　of　life　were　more　in　evidence。　　At　the　Canadian　Pacific　Railway　station　an　engine；　hoary　with　frozen　steam；　puffed　contentedly　as　if　conscious　of　sufficient　strength　for　the　duty　that　lay　before　it；　waiting　to　hook　on　to　Number　Two；　nine　hours　late；　and　whirl　it　eastward　in　full　contempt　of　frost　and　snow　bank　and　blizzard。

Inside　the　station　a　railway　porter　or　two　drowsed　on　the　benches。　Behind　the　wicket　where　the　telegraph　instruments　kept　up　an　incessant　clicking；　the　agent　and　his　assistant　sat　alert；　coming　forward　now　and　then　to　answer；　with　the　unwearying　courtesy　which　is　part　of　their　equipment　and　of　their　training；　the　oft　repeated　question　from　impatient　and　sleepy　travellers；　〃How　is　she　now？〃　〃An　hour；〃　〃half　an　hour；〃　finally　〃fifteen　minutes；〃　then　〃any　time　now。〃　　At　which　cheering　report　the　uninitiated　brightened　up　and　passed　out　to　listen　for　the　rumble　of　the　approaching　train。　The　more　experienced；　however；　settled　down　for　another　half　hour's　sleep。

It　was　a　wearisome　business；　and　to　none　more　wearisome　than　to　Interpreter　Elex　Murchuk；　part　of　whose　duty　it　is　to　be　in　attendance　on　the　arrival　of　all　incoming　trains　in　case　that　some　pilgrim　from　Central　and　Southern　Europe　might　be　in　need　of　direction。　　For　Murchuk；　a　little　borderland　Russian；　boasts　the　gift　of　tongues　to　an　extraordinary　degree。　　Russian；　in　which　he　was　born；　and　French；　and　German；　and　Italian；　of　course；　he　knows；　but　Polish；　Ruthenian；　and　all　varieties　of　Ukranian　speech　are　alike　known　to　him。

〃I　spik　all　European　language　good；　jus'　same　Angleesh；〃　was　his　testimony　in　regard　to　himself。

As　the　whistle　of　the　approaching　train　was　heard；　Sergeant　Cameron　strolled　into　the　station　house；　carrying　his　six　feet　two　and　his　two　hundred　pounds　of　bone　and　muscle　with　the　light　and　easy　movements　of　the　winner　of　many　a　Caledonian　Society　medal。　Cameron；　at　one　time　a　full　private　in　the　78th　Highlanders；　is　now　Sergeant　in　the　Winnipeg　City　Police；　and　not　ashamed　of　his　job。　Big；　calm；　good…tempered；　devoted　to　his　duty；　keen　for　the　honour　of　the　force　as　he　had　been　for　the　honour　of　his　regiment　in　other　days；　Sergeant　Cameron　was　known　to　all　good　citizens　as　an　officer　to　be　trusted　and　to　all　others　as　a　man　to　be　feared。

Just　at　present　he　was　finishing　up　his　round　of　inspection。　　After　the　train　had　pulled　in　he　would　go　on　duty　as　patrolman；　in　the　place　of　Officer　Donnelly；　who　was　down　with　pneumonia。　　The　Winnipeg　Police　Force　was　woefully　inadequate　in　point　of　strength；　there　being　no　spare　men　for　emergencies；　and　hence　Sergeant　Cameron　found　it　necessary　to　do　double　duty　that　night；　and　he　was　prepared　to　do　it　without　grumbling；　too。　　Long　watches　and　weary　marches　were　nothing　new　to　him；　and　furthermore；　to…night　there　was　especial　reason　why　he　was　not　unwilling　to　take　a　walk　through　the　north　end。　　Headquarters　had　been　kept　fully　informed　of　the　progress　of　a　wedding　feast　of　more　than　ordinary　hilarity　in　the　foreign　colony。　　This　was　the　second　night；　and　on　second　nights　the　general　joyousness　of　the　festivities　was　more　than　likely　to　become　unduly　exuberant。　　Indeed；　the　reports　of　the　early　evening　had　been　somewhat　disquieting；　and　hence；　Sergeant　Cameron　was　rather　pleased　than　not　that　Officer　Donnelly's　beat　lay　in　the　direction　of　the　foreign　colony。

At　length　Number　Two　rolled　in；　a　double　header；　one　engine　alive　and　one　dead；　but　both　swathed　in　snow　and　frozen　steam　from　cowcatcher　to　tender；　the　first　puffing　its　proud　triumph　over　the　opposing　elements；　the　second　silent；　cold　and　lifeless　like　a　warrior　borne　from　the　field　of　battle。

Thc　passengers；　weary　and　full　of　the　mild　excitement　of　their　long　struggle　with　storm　and　drift　across　half　a　continent；　emerged　from　their　snow…clad　but　very　comfortable　coaches　and　were　eagerly　taken　in　charge　by　waiting　friends　and　watchful　hotel　runners。

Sergeant　Cameron　waited　till　the　crowd　had　gone；　and　then　turning　to　Murchuk；　he　said；　〃You　will　be　coming　along　with　me；　Murchuk。　　I　am　going　to　look　after　some　of　your　friends。〃

〃My　frients？〃　enquired　Murchuk。

〃Yes；　over　at　the　colony　yonder。〃

〃My　frients！〃　repeated　Murchuk　with　some　indignation。　　〃Not　motch！〃　Murchuk　was　proud　of　his　official　position　as　Dominion　Government　Interpreter。　　〃But　I　will　go　wit'　you。　　It　is　my　way。〃

Away　from　the　noise　of　the　puffing　engines　and　the　creaking　car　wheels；　the　ears　of　Sergeant　Cameron　and　his　friend　were　assailed　by　other　and　less　cheerful　sounds。

〃Will　you　listen　to　that　now？〃　said　the　Sergeant　to　his　polyglot　companion。　　〃What　do　you　think　of　that　for　a　civilised　city？　　The　Indians　are　not　in　it　with　that　bunch；〃　continued　the　Sergeant；　who　was　diligently　endeavouring　to　shed　his　Highland　accent　and　to　take　on　the　colloquialisms　of　the　country。

From　a　house　a　block　and　a　half　away；　a　confused　clamour　rose　up　into　the　still　night　air。

〃Oh；　dat　noting；〃　cheerfully　said　the　little　Russian；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃dey　mak　like　dat　when　dey　having　a　good　time。〃

〃They　do；　eh？　　And　how　do　you　think　their　neighbours　will　be　liking　that　sort　of　thing？〃

The　Sergeant　stood　still　to　analyse　this　confused　clamour。　　Above　the　thumping　and　the　singing　of　the　dancers　could　be　heard　the　sound　of　breaking　boards；　mingled　with　yells　and　curses。

〃Murchuk；　there　is　fighting　going　on。〃

〃Suppose；〃　agreed　the　Interpreter；　〃when　Galician　man　get　married；　he　want　much　joy。　　He　get　much　beer；　much　fight。〃

〃I　will　just　be　taking　a　walk　round　there；〃　said　the　Sergeant。　〃These　people　have　got　to　learn　to　get　married　with　less　fuss　about　it。　　I　am　not　going　to　stand　this　much　longer。　　What　do　they　want　to　fight　for　anyway？〃

〃Oh；〃　replied　Murchuk　lightly；　〃Polak　not　like　Slovak；　Slovak　not　like　Galician。　　Dey　drink　plenty　beer；　tink　of　someting　in　Old　Country；　get　mad；　make　noise；　fight　some。〃

〃Come　along　with　me；〃　replied　the　Sergeant；　and　he　squared　his　big　shoulders　and　set　off　down　the　street　with　the　quick；　light　stride　that　suggested　the　springing　step　of　his　Highland　ancestors　on　the　heather　hills　of　Scotland。

Just　as　they　arrived　at　the　house　of　feasting；　a　cry；　wild；　weird　and　horrible；　pierced　through　the　uproar。　　The　Interpreter　stopped　as　if　struck　with　a　bullet。

〃My　God！〃　he　cried　in　an　undertone；　clutching　the　Sergeant　by　the　arm；　〃My　God！　　Dat　terrible！〃

〃What　is　it？　　What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Murchuk？〃

〃You　know　not　dat　cry？　　No？〃　　He　was　all　trembling。　　〃Dat　cry　I　hear　long　ago　in　Russland。　　Russian　man　mak　dat　cry　when　he　kill。　Dat　Nihilist　cry。〃

〃Go　back　and　get　Dr。　Wright。　　He　will　be　needed；　sure。　　You　know　where　he　lives；　second　corner　down　on　Main　Street。　　Get　a　move　on！　Quick！〃

Meantime；　while　respectable　Winnipeg　lay　snugly　asleep　under　snow…　covered　roofs　and　smoking　chimneys；　while　belated　revellers　and　travellers　were　making　their　way　through　white；　silent　streets　and　under　avenues　of　snow…laden　trees　to　homes　where　reigned　love　and　peace　and　virtue；　in　the　north　end　and　in　the　foreign　colony　the　festivities　in　connection　with　Anka's　wedding　were　drawing　to　a　close　in　sordid　drunken　dance　and　song　and　in　sanguinary　fighting。

In　the　main　room　dance　and　song　reeled　on　in　uproarious　hilarity。　In　the　basement　below；　foul　and　fetid；　men　stood　packed　close；　drinking　while　they　could。　　It　was　for　the　foreigner　an　hour　of　rare　opportunity。　　The　beer　kegs　stood　open　and　there　were　plenty　of　tin　mugs　about。　　In　the　dim　light　of　a　smoky　lantern；　the　swaying　crowd；　here　singing　in　maudlin　chorus；　there　fighting　savagely　to　pay　off　old　scores　or　to　avenge　new　insults；　presented　a　nauseating　spectacle。

In　the　farthest　corner　of　the　room；　unmoved　by　all　this　din；　about　a　table　consisting　of　a　plank　laid　across　two　beer　kegs；　one　empty；　the　other　for　the　convenience　of　the　players　half　full；　sat　four　men　deep　in　a　game　of　cards。　　Rosenblatt　with　a　big　Dalmatian　sailor　as　partner；　against　a　little　Polak　and　a　dark…bearded　man。　This　man　was　apparently　very　drunk；　as　was　evident　by　his　reckless　playing　and　his　jibing；　jeering　manner。　　He　was　losing　money；　but　with　perfect　good　cheer。　　Not　so　his　partner；　the　Polak。　　Every　loss　made　him　more　savage　and　quarrelsome。　　With　great　difficulty　Rosenblatt　was　able　to　keep　the　game　going　and　preserve　peace