the foreigner-第31节

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〃What　are　you　standing　there　looking　at？〃　said　French　with　unusual　impatience。

〃Oh；　nothing　at　all；〃　said　Mackenzie；　whose　strong　Highland　accent　went　strangely　with　his　soft　Indian　voice　and　his　dark　Indian　face。　〃It　iss　a　good　place　for　it；　whatefer。〃

French　stood　for　a　moment　in　disgusted　silence；　and　then　breaking　into　a　laugh　he　said：　　〃All　right；　Mac。　　There's　no　use　trying　to　keep　it　from　you。　　But；　mind　you；　it's　fair　play　in　this　thing。　Last　time；　you　remember；　you　got　into　trouble。　　I　won't　stand　that　sort　of　thing　again。〃

〃Oh；　well；　well；〃　said　Mackenzie　cheerfully；　〃it　will　not　be　for　long　anyway；　more's　the　peety。〃

〃Now　then；　get　us　a　bite　of　supper；　Mackenzie；〃　said　French　sharply；　〃and　let　us　to　bed。〃

Some　wild　duck　and　some　bannock　with　black　molasses；　together　with　strong　black　tea；　made　a　palatable　supper　after　a　long　day　on　the　breezy　prairie。　　After　supper　the　men　sat　smoking。

〃The　oats　in；　Mac？〃

〃They　are　sowed；　but　not　harrowed　yet。　　I　will　be　doing　that　to…　morrow　in　the　morning。〃

〃Potato　ground　ready？〃

〃Yes；　the　ground　is　ready；　and　the　seed　is　over　at　Garneau's。〃

〃What　in　thunder　were　you　waiting　for？　　Those　potatoes　should　have　been　in　ten　days　ago。　　It's　hardly　worth　while　putting　them　in　now。〃

〃Garneau　promised　to　bring　them　ofer；〃　said　Mackenzie；　〃but　you　cannot　tell　anything　at　all　about　that　man。〃

〃Well；　we　must　get　them　in　at　once。　　We　must　not　lose　another　day。　And　now　let's　get　to　bed。　　The　boy　here　will　sleep　in　the　bunk；〃　pointing　to　a　large…sized　box　which　did　for　a　couch。　　〃Get　some　blankets　for　him；　Mac。〃

The　top　of　the　box　folded　back；　revealing　a　bed　inside。

〃There；　Kalman；〃　said　French；　while　Mackenzie　arranged　the　blankets；　〃will　that　do？〃

〃Fine；〃　said　the　boy；　who　could　hardly　keep　his　eyes　open　and　who　in　five　minutes　after　he　had　tumbled　in　was　sound　asleep。

It　seemed　as　if　he　had　been　asleep　but　a　few　moments　when　he　was　wakened　by　a　rude　shock。　　He　started　up　to　find　Mackenzie　fallen　drunk　and　helpless　across　his　bunk。

〃Here；　you　pig！〃　French　was　saying　in　a　stern　undertone；　〃can't　you　tell　when　you　have　had　enough？　　Come　out　of　that！〃

With　an　oath　he　dragged　Mackenzie　to　his　feet。

〃Come；　get　to　your　bed！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　yes；〃　grumbled　Mackenzie；　〃and　I　know　well　what　you　will　be　doing　after　I　am　in　bed；　and　never　a　drop　will　you　be　leaving　in　that　bottle。〃　　Mackenzie　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。

〃Get　on；　you　beast！〃　said　French　in　tones　of　disgusted　dignity；　pushing　the　man　before　him　into　the　next　room。

Kalman　was　wide　awake；　but；　feigning　sleep；　watched　French　as　he　sat　with　gloomy　face；　drinking　steadily　till　even　his　hard　head　could　stand　no　more；　and　he　swayed　into　the　inner　room　and　fell　heavily　on　the　bed。　　Kalman　waited　till　French　was　fast　asleep；　then　rising　quietly；　pulled　off　his　boots；　threw　a　blanket　over　him；　put　out　the　lamp　and　went　back　to　the　bunk。　　The　spectre　of　the　previous　night　which　had　been　laid　by　the　events　of　the　day　came　back　to　haunt　his　broken　slumber。　　For　hours　he　tossed；　and　not　till　morning　began　to　dawn　did　he　quite　lose　consciousness。

Broad　morning　wakened　him　to　unpleasant　memories；　and　more　unpleasant　realities。　　French　was　still　sleeping　heavily。　Mackenzie　was　eating　breakfast；　with　a　bottle　beside　him　on　the　table。

〃You　will　find　a　basin　on　the　bench　outside；〃　observed　Mackenzie；　pointing　to　the　open　door。

When　Kalman　returned　from　his　ablutions；　the　bottle　had　vanished；　and　Mackenzie；　with　breath　redolent　of　its　contents；　had　ready　for　him　a　plate　of　porridge；　to　which　he　added　black　molasses。　　This；　with　toasted　bannock；　the　remains　of　the　cold　duck　of　the　night　before；　and　strong　black　tea；　constituted　his　breakfast。

Kalman　hurried　through　his　meal；　for　he　hated　to　meet　French　as　he　woke　from　his　sleep。

〃Will　he　not　take　breakfast？〃　said　the　boy　as　he　rose　from　the　table。

〃No；　not　him；　nor　denner　either；　like　as　not。　　It　iss　a　good　thing　he　has　a　man　to　look　after　the　place；〃　said　Mackenzie　with　the　pride　of　conscious　fidelity。　　〃We　will　just　be　going　on　with　the　oats　and　the　pitaties。　　You　will　be　taking　the　harrows。〃

〃The　what？〃　said　Kalman。

〃The　harrows。〃

Kalman　looked　blank。

〃Can　you　not　harrow？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃What　is　that？〃

〃Can　you　drop　pitaties；　then？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　repeated　Kalman；　shrinking　very　considerably　in　his　own　estimation。

〃Man；〃　said　Mackenzie　pityingly；　〃where　did　ye　come　from　anyway？〃

〃Winnipeg。〃

〃Winnipeg？　　I　know　it　well。　　I　used　to。　　But　that　was　long　ago。　But　did　ye　nefer　drive　a　team？〃

〃Never；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃But　I　want　to　learn。〃

〃Och！　then；　and　what　will　he　be　wanting　with　you　here？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Kalman。

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Mackenzie。　　〃He　iss　a　quare　man　at　times；　and　does　quare　things。〃

〃He　is　not；〃　said　Kalman　hotly。　　〃He　is　just　a　splendid　man。〃

Mackenzie　gazed　in　mild　surprise　at　the　angry　face。

〃Hoot！　toot！〃　he　said。　　〃Who　was　denyin'　ye？　　He　iss　all　that；　but　he　iss　mighty　quare；　as　you　will　find　out。　　But　come　away　and　we　will　get　the　horses。　　It　iss　a　peety　you　cannot　do　nothing。〃

〃You　show　me　what　to　do；〃　said　Kalman　confidently；　〃and　I'll　do　it。〃

The　stable　was　a　tumble…down　affair；　and　sorely　needing　attention；　as；　indeed；　was　the　case　with　the　ranch　and　all　its　belongings。　　A　team　of　horses　showing　signs　of　hard　work　and　poor　care；　with　harness　patched　with　rope　and　rawhide　thongs；　were　waiting　in　the　stable。　　Even　to　Kalman's　inexperienced　eyes　it　was　a　deplorable　outfit。

There　was　little　done　in　the　way　of　cultivation　of　the　soil　upon　the　Night　Hawk　Ranch。　　The　market　was　far　away；　and　it　was　almost　impossible　to　secure　farm　labour。　　The　wants　of　French　and　his　household　were　few。　　A　couple　of　fields　of　oats　and　barley　for　his　horses　and　pigs　and　poultry；　another　for　potatoes；　for　which　he　found　ready　market　at　the　Crossing　and　in　the　lumber　camps　up　among　the　hills；　exhausted　the　agricultural　pursuits　of　the　ranch。

Kalman　concentrated　his　attention　upon　the　process　of　hitching　the　team　to　the　harrows；　and　then　followed　Mackenzie　up　and　down　the　field　as　he　harrowed　in　the　oats。　　It　seemed　a　simple　enough　matter　to　guide　the　team　across　the　ploughed　furrows；　and　Kalman；　as　he　observed；　grew　ambitious。

〃Let　me　drive；〃　he　said　at　length。

〃Hoot！　toot！　boy；　you　would　be　letting　them　run　away　with　you。〃

〃Aw；　cut　it　out！〃　said　Kalman　scornfully。

〃What　are　you　saying？　　Cut　what？〃

〃Oh；　give　us　a　rest！〃

〃A　rest；　iss　it？　　You　will　be　getting　tired　early。　　And　who　is　keeping　you　from　a　rest？〃　said　Mackenzie；　whose　knowledge　of　contemporary　slang　was　decidedly　meagre。

〃Let　me　drive　once；〃　pleaded　the　boy。

〃Well；　try　it；　and　I　will　walk　along　side　of　you；〃　said　Mackenzie；　with　apparent　reluctance。

The　attempt　was　eminently　successful；　but　Kalman　was　quick　both　with　hands　and　head。　　After　the　second　round　Mackenzie　allowed　the　boy　to　go　alone；　remaining　in　the　shade　and　calling　out　directions　across　the　field。　　The　result　was　to　both　a　matter　of　unmixed　delight。　　With　Kalman　there　was　the　gratification　of　the　boy's　passion　for　the　handling　of　horses；　and　as　for　Mackenzie；　while　on　the　trail　or　on　the　river；　he　was　indefatigable；　in　the　field　he　had　the　Indian　hatred　of　steady　work。　　To　lie　and　smoke　on　the　grass　in　the　shade　of　a　poplar　bluff　on　this　warm　shiny　spring　day　was　to　him　sheer　bliss。

But　after　a　time　Mackenzie　grew　restless。　　His　cup　of　bliss　still　lacked　a　drop　to　fill　it。

〃Just　keep　them　moving；〃　he　cried　to　Kalman。　　〃I　will　need　to　go　to　the　house　a　meenit。〃

〃All　right。　　Don't　hurry　for　me；〃　said　Kalman；　proud　of　his　new　responsibility　and　delighted　with　his　new　achievement。

〃Keep　them　straight；　mind。　　And　watch　your　turning；〃　warned　Mackenzie。　　〃I　will　be　coming　back　soon。〃

In　less　than　half　an　hour　he　returned　in　a　most　gracious　frame　of　mind。

〃Man；　but　you　are　the　smart　lad；〃　he　said　as　Kalman　swung　his　team　around。　　〃You　will　be　making　a　great　rancher；　Tommy。〃

〃My　name　is　Kalman。〃

〃Well；　well；　Callum。　　It　iss　a　fery　good　name；　whatefer。〃

〃Kalman！〃　shouted　the　boy。

Mackenzie　nodded　grave　rebuke。

〃There　is　no　occasion　for　shouting。　　I　am　not　deef；　Callum；　my　boy。　Go　on。　　Go　on　with　your　harrows；〃　he　continued　as　Kalman　began　to　remonstrate。

Kalman　drew　near　and　regarded　him　narrowly。　　The　truth　was　clear　to　his　experienced　eyes。

〃You're　drunk；〃　he　exclaimed　disgustedly。

〃Hoot；　toot！　　Callum　man；〃　said　Mackenzie　in　tones　of　grieved　remonstrance；　〃how　would　you　be　saying　that　now？　　Come　away；　or　I　will　be　taking　the　team　myself。〃

〃Aw；　go　on！〃　replied　Kalman　contemptuously。　　〃Let　me　alone！〃

〃Good　boy；〃　said　Mackenzie　with　a　paternal　smile；　waving　the　boy　on　his　way　while　he　betook　himself　to　the　bluff　side　and　there　supine；　continued　at　intervals　to　direct　the　operation　of　harrowing。

The　sun　grew　hot。　　The　cool　morning　breeze　dropped　flat；　and　as　the　hours　passed　the　boy　grew　weary　and　footsore；　travelling　the　soft　furrows。　　Mackenzie　had　long　ceased　issuing　his　directions；　and　had　subsided　into　smiling　silence；　contenting　himself　with　a　friendly　wave　of　the　hand　as　Kalman　made　the　turn。　　The　poor　spiritless　horses　moved　more　and　more　slowly；　and　at　length；　coming