the foreigner-第41节

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；　with　a　ring　of　curl…papers　round　her　head；　driven　back　into　the　corner　of　the　tent；　and　crouched　upon　a　box；　her　gown　drawn　tight　about　her；　while　she　gazed　in　unspeakable　horror　at　the　whirling；　fighting　mass　upon　the　tent　floor　at　her　feet。　　Higher　and　higher　rose　her　shrieks　above　the　din　of　the　fight。　　From　a　neighbouring　tent　there　rushed　forth　a　portly；　middle…aged　gentleman　in　pyjamas；　gun　in　hand。

〃What　is　it；　Katharine？　　Where　are　you；　Katharine？〃

〃Where　am　I？　　Where　but　here；　ye　gowk！　　Oh；　Robert！　Robert！　　I　shall　be　devoured　alive。〃

The　stout　gentleman　ran　to　the　door　of　the　tent；　lifted　the　flap；　and　plunged　in。　　With　equal　celerity　he　plunged　back　again；　shouting；　〃Whatever　is　all　yon？〃

〃Robert！　Robert！〃　screamed　the　voice；　〃come　back　and　save　me。〃

〃What　is　this；　sir？〃　indignantly　turning　upon　Kalman；　who　stood　in　bewildered　uncertainty。

〃It　is　a　wolf；　sir；　that　my　dogs〃

〃A　wolf！〃　screamed　the　portly　gentleman；　springing　back　from　the　door。

〃Go　in；　sir；　go　in　at　once　and　save　my　sister！　　What　are　you　looking　at；　sir？　　She　will　be　devoured　alive。　　I　beseech　you。　I　am　n　no　state　to　attack　a　savage　beast。〃

From　another　tent　appeared　a　young　man；　rotund　of　form　and　with　a　chubby　face。　　He　was　partly　dressed；　his　night…robe　being　stuffed　hastily　into　his　trousers；　and　he　held　the　camp　axe　in　his　hand。

〃What　the　deuce　is　the　row？〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃By　Jove！　sounds　like　a　beastly　dog　fight。〃

〃Aunt　Janet！　　Aunt　Janet！　　What　is　the　matter？〃　　A　girl　in　a　dressing…gown；　with　her　hair　streaming　behind　her；　came　rushing　from　another　tent；　and　sprang　towards　the　door　of　the　tent；　from　which　came　the　mingled　clamour　of　the　fighting　dogs　and　the　terror…　stricken　woman。　　Kalman　stepped　quickly　in　front　of　her；　caught　her　round　the　waist；　and　swung　her　behind　him。

〃Go　back！〃　he　cried。　　〃Get　away；　all　of　you。〃　　There　was　an　immediate　clearance　of　the　space　in　front　of　the　tent。　　Seizing　a　club；　he　sprang　among　the　fighting　beasts。

〃Oh！　you　good　man！　　Come　here　and　save　me；〃　cried　Aunt　Janet　in　a　frenzy　of　relief。　　But　Kalman　was　too　busy　for　the　moment　to　give　heed　to　her　cries。　　As　he　entered；　a　fiercer　howl　arose　above　the　din。　　The　wolf　had　seized　hold　of　Captain's　upper　lip　and　was　grimly　hanging　on；　while　Queen　was　gripping　savagely　for　the　beast's　throat。　　With　his　club　Kalman　struck　the　wolf　a　heavy　blow；　stunning　it　so　that　it　released　its　hold　on　the　dog。　　Then；　catching　it　by　the　hind　leg；　he　hauled　wolf　and　hounds　out　of　the　tent　in　one　squirming　mass。

〃God　help　us！〃　cried　the　stout　gentleman；　darting　into　his　own　tent　and　poking　his　head　out　through　the　door。　　〃Keep　the　brute　off。　There's　my　gun。〃

The　girl　screamed　and　ran　behind　Kalman。　　The　young　man　with　the　chubby　face　dropped　his　axe　and　jumped　hastily　into　a　convenient　wagon。

〃Shoot　the　bloomin'　brutes；〃　he　cried。　　〃Some　one　bring　me　my　gun。〃

But　the　wolf's　days　were　numbered。　　Queen's　powerful　jaws　were　tearing　at　his　throat；　while　Captain；　having　gripped　him　by　the　small　of　the　back；　was　shaking　him　with　savage　fury。

〃Oh！　the　poor　thing！　　Call　off　the　dogs！〃　cried　the　girl；　turning　to　Kalman。

〃No！　　No！　　Don't　you　think　of　it！〃　cried　the　man　from　the　tent　door　〃He　will　attack　us。〃

Kalman　stepped　forward；　and　beating　the　dogs　from　their　quarry；　drew　his　pistol　and　shot　the　beast　through　the　head。

〃Get　back；　Captain！　　Back！　　Back！　I　say。　　Down！〃　　With　difficulty　he　drew　the　wolf　from　the　jaws　of　the　eager　hounds；　and　swung　it　into　the　wagon　out　of　the　dogs'　reach。

〃My　word！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　leaping　from　the　wagon　with　precipitate　haste。　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃

〃He　won't　hurt　you；　sir。　　He　is　dead。〃

The　young　man's　red；　chubby　face；　out　of　which　peered　his　little　round　eyes；　his　red　hair　standing　in　a　disordered　halo　about　his　head；　his　strange　attire；　with　trailing　braces　and　tag…ends　of　his　night…robe　hanging　about　his　person；　made　a　picture　so　weirdly　funny　that　the　girl　went　off　into　peals　of　laughter。

〃Marjorie！　　Marjorie！〃　cried　an　indignant　voice；　〃what　are　ye　daein'　there？　　Tak'　shame　to　yersel'；　ye　hizzie。〃

Marjorie　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　voice；　and　again　her　peals　of　laughter　burst　forth。　　〃Oh！　Aunt　Janet；　you　do　look　so　funny。〃　But　at　once　the　head　with　its　aureole　of　curl…papers　was　whipped　inside　the　tent。

〃Ye're　no　that　fine　to　look　at　yersel'；　ye　shameless　lassie；〃　cried　Aunt　Janet。

With　a　swift　motion　the　girl　put　her　hand　to　her　head；　gathered　her　garments　about　her；　and　fled　to　the　cover　of　her　tent；　leaving　Kalman　and　the　young　man　together；　the　latter　in　a　state　of　indignant　wrath；　for　no　man　can　bear　with　equanimity　the　ridicule　of　a　maiden　whom　he　is　especially　anxious　to　please。

〃By　Jove；　sir！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃What　the　deuce　did　you　mean；　running　your　confounded　dogs　into　a　camp　like　that？〃

Kalman　heard　not　a　word。　　He　was　standing　as　in　a　dream；　gazing　upon　the　tent　into　which　the　girl　had　vanished。　　Ignoring　the　young　man；　he　got　his　horse　and　mounted；　and　calling　his　dogs；　rode　off　up　the　trail。

〃Hello　there！〃　cried　Harris；　the　engineer；　after　him。　　Kalman　reined　up。　　〃Do　you　know　where　I　can　get　any　oats？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Kalman；　〃up　at　our　ranch。〃

〃And　where　is　that？〃

〃Ten　miles　from　here；　across　the　Night　Hawk　Creek。〃　　Then；　as　if　taking　a　sudden　resolve；　〃I'll　bring　them　down　to　you　this　afternoon。　　How　much　do　you　want？〃

〃Twenty…five　bushels　would　do　us　till　we　reach　the　construction　camp。〃

〃I'll　bring　them　to…day；〃　said　Kalman；　riding　away；　his　dogs　limping　after　him。

In　a　few　moments　the　girl　came　out　of　the　tent。　　〃Oh！〃　she　cried　to　the　engineer；　〃is　he　gone？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Harris；　〃but　he'll　be　back　this　afternoon。　　He　is　going　to　bring　me　some　oats。〃　　His　smile　brought　a　quick　flush　to　the　girl's　cheeks。

〃Oh！　has　he？〃　she　said；　with　elaborate　indifference。　　〃What　a　lovely　morning！　　It's　wonderful　for　so　late　in　the　year。　　You　have　a　splendid　country　here；　Mr。　Harris。〃

〃That's　right；〃　he　said；　〃and　the　longer　you　stay　in　it；　the　better　you　like　it。　　You'll　be　going　to　settle　in　it　yourself　some　day。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　about　that；〃　cried　the　girl；　with　a　deeper　blush；　and　a　saucy　toss　of　her　head。　　〃It　is　a　fine　country；　but　it's　no'　Scotland；　ye　ken；　as　my　Aunt　would　say。　　My！　but　I'm　fair　starving。〃

It　happened　that　the　ride　to　the　Galician　colony；　planned　for　that　afternoon　by　Mr。　Penny　the　day　before；　had　to　be　postponed。　　Miss　Marjorie　was　hardly　up　to　it。　　〃It　must　be　the　excitement　of　the　country；〃　she　explained　carefully　to　Mr。　Penny；　〃so　I'll　just　bide　in　the　camp。〃

〃Indeed；　you　are　wise　for　once　in　your　life；〃　said　her　Aunt　Janet。　〃As　for　me；　I'm　fair　dune　out。　　With　this　hurly…burly　of　such　terrible　excitement　I　wonder　I　did　not　faint　right　off。〃

〃Hoots　awa'；　Aunt　Janet；〃　said　her　niece；　〃it　was　no　time　for　fainting；　I'm　thinking；　with　yon　wolf　in　the　tent　beside　ye。〃

〃Aye；　lassie；　you　may　well　say　so；〃　said　Aunt　Janet；　lapsing　into　her　native　tongue；　into　which　in　unguarded　moments　she　was　rather　apt　to　fall；　and　which　her　niece　truly　loved　to　use；　much　to　her　Aunt's　disgust；　who　considered　it　a　form　of　vulgarity　to　be　avoided　with　all　care。

As　the　afternoon　was　wearing　away；　a　wagon　appeared　in　the　distance。　The　gentlemen　were　away　from　camp　inspecting　the　progress　of　the　work　down　the　line。

〃There's　something　coming　yonder；〃　said　Miss　Marjorie；　whose　eyes　had　often　wandered　down　the　trail　that　afternoon。

〃Mercy　on　us！　　What　can　it　be；　and　them　all　away；〃　said　her　Aunt　in　distress。　　〃Put　your　saddle　on　and　fly　for　your　father　or　Mr。　Harris。　　I　am　terrified。　　It　is　this　awful　country。　　If　ever　I　get　out　alive！〃

〃Hoots　awa'；　Aunt；　it's　just　a　wagon。〃

〃Marjorie；　why　will　you　use　such　vulgar　expressions？　　Of　course；　it's　a　wagon。　　Wha'swho's　in　it？〃

〃Indeed；　I'm　not　caring；〃　said　her　niece；　〃they'll　no'　eat　us。〃

〃Marjorie；　behave　yourself；　I'm　saying；　and　speak　as　you　are　taught。　　Run　away　for　your　father。〃

〃Indeed；　Aunt；　how　could　I　do　this　and　leave　you　here　by　yourself？　A　wild　Indian　might　run　off　with　you。〃

〃Mercy　me！　　What　a　lassie！　　I'm　fair　distracted。〃

〃Oh；　Auntie　dear；〃　said　Marjorie；　with　a　change　of　voice；　〃it　is　just　a　man　bringing　some　oats。　　Mr。　Harris　told　me　he　was　to　get　a　load　this　afternoon。　　We　will　need　to　take　them　from　him。　　Have　you　any　money？　　We　must　pay　him；　I　suppose。〃

〃Money？〃　cried　her　Aunt。　　〃What　is　the　use　of　money　in　this　country？　　No；　your　father　has　it　all。〃

〃Why；〃　suddenly　exclaimed　her　niece；　〃it's　not　the　man　after　all。〃

〃What　man　are　you　talking　about？〃　enquired　her　Aunt。　　〃What　man　is　it　not？〃

〃It's　a　stranger。　　I　meanit'sanother　man；〃　said　Marjorie；　distinct　disappointment　in　her　tone。

〃Here；　who　is　it；　or　who　is　it　no'？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Marjorie　innocently。　　〃Mr。　Harris　is　expecting　that　young　man　who　was　here　this　morning；the　one　who　saved　us　from　that　awful　wolf；　you　know。〃

〃That　man！　　The　impudent　thing　that　he　was；〃　cried　her　Aunt。　　〃Wait　till　I　set　my　eyes　on　him。　　Indeed；　I　will　not　look　at　any　one　belonging　to　him。〃　　Aunt　Janet　flounced　into　the　tent；　leaving　her　niece　to　meet　the　stranger　alone。

〃Good　afternoon！　　Am　I　right　in　thinking　that　this　is　the　engineer's　camp；　for　which　a　load　of　oats　was