the foreigner-第51节

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〃Stop！　stop！　　Malkarski；　do　not　commit　this　crime！〃

〃What　is　he　doing？〃　said　the　Sergeant；　pulling　his　pistol。

〃He　is　going　to　blow　the　man　up！〃　groaned　Kalman。

The　Sergeant　levelled　his　pistol。

〃Here；　you　man；〃　he　cried；　〃stir　in　your　tracks　and　you　are　dead！〃

Malkarski　laughed　scornfully　at　him　and　proceeded　to　strike　his　third　match。　　Before　the　Sergeant　could　fire；　old　Portnoff　sprang　upon　him　with　the　cry；　〃Would　you　murder　the　man？〃

Meantime；　under　the　third　match；　the　train　was　blazing；　and　slowly　creeping　toward　the　cabin。　　Shriek　after　shriek　from　the　wretched　victim　seemed　to　pierce　the　ears　of　the　listeners　as　with　sharp　stabs　of　pain。

〃Rosenblatt；〃　cried　old　Malkarski；　putting　up　his　hand；　〃you　know　me　now？〃

〃No！　no！〃　shrieked　Rosenblatt。　　〃Mercy！　mercy！　quick！　quick！　　I　know　you　not。〃

The　old　man　drew　himself　up　to　a　figure　straight　and　tall。　　The　years　seemed　to　fall　from　him。　　He　stepped　nearer　Rosenblatt　and　stood　in　the　full　light　and　in　the　attitude　of　a　soldier　at　attention。

〃Behold；〃　he　cried；　〃Michael　Kalmar！〃

〃Ah…h…h…h！〃　　Rosenblatt's　voice　was　prolonged　into　a　wail　of　despair　as　from　a　damned　soul。

〃My　father！〃　cried　Kalman　from　across　the　ravine。　　〃My　father！　Don't　commit　this　crime！　　For　my　sake；　for　Christ's　dear　sake！〃

He　rushed　across　the　ravine　and　up　the　other　slope。　　His　father　ran　to　meet　him　and　grappled　with　him。　　Upon　the　slope　they　struggled；　Kalman　fighting　fiercely　to　free　himself　from　those　encircling　arms；　while　like　a　fiery　serpent　the　flame　crept　slowly　toward　the　cabin。

With　a　heavy　iron　poker　which　he　found　in　the　cabin；　Rosenblatt　had　battered　off　the　sash　and　the　frame　of　the　window；　enlarging　the　hole　till　he　could　get　his　head　and　one　arm　free；　but　there　he　stuck　fast；　watching　the　creeping　flames；　shrieking　prayers；　entreaties；　curses；　while　down　upon　the　slope　swayed　the　two　men　in　deadly　struggle。

〃Let　me　go！　　Let　me　go；　my　father！〃　entreated　Kalman；　tearing　at　his　father's　arms。　　〃How　can　I　strike　you！〃

〃Never；　boy。　　Rather　would　I　die！〃　cried　the　old　man；　his　arms　wreathed　about　his　son's　neck。

At　length；　with　his　hand　raised　high　above　his　head；　Kalman　cried；　〃Now　God　pardon　me　this！〃　and　striking　his　father　a　heavy　blow；　he　flung　him　off　and　leaped　free。　　Before　he　could　take　a　single　step；　another　figure；　that　of　a　woman；　glided　from　the　trees；　and　with　a　cry　as　of　a　wild　cat；　threw　herself　upon　him。　　At　the　same　instant　there　was　a　dull；　thick　roar；　they　were　hurled　stunned　to　the　ground；　and　in　the　silence　that　followed；　through　the　trees　came　hurtling　a　rain　of　broken　rock　and　splintered　timbers。

Slowly　recovering　from　the　shock；　the　Sergeant　staggered　down　the　ravine；　crying；　〃Come　on！〃　to　the　others　who　followed　him　one　by　one　as　they　recovered　their　senses。　　On　the　other　side　of　the　slope　lay　Kalman　and　the　woman。　　It　was　Paulina。　　At　a　little　distance　was　Malkarski；　or　Kalmar；　as　he　must　be　called；　and　where　the　cabin　had　been　a　great　hole；　and　at　some　distance　from　it　a　charred　and　blackened　shape　of　a　man　writhing　in　agony；　the　clothes　still　burning　upon　him。

Brown　rushed　down　to　the　Creek；　and　with　a　hatful　of　water　extinguished　the　burning　clothes。

〃Water！　water！〃　gasped　the　wretch　faintly。

〃Bring　him　some　water；　some　one；〃　said　Brown　who　was　now　giving　his　attention　to　Kalman。　　But　no　one　heeded　him。

Old　Portnoff　found　a　can；　and　filling　it　at　the　stream；　brought　it　to　the　group　on　the　slope。　　In　a　short　time　they　began　to　revive；　and　before　long　were　able　to　stand。　　Meantime；　the　wretched　Rosenblatt　was　piteously　crying　for　water。

〃Oh；　give　him　some　water；〃　said　Kalman　to　Brown；　who　was　anxiously　taking　his　pulse。

Brown　took　the　can　over；　gave　the　unhappy　wretch　a　drink；　pouring　the　rest　over　his　burned　and　mangled　limbs。　　The　explosion　had　shattered　the　lower　part　and　one　side　of　Rosenblatt's　body；　leaving　untouched　his　face　and　his　right　arm。

The　Sergeant　took　charge　of　the　situation。

〃You　I　arrest；〃　he　said；　taking　old　Kalmar　by　the　shoulder。

〃Very　well；　it　matters　not；〃　said　the　old　man；　holding　up　his　hands　for　the　handcuffs。

〃Can　anything　be　done　for　this　man？〃　asked　the　Sergeant；　pointing　to　Rosenblatt。

〃Nothing。　　He　can　only　live　a　few　minutes。〃

Rosenblatt　looked　up　and　beckoned　the　Sergeant　toward　him。

〃I　would　speak　with　you；〃　he　said　faintly。

The　Sergeant　approached；　bringing　Kalmar　along　with　him。

〃You　need　not　fear；　I　shall　not　try　to　escape；〃　said　Kalmar。　　〃I　give　you　my　honour。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　Sergeant；　turning　from　him　to　Rosenblatt。　〃What　do　you　wish？〃

〃Come　nearer；〃　said　the　dying　man。

The　Sergeant　kneeled　down　and　leaned　over　him　to　listen。　　With　a　quick　movement　Rosenblatt　jerked　the　pistol　from　the　Sergeant's　belt　and　fired　straight　at　old　Kalmar；　turned　the　pistol　toward　Kalman　and　fired　again。　　But　as　he　levelled　his　gun　for　the　second　time；　Paulina；　with　a　cry；　flung　herself　upon　Kalman；　received　the　bullet；　and　fell　to　the　ground。　　With　a　wild　laugh；　Rosenblatt　turned　the　pistol　on　himself；　but　before　he　could　fire　the　Sergeant　had　wrested　it　from　his　hand。

〃Aha；〃　he　gasped；　〃I　have　my　revenge！〃

〃Fool！〃　said　old　Kalmar；　who　was　being　supported　by　his　son。　〃Fool！　　You　have　only　done　for　me　what　I　would　have　done　for　myself。〃

With　a　snarl　as　of　a　dog；　Rosenblatt　sank　back　upon　the　ground；　and　with　a　shudder　lay　still。

〃He　is　dead；〃　said　Brown。　　〃God's　mercy　meet　him！〃

〃Ah；〃　said　old　Kalmar；　〃I　breathe　freer　now　that　his　breath　no　longer　taints　the　air。　　My　work　is　done。〃

〃Oh；　my　father；〃　cried　Kalman　brokenly；　〃may　God　forgive　you！〃

〃Boy；〃　said　the　old　man　sternly；　〃mean　you　for　the　death　of　yon　dog？　　You　hang　the　murderer。　　He　is　many　times　a　murderer。　　This　very　night　he　had　willed　to　murder　you　and　your　friend。　　He　was　condemned　to　death　by　a　righteous　tribunal。　　He　has　met　his　just　doom。　　God　is　just。　　I　meet　Him　without　fear　for　this。　　For　my　sins；　which　are　many；　I　trust　His　mercy。〃

〃My　father；〃　said　Kalman；　〃you　are　right。　　I　believe　you。　　And　God　is　merciful。　　Christ　is　merciful。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　leaned　over；　and　wiping　from　his　father's　face　the　tears　that　fell　upon　it；　he　kissed　him　on　the　forehead。　　The　old　man's　breath　was　growing　short。　　He　looked　towards　Brown。　　At　once　Brown　came　near。

〃You　are　a　good　man。　　Your　religion　is　good。　　It　makes　men　just　and　kind。　　Ah；　religion　is　a　beautiful　thing　when　it　makes　men　just　and　kind。〃

He　turned　his　eyes　upon　Jack　French；　who　stood　looking　down　sadly　upon　him。

〃You　have　been　friend　to　my　son；〃　he　said。　　〃You　will　guide　him　still？〃

French　dropped　quickly　on　his　knee；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　said；　〃I　will　be　to　him　a　brother。〃

The　old　man　turned　his　face　and　said；　〃Paulina。〃

〃She　is　here；〃　said　old　Portnoff；　〃but　she　can't　move。〃

At　the　sound　of　his　voice；　the　woman　struggled　up　to　her　knees；　crawled　over　to　his　side；　the　blood　flowing　from　her　wound；　and　taking　his　hand；　held　it　to　her　lips。

〃Paulina；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　done　wellyou　aremy　wife　again　come　near　me。〃

The　woman　made　an　inarticulate　moan　like　some　dumb　beast；　and　lifted　her　face　toward　him。

〃Kiss　me；〃　he　said。

〃Ah；　my　lord；〃　she　cried；　sobbing　wildly；　〃my　dear　lord；　I　dare　not。〃

〃Kiss　me；〃　he　said　again。

〃Now　let　me　die；〃　she　cried；　kissing　him　on　the　lips；　and　falling　down　in　a　faint　beside　him。

Brown　lifted　her　and　laid　her　in　Portnoff's　arms。　　The　dying　man　lay　silent；　gathering　his　strength。　　He　was　breathing　now　with　great　difficulty。

〃My　son！　　I　cannot　see　you〃

Brown　came　and　took　Kalman's　place。

〃Here　I　am；　father；〃　said　Kalman；　kneeling　beside　him　and　holding　his　two　hands。

〃Bidmy　daughter　Irmafarewell！　　She　will　be　safe　with　you。〃　Then　after　a　pause　he　whispered；　〃In　my　pocket。〃

Kalman　understood；　found　a　packet；　and　from　it　drew　the　miniature　of　his　mother。

〃I　give　you　this；〃　said　the　father；　lifting　it　with　difficulty　to　his　lips。　　〃No　curse　with　it　nowonly　blessingfarewellyou　have　brought　me　joylet　me　see　her　faceah；　dear　heart〃　he　said；　fastening　his　glazing　eyes　upon　the　beautiful　face；　〃I　come　to　you　ah！　freedom！sweet　freedom　at　last！and　loveall　love！　　My　son　farewell！my　love！〃

〃Dear　God！〃　cried　Kalman；　〃Jesu；　have　pity　and　save！〃

A　smile　as　of　an　infant　falling　asleep　played　over　the　rugged　face；　while　the　poor　lips　whispered；　〃At　lastfreedom！andlove！〃

He　breathed　once；　deep　and　long；　and　then　no　more。　　The　long；　long　fight　was　done；　the　fight　for　freedom　and　for　love。



CHAPTER　XIX

MY　FOREIGNER


The　Night　Hawk　Mining　Company；　after　a　period　of　doubt　and　struggle；　was　solidly　on　its　feet　at　last。　　True；　its　dividends　were　not　large；　but　at　least　it　was　paying　its　way；　and　it　stood　well　among　the　financial　institutions　of　the　country。　　Its　satisfactory　condition　was　accounted　for　by　its　President；　Sir　Robert　Menzies；　at　the　last　Annual　Meeting　of　the　Company；　in　the　following　words：　　〃It　is　to　the　fidelity；　diligence；　good　judgment；　and　ability　to　handle　men；　shown　by　our　young　Manager；　Mr。　Kalmar；　during　the　past　five　years；　that　the　Company　owes　its　present　excellent　standing。〃

The　Foreign　Colony　and　the　mine　reacted　upon　each　other；　to　their　mutual　advantage；　the　one　furnishing　labourers；