the foreigner-第23部分
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〃Now；〃 said Rosenblatt； dragging the half…insensible boy around to the back of the house； 〃the time is come。 The chance is too good。 You try to kill me； but there will be one less Kalmar in the world to…night。 There will be a little pay back of my debt to your cursed father。 Take thatand that。〃 As he spoke the words； he struck the boy hard upon the head and face； and then flinging him down in the snow； proceeded deliberately to kick him to death。
But even as he threw the boy down； a shrill screaming pierced through the quiet of the night； and from the back of the house a little girl ran shrieking。 〃He is killing him！ He is killing him！〃
It was little Elizabeth Ketzel； who had been let in through the back window to hear Kalman sing； and who； at the first appearance of trouble； had fled by the way she had entered； meeting Rosenblatt as he appeared dragging the insensible boy through the snow。 Her shrieks arrested the man in his murderous purpose。 He turned and fled； leaving the boy bleeding and insensible in the snow。
As Rosenblatt disappeared； a cutter drove rapidly up。
〃What's the row； kiddie？〃 said a man； springing out。 It was Dr。 Wright； returning from a midnight trip to one of his patients in the foreign colony。 〃Who's killing who？〃
〃It is Kalman！〃 cried Elizabeth； 〃and he is dead！ Oh； he is dead！〃
The doctor knelt beside the boy。 〃Great Caesar！ It surely is my friend Kalman； and in a bad way。 Some more vendetta business； I have no doubt。 Now what in thunder is that； do you suppose？〃 From the house came a continuous shrieking。 〃Some more killing； I guess。 Here； throw this robe about the boy while I see about this。〃
He ran to the door and kicked it open。 It seemed as if the whole company of twenty or thirty men were every man fighting。 As the doctor paused to get his bearings； he saw across the room in the farthest corner； Irma screaming as she struggled in the grasp of Samuel Sprink； and in the midst of the room Paulina fighting like a demon and uttering strange weird cries。 She was trying to force her way to the door。
As she caught sight of the doctor； she threw out her hands toward him with a loud cry。 〃Kalmankilling！ Kalmankilling！〃 was all she could say。
The doctor thrust himself forward through the struggling men； crying in a loud voice； 〃Here； you； let that woman go！ And you there； let that girl alone！〃
Most of the men knew him； and at his words they immediately ceased fighting。
〃What the deuce are you at； anyway； you men？〃 he continued； as Paulina and the girl sprang past him and out of the door。 〃Do you fight with women？〃
〃No；〃 said one of the men。 〃Dis man；〃 pointing to Sprink； 〃he mak fun wit de girl。〃
〃Mighty poor fun；〃 said the doctor； turning toward Sprink。 〃And who has been killing that boy outside？〃
〃It is that young devil Kalman； who has been trying to kill Mr。 Rosenblatt；〃 replied Sprink。
〃Oh； indeed；〃 said the doctor； 〃and what was the gentle Mr。 Rosenblatt doing meantime？〃
〃Rosenblatt？〃 cried Jacob Wassyl； coming forward excitedly。 〃He mak for hurt dat boy。 Dis man；〃 pointing to Sprink； 〃he try for kiss dat girl。 Boy he say stop。 Rosenblatt he trow boy back。 Boy he fight。〃
〃Look here； Jacob；〃 said Dr。 Wright； 〃you get these men's names this man；〃 pointing to Sprink； 〃and a dozen moreand we'll make this interesting for Rosenblatt in the police court to…morrow morning。〃
Outside the house the doctor found Paulina sitting in the snow with Kalman's head in her lap； swaying to and fro muttering and groaning。 Beside her stood Irma and Elizabeth Ketzel weeping wildly。 The doctor raised the boy gently。
〃Get into the cutter；〃 he said to Paulina。 Irma translated。 The woman ran without a word； seated herself in the cutter and held out her arms for the boy。
〃That will do；〃 said the doctor； laying Kalman in her arms。 〃Now get some shawls； quilts or something for your mother and yourself； or you'll freeze to death； and come along。〃
The girl rushed away and returned in a few moments with a bundle of shawls。
〃Get in；〃 said the doctor； 〃and be quick。〃
The men were crowding about。
〃Now； Jacob；〃 said the doctor； turning to Wassyl； who stood near； 〃you get me those names and we'll get after that man； you bet！ or I'm a Turk。 This boy is going to die； sure。〃
As he spoke； he sprang into his cutter and sent his horse off at a gallop； for by the boy's breathing he felt that the chances of life were slipping swiftly away。
CHAPTER X
JACK FRENCH OF THE NIGHT HAWK RANCH
A map of Western Canada showing the physical features of the country lying between the mountains on the one side and the Bay and the Lakes on the other； presents the appearance of a vast rolling plain scarred and seamed and pitted like an ancient face。 These scars and seams and pits are great lazy rivers； meandering streams； lakes； sleughs and marshes which form one vast system of waters that wind and curve through the rolls of the prairie and nestle in its sunlit hollows； laying； draining； blessing where they go and where they stay。
By these； the countless herds of buffalo and deer quenched their thirst in the days when they； with their rival claimants for the land； the Black Feet and the Crees； roamed undisturbed over these mighty plains。 These waterways in later days when The Honourable the Hudson's Bay Company ruled the West； formed the great highways of barter。 By these teeming lakes and sleughs and marshes hunted and trapped Indians and half…breeds。 Down these streams and rivers floated the great fur brigades in canoe and Hudson's Bay pointer with priceless bales of pelts to the Bay in the north or the Lakes in the south； on their way to that centre of the world's trade； old London。 And up these streams and rivers went the great loads of supplies and merchandise for the faraway posts that were at once the seats of government and the emporiums of trade in this wide land。
Following the canoe and Hudson's Bay boat； came the river barge and side…wheeler； and with these； competing for trade； the overland freighter with ox train and pack pony； with Red River cart and shagginappi。
Still later； up these same waterways and along these trails came settlers singly or in groups； the daring vanguard of an advancing civilization； and planted themselves as pleased their fancy in choice spots； in sunny nooks sheltered by bluffs； by gemlike lakes or flowing streams； but mostly on the banks of the great rivers； the highways for their trade； the shining links that held them to their kind。 Some there were among those hardy souls who； severing all bonds behind them； sought only escape from their fellow men and from their past。 These left the great riverways and freighting trails； and pressing up the streams to distant head waters； there pitched their camp and there； in lonely； lordly independence； took rich toll of prairie； lake and stream as they needed for their living。
Such a man was Jack French； and such a spot was Night Hawk Lake； whose shining waters found a tortuous escape four miles away by Night Hawk Creek into the South Saskatchewan； king of rivers。
The two brothers； Jack and Herbert French； of good old English stock； finding life in the trim downs of Devon too confined and wearisome for their adventurous spirits； fell to walking seaward over the high head lands； and to listening and gazing； the soft spray dashing wet upon their faces； till they found eyes and ears filled with the sights and sounds of far； wide plains across the sea that called and beckoned； till in the middle seventies； with their mother's kiss trembling on their brows and on their lips； and their father's almost stern benediction stiffening their backs； they fared forth to the far West； and found themselves on the black trail that wound up the Red River of the North and reached the straggling hamlet of Winnipeg。
There； in one of Winnipeg's homes； they found generous welcome and a maiden； guarded by a stern old timer for a father and four stalwart plain…riding brothers； but guarded all in vain； for laughing at all such guarding； the two brothers with the hot selfishness of young love； each unaware of the other's intent； sought to rifle that house of its chief treasure。
To Herbert； the younger； that ardent pirate of her heart； the maiden struck her flaming flag； and on the same night； with fearful dismay； she sought pardon of the elder brother that she could not yield him like surrender。 With pale appealing face and kind blue eyes； she sought forgiveness for her poverty。
〃Oh； Mr。 French；〃 she cried； 〃if I only could！ But I cannot give you what is Herbert's now。〃
〃Herbert！〃 gasped Jack with parched lips。
〃And oh； Jack；〃 she cried again with sweet selfishness； 〃you will love Herbert still； and me？〃
And Jack； having had a moment in which to summon up the reserves of his courage and his command； smiled into her appealing eyes； kissed her pale face； and still smiling； took his way； unseeing and unheeding all but those appealing； tearful eyes and that pleading voice asking with sweet selfishness only his life。
Three months he roamed the plains alone； finding at length one sunny day； Night Hawk Lake； whose fair and lonely wildness seemed to suit his mood； and there he pitched his camp。 Thence back to Winnipeg a month later to his brother's wedding； and that over； still smiling； to take his way again to Night Hawk Lake； where ever since he spent his life。
He passed his days at first in building house and stables from the poplar bluffs at hand； and later in growing with little toil from the rich black land and taking from prairie； lake and creek with rifle and with net； what was necessary for himself and his man； the Scotch half…breed Mackenzie； all the while forgetting till he could forget no longer； and then with Mackenzie drinking deep and long till remembering and forgetting were the same。
After five years he returned to Winnipeg to stand by her side whose image lived ever in his heart； while they closed down the coffin lid upon the face dearest to her； dearest but one to him of all faces in the world。 Then when he had comforted her with what comfort he had to give； he set face again toward Night Hawk Lake； leaving her； because she so desired it； a
