the man from glengarry-第39部分

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woods　and　the　nights　spent　with　his　uncle　in　the　camp；　and
afterward　in　his　cabin　on　the　raft；　did　their　work　with　Ranald。

The　timber　cut　that　year　was　the　largest　that　had　ever　been　known
on　the　Upper　Ottawa。　　There　was　great　crowding　of　rafts　on　the
drive；　and　for　weeks　the　chutes　were　full；　and　when　the　rafts　were
all　brought　together　at　Quebec；　not　only　were　the　shores　lined　and
Timber　Cove　packed；　but　the　broad　river　was　full　from　Quebec　to
Levis；　except　for　the　steamboat　way　which　must　be　kept　open。

For　the　firm　of　Raymond　&　St。　Clair　this　meant　enormous　increase　of
business；　and　it　was　no　small　annoyance　that　at　this　crisis　they
should　have　detected　their　Quebec　agent　in　fraud；　and　should　have
been　forced　to　dismiss　him。　　The　situation　was　so　critical　that　Mr。
St。　Clair　himself；　with　Harry　as　his　clerk；　found　it　necessary　to
spend　a　month　in　Quebec。　　He　took　with　him　Maimie　and　her　great
friend　Kate　Raymond；　the　daughter　of　his　partner；　and　established
himself　in　the　Hotel　Cheval　Blanc。

On　the　whole；　Maimie　was　not　sorry　to　visit　the　ancient　capital　of
Canada；　though　she　would　have　chosen　another　time。　　It　was　rather
disappointing　to　leave　her　own　city　in　the　West；　just　at　the
beginning　of　the　spring　gayeties。　　It　was　her　first　season；　and　the
winter　had　been　distinguished　by　a　series　of　social　triumphs。　　She
was　the　toast　of　all　the　clubs　and　the　belle　of　all　the　balls。　　She
had　developed　a　rare　and　fascinating　beauty；　and　had　acquired　an
air　so　distingue　that　even　her　aunt；　Miss　St。　Clair；　was　completely
satisfied。　　It　was　a　little　hard　for　her　to　leave　the　scene　of　her
triumphs　and　to　abandon　the　approaching　gayeties。

But　Quebec　had　its　compensations；　and　then　there　were　the　De　Lacys；
one　of　the　oldest　English　families　of　Quebec。　　The　St。　Clairs　had
known　them　for　many　years。　　Their　blood　was　unquestionably　blue；
they　were　wealthy；　and　besides；　the　only　son　and　representative　of
the　family　was　now　lieutenant；　attached　to　the　garrison　at　the
Citadel。　　Lieutenant　De　Lacy　suggested　possibilities　to　Maimie。
Quebec　might　be　endurable　for　a　month。

〃What　a　lovely　view；　and　how　picturesque！〃

Maimie　was　standing　at　the　window　looking　down　upon　the　river　with
its　fleet　of　rafts。　　Beside　her　stood　Kate；　and　at　another　window
Harry。

〃What　a　lot　of　timber！〃　said　Harry。　　〃And　the　town　is　just　full　of
lumbermen。　　A　fellow　said　there　must　be　six　thousand　of　them；　so
there　will　be　lots　of　fun。〃

〃Fun！〃　exclaimed　Kate。

〃Fun！　rather。　　These　fellows　have　been　up　in　the　woods　for　some
five　or　six　months；　and　when　they　get　to　town　where　there　is　whisky
andandthat　sort　of　thing；　they　just　get　wild。　　They　say　it　is
awful。〃

〃Just　horrible！〃　said　Maimie；　in　a　disgusted　tone。

〃But　splendid；〃　said　Kate；　〃that　is；　if　they　don't　hurt　any　one。〃

〃Hurt　anybody！〃　exclaimed　Harry。　　〃Oh；　not　at　all；　they　are　always
extremely　careful　not　to　hurt　any　one。　　They　are　as　gentle　as
lambs。　　I　say；　let　us　go　down　to　the　river　and　look　at　the　rafts。
De　Lacy　was　coming　up；　but　it　is　too　late　now　for　him。　　Besides；　we
might　run　across　Maimie's　man　from　Glengarry。〃

〃Maimie's　man　from　Glengarry！〃　exclaimed　Kate。　　〃Has　she　a　man
there；　too？〃

〃Nonsense；　Kate！〃　said　Maimie；　blushing。　　〃He　is　talking　about
Ranald；　you　know。　　One　of　Aunt　Murray's　young　men；　up　in　Glengarry。
You　have　heard　me　speak　of　him　often。〃

〃Oh；　the　boy　that　pulled　you　out　of　the　fire；〃　said　Kate。

〃Yes；〃　cried　Harry；　striking　an　attitude；　〃and　the　boy　that　for
love　of　her　entered　the　lists；　and　in　a　fistic　tournament　upheld
her　fair　name；　and〃

〃Oh；　Harry；　do　have　some　sense！〃　said　Maimie；　impatiently。　　〃Hush；
here　comes　some　one；　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；　I　suppose。〃

It　was　the　lieutenant；　handsome；　tall；　well　made；　with　a　high…bred
if　somewhat　dissipated　face；　an　air　of　blase　indifference　a　little
overdone；　and　an　accent　which　he　had　brought　back　with　him　from
Oxford；　and　which　he　was　anxious　not　to　lose。　　Indeed；　the　bare
thought　of　the　possibility　of　his　dropping　into　the　flat；　semi…
nasal　of　his　native　land　filled　the　lieutenant　with　unspeakable
horror。

〃We　were　just　going　down　to　the　river；〃　said　Maimie；　after　the
introductions　were　over；　〃but　I　suppose　it　is　all　old　to　you；　and
you　would　not　care　to　go？〃

〃Aw；　charmed；　I'm　sure。〃　　（The　lieutenant　pronounced　it　〃shuah。〃）
〃But　it　is　rathaw；　don't　you　know；　not　exactly　clean。〃

〃He　is　thinking　of　his　boots；〃　said　Harry；　scornfully；　looking　down
at　the　lieutenant's　shining　patent　leathers。

〃Really；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　mildly；　〃awfully　dirty　street；
though。〃

〃But　we　want　to　see　the　shantymen；〃　said　Kate；　frankly。

〃Oh；　the　men！　　Very　proper；　but　not　so　very　discriminating；　you
know。〃

〃I　love　the　shantymen；〃　exclaimed　Kate；　enthusiastically。　　〃Maimie
told　me　all　about　them。〃

〃By　Jove！　　I'll　join　to…morrow；〃　exclaimed　the　lieutenant　with
gentle　excitement。

〃They　would　not　have　you；〃　answered　Kate。　　〃Besides；　you　would　have
to　eat　pork　and　onions　and　things。〃

The　lieutenant　shuddered；　gazing　reproachfully　at　Kate。

〃Onions！〃　he　gasped；　〃and　you　love　them？〃

〃Let　us　go　along；　then；〃　said　Harry。　　〃We　will　have　a　look　at　them；
anyway。〃

〃From　the　windward　side；　I　hope；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　gently。

〃I　am　going　right　on　the　raft；〃　declared　Kate；　stoutly；　〃if　we　can
only　find　Ranald。〃

〃Meaning　who；　exactly？〃　questioned　De　Lacy。

〃A　lumberman　whom　Maimie　adores。〃

〃How　happy！〃　said　De　Lacy。

〃Nonsense；　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；〃　said　Maimie；　impatiently　and　a
little　haughtily；　〃he　is　a　friend　of　my　aunt's　up　in　the　county　of
Glengarry。〃

〃No　nonsense　about　it；〃　said　Harry；　indignant　that　his　sister
should　seem　indifferent　to　Ranald。　　〃He　is　a　great　friend　of　us
all；　and　you　will　seeshe　will　fly　into　his　arms。〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　ejaculated　the　lieutenant；　much　shocked。

〃Harry；　how　can　you　be　so？〃　said　Maimie；　much　annoyed。　　〃What
will　the　lieutenant　think　of　me？〃

〃Ah；　if　I　only　might　tell！〃　said　the　lieutenant；　looking　at　her
with　languishing　eyes。　　But　already　Kate　was　downstairs　and　on　her
way　to　the　street。

As　they　neared　the　lower　town；　the　narrow　streets　became　more　and
more　crowded　with　men　in　the　shantymen's　picturesque　dress；　and
they　had　some　difficulty　in　making　their　way　through　the　jolly；
jostling　crowds。　　As　they　were　nearing　the　river；　they　saw　coming
along　the　narrow　sidewalk　a　burly　French…Canadian；　dressed　in　the
gayest　holiday　garb　of　the　shantymen。red　shirt　and　sash；　corduroys
tucked　into　red　top…boots；　a　little　round　soft　hat　set　upon　the　back
of　his　black　curls；　a　gorgeous　silk　handkerchief　around　his　neck；
and　a　big　gold　watch…chain　with　seals　at　his　belt。　　He　had　a　bold；
handsome　face；　and　swaggered　along　the　sidewalk；　claiming　it　all
with　an　assurance　fortified　by　whisky　enough　to　make　him　utterly
regardless　of　any　but　his　own　rights。

〃Hello！〃　he　shouted；　as　he　swaggered　along。　　〃Make　way；　I'm　de　boss
bully　on　de　reever　Hottawa。〃　　It　was　his　day　of　glory；　and　it
evidently　pleased　him　much　that　the　people　stood　aside　to　let　him
pass。　　Then　he　broke　into　song：


　　　　　〃En　roulant　ma　boule　roulant；
　　　　　　　　En　roulant　me　boule。〃


〃This；　I　suppose；　is　one　of　your　beloved　shantymen；〃　said　the
lieutenant；　turning　to　Kate；　who　was　walking　with　Harry　behind。

〃Isn't　he　lovely！〃　exclaimed　Kate。

〃Oh；〃　cried　Maimie；　in　terror；　〃let　us　get　into　a　shop！〃

〃Quite　unnecessary；　I　assure　you；〃　said　the　lieutenant；
indifferently；　〃I　have　not　the　least　idea　that　he　will　molest　you。〃

The　lumberman　by　this　time　had　swaggered　up　to　the　party；　expecting
them　to　make　way；　but　instead；　De　Lacy　stiffened　his　shoulder；
caught　the　Frenchman　in　the　chest；　and　rolled　him　off　into　the
street。　　Surprised　and　enraged；　the　Frenchman　turned　to　demolish
the　man　who　had　dared　to　insult　the　〃boss　bully　on　de　reever
Hottawa。〃

〃Vous　n'avez　pas　remarque　la　demoiselle；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　in　a
tone　of　politeness。

The　lumberman；　who　had　swaggered　up　ready　to　strike；　glanced　at
Maimie；　took　off　his　hat；　and　made　a　ceremonious　bow。

〃Eh　bien！　　Non！　　Pardon；　Mams'elle。〃

〃Bon　jour；〃　said　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；　with　a　military　salute；　and
moved　on；　leaving　the　lumberman　staring　after　them　as　if　he　had
seen　a　vision。

〃Beauty　and　the　Beast；〃　murmured　the　lieutenant。　　〃Thought　I　was　in
for　it；　sure。　　Really　wonderful；　don't　you　know！〃

〃Do　you　think　we　had　better　go　on？〃　said　Maimie；　turning　to　Kate
and　Harry。

〃Why　not？　　Why；　certainly！〃　they　exclaimed。

〃These　horrid　men；〃　replied　Maimie。

〃Dear　creatures！〃　said　the　lieutenant；　glancing　at　Kate　with　a
mildly　pathetic　look。　　〃Sweet；　but　not　always　fragrant。〃

〃Oh；　they　won't　hurt　us。　　Let　us　go　on。〃

〃Certainly；　go　on；〃　echoed　Harry；　impatiently。

〃Safe　enough；　Miss　St。　Clair；　but；〃　pulling　out　his　perfumed
handkerchief；　〃rather　trying。〃

〃Oh；　get　on；　De　Lacy；〃　cried　Harry；　and　so　they　moved　on。

The　office　of　Raymond　&　St。　Clair　stood　near　the　wharves。　　Harry
paused　at　the　door；　not　quite　sure　whether　to　go　in　or　not。　　It　was
easy　to　discover　work　in　that　office。

〃You　might　ask　if　Ranald　has　come；〃　said　Kate。　　〃Maimie　is　too
shy。〃

Harry　returned　in　a　few　moments；　quite　excited。

〃The　Macdonald　gang　are　in；　and　the　Big　Macdonald　was　here　not　half
an　hour　ago；　and　Ranald　is　down　at　the　raft　beyond　the　last　wharf。
I　know　the　place。〃

〃Oh；　do　let　us　go　on！〃　cried　Kate；　to　whom　Harry　had　been　extolling
Ranald　on　the　way　down。　　〃You　really　ought　to　inspect　your　timber；
Harry；　shouldn't　you？〃

〃Most　certainly；　and　right　away。　　No　saying　what　might　happen。〃

〃Awful　slush；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　glancing　at　Maimie's　face。　　〃Do
you　think　the　timber　wouldn't　keep　for　a　week？〃

〃Oh；　rubbish！　　A　week！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃He　is　thinking　of　his　boots
again。〃

To　be　quite　fair　to　the　lieutenant；　it　was　Maimie's　doubtful　face；
rather　than　his　shiny　boots；　that　made　him　hesitate。　　She　was
evidently　nervous　and　embarrassed。　　The　gay；　easy　manner　which　was
her　habit　was　gone。

〃I　think　perhaps　we　had　better　go；　since　we　are　here；〃　she　said；
doubtfully。

〃Exactly；　it　is　what　I　most　desired；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　gallantly。

Scores　of　rafts　lay　moored　along　the　wharves　and　shore；　and　hundred