按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
goot evening； indeed；〃 he said； in as quiet a voice as he could
command； 〃but I am inquiring about these logs。〃
〃Shure； an' it is a dhry night； and onpolite to kape yez talking
here。 Come in wid yez；〃 and much against his will Black Hugh
followed Murphy to the tavern； the most pretentious of a group of
log buildingsonce a lumber campwhich stood back a little
distance from the river； and about which Murphy's men； some sixty
of them； were now camped。
The tavern was full of Murphy's gang； a motley crew； mostly French
Canadians and Irish； just out of the woods and ready for any
devilment that promised excitement。 Most of them knew by sight；
and all by reputation； Macdonald and his gang； for from the
farthest reaches of the Ottawa down the St。 Lawrence to Quebec the
Macdonald gang of Glengarry men was famous。 They came； most of
them； from that strip of country running back from the St。 Lawrence
through Glengarry County； known as the Indian Landsonce an Indian
reservation。 They were sons of the men who had come from the
highlands and islands of Scotland in the early years of the last
century。 Driven from homes in the land of their fathers； they had
set themselves with indomitable faith and courage to hew from the；
solid forest； homes for themselves and their children that none
might take from them。 These pioneers were bound together by ties
of blood； but also by bonds stronger than those of blood。 Their
loneliness； their triumphs； their sorrows； born of their common
life…long conflict with the forest and its fierce beasts； knit them
in bonds close and enduring。 The sons born to them and reared in
the heart of the pine forests grew up to witness that heroic
struggle with stern nature and to take their part in it。 And
mighty men they were。 Their life bred in them hardiness of frame；
alertness of sense； readiness of resource； endurance； superb self…
reliance； a courage that grew with peril； and withal a certain
wildness which at times deepened into ferocity。 By their fathers
the forest was dreaded and hated； but the sons； with rifles in
hand； trod its pathless stretches without fear； and with their
broad…axes they took toll of their ancient foe。 For while in
spring and summer they farmed their narrow fields； and rescued new
lands from the brule； in winter they sought the forest； and back on
their own farms or in 〃the shanties〃 they cut sawlogs； or made
square timber； their only source of wealth。 The shanty life of the
early fifties of last century was not the luxurious thing of to…
day。 It was full of privation； for the men were poorly housed and
fed； and of peril； for the making of the timber and the getting it
down the smaller rivers to the big water was a work of hardship and
danger。 Remote from the restraints of law and of society； and
living in wild surroundings and in hourly touch with danger； small
wonder that often the shanty…men were wild and reckless。 So that
many a poor fellow in a single wild carouse in Quebec； or more
frequently in some river town； would fling into the hands of sharks
and harlots and tavern…keepers； with whom the bosses were sometimes
in league； the earnings of his long winter's work； and would wake
to find himself sick and penniless； far from home and broken in
spirit。
Of all the shanty…men of the Ottawa the men of Glengarry； and of
Glengarry men Macdonald's gang were easily first； and of the gang
Donald Bhain Macdonald； or Macdonald More； or the Big Macdonald；
for he was variously known； was not only the 〃boss〃 but best and
chief。 There was none like him。 A giant in size and strength； a
prince of broad…axe men； at home in the woods； sure…footed and
daring on the water； free with his wages； and always ready to drink
with friend or fight with foe； the whole river admired； feared； or
hated him； while his own men followed him into the woods； on to a
jam； or into a fight with equal joyousness and devotion。 Fighting
was like wine to him； when the fight was worth while； and he went
into the fights his admirers were always arranging for him with the
easiest good humor and with a smile on his face。 But Macdonald
Bhain's carousing； fighting days came to an abrupt stop about three
years before the opening of this tale； for on one of his summer
visits to his home； 〃The word of the Lord in the mouth of his
servant Alexander Murray；〃 as he was wont to say； 〃found him and he
was a new man。〃 He went into his new life with the same whole…
souled joyousness as had marked the old； and he announced that with
the shanty and the river he was 〃done for ever more。〃 But after
the summer's work was done； and the logging over； and when the snap
of the first frost nipped the leaves from the trees； Macdonald
became restless。 He took down his broad…axe and spent hours
polishing it and bringing it to an edge； then he put it in its
wooden sheath and laid it away。 But the fever was upon him； ten
thousand voices from the forest were shouting for him。 He went
away troubled to his minister。 In an hour he came back with the
old good humor in his face； took down the broad…axe again； and
retouched it； lovingly； humming the while the old river song of the
Glengarry men
Ho ro mo nighean； etc。
He was going back to the bush and to the biggest fight of his life。
No wonder he was glad。 Then his good little wife began to get
ready his long； heavy stockings； his thick mits； his homespun
smock； and other gear； for she knew well that soon she would be
alone for another winter。 Before long the word went round that
Macdonald Bhain was for the shanties again； and his men came to him
for their orders。
But it was not to the old life that Macdonald was going； and he
gravely told those that came to him that he would take no man who
could not handle his axe and hand…spike； and who could not behave
himself。 〃Behaving himself〃 meant taking no more whiskey than a
man could carry； and refusing all invitations to fight unless
〃necessity was laid upon him。〃 The only man to object was his own
brother； Macdonald Dubh； whose temper was swift to blaze； and with
whom the blow was quicker than the word。 But after the second year
of the new order even Black Hugh fell into line。 Macdonald soon
became famous on the Ottawa。 He picked only the best men； he fed
them well； paid them the highest wages； and cared for their
comfort； but held them in strictest discipline。 They would drink
but kept sober； they would spend money but knew how much was coming
to them。 They feared no men even of 〃twice their own heavy and
big；〃 but would never fight except under necessity。 Contracts
began to come their way。 They made money； and what was better；
they brought it home。 The best men sought to join them； but by
rival gangs and by men rejected from their ranks they were hated
with deepest heart hatred。 But the men from Glengarry knew no fear
and sought no favor。 They asked only a good belt of pine and an
open river。 As a rule they got both； and it was peculiarly
maddening to Black Hugh to find two or three miles of solid logs
between his timber and the open water of the Nation。 Black Hugh
had a temper fierce and quick； and w