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between his timber and the open water of the Nation。 Black Hugh
had a temper fierce and quick； and when in full flame he was a man
to avoid； for from neither man nor devil would he turn。 The only
man who could hold him was his brother Macdonald Bhain； for strong
man as he was； Black Hugh knew well that his brother could with a
single swift grip bring him to his knees。
It was unfortunate that the command of the party this day should
have been Macdonald Dubh's。 Unfortunate； too； that it was Dan
Murphy and his men that happened to be blocking the river mouth。
For the Glengarry men； who handled only square timber； despised the
Murphy gang as sawlog…men； 〃log…rollers〃 or 〃mushrats〃 they called
them； and hated them as Irish 〃Papishes〃 and French 〃Crapeaux；〃
while between Dan Murphy and Macdonald Dubh there was an ancient
personal grudge； and to…day Murphy thought he had found his time。
There were only six of the enemy； he had ten times the number with
him； many of them eager to pay off old scores； and besides there
was Louis LeNoir as the 〃Boss Bully〃 of the river。 The Frenchman
was not only a powerful man； active with hands and feet； but he was
an adept in all kinds of fighting tricks。 Since coming to the
Ottawa he had heard of the big Macdonald； and he sought to meet
him。 But Macdonald avoided him once and again till LeNoir； having
never known any one avoiding a fight for any reason other than
fear； proclaimed Macdonald a coward； and himself 〃de boss on de
reever。〃 Now there was a chance of meeting his rival and of
forcing a fight； for the Glengarry camp could not be far away where
the big Macdonald himself would be。 So Dan Murphy； backed up with
numbers； and the boss bully LeNoir； determined that for these
Macdonald men the day of settlement had come。 But they were
dangerous men； and it would be well to take all precautions； and
hence his friendly invitation to the tavern for drinks。
Macdonald Dubh； scorning to show hesitation； though he suspected
treachery； strode after Murphy to the tavern door and through the
crowd of shanty…men filling the room。 They were as ferocious
looking a lot of men as could well be got together； even in that
country and in those daysshaggy of hair and beard； dressed out in
red and blue and green jerseys； with knitted sashes about their
waists； and red and blue and green tuques on their heads。 Drunken
rows were their delight； and fights so fierce that many a man came
out battered and bruised to death or to life…long decrepitude。
They were sitting on the benches that ran round the room； or
lounging against the bar singing； talking； blaspheming。 At the
sight of Macdonald Dubh and his men there fell a dead silence； and
then growls of recognition； but Murphy was not yet ready； and
roaring out 〃Dh…r…r…i…n…k…s；〃 he seized a couple of his men leaning
against the bar； and hurling them to right and left； cried；
〃Ma…a…ke room for yer betthers； be the powers！ Sthand up； bhoys；
and fill yirsilves！〃
Black Hugh and his men lined up gravely to the bar and were
straightway surrounded by the crowd yelling hideously。 But if
Murphy and his gang thought to intimidate those grave Highlanders
with noise； they were greatly mistaken； for they stood quietly
waiting for their glasses to be filled； alert； but with an air of
perfect indifference。 Some eight or ten glasses were set down and
filled； when Murphy； snatching a couple of bottles from the shelf
behind the bar； handed them out to his men； crying； 〃Here； ye
bluddy thaves； lave the glasses to the gintlemen！〃
There was no mistaking the insolence in his tone； and the chorus of
derisive yells that answered him showed that his remark had gone to
the spot。
Yankee Jim； who had kept close to Black Hugh； saw the veins in his
neck beginning to swell； and face to grow dark。 He was longing to
be at Murphy's throat。 〃Speak him fair；〃 he said； in a low tone；
〃there's rather a good string of 'em raound。〃 Macdonald Dubh
glanced about him。 His eye fell on his boy； and for the first time
his face became anxious。 〃Ranald；〃 he said； angrily； 〃take
yourself out of this。 It is no place for you whatever。〃 The boy；
a slight lad of seventeen； but tall and well…knit； and with his
father's fierce； wild； dark face； hesitated。
〃Go；〃 said his father； giving him a slight cuff。
〃Here； boy！〃 yelled LeNoir； catching him by the arm and holding the
bottle to his mouth； 〃drink。〃 The boy took a gulp； choked； and
spat it out。 LeNoir and his men roared。 〃Dat good whiskey；〃 he
cried； still holding the boy。 〃You not lak dat； hey？〃
〃No；〃 said the boy； 〃it is not good at all。〃
〃Try heem some more；〃 said LeNoir； thrusting the bottle at him
again。
〃I will not；〃 said Ranald； looking at LeNoir straight and fearless。
〃Ho…ho！ mon brave enfant！ But you have not de good mannere。 Come；
drink！〃 He caught the boy by the back of the neck； and made as if
to pour the whiskey down his throat。 Black Hugh； who had been kept
back by Yankee Jim all this time； started forward； but before he
could take a second step Ranald； squirming round like a cat； had
sunk his teeth into LeNoir's wrist。 With a cry of rage and pain
LeNoir raised the bottle and was bringing it down on Ranald's head；
when Black Hugh； with one hand； caught the falling blow； and with
the other seized Ranald； and crying； 〃Get out of this！〃 he flung
him towards the door。 Then turning to LeNoir； he said； with
surprising self…control； 〃It is myself that is sorry that a boy of
mine should be guilty of biting like a dog。〃
〃Sa…c…r…re le chien！〃 yelled LeNoir； shaking off Macdonald Dubh；
〃he is one dog； and the son of a dog！〃 He turned and started for
the boy。 But Yankee Jim had got Ranald to the door and was
whispering to him。 〃Run！〃 cried Yankee Jim； pushing him out of the
door； and the boy was off like the wind。 LeNoir pursued him a
short way and returned raging。
Yankee Jim； or Yankee； as he was called for short； came back to
Macdonald Dubh's side； and whispering to the other Highlanders；
〃Keep your backs clear；〃 sat up coolly on the counter。 The fight
was sure to come and there were seven to one against them in the
room。 If he could only gain time。 Every minute was precious。 It
would take the boy fifteen minutes to run the two miles to camp。
It would be half an hour before the rest of the Glengarry men could
arrive； and much fighting may be done in that time。 He must avert
attention from Macdonald Dubh； who was waiting to cram LeNoir's
insult down his throat。 Yankee Jim had not only all the cool
courage but also the shrewd； calculating spirit of his race。 He
was ready to fight； and if need be against odds； but he preferred
to fight on as even terms as possible。
Soon LeNoir came back； wild with fury； and yelling curses at the
top of his voice。 He hurled himself into the room； the crowd
falling back from him on either hand。
〃Hola！〃 he yelled； 〃Sacre bleu！〃 He took two quick steps； and
springing up into the air he kicked the stovepipe that ran along
some seven feet above the floor。
〃Purty good kicking；〃 called out Yankee； sliding down from his
seat。 〃Used to kick some myself。 Excuse ME。〃 He