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！
Beeg sheep！ Beeg sheep！ Bah！〃
〃God help me；〃 said Macdonald as if to himself。 〃I am a man of
grace！ But must this dog go unpunished？〃
LeNoir continued striding up and down； now and then springing high
in the air and knocking his heels together with blood…curdling
yells。 He seemed to feel that Macdonald would not fight； and his
courage and desire for blood grew accordingly。
〃Will you not be quate？〃 said Macdonald； rising after a few moments
from his brother's side； where he had been wiping his lips and
giving him water to drink。 〃You will be better outside。〃
〃Oui！ you strike me on the head side。 Bon！ I strike you de same
way！ By Gar！〃 so saying he approached Macdonald lightly； and
struck him a slight blow on the cheek。
〃Ay；〃 said Macdonald； growing white and rigid。 〃I struck you
twice； LeNoir。 Here！〃 he offered the other side of his face。
LeNoir danced up carefully； made a slight pass； and struck the
offered cheek。
〃Now； that is done； will it please you to do it again？〃 said
Macdonald； with earnest entreaty in his voice。 LeNoir must have
been mad with his rage and vanity； else he had caught the glitter
in the blue eyes looking through the shaggy hair。 Again LeNoir
approached； this time with greater confidence； and dealt Macdonald
a stinging blow on the side of the head。
〃Now the Lord be praised；〃 he cried； joy breaking out in his face。
〃He has delivered my enemy into my hand。 For it is the third time
he has smitten me； and that is beyond the limit appointed by
Himself。〃 With this he advanced upon LeNoir with a glad heart。
His conscience was clear at last。
LeNoir stood up against his antagonist。 He well knew he was about
to make the fight of his life。 He had beaten men as big as
Macdonald； but he knew that his hope lay in keeping out of the
enemy's reach。 So he danced around warily。 Macdonald followed
him slowly。 LeNoir opened with a swift and savage reach for
Macdonald's neck； but failed to break the guard and danced out
again； Macdonald still pressing on him。 Again and again LeNoir
rushed； but the guard was impregnable； and steadily Macdonald
advanced。 That steady； relentless advance began to tell on the
Frenchman's nerves。 The sweat gathered in big drops on his
forehead and ran down his face。 He prepared for a supreme effort。
Swiftly retreating； he lured Macdonald to a more rapid advance；
then with a yell he doubled himself into a ball and delivered
himself head； hands； and feet into Macdonald's stomach。 It is a
trick that sometimes avails to break an unsteady guard and to
secure a clinch with an unwary opponent。 But Macdonald had been
waiting for that trick。 Stopping short； he leaned over to one
side； and stooping slightly； caught LeNoir low and tossed him clear
over his head。 LeNoir fell with a terrible thud on his back； but
was on his feet again like a cat and ready for the ever…advancing
Macdonald。 But though he had not been struck a single blow he knew
that he had met his master。 That unbreakable guard； the smiling
face with the gleaming； unsmiling eyes； that awful unwavering
advance； were too much for him。 He was pale； his breath came in
quick gasps； and his eyes showed the fear of a hunted beast。 He
prepared for a final effort。 Feigning a greater distress than he
felt； he yielded weakly to Macdonald's advance； then suddenly
gathering his full strength he sprang into the air and lashed out
backward at that hated； smiling face。 His boot found its mark；
not on Macdonald's face； but fair on his neck。 The effect was
terrific。 Macdonald staggered back two or three paces； but before
LeNoir could be at him； he had recovered sufficiently to maintain
his guard； and shake off his foe。 At the yell that went up from
Murphy's men； the big Highlander's face lost its smile and became
keen and cruel； his eyes glittered with the flash of steel and he
came forward once more with a quick； light tread。 His great body
seemed to lose both size and weight； so lightly did he step on
tiptoe。 There was no more pause； but lightly； swiftly； and eagerly
he glided upon LeNoir。 There was something terrifying in that
swift； cat…like movement。 In vain the Frenchman backed and dodged
and tried to guard。 Once； twice； Macdonald's fists fell。 LeNoir's
right arm hung limp by his side and he staggered back to the wall
helpless。 Without an instant's delay； Macdonald had him by the
throat； and gripping him fiercely； began to slowly bend him
backward over his knee。 Then for the first time Macdonald spoke：
〃LeNoir；〃 he said； solemnly； 〃the days of your boasting are over。
You will no longer glory in your strength； for now I will break
your back to you。〃
LeNoir tried to speak； but his voice came in horrible gurgles。 His
face was a ghastly greenish hue； lined with purple and swollen
veins； his eyes were standing out of his head； and his breath
sobbing in raucous gasps。 Slowly the head went back。 The crowd
stood in horror…stricken silence waiting for the sickening snap。
Yankee； unable to stand it any longer； stepped up to his chief； and
in a most matter of fact voice drawled out； 〃About an inch more
that way I guess 'll do the trick； if he ain't double…jointed。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Macdonald； holding grimly on。
〃Tonald；〃Black Hugh's voice sounded faint but clear in the awful
silence〃Tonaldyou will notbe killinghim。 Remember that
now。 I willneverforgive youif you willtake thatfrom my
hands。〃
The cry for vengeance smote Macdonald to the heart； and recalled
him to himself。 He paused； threw back his locks from his eyes；
then relaxing his grip； stood up。
〃God preserve me！〃 he groaned； 〃what am I about？〃
For some time he remained standing silent； with head down as if not
quite sure of himself。 He was recalled by a grip of his arm。 He
turned and saw his nephew； Ranald； at his side。 The boy's dark
face was pale with passion。
〃And is that all you are going to do to him？〃 he demanded。
Macdonald gazed at him。
〃Do you not see what he has done？〃 he continued； pointing to his
father； who was still lying propped up on some coats。 〃Why did you
not break his back？ You said you would！ The brute； beast！〃
He hurled out the words in hot hate。 His voice pierced the noise
of the room。 Macdonald stood still； gazing at the fierce； dark
face in solemn silence。 Then he sadly shook his head。
〃My lad； 'Vengeance is mine saith the Lord。' It would have pleased
me well； but the hand of the Lord was laid upon me and I could not
kill him。〃
〃Then it is myself will kill him；〃 he shrieked； springing like a
wildcat at LeNoir。 But his uncle wound his arms around him and
held him fast。 For a minute and more he struggled fiercely； crying
to be set free； till recognizing the uselessness of his efforts he
grew calm； and said quietly； 〃Let me loose； uncle； I will be
quiet。〃 And his uncle set him free。 The boy shook himself； and
then standing up before LeNoir said； in a high； clear voice：
〃Will you hear me； LeNoir？ The day will come when I will do to you
what you have done to my father； and if my father will die； then by
the life of God ＇a common oath among the shanty…men＇ I will have
your life for i