the foreigner-第29部分

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〃Jimmy；　you　eternal　fool！〃　cried　French；　〃hold　this　rope！〃　　He　ran　to　the　boy　and　picked　him　up　in　his　arms。　　〃The　boy　is　killed；　and　there'll　be　the　very　deuce　to　pay。〃

He　laid　the　insensible　lad　on　the　grass；　ran　for　a　pail　of　water　and　dashed　a　portion　of　it　in　his　face。　　In　a　few　moments　the　boy　opened　his　eyes　with　a　long　deep　sigh；　and　closed　them　again　as　if　in　contented　slumber。　　French　took　a　flask　from　his　pocket；　opened　the　boy's　mouth；　and　poured　some　of　its　contents　between　his　lips。　At　once　Kalman　began　to　cough；　sat　up；　gazed　around　in　a　stupid　manner　upon　the　ponies　and　the　men。

〃He's　out；〃　he　said　at　length；　with　his　eyes　upon　the　pinto。

〃Out？　　Who's　out？〃　cried　French。

〃Judas　priest！〃　exclaimed　Jimmy；　using　his　favourite　oath。　　〃He　means　the　broncho。〃

〃By　Jove！　he　IS　out；　boy；〃　said　French；　〃and　you　are　as　near　out　as　you　are　likely　to　be　for　some　time　to　come。　　What　in　great　Caesar's　name　were　you　trying　to　do？〃

〃He　wouldn't　move；〃　said　the　boy　simply；　〃and　I　hit　him。〃

〃Listen　here；　boy；〃　said　Jimmy　Green　solemnly；　〃when　you　go　to　hit　a　broncho　again；　don't　take　anything　short　of　a　ten…foot　pole；　unless　you're　on　top　of　him。〃

The　boy　said　nothing　in　reply；　but　got　up　and　began　to　walk　about；　still　pale　and　dazed。

〃Good　stuff；　eh；　Jimmy？〃　said　French；　watching　him　carefully。

〃You　bet！〃　said　Jimmy；　〃genuINE　clay。〃

〃It　is　exceptionally　lucky　that　you　were　standing　so　near　the　little　beast；〃　said　French　to　the　boy。　　〃Get　into　the　buckboard　here；　and　sit　down。〃

Kalman　climbed　in；　and　from　that　point　of　vantage　watched　the　rest　of　the　hitching　process。　　By　skillful　manoeuvering　the　two　men　led；　backed；　shoved　the　ponies　into　position；　and　while　one　held　them　by　the　heads；　the　other　hitched　the　traces。　　Carefully　French　looked　over　all　straps　and　buckles；　drew　the　lines　free；　and　then　mounting　the　buckboard　seat；　said　quietly；　〃Stand　clear；　Jimmy。　　Let　them　go。〃　　Which　Jimmy　promptly　did。

For　a　few　moments　they　stood　surprised　at　their　unexpected　freedom；　and　uncertain　what　to　do　with　it；　then　they　moved　off　slowly　a　few　steps　till　the　push　of　the　buckboard　threw　them　into　a　sudden　terror；　and　the　fight　was　on。　　Plunging；　backing；　kicking；　jibing；　they　finally　bolted；　fortunately　choosing　the　trail　that　led　in　the　right　direction。

〃Good…by；　Jimmy。　　See　you　later；〃　sang　out　French　as；　with　cool　head　and　steady　hand；　he　directed　the　running　ponies。

〃Jumpin'　cats！〃　replied　Jimmy　soberly；　〃don't　look　as　if　you　would；〃　as　the　bronchos　tore　up　the　river　bank　at　a　terrific　gallop。

Before　they　reached　the　top　French　had　them　in　hand；　and　going　more　smoothly；　though　still　running　at　top　speed。　　Kalman　sat　clinging　to　the　rocking；　pitching　buckboard；　his　eyes　alight　and　his　face　aglow　with　excitement。　　There　was　stirring　in　the　boy's　brain　a　dim　and　far…away　memory　of　wild　rides　over　the　steppes　of　Southern　Russia；　and　French；　glancing　now　and　then　at　his　glowing　face；　nodded　grim　approval。

〃Afraid；　boy？〃　he　shouted　over　the　roar　and　rattle　of　the　pitching　buckboard。

Kalman　looked　up　and　smiled；　and　then　with　a　great　oath　he　cried；　〃Let　them　go！〃

Jack　French　was　startled。　　He　hauled　up　the　ponies　sharply　and　turned　to　the　boy　at　his　side。

〃Boy；　where　did　you　learn　that？〃

〃What？〃　asked　the　boy　in　surprise。

〃Where　did　you　learn　to　swear　like　that？〃

〃Why；〃　said　Kalman；　〃they　all　do　it。〃

〃Who　all？〃

〃Why；　everybody　in　Winnipeg。〃

〃Does　Mrs。　French？〃　said　Jack　quietly。

The　boy's　face　flushed　hotly。

〃No；　no；〃　he　said　vehemently；　〃never　her。〃　　Then　after　a　pause　and　an　evident　struggle；　〃She　wants　me　to　stop；　but　all　the　men　and　the　boys　do　it。〃

〃Kalman；〃　said　French　solemnly；　〃no　one　swears　on　my　ranch。〃

Kalman　was　perplexed；　remembering　the　scene　of　the　previous　night。

〃But　you〃　he　began；　and　then　paused。

〃Boy；〃　repeated　French　with　added　solemnity；　〃swearing　is　a　foolish　and　unnecessary　evil。　　There　is　no　swearing　on　my　ranch。　　Promise　me　you　will　give　up　this　habit。〃

〃I　will　not；〃　said　the　boy　promptly；　〃for　I　would　break　my　word。　Don't　you　swear？〃

French　hesitated；　and　then　as　if　forming　a　sudden　resolution　he　replied；　〃When　you　hear　me　swear　you　can　begin。　　And　if　you　don't　mean　to　quit；　don't　promise。　　A　gentleman　always　keeps　his　word。〃

The　boy　looked　him　steadily　in　the　eye　and　then　said；　as　if　pondering　this　remark；　〃I　remember。　　I　know。　　My　father　said　so。〃

French　forbore　to　press　the　matter　further；　but　for　both　man　and　boy　an　attempt　at　a　new　habit　of　speech　began　that　day。

Once　clear　of　the　Saskatchewan　River；　the　trail　led　over　rolling　prairie；　set　out　with　numerous　〃bluffs〃　of　western　maple　and　poplar；　and　diversified　with　sleughs　and　lakes　of　varying　size；　a　country　as　richly　fertile　and　as　fair　to　look　upon　as　is　given　the　eyes　of　man　to　behold　anywhere　in　God's　good　world。　　In　the　dullest　weather　this　rolling；　tree…decked；　sleugh…gemmed　prairie　presents　a　succession　of　scenes　surpassingly　beautiful；　but　with　a　westering　sun　upon　it；　and　on　a　May　day；　it　offers　such　a　picture　as　at　once　entrances　the　soul　and　lives　forever　in　the　memory。　　The　waving　lines；　the　rounded　hills；　the　changing　colour；　the　chasing　shadows　on　grass　and　bluff　and　shimmering　water；　all　combine　to　make　in　the　soul　high　music　unto　God。

For　an　hour　and　more　the　buckboard　hummed　along　the　trail　smooth　and　winding；　the　bronchos　pulling　hard　on　the　lines　without　a　sign　of　weariness；　till　the　bluffs　began　to　grow　thicker　and　gradually　to　close　into　a　solid　belt　of　timber。　　Beyond　this　belt　of　timber　lay　the　Ruthenian　Colony　but　newly　placed。　　The　first　intimation　of　the　proximity　of　this　colony　came　in　quite　an　unexpected　way。　Swinging　down　a　sharp　hill　through　a　bluff；　the　bronchos　came　upon　a　man　with　a　yoke　of　oxen　hauling　a　load　of　hay。　　Before　their　course　could　be　checked　the　ponies　had　pitched　heavily　into　the　slow　moving　and　terrified　oxen；　and　so　disconcerted　them　that　they　swerved　from　the　trail　and　upset　the　load。　　Immediately　there　rose　a　volley　of　shrill　execrations　in　the　Galician　tongue。

〃Whoa；　buck！　　Steady　there！〃　cried　Jack　French　cheerily　as　he　steered　his　team　past　the　wreck。　　〃Too　bad　that；　we　must　go　back　and　help　to　repair　damages。〃

He　tied　the　bronchos　securely　to　a　tree　and　went　back　to　offer　aid。　The　Galician；　a　heavily…built　man；　was　standing　on　the　trail　with　a　stout　stake　in　his　hand；　viewing　the　ruins　of　his　load　and　expressing　his　emotions　in　voluble　Galician　profanity　with　a　bad　mixture　of　halting　and　broken　English。　　Kalman　stood　beside　French　with　wrath　growing　in　his　face。

〃He　is　calling　you　very　bad　names！〃　he　burst　out　at　length。

French　glanced　down　at　the　boy's　angry　face　and　smiled。

〃Oh；　well；　it　will　do　him　good。　　He　will　feel　better　when　he　gets　it　all　out。　　And　besides；　he　has　rather　good　reason　to　be　angry。〃

〃He　says　he　is　going　to　kill　you；〃　said　Kalman　in　a　low　voice；　keeping　close　to　French's　side。

〃Oh！　indeed；〃　said　French　cheerfully；　walking　straight　upon　the　man。　　〃That　is　awkward。　　But　perhaps　he　will　change　his　mind。〃

This　calm　and　cheerful　front　produced　its　impression　upon　the　excited　Galician。

〃Too　bad；　neighbour；〃　said　French　in　a　loud；　cheerful　tone　as　he　drew　near。

The　Galician；　who　had　recovered　something　of　his　fury；　damped　to　a　certain　extent　by　French's　calm　and　cheerful　demeanour；　began　to　gesticulate　with　his　stake。　　French　turned　his　back　upon　him　and　proceeded　to　ascertain　the　extent　of　the　wreck；　and　to　advise　a　plan　for　its　repair。　　As　he　stooped　to　examine　the　wagon　for　breakages；　the　wrathful　Galician　suddenly　swung　his　club　in　the　air；　but　before　the　blow　fell；　Kalman　shrieked　out　in　the　Galician　tongue；　〃You　villain！　　Stop！〃

This　unexpected　cry　in　his　own　speech　served　at　once　to　disconcert　the　Galician's　aim；　and　to　warn　his　intended　victim。　　French；　springing　quickly　aside；　avoided　the　blow　and　with　one　stride　he　was　upon　the　Galician；　wrenched　the　stake　from　his　grasp；　and；　taking　him　by　the　back　of　the　neck；　faced　him　toward　the　front　wheels　of　the　wagon；　saying；　as　he　did　so；　〃Here；　you　idiot！　take　hold　and　pull。〃

The　strength　of　that　grip　on　his　neck　produced　a　salutary　effect　upon　the　excited　Galician。　　He　stood　a　few　moments　dazed；　looking　this　way　and　that　way；　as　if　uncertain　how　to　act。

〃Tell　the　fool；〃　said　French　to　Kalman　quietly；　〃to　get　hold　of　those　front　wheels　and　pull。〃

The　boy　stood　amazed。

〃Ain't　you　going　to　lick　him？〃　he　said。

〃Haven't　time　just　now；〃　said　French　cheerfully。

〃But　he　might　have　killed　you。〃

〃Would　have　if　you　hadn't　yelled。　　I'll　remember　that　too；　my　boy。　But　he　didn't；　and　he　won't　get　another　chance。　　Tell　him　to　take　hold　and　pull。〃

Kalman　turned　to　the　subdued　and　uncertain　Galician；　and　poured　forth　a　volume　of　angry　abuse　while　he　directed　him　as　to　his　present　duty。　　Humbly　enough　the　Galician　took　hold；　and　soon　the　wagon　was　put　to　rights；　and　after　half　an　hour's　work；　was　loaded　again　and　ready　for　its　further　journey。

By　this　time　the　man　had　quite　recovered　his　temper　and　stood　for　some　time　after　all　was　ready；　silent　and　embarrassed。　　Then　he　began　to　earnestly　address　French；　with　eager　gesticulations。

〃What　is　it？〃　said　French。

〃He　says　he　is　very　sorry；　a