the man from glengarry-第71章
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Don't believe all Kate tells you；〃 he added； as they drove away。
〃Are you too tired for a turn in the park；〃 said Kate； 〃or shall we
drive home？〃
A drive is always pleasant。 Besides； one can talk about some
things with more freedom in a carriage than face to face in one's
room。 The horses require attention at critical moments； and there
are always points of interest when it is important that conversation
should be deflected from the subject in hand； so since Mrs。 Murray
was willing； Kate turned into the park。 For an hour they drove
along its shady； winding roads while Mrs。 Murray talked of many
things； but mostly of Ranald； and of the tales that the Glengarry
people had of him。 For wherever there was lumbering to be done；
sooner or later there Glengarry men were to be found； and Ranald had
found them in the British Columbia forests。 And to their people
at home their letters spoke of Ranald and his doings at first
doubtfully； soon more confidently； but always with pride。 To
Macdonald Bhain a rare letter came from Ranald now and then； which
he would carry to Mrs。 Murray with a difficult pretense of modesty。
For with Macdonald Bhain； Ranald was a great man。
〃But he is not quite sure of him；〃 said Mrs。 Murray。 〃He thinks
it is a very queer way of lumbering； and the wages he considers
excessive。〃
〃Does he say that？〃 asked Kate。 〃That's just what Colonel Thorp
says his company are saying。 But he stands up for Ranald even when
he can't see that his way is the best。 The colonel is not very sure
about Ranald's schemes for the men； his reading…room； library； and
that sort of thing。 But I'm sure he will succeed。〃 But Kate's
tone belied her confident words。
Mrs。 Murray noticed the anxiety in Kate's voice。 〃At least we are
sure；〃 she said； gently； 〃that he will do right； and after all that
is success。〃
〃I know that right well；〃 replied Kate； 〃but it is hard for him out
there with no one to help him or to encourage him。〃
Again Mrs。 Murray looked at Kate； curiously。
〃It must be a terrible place；〃 Kate went on； 〃especially for one
like Ranald； for he has no mind to let things go。 He will do a
thing as it ought to be done； or not at all。〃 Soon after this Kate
gave her mind to her horses； and in a short time headed them for
home。
〃What a delightful drive we have had；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； gratefully；
as Kate took her upstairs to her room。
〃I hope I have not worried you with my dismal forebodings；〃 she
said； with a little laugh。
〃No； dear；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； drawing her face down to the pillow
where Kate had made her lay her head。 〃I think I understand；〃 she
added； in a whisper。
Then Kate laid her face beside that of her friend and whispered；
〃Oh； auntie； it is so hard for him〃； but Mrs。 Murray stroked her
head softly and said： 〃There is no fear； Kate； all will be well
with him。〃
Immediately after dinner Kate carried Mrs。 Murray with her to her
own room； and after establishing her in all possible comfort； she
began to read extracts from Coley's letters。
〃Here is the first； auntie； they are more picturesque than elegant；
but if you knew Coley； you wouldn't mind； you'd be glad to get any
letter from him。〃 So saying Kate turned her back to the window； a
position with the double advantage of allowing the light to fall
upon the paper and the shadow to rest upon her face； and so
proceeded to read：
DEAR MISS KATE： We got here（〃That is to New Westminster。〃） last
night； and it is a queer town。 The streets run every way； the
houses are all built of wood； and almost none of them are painted。
The streets are full of all sorts of people。 I saw lots of
Chinamen and Indians。 It makes a feller feel kind o' queer as if
he was in some foreign country。 The hotel where we stopped was a
pretty good lookin' place。 Of course nothin' like the hotel we
stopped at in San Francisco。 It was pretty fine inside； but after
supper when the crowd began to come in to the bar you never saw
such a gang in your life！ They knew how to sling their money； I
can tell you。 And then they begun to yell and cut up。 I tell you
it would make the Ward seem like a Sunday school。 The Boss； that's
what they call him here； I guess didn't like it much； and I don't
think you would； either。 Next morning we went to look at the
mills。 They are just sheds with slab roofs。 I don't think much of
them myself； though I don't know much about mills。 The Boss went
round askin' questions and I don't think he liked the look of them
much either。 I know he kept his lips shut pretty tight as we used
to see him do sometimes in the Institute。 I am awful glad he
brought me along。 He says I have got to write to you at least once
a month； and I've got to take care of my writin' too and get the
spellin' right。 When I think of the fellers back in the alleys
pitchin' pennies I tell you I'd ruther die than go back。 Here a
feller feels he's alive。 I wish I'd paid more attention to my
writin' in the night school； but I guess I was pretty much of a
fool them days； and you were awful good to me。 The Boss says that
a man must always pay his way； and when I told him I wanted to pay
for them clothes you gave me he looked kind o' funny； but he said
〃that's right；〃 so I want you to tell me what they cost and I will
pay you first thing； for I'm goin' to be a man out in this country。
We're goin' up the river next week and see the gangs workin' up
there in the bush。 It's kind o' lonesome here goin' along the
street and lookin' people in the faces to see if you can see one
you know。 Lots of times I though I did see some one I knew but it
wasn't。 Good by； I'll write you soon again。
Yours truly；
MICHAEL COLE。
〃The second letter；〃 Kate went on； 〃is written from the camp；
Twentymile Camp； he calls it。 He tells how they went up the river
in the steamer； taking with them some new hands for their camp； and
how these men came on board half drunk； and how all the way up to
Yale they were drinking and fighting。 It must have been horrible。
After that they went on smaller boats and then by wagons。 On the
roads it must have been terrible。 Coley seems much impressed with
the big trees。 He says：
〃These big trees are pretty hard to write about without sayin'
words the Boss don't allow。 It makes you think of bein' in St。
Michaels； it's so quiet and solemn…like； and I never felt so small
in all my life。 The Boss and me walked the last part of the way；
and got to camp late and pretty tired； and the men we brought in
with us was all pretty mad； but the Boss never paid no attention to
'em but went whistlin' about as if everything was lovely。 We had
some pork and beans for supper； then went to sleep in a bunk nailed
up against the side of the shanty。 It was as hard as a board； but
I tell you it felt pretty good。 Next day I went wanderin' 'round
with the foreman and the Boss。 I tell you I was afraid to get very
far away from 'em； for I'd be sure to get lost； the bush is that
thick that you can't see your own length ahead of you。 That night；
when the Boss and me and the foreman was in the shanty they call
the office； after supper； we heard a most awful row。 'What's
that？' says the Boss。 'O； that's nothin'；' says the foreman； 'the
boys is havin' a little fun； I guess。' He didn't say anything； but
went on talkin'； but in a little while the row got worse； and we
heard poundin' and smashin'。 'Do you allow that sort of thing？'
says the Boss。 'Well；' he says； 'Guess the boys got some whiskey
last night。 I generally let 'em alone。' 'Well；' says the Boss；
quiet…like； 'I think you'd better go in and stop it。' 'Not if I
know myself；' says the foreman； 'I ain't ordered my funeral yet。'
'Well； we'll go in and see； anyway；' says the Boss。 I tell you I
was kind o' scared； but I thought I might as well go along。 When
we got into the sleepin' shanty there was a couple of fellers with
hand…spikes breakin' up the benches and knockin' things around most
terrible。 'Say； boys；' yelled the foreman； and then he began to
swear most awful。 They didn't seem to pay much attention； but kept
on knockin' around and swearin'。 'Come； now；' says the foreman；
ki
