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！
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； and feels very bad here；〃 said Kalman； pointing to his heart； 〃and he wants to do something for you。〃
〃Tell him；〃 said French cheerfully； 〃only a fool loses his temper； and only a cad uses a club or a knife when he fights。〃
Kalman looked puzzled。
〃A cat？〃
〃No； a cad。 Don't you know what a cad is？ Well； a cad ishanged if I know how to put ityou know what a gentleman is？〃
Kalman nodded。
〃Well； the other thing is a cad。〃
The Galician listened attentively while Kalman explained； and made humble and deprecating reply。
〃He says；〃 interpreted Kalman； 〃that he is very sorry； but he wants to know what you fight with。 You can't hurt a man with your hands。〃
〃Can't； eh？〃 said French。 〃Tell him to stand up here to me。〃
The Galician came up smiling； and French proceeded to give him his first lesson in the manly art； Kalman interpreting his directions。
〃Put up your hands so。 Now I am going to tap your forehead。〃
Tap； tap； went French's open knuckles upon the Galician's forehead。
〃Look out； man。〃
Tap； tap； tap； the knuckles went rapping on the man's forehead； despite his flying arms。
〃Now；〃 said French； 〃hit me。〃
The Galician made a feeble attempt。
〃Oh； don't be afraid。 Hit me hard。〃
The Galician lunged forward； but met rigid arms。
〃Come； come；〃 said French； reaching him sharply on the cheek with his open hand； 〃try better than that。〃
Again the Galician struck heavily with his huge fists； and again French； easily parrying； tapped him once； twice； thrice； where he would； drawing tears to the man's eyes。 The Galician paused with a scornful exclamation。
〃He says that's nothing；〃 interpreted Kalman。 〃You can't hurt a man that way。〃
〃Can't； eh？ Tell him to come on； but to look out。〃
Again the Galician came forward； evidently determined to land one blow at least。 But French； taking the blow on his guard； replied with a heavy lefthander fair on the Galician's chest； lifted him clear off his feet and hurled him breathless against his load of hay。 The man recovered himself； grinning sheepishly； nodding his head vigorously and talking rapidly。
〃That is enough。 He says he would like to learn how to do that。 That is better than a club；〃 interpreted Kalman。
〃Tell him that his people must learn to fight without club or knife。 We won't stand that in this country。 It lands them in prison or on the gallows。〃
Kalman translated； his own face fiery red meanwhile； and his own appearance one of humiliation。 He was wondering how much of his own history this man knew。
〃Good…by；〃 said French； holding out his hand to the Galician。
The man took it and raised it to his lips。
〃He says he thanks you very much； and he wishes you to forget his badness。〃
〃All right； old man；〃 said French cheerfully。 〃See you again some day。〃
And so they parted； Kalman carrying with him an uncomfortable sense of having been at various times in his life something of a cad； and a fear lest this painful fact should be known to his new master and friend。
〃Well； youngster；〃 said French； noticing his glum face； 〃you did me a good turn that time。 That beggar had me foul then； sure enough； and I won't forget it。〃
Kalman brightened up under his words； and without further speech； each busy with himself； they sped along the trail till the day faded toward the evening。
But the Edmonton trail that day set its mark on the lives of boy and man；a mark that was never obliterated。 To Kalman the day brought a new image of manhood。 Of all the men whom he knew there was none who could command his loyalty and enthral his imagination。 It is true； his father had been such a man； but now his father moved in dim shadow across the horizon of his memory。 Here was a man within touch of his hand who illustrated in himself those qualities that to a boy's heart and mind combine to make a hero。 With what ease and courage and patience and perfect self…command he had handled those plunging bronchos！ The same； qualities too； in a higher degree； had marked his interview with the wrathful and murderous Galician； and； in addition； all that day Kalman had been conscious of a consideration and a quickness of sympathy in his moods that revealed in this man of rugged strength and forceful courage a subtle something that marks the finer temper and nobler spirit； the temper and the spirit of the gentleman。 Not that Kalman could name this thing； but to his sensitive soul it was this in the man that made appeal and that called forth his loyal homage。
To French； too； the day had brought thoughts and emotions that had not stirred within him since those days of younger manhood twenty years ago when the world was still a place of dreams and life a tourney where glory might be won。 The boy's face； still with its spiritual remembrances in spite of all the sordidness of his past； the utter and obvious surrender of soul that shone from his eyes； made the man almost shudder with a new horror of the foulness that twenty years of wild license upon the plains had flung upo