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；' he said quietly。 'Now； Elluck； who strikes my dog； strikes me。' He caught him by the collar and beat him until Elluck howled louder than the dog； and all the while Jack never stopped smiling。 He is teaching me to box； as he says that no gentleman ever uses a knife or a club； as the Galicians do； in fighting； and you know that when they get beer they are sure to fight； and if they use a knife they will kill some one； and then they are sorry。
〃You know about my school。 Jack has told Mrs。 French。 I like Mr。 Brown； well； next to Jack。 He is a good man。 I wish I could just tell you how good and how clever he is。 He makes people to work for him in a wonderful way。 He got the Galicians to build his house for him； and his school and his store。 He got Jack to help him too。 He got me to help with the singing in the school every day； and in the afternoon on Sundays when we go down to meeting。 He is a Protestant； but； although he can marry the people and baptise and say prayers when they desire it； I do not think he is a priest； for he will take no money for what he does。 Some of the Galicians say he will make them all pay some day； but Jack just laughs at this and says they are a suspicious lot of fools。 Mr。 Brown is going to build a mill to grind flour and meal。 He brought the stones from an old Hudson's Bay Company mill up the river； and he is fixing up an old engine from a sawmill in the hills。 I think he wants to keep the people from going to the Crossing； where they get beer and whiskey and get drunk。 He is teaching me everything that they learn in the English schools； and he gives me books to read。 One book he gave me； I read all night。 I could not stop。 It is called 'Ivanhoe。' It is a splendid book。 Perhaps Mrs。 French may get it for you。 But I like it best on Sunday afternoons； for then we sing； Brown and Jack and the Galician children； and then Brown reads the Bible and prays。 It is not like church at all。 There is no crucifix； no candles； no pictures。 It is too much like every day to be like church； but Brown says that is the best kind； a religion for every day； and Jack； too； says that Brown is right； but he won't talk much about it。
〃I am going to be a rancher。 Jack says I am a good cattle man already。 He gave me a pony and saddle and a couple of heifers for myself； that I saved last winter out of a snow…drift； and he says that when I grow a little bigger； he will take me for his partner。 Of course； he smiles when he says this； but I think he means it。 Would not that be splendid？ I do not care to be a partner； but just to live with Jack always。 He makes every one do what he likes because they love him and they are afraid of him too。 Old Mackenzie would let him walk over his body。 There is only one thing； and I don't like to speak of it； and I would not to any one else； but it makes me sore in my heart。 When Jack and Old Mackenzie go to the Crossing； they bring back whiskey； and until it is done they have a terrible time。 You know； I don't mind seeing the Galicians drink whiskey and beer。 I drink it myself now and then。 But Jack and old Mackenzie just sit down and drink and drink； and afterwards I know Jack feels very bad。 Once we went here to a Galician wedding； and you know what that means。 They all got drinking whiskey and beer； and then we had a terrible time。 The whole roomful got fighting。 They were all against Jack and Mackenzie。 The Galicians had clubs and knives； but Jack just had his hands。 It was fine to see him stand up and knock those Galicians back； and smiling all the time。 Mackenzie had a hand… spike。 Of course； I helped a little with a club。 I thought they were going to kill Jack。 We got away alive； but Jack was badly hurt； and for a week afterwards he did not look at me。 Mackenzie said he was ashamed； but I don't know why。 He made a big fight。 Mackenzie says he did not like to fight with 'them dogs。' Brown heard all about it and came to see Jack； and he too looked ashamed and sorry。 But Brown never fights； no matter what they do to him； he won't fight； and he is a strong man； too； and does not look afraid。
〃Have you heard any word at all of father？ I sometimes get so lonely for him and you。 I used to dream I was back with you again； and then I would wake up and find myself alone and far away。 It will not be so long now till I'm a man； and then you will come and live with me。 Oh！ I cannot write fast enough to put down the words to say how glad I am to think of that。 But some day that will be。
〃I send my love to Simon Ketzel and Lena and Margaret； and you tell Mrs。 French I do not forget that I owe all I have here to her。 Tell her I wish I could do something for her。 Nothing would be too hard。
〃I kiss this paper for you； my dear sister； my beloved Irma。
〃Your loving and faithful brother；
〃KALMAN。〃
Proud of her brother； Irma read parts of her letter to her friend； leaving out； with a quick sense of what was fitting； every unhappy reference to Jack French； but the little lady was keen of ear and quick of instinct where Jack French was concerned； and Irma's pauses left a deepening shadow upon her face。 When the letter was done； she said： 〃Is it not good to hear of Kalman doing so well？ Tell him he can do something for me。 He can grow up a good man； and he can help Jack to be〃 But here her loyal soul held her back。 〃No； don't say that；〃 she said； 〃just tell him I am glad to know he is going to be a good man。 There is nothing I want more for those I love than that。 Tell him too；〃 she added； 〃that I would like him and Jack to help Mr。 Brown all they can；〃 and this message Irma wrote to Kalman with religious care； telling him too how sad the dear sweet face had grown in sending the message。
But when Mrs。 French reached her home； she read again parts out of the letter which the same mail had brought her from the Night Hawk Ranch； read them in the light of Kalman's letter； while the shadows deepened on her face。
〃He is a strange little beggar；〃 she read； 〃though； by Jove； he is little no longer。 He is somewhere about sixteen； is away past my shoulder； and nearly as strong as I am； rides like a cowboy； and is as good after the cattle as I am； is afraid of nothing； and dearly loves a fight； and； I regret to say； he gets lots of it； for the Galicians are always after him for their feasts。 He is a great singer； you know； and dances much too well； and at the feasts； as I suppose you know quite well； there are always fights。 And here I want to consult you。 I very nearly sent him back to you a little while ago； not for his fault； but； I regret to say； for mine。 We went to a fool show among the Galicians； and； I am ashamed to say； played the fool。 There was the deuce of a row； and Mackenzie and I were in a tight box； for a dozen or so of our Galician friends were determined upon blood。 They got some of mine too； for they were using their knives； and； I am bound to say； it looked rather serious。 At this juncture that young beggar； forgetting all my good training in the manly art； and reverting to his Slavic barbaric methods of defence； went in with a hand…spike； yelling； and； I regret to say； cursing； till I thought he had gone drunk