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！
〃One thousand！ yes； ten thousand； twenty thousand。〃
Kalman made a rapid calculation。
〃Why； that would mean three hundred acres of oats at least； and we have only twenty acres in our field。 Oh！ Jack！〃 he continued； 〃let us get every horse and every man we can； and make ready for the oats。 Just think！ one hundred acres of oats； five or six thousand bushels； perhaps more； besides the potatoes。〃
〃Oh； well； they won't be along to…day； Kalman； so keep cool。〃
〃But we will have to break this year for next；〃 said the boy； 〃and it will take us a long time to break one hundred acres。〃
〃That's so；〃 said Jack； 〃it will take all our forces hard at it all summer to get one hundred acres ready。〃
Eagerly the boy's mind sprang forward into plans for the summer's campaign。 His enthusiasm stirred French to something like vigorous action； and even waked old Mackenzie out of his aboriginal lethargy。 That very day Kalman rode down to Wakota to consult his friend Brown； upon whose guidance in all matters he had come more and more to depend。 Brown's Canadian training on an Ontario farm before he entered college had greatly enriched his experience； and his equipment for the battle of life。 He knew all about farming operations； and to him； rather than to French or to Mackenzie； Kalman had come to look for advice on all practical details connected with cattle； horses； and crops。 The breach between the two men was an unspeakable grief to the lad； and all the greater because he had an instinctive feeling that the fault lay with the man to whom from the first he had given the complete and unswerving devotion of his heart。 Without explaining to Kalman； French had suddenly ceased his visits to Wakota； but he had taken care to indicate his desire that Kalman continue his studies with Brown； and that he should assist him in every way possible with the work he was seeking to carry on among the Galicians。 This desire both Brown and Kalman were only too eager to gratify； for the two had grown into a friendship that became a large part of the lives of both。 Every Sunday Kalman was to be found at Wakota。 There； in the hospitable home of the Browns； he came into contact with a phase of life new and delightful to him。 Brown's wife； and Brown's baby； and Brown's home were to him never…ending sources of wonder and joy。 That French was shut out from all this was the abiding grief of Kalman's life； and this grief was emphasized by the all… too…evident effect of this exclusion。 For with growing frequency French would ride off on Sunday afternoon to the Crossing； and often stay for three or four days at a time。 On such occasions life would be to Kalman one long agony of anxiety。 Through the summer he bore his grief in silence； never speaking of it even to Brown； but on one occasion； when French's absence had been extended from one Sunday to the next； his anxiety and grief became unsupportable； and he poured it forth to Brown。
〃He has not been home for a week； Mr。 Brown； and oh！ I can't stand it any longer；〃 cried the distracted boy。 〃I can't stay here while Jack is over there in such a terrible way。 I must go to him。〃
〃He won't like it； Kalman；〃 said Brown； 〃he won't stand it； I am afraid。 I would go； but I know it would only offend him。〃
〃I am going down to the Crossing to…day；〃 said Kalman。 〃I don't care if he kills me； I must go。〃
But his experience was such that he never went again； for Jack French in his madness nearly killed the boy； who was brought sadly battered to Brown's hospital； where he lay for a week or more。 Every day； French； penetrated with penitence； visited him； lavishing on the boy a new tenderness。 But when Kalman was on his feet again； French laid it upon him； and bound him by a solemn promise that he should never again follow him to the Crossing； or interfere when he was not master of himself。 It was a hard promise to give； but once given； that settled the matter for both。 With Brown he never discussed Jack French's weakness； but every Sunday afternoon； when in his own home Brown prayed for friends near and dear； committing them into the Heavenly Father's keeping； in their minds； chiefly and before all others was the man whom they had all come to love as an elder brother； and for whose redemption they were ready to lay down their lives。 And this was the strongest strand in the bond that bound Kalman and his friend together。 So to Brown Kalman went with his plans for the coming summer； and with most happy results。 For through the spring and summer； following Brown's advice and under Kalman's immediate directions； a strong force of Galicians with horse teams and ox teams were kept hard at work； breaking and back…setting； in anticipation of an early sowing in the following spring。 In the meantime Brown himself was full of work。 The addition to his hospital was almost always full of patients； his school had begun to come back to him again； for the gratitude of his warm…hearted Galician people； in return for his many services to their sick and suffering； sufficed to overcome their fear of the Polish priest； whose unpriestly habits and whose mercenary spirit were fast turning against him even the most loyal of his people。 In the expressive words of old Portnoff； who； it is to be feared； had little religion in his soul； was summed up the general opinion： 〃Dat Klazowski bad man。 He drink； drink all time； take money； money for everyting。 He damn school； send doctor man hell fire；〃 the meaning of which was abundantly obvious to both Brown and his wife。
So full of work were they all； both at the ranch and at Wakota； that almost without their knowing it the summer had gone； and autumn； with its golden glorious days； nippy evenings； and brilliant starry nights； Canada's most delightful season； was upon them。 Throughout the summer the construction gangs had steadily worked their way north and west； and had crossed the Saskatchewan； and were approaching the Eagle Hill country。 Preceding the construction army； and following it； were camp followers and attendants of various kinds。 On the one hand the unlicensed trader and whiskey pedlar； the bane of the contractor and engineer； on the other hand the tourist； the capitalist； and the speculator； whom engineers and contractors received with welcome or with scant tolerance； according to the letters of introduction they brought from the great men in the East。
Attached to the camp of Engineer Harris was a small and influential party； consisting of Mr。 Robert Menzies of Glasgow； capitalist； and； therefore； possible investor in Canadian lands； mines； and railroads；consequently； a man to be considered； with him； his daughter Marjorie； a brown…haired maid of seventeen； out for the good of her health and much the better of her outing； and Aunt Janet； maiden sister to Mr。 Menzies； and guardian to both brother and niece。 With this party travelled Mr。 Edgar Penny； a young English gentleman of considerable means； who； having been a year in the country； felt himself eminently qualified to act as adviser and guide to the party。 At present； however； Mr。 Penny was far more deeply interested in the study of the lights that lurked in Miss Marjorie's brown eyes； and the