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The Man From Glengarry
by Ralph Connor
A TALE OF THE OTTAWA
DEDICATION
TO THE MEN OF GLENGARRY WHO IN PATIENCE； IN COURAGE AND IN THE FEAR
OF GOD ARE HELPING TO BUILD THE EMPIRE OF THE CANADIAN WEST THIS
BOOK IS HUMBLY DEDICATED
PREFACE
The solid forests of Glengarry have vanished； and with the forests
the men who conquered them。 The manner of life and the type of
character to be seen in those early days have gone too； and
forever。 It is part of the purpose of this book to so picture
these men and their times that they may not drop quite out of mind。
The men are worth remembering。 They carried the marks of their
blood in their fierce passions； their courage； their loyalty； and
of the forest in their patience； their resourcefulness； their self…
reliance。 But deeper than all； the mark that reached down to their
hearts' core was that of their faith； for in them dwelt the fear of
God。 Their religion may have been narrow； but no narrower than the
moulds of their lives。 It was the biggest thing in them。 It may
have taken a somber hue from their gloomy forests； but by reason of
a sweet； gracious presence dwelling among them it grew in grace and
sweetness day by day。
In the Canada beyond the Lakes； where men are making empire； the
sons of these Glengarry men are found。 And there such men are
needed。 For not wealth； not enterprise； not energy； can build a
nation into sure greatness； but men； and only men with the fear of
God in their hearts； and with no other。 And to make this clear is
also a part of the purpose of this book。
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE OPEN RIVER
II VENGEANCE IS MINE
III THE MANSE IN THE BUSH
IV THE RIDE FOR LIFE
V FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
VI A NEW FRIEND
VII MAIMIE
VIII THE SUGARING…OFF
IX A SABBATH DAY'S WORK
X THE HOME…COMING OF THE SHANTYMEN
XI THE WAKE
XII SEED…TIME
XIII THE LOGGING BEE
XIV SHE WILL NOT FORGET
XV THE REVIVAL
XVI AND THE GLORY
XVII LENOIR'S NEW MASTER
XVIII HE IS NOT OF MY KIND
XIX ONE GAME AT A TIME
XX HER CLINGING ARMS
XXI I WILL REMEMBER
XXII FORGET THAT I LOVED YOU
XXIII A GOOD； TRUE FRIEND
XXIV THE WEST
XXV GLENGARRY FOREVER
THE MAN FROM GLENGARRY
CHAPTER I
THE OPEN RIVER
The winter had broken early and the Scotch River was running ice…
free and full from bank to bank。 There was still snow in the
woods； and with good sleighing and open rivers every day was golden
to the lumbermen who had stuff to get down to the big water。 A day
gained now might save weeks at a chute farther down； where the
rafts would crowd one another and strive for right of way。
Dan Murphy was mightily pleased with himself and with the bit of
the world about him； for there lay his winter's cut of logs in the
river below him snug and secure and held tight by a boom across the
mouth； just where it flowed into the Nation。 In a few days he
would have his crib made； and his outfit ready to start for the
Ottawa mills。 He was sure to be ahead of the big timber rafts that
took up so much space； and whose crews with unbearable effrontery
considered themselves the aristocrats of the river。
Yes； it was a pleasant and satisfying sight； some three solid miles
of logs boomed at the head of the big water。 Suddenly Murphy
turned his face up the river。
〃What's that now； d'ye think； LeNware？〃 he asked。
LeNoir； or 〃LeNware；〃 as they all called it in that country； was
Dan Murphy's foreman； and as he himself said； 〃for haxe； for hit
（eat）； for fight de boss on de reever Hottawa！ by Gar！〃 Louis
LeNoir was a French…Canadian； handsome； active； hardy； and
powerfully built。 He had come from the New Brunswick woods some
three years ago； and had wrought and fought his way； as he thought；
against all rivals to the proud position of 〃boss on de reever；〃
the topmost pinnacle of a lumberman's ambition。 It was something
to see LeNoir 〃run a log〃 across the river and back； that is； he
would balance himself upon a floating log； and by spinning it
round； would send it whither he would。 At Murphy's question LeNoir
stood listening with bent head and open mouth。 Down the river came
the sound of singing。 〃Don…no me！ Ah oui！ be dam！ Das Macdonald
gang for sure！ De men from Glengarrie； les diables！ Dey not hout
de reever yet。〃 His boss went off into a volley of oaths
〃They'll be wanting the river now； an' they're divils to fight。〃
〃We give em de full belly； heh？ Bon！〃 said LeNoir； throwing back
his head。 His only unconquered rival on the river was the boss of
the Macdonald gang。
Ho ro； mo nighean donn bhoidheach；
Hi…ri； mo nighean donn bhoidheach；
Mo chaileag； laghach； bhoidheach；
Cha phosainn ach thu。
Down the river came the strong； clear chorus of men's voices； and
soon a 〃pointer〃 pulled by six stalwart men with a lad in the stern
swung round the bend into view。 A single voice took up the song
'S ann tha mo run's na beanntaibh；
Far bheil mo ribhinn ghreannar；
Mar ros am fasach shamhraidh
An gleann fad o shuil。
After the verse the full chorus broke forth again
Ho ro； mo nighean； etc。
Swiftly the pointer shot down the current； the swaying bodies and
swinging oars in perfect rhythm with the song that rose and fell
with melancholy but musical cadence。 The men on the high bank
stood looking down upon the approaching singers。 〃You know dem
fellers？〃 said LeNoir。 Murphy nodded。 〃Ivery divil iv thimBig
Mack Cameron； Dannie Ross； Finlay Campbellthe redheaded onethe
next I don't know； and yes！ be dad！ there's that blanked Yankee；
Yankee Jim； they call him； an' bad luck till him。 The divil will
have to take the poker till him； for he'll bate him wid his fists；
and so he willand that big black divil is Black Hugh； the brother
iv the boss Macdonald。 He'll be up in the camp beyant； and a
mighty lucky thing for you； LeNoir； he is。〃
〃Bah！〃 spat LeNoir； 〃Dat beeg Macdonald I mak heem run like one
leetle sheep； one tam at de long Sault； bah！ No good！〃 LeNoir's
contempt for Macdonald was genuine and complete。 For two years he
had tried to meet the boss Macdonald； but his rival had always
avoided him。
Meantime； the pointer came swinging along。 As it turned the point
the boy uttered an exclamation〃Look there！〃 The song and the
rowing stopped abruptly； the big； dark man stood up and gazed down
the river； packed from bank to bank with the brown saw…logs； deep
curses broke from him。 Then he caught sight of the men on the
bank。 A word of command and the pointer shot into the shore； and
the next moment Macdonald Dubh； or Black Hugh； as he was sometimes
called； followed by his men； was climbing up the steep bank。
〃What the blank； blank； do these logs mean； Murphy？〃 he demanded；
without pause for salutation。
〃Tis a foine avenin' Misther Macdonald；〃 said Murphy； blandly
offering his hand； 〃an' Hiven bliss ye。〃
Macdonald checked himself with an effort and reluctantly shook
hands with Murphy and LeNoir； whom he slightly knew。 〃It is a fery
goot evening； indeed；〃 he said； in as quiet a voice as he could
command； 〃but I am inquiring about these logs。〃
〃Shure； an' it is a dhry night； and onpolite to kape yez talking
here。 Come in wid yez；〃 and much against his will Black Hugh
followed Murphy to the tavern； the most pretentious of a group of
log buildingsonce a lumber campwhich stood back a little
distance from the river； and about which Murphy's men； some sixty
of them； were now camped。
The tavern was full of Murphy's gang； a motley crew； mostly French
Canadians and Irish； just out of the woods and ready for any
devilment that promised excitement。 Most of them knew by sight；
and all by reputation； Macdonald and his gang； for from the
farthest reaches of the Ottawa down the St。 Lawrence to Quebec the
Macdonald gang of Glengarry men was famous。 They came； most of
them； from that strip of country running back from the St。 Lawrence
through Glengarry County； known as the Indian Landsonce an Indian
reservation。 They were sons of the men who had come from the
highlands and islands of Scotland in the early years of the last
century。 Driven from homes in the land of their fathers； they had
set themselves with indomitable faith and courage to hew from the；
solid forest； homes for themselves and their children that none
might take from them。 These pioneers were bound together by ties
of blood； but also by bonds stronger than those of blood。 Their
loneliness； their triumphs； their sorrows； born of their common
life…long conflict with the forest and its fierce beasts； knit them
in bonds close and enduring。 The sons born to them and reared in
the heart of the pine forests grew up to witness that heroic
struggle with stern nature and to take their part in it。 And
mighty men they were。 Their life bred in them hardiness of frame；
alertness of sense； readiness of resource； endurance； superb self…
reliance； a courage that grew with peril； and withal a certain
wildness which at times deepened into ferocity。 By their fathers
the forest was dreaded and hated； but the so