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the forest was dreaded and hated； but the sons； with rifles in
hand； trod its pathless stretches without fear； and with their
broad…axes they took toll of their ancient foe。 For while in
spring and summer they farmed their narrow fields； and rescued new
lands from the brule； in winter they sought the forest； and back on
their own farms or in 〃the shanties〃 they cut sawlogs； or made
square timber； their only source of wealth。 The shanty life of the
early fifties of last century was not the luxurious thing of to…
day。 It was full of privation； for the men were poorly housed and
fed； and of peril； for the making of the timber and the getting it
down the smaller rivers to the big water was a work of hardship and
danger。 Remote from the restraints of law and of society； and
living in wild surroundings and in hourly touch with danger； small
wonder that often the shanty…men were wild and reckless。 So that
many a poor fellow in a single wild carouse in Quebec； or more
frequently in some river town； would fling into the hands of sharks
and harlots and tavern…keepers； with whom the bosses were sometimes
in league； the earnings of his long winter's work； and would wake
to find himself sick and penniless； far from home and broken in
spirit。
Of all the shanty…men of the Ottawa the men of Glengarry； and of
Glengarry men Macdonald's gang were easily first； and of the gang
Donald Bhain Macdonald； or Macdonald More； or the Big Macdonald；
for he was variously known； was not only the 〃boss〃 but best and
chief。 There was none like him。 A giant in size and strength； a
prince of broad…axe men； at home in the woods； sure…footed and
daring on the water； free with his wages； and always ready to drink
with friend or fight with foe； the whole river admired； feared； or
hated him； while his own men followed him into the woods； on to a
jam； or into a fight with equal joyousness and devotion。 Fighting
was like wine to him； when the fight was worth while； and he went
into the fights his admirers were always arranging for him with the
easiest good humor and with a smile on his face。 But Macdonald
Bhain's carousing； fighting days came to an abrupt stop about three
years before the opening of this tale； for on one of his summer
visits to his home； 〃The word of the Lord in the mouth of his
servant Alexander Murray；〃 as he was wont to say； 〃found him and he
was a new man。〃 He went into his new life with the same whole…
souled joyousness as had marked the old； and he announced that with
the shanty and the river he was 〃done for ever more。〃 But after
the summer's work was done； and the logging over； and when the snap
of the first frost nipped the leaves from the trees； Macdonald
became restless。 He took down his broad…axe and spent hours
polishing it and bringing it to an edge； then he put it in its
wooden sheath and laid it away。 But the fever was upon him； ten
thousand voices from the forest were shouting for him。 He went
away troubled to his minister。 In an hour he came back with the
old good humor in his face； took down the broad…axe again； and
retouched it； lovingly； humming the while the old river song of the
Glengarry men
Ho ro mo nighean； etc。
He was going back to the bush and to the biggest fight of his life。
No wonder he was glad。 Then his good little wife began to get
ready his long； heavy stockings； his thick mits； his homespun
smock； and other gear； for she knew well that soon she would be
alone for another winter。 Before long the word went round that
Macdonald Bhain was for the shanties again； and his men came to him
for their orders。
But it was not to the old life that Macdonald was going； and he
gravely told those that came to him that he would take no man who
could not handle his axe and hand…spike； and who could not behave
himself。 〃Behaving himself〃 meant taking no more whiskey than a
man could carry； and refusing all invitations to fight unless
〃necessity was laid upon him。〃 The only man to object was his own
brother； Macdonald Dubh； whose temper was swift to blaze； and with
whom the blow was quicker than the word。 But after the second year
of the new order even Black Hugh fell into line。 Macdonald soon
became famous on the Ottawa。 He picked only the best men； he fed
them well； paid them the highest wages； and cared for their
comfort； but held them in strictest discipline。 They would drink
but kept sober； they would spend money but knew how much was coming
to them。 They feared no men even of 〃twice their own heavy and
big；〃 but would never fight except under necessity。 Contracts
began to come their way。 They made money； and what was better；
they brought it home。 The best men sought to join them； but by
rival gangs and by men rejected from their ranks they were hated
with deepest heart hatred。 But the men from Glengarry knew no fear
and sought no favor。 They asked only a good belt of pine and an
open river。 As a rule they got both； and it was peculiarly
maddening to Black Hugh to find two or three miles of solid logs
between his timber and the open water of the Nation。 Black Hugh
had a temper fierce and quick； and when in full flame he was a man
to avoid； for from neither man nor devil would he turn。 The only
man who could hold him was his brother Macdonald Bhain； for strong
man as he was； Black Hugh knew well that his brother could with a
single swift grip bring him to his knees。
It was unfortunate that the command of the party this day should
have been Macdonald Dubh's。 Unfortunate； too； that it was Dan
Murphy and his men that happened to be blocking the river mouth。
For the Glengarry men； who handled only square timber； despised the
Murphy gang as sawlog…men； 〃log…rollers〃 or 〃mushrats〃 they called
them； and hated them as Irish 〃Papishes〃 and French 〃Crapeaux；〃
while between Dan Murphy and Macdonald Dubh there was an ancient
personal grudge； and to…day Murphy thought he had found his time。
There were only six of the enemy； he had ten times the number with
him； many of them eager to pay off old scores； and besides there
was Louis LeNoir as the 〃Boss Bully〃 of the river。 The Frenchman
was not only a powerful man； active with hands and feet； but he was
an adept in all kinds of fighting tricks。 Since coming to the
Ottawa he had heard of the big Macdonald； and he sought to meet
him。 But Macdonald avoided him once and again till LeNoir； having
never known any one avoiding a fight for any reason other than
fear； proclaimed Macdonald a coward； and himself 〃de boss on de
reever。〃 Now there was a chance of meeting his rival and of
forcing a fight； for the Glengarry camp could not be far away where
the big Macdonald himself would be。 So Dan Murphy； backed up with
numbers； and the boss bully LeNoir； determined that for these
Macdonald men the day of settlement had come。 But they were
dangerous men； and it would be well to take all precautions； and
hence his friendly invitation to the tavern for drinks。
Macdonald Dubh； scorning to show hesitation； though he suspected
treachery； strode after Murphy to the tavern door and through the
crowd of shanty…men filling the room。 They were as ferocious
looking a lot of men as could well be got together； even in that
country and in those daysshaggy of hair and beard； dressed out in
red and blue and green jerseys； with knitted sashes about their
waists； and red and blue and green tuques on their heads。 Drunken
rows were their delight； and fights so fierce that many a man came
out battered and bruised to death or to life…long decrepitude。
They were sitting on the benches that ran round the room； or
lounging against the bar singing； talking； blaspheming。 At the
sight of Macdonald Dubh and his men there fell a dead silence； and
then growls of recognition； but Murphy was not yet ready； and
roaring out 〃Dh…r…r…i…n…k…s；〃 he seized a couple of his men leaning
against the bar； and hurling them to right and left； cried；
〃Ma…a…ke room for yer betthers； be the powers！ Sthand up； bhoys；
and fill yirsilves！〃
Black Hugh and his men lined up gravely to the bar and were
straightway surrounded by the crowd yelling hideously。 But if
Murphy and his gang thought to intimidate those grave Highlanders
with noise； they were greatly mistaken； for they stood quietly
waiting for their glasses to be filled； alert； but with an air of
perfect indifference。 Some eight or ten glasses were set down and
filled； when Murphy； snatching a couple of bottles from the shelf
behind the bar； handed them out to his men； crying； 〃Here； ye
bluddy thaves； lave the glasses to the gintlemen！〃
There was no mistaking the insolence in his tone； and the chorus of
derisive yells that answered him showed that his remark had gone to
the spot。
Yankee Jim； who had kept close to Black Hugh； saw the veins in his
neck beginning to swell； and face to grow dark。 He was longing to
be at Murphy's throat。 〃Speak him fair；〃 he said； in a low tone；
〃there's rather a good string of 'em raound。〃 Macdonald Dubh
glanced about him。 His eye fell on his boy； and for the first time
his face became anxious。 〃Ranald；〃 he said； angrily； 〃take
yourself out of this。 It is no place for you