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crowd； sinking his fingers deeper and deeper into his enemy's
throat till his face grew black and his head fell over on one side。
But it was a fatal move for Mack； and overcome by numbers that
crowded upon him； he went down fighting wildly and bearing the
Frenchman beneath him。 The Glengarry line was broken。 Black Hugh
saw Mack's peril； and knew that it meant destruction to all。 With
a wilder cry than usual； 〃Glengarry！ Glengarry！〃 he dashed
straight into LeNoir； who gave back swiftly； caught two men who
were beating Big Mack's life out； and hurled them aside； and
grasping his friend's collar； hauled him to his feet； and threw him
back against the wall and into the line again with his grip still
upon his Frenchman's throat。
〃Let dead men go； Mack；〃 he cried； but even as he spoke LeNoir；
seeing his opportunity； sprang at him and with a backward kick
caught Macdonald fair in the face and lashed him hard against the
wall。 It was the terrible French 'lash' and was one of LeNoir's
special tricks。 Black Hugh； stunned and dazed； leaned back against
the wall； spreading out his hands weakly before his face。 LeNoir；
seeing victory within his grasp； rushed in to finish off his
special foe。 But Yankee Jim； who； while engaged in cheerfully
knocking back the two Murphys and others who took their turn at
him； had been keeping an eye on the line of battle； saw Macdonald's
danger； and knowing that the crisis had come； dashed across the
line； crying 〃Follow me； boys。〃 His long arms swung round his head
like the sails of a wind…mill； and men fell back from him as if
they had been made of wood。 As LeNoir sprang； Yankee shot fiercely
at him； but the Frenchman； too quick for him； ducked and leaped
upon Black Hugh； who was still swaying against the wall； bore him
down and jumped with his heavy 〃corked〃 boots on his breast and
face。 Again the Glengarry line was broken。 At once the crowd
surged about the Glengarry men； who now stood back to back； beating
off the men leaping at them from every side； as a stag beats off
dogs； and still chanting high their dauntless cry； 〃Glengarry
forever；〃 to which Big Mack added at intervals； 〃To hell with the
Papishes！〃 Yankee； failing to check LeNoir's attack upon Black
Hugh； fought off the men crowding upon him； and made his way to the
corner where the Frenchman was still engaged in kicking the
prostrate Highlander to death。
〃Take that； you blamed cuss；〃 he said； catching LeNoir in the jaw
and knocking his head with a thud against the wall。 Before he
could strike again he was thrown against his enemy； who clutched
him and held like a vice。
CHAPTER II
VENGEANCE IS MINE
The Glengarry men had fought their fight； and it only remained for
their foes to wreak their vengeance upon them and wipe out old
scores。 One minute more would have done for them； but in that
minute the door came crashing in。 There was a mighty roar；
〃Glengarry！ Glengarry！〃 and the great Macdonald himself； with the
boy Ranald and some half…dozen of his men behind him； stood among
them。 On all hands the fight stopped。 A moment he stood； his
great head and shoulders towering above the crowd； his tawny hair
and beard falling around his face like a great mane； his blue eyes
gleaming from under his shaggy eyebrows like livid lightning。 A
single glance around the room； and again raising his battle…cry；
〃Glengarry！〃 he seized the nearest shrinking Frenchman； lifted him
high； and hurled him smashing into the bottles behind the counter。
His men； following him； bounded like tigers on their prey。 A few
minutes of fierce； eager fighting； and the Glengarry men were all
freed and on their feet； all except Black Hugh； who lay groaning in
his corner。 〃Hold； lads！〃 Macdonald Bhain cried； in his mighty
voice。 〃Stop； I'm telling you。〃 The fighting ceased。
〃Dan Murphy！〃 he cried； casting his eye round the room； 〃where are
you； ye son of Belial？〃
Murphy； crouching at the back of the crowd near the door； sought to
escape。
〃Ah！ there you are！〃 cried Macdonald； and reaching through the
crowd with his great； long arm； he caught Murphy by the hair of the
head and dragged him forward。
〃R…r…r…a…a…t！ R…r…r…a…a…t！ R…r…r…a…a…t！〃 he snarled； shaking him
till his teeth rattled。 〃It is yourself that is the cause of this
wickedness。 Now； may the Lord have mercy on your soul。〃 With one
hand he gripped Murphy by the throat； holding him at arm's length；
and raised his huge fist to strike。 But before the blow fell he
paused。
〃No！〃 he muttered； in a disappointed tone； 〃it is not good enough。
I will not be demeaning myself。 Hence； you r…r…a…a…t！〃 As he
spoke he lifted the shaking wretch as if he had been a bundle of
clothes； swung him half round and hurled him crashing through the
window。
〃Is there no goot man here at all who will stand before me？〃 he
raged in a wild； joyous fury。 〃Will not two of you come forth；
then？〃 No one moved。 〃Come to me！〃 he suddenly cried； and
snatching two of the enemy； he dashed their heads together； and
threw them insensible on the floor。
Then he caught sight of his brother for the first time lying in the
corner with Big Mack supporting his head； and LeNoir standing near。
〃What is this？ What is this？〃 he cried； striding toward LeNoir。
〃And is it you that has done this work？〃 he asked； in a voice of
subdued rage。
〃Oui！〃 cried LeNoir； stepping back and putting up his hands； 〃das
me； Louis LeNoir！ by Gar！〃 He struck himself on the breast as he
spoke。
〃Out of my way！〃 cried Macdonald； swinging his open hand on the
Frenchman's ear。 With a swift sweep he brushed LeNoir aside from
his place； and ignoring him stooped over his brother。 But LeNoir
was no coward； and besides his boasted reputation was at stake。 He
thought he saw his chance； and rushing at Macdonald as he was
bending over his brother； delivered his terrible 'lash'。 But
Macdonald had not lived with and fought with Frenchmen all these
years without knowing their tricks and ways。 He saw LeNoir's
'lash' coming； and quickly turning his head； avoided the blow。
〃Ah！ would ye？ Take that； then； and be quate！〃 and so saying； he
caught LeNoir on the side of the head and sent him to the floor。
〃Keep him off a while； Yankee！〃 said Macdonald； for LeNoir was up
again； and coming at him。
Then kneeling beside his brother he wiped the bloody froth that was
oozing from his lips； and said in a low； anxious tone：
〃Hugh； bhodaich （old man）； are ye hurted？ Can ye not speak to me；
Hugh？〃
〃Oich…oh；〃 Black Hugh groaned。 〃It was a necessityDonald man
andhe took meunawareswith hiskeeck。〃
〃Indeed； and I'll warrant you！〃 agreed his brother； 〃but I will be
attending to him； never you fear。〃
Macdonald was about to rise； when his brother caught his arm。
〃You willnot bekilling him；〃 he urged； between his painful
gasps； 〃because I will be doing that myself some day； by God's
help。〃
His words and the eager hate in his face seemed to quiet Macdonald。
〃Alas！ alas！〃 he said； sadly； 〃it is not allowed me to smite him
as he deserves'Vengeance is mine saith the Lord；' and I have
solemnly promised the minister not to smite for glory or for
revenge！ Alas！ alas！〃
Then turning to LeNoir； he said； gravely： 〃It is not given me to
punish you for your coward's blow。 Go from me！〃 But LeNoir
misjudged him。
〃Bah！〃 he cried； contemptuously； 〃you tink me one baby； you strike
me on de head side like one little boy。 Bon！ Louis LeNware； de
bes bully on de Hottawa； he's not 'fraid for hany man； by Gar！〃 He
pranced up and down before Macdonald； working himself into a great
rage； as Macdonald grew more and more controlled。
Macdonald turned to his men with a kind of appeal〃I hev given my
promise； and Macdonald will not break his word。〃
〃Bah！〃 cried LeNoir； spitting at him。
〃Now may the Lord give me grace to withstand the enemy；〃 said
Macdonald； gravely； 〃for I am greatly moved to take vengeance upon
you。〃
〃Bah！〃 cried LeNoir again； mistaking Macdonald's quietness and
self…control for fear。 〃You no good！ Your brother is no good！
Beeg sheep！ Beeg sheep！ Bah！〃
〃God help me；〃 said Macdonald as if to himself。 〃I am a man of
grace！ But must this dog go unpunished？〃
LeNoir continued striding up and down； now and then springing high
in the air and knocking his heels together with blood…curdling
yells。 He seemed to feel that Macdonald would not fight； and his
courage and desire for blood grew accordingly。
〃Will you not be quate？〃 said Macdonald； rising after a few moments
from his brother's side； where he had been wiping his lips and
giving him water to drink。 〃You will be better outside。〃
〃Oui！ you strike me on the head side。 Bon！ I strike you de same
way！ By Gar！〃 so saying he approached Macdonald lightly； and
struck him a slight blow on the cheek。
〃Ay；〃 said Macdonald； growing white and rigid。 〃I struck you
twice； LeNoir。 Here！〃 he offered the other side of his face。
LeNoir danced up carefully； made a slight pass； and struck the
offered cheek。
〃Now； that is done； will it please you to do it again？〃 said
Macdonald； with earnest entreaty in his voice。 LeNoir must have
been mad with his rag