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Macdonald； with earnest entreaty in his voice。 LeNoir must have
been mad with his rage and vanity； else he had caught the glitter
in the blue eyes looking through the shaggy hair。 Again LeNoir
approached； this time with greater confidence； and dealt Macdonald
a stinging blow on the side of the head。
〃Now the Lord be praised；〃 he cried； joy breaking out in his face。
〃He has delivered my enemy into my hand。 For it is the third time
he has smitten me； and that is beyond the limit appointed by
Himself。〃 With this he advanced upon LeNoir with a glad heart。
His conscience was clear at last。
LeNoir stood up against his antagonist。 He well knew he was about
to make the fight of his life。 He had beaten men as big as
Macdonald； but he knew that his hope lay in keeping out of the
enemy's reach。 So he danced around warily。 Macdonald followed
him slowly。 LeNoir opened with a swift and savage reach for
Macdonald's neck； but failed to break the guard and danced out
again； Macdonald still pressing on him。 Again and again LeNoir
rushed； but the guard was impregnable； and steadily Macdonald
advanced。 That steady； relentless advance began to tell on the
Frenchman's nerves。 The sweat gathered in big drops on his
forehead and ran down his face。 He prepared for a supreme effort。
Swiftly retreating； he lured Macdonald to a more rapid advance；
then with a yell he doubled himself into a ball and delivered
himself head； hands； and feet into Macdonald's stomach。 It is a
trick that sometimes avails to break an unsteady guard and to
secure a clinch with an unwary opponent。 But Macdonald had been
waiting for that trick。 Stopping short； he leaned over to one
side； and stooping slightly； caught LeNoir low and tossed him clear
over his head。 LeNoir fell with a terrible thud on his back； but
was on his feet again like a cat and ready for the ever…advancing
Macdonald。 But though he had not been struck a single blow he knew
that he had met his master。 That unbreakable guard； the smiling
face with the gleaming； unsmiling eyes； that awful unwavering
advance； were too much for him。 He was pale； his breath came in
quick gasps； and his eyes showed the fear of a hunted beast。 He
prepared for a final effort。 Feigning a greater distress than he
felt； he yielded weakly to Macdonald's advance； then suddenly
gathering his full strength he sprang into the air and lashed out
backward at that hated； smiling face。 His boot found its mark；
not on Macdonald's face； but fair on his neck。 The effect was
terrific。 Macdonald staggered back two or three paces； but before
LeNoir could be at him； he had recovered sufficiently to maintain
his guard； and shake off his foe。 At the yell that went up from
Murphy's men； the big Highlander's face lost its smile and became
keen and cruel； his eyes glittered with the flash of steel and he
came forward once more with a quick； light tread。 His great body
seemed to lose both size and weight； so lightly did he step on
tiptoe。 There was no more pause； but lightly； swiftly； and eagerly
he glided upon LeNoir。 There was something terrifying in that
swift； cat…like movement。 In vain the Frenchman backed and dodged
and tried to guard。 Once； twice； Macdonald's fists fell。 LeNoir's
right arm hung limp by his side and he staggered back to the wall
helpless。 Without an instant's delay； Macdonald had him by the
throat； and gripping him fiercely； began to slowly bend him
backward over his knee。 Then for the first time Macdonald spoke：
〃LeNoir；〃 he said； solemnly； 〃the days of your boasting are over。
You will no longer glory in your strength； for now I will break
your back to you。〃
LeNoir tried to speak； but his voice came in horrible gurgles。 His
face was a ghastly greenish hue； lined with purple and swollen
veins； his eyes were standing out of his head； and his breath
sobbing in raucous gasps。 Slowly the head went back。 The crowd
stood in horror…stricken silence waiting for the sickening snap。
Yankee； unable to stand it any longer； stepped up to his chief； and
in a most matter of fact voice drawled out； 〃About an inch more
that way I guess 'll do the trick； if he ain't double…jointed。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Macdonald； holding grimly on。
〃Tonald；〃Black Hugh's voice sounded faint but clear in the awful
silence〃Tonaldyou will notbe killinghim。 Remember that
now。 I willneverforgive youif you willtake thatfrom my
hands。〃
The cry for vengeance smote Macdonald to the heart； and recalled
him to himself。 He paused； threw back his locks from his eyes；
then relaxing his grip； stood up。
〃God preserve me！〃 he groaned； 〃what am I about？〃
For some time he remained standing silent； with head down as if not
quite sure of himself。 He was recalled by a grip of his arm。 He
turned and saw his nephew； Ranald； at his side。 The boy's dark
face was pale with passion。
〃And is that all you are going to do to him？〃 he demanded。
Macdonald gazed at him。
〃Do you not see what he has done？〃 he continued； pointing to his
father； who was still lying propped up on some coats。 〃Why did you
not break his back？ You said you would！ The brute； beast！〃
He hurled out the words in hot hate。 His voice pierced the noise
of the room。 Macdonald stood still； gazing at the fierce； dark
face in solemn silence。 Then he sadly shook his head。
〃My lad； 'Vengeance is mine saith the Lord。' It would have pleased
me well； but the hand of the Lord was laid upon me and I could not
kill him。〃
〃Then it is myself will kill him；〃 he shrieked； springing like a
wildcat at LeNoir。 But his uncle wound his arms around him and
held him fast。 For a minute and more he struggled fiercely； crying
to be set free； till recognizing the uselessness of his efforts he
grew calm； and said quietly； 〃Let me loose； uncle； I will be
quiet。〃 And his uncle set him free。 The boy shook himself； and
then standing up before LeNoir said； in a high； clear voice：
〃Will you hear me； LeNoir？ The day will come when I will do to you
what you have done to my father； and if my father will die； then by
the life of God ＇a common oath among the shanty…men＇ I will have
your life for it。〃 His voice had an unearthly shrillness in it；
and LeNoir shrank back。
〃Whist； whist； lad！ be quate！〃 said his uncle； 〃these are not goot
words。〃 The lad heeded him not； but sank down beside his father on
the floor。 Black Hugh raised himself on his elbow with a grim
smile on his face。
〃It is a goot lad whatever； but please God he will not need to keep
his word。〃 He laid his hand in a momentary caress upon his boy's
shoulder； and sank back again； saying； 〃Take me out of this。〃
Then Macdonald Bhain turned to Dan Murphy and gravely addressed
him：
〃Dan Murphy； it is an ungodly and cowardly work you have done this
day； and the curse of God will be on you if you will not repent。〃
Then he turned away； and with Big Mack's help bore his brother to
the pointer； followed by his men； bloody； bruised； but unconquered。
But before he left the room LeNoir stepped forward； and offering
his hand； said； 〃You mak friends wit' me。 You de boss bully on de
reever Hottawa。〃
Macdonald neither answered nor looked his way； but passed out in
grave silence。
Then Yankee Jim remarked to Dan Murphy； 〃I guess you'd better git
them logs out purty mighty quick。 We'll want the river in about
two days。〃 Dan Murphy said not a word； but when the Glengarry men
wanted the river they found it open。
But for Macdonald the fight was not yet over； for as he sat beside
his brother； listening to his groans； his men could see him
wreathing his hands and chanting in an undertone the words；
〃Vengeance is mine saith the Lord。〃 And as he sat by the camp…fire
that night listening to Yankee's account of the beginning of the
trouble； and heard how his brother had kept himself in hand； and
how at last he had been foully smitten； Macdonald's conflict
deepened； and he rose up and cried aloud：
〃God help me！ Is this to go unpunished？ I will seek him to…morrow。〃
And he passed out into the dark woods。
After a few moments the boy Ranald slipped away after him to beg
that he might be allowed to go with him to…morrow。 Stealing
silently through the bushes he came to where he could see the
kneeling figure of his uncle swaying up and down； and caught the
sounds of words broken with groans：
〃Let me go； O Lord！ Let me go！〃 He pled now in Gaelic and again
in English。 〃Let not the man be escaping his just punishment。
Grant me this； O； Lord！ Let me smite but once！〃 Then after a
pause came the words； 〃'Vengeance is mine saith the Lord！'
Vengeance is mine！ Ay； it is the true word！ But； Lord； let not
this man of Belial； this Papish； escape！〃 Then again； like a
refrain would come the words； 〃Vengeance is mine。 Vengeance is
mine；〃 in ever…deeper agony； till throwing himself on his face； he
lay silent a long time。
Suddenly he rose to his knees and so remained； looking steadfastly
before him into the woods。 The wind came sighing through the pines
with a wail and a sob。 Macdonald shuddered and then fell on his
face again。 The Vision was upon him。 〃Ah； Lord； it is the bloody
hands and feet I see。 It is en