will be thinking of a fery joyful thing； and that is that 'He came
to call； not the righteous； but sinners；' and that in His day many
sinners came about Him and not one would He turn away。 And I will
be remembering a fery great sinner who cried out in his dying hour；
'Lord； remember me；' and not in vain。 And I'm thinking that the
Lord will be making it easy for men to be saved； and not hard； for
He was that anxious about it that He gave up His own life。 But it
is not given me to argue； only to tell you what I know about the
lad who is lying yonder silent。 It will be three years since he
will be coming on the shanties with me； and from the day that he
left his mother's door； till he came back again； never once did he
fail me in his duty in the camp； or on the river； or in the town；
where it was fery easy to be forgetting。 And the boys would be
telling me of the times that he would be keeping them out of those
places。 And it is not soon that Dannie Ross will be forgetting who
it was that took him back from the camp when the disease was upon
him and all were afraid to go near him； and for seex weeks； by day
and by night； watched by him and was not thinking of himself at
all。 And sure am I that the lessons he would be hearing from his
mother and in the Bible class and in the church were not lost on
him whatever。 For on the river； when the water was quiet and I
would be lying in the tent reading； it is often that Mack Cameron
would come in and listen to the Word。 Aye； he was a good lad〃the
great voice shook a little〃he would not be thinking of himself；
and at the last； it was for another man he gave his life。〃
Macdonald stood for a few moments silent； his face working while he
struggled with himself。 And then all at once he grew calm； and
throwing back his head； he looked through the door； and pointing
into the darkness； said： 〃And yonder is the lad； and with him a
great company； and his face is smiling； and； oh！ it is a good land；
a good land！〃 His voice dropped to a whisper； and he sank into his
seat。
〃God preserve us！〃 Kenny Crubach ejaculated； but old Donald Ross
rose and said； 〃Let us call upon the name of the Lord。〃 From his
prayer it was quite evident that for him at least all doubts and
fears as to poor Mack's state were removed。 And even Peter McRae；
subdued not so much by any argument of Macdonald Bhain's as by his
rapt vision； followed old Donald's prayer with broken words of hope
and thanksgiving； and it was Peter who was early at the manse next
morning to repeat to the minister the things he had seen and heard
the night before。 And all next day； where there had been the
horror of unnamable fear； hope and peace prevailed。
The service was held under the trees； and while the mother and
Bella Peter sat softly weeping； there was no bitterness in their
tears； for the sermon breathed of the immortal hope； and the hearts
of all were comforted。 There was no parade of grief； but after the
sermon was over the people filed quietly through the room to take
the last look； and then the family； with Bella and her father； were
left alone a few moments with their dead； while the Macdonald men
kept guard at the door till the time for 〃the lifting〃 would come。
After Long John passed out； followed by the family； Macdonald Bhain
entered the room； closed the lid down upon the dead face； and gave
the command to bear him forth。
So； with solemn dignity； as befitted them； they carried Big Mack
from his home to Farquhar McNaughton's light wagon。 Along the
concession road； past the new church； through the swamp； and on to
the old churchyard the long procession slowly moved。 There was no
unseemly haste； and by the time the last words were spoken； and the
mound decently rounded； the long shadows from the woods lay far
across the fields。 Quietly the people went their ways homeward；
back to their life and work； but for many days they carried with
them the memory of those funeral scenes。 And Ranald； though he
came back from Big Mack's grave troubled with questions that
refused to be answered； still carried with him a heart healed of
the pain that had torn it these last days。 He believed it was well
with his friend； but about many things he was sorely perplexed； and
it was this that brought him again to the minister's wife。
CHAPTER XII
SEED…TIME
The day after Big Mack's funeral； Ranald was busy polishing
Lizette's glossy skin； before the stable door。 This was his
favorite remedy for gloomy thoughts； and Ranald was full of gloomy
thoughts to…day。 His father； though going about the house； was
still weak； and worse than all； was fretting in his weakness。 He
was oppressed with the terrible fear that he would never again be
able to do a man's work； and Ranald knew from the dark look in his
father's face that day and night the desire for vengeance was
gnawing at his heart； and Ranald also knew something of the
bitterness of this desire from the fierce longing that lay deep in
his own。 Some day； when his fingers would be feeling for LeNoir's
throat； he would drink long and fully that sweet draught of
vengeance。 He knew； too； that it added to the bitterness in his
father's heart to know that； in the spring's work that every warm
day was bringing nearer； he could take no part； and that was partly
the cause of Ranald's gloom。 With the slow…moving oxen； he could
hardly hope to get the seed in in time； and they needed the crop
this year if ever they did； for last year's interest on the
mortgage was still unpaid and the next installment was nearly due。
As he was putting the finishing touches upon Lisette's satin skin；
Yankee drove up to the yard with his Fox horse and buckboard。 His
box was strapped on behind； and his blankets； rolled up in a
bundle； filled the seat beside him。
〃Mornin'；〃 he called to Ranald。 〃Purty fine shine； that； and purty
fine mare； all round；〃 he continued； walking about Lisette and
noting admiringly her beautiful proportions。
〃Purty fine beast；〃 he said； in a low tone； running his hands down
her legs。 〃Guess you wouldn't care to part with that mare？〃
〃No；〃 said Ranald； shortly； but as he spoke his heart sank within
him。
〃Ought to fetch a fairly good figure；〃 continued Yankee；
meditatively。 〃Le's see。 She's from La Roque's Lisette； ain't
she？ Ought to have some speed。〃 He untied Lisette's halter。
〃Take her down in the yard yonder；〃 he said to Ranald。
Ranald threw the halter over Lisette's neck； sprang on her back；
and sent her down the lane at a good smart pace。 At the bottom of
the lane he wheeled her； and riding low upon her neck； came back to
the barn like a whirlwind。
〃By jings！〃 exclaimed Yankee； surprised out of his lazy drawl；
〃she's got it； you bet your last brick。 See here； boy； there's
money into that animal。 Thought I would like to have her for my
buckboard； but I have got an onfortunit conscience that won't let
me do up any partner； so I guess I can't make any offer。〃
Ranald stood beside Lisette； his arm thrown over her beautiful
neck； and his hand fondling her gently about the ears。 〃I will not
sell her。〃 His voice was low and fierce； and all the more so
because he knew that was just what he would do； and his heart was
sick with the pain of the thought。
〃I say；〃 said Yankee； suddenly； 〃cudn't bunk me in your loft； cud
you！ Can't stand the town。 Too close。〃
The confining limitations of the Twentieth； that metropolitan
center of some dozen buildings； including the sawmill and
blacksmith shop； were too trying for Yankee's nervous system。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 said Ranald； heartily。 〃We will be very glad to
have you； and it will be the very best thing for father。〃
〃S'pose old Fox cud nibble round the brule；〃 continued Yankee；
nodding his head toward his sorrel horse。 〃Don't think I will do
much drivin' machine business。 Rather slow。〃 Yankee spent the
summer months selling sewing…machines and new patent churns。
〃There's plenty of pasture；〃 said Ranald； 〃and Fox will soon make
friends with Lisette。 She is very kind； whatever。〃
〃Ain't ever hitched her； have you？〃 said Yankee。
〃No。〃
〃Well； might hitch her up some day。 Guess you wudn't hurt the
buckboard。〃
〃Not likely；〃 said Ranald； looking at the old； ramshackle affair。
〃Used to drive some myself；〃 said Yankee。 But to this idea Ranald
did not take kindly。
Yankee stood for a few moments looking down the lane and over the
fields； and then； turning to Ranald； said； 〃Guess it's about ready
to begin plowin'。 Got quite a lot of it to do； too； ain't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ranald； 〃I was thinking I would be beginning to…morrow。〃
〃Purty slow business with the oxen。 How would it do to hitch up
Lisette and old Fox yonder？〃
Then Ranald understood the purpose of Yankee's visit。
〃I would be very glad；〃 said Ranald； a great load lifting from his
heart。 〃I was afraid of the work with only the oxen。〃 And then；
after a pause； he added； 〃What did you mean about buying Lisette？〃
He was anxious to have that point settled。
〃I said what I meant；〃 answered Yankee。 〃I thought perhaps you
would rather have the money than the colt； but I tell you what； I
hain't got money enough to put into that bird； and don't you talk
selling to any one till we see her gait hitched up。 But I guess a
little of the plow won't hurt for a few weeks or so。〃
Next day Lisette left behind her forever the free； happy days of
colthood。 At first Ranald was unwilling to trust her to any other
hands than his own； but when he saw how skillfully and gently
Yankee handled her； soothing her while he harnessed and hitched her
up； he recognized that she was safer with Yankee than with himself；
and allowed him to have the reins。
They spent the morning driving up and down the lane with Lisette
and Fox hitched to the stone…boat。 The colt had been kindly
treated from her earliest days； and consequently knew nothing of
fear。 She stepped daintily beside old Fox； fretting and chafing in
the harness； but without thought of any violent objection。 In the
afternoon the colt was put through her morning experience； with the
variation that the stone…boat was piled up with a fairly heavy load
of ear