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 necessity--Donald man--and--he
took me--unawares--with his--keeck."

"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 will--not be--killing 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.