ue　to　begin。　　His　audience；　to　most　of　whom　the　song　was　known；　caught　by　a　mysterious　telepathy　the　tense　emotion　of　the　boy；　and　stood　silent　and　eager；　all　smiles　gone　from　their　faces。　　The　song　was　in　the　Ruthenian　tongue；　but　was　the　heart　cry　of　a　Russian　exile；　a　cry　for　freedom　for　his　native　land；　for　death　to　the　tyrant；　for　vengeance　on　the　traitor。　　Nowhere　in　all　the　Czar's　dominions　dared　any　man　sing　that　song。
  As　the　boy's　strong；　clear　voice　rang　out　in　the　last　cry　for　vengeance；　there　thrilled　in　his　tones　an　intensity　of　passion　that　gripped　hard　the　hearts　of　those　who　had　known　all　their　lives　long　the　bitterness　of　tyranny　unspeakable。　　In　the　last　word　the　lad's　voice　broke　in　a　sob。　　Most　of　that　company　knew　the　boy's　story；　and　knew　that　he　was　singing　out　his　heart's　deepest　passion。
  When　the　song　was　finished；　there　was　silence　for　a　few　brief　moments；　then　a　man；　a　Russian；　caught　the　boy　in　his　arms；　lifted　him　on　his　shoulder　and　carried　him　round　the　room；　the　rest　of　the　men　madly　cheering。　　All　but　one。　　Trembling　with　inarticulate　rage；　Rosenblatt　strode　to　the　musicians。
  〃Listen！〃　he　hissed　with　an　oath。　　〃Do　I　pay　you　for　this？　　No　more　of　this　folly！　　Play　up　a　czardas；　and　at　once！〃
  The　musicians　hastened　to　obey；　and　before　the　cheers　had　died；　the　strains　of　the　czardas　filled　the　room。　　With　the　quick　reaction　from　the　tragic　to　the　gay；　the　company　swung　into　this　joyous　and　exciting　dance。　　Samuel　Sprink；　seizing　Irma；　whirled　her　off　into　the　crowd　struggling　and　protesting；　but　all　in　vain。　　After　the　dance　there　was　a　general　rush　for　the　beer　keg；　with　much　noise　and　good…natured　horse　play。　　At　the　other　end　of　the　room；　however；　there　was　a　fierce　struggle　going　on。　　Samuel　Sprink；　excited　by　the　dance　and；　it　must　be　confessed；　by　an　unusual　devotion　to　the　beer　keg　that　evening；　was　still　retaining　his　hold　of　Irma；　and　was　making　determined　efforts　to　kiss　her。
  〃Let　me　go！〃　cried　the　girl；　struggling　to　free　herself。　　〃You　must　not　touch　me！　　Let　me　go！〃
  〃Oh；　come　now；　little　one；〃　said　Samuel　pleasantly；　〃don't　be　so　mighty　stiff　about　it。　　One　kiss　and　I　let　you　go。〃
  〃That's　right；　Samuel；　my　boy；〃　shouted　Rosenblatt；　〃she　only　wants　coaxing　just　a　little　mucher。〃
  Rosenblatt's　words　were　followed　by　a　chorus　of　encouraging　cheers；　for　Samuel　was　not　unpopular　among　the　men；　and　none　could　see　any　good　reason　why　a　girl　should　object　to　be　kissed；　especially　by　such　a　man　as　Samuel；　who　was　already　so　prosperous　and　who　had　such　bright　prospects　for　the　future。
  But　Irma　continued　to　struggle；　till　Kalman；　running　to　her　side；　cried；　〃Let　my　sister　go！〃
  〃Go　away；　Kalman。　　I　am　not　hurting　your　sister。　　It's　only　fun。　Go　away；〃　said　Sprink。
  〃She　does　not　think　it　fun；〃　said　the　boy　quietly。　　〃Let　her　go。〃
  〃Oh；　go　away；　you　leetle　kid。　　Go　away　and　sit　down。　　You　think　yourself　too　much。〃
  It　was　Rosenblatt's　harsh　voice。　　As　he　spoke；　he　seized　the　boy　by　the　collar　and　with　a　quick　jerk　flung　him　back　among　the　crowd。　It　was　as　if　he　had　fired　some　secret　magazine　of　passion　in　the　boy's　heart。　　Uttering　the　wild　cry　of　a　mad　thing；　Kalman　sprang　at　him　with　such　lightning　swiftness　that　Rosenblatt　was　borne　back　and　would　have　fallen；　but　for　those　behind。　　Recovering　himself；　he　dealt　the　boy　a　heavy　blow　in　the　face　that　staggered　him　for　a　moment；　but　only　for　a　moment。　　It　seemed　as　if　the　boy　had　gone　mad。　　With　the　same　wild　cry；　and　this　time　with　a　knife　open　in　his　hand；　he　sprang　at　his　hated　enemy；　stabbing　quick；　fierce　stabs。　　But　this　time　Rosenblatt　was　ready。　　Taking　the　boy's　stabs　on　his　arm；　he　struck　the　boy　a　terrific　blow　on　the　neck。　　As　Kalman　fell；　he　clutched　and　hung　to　his　foe；　who；　seizing　him　by　the　throat；　dragged　him　swiftly　toward　the　door。
  〃Hold　this　shut；〃　he　said　to　a　friend　of　his　who　was　following　him　close。
  After　they　had　passed　through；　the　man　shut　the　door　and　held　it　fast；　keeping　the　crowd　from　getting　out。
  〃Now；〃　said　Rosenblatt；　dragging　the　half…insensible　boy　around　to　the　back　of　the　house；　〃the　time　is　come。　　The　chance　is　too　good。　You　try　to　kill　me；　but　there　will　be　one　less　Kalmar　in　the　world　to…night。　　There　will　be　a　little　pay　back　of　my　debt　to　your　cursed　father。　　Take　thatand　that。〃　　As　he　spoke　the　words；　he　struck　the　boy　hard　upon　the　head　and　face；　and　then　flinging　him　down　in　the　snow；　proceeded　deliberately　to　kick　him　to　death。
  But　even　as　he　threw　the　boy　down；　a　shrill　screaming　pierced　through　the　quiet　of　the　night；　and　from　the　back　of　the　house　a　little　girl　ran　shrieking。　　〃He　is　killing　him！　　He　is　killing　him！〃
  It　was　little　Elizabeth　Ketzel；　who　had　been　let　in　through　the　back　window　to　hear　Kalman　sing；　and　who；　at　the　first　appearance　of　trouble；　had　fled　by　the　way　she　had　entered；　meeting　Rosenblatt　as　he　appeared　dragging　the　insensible　boy　through　the　snow。　　Her　shrieks　arrested　the　man　in　his　murderous　purpose。　　He　turned　and　fled；　leaving　the　boy　bleeding　and　insensible　in　the　snow。
  As　Rosenblatt　disappeared；　a　cutter　drove　rapidly　up。
  〃What's　the　row；　kiddie？〃　said　a　man；　springing　out。　　It　was　Dr。　Wright；　returning　from　a　midnight　trip　to　one　of　his　patients　in　the　foreign　colony。　　〃Who's　killing　who？〃
  〃It　is　Kalman！〃　cried　Elizabeth；　〃and　he　is　dead！　　Oh；　he　is　dead！〃
  The　doctor　knelt　beside　the　boy。　　〃Great　Caesar！　　It　surely　is　my　friend　Kalman；　and　in　a　bad　way。　　Some　more　vendetta　business；　I　have　no　doubt。　　Now　what　in　thunder　is　that；　do　you　suppose？〃　　From　the　house　came　a　continuous　shrieking。　　〃Some　more　killing；　I　guess。　　Here；　throw　this　robe　about　the　boy　while　I　see　about　this。〃
  He　ran　to　the　door　and　kicked　it　open。　　It　seemed　as　if　the　whole　company　of　twenty　or　thirty　men　were　every　man　fighting。　　As　the　doctor　paused　to　get　his　bearings；　he　saw　across　the　room　in　the　farthest　corner；　Irma　screaming　as　she　struggled　in　the　grasp　of　Samuel　Sprink；　and　in　the　midst　of　the　room　Paulina　fighting　like　a　demon　and　uttering　strange　weird　cries。　　She　was　trying　to　force　her　way　to　the　door。
  As　she　caught　sight　of　the　doctor；　she　threw　out　her　hands　toward　him　with　a　loud　cry。　　〃Kalmankilling！　　Kalmankilling！〃　was　all　she　could　say。
  The　doctor　thrust　himself　forward　through　the　struggling　men；　crying　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Here；　you；　let　that　woman　go！　　And　you　there；　let　that　girl　alone！〃
  Most　of　the　men　knew　him；　and　at　his　words　they　immediately　ceased　fighting。
  〃What　the　deuce　are　you　at；　anyway；　you　men？〃　he　continued；　as　Paulina　and　the　girl　sprang　past　him　and　out　of　the　door。　　〃Do　you　fight　with　women？〃
  〃No；〃　said　one　of　the　men。　　〃Dis　man；〃　pointing　to　Sprink；　〃he　mak　fun　wit　de　girl。〃
  〃Mighty　poor　fun；〃　said　the　doctor；　turning　toward　Sprink。　　〃And　who　has　been　killing　that　boy　outside？〃
  〃It　is　that　young　devil　Kalman；　who　has　been　trying　to　kill　Mr。　Rosenblatt；〃　replied　Sprink。
  〃Oh；　indeed；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃and　what　was　the　gentle　Mr。　Rosenblatt　doing　meantime？〃
  〃Rosenblatt？〃　cried　Jacob　Wassyl；　coming　forward　excitedly。　　〃He　mak　for　hurt　dat　boy。　　Dis　man；〃　pointing　to　Sprink；　〃he　try　for　kiss　dat　girl。　　Boy　he　say　stop。　　Rosenblatt　he　trow　boy　back。　　Boy　he　fight。〃
  〃Look　here；　Jacob；〃　said　Dr。　Wright；　〃you　get　these　men's　names　this　man；〃　pointing　to　Sprink；　〃and　a　dozen　moreand　we'll　make　this　interesting　for　Rosenblatt　in　the　police　court　to…morrow　morning。〃
  Outside　the　house　the　doctor　found　Paulina　sitting　in　the　snow　with　Kalman's　head　in　her　lap；　swaying　to　and　fro　muttering　and　groaning。　　Beside　her　stood　Irma　and　Elizabeth　Ketzel　weeping　wildly。　　The　doctor　raised　the　boy　gently。
  〃Get　into　the　cutter；〃　he　said　to　Paulina。　　Irma　translated。　　The　woman　ran　without　a　word；　seated　herself　in　the　cutter　and　held　out　her　arms　for　the　boy。
  〃That　will　do；〃　said　the　doctor；　laying　Kalman　in　her　arms。　　〃Now　get　some　shawls；　quilts　or　something　for　your　mother　and　yourself；　or　you'll　freeze　to　death；　and　come　along。〃
  The　girl　rushed　away　and　returned　in　a　few　moments　with　a　bundle　of　shawls。
  〃Get　in；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃and　be　quick。〃
  The　men　were　crowding　about。
  〃Now；　Jacob；〃　said　the　doctor；　turning　to　Wassyl；　who　stood　near；　〃you　get　me　those　names　and　we'll　get　after　that　man；　you　bet！　or　I'm　a　Turk。　　This　boy　is　going　to　die；　sure。〃
  As　he　spoke；　he　sprang　into　his　cutter　and　sent　his　horse　off　at　a　gallop；　for　by　the　boy's　breathing　he　felt　that　the　chances　of　life　were　slipping　swiftly　away。
  CHAPTER　X
  JACK　FRENCH　OF　THE　NIGHT　HAWK　RANCH
  A　map　of　Western　Canada　showing　the　physical　features　of　the　country　lying　between　the　mountains　on　the　one　side　and　the　Bay　and　the　Lakes　on　the　other；　presents　the　appearance　of　a　vast　rolling　plain　scarred　and　seamed　and　pitted　like　an　ancient　face。　　These　scars　and　seams　and　pits　are　great　lazy　rivers；　meandering　streams；　lakes；　sleughs　and　marshes　which　form　one　vast　system　of　waters　that　wind　and　curve　through　the　rolls　of　the　prairie　and　nestle　in　its　sunlit　hollows；　laying；　draining；　blessing　where　they　go　and　where　they　stay。
  By　these；　the　countless　herds　of　buffalo　and　deer　quenched　their　thirst　in　the　days　when　they；　with　their　rival　claimants　for　the　land；　the　Black　Feet　and　the　Crees；　roamed