Lamont

“ Were Menotah to strike me down in death, I should fall blessing her.'
Lamont tried to free his arm, but the Indian's fingers closed it round like steel springs. 'You are a fighter and hunter. Keep your strength, and do not waste it in the arms of a woman.'
'The white chief is also a warrior. When the blood runs hot, the heart may thirst for nothing but war and power. But when the fight is done, and darkness creeps around, he stretches forth his limbs in the tent and calls for love.'
Lamont feared lest the impetuous lover should again burst into his passion song. ”

“ It was then that Lamont's gaze fell to the other shore, and perceived in the raw light the altered position of the flags. The quick eyes, watching his movements, noticed the sudden start, so the red lips parted in a request for explanation. ”

“ He would not take away the sun, the day shine, and leave only the black night of despair.'
'Wouldn't he?' said Lamont, coolly. 'Why not?'
'Because he is merciful,' cried Muskwah, clasping his sinewy hands. 'Every man may love, yet none may resign the heart already bound.'
Lamont laughed. 'What a sickly sentiment,' he muttered carelessly.
The eyes of the Indian flashed, while his bosom heaved. He raised his hands, with head erect, in a pose of proud defiance. ”

“ A tall figure glided quickly from the bush behind, and crossed the rock-strewn space. When he saw Lamont he paused, as though he had unexpectedly come upon the object of his search and doubted how to act.
For the young man's growing intimacy with the fair forest queen of the Saskatchewan could not escape the naturally keen eyes of her watchers. The aged Chief but shook his weak head, as he watched the light-hearted girl dancing along the sunshine with laugh and happy song. ”

“ Lamont, 'if you were to regulate our conduct!'
'By no means, sir,' answered Miss Mancel, 'I wish to make only these alterations, to change noise for real mirth, flutter for settled cheerfulness, affected wit for rational conversation; and would but have that degree of dissipation banished which deprives people of time for reflection on the motives for, and consequences of, their actions, that their pleasures may be real and permanent, and followed neither by repentance nor punishment. ”

“ Lamont was associated with the Royal Astronomical Society in 1837, with the Royal Societies of Edinburgh and London respectively in 1845 and 1862, and was appointed in 1852 professor of astronomy in the university of Munich. He was a member of most of the scientific academies of Europe, and among the orders with which he was decorated were those of Gregory the Great (conferred by Pius IS) ,of the Northern Star of Sweden, and of the Crown of Bavaria, the last carrying with it a title of nobility. He led a tranquil, solitary life, never married, and was indifferent to ordinary enjoyments. ”

“ It was a strange evening of wild colour and intense calm. Nothing in Nature stirred, except the wide stream of tinted waves. Sound there was absolutely none along the stifling atmosphere. Even mosquitoes were quiescent, and frogs silent.
Lamont came slowly towards the fort, threading a sinuous course among the black rock shapes. Every slight noise, such as the swishing aside of kanikaniks, the scraping of boot against stone, the crisp crackling of dry grass, became abnormal in that profound quiet. ”

“ Frantically she cried, in a piercing voice which rose above the storm, 'Help! He is escaping. The window!'
A second of silence, then there came deep voices and sounds of hurried footsteps.
'There is death on the point of the knife.' Again she held back the struggling Marie.
Lamont sprang to the window. Freedom was his. Another second—one more step forward, then the darkness would have received him, the night would have covered his flight. But that step was not to be made.
A man rose up suddenly from the gloom, a spare man with thin, nervous face. ”

“ Ignoring the presence of his rival, Lamont passed aside and entered the scrub bush which fringed the odorous forest. But, noiseless and agile as the overhead chipmunk, Muskwah followed in his track, scarce ever ceasing from his melodious and heartfelt appeal. Since he played the part of suppliant, he argued with his opponent without heat, though passion might not be denied. He invoked the higher sense of right. Surely only the Indian was fit mate for the Indian. Where would be the 'heart of joy' when the brain had been touched by fancy, the mind spoilt in imagination? ”

“ Quickly the other found words. 'Can a man see the sun at noon? Who could wish for beauty when Menotah stands by?'
'You're right enough,' said Lamont, carelessly. 'She is—'
'What is she to you?' broke in the old Chief violently. 'No longer will she look upon those of the tribe as equals, no longer does she respect the needs of her sire. When I call for her, the answer comes, "She is absent; she has gone to the forest." When I search, failure but mocks my efforts. What have you done to her? Why have you turned her against her own people?'
'She is a good deal to me,' said Lamont. ”

“ One evening Sinclair was resting and smoking his pipe. Then this other man crept up and shot him through the bushes.'
Lamont moistened his lips. 'Did he escape?'
Menotah shook her head gladly. 'They caught him, and the warriors tied him to a tree, then shot at him with arrows. Some day I will show you that tree. But he was a coward. He cried for mercy when the women tied his arms.'
'But he was only doing his duty,' argued Lamont, with his careless air. 'You say that vengeance is necessary.'
'But I would never steal upon my enemy and shoot him down. That is the act of a man who fears to fight. ”

“ He's an only boy, so I reckon the people wouldn't want to come hard on him.'
'Lots of his class around,' said Lamont, thinking of the heated faces and desperate struggle at Fish Creek.
'And they're darned sight better-hearted than the good ones that mope at home. Mind you, Lamont, not a word to the boy. Not a word, or you'd spoil the racket.'
Justin called to them from the slime-green rock which the big fir shadowed.
Lamont waved his hand. 'I reckon he's found,' he said shortly.
'What are you driving at anyway? Why should he want to stay out there? Goldam! ”

“ Lamont laughed. 'Spirits could steal away nothing.'
'They breathe, and the substance vanishes; they touch, and it melts. Often have I seen the wind carrying a tree uprooted. I have also looked upon a tent borne on the storm. There is a Spirit in the wind.'
A furious roar of thunder convulsed the dread silence. As it died away, Dave burst into renewed howlings, and commenced an attack upon the table with the black bottle.
'You shouldn't have come here.'
'Why not?'
'Two drunken men—and you.' He shrugged his shoulders.
'But when a man drinks much strong water, he is helpless. ”

“ Then the Indian started forward suddenly, with vengeance in his face.
'Yet there is something beside. There is an oath. Swear that you will never speak to her on the heart's pain. Swear by the Spirit. Swear that you will not enter into her life.'
Lamont stepped against a straight pine, confident in his strength. 'Diable s'en mêle!' he muttered. Then to the Indian, 'Get back to the encampment, you crazy fool.'
Passion raged along every muscle of the grey-dark face. He cast aside control over voice and actions. 'Am I to lose Menotah after spending my life for her? ”

“ The cleanliness and neatness of the young women thus employed, rendered them a more pleasing subject for Lamont's contemplation than any thing we had yet seen; in them we beheld rural simplicity, without any of those marks of poverty and boorish rusticity, which would have spoilt the pastoral air of the scene around us ”

“ The night's the time, I tell you. When you're tired, there's always a glass of whisky and bed waiting. What more can a man want?'
'Only home and friends,' muttered the other, in a low voice.
Lamont, in the meantime, was left to himself, as he thought, in the fort. So, as he satisfied the cravings of man within, he speculated upon the possibility of danger for man without. For that night he would have his hands full. The Factor was useless as a rifle shot, so they were very short-handed. Still, his own aim was unerring.
He smiled to himself, as he lay back in a bright ray of moonlight. ”

“ Lamont and Steve dressed quickly. Steve said he’d go on with the eight trucks and meet us in Salzburg. Then Lamont and I started back toward Bad Ischl.
We hadn’t gone more than five miles when we came upon three of our vehicles. We signaled them to pull over to the side of the road. At first we couldn’t make out what the drivers were saying—all three talked at once. We finally got the story. A driver had taken a curve too fast and had lost control of his truck. ”

“ Not finding him at his house, Ebner Ford found him some days later at his club.
It proved to be a winning day for Ebner Ford. Luck was with him from the first. He explained to Lamont, “man to man,” all that had happened. He found Lamont exceedingly nervous after his spree, but [266] generous, his latter condition of mind, no doubt, due to his heavy winnings and his desire to stand well in favor with Mrs. Ford.
The two men had a heavy luncheon at a near-by chop-house, and at the end of it Lamont would not hear of Sue leaving the apartment. ”

“ This tall, pale man, who rang true as gold, he, too, was a born gambler, but he played like a gentleman, and could go to bed at daylight [259] owing no man a grudge, and with the sincere belief that that which he had won he had won honestly.
Lamont played on—played on as he had luckily the night before, and the night before that. Flushed with his luck, when he finished this morning at five, he had over six thousand dollars of the house’s money. The old negro saw him out with a smile, and he handed him a five-dollar bill for his trouble. ”

“ Sieber had been a restorer of pictures in Berlin and had done a little dealing on the side. It was the half-mournful expression he perpetually wore, together with his white costume, that accounted for Lamont’s appellation. George had described him as a good, run-of-the-mill restorer, perhaps a little better than average. He had sized him up as a man ninety-eight per cent preoccupied with his profession and possibly two per cent concerned with politics. And George, as I think I have observed before, was a good judge of men. Sieber was a quiet, willing worker. ”

“ You seek Menotah's love—'
'Surely!' broke in the Indian, with a fury of passion. 'What other woman is there who can so stir the heart within a man? Who would not die for her favour, or fight for her love?'
A sneer crossed Lamont's face, while his eyes grew cold. The keen-sighted Indian marked the change. 'Let not the white chief mock at my poor words. It is the heart that speaks, and the tongue must obey the thought. The white chief knows that my love is for Menotah, that my life joy lies at the utterance of her voice. ”

“ Then Lamont came forward, with his usual grace of motion. 'You're right,' he said slowly; 'the rifle's strapped to the saddle yet. No Indian would lose such a chance.'
The Factor bit at his moustache, and glanced round towards Winton beneath heavy eyebrows. Midway his gaze was arrested by Lamont, and the two stared at each other in the white light. McAuliffe was the first to lower his gaze.
Kitty, the grey one-eyed mare, came and rubbed her nose against the black horse. Then an owl hooted loudly from the edge of the bush. ”

“ I asked.
“If we must have an excuse, I can think of at least four,” he said thoughtfully. “We’re out of cigarettes and candy. We ought to be on hand when they unpack the sculpture at the Collecting Point. We’ve worked for a week without taking a day off. And perhaps there’ll be some mail for us at Posey’s office.”
“What about the little brown bear? Do you think he’ll mind our taking off?” I asked. This was Lamont’s name for Steve, but it was never used when he was within earshot.
“Steve’s had his trip for this week,” said Lamont, meaning Steve’s trip to Alt Aussee. ”

“ Bill Monahan himself never touched liquor, his clean pot of tea, which he drank from liberally, being always simmering within his reach.
Lamont had not a single enemy at Regan’s. He [253] spent his money freely to the twang of one of the best banjo players the world has ever known. That a gentleman of so much innate refinement should have chosen a dive to amuse himself in—a place that reeked with the odor of evil, and through whose heat, and smoke, and glaring lights the faces of so many lost souls stared at one like spectres—seems incredible. ”

“ He told himself that there was not a chance in a thousand of its failing; that Lamont could not very well refuse him. “Takin’ all things considered,” he mused, as he hung to a strap—“dead stuck on girlie, that’s certain—one of them little bargains that a feller like him will snap at.”
He began to wish that it was he instead of Lamont who had gotten into so much free print. “Wouldn’t have cost me a cent,” he reasoned, “and given me more solid advertisement than I could have bought fer a thousand dollars. Ain’t nothin’ like publicity to bring a feller into the public eye.” ”

“ Lamont shrugged his shoulders and laughed. 'Takes somebody else,' he said lightly.
Yet he was astonished at her manner of receiving his words. She pushed him away with a sudden impulse, while her bosom heaved and the bright eyes flashed.
'Surely she would seek after vengeance? She would punish him?'
'You do not understand the workings of the world, Menotah,' came the careless answer.
'No—I go higher. For I know the call of Nature. If animals seek to obey the will of the Spirit, why should men and women do less? ”