He's after keeping
us poor and making himself rich. He's after getting the cinch on two
towns and three railways, and doing what he likes with it all; and we're
after not having him do it, you bet. That's how it is, old hoss."
The other stroked his beard with hands which, somehow, gave little
indication of age, and then, with a sudden jerk forward of his head, he
said: "Oh, it's like that, eh? Is that what M'sieu' Marchand told you?
That's what he said, is it?"
The big river-driver, eager to maintain his supreme place as leader,
lunged forward a step, and growled a challenge.
"Who said it? What does it matter if M'sieu' Marchand said it--it's
true. If I said it, it's true. All of us in this room say it, and it's
true. Young Marchand says what Manitou says."
The old man's eyes grew brighter--they were exceedingly sharp for one so
old, and he said quite gently now:
"M. Marchand said it first, and you all say it afterwards--ah, bah! But
listen to me; I know Max Ingolby that you think is such a villain; I know
him well. I knew him when he was a little boy and--"
"You was his nurse, I suppose!" cried the Englishman's voice amid a roar
of laughter.
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