Harrigan

by Max Brand

  CHAPTER 13

  Harrigan strode off through the trees. To loosen the tight, achingmuscles of his throat he began to sing--old Irish songs with a wail anda swing to them. He had taken no certain direction, for he only wishedto be alone and far away from the other two; but after a time herealized that he was on the side of the central hill to which McTee hadgone to look for the dry wood. Above all things in the world he wishedto avoid the Scotchman now, and as soon as he became conscious of hiswhereabouts, he veered sharply to the right. He had scarcely walked aminute in the new direction before he met McTee. The latter had seenhim first, and now stood with braced feet in his position of battle,rolling the sleeves of his shirt away from his forearms. Harriganstepped behind a tree.

  "Come out," roared McTee. "I've seen you. Don't try to sneak behind andtake me from the back."

  With an exceeding bitterness of heart, Harrigan stepped into viewagain.

  "You look sick," went on McTee. "If you knew what would happen when wemet, why did you come? If you fear me, go back and hug the skirts ofthe girl. She'll take pity on you, Harrigan."

  The Irishman groaned. "Think your thoughts an' say your say, McTee. Ican't lay a hand on you today."

  The latter stepped close, stupefied with wonder.

  "Do I hear you right? Are you taking water, Harrigan?"

  Harrigan bowed his head, praying mutely for strength to endure.

  "Don't say it!" pleaded McTee. "I've hunted the world and worn theroads bare looking for one man who could stand up to me--and now thatI've found him, he turns yellow inside!"

  And he looked upon the Irishman with a sick horror, as if the bigfellow were turning into a reptile before his eyes. On the face ofHarrigan there was an expression like that of the starving man whom thefear of poison induces to push away food.

  "There's no word I can speak to you, McTee. You could never understand.Go back to the girl. Maybe she'll explain."

  "The girl?"

  At the wild hope in that voice Harrigan shuddered, and he could notlook up.

  "Harrigan, what do you mean?"

  "Don't ask me. Leave me alone, McTee."

  "Here's a mystery," said the Scotchman, "and our little party ispostponed. The date is changed, that's all. Remember!"

  He stepped off through the trees in the direction of the shelter on thebeach, leaving Harrigan to throw himself upon the ground in a paroxysmof shame and hate.

  But McTee, with hope to spur him on--a vague hope; a thought halfformed and therefore doubly delightful--went with great strides untilhe came to Kate where she sat tending the fire. He broke at once intothe heart of his question.

  "I met Harrigan. He's changed. Something has happened. Tell me what itis. He says you know."

  He crouched close to her, intent and eager, his eyes ready to read athousand meanings into the very lowering of her lashes; but she let herglance rove past him.

  "Well?" he asked impatiently.

  "It is hard to speak of it."

  Cold doubt fell upon the captain; he moistened his lips before hespoke.

  "Hit straight from the shoulder. There's something between you and theIrishman?"

  She dropped a hand over his mighty fist.

  "After all, you are our only friend, Angus. Why shouldn't you know?"

  He stood up and made a few paces to and fro, his hands locked behindhim and his leonine head fallen low.

  "Yes, why shouldn't you tell me! I think I understand already."

  All desire to laugh went from her, and deep fear took its place; hereyes were held fascinated upon his interlaced fingers, white undertheir own terrific pressure; yet she understood that she must go on. Ifshe failed, this mighty force would be turned against Harrigan; andHarrigan, not less grim in battle, as she could guess, would be turnedagainst him.

  She said quickly, to conceal her fear: "I thought there was sometrouble between you and Dan. I asked him to promise that he would notfight with you. But I don't need to ask you to promise not to fightwith him, for now that you know--"

  He leaped up and beat his hands together over his head.

  "And that was why! I taunted him and all the time he was laughing tohimself!"

  He stopped and then whispered to himself: "Still, it's only postponed.The tune will come! The time will come!"

  She understood the promise.

  "Angus! What are you saying?"

  He said quietly: "Harrigan's safe from me while you care for him. Doyou think I'm fool enough to make a martyr of him? Not I! But when weget back to the world--"

  He finished the sentence by slowly flexing his fingers.

  "I love you, Kate, and until the strength goes out of my hands, I'llstill love you. I want you; and what I want I get. You'll hate me forit, eh?"

  He went off without waiting for an answer, stumbling as he walked likeone who was dazed. Her strength held with her until he was out of sightamong the trees, but then she sank to the ground, panting. Sooner orlater they were sure to discover her ruse, and the moment one of themlearned that she did not love the other, they would rush into battle.She only prayed that the discovery would not come till they were safelyoff the island. Once back in the world the strong arm of the law mightsuffice to keep them apart.

  The falling of the fire roused her at last and she set about gatheringwood to keep it alive. It was the Irishman who returned first. He wavedher to the shade of the shelter and finished collecting the wood.