“Indade an' that's a ha-r-r-d one,” laughed Murphy.
“And will you tell me what right hev you to close up the river?” Black Hugh's wrath was rising.
“You wud think now it wuz yirsilf that owned the river. An' bedad it's the thought of yir mind, it is. An' it's not the river only, but the whole creation ye an yir brother think is yours.” Dan Murphy was close up to Macdonald Dubh by this time. “Yis, blank, blank, yir faces, an' ye'd like to turn better than yirsilves from aff the river, so ye wud, ye black-hearted thaves that ye are.”
This, of course, was beyond all endurance. For answer Black Hugh smote him sudden and fierce on the mouth, and Murphy went down.
“Purty one,” sang out Yankee, cheerily. “Now, boys, back to the wall.”
Before Murphy could rise, LeNoir sprang over him and lit upon Macdonald like a cat, but Macdonald shook himself free and sprang back to the Glengarry line at the wall.
“Mac an' Diabboil,” he roared, “Glengarry forever!”
“Glengarry!” yelled the four Highlanders beside him, wild with the delight of battle. It was a plain necessity, and they went into it with free consciences and happy hearts.
“Let me at him,” cried Murphy, struggling past LeNoir towards Macdonald.
“Non! He is to me!” yelled LeNoir, dancing in front of Macdonald.