black rock-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


words　his　pleasure　at　seeing　the　Boss　back；　and　thanked　the　men　for
their　support　while　he　had　been　in　charge。

The　men　were　for　making　a　night　of　it；　but　fearing　the　effect　upon
Graeme；　I　spoke　to　Nelson；　who　passed　the　word；　and　in　a　short　time
the　camp　was　quiet。　　As　we　sauntered　from　the　grub…camp　to　the
office　where　was　our　bed；　we　paused　to　take　in　the　beauty　of　the
night。　　The　moon　rode　high　over　the　peaks　of　the　mountains；
flooding　the　narrow　valley　with　mellow　light。　　Under　her　magic　the
rugged　peaks　softened　their　harsh　lines　and　seemed　to　lean　lovingly
toward　us。　　The　dark　pine　masses　stood　silent　as　in　breathless
adoration；　the　dazzling　snow　lay　like　a　garment　over　all　the　open
spaces　in　soft；　waving　folds；　and　crowned　every　stump　with　a
quaintly　shaped　nightcap。　　Above　the　camps　the　smoke　curled　up　from
the　camp…fires；　standing　like　pillars　of　cloud　that　kept　watch
while　men　slept。　　And　high　over　all　the　deep　blue　night　sky；　with
its　star　jewels；　sprang　like　the　roof　of　a　great　cathedral　from
range　to　range；　covering　us　in　its　kindly　shelter。　　How　homelike
and　safe　seemed　the　valley　with　its　mountain…sides；　its　sentinel
trees　and　arching　roof　of　jewelled　sky！　　Even　the　night　seemed
kindly；　and　friendly　the　stars；　and　the　lone　cry　of　the　wolf　from
the　deep　forest　seemed　like　the　voice　of　a　comrade。

'How　beautiful！　too　beautiful！'　said　Graeme；　stretching　out　his
arms。　　'A　night　like　this　takes　the　heart　out　of　me。'

I　stood　silent；　drinking　in　at　every　sense　the　night　with　its
wealth　of　loveliness。

'What　is　it　I　want？'　he　went　on。　　'Why　does　the　night　make　my　heart
ache？　　There　are　things　to　see　and　things　to　hear　just　beyond　me；　I
cannot　get　to　them。'　　The　gay；　careless　look　was　gone　from　his
face；　his　dark　eyes　were　wistful　with　yearning。

'I　often　wonder　if　life　has　nothing　better　for　me；'　he　continued
with　his　heartache　voice。

I　said　no　word；　but　put　my　arm　within　his。　　A　light　appeared　in　the
stable。　　Glad　of　a　diversion；　I　said；　'What　is　the　light？　　Let　us
go　and　see。'

'Sandy；　taking　a　last　look　at　his　team；　like　enough。'

We　walked　slowly　toward　the　stable；　speaking　no　word。　　As　we　neared
the　door　we　heard　the　sound　of　a　voice　in　the　monotone　of　one
reading。　　I　stepped　forward　and　looked　through　a　chink　between　the
logs。　　Graeme　was　about　to　open　the　door；　but　I　held　up　my　hand　and
beckoned　him　to　me。　　In　a　vacant　stall；　where　was　a　pile　of　straw；
a　number　of　men　were　grouped。　　Sandy；　leaning　against　the　tying…
post　upon　which　the　stable…lantern　hung；　was　reading；　Nelson　was
kneeling　in　front　of　him　and　gazing　into　the　gloom　beyond；　Baptiste
lay　upon　his　stomach；　his　chin　in　his　hands　and　his　upturned　eyes
fastened　upon　Sandy's　face；　Lachlan　Campbell　sat　with　his　hands
clasped　about　his　knees；　and　two　other　men　sat　near　him。　　Sandy　was
reading　the　undying　story　of　the　Prodigal；　Nelson　now　and　then
stopping　him　to　make　a　remark。　　It　was　a　scene　I　have　never　been
able　to　forget。　　To…day　I　pause　in　my　tale；　and　see　it　as　clearly
as　when　I　looked　through　the　chink　upon　it　years　ago。　　The　long；
low　stable；　with　log　walls　and　upright　hitching…poles；　the　dim
outlines　of　the　horses　in　the　gloom　of　the　background；　and　the
little　group　of　rough；　almost　savage…looking　men；　with　faces
wondering　and　reverent；　lit　by　the　misty　light　of　the　stable…
lantern。

After　the　reading；　Sandy　handed　the　book　to　Nelson；　who　put　it　in
his　pocket；　saying；　'That's　for　us；　boys；　ain't　it？'

'Ay；'　said　Lachlan；　'it　is　often　that　has　been　read　in　my　hearing；
but　I　am　afraid　it　will　not　be　for　me　whatever；'　and　he　swayed
himself　slightly　as　he　spoke；　and　his　voice　was　full　of　pain。

'The　minister　said　I　might　come；'　said　old　Nelson；　earnestly　and
hopefully。

'Ay；　but　you　are　not　Lachlan　Campbell；　and　you　hef　not　had　his
privileges。　　My　father　was　a　godly　elder　in　the　Free　Church　of
Scotland；　and　never　a　night　or　morning　but　we　took　the　Books。'

'Yes；　but　He　said　〃any　man；〃'　persisted　Nelson；　putting　his　hand　on
Lachlan's　knee。　　But　Lachlan　shook　his　head。

'Dat　young　feller；'　said　Baptiste；　'wha's　hees　nem；　heh？'

'He　has　no　name。　　It　is　just　a　parable；'　explained　Sandy。

'He's　got　no　nem？　　He's　just　a　parom'ble？　　Das　no　young　feller？'
asked　Baptiste　anxiously；　'das　mean　noting？'

Then　Nelson　took　him　in　hand　and　explained　to　him　the　meaning；
while　Baptiste　listened　even　more　eagerly；　ejaculating　softly；　'ah；
voila！　bon！　by　gar！'　　When　Nelson　had　finished　he　broke　out；　'Dat
young　feller；　his　name　Baptiste；　heh？　and　de　old　Fadder　he's　le　bon
Dieu？　　Bon！　das　good　story　for　me。　　How　you　go　back？　　You　go　to　de
pries'？'

'The　book　doesn't　say　priest　or　any　one　else；'　said　Nelson。　　'You
go　back　in　yourself；　you　see？'

'Non；　das　so；　sure　nuff。　　Ah！'as　if　a　light　broke　in　upon　him
'you　go　in　your　own　self。　　You　make　one　leetle　prayer。　　You　say；
〃Le　bon　Fadder；　oh！　I　want　come　back；　I　so　tire；　so　hongree；　so
sorree〃？　　He；　say；　〃Come　right　'long。〃　　Ah！　das　fuss…rate。　　Nelson；
you　make　one　leetle　prayer　for　Sandy　and　me。'

And　Nelson　lifted　up　his　face　and　said：　'Father；　we're　all　gone　far
away；　we　have　spent　all；　we　are　poor；　we　are　tired　of　it　all；　we
want　to　feel　different；　to　be　different；　we　want　to　come　back。
Jesus　came　to　save　us　from　our　sins；　and　he　said　if　we　came　He
wouldn't　cast　us　out；　no　matter　how　bad　we　were；　if　we　only　came　to
Him。　　Oh；　Jesus　Christ'and　his　old；　iron　face　began　to　work；　and
two　big　tears　slowly　came　from　under　his　eyelids'we　are　a　poor
lot；　and　I'm　the　worst　of　the　lot；　and　we　are　trying　to　find　the
way。　　Show　us　how　to　get　back。　　Amen。'

'Bon！'　said　Baptiste。　　'Das　fetch　Him　sure！'

Graeme　pulled　me　away；　and　without　a　word　we　went　into　the　office
and　drew　up　to　the　little　stove。　　Graeme　was　greatly　moved。

'Did　you　ever　see　anything　like　that？'　he　asked。　　'Old　Nelson！　the
hardest；　savagest；　toughest　old　sinner　in　the　camp；　on　his　knees
before　a　lot　of　men！'

'Before　God；'　I　could　not　help　saying；　for　the　thing　seemed　very
real　to　me。　　The　old　man　evidently　felt　himself　talking　to　some
one。

'Yes；　I　suppose　you're　right；'　said　Graeme　doubtfully；　'but　there's
a　lot　of　stuff　I　can't　swallow。'

'When　you　take　medicine　you　don't　swallow　the　bottle；'　I　replied；
for　his　trouble　was　not　mine。

'If　I　were　sure　of　the　medicine；　I　wouldn't　mind　the　bottle；　and
yet　it　acts　well　enough；'　he　went　on。　　'I　don't　mind　Lachlan；　he's
a　Highland　mystic；　and　has　visions；　and　Sandy's　almost　as　bad；　and
Baptiste　is　an　impulsive　little　chap。　　Those　don't　count　much。　　But
old　man　Nelson　is　a　cool…blooded；　level…headed　old　fellow；　has　seen
a　lot　of　life；　too。　　And　then　there's　Craig。　　He　has　a　better　head
than　I　have；　and　is　as　hot…blooded；　and　yet　he　is　living　and
slaving　away　in　that　hole；　and　really　enjoys　it。　　There　must　be
something　in　it。'

'Oh；　look　here；　Graeme；'　I　burst　out　impatiently；　'what's　the　use
of　your　talking　like　that？　　Of　course　there's　something　in　it。　　I
here's　everything　in　it。　　The　trouble　with　me　is　I　can't　face　the
music。　　It　calls　for　a　life　where　a　fellow　must　go　in　for　straight；
steady　work；　self…denial；　and　that　sort　of　thing；　and　I'm　too
Bohemian　for　that；　and　too　lazy。　　But　that　fellow　Craig　makes　one
feel　horribly　uncomfortable。'

Graeme　put　his　head　on　one　side；　and　examined　me　curiously。

'I　believe　you're　right　about　yourself。　　You　always　were　a
luxurious　beggar。　　But　that's　not　where　it　catches　me。'

We　sat　and　smoked　and　talked　of　other　things　for　an　hour；　and　then
turned　in。　　As　I　was　dropping　off　I　was　roused　by　Graeme's　voice

'Are　you　going　to　the　preparatory　service　on　Friday　night？'

'Don't　know；'　I　replied　rather　sleepily。

'I　say；　do　you　remember　the　preparatory　service　at　home？'　　There
was　something　in　his　voice　that　set　me　wide　awake。

'Yes。　　Rather　terrific；　wasn't　it？　　But　I　always　felt　better　after
it；'　I　replied。

'To　me'he　was　sitting　up　in　bed　now'to　me　it　was　like　a　call　to
arms；　or　rather　like　a　call　for　a　forlorn　hope。　　None　but
volunteers　wanted。　　Do　you　remember　the　thrill　in　the　old
governor's　voice　as　he　dared　any　but　the　right　stuff　to　come　on？'

'We'll　go　in　on　Friday　night；'　I　said。

And　so　we　did。　　Sandy　took　a　load　of　men　with　his　team；　and　Graeme
and　I　drove　in　the　light　sleigh。

The　meeting　was　in　the　church；　and　over　a　hundred　men　were　present。
There　was　some　singing　of　familiar　hymns　at　first；　and　then　Mr。
Craig　read　the　same　story　as　we　had　heard　in　the　stable；　that　most
perfect　of　all　parables；　the　Prodigal　Son。　　Baptiste　nudged　Sandy
in　delight；　and　whispered　something；　but　Sandy　held　his　face　so
absolutely　expressionless　that　Graeme　was　moved　to　say

'Look　at　Sandy！　　Did　you　ever　see　such　a　graven　image？　　Something
has　hit　him　hard。'

The　men　were　held　fast　by　the　story。　　The　voice　of　the　reader；　low；
earnest；　and　thrilling　with　the　tender　pathos　of　the　tale；　carried
the　words　to　our　hearts；　while　a　glance；　a　gesture；　a　movement　of
the　body　gave　us　the　vision　of　it　all　as　he　was　seeing　it。

Then；　in　simplest　of　words；　he　told　us　what　the　story　meant；
holding　us　the　while　with　eyes；　and　voice；　and　gesture。　　He
compelled　us　scorn　the　gay；　heartless　selfishness　of　the　young　fool
setting　forth　so　jauntily　from　the　broken　home；　he　moved　our　pity
and　our　sympathy　for　the　young　profligate；　who；　broken　and
deserted；　had　still　pluck　enough　to　determine　to　work　his　way　back；
and　who；　in　utter　desperation；　at　last　gave　it　up；　and　then　he
showed　us　the　homecomingthe　ragged；　heart…sick　tramp；　with
hesitating　steps；　stumbling　along　the　dusty　road；　and　then　the　rush
of　the　old　father；　his　garments　fluttering；　and　his　voice　heard　in
broken　cries。　　I　see　and　hear　it　all　now；　whenever　the　words　are
read。

He　announced　the　hymn；　'Just　as　I　am；'　read　the　first　verse；　and
then　went　on：　'There　you　are；　men；　every　man　of　you；　somewhere　on
the　road。　　Some　of　you　are　too　lazy'here　Graeme　nudged　me'and
some　of　you　haven't　got　enough　yet　of　the　far　country　to　come　back。
May　there　be　a　chance　for　you　when　you　want　to　come！　　Men；　you　all
want　to　go　back　home；　and　when　you　go　you'll　want　to　put　on　your
soft　clothes；　and　you　won't　go　till　you　can　go　in　good　style；　but
where　did　the　prodigal　get　his　good　clothes？'　　Quick　came　the
answer　in　Baptiste's　shrill　voice

'From　de　old　fadder！'

No　one　was　surprised；　and　the　minister　went　on

'Yes！　and　that's　where　we　must　get　the　good；　clean　heart；　the　good；
clean；　brave　heart；　from　our　Father。　　Don't　wait；　but；　just　as　you
are；　come。　　Sing。'

They　sang；　not　loud；　as　they　would　'Stand　Up；'　or　even　'The　Sweet
By　and　By；'　but　in　voices　subdued；　holding　down　the　power　in　them。

After　the　singing；　Craig　stood　a　moment　gazing　down　at　the　men；　and
then　said　quietly

'Any　man　want　to　come？　　You　all　might　come。　　We　all　must　come。'
Then；　sweeping　his　arm　over　the　audience；　and　turning　half　round　as
if　to　move　off；　he　cried；　in　a　voice　that　thrilled　to　the　heart's
core

'Oh！　come　on！　　Let's　go　back！'

The　effect　was　overpowering。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　the　whole
company　half　rose　to　their　feet。　　Of　the　prayer　that　immediately
followed；　I　only　caught　the　opening　sentence；　'Father；　we　are
coming　back；'　for　my　attention　was　suddenly　absorbed　by　Abe；　th