black rock-第3章

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others；　stood　up。　　Old　man　Nelson　held　his　eyes　steadily　on　the
minister。

Only　once　before　had　I　seen　that　look　on　a　human　face。　　A　young
fellow　had　broken　through　the　ice　on　the　river　at　home；　and　as　the
black　water　was　dragging　his　fingers　one　by　one　from　the　slippery
edges；　there　came　over　his　face　that　same　look。　　I　used　to　wake　up
for　many　a　night　after　in　a　sweat　of　horror；　seeing　the　white　face
with　its　parting　lips；　and　its　piteous；　dumb　appeal；　and　the　black
water　slowly　sucking　it　down。

Nelson's　face　brought　it　all　back；　but　during　the　prayer　the　face
changed；　and　seemed　to　settle　into　resolve　of　some　sort；　stern；
almost　gloomy；　as　of　a　man　with　his　last　chance　before　him。

After　the　prayer　Mr。　Craig　invited　the　men　to　a　Christmas　dinner
next　day　in　Black　Rock。　　'And　because　you　are　an　independent　lot；
we'll　charge　you　half　a　dollar　for　dinner　and　the　evening　show。'
Then　leaving　a　bundle　of　magazines　and　illustrated　papers　on　the
tablea　godsend　to　the　menhe　said　good…bye　and　went　out。

I　was　to　go　with　the　minister；　so　I　jumped　into　the　sleigh　first；
and　waited　while　he　said　good…bye　to　Graeme；　who　had　been　hard　hit
by　the　whole　service；　and　seemed　to　want　to　say　something。　　I　heard
Mr。　Craig　say　cheerfully　and　confidently；　'It's　a　true　bill：　try
Him。'

Sandy；　who　had　been　steadying　Dandy　while　that　interesting　broncho
was　attempting　with　great　success　to　balance　himself　on　his　hind
legs；　came　to　say　good…bye。　　'Come　and　see　me　first　thing；　Sandy。'

'Ay！　I　know；　I'll　see　ye；　Mr。　Craig；'　said　Sandy　earnestly；　as
Dandy　dashed　off　at　a　full　gallop　across　the　clearing　and　over　the
bridge；　steadying　down　when　he　reached　the　hill。

'Steady；　you　idiot！'

This　was　to　Dandy；　who　had　taken　a　sudden　side　spring　into　the　deep
snow；　almost　upsetting　us。　　A　man　stepped　out　from　the　shadow。　　It
was　old　man　Nelson。　　He　came　straight　to　the　sleigh；　and；　ignoring
my　presence　completely；　said

'Mr。　Craig；　are　you　dead　sure　of　this？　　Will　it　work？'

'Do　you　mean；'　said　Craig；　taking　him　up　promptly；　'can　Jesus
Christ　save　you　from　your　sins　and　make　a　man　of　you？'

The　old　man　nodded；　keeping　his　hungry　eyes　on　the　other's　face。

'Well；　here's　His　message　to　you：　〃The　Son　of　Man　is　come　to　seek
and　to　save　that　which　was　lost。〃'

'To　me？　　To　me？'　said　the　old　man　eagerly。

'Listen；　this；　too；　is　His　Word：　〃Him　that　cometh　unto　Me　I　will　in
no　wise　cast　out。〃　　That's　for　you；　for　here　you　are；　coming。'

'You　don't　know　me；　Mr。　Craig。　　I　left　my　baby　fifteen　years　ago
because'

'Stop！'　said　the　minister。　　'Don't　tell　me；　at　least　not　to…night；
perhaps　never。　　Tell　Him　who　knows　it　all　now；　and　who　never
betrays　a　secret。　　Have　it　out　with　Him。　　Don't　be　afraid　to　trust
Him。'

Nelson　looked　at　him；　with　his　face　quivering；　and　said　in　a　husky
voice；　'If　this　is　no　good；　it's　hell　for　me。'

'If　it　is　no　good；'　replied　Craig；　almost　sternly；　'it's　hell　for
all　of　us。'

The　old　man　straightened　himself　up；　looked　up　at　the　stars；　then
back　at　Mr。　Craig；　then　at　me；　and；　drawing　a　deep　breath；　said；
'I'll　try　Him。'　　As　he　was　turning　away　the　minister　touched　him　on
the　arm；　and　said　quietly；　'Keep　an　eye　on　Sandy　to…morrow。'

Nelson　nodded；　and　we　went　on；　but　before　we　took　the　next　turn　I
looked　back　and　saw　what　brought　a　lump　into　my　throat。　　It　was　old
man　Nelson　on　his　knees　in　the　snow；　with　his　hands　spread　upward
to　the　stars；　and　I　wondered　if　there　was　any　One　above　the　stars；
and　nearer　than　the　stars；　who　could　see。　　And　then　the　trees　hid
him　from　my　sight


CHAPTER　II

THE　BLACK　ROCK　CHRISTMAS


Many　strange　Christmas　Days　have　I　seen；　but　that　wild　Black　Rock
Christmas　stands　out　strangest　of　all。　　While　I　was　revelling　in　my
delicious　second　morning　sleep；　just　awake　enough　to　enjoy　it；　Mr。
Craig　came　abruptly；　announcing　breakfast　and　adding；　'Hope　you　are
in　good　shape；　for　we　have　our　work　before　us　this　day。'

'Hello！'　I　replied；　still　half　asleep；　and　anxious　to　hide　from　the
minister　that　I　was　trying　to　gain　a　few　more　moments　of　snoozing
delight；　'what's　abroad？'。

'The　devil；'　he　answered　shortly；　and　with　such　emphasis　that　I　sat
bolt　upright；　looking　anxiously　about。

'Oh！　no　need　for　alarm。　　He's　not　after　you　particularlyat　least
not　to…day；'　said　Craig；　with　a　shadow　of　a　smile。　　'But　he　is
going　about　in　good　style；　I　can　tell　you。'

By　this　time　I　was　quite　awake。　　'Well；　what　particular　style　does
His　Majesty　affect　this　morning？'

He　pulled　out　a　showbill。　　'Peculiarly　gaudy　and　effective；　is　it
not？'

The　items　announced　were　sufficiently　attractive。　　The　'Frisco
Opera　Company　were　to　produce　the　'screaming　farce；'　'The　Gay　and
Giddy　Dude'；　after　which　there　was　to　be　a　'Grand　Ball；'　during
which　the　'Kalifornia　Female　Kickers'　were　to　do　some　fancy
figures；　the　whole　to　be　followed　by　a　'big　supper'　with　'two　free
drinks　to　every　man　and　one　to　the　lady；'　and　all　for　the
insignificant　sum　of　two　dollars。

'Can't　you　go　one　better？'　I　said。

He　looked　inquiringly　and　a　little　disgustedly　at　me。

'What　can　you　do　against　free　drinks　and　a　dance；　not　to　speak　of
the　〃High　Kickers〃？'　he　groaned。

'No！'　he　continued；　'it's　a　clean　beat　for　us　today。　　The　miners
and　lumbermen　will　have　in　their　pockets　ten　thousand　dollars；　and
every　dollar　burning　a　hole；　and　Slavin　and　his　gang　will　get　most
of　it。　　But；'　he　added；　'you　must　have　breakfast。　　You'll　find　a
tub　in　the　kitchen；　don't　be　afraid　to　splash。　　It　is　the　best　I
have　to　offer　you。'

The　tub　sounded　inviting；　and　before　many　minutes　had　passed　I　was
in　a　delightful　glow；　the　effect　of　cold　water　and　a　rough　towel；
and　that　consciousness　of　virtue　that　comes　to　a　man　who　has　had
courage　to　face　his　cold　bath　on　a　winter　morning。

The　breakfast　was　laid　with　fine　taste。　　A　diminutive　pine…tree；　in
a　pot　hung　round　with　wintergreen；　stood　in　the　centre　of　the
table。

'Well；　now；　this　looks　good；　porridge；　beefsteak；　potatoes；　toast；
and　marmalade。'

'I　hope　you　will　enjoy　it　all。'

There　was　not　much　talk　over　our　meal。　　Mr。　Craig　was　evidently
preoccupied；　and　as　blue　as　his　politeness　would　allow　him。
Slavin's　victory　weighed　upon　his　spirits。　　Finally　he　burst　out；
'Look　here！　　I　can't；　I　won't　stand　it；　something　must　be　done。
Last　Christmas　this　town　was　for　two　weeks；　as　one　of　the　miners
said；　〃a　little　suburb　of　hell。〃　　It　was　something　too　awful。　　And
at　the　end　of　it　all　one　young　fellow　was　found　dead　in　his　shack；
and　twenty　or　more　crawled　back　to　the　camps；　leaving　their　three
months'　pay　with　Slavin　and　his　suckers。

'I　won't　stand　it；　I　say。'　　He　turned　fiercely　on　me。　　'What's　to
be　done？'

This　rather　took　me　aback；　for　I　had　troubled　myself　with　nothing
of　this　sort　in　my　life　before；　being　fully　occupied　in　keeping
myself　out　of　difficulty；　and　allowing　others　the　same　privilege。
So　I　ventured　the　consolation　that　he　had　done　his　part；　and　that　a
spree　more　or　less　would　not　make　much　difference　to　these　men。
But　the　next　moment　I　wished　I　had　been　slower　in　speech；　for　he
swiftly　faced　me；　and　his　words　came　like　a　torrent。

'God　forgive　you　that　heartless　word！　　Do　you　know？　　But　no；　you
don't　know　what　you　are　saying。　　You　don't　know　that　these　men　have
been　clambering　for　dear　life　out　of　a　fearful　pit　for　three　months
past；　and　doing　good　climbing　too；　poor　chaps。　　You　don't　think
that　some　of　them　have　wives；　most　of　them　mothers　and　sisters；　in
the　east　or　across　the　sea；　for　whose　sake　they　are　slaving　here；
the　miners　hoping　to　save　enough　to　bring　their　families　to　this
homeless　place；　the　rest　to　make　enough　to　go　back　with　credit。
Why；　there's　Nixon；　miner；　splendid　chap；　has　been　here　for　two
years；　and　drawing　the　highest　pay。　　Twice　he　has　been　in　sight　of
his　heaven；　for　he　can't　speak　of　his　wife　and　babies　without
breaking　up；　and　twice　that　slick　son　of　the　devilthat's
Scripture；　mind　youSlavin；　got　him；　and　〃rolled〃　him；　as　the　boys
say。　　He　went　back　to　the　mines　broken　in　body　and　in　heart。　　He
says　this　is　his　third　and　last　chance。　　If　Slavin　gets　him；　his
wife　and　babies　will　never　see　him　on　earth　or　in　heaven。　　There　is
Sandy；　too；　and　the　rest。　　And；'　he　added；　in　a　lower　tone；　and
with　the　curious　little　thrill　of　pathos　in　his　voice；　'this　is　the
day　the　Saviour　came　to　the　world。'　　He　paused；　and　then　with　a
little　sad　smile；　'But　I　don't　want　to　abuse　you。'

'Do；　I　enjoy　it；　I'm　a　beast；　a　selfish　beast'；　for　somehow　his
intense；　blazing　earnestness　made　me　feel　uncomfortably　small。

'What　have　we　to　offer？'　I　demanded。

'Wait　till　I　have　got　these　things　cleared　away；　and　my
housekeeping　done。'

I　pressed　my　services　upon　him；　somewhat　feebly；　I　own；　for　I　can't
bear　dishwater；　but　he　rejected　my　offer。

'I　don't　like　trusting　my　china　to　the　hands　of　a　tender…foot。'

'Quite　right；　though　your　china　would　prove　an　excellent　means　of
defence　at　long　range。'　　It　was　delf；　a　quarter　of　an　inch　thick。
So　I　smoked　while　he　washed　up；　swept；　dusted；　and　arranged　the
room。

After　the　room　was　ordered　to　his　taste；　we　proceeded　to　hold
council。　　He　could　offer　dinner；　magic　lantern；　music。　　'We　can
fill　in　time　for　two　hours；　but；'　he　added　gloomily；　'we　can't　beat
the　dance　and　the　〃High　Kickers。〃'

'Have　you　nothing　new　or　startling？'

He　shook　his　head。

'No　kind　of　show？　　Dog　show？　　Snake　charmer？'

'Slavin　has　a　monopoly　of　the　snakes。'

Then　he　added　hesitatingly；　'There　was　an　old　Punch…and…Judy　chap
here　last　year；　but　he　died。　　Whisky　again。'

'What　happened　to　his　show？'

'The　Black　Rock　Hotel　man　took　it　for　board　and　whisky　bill。　　He
has　it　still；　I　suppose。'

I　did　not　much　relish　the　business；　but　I　hated　to　see　him　beaten；
so　I　ventured；　'I　have　run　a　Punch　and　Judy　in　an　amateur　way　at
the　'Varsity。'

He　sprang　to　his　feet　with　a　yell。

'You　have！　you　mean　to　say　it？　　We've　got　them！　　We've　beaten
them！'　　He　had　an　extraordinary　way　of　taking　your　help　for
granted。　　'The　miner　chaps；　mostly　English　and　Welsh；　went　mad　over
the　poor　old　showman；　and　made　him　so　wealthy　that　in　sheer
gratitude　he　drank　himself　to　death。'

He　walked　up　and　down　in　high　excitement　and　in　such　evident
delight　that　I　felt　pledged　to　my　best　effort。

'Well；'　I　said；　'first　the　poster。　　We　must　beat　them　in　that。'

He　brought　me　large　sheets　of　brown　paper；　and　after　two　hours'
hard　work　I　had　half　a　dozen　pictorial　showbills　done　in　gorgeous
colours　and　striking　designs。　　They　were　good；　if　I　do　say　it
myself。

The　turkey；　the　magic　lantern；　the　Punch　and　Judy　show　were　all
there；　the　last　with　a　crowd　before　it　in　gaping　delight。　　A　few
explanatory　words　were　thrown　in；　emphasising　the　highly　artistic
nature　of　the　Punch　and　Judy　entertainment。

Craig　was　delighted；　and　proceeded　to　perfect　his　plans。　　He　had
some　half　a　dozen　young　men；　four　young　ladies；　and　eight　or　ten
matrons；　upon　whom　he　could　depend　for　help。　　These　he　organised
into　a　vigilance　committee　charged　with　the　duty　of　preventing
miners　and　lumbermen　from　getting　away　to　Slavin's。　　'The　critical
moments　will　be　immediately　before　and　after　dinner；　and　then　again
after　the　show　is　over；'　he　explained。　　'The　first