black rock-第15章

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appreciation　of　the　concession　of　the　committee　to　the　principles　of
the　League　in　the　important　matter　of　refreshments　by　attending　in
force。

Nixon　would　not　go。　　However　jauntily　he　might　talk；　he　could　not
trust　himself；　as　he　said；　where　whisky　was　flowing；　for　it　got
into　his　nose　'like　a　fish…hook　into　a　salmon。'　　He　was　from
Nova　Scotia。　　For　like　reason；　Vernon　Winton；　the　young　Oxford
fellow；　would　not　go。　　When　they　chaffed；　his　lips　grew　a　little
thinner；　and　the　colour　deepened　in　his　handsome　face；　but　he　went
on　his　way。　　Geordie　despised　the　'hale　hypothick'　as　a　'daft
ploy；'　and　the　spending　of　five　dollars　upon　a　ticket　he　considered
a　'sinfu'　waste　o'　guid　siller'；　and　he　warned　Billy　against
'coontenancin'　ony　sic　redeeklus　nonsense。'

But　no　one　expected　Billy　to　go；　although　the　last　two　months　he
had　done　wonders　for　his　personal　appearance；　and　for　his　position
in　the　social　scale　as　well。　　They　all　knew　what　a　fight　he　was
making；　and　esteemed　him　accordingly。　　How　well　I　remember　the
pleased　pride　in　his　face　when　he　told　me　in　the　afternoon　of　the
committee's　urgent　request　that　he　should　join　the　orchestra　with
his　'cello！　　It　was　not　simply　that　his　'cello　was　his　joy　and
pride；　but　he　felt　it　to　be　a　recognition　of　his　return　to
respectability。

I　have　often　wondered　how　things　combine　at　times　to　a　man's
destruction。

Had　Mr。　Craig　not　been　away　at　the　Landing　that　week；　had　Geordie
not　been　on　the　night…shift；　had　Mrs。　Mavor　not　been　so　occupied
with　the　care　of　her　sick　child；　it　may　be　Billy　might　have　been
saved　his　fall。

The　anticipation　of　the　ball　stirred　Black　Rock　and　the　camps　with
a　thrill　of　expectant　delight。　　Nowadays；　when　I　find　myself　forced
to　leave　my　quiet　smoke　in　my　studio　after　dinner　at　the　call　of
some　social　engagement　which　I　have　failed　to　elude；　I　groan　at　my
hard　lot；　and　I　wonder　as　I　look　back　and　remember　the　pleasurable
anticipation　with　which　I　viewed　the　approaching　ball。　　But　I　do
not　wonder　now　any　more　than　I　did　then　at　the　eager　delight　of　the
men　who　for　seven　days　in　the　week　swung　their　picks　up　in　the　dark
breasts　of　the　mines；　or　who　chopped　and　sawed　among　the　solitary
silences　of　the　great　forests。　　Any　break　in　the　long　and　weary
monotony　was　welcome；　what　mattered　the　cost　or　consequence！　　To
the　rudest　and　least　cultured　of　them　the　sameness　of　the　life　must
have　been　hard　to　bear；　but　what　it　was　to　men　who　had　seen　life　in
its　most　cultured　and　attractive　forms　I　fail　to　imagine。　　From　the
mine；　black　and　foul；　to　the　shack；　bare；　cheerless；　and　sometimes
hideously　repulsive；　life　swung　in　heart…grinding　monotony　till　the
longing　for　a　'big　drink'　or　some　other　'big　break'　became　too
great　to　bear。

It　was　well　on　towards　evening　when　Sandy's　four　horse　team；　with　a
load　of　men　from　the　woods；　came　swinging　round　the　curves　of　the
mountain…road　and　down　the　street。　　A　gay　crowd　they　were　with
their　bright；　brown　faces　and　hearty　voices；　and　in　ten　minutes　the
whole　street　seemed　alive　with　lumbermenthey　had　a　faculty　of
spreading　themselves　so。　　After　night　fell　the　miners　came　down
'done　up　slick；'　for　this　was　a　great　occasion；　and　they　must　be　up
to　it。　　The　manager　appeared　in　evening　dress；　but　this　was　voted
'too　giddy'　by　the　majority。

As　Graeme　and　I　passed　up　to　the　Black　Rock　Hotel；　in　the　large
store…room　of　which　the　ball　was　to　be　held；　we　met　old　man　Nelson
looking　very　grave。

'Going；　Nelson；　aren't　you？'　I　said。

'Yes；'　he　answered　slowly；　'I'll　drop　in；　though　I　don't　like　the
look　of　things　much。'

'What's　the　matter；　Nelson？'　asked　Graeme　cheerily。　　'There's　no
funeral　on。'

'Perhaps　not；'　replied　Nelson；　'but　I　wish　Mr。　Craig　were　home。'
And　then　he　added；　'There's　Idaho　and　Slavin　together；　and　you　may
bet　the　devil　isn't　far　off。'

But　Graeme　laughed　at　his　suspicion；　and　we　passed　on。　　The
orchestra　was　tuning　up。　　There　were　two　violins；　a　concertina；　and
the　'cello。　　Billy　Breen　was　lovingly　fingering　his　instrument；　now
and　then　indulging　himself　in　a　little　snatch　of　some　air　that　came
to　him　out　of　his　happier　past。　　He　looked　perfectly　delighted；　and
as　I　paused　to　listen　he　gave　me　a　proud　glance　out　of　his　deep；
little；　blue　eyes；　and　went　on　playing　softly　to　himself。
Presently　Shaw　came　along。

'That's　good；　Billy；'　he　called　out。　　'You've　got　the　trick　yet；　I
see。〃

But　Billy　only　nodded　and　went　on　playing。

'Where's　Nixon？'　I　asked。

'Gone　to　bed；'　said　Shaw；　'and　I　am　glad　of　it。　　He　finds　that　the
safest　place　on　pay…day　afternoon。　　The　boys　don't　bother　him
there。'

The　dancing…room　was　lined　on　two　sides　with　beer…barrels　and
whisky…kegs；　at　one　end　the　orchestra　sat；　at　the　other　was　a　table
with　refreshments；　where　the　'soft　drinks'　might　be　had。　　Those　who
wanted　anything　else　might　pass　through　a　short　passage　into　the
bar　just　behind。

This　was　evidently　a　superior　kind　of　ball；　for　the　men　kept　on
their　coats；　and　went　through　the　various　figures　with　faces　of
unnatural　solemnity。　　But　the　strain　upon　their　feelings　was　quite
apparent；　and　it　became　a　question　how　long　it　could　be　maintained。
As　the　trips　through　the　passage…way　became　more　frequent　the
dancing　grew　in　vigour　and　hilarity；　until　by　the　time　supper　was
announced　the　stiffness　had　sufficiently　vanished　to　give　no
further　anxiety　to　the　committee。

But　the　committee　had　other　cause　for　concern；　inasmuch　as　after
supper　certain　of　the　miners　appeared　with　their　coats　off；　and
proceeded　to　'knock　the　knots　out　of　the　floor'　in　break…down
dances　of　extraordinary　energy。　　These；　however；　were　beguiled　into
the　bar…room　and　'filled　up'　for　safety；　for　the　committee　were
determined　that　the　respectability　of　the　ball　should　be　preserved
to　the　end。　　Their　reputation　was　at　stake；　not　in　Black　Rock　only；
but　at　the　Landing　as　well；　from　which　most　of　the　ladies　had　come；
and　to　be　shamed　in　the　presence　of　the　Landing　people　could　not　be
borne。　　Their　difficulties　seemed　to　be　increasing；　for　at　this
point　something　seemed　to　go　wrong　with　the　orchestra。　　The　'cello
appeared　to　be　wandering　aimlessly　up　and　down　the　scale；
occasionally　picking　up　the　tune　with　animation；　and　then　dropping
it。　　As　Billy　saw　me　approaching；　he　drew　himself　up　with　great
solemnity；　gravely　winked　at　me；　and　said

'Shlipped　a　cog；　Mishter　Connor！　　Mosh　hunfortunate！　　Beauchiful
hinstrument；　but　shlips　a　cog。　　Mosh　hunfortunate！'

And　he　wagged　his　little　head　sagely；　playing　all　the　while　for
dear　life；　now　second　and　now　lead。

Poor　Billy！　　I　pitied　him；　but　I　thought　chiefly　of　the　beautiful；
eager　face　that　leaned　towards　him　the　night　the　League　was　made；
and　of　the　bright　voice　that　said；　'You'll　sign　with　me；　Billy？'
and　it　seemed　to　me　a　cruel　deed　to　make　him　lose　his　grip　of　life
and　hope；　for　this　is　what　the　pledge　meant　to　him。

While　I　was　trying　to　get　Billy　away　to　some　safe　place；　I　heard　a
great　shouting　in　the　direction　of　the　bar；　followed　by　trampling
and　scuffling　of　feet　in　the　passage…way。　　Suddenly　a　man　burst
through；　crying

'Let　me　go！　　Stand　back！　　I　know　what　I'm　about！'

It　was　Nixon；　dressed　in　his　best；　black　clothes；　blue　shirt；　red
tie；　looking　handsome　enough；　but　half…drunk　and　wildly　excited。
The　highland　Fling　competition　was　on　at　the　moment；　and　Angus
Campbell；　Lachlan's　brother；　was　representing　the　lumber　camps　in
the　contest。　　Nixon　looked　on　approvingly　for　a　few　moments；　then
with　a　quick　movement　he　seized　the　little　Highlander；　swung　him　in
his　powerful　arms　clean　off　the　floor；　and　deposited　him　gently
upon　a　beer…barrel。　　Then　he　stepped　into　the　centre　of　the　room；
bowed　to　the　judges；　and　began　a　sailor's　hornpipe。

The　committee　were　perplexed；　but　after　deliberation　they　decided
to　humour　the　new　competitor；　especially　as　they　knew　that　Nixon
with　whisky　in　him　was　unpleasant　to　cross。

Lightly　and　gracefully　he　went　through　his　steps；　the　men　crowding
in　from　the　bar　to　admire；　for　Nixon　was　famed　for　his　hornpipe。
But　when；　after　the　hornpipe；　he　proceeded　to　execute　a　clog…dance；
garnished　with　acrobatic　feats；　the　committee　interfered。　　There
were　cries　of　'Put　him　out！'　and　'Let　him　alone！　　Go　on；　Nixon！'
And　Nixon　hurled　back　into　the　crowd　two　of　the　committee　who　had
laid　remonstrating　hands　upon　him；　and；　standing　in　the　open
centre；　cried　out　scornfully

'Put　me　out！　　Put　me　out！　　Certainly！　　Help　yourselves！　　Don't　mind
me！'　　Then　grinding　his　teeth；　so　that　I　heard　them　across　the
room；　he　added　with　savage　deliberation；　'If　any　man　lays　a　finger
on　me；　I'llI'll　eat　his　liver　cold。'

He　stood　for　a　few　moments　glaring　round　upon　the　company；　and　then
strode　toward　the　bar；　followed　by　the　crowd　wildly　yelling。　　The
ball　was　forthwith　broken　up。　　I　looked　around　for　Billy；　but　he
was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　　Graeme　touched　my　arm

'There's　going　to　be　something　of　a　time；　so　just　keep　your　eyes
skinned。'

'What　are　you　going　to　do？'　I　asked。

'Do？　　Keep　myself　beautifully　out　of　trouble；'　he　replied。

In　a　few　moments　the　crowd　came　surging　back　headed　by　Nixon；　who
was　waving　a　whisky…bottle　over　his　head　and　yelling　as　one
possessed。

'Hello！'　exclaimed　Graeme　softly；　'I　begin　to　see。　　Look　there！'

'What's　up？'　I　asked。

'You　see　Idaho　and　Slavin　and　their　pets；'　he　replied。

'They've　got　poor　Nixon　in　tow。　　Idaho　is　rather　nasty；'　he　added；
'but　I　think　I'll　take　a　hand　in　this　game；　I've　seen　some　of
Idaho's　work　before。'

The　scene　was　one　quite　strange　to　me；　and　was　wild　beyond
description。　　A　hundred　men　filled　the　room。　　Bottles　were　passed
from　hand　to　hand；　and　men　drank　their　fill。　　Behind　the
refreshment…tables　stood　the　hotelman　and　his　barkeeper　with　their
coats　off　and　sleeves　rolled　up　to　the　shoulder；　passing　out
bottles；　and　drawing　beer　and　whisky　from　two　kegs　hoisted　up　for
that　purpose。　　Nixon　was　in　his　glory。　　It　was　his　night。　　Every
man　was　to　get　drunk　at　his　expense；　he　proclaimed；　flinging　down
bills　upon　the　table。　　Near　him　were　some　League　men　he　was
treating　liberally；　and　never　far　away　were　Idaho　and　Slavin
passing　bottles；　but　evidently　drinking　little。

I　followed　Graeme；　not　feeling　too　comfortable；　for　this　sort　of
thing　was　new　to　me；　but　admiring　the　cool　assurance　with　which　he
made　his　way　through　the　crowd　that　swayed　and　yelled　and　swore　and
laughed　in　a　most　disconcerting　manner。

'Hello！'　shouted　Nixon　as　he　caught　sight　of　Graeme。　　'Here　you
are！'　passing　him　a　bottle。　　'You're　a　knocker；　a　double…handed
front　door　knocker。　　You　polished　off　old　whisky…soak　here；　old
demijohn；'　pointing　to　Slavin；　'and　I'll　lay　five　to　one　we　can
lick　any　blankety　blank　thieves　in　the　crowd；'　and　he　held　up　a
roll　of　bills。

But　Graeme　proposed　that　he　should　give　the　hornpipe　again；　and　the
floor　was　cleared　at　once；　for　Nixon's　hornpipe　was　very　popular；
and　tonight；　of　course；　was　in　high　favour。　　In　the　midst　of　his
dance　Nixon　stopped　short；　his　arms　dropped　to　his　side；　his　face
had　a　look　of　fear；　of　horror。

There；　before　him；　in　his　riding…cloak　and　boots；　with　his　whip　in
his　hand　as　he　had　come　from　his　ride；　stood　Mr。　Craig。　　His　face
was　pallid；　a