black rock-第16章

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his　hand　as　he　had　come　from　his　ride；　stood　Mr。　Craig。　　His　face
was　pallid；　and　his　dark　eyes　were　blazing　with　fierce　light。　　As
Nixon　stopped；　Craig　stepped　forward　to　him；　and　sweeping　his　eyes
round　upon　the　circle　he　said　in　tones　intense　with　scorn

'You　cowards！　　You　get　a　man　where　he's　weak！　　Cowards！　you'd　damn
his　soul　for　his　money！'

There　was　dead　silence；　and　Craig；　lifting　his　hat；　said　solemnly

'May　God　forgive　you　this　night's　work！'

Then；　turning　to　Nixon；　and　throwing　his　arm　over　his　shoulder；　he
said　in　a　voice　broken　and　husky

'Come　on；　Nixon！　we'll　go！'

Idaho　made　a　motion　as　if　to　stop　him；　but　Graeme　stepped　quickly
foreword　and　said　sharply；　'Make　way　there；　can't　you？'　and　the
crowd　fell　back　and　we　four　passed　through；　Nixon　walking　as　in　a
dream；　with　Craig's　arm　about　him。　　Down　the　street　we　went　in
silence；　and　on　to　Craig's　shack；　where　we　found　old　man　Nelson；
with　the　fire　blazing；　and　strong　coffee　steaming　on　the　stove。　　It
was　he　that　had　told　Craig；　on　his　arrival　from　the　Landing；　of
Nixon's　fall。

There　was　nothing　of　reproach；　but　only　gentlest　pity；　in　tone　and
touch　as　Craig　placed　the　half…drunk；　dazed　man　in　his　easy…chair；
took　off　his　boots；　brought　him　his　own　slippers；　and　gave　him
coffee。　　Then；　as　his　stupor　began　to　overcome　him；　Craig　put　him
in　his　own　bed；　and　came　forth　with　a　face　written　over　with　grief。

'Don't　mind；　old　chap；'　said　Graeme　kindly。

But　Craig　looked　at　him　without　a　word；　and；　throwing　himself　into
a　chair；　put　his　face　in　his　hands。　　As　we　sat　there　in　silence　the
door　was　suddenly　pushed　open　and　in　walked　Abe　Baker　with　the
words；　'Where　is　Nixon？'　and　we　told　him　where　he　was。　　We　were
still　talking　when　again　a　tap　came　to　the　door；　and　Shaw　came　in
looking　much　disturbed。

'Did　you　hear　about　Nixon？'　he　asked。　　We　told　him　what　we　knew。

'But　did　you　hear　how　they　got　him？'　he　asked；　excitedly。

As　he　told　us　the　tale；　the　men　stood　listening；　with　faces　growing
hard。

It　appeared　that　after　the　making　of　the　League　the　Black　Rock
Hotel　man　had　bet　Idaho　one　hundred　to　fifty　that　Nixon　could　not
be　got　to　drink　before　Easter。　　All　Idaho's　schemes　had　failed；　and
now　he　had　only　three　days　in　which　to　win　his　money；　and　the　ball
was　his　last　chance。　　Here　again　he　was　balked；　for　Nixon；
resisting　all　entreaties；　barred　his　shack　door　and　went　to　bed
before　nightfall；　according　to　his　invariable　custom　on　pay…days。
At　midnight　some　of　Idaho's　men　came　battering　at　the　door　for
admission；　which　Nixon　reluctantly　granted。　　For　half　an　hour　they
used　every　art　of　persuasion　to　induce　him　to　go　down　to　the　ball；
the　glorious　success　of　which　was　glowingly　depicted；　but　Nixon
remained　immovable；　and　they　took　their　departure；　baffled　and
cursing。　　In　two　hours　they　returned　drunk　enough　to　be　dangerous；
kicked　at　the　door　in　vain；　finally　gained　entrance　through　the
window；　hauled　Nixon　out　of　bed；　and；　holding　a　glass　of　whisky　to
his　lips；　bade　him　drink。　　But　he　knocked　the　glass　sway；　spilling
the　liquor　over　himself　and　the　bed。

It　was　drink　or　fight；　and　Nixon　was　ready　to　fight；　but　after
parley　they　had　a　drink　all　round；　and　fell　to　persuasion　again。
The　night　was　cold；　and　poor　Nixon　sat　shivering　on　the　edge　of　his
bed。　　If　he　would　take　one　drink　they　would　leave　him　alone。　　He
need　not　show　himself　so　stiff。　　The　whisky　fumes　filled　his
nostrils。　　If　one　drink　would　get　them　off；　surely　that　was　better
than　fighting　and　killing　some　one　or　getting　killed。　　He
hesitated；　yielded；　drank　his　glass。　　They　sat　about　him　amiably
drinking；　and　lauding　him　as　a　fine　fellow　after　all。　　One　more
glass　before　they　left。　　Then　Nixon　rose；　dressed　himself；　drank
all　that　was　left　of　the　bottle；　put　his　money　in　his　pocket；　and
came　down　to　the　dance；　wild　with　his　old…time　madness；　reckless　of
faith　and　pledge；　forgetful　of　home；　wife；　babies；　his　whole　being
absorbed　in　one　great　passionto　drink　and　drink　and　drink　till　he
could　drink　no　more。

Before　Shaw　had　finished　his　tale；　Craig's　eyes　were　streaming　with
tears；　and　groans　of　rage　and　pity　broke　alternately　from　him。　　Abe
remained　speechless　for　a　time；　not　trusting　himself；　but　as　he
heard　Craig　groan；　'Oh；　the　beasts！　the　fiends！'　he　seemed
encouraged　to　let　himself　loose；　and　he　began　swearing　with　the
coolest　and　most　blood…curdling　deliberation。　　Craig　listened　with
evident　approval；　apparently　finding　complete　satisfaction　in　Abe's
performance；　when　suddenly　he　seemed　to　waken　up；　caught　Abe　by　the
arm；　and　said　in　a　horror…stricken　voice

'Stop！　stop！　　God　forgive　us！　we　must　not　swear　like　this。'

Abe　stopped　at　once；　and　in　a　surprised　and　slightly　grieved　voice
said

'Why！　what's　the　matter　with　that？　　Ain't　that　what　you　wanted？'

'Yes！　yes！　　God　forgive　me！　　I　am　afraid　it　was；'　he　answered
hurriedly；　'but　I　must　not。'

'Oh；　don't　you　worry；'　went　on　Abe　cheerfully；　'I'll　look　after
that　part；　and　anyway；　ain't　they　the　blankest　blankety　blank'
going　off　again　into　a　roll　of　curses；　till　Craig；　in　an　agony　of
entreaty；　succeeded　in　arresting　the　flow　of　profanity　possible　to
no　one　but　a　mountain　stage…driver。　　Abe　paused　looking　hurt；　and
asked　if　they　did　not　deserve　everything　he　was　calling　down　upon
them。

'Yes；　yes；'　urged　Craig；　'but　that　is　not　our　business。'

'Well！　so　I　reckoned；'　replied　Abe；　recognising　the　limitations　of
the　cloth；　'you　ain't　used　to　it；　and　you　can't　be　expected　to　do
it；　but　it　just　makes　me　feel　goodlet　out　o'　school　liketo
properly　do　'em　up；　the　blank；　blank；'　and　off　he　went　again。　　It
was　only　under　the　pressure　of　Mr。　Craig's　prayers　and　commands
that　he　finally　agreed　'to　hold　in；　though　it　was　tough。'

'What's　to　be　done？'　asked　Shaw。

'Nothing；'　answered　Craig　bitterly。　　He　was　exhausted　with　his　long
ride　from　the　Landing；　and　broken　with　bitter　disappointment　over
the　ruin　of　all　that　he　had　laboured　so　long　to　accomplish。

'Nonsense；'　said　Graeme；　'there's　a　good　deal　to　do。'

It　was　agreed　that　Craig　should　remain　with　Nixon　while　the　others
of　us　should　gather　up　what　fragments　we　could　find　of　the　broken
League。　　We　had　just　opened　the　door；　when　we　met　a　man　striding　up
at　a　great　pace。　　It　was　Geordie　Crawford。

'Hae　ye　seen　the　lad？'　was　his　salutation。　　No　one　replied。　　So　I
told　Geordie　of　my　last　sight　of　Billy　in　the　orchestra。

'An'　did　ye　no'　gang　aifter　him？'　he　asked　in　indignant　surprise；
adding　with　some　contempt；　'Man！　but　ye're　a　feckless　buddie。'

'Billy　gone　too！'　said　Shaw。　　'They　might　have　let　Billy　alone。'

Poor　Craig　stood　in　a　dumb　agony。　　Billy's　fall　seemed　more　than　he
could　bear。　　We　went　out；　leaving　him　heart…broken　amid　the　ruins
of　his　League。


CHAPTER　IX

THE　LEAGUE'S　REVENGE


As　we　stood　outside　of　Craig's　shack　in　the　dim　starlight；　we　could
not　hide　from　ourselves　that　we　were　beaten。　　It　was　not　so　much
grief　as　a　blind　fury　that　filled　my　heart；　and　looking　at　the
faces　of　the　men　about　me　I　read　the　same　feeling　there。　　But　what
could　we　do？　　The　yells　of　carousing　miners　down　at　Slavin's　told
us　that　nothing　could　be　done　with　them　that　night。　　To　be　so
utterly　beaten；　and　unfairly；　and　with　no　chance　of　revenge；　was
maddening。

'I'd　like　to　get　back　at　'em；'　said　Abe；　carefully　repressing
himself。

'I've　got　it；　men；'　said　Graeme　suddenly。　　'This　town　does　not
require　all　the　whisky　there　is　in　it'；　and　he　unfolded　his　plan。
It　was　to　gain　possession　of　Slavin's　saloon　and　the　bar　of　the
Black　Rock　Hotel；　and　clear　out　all　the　liquor　to　be　found　in　both
these　places。　　I　did　not　much　like　the　idea；　and　Geordie　said；　'I'm
ga'en　aifter　the　lad；　I'll　hae　naethin'　tae　dae　wi'　yon。　　It's'　no'
that　easy；　an'　it's　a　sinfu'　waste。'

But　Abe　was　wild　to　try　it；　and　Shaw　was　quite　willing；　while　old
Nelson　sternly　approved。

'Nelson；　you　and　Shaw　get　a　couple　of　our　men　and　attend　to　the
saloon。　　Slavin　and　the　whole　gang　are　up　at　the　Black　Rock；　so　you
won't　have　much　trouble；　but　come　to　us　as　soon　as　you　can。'

And　so　we　went　our　ways。

Then　followed　a　scene　the　like　of　which　I　can　never　hope　to　see
again；　and　it　was　worth　a　man's　seeing。　　But　there　were　times　that
night　when　I　wished　I　had　not　agreed　to　follow　Graeme　in　his　plot。
As　we　went　up　to　the　hotel；　I　asked　Graeme；　'What　about　the　law　of
this？'

'Law！'　he　replied　indignantly。　　'They　haven't　troubled　much　about
law　in　the　whisky　business　here。　　They　get　a　keg　of　high　wines　and
some　drugs　and　begin　operations。　　No！'　he　went　on；　'if　we　can　get
the　crowd　out；　and　ourselves　in；　we'll　make　them　break　the　law　in
getting　us　out。　　The　law　won't　trouble　us　over　smuggled　whisky。
It　will　be　a　great　lark；　and　they　won't　crow　too　loud　over　the
League。'

I　did　not　like　the　undertaking　at　first；　but　as　I　thought　of　the
whole　wretched　illegal　business　flourishing　upon　the　weakness　of
the　men　in　the　mines　and　camps；　whom　I　had　learned　to　regard　as
brothers；　and　especially　as　I　thought　of　the　cowards　that　did　for
Nixon；　I　let　my　scruples　go；　and　determined；　with　Abe；　'to　get　back
at　'em。'

We　had　no　difficulty　getting　them　out。　　Abe　began　to　yell。　　Some
men　rushed　out　to　learn　the　cause。　　He　seized　the　foremost　man；
making　a　hideous　uproar　all　the　while；　and　in　three　minutes　had
every　man　out　of　the　hotel　and　a　lively　row　going　on。

In　two　minutes　more　Graeme　and　I　had　the　door　to　the　ball…room
locked　and　barricaded　with　empty　casks。　　We　then　closed　the　door　of
the　bar…room　leading　to　the　outside。　　The　bar…room　was　a　strongly
built　log…shack；　with　a　heavy　door　secured；　after　the　manner　of　the
early　cabins；　with　two　strong　oak　bars；　so　that　we　felt　safe　from
attack　from　that　quarter。

The　ball…room　we　could　not　hold　long；　for　the　door　was　slight　and
entrance　was　possible　through　the　windows。　　But　as　only　a　few　casks
of　liquor　were　left　there；　our　main　work　would　be　in　the　bar；　so
that　the　fight　would　be　to　hold　the　passage…way。　　This　we
barricaded　with　casks　and　tables。　　But　by　this　time　the　crowd　had
begun　to　realise　what　had　happened；　and　were　wildly　yelling　at　door
and　windows。　　With　an　axe　which　Graeme　had　brought　with　him　the
casks　were　soon　stove　in；　and　left　to　empty　themselves。

As　I　was　about　to　empty　the　last　cask；　Graeme　stopped　me；　saying；
'Let　that　stand　here。　　It　will　help　us。'　　And　so　it　did。　　'Now　skip
for　the　barricade；'　yelled　Graeme；　as　a　man　came　crashing　through
the　window。　　Before　he　could　regain　his　feet；　however；　Graeme　had
seized　him　and　flung　him　out　upon　the　heads　of　the　crowd　outside。
But　through　the　other　windows　men　were　coming　in；　and　Graeme　rushed
for　the　barricade；　followed　by　two　of　the　enemy；　the　foremost　of
whom　I　received　at　the　top　and　hurled　back　upon　the　others。

'Now；　be　quick！'　said　Graeme；　'I'll　hold　this。　　Don't　break　any
bottles　on　the　floorthrow　them　out　there；'　pointing　to　a　little
window　high　up　in　the　wall。

I　made　all　haste。　　The　casks　did　not　take　much　time；　and　soon　the
whisky　and　beer　were　flowing　over　the　floor。　　It　made　me　think　of
Geordie's　regret　over　the　'sinfu'　waste。'　　The　bottles　took　longer；
and　glancing　up　now　and　then　I　saw　that　Graeme　was　being　hard
pressed。　　Men　would　leap；　two