black rock-第18章

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Mrs。　Mavor；　who　smiled　back　at　him　with　a　world　of　love　in　her
eyes。

'You　hain't　hashamed　o'　meyore　heyes　saigh　so；'　he　said　looking
at　her。

'No；　Billy；'　she　said；　and　I　wondered　at　her　steady　voice；　'not　a
bit。　　Why；　Billy；　I　am　proud　of　you。'

He　gazed　up　at　her　with　wonder　and　ineffable　love　in　his　little
eyes；　then　lifted　his　hand　slightly　toward　her。　　She　knelt　quickly
and　took　it　in　both　of　hers；　stroking　it　and　kissing　it。

'Oi　haught　t'a　done　better。　　Oi'm　hawful　sorry　oi　went　back　on　'Im。
Hit　was　the　lemonaide。　　The　boys　didn't　mean　no　'armbut　hit
started　the　'ell　hinside。'

Geordie　hurled　out　some　bitter　words。

'Don't　be　'ard　on　'em；　Geordie；　they　didn't　mean　no　'arm；'　he　said；
and　his　eyes　kept　waiting　till　Geordie　said　hurriedly

'Na！　na！　lada'll　juist　leave　them　till　the　Almichty。'

Then　Mrs。　Mavor　sang　softly；　smoothing　his　hand；　'Just　as　I　am；'
and　Billy　dozed　quietly　for　half　an　hour。

When　he　awoke　again　his　eyes　turned　to　Mr。　Craig；　and　they　were
troubled　and　anxious。

'Oi　tried　'ard。　　Oi　wanted　to　win；'　he　struggled　to　say。　　By　this
time　Craig　was　master　of　himself；　and　he　answered　in　a　clear；
distinct　voice

'Listen；　Billy！　　You　made　a　great　fight；　and　you　are　going　to　win
yet。　　And　besides；　do　you　remember　the　sheep　that　got　lost　over　the
mountains？'this　parable　was　Billy's　special　delight'He　didn't
beat　it　when　He　got　it；　did　he？　　He　took　it　in　His　arms　and　carried
it　home。　　And　so　He　will　you。'

And　Billy；　keeping　his　eyes　fastened　on　Mr。　Craig；　simply　said

'Will　'E？'

'Sure！'　said　Craig。

'Will　'E？'　he　repeated；　turning　his　eyes　upon　Mrs。　Mavor。

'Why；　yes；　Billy；'　she　answered　cheerily；　though　the　tears　were
streaming　from　her　eyes。　　'I　would；　and　He　loves　you　far　more。'

He　looked　at　her；　smiled；　and　closed　his　eyes。　　I　put　my　hand　on
his　heart；　it　was　fluttering　feebly。　　Again　a　troubled　look　passed
over　his　face。

'Mypoorholdmother；'　he　whispered；　'she'shinthewukus。'

'I　shall　take　care　of　her；　Billy；'　said　Mrs。　Mavor；　in　a　clear
voice；　and　again　Billy　smiled。　　Then　he　turned　his　eyes　to　Mr。
Craig；　and　from　him　to　Geordie；　and　at　last　to　Mrs。　Mavor；　where
they　rested。　　She　bent　over　and　kissed　him　twice　on　the　forehead。

'Tell　'er；'　he　said；　with　difficulty；　〃E's　took　me　'ome。'

'Yes；　Billy！'　she　cried；　gazing　into　his　glazing　eyes。　　He　tried　to
lift　her　hand。　　She　kissed　him　again。　　He　drew　one　deep　breath　and
lay　quite　still。

'Thank　the　blessed　Saviour！'　said　Mr。　Craig；　reverently。　　'He　has
taken　him　home。'

But　Mrs。　Mavor　held　the　dead　hand　tight　and　sobbed　out　passionately；
'Oh；　Billy；　Billy！　you　helped　me　once　when　I　needed　help！　　I　cannot
forget！'

And　Geordie；　groaning；　'Ay；　laddie；　laddie；'　passed　out　into　the
fading　light　of　the　early　evening。

Next　day　no　one　went　to　work；　for　to　all　it　seemed　a　sacred　day。
They　carried　him　into　the　little　church；　and　there　Mr。　Craig　spoke
of　his　long；　hard　fight；　and　of　his　final　victory；　for　he　died
without　a　fear；　and　with　love　to　the　men　who；　not　knowing；　had　been
his　death。　　And　there　was　no　bitterness　in　any　heart；　for　Mr。　Craig
read　the　story　of　the　sheep；　and　told　how　gently　He　had　taken　Billy
home；　but；　though　no　word　was　spoken；　it　was　there　the　League　was
made　again。

They　laid　him　under　the　pines；　beside　Lewis　Mavor；　and　the　miners
threw　sprigs　of　evergreen　into　the　open　grave。　　When　Slavin；
sobbing　bitterly；　brought　his　sprig；　no　one　stopped　him；　though　all
thought　it　strange。

As　we　turned　to　leave　the　grave；　the　light　from　the　evening　sun
came　softly　through　the　gap　in　the　mountains；　and；　filling　the
valley；　touched　the　trees　and　the　little　mound　beneath　with　glory。
And　I　thought　of　that　other　glory；　which　is　brighter　than　the　sun；
and　was　not　sorry　that　poor　Billy's　weary　fight　was　over；　and　I
could　not　help　agreeing　with　Craig　that　it　was　there　the　League　had
its　revenge。


CHAPTER　X

WHAT　CAME　TO　SLAVIN


Billy　Breen's　legacy　to　the　Black　Rock　mining　camp　was　a　new
League；　which　was　more　than　the　old　League　re…made。　　The　League　was
new　in　its　spirit　and　in　its　methods。　　The　impression　made　upon　the
camp　by　Billy　Breen's　death　was　very　remarkable；　and　I　have　never
been　quite　able　to　account　for　it。　　The　mood　of　the　community　at
the　time　was　peculiarly　susceptible。　　Billy　was　one　of　the　oldest
of　the　old…timers。　　His　decline　and　fall　had　been　a　long　process；
and　his　struggle　for　life　and　manhood　was　striking　enough　to　arrest
the　attention　and　awaken　the　sympathy　of　the　whole　camp。　　We
instinctively　side　with　a　man　in　his　struggle　for　freedom；　for　we
feel　that　freedom　is　native　to　him　and　to　us。　　The　sudden　collapse
of　the　struggle　stirred　the　men　with　a　deep　pity　for　the　beaten
man；　and　a　deep　contempt　for　those　who　had　tricked　him　to　his　doom。
But　though　the　pity　and　the　contempt　remained；　the　gloom　was
relieved　and　the　sense　of　defeat　removed　from　the　men's　minds　by
the　transforming　glory　of　Billy's　last　hour。　　Mr。　Craig；　reading　of
the　tragedy　of　Billy's　death；　transfigured　defeat　into　victory；　and
this　was　generally　accepted　by　the　men　as　the　true　reading；　though
to　them　it　was　full　of　mystery。　　But　they　could　all　understand　and
appreciate　at　full　value　the　spirit　that　breathed　through　the　words
of　the　dying　man：　'Don't　be　'ard　on　'em；　they　didn't　mean　no　'arm。'
And　this　was　the　new　spirit　of　the　League。

It　was　this　spirit　that　surprised　Slavin　into　sudden　tears　at　the
grave's　side。　　He　had　come　braced　for　curses　and　vengeance；　for　all
knew　it　was　he　who　had　doctored　Billy's　lemonade；　and　instead　of
vengeance　the　message　from　the　dead　that　echoed　through　the　voice
of　the　living　was　one　of　pity　and　forgiveness。

But　the　days　of　the　League's　negative；　defensive　warfare　were　over。
The　fight　was　to　the　death；　and　now　the　war　was　to　be　carried　into
the　enemy's　country。　　The　League　men　proposed　a　thoroughly　equipped
and　well…conducted　coffee…room；　reading…room；　and　hall；　to　parallel
the　enemy's　lines　of　operation；　and　defeat　them　with　their　own
weapons　upon　their　own　ground。　　The　main　outlines　of　the　scheme
were　clearly　defined　and　were　easily　seen；　but　the　perfecting　of
the　details　called　for　all　Craig's　tact　and　good　sense。　　When；　for
instance；　Vernon　Winton；　who　had　charge　of　the　entertainment
department；　came　for　Craig's　opinion　as　to　a　minstrel　troupe　and
private　theatricals；　Craig　was　prompt　with　his　answer

'Anything　clean　goes。'

'A　nigger　show？'　asked　Winton。

'Depends　upon　the　niggers；'　replied　Craig　with　a　gravely　comic
look；　shrewdly　adding；　'ask　Mrs。　Mavor'；　and　so　the　League　Minstrel
and　Dramatic　Company　became　an　established　fact；　and　proved；　as
Craig　afterwards　told　me；　'a　great　means　of　grace　to　the　camp。'

Shaw　had　charge　of　the　social　department；　whose　special　care　it　was
to　see　that　the　men　were　made　welcome　to　the　cosy；　cheerful　reading
room；　where　they　might　chat；　smoke；　read；　write；　or　play　games；
according　to　fancy。

But　Craig　felt　that　the　success　or　failure　of　the　scheme　would
largely　depend　upon　the　character　of　the　Resident　Manager；　who；
while　caring　for　reading…room　and　hall；　would　control　and　operate
the　important　department　represented　by　the　coffee…room。

'At　this　point　the　whole　business　may　come　to　grief；'　he　said　to
Mrs。　Mavor；　without　whose　counsel　nothing　was　done。

'Why　come　to　grief？'　she　asked　brightly。

'Because　if　we　don't　get　the　right　man；　that's　what　will　happen；'
he　replied　in　a　tone　that　spoke　of　anxious　worry。

'But　we　shall　get　the　right　man；　never　fear。'　　Her　serene　courage
never　faltered。　　'He　will　come　to　us。'

Craig　turned　and　gazed　at　her　in　frank　admiration　and　said

'If　I　only　had　your　courage！'

'Courage！'　she　answered　quickly。　　'It　is　not　for　you　to　say　that'；
and　at　his　answering　look　the　red　came　into　her　cheek　and　the
depths　in　her　eyes　glowed；　and　I　marvelled　and　wondered；　looking　at
Craig's　cool　face；　whether　his　blood　were　running　evenly　through
his　veins。　　But　his　voice　was　quiet；　a　shade　too　quiet　I　thought；
as　he　gravely　replied

'I　would　often　be　a　coward　but　for　the　shame　of　it。'

And　so　the　League　waited　for　the　man　to　come；　who　was　to　be
Resident　Manager　and　make　the　new　enterprise　a　success。　　And　come
he　did；　but　the　manner　of　his　coming　was　so　extraordinary；　that　I
have　believed　in　the　doctrine　of　a　special　providence　ever　since；
for　as　Craig　said；　'If　he　had　come　straight　from　Heaven　I　could　not
have　been　more　surprised。'

While　the　League　was　thus　waiting；　its　interest　centred　upon
Slavin；　chiefly　because　he　represented　more　than　any　other　the
forces　of　the　enemy；　and　though　Billy　Breen　stood　between　him　and
the　vengeance　of　the　angry　men　who　would　have　made　short　work　of
him　and　his　saloon；　nothing　could　save　him　from　himself；　and　after
the　funeral　Slavin　went　to　his　bar　and　drank　whisky　as　he　had　never
drunk　before。　　But　the　more　he　drank　the　fiercer　and　gloomier　he
became；　and　when　the　men　drinking　with　him　chaffed　him；　he　swore
deeply　and　with　such　threats　that　they　left　him　alone。

It　did　not　help　Slavin　either　to　have　Nixon　stride　in　through　the
crowd　drinking　at　his　bar　and　give　him　words　of　warning。

'It　is　not　your　fault；　Slavin；'　he　said　in　slow；　cool　voice；　'that
you　and　your　precious　crew　didn't　sent　me　to　my　death；　too。　　You've
won　your　bet；　but　I　want　to　say；　that　next　time；　though　you　are
seven　to　one；　or　ten　times　that；　when　any　of　you　boys　offer　me　a
drink　I'll　take　you　to　mean　fight；　and　I'll　not　disappoint　you；　and
some　one　will　be　killed；'　and　so　saying　he　strode　out　again；
leaving　a　mean…looking　crowd　of　men　behind　him。　　All　who　had　not
been　concerned　in　the　business　at　Nixon's　shack　expressed　approval
of　his　position；　and　hoped　he　would　'see　it　through。'

But　the　impression　of　Nixon's　words　upon　Slavin　was　as　nothing
compared　with　that　made　by　Geordie　Crawford。　　It　was　not　what　he
said　so　much　as　the　manner　of　awful　solemnity　he　carried。　　Geordie
was　struggling　conscientiously　to　keep　his　promise　to　'not　be　'ard
on　the　boys；'　and　found　considerable　relief　in　remembering　that　he
had　agreed　'to　leave　them　tae　the　Almichty。'　　But　the　manner　of
leaving　them　was　so　solemnly　awful；　that　I　could　not　wonder　that
Slavin's　superstitious　Irish　nature　supplied　him　with　supernatural
terrors。　　It　was　the　second　day　after　the　funeral　that　Geordie　and
I　were　walking　towards　Slavin's。　　There　was　a　great　shout　of
laughter　as　we　drew　near。

Geordie　stopped　short；　and　saying；　'We'll　juist　gang　in　a　meenute；'
passed　through　the　crowd　and　up　to　the　bar。

'Michael　Slavin；'　began　Geordie；　and　the　men　stared　in　dead；
silence；　with　their　glasses　in　their　hands。　　'Michael　Slavin；　a'
promised　the　lad　a'd　bear　ye　nae　ill　wull；　but　juist　leave　ye　tae
the　Almichty；　an'　I　want　tae　tell　ye　that　a'm　keepin'　ma　wur…r…d。
But'and　here　he　raised　his　hand；　and　his　voice　became
preternaturally　solemn'his　bluid　is　upon　yer　han's。　　Do　ye　no'
see　it？'

His　voice　rose　sharply；　and　as　he　pointed；　Slavin　instinctively
glanced　at　his　hands；　and　Geordie　added

'Ay；　and　the　Lord　will　require　it　o'　you　and　yer　hoose。'

They　told　me　that　Slavin　shivered　as　if　taken　with　ague　after
Geordie　went　out；　and　though　he　laughed　and　swore；　he　did　not　stop
drinking　till　he　sa