black rock-第19章

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Geordie　went　out；　and　though　he　laughed　and　swore；　he　did　not　stop
drinking　till　he　sank　into　a　drunken　stupor　and　had　to　be　carried
to　bed。　　His　little　French…Canadian　wife　could　not　understand　the
change　that　had　come　over　her　husband。

'He's　like　one　bear；'　she　confided　to　Mrs。　Mavor；　to　whom　she　was
showing　her　baby　of　a　year　old。　　'He's　not　kees　me　one　tam　dis　day。
He's　mos　hawful　bad；　he's　not　even　look　at　de　baby。'　　And　this
seemed　sufficient　proof　that　something　was　seriously　wrong；　for　she
went　on　to　say

'He's　tink　more　for　dat　leel　baby　dan　for　de　whole　worl'；　he's　tink
more　for　dat　baby　dan　for　me；'　but　she　shrugged　her　pretty　little
shoulders　in　deprecation　of　her　speech。

'You　must　pray　for　him；'　said　Mrs。　Mavor；　'and　all　will　come
right。'

'Ah！　madame！'　she　replied　earnestly；　'every　day；　every　day；　I　pray
la　sainte　Vierge　et　tous　les　saints　for　him。'

'You　must　pray　to　your　Father　in　heaven　for　him。'

'Ah！　oui！　I　weel　pray；'　and　Mrs。　Mavor　sent　her　away　bright　with
smiles；　and　with　new　hope　and　courage　in　her　heart。

She　had　very　soon　need　of　all　her　courage；　for　at　the　week's　end
her　baby　fell　dangerously　ill。　　Slavin's　anxiety　and　fear　were　not
relieved　much　by　the　reports　the　men　brought　him　from　time　to　time
of　Geordie's　ominous　forebodings；　for　Geordie　had　no　doubt　but　that
the　Avenger　of　Blood　was　hot　upon　Slavin's　trail；　and　as　the
sickness　grew；　he　became　confirmed　in　this　conviction。　　While　he
could　not　be　said　to　find　satisfaction　in　Slavin's　impending
affliction；　he　could　hardly　hide　his　complacency　in　the　promptness
of　Providence　in　vindicating　his　theory　of　retribution。

But　Geordie's　complacency　was　somewhat　rudely　shocked　by　Mr。
Craig's　answer　to　his　theory　one　day。

'You　read　your　Bible　to　little　profit；　it　seems　to　me；　Geordie：　or；
perhaps；　you　have　never　read　the　Master's　teaching　about　the　Tower
of　Siloam。　　Better　read　that　and　take　that　warning　to　yourself。'

Geordie　gazed　after　Mr。　Craig　as　he　turned　away；　and　muttered

'The　toor　o'　Siloam；　is　it？　　Ay；　a'　ken　fine　aboot　the　toor　o'
Siloam；　and　aboot　the　toor　o'　Babel　as　weel；　an'　a've　read；　too；
about　the　blaspheemious　Herod；　an'　sic　like。　　Man；　but　he's　a　hot…
heided　laddie；　and　lacks　discreemeenation。'

'What　about　Herod；　Geordie？'　I　asked。

'Aboot　Herod？'with　a　strong　tinge　of　contempt　in　his　tone。
'Aboot　Herod？　　Man；　hae　ye　no'　read　in　the　Screepturs　aboot　Herod
an'　the　wur…r…ms　in　the　wame　o'　him？'

'Oh　yes；　I　see；'　I　hastened　to　answer。

'Ay；　a　fule　can　see　what's　flapped　in　his　face；'　with　which　bit　of
proverbial　philosophy　he　suddenly　left　me。　　But　Geordie　thenceforth
contented　himself；　in　Mr。　Craig's　presence　at　least；　with　ominous
head…shakings；　equally　aggravating；　and　impossible　to　answer。

That　same　night；　however；　Geordie　showed　that　with　all　his　theories
he　had　a　man's　true　heart；　for　he　came　in　haste　to　Mrs。　Mavor　to
say：

'Ye'll　be　needed　ower　yonder；　a'm　thinkin'。'

'Why？　　Is　the　baby　worse？　　Have　you　been　in？'

'Na；　na；'　replied　Geordie　cautiously；　'a'll　no　gang　where　a'm　no
wanted。　　But　yon　puir　thing；　ye　can　hear　ootside　weepin'　and
moanin'。'

'She'll　maybe　need　ye　tae；'　he　went　on　dubiously　to　me。　　'Ye're　a
kind　o'　doctor；　a'　hear；'　not　committing　himself　to　any　opinion　as
to　my　professional　value。　　But　Slavin　would　have　none　of　me；　having
got　the　doctor　sober　enough　to　prescribe。

The　interest　of　the　camp　in　Slavin　was　greatly　increased　by　the
illness　of　his　baby；　which　was　to　him　as　the　apple　of　his　eye。
There　were　a　few　who；　impressed　by　Geordie's　profound　convictions
upon　the　matter；　were　inclined　to　favour　the　retribution　theory；
and　connect　the　baby's　illness　with　the　vengeance　of　the　Almighty。
Among　these　few　was　Slavin　himself；　and　goaded　by　his　remorseful
terrors　he　sought　relief　in　drink。　　But　this　brought　him　only
deeper　and　fiercer　gloom；　so　that　between　her　suffering　child　and
her　savagely　despairing　husband；　the　poor　mother　was　desperate　with
terror　and　grief。

'Ah！　madame；'　she　sobbed　to　Mrs。　Mavor；　'my　heart　is　broke　for　him。
He's　heet　noting　for　tree　days；　but　jis　dreenk；　dreenk；　dreenk。'

The　next　day　a　man　came　for　me　in　haste。　　The　baby　was　dying　and
the　doctor　was　drunk。　　I　found　the　little　one　in　a　convulsion　lying
across　Mrs。　Mavor's　knees；　the　mother　kneeling　beside　it；　wringing
her　hands　in　a　dumb　agony；　and　Slavin　standing　near；　silent　and
suffering。　　I　glanced　at　the　bottle　of　medicine　upon　the　table　and
asked　Mrs。　Mavor　the　dose；　and　found　the　baby　had　been　poisoned。
My　look　of　horror　told　Slavin　something　was　wrong；　and　striding　to
me　he　caught　my　arm　and　asked

'What　is　it？　　Is　the　medicine　wrong？'

I　tried　to　put　him　off；　but　his　grip　tightened　till　his　fingers
seemed　to　reach　the　bone。

'The　dose　is　certainly　too　large；　but　let　me　go；　I　must　do
something。'

He　let　me　go　at　once；　saying　in　a　voice　that　made　my　heart　sore　for
him；　'He　has　killed　my　baby；　he　has　killed　my　baby。'　　And　then　he
cursed　the　doctor　with　awful　curses；　and　with　a　look　of　such
murderous　fury　on　his　face　that　I　was　glad　the　doctor　was　too　drunk
to　appear。

His　wife　hearing　his　curses；　and　understanding　the　cause；　broke　out
into　wailing　hard　to　bear。

'Ah！　mon　petit　ange！　　It　is　dat　wheeskey　dat's　keel　mon　baby。　　Ah！
mon　cheri；　mon　amour。　　Ah！　mon　Dieu！　　Ah；　Michael；　how　often　I　say
that　wheeskey　he's　not　good　ting。'

It　was　more　than　Slavin　could　bear；　and　with　awful　curses　he　passed
out。　　Mrs。　Mavor　laid　the　baby　in　its　crib；　for　the　convulsion　had
passed　away；　and　putting　her　arms　about　the　wailing　little
Frenchwoman；　comforted　and　soothed　her　as　a　mother　might　her
child。

'And　you　must　help　your　husband；'　I　heard　her　say。　　'He　will　need
you　more　than　ever。　　Think　of　him。'

'Ah　oui！　I　weel；'　was　the　quick　reply；　and　from　that　moment　there
was　no　more　wailing。

It　seemed　no　more　than　a　minute　till　Slavin　came　in　again；　sober；
quiet；　and　steady；　the　passion　was　all　gone　from　his　face；　and　only
the　grief　remained。

As　we　stood　leaning　over　the　sleeping　child　the　little　thing　opened
its　eyes；　saw　its　father；　and　smiled。　　It　was　too　much　for　him。
The　big　man　dropped　on　his　knees　with　a　dry　sob。

'Is　there　no　chance　at　all；　at　all？'　he　whispered；　but　I　could　give
him　no　hope。　　He　immediately　rose；　and　pulling　himself　together；
stood　perfectly　quiet。

A　new　terror　seized　upon　the　mother。

'My　baby　is　notwhat　you　call　it？'　going　through　the　form　of
baptism。　　'An'　he　will　not　come　to　la　sainte　Vierge；'　she　said；
crossing　herself。

'Do　not　fear　for　your　little　one；'　said　Mrs。　Mavor；　still　with　her
arms　about　her。　　'The　good　Saviour　will　take　your　darling　into　His
own　arms。'

But　the　mother　would　not　be　comforted　by　this。　　And　Slavin　too；　was
uneasy。

'Where　is　Father　Goulet？'　he　asked。

'Ah！　you　were　not　good　to　the　holy　pere　de　las　tam；　Michael；'　she
replied　sadly。　　'The　saints　are　not　please　for　you。'

'Where　is　the　priest？'　he　demanded。

'I　know　not　for　sure。　　At　de　Landin'；　dat's　lak。'

'I'll　go　for　him；'　he　said。　　But　his　wife　clung　to　him；　beseeching
him　not　to　leave　her；　and　indeed　he　was　loth　to　leave　his　little
one。

I　found　Craig　and　told　him　the　difficulty。　　With　his　usual
promptness；　he　was　ready　with　a　solution。

'Nixon　has　a　team。　　He　will　go。'　　Then　he　added；　'I　wonder　if　they
would　not　like　me　to　baptize　their　little　one。　　Father　Goulet　and　I
have　exchanged　offices　before　now。　　I　remember　how　he　came　to　one
of　my　people　in　my　absence；　when　she　was　dying；　read　with　her；
prayed　with　her；　comforted　her；　and　helped　her　across　the　river。
He　is　a　good　soul；　and　has　no　nonsense　about　him。　　Send　for　me　if
you　think　there　is　need。　　It　will　make　no　difference　to　the　baby；
but　it　will　comfort　the　mother。'

Nixon　was　willing　enough　to　go；　but　when　he　came　to　the　door　Mrs。
Mavor　saw　the　hard　look　in　his　face。　　He　had　not　forgotten　his
wrong；　for　day　by　day　he　was　still　fighting　the　devil　within　that
Slavin　had　called　to　life。　　But　Mrs。　Mavor；　under　cover　of　getting
him　instructions；　drew　him　into　the　room。　　While　listening　to　her；
his　eyes　wandered　from　one　to　the　other　of　the　group　till　they
rested　upon　the　little　white　face　in　the　crib。　　She　noticed　the
change　in　his　face。

'They　fear　the　little　one　will　never　see　the　Saviour　if　it　is　not
baptized；'　she　said；　in　a　low　tone。

He　was　eager　to　go。

'I'll　do　my　best　to　get　the　priest；'　he　said；　and　was　gone　on　his
sixty　miles'　race　with　death。

The　long　afternoon　wore　on；　but　before　it　was　half　gone　I　saw　Nixon
could　not　win；　and　that　the　priest　would　be　too　late；　so　I　sent　for
Mr。　Craig。　　From　the　moment　he　entered　the　room　he　took　command　of
us　all。　　He　was　so　simple；　so　manly；　so　tender；　the　hearts　of　the
parents　instinctively　turned　to　him。

As　he　was　about　to　proceed　with　the　baptism；　the　mother　whispered
to　Mrs。　Mavor；　who　hesitatingly　asked　Mr。　Craig　if　he　would　object
to　using　holy　water。

'To　me　it　is　the　same　as　any　other；'　he　replied　gravely。

'An'　will　he　make　the　good　sign？'　asked　the　mother　timidly。

And　so　the　child　was　baptized　by　the　Presbyterian　minister　with
holy　water　and　with　the　sign　of　the　cross。　　I　don't　suppose　it　was
orthodox；　and　it　rendered　chaotic　some　of　my　religious　notions；　but
I　thought　more　of　Craig　that　moment　than　ever　before。　　He　was　more
man　than　minister；　or　perhaps　he　was　so　good　a　minister　that　day
because　so　much　a　man。　　As　he　read　about　the　Saviour　and　the
children　and　the　disciples　who　tried　to　get　in　between　them；　and　as
he　told　us　the　story　in　his　own　simple　and　beautiful　way；　and　then
went　on　to　picture　the　home　of　the　little　children；　and　the　same
Saviour　in　the　midst　of　them；　I　felt　my　heart　grow　warm；　and　I
could　easily　understand　the　cry　of　the　mother

'Oh；　mon　Jesu；　prenez　moi　aussi；　take　me　wiz　mon　mignon。'

The　cry　wakened　Slavin's　heart；　and　he　said　huskily

'Oh！　Annette！　Annette！'

'Ah；　oui！　an'　Michael　too！'　　Then　to　Mr。　Craig

'You　tink　He's　tak　me　some　day？　　Eh？'

'All　who　love　Him；'　he　replied。

'An'　Michael　too？'　she　asked；　her　eyes　searching　his　face；　'An'
Michael　too？'

But　Craig　only　replied：　'All　who　love　Him。'

'Ah；　Michael；　you　must　pray　le　bon　Jesu。　　He's　garde　notre　mignon。'
And　then　she　bent　over　the　babe；　whispering

'Ah；　mon　cheri；　mon　amour；　adieu！　adieu！　mon　ange！'　till　Slavin　put
his　arms　about　her　and　took　her　away；　for　as　she　was　whispering　her
farewells；　her　baby；　with　a　little　answering　sigh；　passed　into　the
House　with　many　rooms。

'Whisht；　Annette　darlin'；　don't　cry　for　the　baby；'　said　her
husband。　　'Shure　it's　better　off　than　the　rest　av　us；　it　is。　　An'
didn't　ye　hear　what　the　minister　said　about　the　beautiful　place　it
is？　　An'　shure　he　wouldn't　lie　to　us　at　all。'　　But　a　mother　cannot
be　comforted　for　her　first…born　son。

An　hour　later　Nixon　brought　Father　Goulet。　　He　was　a　little
Frenchman　with　gentle　manners　and　the　face　of　a　saint。　　Craig
welcomed　him　warmly；　and　told　him　what　he　had　done。

'That　is　good；　my　brother；'　he　said；　with　gentle　courtesy；　and；
turning　to　the　mother；　'Your　little　one　is　safe。'

Behind　Father　Goulet　came　Nixon　softly；　and　gazed　down　upon　the
little　quiet　face；　beautiful　with　the　magic　of　death。　　Slavin　came
quietly　and　stoo