black rock-第2章

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Then　the　cook　came　out　and　beat　a　tattoo　on　the　bottom　of　a　dish…
pan。　　Baptiste　answered　with　a　yell：　but　though　keenly　hungry；　no
man　would　demean　himself　to　do　other　than　walk　with　apparent
reluctance　to　his　place　at　the　table。　　At　the　further　end　of　the
camp　was　a　big　fireplace；　and　from　the　door　to　the　fireplace
extended　the　long　board　tables；　covered　with　platters　of　turkey　not
too　scientifically　carved；　dishes　of　potatoes；　bowls　of　apple
sauce；　plates　of　butter；　pies；　and　smaller　dishes　distributed　at
regular　intervals。　　Two　lanterns　hanging　from　the　roof；　and　a　row
of　candles　stuck　into　the　wall　on　either　side　by　means　of　slit
sticks；　cast　a　dim；　weird　light　over　the　scene。

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　and　at　a　nod　from　Graeme　Mr。　Craig
rose　and　said；　'I　don't　know　how　you　feel　about　it；　men；　but　to　me
this　looks　good　enough　to　be　thankful　for。'

'Fire　ahead；　sir；'　called　out　a　voice　quite　respectfully；　and　the
minister　bent　his　head　and　said

'For　Christ　the　Lord　who　came　to　save　us；　for　all　the　love　and
goodness　we　have　known；　and　for　these　Thy　gifts　to　us　this
Christmas　night；　our　Father；　make　us　thankful。　　Amen。'

'Bon；　dat's　fuss　rate；'　said　Baptiste。　　'Seems　lak　dat's　make　me
hit　（eat）　more　better　for　sure；'　and　then　no　word　was　spoken　for
quarter　of　an　hour。　　The　occasion　was　far　too　solemn　and　moments
too　precious　for　anything　so　empty　as　words。　　But　when　the　white
piles　of　bread　and　the　brown　piles　of　turkey　had　for　a　second　time
vanished；　and　after　the　last　pie　had　disappeared；　there　came　a
pause　and　hush　of　expectancy；　whereupon　the　cook　and　cookee；　each
bearing　aloft　a　huge；　blazing　pudding；　came　forth。

'Hooray！'　yelled　Blaney；　'up　wid　yez！'　and　grabbing　the　cook　by　the
shoulders　from　behind；　he　faced　him　about。

Mr。　Craig　was　the　first　to　respond；　and　seizing　the　cookee　in　the
same　way；　called　out；　'Squad；　fall　in！　quick　march！'　　In　a　moment
every　man　was　in　the　procession。

'Strike　up；　Batchees；　ye　little　angel！'　shouted　Blaney；　the
appellation　a　concession　to　the　minister's　presence；　and　away　went
Baptiste　in　a　rollicking　French　song　with　the　English　chorus


　　　　　'Then　blow；　ye　winds；　in　the　morning；
　　　　　　　　Blow；　ye　winds；　ay　oh！
　　　　　　Blow；　ye　winds；　in　the　morning；
　　　　　　　　Blow；　blow；　blow。'


And　at　each　'blow'　every　boot　came　down　with　a　thump　on　the　plank
floor　that　shook　the　solid　roof。　　After　the　second　round；　Mr。
Craig　jumped　upon　the　bench；　and　called　out

'Three　cheers　for　Billy　the　cook！'

In　the　silence　following　the　cheers　Baptiste　was　heard　to　say；
'Bon！　dat's　mak　me　feel　lak　hit　dat　puddin'　all　hup　mesef；　me。'

'Hear　till　the　little　baste！'　said　Blaney　in　disgust。

'Batchees；'　remonstrated　Sandy　gravely；　'ye've　more　stomach　than
manners。'

'Fu　sure！　but　de　more　stomach　dat's　more　better　for　dis　puddin'；'
replied　the　little　Frenchman　cheerfully。

After　a　time　the　tables　were　cleared　and　pushed　back　to　the　wall；
and　pipes　were　produced。　　In　all　attitudes　suggestive　of　comfort
the　men　disposed　themselves　in　a　wide　circle　about　the　fire；　which
now　roared　and　crackled　up　the　great　wooden　chimney　hanging　from
the　roof。　　The　lumberman's　hour　of　bliss　had　arrived。　　Even　old　man
Nelson　looked　a　shade　less　melancholy　than　usual　as　he　sat　alone；
well　away　from　the　fire；　smoking　steadily　and　silently。　　When　the
second　pipes　were　well　a…going；　one　of　the　men　took　down　a　violin
from　the　wall　and　handed　it　to　Lachlan　Campbell。　　There　were　two
brothers　Campbell　just　out　from　Argyll；　typical　Highlanders：
Lachlan；　dark；　silent；　melancholy；　with　the　face　of　a　mystic；　and
Angus；　red…haired；　quick；　impulsive；　and　devoted　to　his　brother；　a
devotion　he　thought　proper　to　cover　under　biting；　sarcastic　speech。

Lachlan；　after　much　protestation；　interspersed　with　gibes　from　his
brother；　took　the　violin；　and；　in　response　to　the　call　from　all
sides；　struck　up　'Lord　Macdonald's　Reel。'　　In　a　moment　the　floor
was　filled　with　dancers；　whooping　and　cracking　their　fingers　in　the
wildest　manner。　　Then　Baptiste　did　the　'Red　River　Jig；'　a　most
intricate　and　difficult　series　of　steps；　the　men　keeping　time　to
the　music　with　hands　and　feet。

When　the　jig　was　finished；　Sandy　called　for　'Lochaber　No　More'；　but
Campbell　said；　'No；　no！　I　cannot　play　that　to…night。　　Mr。　Craig
will　play。'

Craig　took　the　violin；　and　at　the　first　note　I　knew　he　was　no
ordinary　player。　　I　did　not　recognise　the　music；　but　it　was　soft
and　thrilling；　and　got　in　by　the　heart；　till　every　one　was　thinking
his　tenderest　and　saddest　thoughts。

After　he　had　played　two　or　three　exquisite　bits；　he　gave　Campbell
his　violin；　saying；　'Now；　〃Lochaber；〃　Lachlan。'

Without　a　word　Lachlan　began；　not　'Lochaber'he　was　not　ready　for
that　yetbut　'The　Flowers　o'　the　Forest；'　and　from　that　wandered
through　'Auld　Robin　Gray'　and　'The　Land　o'　the　Leal；'　and　so　got　at
last　to　that　most　soul…subduing　of　Scottish　laments；　'Lochaber　No
More。'　　At　the　first　strain；　his　brother；　who　had　thrown　himself　on
some　blankets　behind　the　fire；　turned　over　on　his　face；　feigning
sleep。　　Sandy　M'Naughton　took　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　and　sat　up
straight　and　stiff；　staring　into　vacancy；　and　Graeme；　beyond　the
fire；　drew　a　short；　sharp　breath。　　We　had　often　sat；　Graeme　and　I；
in　our　student…days；　in　the　drawing…room　at　home；　listening　to　his
father　wailing　out　'Lochaber'　upon　the　pipes；　and　I　well　knew　that
the　awful　minor　strains　were　now　eating　their　way　into　his　soul。

Over　and　over　again　the　Highlander　played　his　lament。　　He　had　long
since　forgotten　us；　and　was　seeing　visions　of　the　hills　and　lochs
and　glens　of　his　far…away　native　land；　and　making　us；　too；　see
strange　things　out　of　the　dim　past。　　I　glanced　at　old　man　Nelson；
and　was　startled　at　the　eager；　almost　piteous；　look　in　his　eyes；
and　I　wished　Campbell　would　stop。　　Mr。　Craig　caught　my　eye；　and；
stepping　over　to　Campbell；　held　out　his　hand　for　the　violin。
Lingeringly　and　lovingly　the　Highlander　drew　out　the　last　strain；
and　silently　gave　the　minister　his　instrument。

Without　a　moment's　pause；　and　while　the　spell　of　'Lochaber'　was
still　upon　us；　the　minister；　with　exquisite　skill；　fell　into　the
refrain　of　that　simple　and　beautiful　camp…meeting　hymn；　'The　Sweet
By　and　By。'　　After　playing　the　verse　through　once；　he　sang　softly
the　refrain。　　After　the　first　verse；　the　men　joined　in　the　chorus；
at　first　timidly；　but　by　the　time　the　third　verse　was　reached　they
were　shouting　with　throats　full　open；　'We　shall　meet　on　that
beautiful　shore。'　　When　I　looked　at　Nelson　the　eager　light　had　gone
out　of　his　eyes；　and　in　its　place　was　kind　of　determined
hopelessness；　as　if　in　this　new　music　he　had　no　part。

After　the　voices　had　ceased；　Mr。　Craig　played　again　the　refrain；
more　and　more　softly　and　slowly；　then　laying　the　violin　on
Campbell's　knees；　he　drew　from　his　pocket　his　little　Bible；　and
said

'Men；　with　Mr。　Graeme's　permission；　I　want　to　read　you　something
this　Christmas　Eve。　　You　will　all　have　heard　it　before；　but　you
will　like　it　none　the　less　for　that。'

His　voice　was　soft；　but　clear　and　penetrating；　as　he　read　the
eternal　story　of　the　angels　and　the　shepherds　and　the　Babe。　　And　as
he　read；　a　slight　motion　of　the　hand　or　a　glance　of　an　eye　made　us
see；　as　he　was　seeing；　that　whole　radiant　drama。　　The　wonder；　the
timid　joy；　the　tenderness；　the　mystery　of　it　all；　were　borne　in
upon　us　with　overpowering　effect。　　He　closed　the　book；　and　in　the
same　low；　clear　voice　went　on　to　tell　us　how；　in　his　home　years
ago；　he　used　to　stand　on　Christmas　Eve　listening　in　thrilling
delight　to　his　mother　telling　him　the　story；　and　how　she　used　to
make　him　see　the　shepherds　and　hear　the　sheep　bleating　near　by；　and
how　the　sudden　burst　of　glory　used　to　make　his　heart　jump。

'I　used　to　be　a　little　afraid　of　the　angels；　because　a　boy　told　me
they　were　ghosts；　but　my　mother　told　me　better；　and　I　didn't　fear
them　any　more。　　And　the　Baby；　the　dear　little　Babywe　all　love　a
baby。'　　There　was　a　quick；　dry　sob；　it　was　from　Nelson。　　'I　used　to
peek　through　under　to　see　the　little　one　in　the　straw；　and　wonder
what　things　swaddling　clothes　were。　　Oh；　it　was　all　so　real　and　so
beautiful！'　　He　paused；　and　I　could　hear　the　men　breathing。

'But　one　Christmas　Eve；'　he　went　on；　in　a　lower；　sweeter　tone；
'there　was　no　one　to　tell　me　the　story；　and　I　grew　to　forget　it；
and　went　away　to　college；　and　learned　to　think　that　it　was　only　a
child's　tale　and　was　not　for　men。　　Then　bad　days　came　to　me　and
worse；　and　I　began　to　lose　my　grip　of　myself；　of　life；　of　hope；　of
goodness；　till　one　black　Christmas；　in　the　slums　of　a　faraway　city；
when　I　had　given　up　all；　and　the　devil's　arms　were　about　me；　I
heard　the　story　again。　　And　as　I　listened；　with　a　bitter　ache　in　my
heart；　for　I　had　put　it　all　behind　me；　I　suddenly　found　myself
peeking　under　the　shepherds'　arms　with　a　child's　wonder　at　the　Baby
in　the　straw。　　Then　it　came　over　me　like　great　waves；　that　His　name
was　Jesus；　because　it　was　He　that　should　save　men　from　their　sins。
Save！　　Save！　　The　waves　kept　beating　upon　my　ears；　and　before　I
knew；　I　had　called　out；　〃Oh！　can　He　save　me？〃　　It　was　in　a　little
mission　meeting　on　one　of　the　side　streets；　and　they　seemed　to　be
used　to　that　sort　of　thing　there；　for　no　one　was　surprised；　and　a
young　fellow　leaned　across　the　aisle　to　me　and　said；　〃Why！　you　just
bet　He　can！〃　　His　surprise　that　I　should　doubt；　his　bright　face　and
confident　tone；　gave　me　hope　that　perhaps　it　might　be　so。　　I　held
to　that　hope　with　all　my　soul；　and'stretching　up　his　arms；　and
with　a　quick　glow　in　his　face　and　a　little　break　in　his　voice；　'He
hasn't　failed　me　yet；　not　once；　not　once！'

He　stopped　quite　short；　and　I　felt　a　good　deal　like　making　a　fool
of　myself；　for　in　those　days　I　had　not　made　up　my　mind　about　these
things。　　Graeme；　poor　old　chap；　was　gazing　at　him　with　a　sad
yearning　in　his　dark　eyes；　big　Sandy　was　sitting　very　stiff；　and
staring　harder　than　ever　into　the　fire；　Baptiste　was　trembling　with
excitement；　Blaney　was　openly　wiping　the　tears　away。　　But　the　face
that　held　my　eyes　was　that　of　old　man　Nelson。　　It　was　white；
fierce；　hungry…looking；　his　sunken　eyes　burning；　his　lips　parted　as
if　to　cry。

The　minister　went　on。　　'I　didn't　mean　to　tell　you　this；　men；　it　all
came　over　me　with　a　rush；　but　it　is　true；　every　word；　and　not　a
word　will　I　take　back。　　And；　what's　more；　I　can　tell　you　this；　what
He　did　for　me　He　can　do　for　any　man；　and　it　doesn't　make　any
difference　what's　behind　him；　and'leaning　slightly　forward；　and
with　a　little　thrill　of　pathos　vibrating　in　his　voice'O　boys；　why
don't　you　give　Him　a　chance　at　you？　　Without　Him　you'll　never　be
the　men　you　want　to　be；　and　you'll　never　get　the　better　of　that
that's　keeping　some　of　you　now　from　going　back　home。　　You　know
you'll　never　go　back　till　you're　the　men　you　want　to　be。'　　Then；
lifting　up　his　face　and　throwing　back　his　head；　he　said；　as　if　to
himself；　'Jesus！　　He　shall　save　His　people　from　their　sins；'　and
then；　'Let　us　pray。'

Graeme　leaned　forward　with　his　face　in　his　hands；　Baptiste　and
Blaney　dropped　on　their　knees；　Sandy；　the　Campbells；　and　some
others；　stood　up。　　Old　man　Nelson　held　his　eyes　steadily　on　the
minister。

Only　once　before　had　I　seen　that　look