black rock-第24章

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and　pose；　but　the　eyes！　the　eyes　elude　meand　the　faces　of　Mrs。
Mavor　on　my　wall；　that　the　men　praise　and　rave　over；　are　not　such
as　I　could　show　to　any　of　the　men　from　the　mountains。

Graeme's　letters　tell　me　chiefly　about　Craig　and　his　doings；　and
about　old　man　Nelson；　while　from　Craig　I　hear　about　Graeme；　and　how
he　and　Nelson　are　standing　at　his　back；　and　doing　what　they　can　to
fill　the　gap　that　never　can　be　filled。　　The　three　are　much
together；　I　can　see；　and　I　am　glad　for　them　all；　but　chiefly　for
Craig；　whose　face；　grief…stricken　but　resolute；　and　often　gentle　as
a　woman's；　will　not　leave　me　nor　let　me　rest　in　peace。

The　note　of　thanks　he　sent　me　was　entirely　characteristic。　　There
were　no　heroics；　much　less　pining　or　self…pity。　　It　was　simple　and
manly；　not　ignoring　the　pain　but　making　much　of　the　joy。　　And　then
they　had　their　work　to　do。　　That　note；　so　clear；　so　manly；　so　nobly
sensible；　stiffens　my　back　yet　at　times。

In　the　spring　came　the　startling　news　that　Black　Rock　would　soon　be
no　more。　　The　mines　were　to　close　down　on　April　1。　　The　company；
having　allured　the　confiding　public　with　enticing　descriptions　of
marvellous　drifts；　veins；　assays；　and　prospects；　and　having
expended　vast　sums　of　the　public's　money　in　developing　the　mines
till　the　assurance　of　their　reliability　was　absolutely　final；
calmly　shut　down　and　vanished。　　With　their　vanishing　vanishes　Black
Rock；　not　without　loss　and　much　deep　cursing　on　the　part　of　the　men
brought　some　hundreds　of　miles　to　aid　the　company　in　its
extraordinary　and　wholly　inexplicable　game。

Personally　it　grieved　me　to　think　that　my　plan　of　returning　to
Black　Rock　could　never　be　carried　out。　　It　was　a　great　compensation；
however；　that　the　three　men　most　representative　to　me　of　that　life
were　soon　to　visit　me　actually　in　my　own　home　and　den。　　Graeme's
letter　said　that　in　one　month　they　might　be　expected　to　appear。　　At
least　he　and　Nelson　were　soon　to　come；　and　Craig　would　soon　follow。

On　receiving　the　great　news；　I　at　once　looked　up　young　Nelson　and
his　sister；　and　we　proceeded　to　celebrate　the　joyful　prospect　with
a　specially　good　dinner。　　I　found　the　greatest　delight　in　picturing
the　joy　and　pride　of　the　old　man　in　his　children；　whom　he　had　not
seen　for　fifteen　or　sixteen　years。　　The　mother　had　died　some　five
years　before；　then　the　farm　was　sold；　and　the　brother　and　sister
came　into　the　city；　and　any　father　might　be　proud　of　them。　　The　son
was　a　well…made　young　fellow；　handsome　enough；　thoughtful；　and
solid…looking。　　The　girl　reminded　me　of　her　father。　　The　same
resolution　was　seen　in　mouth　and　jaw；　and　the　same　passion
slumbered　in　the　dark　grey　eyes。　　She　was　not　beautiful；　but　she
carried　herself　well；　and　one　would　always　look　at　her　twice。　　It
would　be　worth　something　to　see　the　meeting　between　father　and
daughter。

But　fate；　the　greatest　artist　of　us　all；　takes　little　count　of　the
careful　drawing　and　the　bright　colouring　of　our　fancy's　pictures；
but　with　rude　hand　deranges　all；　and　with　one　swift　sweep　paints
out　the　bright　and　paints　in　the　dark。　　And　this　trick　he　served　me
when；　one　June　night；　after　long　and　anxious　waiting　for　some　word
from　the　west；　my　door　suddenly　opened　and　Graeme　walked　in　upon　me
like　a　spectre；　grey　and　voiceless。　　My　shout　of　welcome　was　choked
back　by　the　look　in　his　face；　and　I　could　only　gaze　at　him　and　wait
for　his　word。　　He　gripped　my　hand；　tried　to　speak；　but　failed　to
make　words　come。

'Sit　down；　old　man；'　I　said；　pushing；　him　into　my　chair；　'and　take
your　time。'

He　obeyed；　looking　up　at　me　with　burning；　sleepless　eyes。　　My　heart
was　sore　for　his　misery；　and　I　said：　'Don't　mind；　old　chap；　it
can't　be　so　awfully　bad。　　You're　here　safe　and　sound　at　any　rate；'
and　so　I　went　on　to　give　him　time。　　But　he　shuddered　and　looked
round　and　groaned。

'Now　look　here；　Graeme；　let's　have　it。　　When　did　you　land　here？
Where　is　Nelson？　　Why　didn't　you　bring　him　up？'

'He　is　at　the　station　in　his　coffin；'　he　answered　slowly。

'In　his　coffin？'　I　echoed；　my　beautiful　pictures　all　vanishing。
'How　was　it？'

'Through　my　cursed　folly；'　he　groaned　bitterly。

'What　happened？'　I　asked。　　But　ignoring　my　question；　he　said：　'I
must　see　his　children。　　I　have　not　slept　for　four　nights。　　I　hardly
know　what　I　am　doing；　but　I　can't　rest　till　I　see　his　children。　　I
promised　him。　　Get　them　for　me。'

'To…morrow　will　do。　　Go　to　sleep　now；　and　we　shall　arrange
everything　to…morrow；'　I　urged。

'No！'　he　said　fiercely；　'to…nightnow！'

In　half　an　hour　they　were　listening；　pale　and　grief…stricken；　to
the　story　of　their　father's　death。

Poor　Graeme　was　relentless　in　his　self…condemnation　as　he　told　how；
through　his　'cursed　folly；'　old　Nelson　was　killed。　　The　three；
Craig；　Graeme；　and　Nelson；　had　come　as　far　as　Victoria　together。
There　they　left　Craig；　and　came　on　to　San　Francisco。　　In　an　evil
hour　Graeme　met　a　companion　of　other　and　evil　days；　and　it　was　not
long　till　the　old　fever　came　upon　him。

In　vain　Nelson　warned　and　pleaded。　　The　reaction　from　the　monotony
and　poverty　of　camp　life　to　the　excitement　and　luxury　of　the　San
Francisco　gaming　palaces　swung　Graeme　quite　off　his　feet；　and　all
that　Nelson　could　do　was　to　follow　from　place　to　place　and　keep
watch。

'And　there　he　would　sit；'　said　Graeme　in　a　hard；　bitter　voice；
'waiting　and　watching　often　till　the　grey　morning　light；　while　my
madness　held　me　fast　to　the　table。　　One　night；'　here　he　paused　a
moment；　put　his　face　in　his　hands　and　shuddered；　but　quickly　he　was
master　of　himself　again；　and　went　on　in　the　same　hard　voice'One
night　my　partner　and　I　were　playing　two　men　who　had　done　us　up
before。　　I　knew　they　were　cheating；　but　could　not　detect　them。
Game　after　game　they　won；　till　I　was　furious　at　my　stupidity　in　not
being　able　to　catch　them。　　Happening　to　glance　at　Nelson　in　the
corner；　I　caught　a　meaning　look；　and　looking　again；　he　threw　me　a
signal。　　I　knew　at　once　what　the　fraud　was；　and　next　game　charged
the　fellow　with　it。　　He　gave　me　the　lie；　I　struck　his　mouth；　but
before　I　could　draw　my　gun；　his　partner　had　me　by　the　arms。　　What
followed　I　hardly　know。　　While　I　was　struggling　to　get　free；　I　saw
him　reach　for　his　weapon；　but；　as　he　drew　it；　Nelson　sprang　across
the　table；　and　bore　him　down。　　When　the　row　was　ever；　three　men　lay
on　the　floor。　　One　was　Nelson；　he　took　the　shot　meant　for　me。'

Again　the　story　paused。

'And　the　man　that　shot　him？'

I　started　at　the　intense　fierceness　in　the　voice；　and；　looking　upon
the　girl；　saw　her　eyes　blazing　with　a　terrible　light。

'He　is　dead；'　answered　Graeme　indifferently。

'You　killed　him？'　she　asked　eagerly。

Graeme　looked　at　her　curiously；　and　answered　slowly

'I　did　not　mean　to。　　He　came　at　me。　　I　struck　him　harder　than　I
knew。　　He　never　moved。'

She　drew　a　sigh　of　satisfaction；　and　waited。

'I　got　him　to　a　private　ward；　had　the　best　doctor　in　the　city；　and
sent　for　Craig　to　Victoria。　　For　three　days　we　thought　he　would
livehe　was　keen　to　get　home；　but　by　the　time　Craig　came　we　had
given　up　hope。　　Oh；　but　I　was　thankful　to　see　Craig　come　in；　and
the　joy　in　the　old　man's　eyes　was　beautiful　to　see。　　There　was　no
pain　at　last；　and　no　fear。　　He　would　not　allow　me　to　reproach
myself；　saying　over　and　over；　〃You　would　have　done　the　same　for
me〃as　I　would；　fast　enough〃and　it　is　better　me　than　you。　　I　am
old　and　done；　you　will　do　much　good　yet　for　the　boys。〃　　And　he　kept
looking　at　me　till　I　could　only　promise　to　do　my　best。

'But　I　am　glad　I　told　him　how　much　good　he　had　done　me　during　the
last　year；　for　he　seemed　to　think　that　too　good　to　be　true。　　And
when　Craig　told　him　how　he　had　helped　the　boys　in　the　camp；　and　how
Sandy　and　Baptiste　and　the　Campbells　would　always　be　better　men　for
his　life　among　them；　the　old　man's　face　actually　shone；　as　if　light
were　coming　through。　　And　with　surprise　and　joy　he　kept　on　saying；
〃Do　you　think　so？　　Do　you　think　so？　　Perhaps　so；　perhaps　so。〃　　At
the　last　he　talked　of　Christmas　night　at　the　camp。　　You　were　there；
you　remember。　　Craig　had　been　holding　a　service；　and　something
happened；　I　don't　know　what；　but　they　both　knew。'

'I　know；'　I　said；　and　I　saw　again　the　picture　of　the　old　man　under
the　pine；　upon　his　knees　in　the　snow；　with　his　face　turned　up　to
the　stars。

'Whatever　it　was；　it　was　in　his　mind　at　the　very　last；　and　I　can
never　forget　his　face　as　he　turned　it　to　Craig。　　One　hears　of　such
things：　I　had　often；　but　had　never　put　much　faith　in　them；　but　joy；
rapture；　triumph；　these　are　what　were　in　his　face；　as　he　said；　his
breath　coming　short；　〃You　saidHe　wouldn'tfail　meyou　were
rightnot　oncenot　onceHe　stuck　to　meI'm　glad　he　told　me
thank　Godfor　youyou　showedmeI'll　see　Himandtell　Him'
And　Craig；　kneeling　beside　him　so　steadyI　was　behaving　like　a
foolsmiled　down　through　his　streaming　tears　into　the　dim　eyes　so
brightly；　till　they　could　see　no　more。　　Thank　him　for　that！　　He
helped　the　old　man　through；　and　he　helped　me　too；　that　night；　thank
God！'　　And　Graeme's　voice；　hard　till　now；　broke　in　a　sob。

He　had　forgotten　us；　and　was　back　beside　his　passing　friend；　and
all　his　self…control　could　not　keep　back　the　flowing　tears。

'It　was　his　life　for　mine；'　he　said　huskily。

The　brother　and　sister　were　quietly　weeping；　but　spoke　no　word；
though　I　knew　Graeme　was　waiting　for　them。

I　took　up　the　word；　and　told　of　what　I　had　known　of　Nelson；　and　his
influence　upon　the　men　of　Black　Rock。　　They　listened　eagerly
enough；　but　still　without　speaking。　　There　seemed　nothing　to　say；
till　I　suggested　to　Graeme　that　he　must　get　some　rest。　　Then　the
girl　turned　to　him；　and；　impulsively　putting　out　her　hand；　said

'Oh；　it　is　all　so　sad；　but　how　can　we　ever　thank　you？'

'Thank　me！'　gasped　Graeme。　　'Can　you　forgive　me？　　I　brought　him　to
his　death。'

'No；　no！　　You　must　not　say　so；'　she　answered　hurriedly。　　'You　would
have　done　the　same　for　him。'

'God　knows　I　would；'　said　Graeme　earnestly；　'and　God　bless　you　for
your　words！'　　And　I　was　thankful　to　see　the　tears　start　in　his　dry；
burning　eyes。

We　carried　him　to　the　old　home　in　the　country；　that　he　might　lie　by
the　side　of　the　wife　he　had　loved　and　wronged。　　A　few　friends　met
us　at　the　wayside　station；　and　followed　in　sad　procession　along　the
country　road；　that　wound　past　farms　and　through　woods；　and　at　last
up　to　the　ascent　where　the　quaint；　old　wooden　church；　black　with
the　rains　and　snows　of　many　years；　stood　among　its　silent　graves。
The　little　graveyard　sloped　gently　towards　the　setting　sun；　and
from　it　one　could　see；　far　on　every　side；　the　fields　of　grain　and
meadowland　that　wandered　off　over　softly　undulating　hills　to　meet
the　maple　woods　at　the　horizon；　dark；　green；　and　cool。　　Here　and
there　white　farmhouses；　with　great　barns　standing　near；　looked　out
from　clustering　orchards。

Up　the　grass…grown　walk；　and　through　the　crowding　mounds；　over
which　waves；　uncut；　the　long；　tangling　grass；　we　bear　our　friend；
and　let　him　gently　down　into　the　kindly　bosom　of　mother　earth；
dark；　moist；　and　warm。　　The　sound　of　a　distant　cowbell　mingles　with
the　voice　of　the　last　prayer；　the　clods　drop　heavily　with　heart…
startling　echo；　the　mound　is　heaped　and　shaped　by　kindly　friends；
sharing　with　one　another　the　task；　the　long　roug