black rock-第26章

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he　appeared；　with　jaunty　grace。　　In　the　full　flow　of　his　triumphant
argument；　Graeme　turned　to　him　with　sudden　seriousness。

'Look　here；　father！　　I　was　born　a　Calvinist；　and　I　can't　see　how
any　one　with　a　level　head　can　hold　anything　else；　than　that　the
Almighty　has　some　idea　as　to　how　He　wants　to　run　His　universe；　and
He　means　to　carry　out　His　idea；　and　is　carrying　it　out；　but　what
would　you　do　in　a　case　like　this？'　　Then　he　told　him　the　story　of
poor　Billy　Breen；　his　fight　and　his　defeat。

'Would　you　preach　election　to　that　chap？'

The　mother's　eyes　were　shining　with　tears。

The　old　gentleman　blew　his　nose　like　a　trumpet；　and　then　said
gravely

'No；　my　boy；　you　don't　feed　babes　with　meat。　　But　what　came　to
him？'

Then　Graeme　asked　me　to　finish　the　tale。　　After　I　had　finished　the
story　of　Billy's　final　triumph　and　of　Craig's　part　in　it；　they　sat
long　silent；　till　the　minister；　clearing　his　throat　hard　and
blowing　his　nose　more　like　a　trumpet　than　ever；　said　with　great
emphasis

'Thank　God　for　such　a　man　in　such　a　place！　　I　wish　there　were　more
of　us　like　him。'

'I　should　like　to　see　you　out　there；　sir；'　said　Graeme　admiringly；
'you'd　get　them；　but　you　wouldn't　have　time　for　election。'

'Yes；　yes！'　said　his　father　warmly；　'I　should　love　to　have　a　chance
just　to　preach　election　to　these　poor　lads。　　Would　I　were　twenty
years　younger！'

'It　is　worth　a　man's　life；'　said　Graeme　earnestly。　　His　younger
brother　turned　his　face　eagerly　toward　the　mother。　　For　answer　she
slipped　her　hand　into　his　and　said　softly；　while　her　eyes　shone
like　stars

'Some　day；　Jack；　perhaps！　　God　knows。'　　But　Jack　only　looked
steadily　at　her；　smiling　a　little　and　patting　her　hand。

'You'd　shine　there；　mother；'　said　Graeme；　smiling　upon　her；　'you'd
better　come　with　me。'　　She　started；　and　said　faintly

'With　you？'　　It　was　the　first　hint　he　had　given　of　his　purpose。
'You　are　going　back？'

'What！　as　a　missionary？'　said　Jack。

'Not　to　preach；　Jack；　I'm　not　orthodox　enough；'　looking　at　his
father　and　shaking　his　head；　'but　to　build　railroads　and　lend　a
hand　to　some　poor　chap；　if　I　can。'

'Could　you　not　find　work　nearer　home；　my　boy？'　asked　the　father；
'there　is　plenty　of　both　kinds　near　us　here；　surely。'

'Lots　of　work；　but　not　mine；　I　fear；'　answered　Graeme；　keeping　his
eyes　away　from　his　mother's　face。　　'A　man　must　do　his　own　work。'

His　voice　was　quiet　and　resolute；　and　glancing　at　the　beautiful
face　at　the　end　of　the　table；　I　saw　in　the　pale　lips　and　yearning
eyes　that　the　mother　was　offering　up　her　firstborn；　that　ancient
sacrifice。　　But　not　all　the　agony　of　sacrifice　could　wring　from　her
entreaty　or　complaint　in　the　hearing　of　her　sons。　　That　was　for
other　ears　and　for　the　silent　hours　of　the　night。　　And　next　morning
when　she　came　down　to　meet　us　her　face　was　wan　and　weary；　but　it
wore　the　peace　of　victory　and　a　glory　not　of　earth。　　Her　greeting
was　full　of　dignity；　sweet　and　gentle；　but　when　she　came　to　Graeme
she　lingered　over　him　and　kissed　him　twice。　　And　that　was　all　that
any　of　us　ever　saw　of　that　sore　fight。

At　the　end　of　the　week　I　took　leave　of　them；　and　last　of　all　of　the
mother。

She　hesitated　just　a　moment；　then　suddenly　put　her　hands　upon　my
shoulders　and　kissed　me；　saying　softly；　'You　are　his　friend；　you
will　sometimes　come　to　me？'

'Gladly；　if　I　may；'　I　hastened　to　answer；　for　the　sweet；　brave　face
was　too　much　to　bear；　and；　till　she　left　us　for　that　world　of　which
she　was　a　part；　I　kept　my　word；　to　my　own　great　and　lasting　good。
When　Graeme　met　me　in　the　city　at　the　end　of　the　summer；　he　brought
me　her　love；　and　then　burst　forth

'Connor；　do　you　know；　I　have　just　discovered　my　mother！　　I　have
never　known　her　till　this　summer。'

'More　fool　you；'　I　answered；　for　often　had　I；　who　had　never　known　a
mother；　envied　him　his。

'Yes；　that　is　true；'　he　answered　slowly；　'but　you　cannot　see　until
you　have　eyes。'

Before　he　set　out　again　for　the　west　I　gave　him　a　supper；　asking
the　men　who　had　been　with　us　in　the　old　'Varsity　days。　　I　was
doubtful　as　to　the　wisdom　of　this；　and　was　persuaded　only　by
Graeme's　eager　assent　to　my　proposal。

'Certainly；　let's　have　them；'　he　said；　'I　shall　be　awfully　glad　to
see　them；　great　stuff　they　were。'

'But；　I　don't　know；　Graeme；　you　seewellhang　it！you　know
you're　different；　you　know。'

He　looked　at　me　curiously。

'I　hope　I　can　still　stand　a　good　supper；　and　if　the　boys　can't
stand　me；　why；　I　can't　help　it。　　I'll　do　anything　but　roar；　and
don't　you　begin　to　work　off　your　menagerie　actnow；　you　hear　me！'

'Well；　it　is　rather　hard　lines　that　when　I　have　been　talking　up　my
lion　for　a　year；　and　then　finally　secure　him；　that　he　will　not
roar。'

'Serve　you　right；'　he　replied；　quite　heartlessly；　'but　I'll　tell
you　what　I'll　do；　I'll　feed！　　Don't　you　worry；'　he　adds　soothingly；
'the　supper　will　go。'

And　go　it　did。　　The　supper　was　of　the　best；　the　wines　first…class。
I　had　asked　Graeme　about　the　wines。

'Do　as　you　like；　old　man；'　was　his　answer；　'it's　your　supper；　but；'
he　added；　'are　the　men　all　straight？'

I　ran　them　over　in　my　mind。

'Yes；　I　think　so。'

If　not；　don't　you　help　them　down；　and　anyway；　you　can't　be　too
careful。　　But　don't　mind　me；　I　am　quit　of　the　whole　business　from
this　out。'　　So　I　ventured　wines；　for　the　last　time；　as　it　happened。

We　were　a　quaint　combination。　　Old　'Beetles；'　whose　nickname　was
prophetic　of　his　future　fame　as　a　bugman；　as　the　fellows
irreverently　said；　'Stumpy'　Smith；　a　demon　bowler；　Polly　Lindsay；
slow　as　ever　and　as　sure　as　when　he　held　the　half…back　line　with
Graeme；　and　used　to　make　my　heart　stand　still　with　terror　at　his
cool　deliberation。　　But　he　was　never　known　to　fumble　nor　to　funk；
and　somehow　he　always　got　us　out　safe　enough。　　Then　there　was
Rattray'Rat'　for　shortwho；　from　a　swell；　had　developed　into　a
cynic　with　a　sneer；　awfully　clever　and　a　good　enough　fellow　at
heart。　　Little　'Wig'　Martin；　the　sharpest　quarter　ever　seen；　and
big　Barney　Lundy；　centre　scrimmage；　whose　terrific　roar　and　rush
had　often　struck　terror　to　the　enemy's　heart；　and　who　was　Graeme's
slave。　　Such　was　the　party。

As　the　supper　went　on　my　fears　began　to　vanish；　for　if　Graeme　did
not　'roar；'　he　did　the　next　best　thingate　and　talked　quite　up　to
his　old　form。　　Now　we　played　our　matches　over　again；　bitterly
lamenting　the　'if's'　that　had　lost　us　the　championships；　and　wildly
approving　the　tackles　that　had　saved；　and　the　runs　that　had　made
the　'Varsity　crowd　go　mad　with　delight　and　had　won　for　us。　　And　as
their　names　came　up　in　talk；　we　learned　how　life　had　gone　with
those　who　had　been　our　comrades　of　ten　years　ago。　　Some；　success
had　lifted　to　high　places；　some；　failure　had　left　upon　the　rocks；
and　a　few　lay　in　their　graves。

But　as　the　evening　wore　on；　I　began　to　wish　that　I　had　left　out　the
wines；　for　the　men　began　to　drop　an　occasional　oath；　though　I　had
let　them　know　during　the　summer　that　Graeme　was　not　the　man　he　had
been。　　But　Graeme　smoked　and　talked　and　heeded　not；　till　Rattray
swore　by　that　name　most　sacred　of　all　ever　borne　by　man。　　Then
Graeme　opened　upon　him　in　a　cool；　slow　way

'What　an　awful　fool　a　man　is；　to　damn　things　as　you　do；　Rat。
Things　are　not　damned。　　It　is　men　who　are；　and　that　is　too　bad　to
be　talked　much　about　but　when　a　man　flings　out　of　his　foul　mouth
the　name　of　Jesus　Christ'here　he　lowered　his　voice'it's　a
shameit's　more；　it's　a　crime。'

There　was　dead　silence；　then　Rattray　replied

'I　suppose　you're　right　enough；　it　is　bad　form；　but　crime　is　rather
strong；　I　think。'

'Not　if　you　consider　who　it　is；'　said　Graeme　with　emphasis。

'Oh；　come　now；'　broke　in　Beetles。　　'Religion　is　all　right；　is　a
good　thing；　and　I　believe　a　necessary　thing　for　the　race；　but　no
one　takes　seriously　any　longer　the　Christ　myth。'

'What　about　your　mother；　Beetles？'　put　in　Wig　Martin。

Beetles　consigned　him　to　the　pit　and　was　silent；　for　his　father　was
an　Episcopal　clergyman；　and　his　mother　a　saintly　woman。

'I　fooled　with　that　for　some　time；　Beetles；　but　it　won't　do。　　You
can't　build　a　religion　that　will　take　the　devil　out　of　a　man　on　a
myth。　　That　won't　do　the　trick。　　I　don't　want　to　argue　about　it；
but　I　am　quite　convinced　the　myth　theory　is　not　reasonable；　and
besides；　it　wont　work。'

'Will　the　other　work？'　asked　Rattray；　with　a　sneer。

'Sure！'　said　Grame；　'I've　seen　it。'

'Where？'　challenged　Rattray。　　'I　haven't　seen　much　of　it。'

'Yes；　you　have；　Rattray；　you　know　you　have；'　said　Wig　again。　　But
Rattray　ignored　him。

'I'll　tell　you；　boys；'　said　Graeme。　　'I　want　you　to　know；　anyway；
why　I　believe　what　I　do。'

Then　he　told　them　the　story　of　old　man　Nelson；　from　the　old　coast
days；　before　I　knew　him；　to　the　end。　　He　told　the　story　well。　　The
stern　fight　and　the　victory　of　the　life；　and　the　self…sacrifice　and
the　pathos　of　the　death　appealed　to　these　men；　who　loved　fight　and
could　understand　sacrifice。

'That's　why　I　believe　in　Jesus　Christ；　and　that's　why　I　think　it　a
crime　to　fling　His　name　about！'

'I　wish　to　Heaven　I　could　say　that；'　said　Beetles。

'Keep　wishing　hard　enough　and　it　will　come　to　you；'　said　Graeme。

'Look　here；　old　chap；'　said　Rattray；　'you're　quite　right　about
this；　I'm　willing　to　own　up。　　Wig　is　correct。　　I　know　a　few；　at
least；　of　that　stamp；　but　most　of　those　who　go　in　for　that　sort　of
thing　are　not　much　account'

'For　ten　years；　Rattray；'　said　Graeme　in　a　downright；　matter…of…
fact　way；　'you　and　I　have　tried　this　sort　of　thing'tapping　a
bottle'and　we　got　out　of　it　all　there　is　to　be　got；　paid　well　for
it；　too；　andfaugh！　you　know　it's　not　good　enough；　and　the　more
you　go　in　for　it；　the　more　you　curse　yourself。　　So　I　have　quit　this
and　I　am　going　in　for　the　other。'

'What！　going　in　for　preaching？'

'Not　muchrailroadingmoney　in　itand　lending　a　hand　to　fellows
on　the　rocks。'

'I　say；　don't　you　want　a　centre　forward？'　said　big　Barney　in　his
deep　voice。

'Every　man　must　play　his　game　in　his　place；　old　chap。　　I'd　like　to
see　you　tackle　it；　though；　right　well；'　said　Graeme　earnestly。　　And
so　he　did；　in　the　after　years；　and　good　tackling　it　was。　　But　that
is　another　story。

'But；　I　say；　Graeme；'　persisted　Beetles；　'about　this　business；　do
you　mean　to　say　you　go　the　whole　thingJonah；　you　know；　and　the
rest　of　it？'

Graeme　hesitated；　then　said

'I　haven't　much　of　a　creed；　Beetles；　don't　really　know　how　much　I
believe。　　But；'　by　this　time　he　was　standing；　'I　do　know　that　good
is　good；　and　bad　is　bad；　and　good　and　bad　are　not　the　same。　　And　I
know　a　man's　a　fool　to　follow　the　one；　and　a　wise　man　to　follow　the
other；　and；'　lowering　his　voice；　'I　believe　God　is　at　the　back　of　a
man　who　wants　to　get　done　with　bad。　　I've　tried　all　that　folly；'
sweeping　his　hand　over　the　glasses　and　bottles；　'and　all　that　goes
with　it；　and　I've　done　with　it'

'I'll　go　you　that　far；'　roared　big　Barney；　following　his　old
captain　as　of　yore。

'Good　man；'　said　Graeme；　striking　hands　with　him。

'Put　me　down；'　said　little　Wig　cheerfully。

Then　I　took　up　the　word；　for　there　rose　before　me　the　scene　in　the
League　saloon；　and　I　saw　the　beautiful　face　with　the　deep　shining
eyes；　and　I　was　speaking　for　her　again。　　I　told　them　of　Craig　and
his　fight　for　these　men's　lives。　　I　told　them；　too；