black rock-第4章

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after　the　show　is　over；'　he　explained。　　'The　first　two　crises　must
be　left　to　the　care　of　Punch　and　Judy；　and　as　for　the　last；　I　am
not　yet　sure　what　shall　be　done'；　but　I　saw　he　had　something　in　his
head；　for　he　added；　'I　shall　see　Mrs。　Mavor。'

'Who　is　Mrs。　Mavor？'　I　asked。　　But　he　made　no　reply。　　He　was　a　born
fighter；　and　he　put　the　fighting　spirit　into　us　all。　　We　were　bound
to　win。

The　sports　were　to　begin　at　two　o'clock。　　By　lunch…time　everything
was　in　readiness。　　After　lunch　I　was　having　a　quiet　smoke　in
Craig's　shack　when　in　he　rushed；　saying

'The　battle　will　be　lost　before　it　is　fought。　　If　we　lose　Quatre
Bras；　we　shall　never　get　to　Waterloo。'

'What's　up？'

'Slavin；　just　now。　　The　miners　are　coming　in；　and　he　will　have　them
in　tow　in　half　an　hour。'

He　looked　at　me　appealingly。　　I　knew　what　he　wanted。

'All　right；　I　suppose　I　must；　but　it　is　an　awful　bore　that　a　man
can't　have　a　quiet　smoke。'

'You're　not　half　a　bad　fellow；'　he　replied；　smiling。　　'I　shall　get
the　ladies　to　furnish　coffee　inside　the　booth。　　You　furnish　them
intellectual　nourishment　in　front　with　dear　old　Punch　and　Judy。'

He　sent　a　boy　with　a　bell　round　the　village　announcing；　'Punch；　and
Judy　in　front　of　the　Christmas　booth　beside　the　church'；　and　for
three…quarters　of　an　hour　I　shrieked　and　sweated　in　that　awful
little　pen。　　But　it　was　almost　worth　it　to　hear　the　shouts　of
approval　and　laughter　that　greeted　my　performance。　　It　was　cold
work　standing　about；　so　that　the　crowd　was　quite　ready　to　respond
when　Punch；　after　being　duly　hanged；　came　forward　and　invited　all
into　the　booth　for　the　hot　coffee　which　Judy　had　ordered。

In　they　trooped；　and　Quatre　Bras　was　won。

No　sooner　were　the　miners　safely　engaged　with　their　coffee　than　I
heard　a　great　noise　of　bells　and　of　men　shouting；　and　on　reaching
the　street　I　saw　that　the　men　from　the　lumber　camp　were　coming　in。
Two　immense　sleighs；　decorated　with　ribbons　and　spruce　boughs；　each
drawn　by　a　four…horse　team　gaily　adorned；　filled　with　some　fifty
men；　singing　and　shouting　with　all　their　might；　were　coming　down
the　hill　road　at　full　gallop。　　Round　the　corner　they　swung；　dashed
at　full　speed　across　the　bridge　and　down　the　street；　and　pulled　up
after　they　had　made　the　circuit　of　a　block；　to　the　great　admiration
of　the　onlookers。　　Among　others　Slavin　sauntered　up　good…naturedly；
making　himself　agreeable　to　Sandy　and　those　who　were　helping　to
unhitch　his　team。

'Oh；　you　need　not　take　trouble　with　me　or　my　team；　Mike　Slavin。
Batchees　and　me　and　the　boys　can　look　after　them　fine；'　said　Sandy
coolly。

This　rejecting　of　hospitality　was　perfectly　understood　by　Slavin
and　by　all。

'Dat's　too　bad；　heh？'　said　Baptiste　wickedly；　'and；　Sandy；　he's　got
good　money　on　his　pocket　for　sure；　too。'　　The　boys　laughed；　and
Slavin；　joining　in；　turned　away　with　Keele　and　Blaney；　but　by　the
look　in　his　eye　I　knew　he　was　playing　'Br'er　Rabbit；'　and　lying
low。

Mr。　Craig　just　then　came　up；　'Hello；　boys！　too　late　for　Punch　and
Judy；　but　just　in　time　for　hot　coffee　and　doughnuts。'

'Bon；　dat's　fuss　rate；'　said　Baptiste　heartily；　'where　you　keep
him？'

'Up　in　the　tent　next　the　church　there。　　The　miners　are　all　in。'

'Ah；　dat　so？　　Dat's　bad　news　for　the　shantymen；　heh；　Sandy？'　said
the　little　Frenchman　dolefully。

'There　was　a　clothes…basket　full　of　doughnuts　and　a　boiler　of
coffee　left　as　I　passed　just　now；'　said　Craig　encouragingly。

'Allons；　mes　garcons；　vite！　never　say　keel！'　cried　Baptiste
excitedly；　stripping　off　the　harness。

But　Sandy　would　not　leave　the　horses　till　they　were　carefully
rubbed　down；　blanketed；　and　fed；　for　he　was　entered　for　the　four…
horse　race　and　it　behoved　him　to　do　his　best　to　win。　　Besides；　he
scorned　to　hurry　himself　for　anything　so　unimportant　as　eating；
that　he　considered　hardly　worthy　even　of　Baptiste。　　Mr。　Craig
managed　to　get　a　word　with　him　before　he　went　off；　and　I　saw　Sandy
solemnly　and　emphatically　shake　his　head；　saying；　'Ah！　we'll　beat
him　this　day；'　and　I　gathered　that　he　was　added　to　the　vigilance
committee。

Old　man　Nelson　was　busy　with　his　own　team。　　He　turned　slowly　at　Mr。
Craig's　greeting；　'How　is　it；　Nelson？'　and　it　was　with　a　very　grave
voice　he　answered；　'I　hardly　know；　sir；　but　I　am　not　gone　yet；
though　it　seems　little　to　hold　to。'

'All　you　want　for　a　grip　is　what　your　hand　can　cover。　　What　would
you　have？　　And　besides；　do　you　know　why　you　are　not　gone　yet？'

The　old　man　waited；　looking　at　the　minister　gravely。

'Because　He　hasn't　let　go　His　grip　of　you。'

'How　do　you　know　He's　gripped　me？'

'Now；　look　here；　Nelson；　do　you　want　to　quit　this　thing　and　give　it
all　up？'

'No；　no！　　For　heaven's　sake；　no！　　Why；　do　you　think　I　have　lost
it？'　said　Nelson；　almost　piteously。

'Well；　He's　keener　about　it　than　you；　and　I'll　bet　you　haven't
thought　it　worth　while　to　thank　Him。'

'To　thank　Him；'　he　repeated；　almost　stupidly；　'for'

'For　keeping　you　where　you　are　overnight；'　said　Mr。　Craig；　almost
sternly。

The　old　man　gazed　at　the　minister；　a　light　growing　in　his　eyes。

'You're　right。　　Thank　God；　you're　right。'　　And　then　he　turned
quickly　away；　and　went　into　the　stable　behind　his　team。　　It　was　a
minute　before　he　came　out。　　Over　his　face　there　was　a　trembling
joy。

'Can　I　do　anything　for　you　to…day？'　he　asked　humbly。

'Indeed　you　just　can；'　said　the　minister；　taking　his　hand　and
shaking　it　very　warmly；　and　then　he　told　him　Slavin's　programme　and
ours。

'Sandy　is　all　right　till　after　his　race。　　After　that　is　his　time　of
danger；'　said　the　minister。

'I'll　stay　with　him；　sir；'　said　old　Nelson；　in　the　tone　of　a　man
taking　a　covenant；　and　immediately　set　off　for　the　coffee…tent。

'Here　comes　another　recruit　for　your　corps；'　I　said；　pointing　to
Leslie　Graeme；　who　was　coming　down　the　street　at　that　moment　in　his
light　sleigh。

'I　am　not　so　sure。　　Do　you　think　you　could　get　him？'

I　laughed。　　'You　are　a　good　one。'

'Well；'　he　replied；　half　defiantly；　'is　not　this　your　fight　too？'

'You　make　me　think　so；　though　I　am　bound　to　say　I　hardly　recognise
myself　to　day。　　But　here　goes；'　and　before　I　knew　it　I　was
describing　our　plans　to　Graeme；　growing　more　and　more　enthusiastic
as　he　sat　in　his　sleigh；　listening　with　a　quizzical　smile　I　didn't
quite　like。

'He's　got　you　too；'　he　said；　'I　feared　so。'

'Well；'　I　laughed；　'perhaps　so。　　But　I　want　to　lick　that　man
Slavin。　　I've　just　seen　him；　and　he's　just　what　Craig　calls　him；　〃a
slick　son　of　the　devil。〃　　Don't　be　shocked；　he　says　it　is
Scripture。'

'Revised　version；'　said　Graeme　gravely；　while　Craig　looked　a　little
abashed。

'What　is　assigned　me；　Mr。　Craig？　for　I　know　that　this　man　is　simply
your　agent。'

I　repudiated　the　idea；　while　Mr。　Craig　said　nothing。

'What's　my　part？'　demanded　Graeme。

'Well；'　said　Mr。　Craig　hesitatingly；　'of　course　I　would　do　nothing
till　I　had　consulted　you；　but　I　want　a　man　to　take　my　place　at　the
sports。　　I　am　referee。'

'That's　all　right；'　said　Graeme；　with　an　air　of　relief；　'I　expected
something　hard。'

'And　then　I　thought　you　would　not　mind　presiding　at　dinnerI　want
it　to　go　off　well。'

'Did　you　notice　that？'　said　Graeme　to　me。　　'Not　a　bad　touch；　eh？'

'That's　nothing　to　the　way　he　touched　me。　　Wait　and　learn；'　I
answered；　while　Craig　looked　quite　distressed。　　'He'll　do　it；　Mr。
Craig；　never　fear；'　I　said；　'and　any　other　little　duty　that　may
occur　to　you。'

'Now　that's　too　bad　of　you。　　That　is　all　I　want；　honour　bright；'　he
replied；　adding；　as　he　turned　away；　'you　are　just　in　time　for　a　cup
of　coffee；　Mr。　Graeme。　　Now　I　must　see　Mrs。　Mavor。'

'Who　is　Mrs。　Mavor？'　I　demanded　of　Graeme。

'Mrs。　Mavor？　　The　miners'　guardian　angel。'

We　put　up　the　horses　and　set　off　for　coffee。　　As　we　approached　the
booth　Graeme　caught　sight　of　the　Punch　and　Judy　show；　stood　still
in　amazement；　and　exclaimed；　'Can　the　dead　live？'

'Punch　and　Judy　never　die；'　I　replied　solemnly。

'But　the　old　manipulator　is　dead　enough；　poor　old　beggar！'

'But　he　left　his　mantle；　as　you　see。'

He　looked　at　me　a　moment

'What！　do　you　mean；　you？'

'Yes；　that　is　exactly　what　I　do　mean。'

'He　is　great　man；　that　Craig　fellowa　truly　great　man。'

And　then　he　leaned　up　against　a　tree　and　laughed　till　the　tears
came。　　'I　say；　old　boy；　don't　mind　me；'　he　gasped；　'but　do　you
remember　the　old　'Varsity　show？'

'Yes；　you　villain；　and　I　remember　your　part　in　it。　　I　wonder　how
you　can；　even　at　this　remote　date；　laugh　at　it。'　　For　I　had　a　vivid
recollection　of　how；　after　a　'chaste　and　highly　artistic
performance　of　this　mediaeval　play'　had　been　given　before　a
distinguished　Toronto　audience；　the　trap　door　by　which　I　had
entered　my　box　was　fastened；　and　I　was　left　to　swelter　in　my　cage；
and　forced　to　listen　to　the　suffocated　laughter　from　the　wings　and
the　stage　whispers　of　'Hello；　Mr。　Punch；　where's　the　baby？'　　And
for　many　a　day　after　I　was　subjected　to　anxious　inquiries　as　to　the
locality　and　health　of　'the　baby；'　and　whether　it　was　able　to　be
out。

'Oh；　the　dear　old　days！'　he　kept　saying；　over　and　over；　in　a　tone
so　full　of　sadness　that　my　heart　grew　sore　for　him　and　I　forgave
him；　as　many　a　time　before。

The　sports　passed　off　in　typical　Western　style。　　In　addition　to　the
usual　running　and　leaping　contests；　there　was　rifle　and　pistol
shooting；　in　both　of　which　old　man　Nelson　stood　first；　with　Shaw；
foreman　of　the　mines；　second。

The　great　event　of　the　day；　however；　was　to　be　the　four…horse　race；
for　which　three　teams　were　enteredone　from　the　mines　driven　by
Nixon；　Craig's　friend；　a　citizens'　team；　and　Sandy's。　　The　race　was
really　between　the　miners'　team；　and　that　from　the　woods；　for　the
citizens'　team；　though　made　up　of　speedy　horses；　had　not　been
driven　much　together；　and　knew　neither　their　driver　nor　each　other。
In　the　miners'　team　were　four　bays；　very　powerful；　a　trifle　heavy
perhaps；　but　well　matched；　perfectly　trained；　and　perfectly　handled
by　their　driver。　　Sandy　had　his　long　rangy　roans；　and　for　leaders　a
pair　of　half…broken　pinto　bronchos。　　The　pintos；　caught　the　summer
before　upon　the　Alberta　prairies；　were　fleet　as　deer；　but　wicked
and　uncertain。　　They　were　Baptiste's　special　care　and　pride。　　If
they　would　only　run　straight　there　was　little　doubt　that　they　would
carry　the　roans　and　themselves　to　glory；　but　one　could　not　tell　the
moment　they　might　bolt　or　kick　things　to　pieces。

Being　the　only　non…partisan　in　the　crowd　I　was　asked　to　referee。
The　race　was　about　half　a　mile　and　return；　the　first　and　last
quarters　being　upon　the　ice。　　The　course；　after　leaving　the　ice；
led　up　from　the　river　by　a　long　easy　slope　to　the　level　above；　and
at　the　further　end　curved　somewhat　sharply　round　the　Old　Fort。　　The
only　condition　attaching　to　the　race　was　that　the　teams　should
start　from　the　scratch；　make　the　turn　of　the　Fort；　and　finish　at
the　scratch。　　There　were　no　vexing　regulations　as　to　fouls。　　The
man　making　the　foul　would　find　it　necessary　to　reckon　with　the
crowd；　which　was　considered　sufficient　guarantee　for　a　fair　and
square　race。　　Owing　to　the　hazards　of　the　course；　the　result　would
depend　upon　the　skill　of　the　drivers　quite　as　much　as　upon　the
speed　of　the　teams。　　The　points　of　hazard　were　at　the　turn　round
the　Old　Fort；　and　at　a　li