black rock-第6章

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I　pushed　my　way　in。　　'What's　up？'　I　cried。

'Mr。　Connor；'　said　Sandy　solemnly；　'it　is　a　gentleman　you　are；
though　your　name　is　against　you；　and　I　am　a　good　Presbyterian；
and　I　can　give　you　the　Commandments　and　Reasons　annexed　to　them；
but　yon's　a　thief；　a　Papist　thief；　and　I　am　justified　in　getting　my
money　out　of　his　soul。'

'But；'　I　remonstrated；　'you　won't　get　it　in　this　way。'

'He　has　my　money；'　reiterated　Sandy。

'He　is　a　blank　liar；　and　he's　afraid　to　take　it　up；'　said　Slavin；
in　a　low；　cool　tone。

With　a　roar　Sandy　broke　away　and　rushed　at　him；　but；　without　moving
from　his　tracks；　Slavin　met　him　with　a　straight　left…hander　and
laid　him　flat。

'Hooray；'　yelled　Blaney；　'Ireland　for　ever！'　and；　seizing　the　iron
poker；　swung　it　around　his　head；　crying；　'Back；　or；　by　the　holy
Moses；　I'll　kill　the　first　man　that　interferes　wid　the　game。'

'Give　it　to　him！'　Keefe　said　savagely。

Sandy　rose　slowly；　gazing　round　stupidly。

'He　don't　know　what　hit　him；'　laughed　Keefe。

This　roused　the　Highlander；　and　saying；　'I'll　settle　you　afterwards；
Mister　Keefe；'　he　rushed　in　again　at　Slavin。　　Again　Slavin　met　him
again　with　his　left；　staggered　him；　and；　before　he　fell；　took　a　step
forward　and　delivered　a　terrific　right…hand　blow　on　his　jaw。　　Poor
Sandy　went　down　in　a　heap　amid　the　yells　of　Blaney；　Keefe；　and　some
others　of　the　gang。　　I　was　in　despair　when　in　came　Baptiste　and
Graeme。

One　look　at　Sandy；　and　Baptiste　tore　off　his　coat　and　cap；
slammed　them　on　the　floor；　danced　on　them；　and　with　a　long…drawn
'sap…r…r…r…rie；'　rushed　at　Slavin。　　But　Graeme　caught　him　by　the
back　of　the　neck；　saying；　'Hold　on；　little　man；'　and　turning　to
Slavin；　pointed　to　Sandy；　who　was　reviving　under　Nelson's　care；
and　said；　'What's　this　for？'

'Ask　him；'　said　Slavin　insolently。　　'He　knows。'

'What　is　it；　Nelson？'

Nelson　explained　that　Sandy；　after　drinking　some　at　the　stable　and
a　glass　at　the　Black　Rock　Hotel；　had　come　down　here　with　Keefe　and
the　others；　had　lost　his　money；　and　was　accusing　Slavin　of　robbing
him。

'Did　you　furnish　him　with　liquor？'　said　Graeme　sternly。

'It　is　none　of　your　business；'　replied　Slavin；　with　an　oath。

'I　shall　make　it　my　business。　　It　is　not　the　first　time　my　men　have
lost　money　in　this　saloon。'

'You　lie；'　said　Slavin；　with　deliberate　emphasis。

'Slavin；'　said　Graeme　quietly；　'it's　a　pity　you　said　that；　because；
unless　you　apologise　in　one　minute；　I　shall　make　you　sorry。'

'Apologise？'　roared　Slavin；　'apologise　to　you？'　calling　him　a　vile
name。

Graeme　grew　white；　and　said　even　more　slowly；　'Now　you'll　have　to
take　it；　no　apology　will　do。'

He　slowly　stripped　off　coat　and　vest。　　Mr。　Craig　interposed；
begging　Graeme　to　let　the　matter　pass。　　'Surely　he　is　not　worth
it。'

'Mr。　Craig；'　said　Graeme；　with　an　easy　smile；　'you　don't
understand。　　No　man　can　call　me　that　name　and　walk　around
afterwards　feeling　well。'

Then；　turning　to　Slavin；　he　said；　'Now；　if　you　want　a　minute's
rest；　I　can　wait。'

Slavin；　with　a　curse；　bade　him　come。

'Blaney；'　said　Graeme　sharply；　'you　get　back。'　　Blaney　promptly
stepped　back　to　Keefe's　side。　　'Nelson；　you　and　Baptiste　can　see
that　they　stay　there。'　　The　old　man　nodded　and　looked　at　Craig；　who
simply　said；　'Do　the　best　you　can。'

It　was　a　good　fight。　　Slavin　had　plenty　of　pluck；　and　for　a　time
forced　the　fighting；　Graeme　guarding　easily　and　tapping　him
aggravatingly　about　the　nose　and　eyes；　drawing　blood；　but　not
disabling　him。　　Gradually　there　came　a　look　of　fear　into　Slavin's
eyes；　and　the　beads　stood　upon　his　face。　　He　had　met　his　master。

'Now；　Slavin；　you're　beginning　to　be　sorry；　and　now　I　am　going　to
show　you　what　you　are　made　of。'　　Graeme　made　one　or　two　lightning
passes；　struck　Slavin　one；　two；　three　terrific　blows；　and　laid　him
quite　flat　and　senseless。　　Keefe　and　Blaney　both　sprang　forward；
but　there　was　a　savage　kind　of　growl。

'Hold；　there！'　　It　was　old　man　Nelson　looking　along　a　pistol
barrel。　　'You　know　me；　Keefe；'　he　said。　　'You　won't　do　any　murder
this　time。'

Keefe　turned　green　and　yellow；　and　staggered　back；　while　Slavin
slowly　rose　to　his　feet。

'Will　you　take　some　more？'　said　Graeme。　　'You　haven't　got　much；　but
mind　I　have　stopped　playing　with　you。　　Put　up　your　gun；　Nelson。　　No
one　will　interfere　now。'

Slavin　hesitated；　then　rushed；　but　Graeme　stepped　to　meet　him；　and
we　saw　Slavin's　heels　in　the　air　as　he　fell　back　upon　his　neck　and
shoulders　and　lay　still；　with　his　toes　quivering。

'Bon！'　yelled　Baptiste。　　'Bully　boy！　　Dat's　de　bon　stuff。　　Dat's
larn　him　one　good　lesson。'　　But　immediately　he　shrieked；
Gar…r…r…r…e　a　vous！'

He　was　too　late；　for　there　was　a　crash　of　breaking　glass；　and
Graeme　fell　to　the　floor　with　a　long　deep　cut　on　the　side　of　his
head。　　Keefe　had　hurled　a　bottle　with　all　too　sure　an　aim；　and　had
fled。　　I　thought　he　was　dead；　but　we　carried　him　out；　and　in　a　few
minutes　he　groaned；　opened　his　eyes；　and　sank　again　into
insensibility。

'Where　can　we　take　him？'　I　cried。

'To　my　shack；'　said　Mr。　Craig。

'Is　there　no　place　nearer？'

'Yes；　Mrs。　Mavor's。　　I　shall　run　on　to　tell　her。'

She　met　us　at　the　door。　　I　had　in　mind　to　say　some　words　of
apology；　but　when　I　looked　upon　her　face　I　forgot　my　words；　forgot
my　business　at　her　door；　and　stood　simply　looking。

'Come　in！　　Bring　him　in！　　Please　do　not　wait；'　she　said；　and　her
voice　was　sweet　and　soft　and　firm。

We　laid　him　in　a　large　room　at　the　back　of　the　shop　over　which　Mrs。
Mavor　lived。　　Together　we　dressed　the　wound；　her　firm　white
fingers；　skilful　as　if　with　long　training。　　Before　the　dressing　was
finished　I　sent　Craig　off；　for　the　time　had　come　for　the　Magic
Lantern　in　the　church；　and　I　knew　how　critical　the　moment　was　in
our　fight。　　'Go；'　I　said；　'he　is　coming　to；　and　we　do　not　need
you。'

In　a　few　moments　more　Graeme　revived；　and；　gazing　about；　asked；
'What's；　all　this　about？'　and　then；　recollecting；　'Ah！　that　brute
Keefe'；　then　seeing　my　anxious　face　he　said　carelessly；　'Awful
bore；　ain't　it？　　Sorry　to　trouble　you；　old　fellow。'

'You　be　hanged！'　I　said　shortly；　for　his　old　sweet　smile　was
playing　about　his　lips；　and　was　almost　too　much　for　me。　　'Mrs。
Mavor　and　I　are　in　command；　and　you　must　keep　perfectly　still。'

'Mrs。　Mavor？'　he　said；　in　surprise。　　She　came　forward；　with　a
slight　flush　on　her　face。

'I　think　you　know　me；　Mr。　Graeme。'

'I　have　often　seen　you；　and　wished　to　know　you。　　I　am　sorry　to
bring　you　this　trouble。'

'You　must　not　say　so；'　she　replied；　'but　let　me　do　all　for　you　that
I　can。　　And　now　the　doctor　says　you　are　to　lie　still。'

'The　doctor？　　Oh！　you　mean　Connor。　　He　is　hardly　there　yet。　　You
don't　know　each　other。　　Permit　me　to　present　Mr。　Connor；　Mrs。
Mavor。'

As　she　bowed　slightly；　her　eyes　looked　into　mine　with　serious　gaze；
not　inquiring；　yet　searching　my　soul。　　As　I　looked　into　her　eyes　I
forgot　everything　about　me；　and　when　I　recalled　myself　it　seemed　as
if　I　had　been　away　in　some　far　place。　　It　was　not　their　colour　or
their　brightness；　I　do　not　yet　know　their　colour；　and　I　have　often
looked　into　them；　and　they　were　not　bright；　but　they　were　clear；
and　one　could　look　far　down　into　them；　and　in　their　depths　see　a
glowing；　steady　light。　　As　I　went　to　get　some　drugs　from　the　Black
Rock　doctor；　I　found　myself　wondering　about　that　far…down　light；
and　about　her　voice；　how　it　could　get　that　sound　from　far　away。

I　found　the　doctor　quite　drunk；　as　indeed　Mr。　Craig　had　warned；　but
his　drugs　were　good；　and　I　got　what　I　wanted　and　quickly　returned。

While　Graeme　slept　Mrs。　Mavor　made　me　tea。　　As　the　evening　wore　on
I　told　her　the　events　of　the　day；　dwelling　admiringly　upon　Craig's
generalship。　　She　smiled　at　this。

'He　got　me　too；'　she　said。　　'Nixon　was　sent　to　me　just　before　the
sports；　and　I　don't　think　he　will　break　down　to…day；　and　I　am　so
thankful。'　　And　her　eyes　glowed。

'I　am　quite　sure　he　won't；'　I　thought　to　myself；　but　I　said　no
word。

After　a　long　pause；　she　went　on；　'I　have　promised　Mr。　Craig　to　sing
to…night；　if　I　am　needed！'　and　then；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；
'It　is　two　years　since　I　have　been　able　to　singtwo　years；'　she
repeated；　'since'and　then　her　brave　voice　trembled'my　husband
was　killed。'

'I　quite　understand；'　I　said；　having　no　other　word　on　my　tongue

'And；'　she　went　on　quietly；　'I　fear　I　have　been　selfish。　　It　is
hard　to　sing　the　same　songs。　　We　were　very　happy。　　But　the　miners
like　to　hear　me　sing；　and　I　think　perhaps　it　helps　them　to　feel
less　lonely；　and　keeps　them　from　evil。　　I　shall　try　to…night；　if　I
am　needed。　　Mr。　Craig　will　not　ask　me　unless　he　must。'

I　would　have　seen　every　miner　and　lumberman　in　the　place　hideously
drunk　before　I　would　have　asked　her　to　sing　one　song　while　her
heart　ached。　　I　wondered　at　Craig；　and　said；　rather　angrily

'He　thinks　only　of　those　wretched　miners　and　shantymen　of　his。'

She　looked　at　me　with　wonder　in　her　eyes；　and　said　gently；　'And　are
they　not　Christ's　too？'

And　I　found　no　word　to　reply。

It　was　nearing　ten　o'clock；　and　I　was　wondering　how　the　fight　was
going；　and　hoping　that　Mrs。　Mavor　would　not　be　needed；　when　the
door　opened；　and　old　man　Nelson　and　Sandy；　the　latter　much　battered
and　ashamed；　came　in　with　the　word　for　Mrs。　Mavor。

'I　will　come；'　she　said　simply。　　She　saw　me　preparing　to　accompany
her；　and　asked；　'Do　you　think　you　can　leave　him？'

'He　will　do　quite　well　in　Nelson's　care。'

'Then　I　am　glad；　for　I　must　take　my　little　one　with　me。　　I　did　not
put　her　to　bed　in　case　I　should　need　to　go；　and　I　may　not　leave
her。'

We　entered　the　church　by　the　back　door；　and　saw　at　once　that　even
yet　the　battle　might　easily　be　lost。

Some　miners　had　just　come　from　Slavin's；　evidently　bent　on　breaking
up　the　meeting；　in　revenge　for　the　collapse　of　the　dance；　which
Slavin　was　unable　to　enjoy；　much　less　direct。　　Craig　was　gallantly
holding　his　ground；　finding　it　hard　work　to　keep　his　men　in　good
humour；　and　so　prevent　a　fight；　for　there　were　cries　of　'Put　him
out！　　Put　the　beast　out！'　at　a　miner　half　drunk　and　wholly
outrageous。

The　look　of　relief　that　came　over　his　face　when　Craig　caught　sight
of　us　told　how　anxious　he　had　been；　and　reconciled　me　to　Mrs。
Mavor's　singing。　　'Thank　the　good　God；'　he　said；　with　what　came
near　being　a　sob；　'I　was　about　to　despair。'

He　immediately　walked　to　the　front　and　called　out

'Gentlemen；　if　you　wish　it；　Mrs。　Mavor　will　sing。'

There　was　a　dead　silence。　　Some　one　began　to　applaud；　but　a　miner
said　savagely；　'Stop　that；　you　fool！'

There　was　a　few　moments'　delay；　when　from　the　crowd　a　voice　called
out；　'Does　Mrs。　Mavor　wish　to　sing？'　followed　by　cries　of　'Ay；
that's　it。'　　Then　Shaw；　the　foreman　at　the　mines；　stood　up　in　the
audience　and　said

'Mr。　Craig　and　gentlemen；　you　know　that　three　years　ago　I　was　known
as　〃Old　Ricketts；〃　and　that　I　owe　all　I　am　to…night；　under　God；　to
Mrs。　Mavor；　and'with　a　little　quiver　in　his　voice'her　baby。
And　we　all　know　that　for　two　years　she　has　not　sung；　and　we　all
know　why。　　And　what　I　say　is；　that　if　she　does　not　feel　like
singing　to…night；　she　is　not　going　to　sing　to　keep　any　drunken
brute　of　Slavin's　crowd　quiet。'

There　were　deep　growls　of　approval　all　over　the　church。　　I　could
have　hugged　Shaw　then　and　ther