black rock-第8章

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　　　　　　Lies　as　he　once　lay；　breast　to　breast　with　God；'


the　light　shone　in　her　eyes；　and　she　said；　'Oh；　that　is　good　and
great；　I　shall　get　much　out　of　him；　I　had　always　feared　he　was
impossible。'　　And　'Paracelsus；'　too；　stirred　her；　but　when　I
recited　the　thrilling　fragment；　'Prospice；'　on　to　that　closing
rapturous　cry


　　　　　'Then　a　light；　then　thy　breast；
　　　　　　O　thou　soul　of　my　soul！　I　shall　clasp　thee　again；
　　　　　　And　with　God　be　the　rest！'


the　red　colour　faded　from　her　cheek；　her　breath　came　in　a　sob；　and
she　rose　quickly　and　passed　out　without　a　word。　　Ever　after；
Browning　was　among　her　gods。　　But　when　we　talked　of　music；　she；
adoring　Wagner；　soared　upon　the　wings　of　the　mighty　Tannhauser；　far
above；　into　regions　unknown；　leaving　me　to　walk　soberly　with
Beethoven　and　Mendelssohn。　　Yet　with　all　our　free；　frank　talk；
there　was　all　the　while　that　in　her　gentle　courtesy　which　kept　me
from　venturing　into　any　chamber　of　her　life　whose　door　she　did　not
set　freely　open　to　me。　　So　I　vexed　myself　about　her；　and　when　Mr。
Craig　returned　the　next　week　from　the　Landing　where　he　had　been　for
some　days；　my　first　question　was

'Who　is　Mrs。　Mavor？　　And　how　in　the　name　of　all　that　is　wonderful
and　unlikely　does　she　come　to　be　here？　　And　why　does　she　stay？'

He　would　not　answer　then；　whether　it　was　that　his　mind　was　full　of
the　coming　struggle；　or　whether　he　shrank　from　the　tale；　I　know
not；　but　that　night；　when　we　sat　together　beside　his　fire；　he　told
me　the　story；　while　I　smoked。　　He　was　worn　with　his　long；　hard
drive；　and　with　the　burden　of　his　work；　but　as　he　went　on　with　his
tale；　looking　into　the　fire　as　he　told　it；　he　forgot　all　his
present　weariness　and　lived　again　the　scenes　he　painted　for　me。
This　was　his　story：

'I　remember　well　my　first　sight　of　her；　as　she　sprang　from　the
front　seat　of　the　stage　to　the　ground；　hardly　touching　her
husband's　hand。　　She　looked　a　mere　girl。　　Let's　seefive　years
agoshe　couldn't　have　been　a　day　over　twenty　three。　　She　looked
barely　twenty。　　Her　swift　glance　swept　over　the　group　of　miners　at
the　hotel　door；　and　then　rested　on　the　mountains　standing　in　all
their　autumn　glory。

'I　was　proud　of　our　mountains　that　evening。　　Turning　to　her
husband；　she　exclaimed：　〃O　Lewis；　are　they　not　grand？　and　lovely；
too？〃　　Every　miner　lost　his　heart　then　and　there；　but　all　waited
for　Abe　the　driver　to　give　his　verdict　before　venturing　an　opinion。
Abe　said　nothing　until　he　had　taken　a　preliminary　drink；　and　then；
calling　all　hands　to　fill　up；　he　lifted　his　glass　high；　and　said
solemnly

'〃Boys；　here's　to　her。〃

'Like　a　flash　every　glass　was　emptied；　and　Abe　called　out；　〃Fill
her　up　again；　boys！　　My　treat！〃

'He　was　evidently　quite　worked　up。　　Then　he　began；　with　solemn
emphasis

'〃Boys；　you　hear　me！　　She's　a　No。　1；　triple　X；　the　pure　quill　with
a　bead　on　it：　she's　a；〃　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　Black　Rock
history　Abe　was　stuck　for　a　word。　　Some　one　suggested　〃angel。〃

'〃Angel！〃　repeated　Abe；　with　infinite　contempt。　　〃Angel　be　blowed；〃
（I　paraphrase　here）；　〃angels　ain't　in　the　same　month　with　her；　I'd
like　to　see　any　blanked　angel　swing　my　team　around　them　curves
without　a　shiver。〃

'〃Held　the　lines　herself；　Abe？〃　asked　a　miner。

'〃That's　what；〃　said　Abe；　and　then　he　went　off　into　a　fusilade　of
scientific　profanity；　expressive　of　his　esteem　for　the　girl　who　had
swung　his　team　round　the　curves；　and　the　miners　nodded　to　each
other；　and　winked　their　entire　approval　of　Abe's　performance；　for
this　was　his　specialty。

'Very　decent　fellow；　Abe；　but　his　talk　wouldn't　print。'

Here　Craig　paused；　as　if　balancing　Abe's　virtues　and　vices。

'Well；'　I　urged；　'who　is　she？'

'Oh　yes；'　he　said；　recalling　himself；　'she　is　an　Edinburgh　young
ladymet　Lewis　Mayor；　a　young　Scotch…English　man；　in　London
wealthy；　good　family；　and　all　that；　but　fast；　and　going　to　pieces
at　home。　　His　people；　who　own　large　shares　in　these　mines　here；　as
a　last　resort　sent　him　out　here　to　reform。　　Curiously　innocent
ideas　those　old　country　people　have　of　the　reforming　properties　of
this　atmosphere！　　They　send　their　young　bloods　here　to　reform。
Here！　in　this　devil's　camp…ground；　where　a　man's　lust　is　his　only
law；　and　when；　from　sheer　monotony；　a　man　must　betake　himself　to
the　only　excitement　of　the　placethat　offered　by　the　saloon。　　Good
people　in　the　east　hold　up　holy　hands　of　horror　at　these　godless
miners；　but　I　tell　you　it's　asking　these　boys　a　good　deal　to　keep
straight　and　clean　in　a　place　like　this。　　I　take　my　excitement　in
fighting　the　devil　and　doing　my　work　generally；　and　that　gives　me
enough；　but　these　poor　chapshard　worked；　homeless；　with　no　break
or　changeGod　help　them　and　me！'　and　his　voice　sank　low。

'Well；'　I　persisted；　'did　Mavor　reform？'

Again　he　roused　himself。　　'Reform？　　Not　exactly。　　In　six…months　he
had　broken　through　all　restraint；　and；　mind　you；　not　the　miners'
faultnot　a　miner　helped　him　down。　　It　was　a　sight　to　make　angels
weep　when　Mrs。　Mavor　would　come　to　the　saloon　door　for　her　husband。
Every　miner　would　vanish；　they　could　not　look　upon　her　shame；　and
they　would　send　Mavor　forth　in　the　charge　of　Billy　Breen；　a　queer
little　chap；　who　had　belonged　to　the　Mavors　in　some　way　in　the　old
country；　and　between　them　they　would　get　him　home。　　How　she　stood
it　puzzles　me　to　this　day；　but　she　never　made　any　sign；　and　her
courage　never　failed。　　It　was　always　a　bright；　brave；　proud　face
she　held　up　to　the　worldexcept　in　church；　there　it　was　different。
I　used　to　preach　my　sermons；　I　believe；　mostly　for　herbut　never
so　that　she　could　suspectas　bravely　and　as　cheerily　as　I　could。
And　as　she　listened；　and　especially　as　she　sanghow　she　used　to
sing　in　those　days！there　was　no　touch　of　pride　in　her　face；
though　the　courage　never　died　out；　but　appeal；　appeal！　　I　could
have　cursed　aloud　the　cause　of　her　misery；　or　wept　for　the　pity　of
it。　　Before　her　baby　was　born　he　seemed　to　pull　himself　together；
for　he　was　quite　mad　about　her；　and　from　the　day　the　baby　came
talk　about　miracles！from　that　day　he　never　drank　a　drop。　　She
gave　the　baby　over　to　him；　and　the　baby　simply　absorbed　him。

'He　was　a　new　man。　　He　could　not　drink　whisky　and　kiss　his　baby。
And　the　minersit　was　really　absurd　if　it　were　not　so　pathetic。
It　was　the　first　baby　in　Black　Rock；　and　they　used　to　crowd　Mavor's
shop　and　peep　into　the　room　at　the　back　of　itI　forgot　to　tell　you
that　when　he　lost　his　position　as　manager　he　opened　a　hardware
shop；　for　his　people　chucked　him；　and　he　was　too　proud　to　write
home　for　moneyjust　for　a　chance　to　be　asked　in　to　see　the　baby。
I　came　upon　Nixon　standing　at　the　back　of　the　shop　after　he　had
seen　the　baby　for　the　first　time；　sobbing　hard；　and　to　my　question
he　replied：　〃It's　just　like　my　own。〃　　You　can't　understand　this。
But　to　men　who　have　lived　so　long　in　the　mountains　that　they　have
forgotten　what　a　baby　looks　like；　who　have　had　experience　of
humanity　only　in　its　roughest；　foulest　form；　this　little　mite；
sweet　and　clean；　was　like　an　angel　fresh　from　heaven；　the　one　link
in　all　that　black　camp　that　bound　them　to　what　was　purest　and　best
in　their　past。

'And　to　see　the　mother　and　her　baby　handle　the　miners！

'Oh；　it　was　all　beautiful　beyond　words！　　I　shall　never　forget　the
shock　I　got　one　night　when　I　found　〃Old　Ricketts〃　nursing　the　baby。
A　drunken　old　beast　he　was；　but　there　he　was　sitting；　sober　enough；
making　extraordinary　faces　at　the　baby；　who　was　grabbing　at　his
nose　and　whiskers　and　cooing　in　blissful　delight。　　Poor　〃Old
Ricketts〃　looked　as　if　he　had　been　caught　stealing；　and　muttering
something　about　having　to　go；　gazed　wildly　round　for　some　place　in
which　to　lay　the　baby；　when　in　came　the　mother；　saying　in　her　own
sweet；　frank　way：　〃O　Mr。　Ricketts〃　（she　didn't　find　out　till
afterwards　his　name　was　Shaw）；　〃would　you　mind　keeping　her　just　a
little　longer？I　shall　be　back　in　a　few　minutes。〃　　And　〃Old
Ricketts〃　guessed　he　could　wait。

'But　in　six　months　mother　and　baby；　between　them；　transformed　〃Old
Ricketts〃　into　Mr。　Shaw；　fire…boss　of　the　mines。　　And　then　in　the
evenings；　when　she　would　be　singing　her　baby　to　sleep；　the　little
shop　would　be　full　of　miners；　listening　in　dead　silence　to　the
baby…songs；　and　the　English　songs；　and　the　Scotch　songs　she　poured
forth　without　stint；　for　she　sang　more　for　them　than　for　her　baby。
No　wonder　they　adored　her。　　She　was　so　bright；　so　gay；　she　brought
light　with　her　when　she　went　into　the　camp；　into　the　pitsfor　she
went　down　to　see　the　men　workor　into　a　sick　miner's　shack；　and
many　a　man；　lonely　and　sick　for　home　or　wife；　or　baby　or　mother；
found　in　that　back　room　cheer　and　comfort　and　courage；　and　to　many
a　poor　broken　wretch　that　room　became；　as　one　miner　put　it；　〃the
anteroom　to　heaven。〃'

Mr。　Craig　paused；　and　I　waited。　　Then　he　went　on　slowly

'For　a　year　and　a　half　that　was　the　happiest　home　in　all　the　world；
till　one　day'

He　put　his　face　in　his　hands；　and　shuddered。

'I　don't　think　I　can　ever　forget　the　awful　horror　of　that　bright
fall　afternoon；　when　〃Old　Ricketts〃　came　breathless　to　me　and
gasped；　〃Come！　for　the　dear　Lord's　sake；〃　and　I　rushed　after　him。
At　the　mouth　of　the　shaft　lay　three　men　dead。　　One　was　Lewis　Mavor。
He　had　gone　down　to　superintend　the　running　of　a　new　drift；　the　two
men；　half　drunk　with　Slavin's　whisky；　set　off　a　shot　prematurely；
to　their　own　and　Mavor's　destruction。　　They　were　badly　burned；　but
his　face　was　untouched。　　A　miner　was　sponging　off　the　bloody　froth
oozing　from　his　lips。　　The　others　were　standing　about　waiting　for
me　to　speak。　　But　I　could　find　no　word；　for　my　heart　was　sick；
thinking；　as　they　were；　of　the　young　mother　and　her　baby　waiting　at
home。　　So　I　stood；　looking　stupidly　from　one　to　the　other；　trying
to　find　some　reasoncoward　that　I　waswhy　another　should　bear　the
news　rather　than　I。　　And　while　we　stood　there；　looking　at　one
another　in　fear；　there　broke　upon　us　the　sound　of　a　voice　mounting
high　above　the　birch　tops；　singing


　　　　　〃Will　ye　no'　come　back　again？
　　　　　　Will　ye　no'　come　back　again？
　　　　　　Better　lo'ed　ye　canna　be；
　　　　　　Will　ye　no'　come　back　again？〃


'A　strange　terror　seized　us。　　Instinctively　the　men　closed　up　in
front　of　the　body；　and　stood　in　silence。　　Nearer　and　nearer　came
the　clear；　sweet　voice；　ringing　like　a　silver　bell　up　the　steep


　　　　　〃Sweet　the　lav'rock's　note　and　lang；
　　　　　　　　Liltin'　wildly　up　the　glen；
　　　　　　But　aye　tae　me　he　sings　ae　sang；
　　　　　　　　Will　ye　no'　come　back　again？〃


'Before　the　verse　was　finished　〃Old　Ricketts〃　had　dropped　on　his
knees；　sobbing　out　brokenly；　〃O　God！　O　God！　have　pity；　have　pity；
have　pity！〃and　every　man　took　off　his　hat。　　And　still　the　voice
came　nearer；　singing　so　brightly　the　refrain；


　　　　　'〃Will　ye　no'　come　back　again？'


'It　became　unbearable。　　〃Old　Ricketts〃　sprang　suddenly　to　his　feet；
and；　gripping　me　by　the　arm；　said　piteously；　〃Oh；　go　to　her！　for
Heaven's　sake；　go　to　her！〃　　I　next　remember　standing　in　her　path
and　seeing　her　holding　out　her　hands　full　of　red　lilies；　crying
out；　〃Are　they　not　lovely？　　Lewis　is　so　fond　of　them！〃　　With　the
promise　of　much　finer　ones　I　turned　her　down　a　path　toward　the
river；　talking　I　know　not　what　folly；　till　her　great　eyes　grew
grave；　then　anxious；