Black Rock: A Tale of the Selkirks

danger to Craig's hopes of victory, for the men were wild with excitement, and ready for the most reckless

forgotten the judge of the great

p and hoisted me on their should

d so in a little speech, and was forthwith borne aloft, through the

a manner hitherto unapproached by me at least. I was glad enough when Graeme came to tell me to send the men in to dinner. Th

aptiste came in quietly but h

d M'sieu Graeme would follow queek. Sandy he's take one le

run. There I found Mr. Craig and Nelson holding Sandy, more than half drunk, back

ood Presbyterian. He is a Papist thief; and he has

ll cool him off for yez. But ye'd better ho

!' Keefe wa

!' Blaney

ay in. 'What'

, and I am a good Presbyterian, and I can give you the Commandments and Reasons annexed to the

ted, 'you won't ge

oney,' reite

s afraid to take it up,' sai

but, without moving from his tracks, Slavin met

on poker, swung it around his head, crying, 'Back, or, by the ho

him!' Keefe

owly, gazing

what hit him,

gain with his left, staggered him, and, before he fell, took a step forward and delivered a terrific right-hand blow on his jaw. Poor Sa

ong-drawn 'sap-r-r-r-rie,' rushed at Slavin. But Graeme caught him by the back of the neck, saying, 'Hold on, litt

Slavin insolen

s it, N

glass at the Black Rock Hotel, had come down here with Keefe and th

im with liquor?' s

business,' replied S

t is not the first time my men

Slavin, with del

y you said that, because, unless you apolo

in, 'apologise to you?'

n more slowly, 'Now you'll have

Craig interposed, begging Graeme to let th

'you don't understand. No man can call me that

said, 'Now, if you want a

a curse, ba

to Keefe's side. 'Nelson, you and Baptiste can see that they stay there.' Th

ily and tapping him aggravatingly about the nose and eyes, drawing blood, but not disabling him. Gradual

raeme made one or two lightning passes, struck Slavin one, two, three terrific blows, and laid him

along a pistol barrel. 'You know me, Keefe,'

, and staggered back, while S

got much; but mind I have stopped playing with you.

, and we saw Slavin's heels in the air as he fell back upon h

on stuff. Dat's larn him one good lesson.' But

the side of his head. Keefe had hurled a bottle with all too sure an aim, and had fled. I thought he was dead

we take him

ck,' said

no place

's. I shall run

apology, but when I looked upon her face I forgot my word

o not wait,' she said, and her v

ngers, skilful as if with long training. Before the dressing was finished I sent Craig off, for the time had come for the Magic L

about?' and then, recollecting, 'Ah! that brute Keefe'; then seeing my anxious f

laying about his lips, and was almost too much for me. 'Mrs. M

rprise. She came forward, wi

u know me,

wished to know you. I am sor

let me do all for you that I can. And n

dly there yet. You don't know each other. P

y 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,

. Craig had warned; but his drugs were good,

ng wore on I told her the events of the day, dwelling a

before the sports; and I don't think he will break d

n't,' I thought to mys

d!' and then, after a moment's hesitation, 'It is two years since I have been able to sing-

I said, having no ot

y happy. But the miners like to hear me sing, and I think perhaps it helps them to feel less lonely, an

sly drunk before I would have asked her to sing one song while

ose wretched miners a

n her eyes, and said gently, '

nd no wor

g that Mrs. Mavor would not be needed, when the door opened, and old man Nelson an

w me preparing to accompany her, and a

uite well in

e with me. I did not put her to bed in case I

door, and saw at once that even ye

Slavin was unable to enjoy, much less direct. Craig was gallantly holding his ground, finding it hard work to keep his men in good h

how anxious he had been, and reconciled me to Mrs. Mavor's singing. 'Thank the

alked to the fro

ou wish it, Mrs.

began to applaud, but a miner sai

'Does Mrs. Mavor wish to sing?' followed by cries of 'Ay, that's it.'

. 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 w

could have hugged Shaw then and there. Mr. Craig went to

k her dear friend Mr. Shaw, bu

he touching melody, 'Oft in the Stilly Night.' Mrs. Mavor came to the front, and, with a smile of ex

ut always filling the building, pouring around us floods of music. I had heard P

men in the church and some men were weep

I reme

once linke

arer and sweeter and fuller at every note, and when the sound of her voice died away, she stood looking at the men as if in won

lover of

een some one, for the cry in her voice could only come from one who could see and feel help close at

rist, art a

had borne her to other worlds-and sang with such a passion of 'a

till again he came to familiar ground, and the voice beg

lem the

hrongs. When the singer came to the last verse there was a pause. Again Mr. Craig softly played the interlude, but still there was no voice. I looked up. She was very white, and her eyes w

nd blessed

Again and again, as she held that word, and then dropped down w

nger's head, and I knew by the rapture in his face that he was seeing, as she saw, the thronging stately halls and the white-robed conquerors. He had felt, and was still feeling, all the stress of the fight, and to him the v

and, holding her close to her breast, walked quickly behind the curtain. Not a sound followed the singing: no one moved till she

art is with the miners. But she sang, too, because her heart is His who came to earth this day so many years ago to save u

putting from us this thing that has brought sorrow and shame to us and to those we love? You know what I mean. Some of you are strong; will

d just a moment ago we were all looking into heaven, "the sweet and blessed country." O men!' and his voice rang in a

e music, were listening with set faces and gleaming eyes, and as at the appeal 'Who will?' Craig r

man on the platform standing at full height, with his hand thrown up to heaven, and the hun

o; and again his voice rang ou

"' And back from a hundred throats came deep

,' she panted, 'I want them to come on Thursday night, as they used to in the other days-go-qu

, as in the old days, on Thursday evening; and I can think of no

one's call, the long pent-up feelings of the crow

alled out Mr. Craig, 'and

ed till the refrain was reached, and then they sang as only men with their hearts on fire can sing. But after the la

sweet by

on that beau

beautiful shore.' And after the sleigh-loads of men had gone and left the street empty, as I stood with Craig in the radiant moonlight that made the great mountains about co

t on that bea

haw!' said

had died away I tu

e won yo

his hand. Then, taking off his cap, and looking up beyond the mountain-

ver, I could not say b