Black Rock: A Tale of the Selkirks

that filled my heart, and looking at the faces of the men about me I read the same feeling there. But what could we do? The yells of carousing miners down

t 'em,' said Abe, caref

possession of Slavin's saloon and the bar of the Black Rock Hotel, and clear out all the liquor to be found in both these places. I did not muc

d Shaw was quite willing, whil

saloon. Slavin and the whole gang are up at the Black Rock, so

e went o

man's seeing. But there were times that night when I wished I had not agreed to follow Gra

ome drugs and begin operations. No!' he went on; 'if we can get the crowd out, and ourselves in, we'll make them break the law in ge

n the weakness of the men in the mines and camps, whom I had learned to regard as brothers, and especially as I

learn the cause. He seized the foremost man, making a hideous uproar all the whil

the door of the bar-room leading to the outside. The bar-room was a strongly built log-shack, with a heavy door secure

work would be in the bar, so that the fight would be to hold the passage-way. This we barricaded with casks and tables. But by this time the crowd had begun to realise

n came crashing through the window. Before he could regain his feet, however, Graeme had seized him and flung him out upon the heads of the crowd outside. But through the ot

t break any bottles on the floor-throw them out the

now and then I saw that Graeme was being hard pressed. Men would leap, two and three at a time, upon the barricade, and Graeme's arms would shoot out, and over they would topple upon the heads of those nearest. It

asked. 'How d

e door?' h

ort-hole and said, 'A

eplied cheerfully, though his face was covered wi

rom below caught him on the arm, and before he could recover, a man had

Graeme called out, a

ng. I had the heavy oak bar of the door in my hands, and swingi

circling about him upon his tip-toes, with a long

this for some time, Mr.

led your cut-throat game in 'Frisco. How

ith fury as he replied, spitting out his words, 'S

ang some beautiful day, Idaho,' sai

n were crowding upon the barricade. I was in despair. Graeme's strength was going fast. With a yell of exultant fury Idaho threw himself with all his weight upon Graeme, who could only cling to him. They swayed together towards me, but as they fell I brought down my bar upon the upraised hand and sent

and nearer his outstretched fingers came to the knife. In vain I yelled and struggled. My voice was lost in the awful din, and the barricade held me fast. Above me, standing on a barrel-head, was Baptiste, yelling like a demon. In vain I called to him. My fingers could just reach his foot, and he heeded not at all my touch. Slowly Idah

n agony, and pointing; 'for h

a shriek, Baptiste cleared the room at a bound, and, before the knife could fall, the lit

When I awoke, I found myself lying with my head on Graeme's knees, and Baptiste sprinkling sn

we put it up well'; and then he whi

nd through, for I loved him as only m

not keep

his wrist broken, and I with a couple of ribs cracked; but had it not been for the open barrel of whisky which kept them occupied f

ing to see us torn, bruised, and bloody was laughable; but he hasten

es. But Abe was disgusted because of the failure at Slavin's; for when Nelson looked in, he saw Slavin's French-Canadian wife in charge, with her baby on her

eme dashing back the crowd thronging the barricade till he was brought down by the chair, Craig laughed gently, and put his hand on Graeme's knee.

' I said, and the little Frenchm

me fo

w is your foot?

of-of-dat leel bees, he's dere, you put your f

' I su

tiste. 'Dat's on

s under the barrels,

ump an' swear mos' awful bad. Da

y risky,' he said to Graeme, 'and it was hardly worth it.

f satisfaction, 'it is not quite

there were others of the League that we knew were even now down at Slavin's. It was thought best that all should remain

As we were seated, Craig came in, and I saw that he was not the man of the night before.

ght, but has failed to find

others suffered from a general morning depression. But, after breakfast,

d slowly, in his beautiful clear

refuge and

to the no

of Hosts i

Jacob is

lifted us till we grew ashamed of our i

ce burn with shame; and there was petition for help, and we all thought of Nixon, and Billy, and the men wakening from their debauch at Slavin's this pure, bright morning. And then he asked that we might be made faith

tainly be asked, and the proprietor decided to let bad alone. On the point of respectability the

hy, mouldering bed-clothes, with a half-empty bottle of whisky at his side. Geordie's grief and rage were beyond even his Scotch co

ul shock of the exposure following the debauch; and on Sunday afternoon we saw that his heart was failing fast. All day the miners had been dropping in to inquire after him, for Billy had been a great favourite in other days, and the attention of the town had been admiringly centred upon his fight of these last weeks. It wa

aten. Hit 'urts to think 'E's hashamed o'

' said Craig, in a voic

tter-oi do,' and his eyes sought Geordie, and then rested on Mrs

me-yore heyes saigh so,'

red at her steady voice, 'not a bi

e eyes, then lifted his hand slightly toward her. She knelt qu

nt back on 'Im. Hit was the lemonaide. The boys did

ed out some

n't mean no 'arm,' he said, and his eyes

juist leave them t

ing his hand, 'Just as I am,' and B

turned to Mr. Craig, and th

to say. By this time Craig was master of himse

r the sheep that got lost over the mountains?'-this parable was Billy's special delight-'He didn'

s eyes fastened on Mr

ll

' said

ted, turning his ey

though the tears were streaming from her e

put my hand on his heart; it was fluttering fee

r,' he whispered, '

y smiled. Then he turned his eyes to Mr. Craig, and from him to Geordie, and at last

, with difficulty,

eyes. He tried to lift her hand. She kissed him a

' said Mr. Craig, reverentl

ed out passionately, 'Oh, Billy, Billy! you help

e, laddie,' passed out into the f

nd of his final victory; for he died without a fear, and with love to the men who, not knowing, had been his death. And there was no bitterness in any heart,

sprigs of evergreen into the open grave. When Slavin, sobbing bitterly

touched the trees and the little mound beneath with glory. And I thought of that other glory, which is brighter than the sun, and was n