black rock-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Slavin　came　near；　and　said　earnestly；　'It　was　a　dirty　thrick
altogether；　you'll　not　think　it　was　moine；　Mr。　Graeme。'

'No；　no；　Slavin！　you　stood　up　like　a　man；'　said　Graeme　cheerfully。

'And　you　bate　me　fair；　an'　bedad　it　was　a　nate　one　that　laid　me
out；　an'　there's　no　grudge　in　me　heart　till　ye。'

'All　right；　Slavin；　we'll　perhaps　understand　each　other　better
after　this。'

'An'　that's　thrue　for　yez；　sor；　an'　I'll　see　that　your　byes　don't
get　any　more　than　they　ask　for；'　replied　Slavin；　backing　away。

'And　I　hope　that　won't　be　much；'　put　in　Mr。　Craig；　but　Slavin　only
grinned。

When　we　came　to　Craig's　shack　Graeme　was　glad　to　rest　in　the　big
chair。

Craig　made　him　a　cup　of　tea；　while　I　smoked；　admiring　much　the　deft
neatness　of　the　minister's　housekeeping；　and　the　gentle；　almost
motherly；　way　he　had　with　Graeme。

In　our　talk　we　drifted　into　the　future；　and　Craig　let　us　see　what
were　his　ambitions。　　The　railway　was　soon　to　come；　the　resources
were；　as　yet；　unexplored；　but　enough　was　known　to　assure　a　great
future　for　British　Columbia。　　As　he　talked　his　enthusiasm　grew；　and
carried　us　away。　　With　the　eye　of　a　general　he　surveyed　the
country；　fixed　the　strategic　points　which　the　Church　must　seize
upon。　　Eight　good　men　would　hold　the　country　from　Fort　Steele　to
the　coast；　and　from　Kootenay　to　Cariboo。

'The　Church　must　be　in　with　the　railway；　she　must　have　a　hand　in
the　shaping　of　the　country。　　If　society　crystallises　without　her
influence；　the　country　is　lost；　and　British　Columbia　will　be
another　trap…door　to　the　bottomless　pit。'

'What　do　you　propose？'　I　asked。

'Organising　a　little　congregation　here　in　Black　Rock。'

'How　many　will　you　get？'

'Don't　know。'

'Pretty　hopeless　business；'　I　said。

'Hopeless！　hopeless！'　he　cried；　'there　were　only　twelve　of　us　at
first　to　follow　Him；　and　rather　a　poor　lot　they　were。　　But　He
braced　them　up；　and　they　conquered　the　world。'

'But　surely　things　are　different；'　said　Graeme。

'Things？　　Yes！　yes！　　But　He　is　the　same。'　　His　face　had　an　exalted
look；　and　his　eyes　were　gazing　into　far…away　places。

'A　dozen　men　in　Black　Rock　with　some　real　grip　of　Him　would　make
things　go。　　We'll　get　them；　too；'　he　went　on　in　growing　excitement。
'I　believe　in　my　soul　we'll　get　them。'

'Look　here；　Craig；　if　you　organise　I'd　like　to　join；'　said　Graeme
impulsively。　　'I　don't　believe　much　in　your　creed　or　your　Church；
but　I'll　be　blowed　if　I　don't　believe　in　you。'

Craig　looked　at　him　with　wistful　eyes；　and　shook　his　head。　　'It
won't　do；　old　chap；　you　know。　　I　can't　hold　you。　　You've　got　to
have　a　grip　of　some　one　better　than　I　am；　and　then；　besides；　I
hardly　like　asking　you　now'；　he　hesitated'well；　to　be　out…and…
out；　this　step　must　be　taken　not　for　my　sake；　nor　for　any　man's
sake；　and　I　fancy　that　perhaps　you　feel　like　pleasing　me　just　now
a　little。'

'That　I　do；　old　fellow；'　said　Graeme；　putting　out　his　hand。　　'I'll
be　hanged　if　I　won't　do　anything　you　say。'

'That's　why　I　won't　say；'　replied　Craig。　　Then　reverently　he　added；
'the　organisation　is　not　mine。　　It　is　my　Master's。'

'When　are　you　going　to　begin？'　asked　Graeme。

'We　shall　have　our　communion　service　in　two　weeks；　and　that　will　be
our　roll…call。'

'How　many　will　answer？'　I　asked　doubtfully。

'I　know　of　three；'　he　said　quietly。

'Three！　　There　are　two　hundred　miners　and　one　hundred　and　fifty
lumbermen！　　Three！'　and　Graeme　looked　at　him　in　amazement。　　'You
think　it　worth　while　to　organise　three？'

'Well；'　replied　Craig；　smiling　for　the　first　time；　'the
organisation　won't　be　elaborate；　but　it　will　be　effective；　and；
besides；　loyalty　demands　obedience。'

We　sat　long　that　afternoon　talking；　shrinking　from　the　breaking　up；
for　we　knew　that　we　were　about　to　turn　down　a　chapter　in　our　lives
which　we　should　delight　to　linger　over　in　after　days。　　And　in　my
life　there　is　but　one　brighter。　　At　last　we　said　good…bye　and　drove
away；　and　though　many　farewells　have　come　in　between　that　day　and
this；　none　is　so　vividly　present　to　me　as　that　between　us　three
men。　　Craig's　manner　with　me　was　solemn　enough。　　'〃He　that　loveth
his　life〃；　good…bye；　don't　fool　with　this；'　was　what　he　said　to　me。
But　when　he　turned　to　Graeme　his　whole　face　lit　up。　　He　took　him　by
the　shoulders　and　gave　him　a　little　shake；　looking　into　his　eyes；
and　saying　over　and　over　in　a　low；　sweet　tone

'You'll　come；　old　chap；　you'll　come；　you'll　come。　　Tell　me　you'll
come。'

And　Graeme　could　say　nothing　in　reply；　but　only　looked　at　him。
Then　they　silently　shook　hands；　and　we　drove　off。　　But　long　after
we　had　got　over　the　mountain　and　into　the　winding　forest　road　on
the　way　to　the　lumber…camp　the　voice　kept　vibrating　in　my　heart；
'You'll　come；　you'll　come；'　and　there　was　a　hot　pain　in　my　throat。

We　said　little　during　the　drive　to　the　camp。　　Graeme　was　thinking
hard；　and　made　no　answer　when　I　spoke　to　him　two　or　three　times；
till　we　came　to　the　deep　shadows　of　the　pine　forest；　when　with　a
little　shiver　he　said

'It　is　all　a　tanglea　hopeless　tangle。'

'Meaning　what？'　I　asked。

'This　business　of　religionwhat　quaint　varietiesNelson's；
Geordie's；　Billy　Breen'sif　he　has　anythen　Mrs。　Mavor'sshe　is
a　saint；　of　courseand　that　fellow　Craig's。　　What　a　trump　he　is！
and　without　his　religion　he'd　be　pretty　much　like　the　rest　of　us。
It　is　too　much　for　me。'

His　mystery　was　not　mine。　　The　Black　Rock　varieties　of　religion
were　certainly　startling；　but　there　was　undoubtedly　the　streak　of
reality　though　them　all；　and　that　discovery　I　felt　to　be　a　distinct
gain。


CHAPTER　VII

THE　FIRST　BLACK　ROCK　COMMUNION


The　gleam　of　the　great　fire　through　the　windows　of　the　great　camp
gave　a　kindly　welcome　as　we　drove　into　the　clearing　in　which　the
shanties　stood。　　Graeme　was　greatly　touched　at　his　enthusiastic
welcome　by　the　men。　　At　the　supper…table　he　made　a　little　speech　of
thanks　for　their　faithfulness　during　his　absence；　specially
commending　the　care　and　efficiency　of　Mr。　Nelson；　who　had　had
charge　of　the　camp。　　The　men　cheered　wildly；　Baptiste's　shrill
voice　leading　all。　　Nelson　being　called　upon；　expressed　in　a　few
words　his　pleasure　at　seeing　the　Boss　back；　and　thanked　the　men　for
their　support　while　he　had　been　in　charge。

The　men　were　for　making　a　night　of　it；　but　fearing　the　effect　upon
Graeme；　I　spoke　to　Nelson；　who　passed　the　word；　and　in　a　short　time
the　camp　was　quiet。　　As　we　sauntered　from　the　grub…camp　to　the
office　where　was　our　bed；　we　paused　to　take　in　the　beauty　of　the
night。　　The　moon　rode　high　over　the　peaks　of　the　mountains；
flooding　the　narrow　valley　with　mellow　light。　　Under　her　magic　the
rugged　peaks　softened　their　harsh　lines　and　seemed　to　lean　lovingly
toward　us。　　The　dark　pine　masses　stood　silent　as　in　breathless
adoration；　the　dazzling　snow　lay　like　a　garment　over　all　the　open
spaces　in　soft；　waving　folds；　and　crowned　every　stump　with　a
quaintly　shaped　nightcap。　　Above　the　camps　the　smoke　curled　up　from
the　camp…fires；　standing　like　pillars　of　cloud　that　kept　watch
while　men　slept。　　And　high　over　all　the　deep　blue　night　sky；　with
its　star　jewels；　sprang　like　the　roof　of　a　great　cathedral　from
range　to　range；　covering　us　in　its　kindly　shelter。　　How　homelike
and　safe　seemed　the　valley　with　its　mountain…sides；　its　sentinel
trees　and　arching　roof　of　jewelled　sky！　　Even　the　night　seemed
kindly；　and　friendly　the　stars；　and　the　lone　cry　of　the　wolf　from
the　deep　forest　seemed　like　the　voice　of　a　comrade。

'How　beautiful！　too　beautiful！'　said　Graeme；　stretching　out　his
arms。　　'A　night　like　this　takes　the　heart　out　of　me。'

I　stood　silent；　drinking　in　at　every　sense　the　night　with　its
wealth　of　loveliness。

'What　is　it　I　want？'　he　went　on。　　'Why　does　the　night　make　my　heart
ache？　　There　are　things　to　see　and　things　to　hear　just　beyond　me；　I
cannot　get　to　them。'　　The　gay；　careless　look　was　gone　from　his
face；　his　dark　eyes　were　wistful　with　yearning。

'I　often　wonder　if　life　has　nothing　better　for　me；'　he　continued
with　his　heartache　voice。

I　said　no　word；　but　put　my　arm　within　his。　　A　light　appeared　in　the
stable。　　Glad　of　a　diversion；　I　said；　'What　is　the　light？　　Let　us
go　and　see。'

'Sandy；　taking　a　last　look　at　his　team；　like　enough。'

We　walked　slowly　toward　the　stable；　speaking　no　word。　　As　we　neared
the　door　we　heard　the　sound　of　a　voice　in　the　monotone　of　one
reading。　　I　stepped　forward　and　looked　through　a　chink　between　the
logs。　　Graeme　was　about　to　open　the　door；　but　I　held　up　my　hand　and
beckoned　him　to　me。　　In　a　vacant　stall；　where　was　a　pile　of　straw；
a　number　of　men　were　grouped。　　Sandy；　leaning　against　the　tying…
post　upon　which　the　stable…lantern　hung；　was　reading；　Nelson　was
kneeling　in　front　of　him　and　gazing　into　the　gloom　beyond；　Baptiste
lay　upon　his　stomach；　his　chin　in　his　hands　and　his　upturned　eyes
fastened　upon　Sandy's　face；　Lachlan　Campbell　sat　with　his　hands
clasped　about　his　knees；　and　two　other　men　sat　near　him。　　Sandy　was
reading　the　undying　story　of　the　Prodigal；　Nelson　now　and　then
stopping　him　to　make　a　remark。　　It　was　a　scene　I　have　never　been
able　to　forget。　　To…day　I　pause　in　my　tale；　and　see　it　as　clearly
as　when　I　looked　through　the　chink　upon　it　years　ago。　　The　long；
low　stable；　w