black rock-第24节

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holy　water　and　with　the　sign　of　the　cross。　　I　don't　suppose　it　was
orthodox；　and　it　rendered　chaotic　some　of　my　religious　notions；　but
I　thought　more　of　Craig　that　moment　than　ever　before。　　He　was　more
man　than　minister；　or　perhaps　he　was　so　good　a　minister　that　day
because　so　much　a　man。　　As　he　read　about　the　Saviour　and　the
children　and　the　disciples　who　tried　to　get　in　between　them；　and　as
he　told　us　the　story　in　his　own　simple　and　beautiful　way；　and　then
went　on　to　picture　the　home　of　the　little　children；　and　the　same
Saviour　in　the　midst　of　them；　I　felt　my　heart　grow　warm；　and　I
could　easily　understand　the　cry　of　the　mother

'Oh；　mon　Jesu；　prenez　moi　aussi；　take　me　wiz　mon　mignon。'

The　cry　wakened　Slavin's　heart；　and　he　said　huskily

'Oh！　Annette！　Annette！'

'Ah；　oui！　an'　Michael　too！'　　Then　to　Mr。　Craig

'You　tink　He's　tak　me　some　day？　　Eh？'

'All　who　love　Him；'　he　replied。

'An'　Michael　too？'　she　asked；　her　eyes　searching　his　face；　'An'
Michael　too？'

But　Craig　only　replied：　'All　who　love　Him。'

'Ah；　Michael；　you　must　pray　le　bon　Jesu。　　He's　garde　notre　mignon。'
And　then　she　bent　over　the　babe；　whispering

'Ah；　mon　cheri；　mon　amour；　adieu！　adieu！　mon　ange！'　till　Slavin　put
his　arms　about　her　and　took　her　away；　for　as　she　was　whispering　her
farewells；　her　baby；　with　a　little　answering　sigh；　passed　into　the
House　with　many　rooms。

'Whisht；　Annette　darlin'；　don't　cry　for　the　baby；'　said　her
husband。　　'Shure　it's　better　off　than　the　rest　av　us；　it　is。　　An'
didn't　ye　hear　what　the　minister　said　about　the　beautiful　place　it
is？　　An'　shure　he　wouldn't　lie　to　us　at　all。'　　But　a　mother　cannot
be　comforted　for　her　first…born　son。

An　hour　later　Nixon　brought　Father　Goulet。　　He　was　a　little
Frenchman　with　gentle　manners　and　the　face　of　a　saint。　　Craig
welcomed　him　warmly；　and　told　him　what　he　had　done。

'That　is　good；　my　brother；'　he　said；　with　gentle　courtesy；　and；
turning　to　the　mother；　'Your　little　one　is　safe。'

Behind　Father　Goulet　came　Nixon　softly；　and　gazed　down　upon　the
little　quiet　face；　beautiful　with　the　magic　of　death。　　Slavin　came
quietly　and　stood　beside　him。　　Nixon　turned　and　offered　his　hand。
But　Slavin　said；　moving　slowly　back

'I　did　ye　a　wrong；　Nixon；　an'　it's　a　sorry　man　I　am　this　day　for
it。'

'Don't　say　a　word；　Slavin；'　answered　Nixon；　hurriedly。　　'I　know　how
you　feel。　　I've　got　a　baby　too。　　I　want　to　see　it　again。　　That's
why　the　break　hurt　me　so。'

'As　God's　above；'　replied　Slavin　earnestly；　'I'll　hinder　ye　no
more。'　　They　shook　hands；　and　we　passed　out。

We　laid　the　baby　under　the　pines；　not　far　from　Billy　Breen；　and　the
sweet　spring　wind　blew　through　the　Gap；　and　came　softly　down　the
valley；　whispering　to　the　pines　and　the　grass　and　the　hiding
flowers　of　the　New　Life　coming　to　the　world。　　And　the　mother　must
have　heard　the　whisper　in　her　heart；　for；　as　the　Priest　was　saying
the　words　of　the　Service；　she　stood　with　Mrs。　Mavor's　arms　about
her；　and　her　eyes　were　looking　far　away　beyond　the　purple　mountain…
tops；　seeing　what　made　her　smile。　　And　Slavin；　too；　looked
different。　　His　very　features　seemed　finer。　　The　coarseness　was
gone　out　of　his　face。　　What　had　come　to　him　I　could　not　tell。

But　when　the　doctor　came　into　Slavin's　house　that　night　it　was　the
old　Slavin　I　saw；　but　with　a　look　of　such　deadly　fury　on　his　face
that　I　tried　to　get　the　doctor　out　at　once。　　But　he　was　half　drunk
and　after　his　manner　was　hideously　humorous。

'How　do；　ladies！　　How　do；　gentlemen！'　was　his　loud…voiced　salutation。
'Quite　a　professional　gathering；　clergy　predominating。　　Lion　and　Lamb
too；　ha！　ha！　which　is　the　lamb；　eh？　ha！　ha！　very　good！　awfully　sorry
to　hear　of　your　loss；　Mrs。　Slavin；　did　our　best　you　know；　can't　help
this　sort　of　thing。'

Before　any　one　could　move；　Craig　was　at　his　side；　and　saying　in　a
clear；　firm　voice；　'One　moment；　doctor；'　caught　him　by　the　arm　and
had　him　out　of　the　room　before　he　knew　it。　　Slavin；　who　had　been
crouching　in　his　chair　with　hands　twitching　and　eyes　glaring；　rose
and　followed；　still　crouching　as　he　walked。　　I　hurried　after　him；
calling　him　back。　　Turning　at　my　voice；　the　doctor　saw　Slavin
approaching。　　There　was　something　so　terrifying　in　his　swift
noiseless　crouching　motion；　that　the　doctor；　crying　out　in　fear
'Keep　him　off；'　fairly　turned　and　fled。　　He　was　too　late。　　Like　a
tiger　Slavin　leaped　upon　him　and　without　waiting　to　strike　had　him
by　the　throat　with　both　hands；　and　bearing　him　to　the　ground；
worried　him　there　as　a　dog　might　a　cat。

Immediately　Craig　and　I　were　upon　him；　but　though　we　lifted　him
clear　off　the　ground　we　could　not　loosen　that　two…handed　strangling
grip。　　At　we　were　struggling　there　a　light　hand　touched　my
shoulder。　　It　was　Father　Goulet。

'Please　let　him　go；　and　stand　away　from　us；'　he　said；　waving　us
back。　　We　obeyed。　　He　leaned　over　Slavin　and　spoke　a　few　words　to
him。　　Slavin　started　as　if　struck　a　heavy　blow；　looked　up　at　the
priest　with　fear　in　his　face；　but　still　keeping　his　grip。

'Let　him　go；'　said　the　priest。　　Slavin　hesitated。　　'Let　him　go！
quick！'　said　the　priest　again；　and　Slavin　with　a　snarl　let　go　his
hold　and　stood　sullenly　facing　the　priest。

Father　Goulet　regarded　him　steadily　for　some　seconds　and　then
asked

'What　would　you　do？'　　His　voice　was　gentle　enough；　even　sweet；　but
there　was　something　in　it　that　chilled　my　marrow。　　'What　would　you
do？'　he　repeated。

'He　murdered　my　child；'　growled　Slavin。

'Ah！　how？'

'He　was　drunk　and　poisoned　him。'

'Ah！　who　gave　him　drink？　　Who　made　him　a　drunkard　two　years　ago？
Who　has　wrecked　his　life？'

There　was　no　answer；　and　the　even…toned　voice　went　relentlessly　on

'Who　is　the　murderer　of　your　child　now？'

Slavin　groaned　and　shuddered。

'Go！'　and　the　voice　grew　stern。　　'Repent　of　your　sin　and　add　not
another。'

Slavin　turned　his　eyes　upon　the　motionless　figure　on　the　ground　and
then　upon　the　priest。　　Father　Goulet　took　one　step　towards　him；
and；　stretching　out　his　hand　and　pointing　with　his　finger；　said

'Go！'

And　Slavin　slowly　backed　away　and　went　into　his　house。　　It　was　an
extraordinary　scene；　and　it　is　often　with　me　now：　the　dark　figure
on　the　ground；　the　slight　erect　form　of　the　priest　with
outstretched　arm　and　finger；　and　Slavin　backing　away；　fear　and　fury
struggling　in　his　face。

It　was　a　near　thing　for　the　doctor；　however；　and　two　minutes　more
of　that　grip　would　have　done　for　him。　　As　it　was；　we　had　the
greatest　difficulty　in　reviving　him。

What　the　priest　did　with　Slavin　after　getting　him　inside　I　know
not；　that　has　always　been　a　mystery　to　me。　　But　when　we　were
passing　the　saloon　that　night　after　taking　Mrs。　Mavor　home；　we　saw
a　light　and　heard　strange　sounds　within。　　Entering；　we　found
another　whisky　raid　in　progress；　Slavin　himself　being　the　raider。
We　stood　some　moments　watching　him　knocking　in　the　heads　of　casks
and　emptying　bottles。　　I　thought　he　had　gone　mad；　and　approached
him　cautiously。

'Hello；　Slavin！'　I　called　out；　'what　does　this　mean？'

He　paused　in　his　strange　work；　and　I　saw　that　his　face；　though
resolute；　was　quiet　enough。

'It　means　I'm　done　wid　the　business；　I　am；'　he　said；　in　a
determined　voice。　　'I'll　help　no　more　to　kill　any　man；　or；'　in　a
lower　tone；　'any　man's　baby。'　　The　priest's　words　had　struck　home。

'Thank　God；　Slavin！'　said　Craig；　offering　his　hand；　'you　are　much
too　good　a　man　for　the　business。'

'Good　or　bad；　I'm　done　wid　it；'　he　replied；　going　on　with　his　work。

'You　are　throwing　away　good　money；　Slavin；'　I　said；　as　the　head　of
a　cask　crashed　in。

'It's　meself　that　knows　it；　for　the　price　of　whisky　has　riz　in　town
this　week；'　he　answered；　giving　me　a　look　out　of　the　corner　of　his
eye。　　'Bedad！　it　was　a　rare　clever　job；'　referring　to　our　Black
Rock　Hotel　affair。

'But　won't　you　be　sorry　for　this？'　asked　Craig。

'Beloike　I　will；　an'　that's　why　I'm　doin'　it　before　I'm　sorry　for
it；'　he　replied；　with　a　delightful　bull。

'Look　here；　Slavin；'　said　Craig　earnestly；　'if　I　can　be　of　use　to
you　in　any　way；　count　on　me。'

'It's　good　to　me　the　both　of　yez　have　been；　an'　I'll　not　forget　it
to　yez；'　he　replied；　with　like　earnestness。

As　we　told　Mrs。　Mavor　that　night；　for　Craig　thought　it　too　good　to
keep；　her　eyes　seemed　to　grow　deeper　and　the　light　in　them　to　glow
more　intense　as　she　listened　to　Craig　pouring　out　his　tale。　　Then
she　gave　him　her　hand　and　said

'You　have　your　man　at　last。'

'What　man？'

'The　man　you　have　been　waiting　for。'

'Slavin！'

'Why　not？'

'I　never　thought　of　it。'

'No　more　did　he；　nor　any　of　us。'　　Then；　after　a　pause；　she　added
gently；　'He　has　been　sent　to　us？'

'Do　you　know；　I　believe　you　are　right；'　Craig　said　slowly；　and　then
added；　'But　you　always　are。'

'I　fear　not；'　she　answered；　but　I　thought　she　liked　to　hear　his
words。

The　whole　town　was　astounded　next　morning　when　Slavin　went　to　work
in　the　mines；　and　its　astonishment　only　deepened　as　the　days　went
on；　and　he　stuck　to　his　work。　　Before　three　weeks　had　gone　the
League　had　bought　and　remodelled　the　saloon　and　had　secured　Slavin
as　Resident　Manager。

The　evening　of　the　reopening　of　Slavin's　saloon；　as　it　was　still
called；　was　long　remembered　in　Black　Rock。　　It　was　the　occasion　of