black rock-第6章

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'And　then　I　thought　you　would　not　mind　presiding　at　dinnerI　want
it　to　go　off　well。'

'Did　you　notice　that？'　said　Graeme　to　me。　　'Not　a　bad　touch；　eh？'

'That's　nothing　to　the　way　he　touched　me。　　Wait　and　learn；'　I
answered；　while　Craig　looked　quite　distressed。　　'He'll　do　it；　Mr。
Craig；　never　fear；'　I　said；　'and　any　other　little　duty　that　may
occur　to　you。'

'Now　that's　too　bad　of　you。　　That　is　all　I　want；　honour　bright；'　he
replied；　adding；　as　he　turned　away；　'you　are　just　in　time　for　a　cup
of　coffee；　Mr。　Graeme。　　Now　I　must　see　Mrs。　Mavor。'

'Who　is　Mrs。　Mavor？'　I　demanded　of　Graeme。

'Mrs。　Mavor？　　The　miners'　guardian　angel。'

We　put　up　the　horses　and　set　off　for　coffee。　　As　we　approached　the
booth　Graeme　caught　sight　of　the　Punch　and　Judy　show；　stood　still
in　amazement；　and　exclaimed；　'Can　the　dead　live？'

'Punch　and　Judy　never　die；'　I　replied　solemnly。

'But　the　old　manipulator　is　dead　enough；　poor　old　beggar！'

'But　he　left　his　mantle；　as　you　see。'

He　looked　at　me　a　moment

'What！　do　you　mean；　you？'

'Yes；　that　is　exactly　what　I　do　mean。'

'He　is　great　man；　that　Craig　fellowa　truly　great　man。'

And　then　he　leaned　up　against　a　tree　and　laughed　till　the　tears
came。　　'I　say；　old　boy；　don't　mind　me；'　he　gasped；　'but　do　you
remember　the　old　'Varsity　show？'

'Yes；　you　villain；　and　I　remember　your　part　in　it。　　I　wonder　how
you　can；　even　at　this　remote　date；　laugh　at　it。'　　For　I　had　a　vivid
recollection　of　how；　after　a　'chaste　and　highly　artistic
performance　of　this　mediaeval　play'　had　been　given　before　a
distinguished　Toronto　audience；　the　trap　door　by　which　I　had
entered　my　box　was　fastened；　and　I　was　left　to　swelter　in　my　cage；
and　forced　to　listen　to　the　suffocated　laughter　from　the　wings　and
the　stage　whispers　of　'Hello；　Mr。　Punch；　where's　the　baby？'　　And
for　many　a　day　after　I　was　subjected　to　anxious　inquiries　as　to　the
locality　and　health　of　'the　baby；'　and　whether　it　was　able　to　be
out。

'Oh；　the　dear　old　days！'　he　kept　saying；　over　and　over；　in　a　tone
so　full　of　sadness　that　my　heart　grew　sore　for　him　and　I　forgave
him；　as　many　a　time　before。

The　sports　passed　off　in　typical　Western　style。　　In　addition　to　the
usual　running　and　leaping　contests；　there　was　rifle　and　pistol
shooting；　in　both　of　which　old　man　Nelson　stood　first；　with　Shaw；
foreman　of　the　mines；　second。

The　great　event　of　the　day；　however；　was　to　be　the　four…horse　race；
for　which　three　teams　were　enteredone　from　the　mines　driven　by
Nixon；　Craig's　friend；　a　citizens'　team；　and　Sandy's。　　The　race　was
really　between　the　miners'　team；　and　that　from　the　woods；　for　the
citizens'　team；　though　made　up　of　speedy　horses；　had　not　been
driven　much　together；　and　knew　neither　their　driver　nor　each　other。
In　the　miners'　team　were　four　bays；　very　powerful；　a　trifle　heavy
perhaps；　but　well　matched；　perfectly　trained；　and　perfectly　handled
by　their　driver。　　Sandy　had　his　long　rangy　roans；　and　for　leaders　a
pair　of　half…broken　pinto　bronchos。　　The　pintos；　caught　the　summer
before　upon　the　Alberta　prairies；　were　fleet　as　deer；　but　wicked
and　uncertain。　　They　were　Baptiste's　special　care　and　pride。　　If
they　would　only　run　straight　there　was　little　doubt　that　they　would
carry　the　roans　and　themselves　to　glory；　but　one　could　not　tell　the
moment　they　might　bolt　or　kick　things　to　pieces。

Being　the　only　non…partisan　in　the　crowd　I　was　asked　to　referee。
The　race　was　about　half　a　mile　and　return；　the　first　and　last
quarters　being　upon　the　ice。　　The　course；　after　leaving　the　ice；
led　up　from　the　river　by　a　long　easy　slope　to　the　level　above；　and
at　the　further　end　curved　somewhat　sharply　round　the　Old　Fort。　　The
only　condition　attaching　to　the　race　was　that　the　teams　should
start　from　the　scratch；　make　the　turn　of　the　Fort；　and　finish　at
the　scratch。　　There　were　no　vexing　regulations　as　to　fouls。　　The
man　making　the　foul　would　find　it　necessary　to　reckon　with　the
crowd；　which　was　considered　sufficient　guarantee　for　a　fair　and
square　race。　　Owing　to　the　hazards　of　the　course；　the　result　would
depend　upon　the　skill　of　the　drivers　quite　as　much　as　upon　the
speed　of　the　teams。　　The　points　of　hazard　were　at　the　turn　round
the　Old　Fort；　and　at　a　little　ravine　which　led　down　to　the　river；
over　which　the　road　passed　by　means　of　a　long　log　bridge　or
causeway。

From　a　point　upon　the　high　bank　of　the　river　the　whole　course　lay
in　open　view。　　It　was　a　scene　full　of　life　and　vividly　picturesque。
There　were　miners　in　dark　clothes　and　peak　caps；　citizens　in
ordinary　garb；　ranchmen　in　wide　cowboy　hats　and　buckskin　shirts　and
leggings；　some　with　cartridge…belts　and　pistols；　a　few　half…breeds
and　Indians　in　half…native；　half…civilised　dress；　and　scattering
through　the　crowd　the　lumbermen　with　gay　scarlet　and　blue　blanket
coats；　and　some　with　knitted　tuques　of　the　same　colours。　　A　very
good…natured　but　extremely　uncertain　crowd　it　was。　　At　the　head　of
each　horse　stood　a　man；　but　at　the　pintos'　heads　Baptiste　stood
alone；　trying　to　hold　down　the　off　leader；　thrown　into　a　frenzy　of
fear　by　the　yelling　of　the　crowd。

Gradually　all　became　quiet；　till；　in　the　midst　of　absolute
stillness；　came　the　words；　'Are　you　ready？'；　then　the　pistol…shot
and　the　great　race　had　begun。　　Above　the　roar　of　the　crowd　came　the
shrill　cry　of　Baptiste；　as　he　struck　his　broncho　with　the　palm　of
his　hand；　and　swung　himself　into　the　sleigh　beside　Sandy；　as　it
shot　past。

Like　a　flash　the　bronchos　sprang　to　the　front；　two　lengths　before
the　other　teams；　but；　terrified　by　the　yelling　of　the　crowd；
instead　of　bending　to　the　left　bank　up　which　the　road　wound；　they
wheeled　to　the　right　and　were　almost　across　the　river　before　Sandy
could　swing　them　back　into　the　course。

Baptiste's　cries；　a　curious　mixture　of　French　and　English；
continued　to　strike　through　all　other　sounds　till　they　gained　the
top　of　the　slope　to　find　the　others　almost　a　hundred　yards　in
front；　the　citizens'　team　leading；　with　the　miners'　following
close。　　The　moment　the　pintos　caught　sight　of　the　teams　before　them
they　set　off　at　a　terrific　pace　and　steadily　devoured　the
intervening　space。　　Nearer　and　nearer　the　turn　came；　the　eight
horses　in　front；　running　straight　and　well　within　their　speed。
After　them　flew　the　pintos；　running　savagely　with　ears　set　back；
leading　well　the　big　roans；　thundering　along　and　gaining　at　every
bound。　　And　now　the　citizens'　team　had　almost　reached　the　Fort；
running　hard；　and　drawing　away　from　the　bays。　　But　Nixon　knew　what
he　was　about；　and　was　simply　steadying　his　team　for　the　turn。　　The
event　proved　his　wisdom；　for　in　the　turn　the　leading　team　left　the
track；　lost　a　moment　or　two　in　the　deep　snow；　and　before　they　could
regain　the　road　the　bays　had　swept　superbly　past；　leaving　their
rivals　to　follow　in　the　rear。　　On　came　the　pintos；　swiftly　nearing
the　Fort。　　Surely　at　that　pace　they　cannot　make　the　turn。　　But
Sandy　knows　his　leaders。　　They　have　their　eyes　upon　the　teams　in
front；　and　need　no　touch　of　rein。　　Without　the　slightest　change　in
speed　the　nimble…footed　bronchos　round　the　turn；　hauling　the　big
roans　after　them；　and　fall　in　behind　the　citizens'　team；　which　is
regaining　steadily　the　ground　lost　in　the　turn。

And　now　the　struggle　is　for　the　bridge　over　the　ravine。　　The　bays
in　front；　running　with　mouths　wide　open；　are　evidently　doing　their
best；　behind　them；　and　every　moment　nearing　them；　but　at　the　limit
of　their　speed　too；　come　the　lighter　and　fleeter　citizens'　team；
while　opposite　their　driver　are　the　pintos；　pulling　hard；　eager　and
fresh。　　Their　temper　is　too　uncertain　to　send　them　to　the　front；
they　run　well　following；　but　when　leading　cannot　be　trusted；　and
besides；　a　broncho　hates　a　bridge；　so　Sandy　holds　them　where　they
are；　waiting　and　hoping　for　his　chance　after　the　bridge　is　crossed。
Foot　by　foot　the　citizens'　team　creep　up　upon　the　flank　of　the
bays；　with　the　pintos　in　turn　hugging　them　closely；　till　it　seems
as　if　the　three；　if　none　slackens；　must　strike　the　bridge　together；
and　this　will　mean　destruction　to　one　at　least。　　This　danger　Sandy
perceives；　but　he　dare　not　check　his　leaders。　　Suddenly；　within　a
few　yards　of　the　bridge；　Baptiste　throws　himself　upon　the　lines；