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him she stroked his face and hands； and touched his curls with her
fingers； murmuring all the time soft words of love。 〃O my darling；
my bonnie； bonnie darling； speak to me！ Will ye not speak to me
just one little word？ O my love； my love； my heart's love！
Listen； my darling！〃 And she put her lips to his ear； whispering；
and then the awful stillness。 Suddenly she lifted her head and
scanned his face； and then； glancing round with a wild surprise in
her eyes； she cried； 〃He will not speak to me！ Oh； he will not
speak to me！〃 I signed to the men； and as they came forward I went
to her and took her hands。
'〃Oh；〃 she said with a wail in her voice； 〃he will not speak to
me。〃 The men were sobbing aloud。 She looked at them with wide…
open eyes of wonder。 〃Why are they weeping？ Will he never speak
to me again？ Tell me；〃 she insisted gently。 The words were
running through my head
'〃There's a land that is fairer than day；〃
and I said them over to her； holding her hands firmly in mine。 She
gazed at me as if in a dream； and the light slowly faded from her
eyes as she said； tearing her hands from mine and waving them
towards the mountains and the woods
'〃But never more here？ Never more here？〃
'I believe in heaven and the other life； but I confess that for a
moment it all seemed shadowy beside the reality of this warm；
bright world； full of life and love。 She was very ill for two
nights； and when the coffin was closed a new baby lay in the
father's arms。
'She slowly came back to life； but there were no more songs。 The
miners still come about her shop； and talk to her baby； and bring
her their sorrows and troubles； but though she is always gentle；
almost tender； with them； no man ever says 〃Sing。〃 And that is why
I am glad she sang last week； it will be good for her and good for
them。'
'Why does she stay？' I asked。
'Mavor's people wanted her to go to them；' he replied。
'They have moneyshe told me about it； but her heart is in the
grave up there under the pines； and besides； she hopes to do
something for the miners； and she will not leave them。'
I am afraid I snorted a little impatiently as I said； 'Nonsense！
why； with her face； and manner； and voice she could be anything she
liked in Edinburgh or in London。'
'And why Edinburgh or London？' he asked coolly。
'Why？' I repeated a little hotly。 'You think this is better？'
'Nazareth was good enough for the Lord of glory；' he answered； with
a smile none too bright； but it drew my heart to him； and my heat
was gone。
'How long will she stay？' I asked。
'Till her work is done；' he replied。
'And when will that be？' I asked impatiently。
'When God chooses；' he answered gravely； 'and don't you ever think
but that it is worth while。 One value of work is not that crowds
stare at it。 Read history； man！'
He rose abruptly and began to walk about。 'And don't miss the
whole meaning of the Life that lies at the foundation of your
religion。 Yes；' he added to himself； 'the work is worth doing
worth even her doing。'
I could not think so then； but the light of the after years proved
him wiser than I。 A man； to see far； must climb to some height；
and I was too much upon the plain in those days to catch even a
glimpse of distant sunlit uplands of triumphant achievement that
lie beyond the valley of self…sacrifice。
CHAPTER V
THE MAKING OF THE LEAGUE
Thursday morning found Craig anxious； even gloomy； but with fight
in every line of his face。 I tried to cheer him in my clumsy way
by chaffing him about his League。 But he did not blaze up as he
often did。 It was a thing too near his heart for that。 He only
shrank a little from my stupid chaff and said
'Don't； old chap； this is a good deal to me。 I've tried for two
years to get this； and if it falls through now； I shall find it
hard to bear。'
Then I repented my light words and said； 'Why！ the thing will go
sure enough： after that scene in the church they won't go back。'
'Poor fellows！' he said as if to himself； 'whisky is about the only
excitement they have； and they find it pretty tough to give it up；
and a lot of the men are against the total abstinence idea。 It
seems rot to them。'
'It is pretty steep；' I said。 'Can't you do without it？'
'No； I fear not。 There is nothing else for it。 Some of them talk
of compromise。 They want to quit the saloon and drink quietly in
their shacks。 The moderate drinker may have his place in other
countries； though I can't see it。 I haven't thought that out； but
here the only safe man is the man who quits it dead and fights it
straight； anything else is sheerest humbug and nonsense。'
I had not gone in much for total abstinence up to this time；
chiefly because its advocates seemed for the most part to be
somewhat ill…balanced； but as I listened to Craig； I began to feel
that perhaps there was a total abstinence side to the temperance
question； and as to Black Rock； I could see how it must be one
thing or the other。
We found Mrs。 Mavor brave and bright。 She shared Mr。 Craig's
anxiety but not his gloom。 Her courage was of that serene kind
that refuses to believe defeat possible； and lifts the spirit into
the triumph of final victory。 Through the past week she had been
carefully disposing her forces and winning recruits。 And yet she
never seemed to urge or persuade the men； but as evening after
evening the miners dropped into the cosy room downstairs； with her
talk and her songs she charmed them till they were wholly hers。
She took for granted their loyalty； trusted them utterly； and so
made it difficult for them to be other than true men。
That night Mrs。 Mavor's large storeroom； which had been fitted up
with seats； was crowded with miners when Mr。 Craig and I entered。
After a glance over the crowd； Craig said； 'There's the manager；
that means war。' And I saw a tall man； very fair； whose chin fell
away to the vanishing point； and whose hair was parted in the
middle； talking to Mrs。 Mavor。 She was dressed in some rich soft
stuff that became her well。 She was looking beautiful as ever； but
there was something quite new in her manner。 Her air of good…
fellowship was gone； and she was the high…bred lady； whose gentle
dignity and sweet grace； while very winning； made familiarity
impossible。
The manager was doing his best； and appeared to be well pleased
with himself。 'She'll get him if any one can。 I failed；' said
Craig。
I stood looking at the men； and a fine lot of fellows they were。
Free； easy； bold in their bearing； they gave no sign of rudeness；
and； from their frequent glances toward Mrs。 Mavor； I could see
they were always conscious of her presence。 No men are so truly
gentle as are the Westerners in the presence of a good woman。 They
were evidently of all classes and ranks originally； but now； and in
this country of real measurements； they ranked simply according to
the 'man' in them。 'See that handsome； young chap of dissipated
appearance？' said Craig； 'that's Vernon Winton； an Oxford graduate；
blue blood； awfully plucky； but quite gone。 When he gets
repentant； instead of shooting himself； he comes to Mrs。 Mavor。
Fact。'
'From Oxford University to Black Rock mining camp is something of a
step；' I replied。
'That queer…looking little chap in the corner is Billy Breen。 How
in the world has he got here？' went on Mr。 Craig。 Queer…looking he
was。 A little man； with a small head set on heavy square
shoulders； long arms； and huge hands that sprawled all over his
body； altogether a most ungainly specimen of humanity。
By this time Mrs。 Mavor had finished with the manager； and was in
the centre of a group of miners。 Her grand air was all gone； and
she was their comrade； their friend； one of themselves。 Nor did
she assume the role of entertainer； but rather did she； with half…
shy air； cast herself upon their chivalry； and they were too truly
gentlemen to fail her。 It is hard to make Western men； and
especially old…timers； talk。 But this gift was hers； and it
stirred my admiration to see her draw on a grizzled veteran to tell
how； twenty years ago； he had crossed the Great Divide； and had
seen and done what no longer fell to men to see or do in these new
days。 And so she won the old…timer。 But it was beautiful to see
the innocent guile with which she caught Billy Breen； and drew him
to her corner near the organ。 What she was saying I knew not； but
poor Billy was protesting； waving his big hands。
The meeting came to order； with Shaw in the chair； and the handsome
young Oxford man secretary。 Shaw stated the object of the meeting
in a few halting words； but when he came to speak of the pleasure
he and all felt in being together in that room； his words flowed in
a stream； warm and full。 Then there was a pause； and Mr。 Craig was
called。 But he knew better than to speak at that point。 Finally
Nixon rose hesitatingly； but； as he caught a bright smile from Mrs。
Mavor； he straightened himself as if for a fight。
'I ain't no good at makin' speeches；' he began； 'but it ain't
speeches we want。 We've got somethin' to do； and what we want to
know is how to do it。 And to be right p