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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