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It was agreed that Craig should remain with Nixon while the others
of us should gather up what fragments we could find of the broken
League。 We had just opened the door； when we met a man striding up
at a great pace。 It was Geordie Crawford。
'Hae ye seen the lad？' was his salutation。 No one replied。 So I
told Geordie of my last sight of Billy in the orchestra。
'An' did ye no' gang aifter him？' he asked in indignant surprise；
adding with some contempt； 'Man！ but ye're a feckless buddie。'
'Billy gone too！' said Shaw。 'They might have let Billy alone。'
Poor Craig stood in a dumb agony。 Billy's fall seemed more than he
could bear。 We went out； leaving him heart…broken amid the ruins
of his League。
CHAPTER IX
THE LEAGUE'S REVENGE
As we stood outside of Craig's shack in the dim starlight； we could
not hide from ourselves that we were beaten。 It was not so much
grief as a blind fury that filled my heart； and looking at the
faces of the men about me I read the same feeling there。 But what
could we do？ The yells of carousing miners down at Slavin's told
us that nothing could be done with them that night。 To be so
utterly beaten； and unfairly； and with no chance of revenge； was
maddening。
'I'd like to get back at 'em；' said Abe； carefully repressing
himself。
'I've got it； men；' said Graeme suddenly。 'This town does not
require all the whisky there is in it'； and he unfolded his plan。
It was to gain possession of Slavin's saloon and the bar of the
Black Rock Hotel； and clear out all the liquor to be found in both
these places。 I did not much like the idea； and Geordie said； 'I'm
ga'en aifter the lad； I'll hae naethin' tae dae wi' yon。 It's' no'
that easy； an' it's a sinfu' waste。'
But Abe was wild to try it； and Shaw was quite willing； while old
Nelson sternly approved。
'Nelson； you and Shaw get a couple of our men and attend to the
saloon。 Slavin and the whole gang are up at the Black Rock； so you
won't have much trouble； but come to us as soon as you can。'
And so we went our ways。
Then followed a scene the like of which I can never hope to see
again； and it was worth a man's seeing。 But there were times that
night when I wished I had not agreed to follow Graeme in his plot。
As we went up to the hotel； I asked Graeme； 'What about the law of
this？'
'Law！' he replied indignantly。 'They haven't troubled much about
law in the whisky business here。 They get a keg of high wines and
some drugs and begin operations。 No！' he went on； 'if we can get
the crowd out； and ourselves in； we'll make them break the law in
getting us out。 The law won't trouble us over smuggled whisky。
It will be a great lark； and they won't crow too loud over the
League。'
I did not like the undertaking at first； but as I thought of the
whole wretched illegal business flourishing upon the weakness of
the men in the mines and camps； whom I had learned to regard as
brothers； and especially as I thought of the cowards that did for
Nixon； I let my scruples go； and determined； with Abe； 'to get back
at 'em。'
We had no difficulty getting them out。 Abe began to yell。 Some
men rushed out to learn the cause。 He seized the foremost man；
making a hideous uproar all the while； and in three minutes had
every man out of the hotel and a lively row going on。
In two minutes more Graeme and I had the door to the ball…room
locked and barricaded with empty casks。 We then closed the door of
the bar…room leading to the outside。 The bar…room was a strongly
built log…shack； with a heavy door secured； after the manner of the
early cabins； with two strong oak bars； so that we felt safe from
attack from that quarter。
The ball…room we could not hold long； for the door was slight and
entrance was possible through the windows。 But as only a few casks
of liquor were left there； our main work would be in the bar； so
that the fight would be to hold the passage…way。 This we
barricaded with casks and tables。 But by this time the crowd had
begun to realise what had happened； and were wildly yelling at door
and windows。 With an axe which Graeme had brought with him the
casks were soon stove in； and left to empty themselves。
As I was about to empty the last cask； Graeme stopped me； saying；
'Let that stand here。 It will help us。' And so it did。 'Now skip
for the barricade；' yelled Graeme； as a man came crashing through
the window。 Before he could regain his feet； however； Graeme had
seized him and flung him out upon the heads of the crowd outside。
But through the other windows men were coming in； and Graeme rushed
for the barricade； followed by two of the enemy； the foremost of
whom I received at the top and hurled back upon the others。
'Now； be quick！' said Graeme； 'I'll hold this。 Don't break any
bottles on the floorthrow them out there；' pointing to a little
window high up in the wall。
I made all haste。 The casks did not take much time； and soon the
whisky and beer were flowing over the floor。 It made me think of
Geordie's regret over the 'sinfu' waste。' The bottles took longer；
and glancing up now and then I saw that Graeme was being hard
pressed。 Men would leap； two and three at a time； upon the
barricade； and Graeme's arms would shoot out； and over they would
topple upon the heads of those nearest。 It was a great sight to
see him standing alone with a smile on his face and the light of
battle in his eye； coolly meeting his assailants with those
terrific； lightning…like blows。 In fifteen minutes my work was
done。
'What next？' I asked。 'How do we get out？'
'How is the door？' he replied。
I looked through the port…hole and said； 'A crowd of men waiting。'
'We'll have to make a dash for it； I fancy；' he replied cheerfully；
though his face was covered with blood and his breath was coming in
short gasps。
'Get down the bars and be ready。' But even as he spoke a chair
hurled from below caught him on the arm； and before he could
recover； a man had cleared the barricade and was upon him like a
tiger。 It was Idaho Jack。
'Hold the barricade；' Graeme called out； as they both went down。
I sprang to his place； but I had not much hope of holding it long。
I had the heavy oak bar of the door in my hands； and swinging it
round my head I made the crowd give back for a few moments。
Meantime Graeme had shaken off his enemy； who was circling about
him upon his tip…toes； with a long knife in his hand； waiting for a
chance to spring。
'I have been waiting for this for some time； Mr。 Graeme；' he said
smiling。
'Yes；' replied Graeme； 'ever since I spoiled your cut…throat game
in 'Frisco。 How is the little one？' he added sarcastically。
Idaho's face lost its smile and became distorted with fury as he
replied； spitting out his words； 'Sheiswhere you will be before
I am done with you。'
'Ah！ you murdered her too！ You'll hang some beautiful day； Idaho；'
said Graeme； as Idaho sprang upon him。
Graeme dodged his blow and caught his forearm with his left hand
and held up high the murderous knife。 Back and forward they swayed
over the floor； slippery with whisky； the knife held high in the
air。 I wondered why Graeme did not strike； and then I saw his
right hand hung limp from the wrist。 The men were crowding upon
the barricade。 I was in despair。 Graeme's strength was going
fast。 With a yell of exultant fury Idaho threw himself with all
his weight upon Graeme； who could only cling to him。 They swayed
together towards me； but as they fell I brought down my bar upon
the upraised hand and sent the knife flying across the room。
Idaho's howl of rage and pain was mingled with a shout from below；
and there； dashing the crowd right and left； came old Nelson；
followed by Abe； Sandy； Baptiste； Shaw； and others。 As they
reached the barricade it crashed down and； carrying me with it；
pinned me fast。
Looking out between the barrels； I saw what froze my heart with
horror。 In the fall Graeme had wound his arms about his enemy and
held him in a grip so deadly that he could not strike； but Graeme's
strength was failing； and when I looked I saw that Idaho was slowly
dragging both across the slippery floor to where the knife lay。
Nearer and nearer his outstretched fingers came to the knife。 In
vain I yelled and struggled。 My voice was lost in the awful din；
and the barricade held me fast。 Above me； standing on a barrel…
head； was Baptiste； yelling like a demon。 In vain I called to him。
My fingers could just reach his foot； and he heeded not at all my
touch。 Slowly Idaho was dragging his almost unconscious victim
toward the knife。 His fingers were touching the blade point； when；
under a sudden inspiration； I pulled out my penknife； opened it
with my teeth； and drove the blade into Baptiste's foot。 With a
blood…curdling yell he sprang down and began dancing round in his
rage； peering among the barrels。
'Look！ look！' I was calling in agony； and pointing； 'for heaven's
sake； look！ Baptiste！'
The fingers had closed upon the knife； the knife was already high
in the air； when； with a shriek； Baptiste cleared the room at a
bound； and； before the knife could fall； the little Frenchman's
boot ha