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my sketch； and with eager brush seize a group； a face； a figure；
and that is how my studio comes to be filled with the men of Black
Rock。 There they are all about me。 Graeme and the men from the
woods； Sandy； Baptiste； the Campbells； and in many attitudes and
groups old man Nelson； Craig； too； and his miners； Shaw； Geordie；
Nixon； and poor old Billy and the keeper of the League saloon。
It seemed as if I lived among them； and the illusion was greatly
helped by the vivid letters Graeme sent me from time to time。
Brief notes came now and then from Craig too； to whom I had sent a
faithful account of how I had brought Mrs。 Mavor to her ship； and
of how I had watched her sail away with none too brave a face； as
she held up her hand that bore the miners' ring； and smiled with
that deep light in her eyes。 Ah！ those eyes have driven me to
despair and made me fear that I am no great painter after all； in
spite of what my friends tell me who come in to smoke my good
cigars and praise my brush。 I can get the brow and hair； and mouth
and pose； but the eyes！ the eyes elude meand the faces of Mrs。
Mavor on my wall； that the men praise and rave over； are not such
as I could show to any of the men from the mountains。
Graeme's letters tell me chiefly about Craig and his doings； and
about old man Nelson； while from Craig I hear about Graeme； and how
he and Nelson are standing at his back； and doing what they can to
fill the gap that never can be filled。 The three are much
together； I can see； and I am glad for them all； but chiefly for
Craig； whose face； grief…stricken but resolute； and often gentle as
a woman's； will not leave me nor let me rest in peace。
The note of thanks he sent me was entirely characteristic。 There
were no heroics； much less pining or self…pity。 It was simple and
manly； not ignoring the pain but making much of the joy。 And then
they had their work to do。 That note； so clear； so manly； so nobly
sensible； stiffens my back yet at times。
In the spring came the startling news that Black Rock would soon be
no more。 The mines were to close down on April 1。 The company；
having allured the confiding public with enticing descriptions of
marvellous drifts； veins； assays； and prospects； and having
expended vast sums of the public's money in developing the mines
till the assurance of their reliability was absolutely final；
calmly shut down and vanished。 With their vanishing vanishes Black
Rock； not without loss and much deep cursing on the part of the men
brought some hundreds of miles to aid the company in its
extraordinary and wholly inexplicable game。
Personally it grieved me to think that my plan of returning to
Black Rock could never be carried out。 It was a great compensation；
however； that the three men most representative to me of that life
were soon to visit me actually in my own home and den。 Graeme's
letter said that in one month they might be expected to appear。 At
least he and Nelson were soon to come； and Craig would soon follow。
On receiving the great news； I at once looked up young Nelson and
his sister； and we proceeded to celebrate the joyful prospect with
a specially good dinner。 I found the greatest delight in picturing
the joy and pride of the old man in his children； whom he had not
seen for fifteen or sixteen years。 The mother had died some five
years before； then the farm was sold； and the brother and sister
came into the city； and any father might be proud of them。 The son
was a well…made young fellow； handsome enough； thoughtful； and
solid…looking。 The girl reminded me of her father。 The same
resolution was seen in mouth and jaw； and the same passion
slumbered in the dark grey eyes。 She was not beautiful； but she
carried herself well； and one would always look at her twice。 It
would be worth something to see the meeting between father and
daughter。
But fate； the greatest artist of us all； takes little count of the
careful drawing and the bright colouring of our fancy's pictures；
but with rude hand deranges all； and with one swift sweep paints
out the bright and paints in the dark。 And this trick he served me
when； one June night； after long and anxious waiting for some word
from the west； my door suddenly opened and Graeme walked in upon me
like a spectre； grey and voiceless。 My shout of welcome was choked
back by the look in his face； and I could only gaze at him and wait
for his word。 He gripped my hand； tried to speak； but failed to
make words come。
'Sit down； old man；' I said； pushing； him into my chair； 'and take
your time。'
He obeyed； looking up at me with burning； sleepless eyes。 My heart
was sore for his misery； and I said： 'Don't mind； old chap； it
can't be so awfully bad。 You're here safe and sound at any rate；'
and so I went on to give him time。 But he shuddered and looked
round and groaned。
'Now look here； Graeme； let's have it。 When did you land here？
Where is Nelson？ Why didn't you bring him up？'
'He is at the station in his coffin；' he answered slowly。
'In his coffin？' I echoed； my beautiful pictures all vanishing。
'How was it？'
'Through my cursed folly；' he groaned bitterly。
'What happened？' I asked。 But ignoring my question； he said： 'I
must see his children。 I have not slept for four nights。 I hardly
know what I am doing； but I can't rest till I see his children。 I
promised him。 Get them for me。'
'To…morrow will do。 Go to sleep now； and we shall arrange
everything to…morrow；' I urged。
'No！' he said fiercely； 'to…nightnow！'
In half an hour they were listening； pale and grief…stricken； to
the story of their father's death。
Poor Graeme was relentless in his self…condemnation as he told how；
through his 'cursed folly；' old Nelson was killed。 The three；
Craig； Graeme； and Nelson； had come as far as Victoria together。
There they left Craig； and came on to San Francisco。 In an evil
hour Graeme met a companion of other and evil days； and it was not
long till the old fever came upon him。
In vain Nelson warned and pleaded。 The reaction from the monotony
and poverty of camp life to the excitement and luxury of the San
Francisco gaming palaces swung Graeme quite off his feet； and all
that Nelson could do was to follow from place to place and keep
watch。
'And there he would sit；' said Graeme in a hard； bitter voice；
'waiting and watching often till the grey morning light； while my
madness held me fast to the table。 One night；' here he paused a
moment； put his face in his hands and shuddered； but quickly he was
master of himself again； and went on in the same hard voice'One
night my partner and I were playing two men who had done us up
before。 I knew they were cheating； but could not detect them。
Game after game they won； till I was furious at my stupidity in not
being able to catch them。 Happening to glance at Nelson in the
corner； I caught a meaning look； and looking again； he threw me a
signal。 I knew at once what the fraud was； and next game charged
the fellow with it。 He gave me the lie； I struck his mouth； but
before I could draw my gun； his partner had me by the arms。 What
followed I hardly know。 While I was struggling to get free； I saw
him reach for his weapon； but； as he drew it； Nelson sprang across
the table； and bore him down。 When the row was ever； three men lay
on the floor。 One was Nelson； he took the shot meant for me。'
Again the story paused。
'And the man that shot him？'
I started at the intense fierceness in the voice； and； looking upon
the girl； saw her eyes blazing with a terrible light。
'He is dead；' answered Graeme indifferently。
'You killed him？' she asked eagerly。
Graeme looked at her curiously； and answered slowly
'I did not mean to。 He came at me。 I struck him harder than I
knew。 He never moved。'
She drew a sigh of satisfaction； and waited。
'I got him to a private ward； had the best doctor in the city； and
sent for Craig to Victoria。 For three days we thought he would
livehe was keen to get home； but by the time Craig came we had
given up hope。 Oh； but I was thankful to see Craig come in； and
the joy in the old man's eyes was beautiful to see。 There was no
pain at last； and no fear。 He would not allow me to reproach
myself； saying over and over； 〃You would have done the same for
me〃as I would； fast enough〃and it is better me than you。 I am
old and done； you will do much good yet for the boys。〃 And he kept
looking at me till I could only promise to do my best。
'But I am glad I told him how much good he had done me during the
last year； for he seemed to think that too good to be true。 And
when Craig told him how he had helped the boys in the camp； and how
Sandy and Baptiste and the Campbells would always be better men for
his life among them； the old man's face actually shone； as if light
were coming through。 And with surprise and joy he kept on saying；
〃Do you think so？ Do you think so？ Perhaps so； perhaps so。〃 At
the last he talked of Christmas night at the camp。 You were there；
you remember。 Craig had been holding a service； and something
happened； I don't know what； but they both knew。'
'I know；' I said； and I saw agai