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'Wait a few minutes； men！' he read slowly； in his beautiful clear
voice； that psalm for all fighters
'God is our refuge and strength；'
and soon to the noble words
'The Lord of Hosts is with us；
The God of Jacob is our refuge。'
How the mighty words pulled us together； lifted us till we grew
ashamed of our ignoble rage and of our ignoble depression！
And then Craig prayed in simple； straight…going words。 There was
acknowledgement of failure； but I knew he was thinking chiefly of
himself； and there was gratitude； and that was for the men about
him； and I felt my face burn with shame； and there was petition for
help； and we all thought of Nixon； and Billy； and the men wakening
from their debauch at Slavin's this pure； bright morning。 And then
he asked that we might be made faithful and worthy of God； whose
battle it was。 Then we all stood up and shook hands with him in
silence； and every man knew a covenant was being made。 But none
saw his meeting with Nixon。 He sent us all away before that。
Nothing was heard of the destruction of the hotel stock…in…trade。
Unpleasant questions would certainly be asked； and the proprietor
decided to let bad alone。 On the point of respectability the
success of the ball was not conspicuous； but the anti…League men
were content； if not jubilant。
Billy Breen was found by Geordie late in the afternoon in his own
old and deserted shack； breathing heavily； covered up in his
filthy； mouldering bed…clothes； with a half…empty bottle of whisky
at his side。 Geordie's grief and rage were beyond even his Scotch
control。 He spoke few words； but these were of such concentrated
vehemence that no one felt the need of Abe's assistance in
vocabulary。
Poor Billy！ We carried him to Mrs。 Mavor's home； put him in a warm
bath； rolled him in blankets； and gave him little sips of hot
water； then of hot milk and coffee； as I had seen a clever doctor
in the hospital treat a similar case of nerve and heart depression。
But the already weakened system could not recover from the awful
shock of the exposure following the debauch； and on Sunday
afternoon we saw that his heart was failing fast。 All day the
miners had been dropping in to inquire after him； for Billy had
been a great favourite in other days； and the attention of the town
had been admiringly centred upon his fight of these last weeks。 It
was with no ordinary sorrow that the news of his condition was
received。 As Mrs。 Mavor sang to him； his large coarse hands moved
in time to the music； but he did not open his eyes till he heard
Mr。 Craig's voice in the next room； then he spoke his name； and Mr。
Craig was kneeling beside him in a moment。 The words came slowly
'Oi triedto fight it houtbut…oi got beaten。 Hit 'urts to
think 'E's hashamed o' me。 Oi'd like t'a done betteroi would。'
'Ashamed of you； Billy！' said Craig； in a voice that broke。 'Not
He。'
'An'ye hall'elped me so！' he went on。 'Oi wish oi'd 'a done
betteroi do；' and his eyes sought Geordie； and then rested on
Mrs。 Mavor； who smiled back at him with a world of love in her
eyes。
'You hain't hashamed o' meyore heyes saigh so；' he said looking
at her。
'No； Billy；' she said； and I wondered at her steady voice； 'not a
bit。 Why； Billy； I am proud of you。'
He gazed up at her with wonder and ineffable love in his little
eyes； then lifted his hand slightly toward her。 She knelt quickly
and took it in both of hers； stroking it and kissing it。
'Oi haught t'a done better。 Oi'm hawful sorry oi went back on 'Im。
Hit was the lemonaide。 The boys didn't mean no 'armbut hit
started the 'ell hinside。'
Geordie hurled out some bitter words。
'Don't be 'ard on 'em； Geordie； they didn't mean no 'arm；' he said；
and his eyes kept waiting till Geordie said hurriedly
'Na！ na！ lada'll juist leave them till the Almichty。'
Then Mrs。 Mavor sang softly； smoothing his hand； 'Just as I am；'
and Billy dozed quietly for half an hour。
When he awoke again his eyes turned to Mr。 Craig； and they were
troubled and anxious。
'Oi tried 'ard。 Oi wanted to win；' he struggled to say。 By this
time Craig was master of himself； and he answered in a clear；
distinct voice
'Listen； Billy！ You made a great fight； and you are going to win
yet。 And besides； do you remember the sheep that got lost over the
mountains？'this parable was Billy's special delight'He didn't
beat it when He got it； did he？ He took it in His arms and carried
it home。 And so He will you。'
And Billy； keeping his eyes fastened on Mr。 Craig； simply said
'Will 'E？'
'Sure！' said Craig。
'Will 'E？' he repeated； turning his eyes upon Mrs。 Mavor。
'Why； yes； Billy；' she answered cheerily； though the tears were
streaming from her eyes。 'I would； and He loves you far more。'
He looked at her； smiled； and closed his eyes。 I put my hand on
his heart； it was fluttering feebly。 Again a troubled look passed
over his face。
'Mypoorholdmother；' he whispered； 'she'shinthewukus。'
'I shall take care of her； Billy；' said Mrs。 Mavor； in a clear
voice； and again Billy smiled。 Then he turned his eyes to Mr。
Craig； and from him to Geordie； and at last to Mrs。 Mavor； where
they rested。 She bent over and kissed him twice on the forehead。
'Tell 'er；' he said； with difficulty； 〃E's took me 'ome。'
'Yes； Billy！' she cried； gazing into his glazing eyes。 He tried to
lift her hand。 She kissed him again。 He drew one deep breath and
lay quite still。
'Thank the blessed Saviour！' said Mr。 Craig； reverently。 'He has
taken him home。'
But Mrs。 Mavor held the dead hand tight and sobbed out passionately；
'Oh； Billy； Billy！ you helped me once when I needed help！ I cannot
forget！'
And Geordie； groaning； 'Ay； laddie； laddie；' passed out into the
fading light of the early evening。
Next day no one went to work； for to all it seemed a sacred day。
They carried him into the little church； and there Mr。 Craig spoke
of his long； hard fight； and of his final victory； for he died
without a fear； and with love to the men who； not knowing； had been
his death。 And there was no bitterness in any heart； for Mr。 Craig
read the story of the sheep； and told how gently He had taken Billy
home； but； though no word was spoken； it was there the League was
made again。
They laid him under the pines； beside Lewis Mavor； and the miners
threw sprigs of evergreen into the open grave。 When Slavin；
sobbing bitterly； brought his sprig； no one stopped him； though all
thought it strange。
As we turned to leave the grave； the light from the evening sun
came softly through the gap in the mountains； and； filling the
valley； touched the trees and the little mound beneath with glory。
And I thought of that other glory； which is brighter than the sun；
and was not sorry that poor Billy's weary fight was over； and I
could not help agreeing with Craig that it was there the League had
its revenge。
CHAPTER X
WHAT CAME TO SLAVIN
Billy Breen's legacy to the Black Rock mining camp was a new
League； which was more than the old League re…made。 The League was
new in its spirit and in its methods。 The impression made upon the
camp by Billy Breen's death was very remarkable； and I have never
been quite able to account for it。 The mood of the community at
the time was peculiarly susceptible。 Billy was one of the oldest
of the old…timers。 His decline and fall had been a long process；
and his struggle for life and manhood was striking enough to arrest
the attention and awaken the sympathy of the whole camp。 We
instinctively side with a man in his struggle for freedom； for we
feel that freedom is native to him and to us。 The sudden collapse
of the struggle stirred the men with a deep pity for the beaten
man； and a deep contempt for those who had tricked him to his doom。
But though the pity and the contempt remained； the gloom was
relieved and the sense of defeat removed from the men's minds by
the transforming glory of Billy's last hour。 Mr。 Craig； reading of
the tragedy of Billy's death； transfigured defeat into victory； and
this was generally accepted by the men as the true reading； though
to them it was full of my