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Christ save you from your sins and make a man of you？'
The old man nodded； keeping his hungry eyes on the other's face。
'Well； here's His message to you： 〃The Son of Man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost。〃'
'To me？ To me？' said the old man eagerly。
'Listen； this； too； is His Word： 〃Him that cometh unto Me I will in
no wise cast out。〃 That's for you； for here you are； coming。'
'You don't know me； Mr。 Craig。 I left my baby fifteen years ago
because'
'Stop！' said the minister。 'Don't tell me； at least not to…night；
perhaps never。 Tell Him who knows it all now； and who never
betrays a secret。 Have it out with Him。 Don't be afraid to trust
Him。'
Nelson looked at him； with his face quivering； and said in a husky
voice； 'If this is no good； it's hell for me。'
'If it is no good；' replied Craig； almost sternly； 'it's hell for
all of us。'
The old man straightened himself up； looked up at the stars； then
back at Mr。 Craig； then at me； and； drawing a deep breath； said；
'I'll try Him。' As he was turning away the minister touched him on
the arm； and said quietly； 'Keep an eye on Sandy to…morrow。'
Nelson nodded； and we went on； but before we took the next turn I
looked back and saw what brought a lump into my throat。 It was old
man Nelson on his knees in the snow； with his hands spread upward
to the stars； and I wondered if there was any One above the stars；
and nearer than the stars； who could see。 And then the trees hid
him from my sight
CHAPTER II
THE BLACK ROCK CHRISTMAS
Many strange Christmas Days have I seen； but that wild Black Rock
Christmas stands out strangest of all。 While I was revelling in my
delicious second morning sleep； just awake enough to enjoy it； Mr。
Craig came abruptly； announcing breakfast and adding； 'Hope you are
in good shape； for we have our work before us this day。'
'Hello！' I replied； still half asleep； and anxious to hide from the
minister that I was trying to gain a few more moments of snoozing
delight； 'what's abroad？'。
'The devil；' he answered shortly； and with such emphasis that I sat
bolt upright； looking anxiously about。
'Oh！ no need for alarm。 He's not after you particularlyat least
not to…day；' said Craig； with a shadow of a smile。 'But he is
going about in good style； I can tell you。'
By this time I was quite awake。 'Well； what particular style does
His Majesty affect this morning？'
He pulled out a showbill。 'Peculiarly gaudy and effective； is it
not？'
The items announced were sufficiently attractive。 The 'Frisco
Opera Company were to produce the 'screaming farce；' 'The Gay and
Giddy Dude'； after which there was to be a 'Grand Ball；' during
which the 'Kalifornia Female Kickers' were to do some fancy
figures； the whole to be followed by a 'big supper' with 'two free
drinks to every man and one to the lady；' and all for the
insignificant sum of two dollars。
'Can't you go one better？' I said。
He looked inquiringly and a little disgustedly at me。
'What can you do against free drinks and a dance； not to speak of
the 〃High Kickers〃？' he groaned。
'No！' he continued； 'it's a clean beat for us today。 The miners
and lumbermen will have in their pockets ten thousand dollars； and
every dollar burning a hole； and Slavin and his gang will get most
of it。 But；' he added； 'you must have breakfast。 You'll find a
tub in the kitchen； don't be afraid to splash。 It is the best I
have to offer you。'
The tub sounded inviting； and before many minutes had passed I was
in a delightful glow； the effect of cold water and a rough towel；
and that consciousness of virtue that comes to a man who has had
courage to face his cold bath on a winter morning。
The breakfast was laid with fine taste。 A diminutive pine…tree； in
a pot hung round with wintergreen； stood in the centre of the
table。
'Well； now； this looks good； porridge； beefsteak； potatoes； toast；
and marmalade。'
'I hope you will enjoy it all。'
There was not much talk over our meal。 Mr。 Craig was evidently
preoccupied； and as blue as his politeness would allow him。
Slavin's victory weighed upon his spirits。 Finally he burst out；
'Look here！ I can't； I won't stand it； something must be done。
Last Christmas this town was for two weeks； as one of the miners
said； 〃a little suburb of hell。〃 It was something too awful。 And
at the end of it all one young fellow was found dead in his shack；
and twenty or more crawled back to the camps； leaving their three
months' pay with Slavin and his suckers。
'I won't stand it； I say。' He turned fiercely on me。 'What's to
be done？'
This rather took me aback； for I had troubled myself with nothing
of this sort in my life before； being fully occupied in keeping
myself out of difficulty； and allowing others the same privilege。
So I ventured the consolation that he had done his part； and that a
spree more or less would not make much difference to these men。
But the next moment I wished I had been slower in speech； for he
swiftly faced me； and his words came like a torrent。
'God forgive you that heartless word！ Do you know？ But no； you
don't know what you are saying。 You don't know that these men have
been clambering for dear life out of a fearful pit for three months
past； and doing good climbing too； poor chaps。 You don't think
that some of them have wives； most of them mothers and sisters； in
the east or across the sea； for whose sake they are slaving here；
the miners hoping to save enough to bring their families to this
homeless place； the rest to make enough to go back with credit。
Why； there's Nixon； miner； splendid chap； has been here for two
years； and drawing the highest pay。 Twice he has been in sight of
his heaven； for he can't speak of his wife and babies without
breaking up； and twice that slick son of the devilthat's
Scripture； mind youSlavin； got him； and 〃rolled〃 him； as the boys
say。 He went back to the mines broken in body and in heart。 He
says this is his third and last chance。 If Slavin gets him； his
wife and babies will never see him on earth or in heaven。 There is
Sandy； too； and the rest。 And；' he added； in a lower tone； and
with the curious little thrill of pathos in his voice； 'this is the
day the Saviour came to the world。' He paused； and then with a
little sad smile； 'But I don't want to abuse you。'
'Do； I enjoy it； I'm a beast； a selfish beast'； for somehow his
intense； blazing earnestness made me feel uncomfortably small。
'What have we to offer？' I demanded。
'Wait till I have got these things cleared away； and my
housekeeping done。'
I pressed my services upon him； somewhat feebly； I own； for I can't
bear dishwater； but he rejected my offer。
'I don't like trusting my china to the hands of a tender…foot。'
'Quite right； though your china would prove an excellent means of
defence at long range。' It was delf； a quarter of an inch thick。
So I smoked while he washed up； swept； dusted； and arranged the
room。
After the room was ordered to his taste； we proceeded to hold
council。 He could offer dinner； magic lantern； music。 'We can
fill in time for two hours； but；' he added gloomily； 'we can't beat
the dance and the 〃High Kickers。〃'
'Have you nothing new or startling？'
He shook his head。
'No kind of show？ Dog show？ Snake charmer？'
'Slavin has a monopoly of the snakes。'
Then he added hesitatingly； 'There was an old Punch…and…Judy chap
here last year； but he died。 Whisky again。'
'What happened to his show？'
'The Black Rock Hotel man took it for board and whisky bill。 He
has it still； I suppose。'
I did not much relish the business； but I hated to see him beaten；
so I ventured； 'I have run a Punch and Judy in an amateur way at
the 'Varsity。'
He sprang to his feet with a yell。
'You have！ you mean to say it？ We've got them！ We've beaten
them！' He had an extraordinary way of taking your help for
granted。 'The miner chaps； mostly English and Welsh； went mad over
the poor old showman； and made him so wealthy that in sheer
gratitude he drank himself to death。'
He walked up and down in high excitement and in such evident
delight that I felt pledged