point something seemed to go wrong with the orchestra。 The 'cello
appeared to be wandering aimlessly up and down the scale；
occasionally picking up the tune with animation； and then dropping
it。 As Billy saw me approaching； he drew himself up with great
solemnity； gravely winked at me； and said
'Shlipped a cog； Mishter Connor！ Mosh hunfortunate！ Beauchiful
hinstrument； but shlips a cog。 Mosh hunfortunate！'
And he wagged his little head sagely； playing all the while for
dear life； now second and now lead。
Poor Billy！ I pitied him； but I thought chiefly of the beautiful；
eager face that leaned towards him the night the League was made；
and of the bright voice that said； 'You'll sign with me； Billy？'
and it seemed to me a cruel deed to make him lose his grip of life
and hope； for this is what the pledge meant to him。
While I was trying to get Billy away to some safe place； I heard a
great shouting in the direction of the bar； followed by trampling
and scuffling of feet in the passage…way。 Suddenly a man burst
through； crying
'Let me go！ Stand back！ I know what I'm about！'
It was Nixon； dressed in his best； black clothes； blue shirt； red
tie； looking handsome enough； but half…drunk and wildly excited。
The highland Fling competition was on at the moment； and Angus
Campbell； Lachlan's brother； was representing the lumber camps in
the contest。 Nixon looked on approvingly for a few moments； then
with a quick movement he seized the little Highlander； swung him in
his powerful arms clean off the floor； and deposited him gently
upon a beer…barrel。 Then he stepped into the centre of the room；
bowed to the judges； and began a sailor's hornpipe。
The committee were perplexed； but after deliberation they decided
to humour the new competitor； especially as they knew that Nixon
with whisky in him was unpleasant to cross。
Lightly and gracefully he went through his steps； the men crowding
in from the bar to admire； for Nixon was famed for his hornpipe。
But when； after the hornpipe； he proceeded to execute a clog…dance；
garnished with acrobatic feats； the committee interfered。 There
were cries of 'Put him out！' and 'Let him alone！ Go on； Nixon！'
And Nixon hurled back into the crowd two of the committee who had
laid remonstrating hands upon him； and； standing in the open
centre； cried out scornfully
'Put me out！ Put me out！ Certainly！ Help yourselves！ Don't mind
me！' Then grinding his teeth； so that I heard them across the
room； he added with savage deliberation； 'If any man lays a finger
on me； I'llI'll eat his liver cold。'
He stood for a few moments glaring round upon the company； and then
strode toward the bar； followed by the crowd wildly yelling。 The
ball was forthwith broken up。 I looked around for Billy； but he
was nowhere to be seen。 Graeme touched my arm
'There's going to be something of a time； so just keep your eyes
skinned。'
'What are you going to do？' I asked。
'Do？ Keep myself beautifully out of trouble；' he replied。
In a few moments the crowd came surging back headed by Nixon； who
was waving a whisky…bottle over his head and yelling as one
possessed。
'Hello！' exclaimed Graeme softly； 'I begin to see。 Look there！'
'What's up？' I asked。
'You see Idaho and Slavin and their pets；' he replied。
'They've got poor Nixon in tow。 Idaho is rather nasty；' he added；
'but I think I'll take a hand in this game； I've seen some of
Idaho's work before。'
The scene was one quite strange to me； and was wild beyond
description。 A hundred men filled the room。 Bottles were passed
from hand to hand； and men drank their fill。 Behind the
refreshment…tables stood the hotelman and his barkeeper with their
coats off and sleeves rolled up to the shoulder； passing out
bottles； and drawing beer and whisky from two kegs hoisted up for
that purpose。 Nixon was in his glory。 It was his night。 Every
man was to get drunk at his expense； he proclaimed； flinging down
bills upon the table。 Near him were some League men he was
treating liberally； and never far away were Idaho and Slavin
passing bottles； but evidently drinking little。
I followed Graeme； not feeling too comfortable； for this sort of
thing was new to me； but admiring the cool assurance with which he
made his way through the crowd that swayed and yelled and swore and
laughed in a most disconcerting manner。
'Hello！' shouted Nixon as he caught sight of Graeme。 'Here you
are！' passing him a bottle。 'You're a knocker； a double…handed
front door knocker。 You polished off old whisky…soak here； old
demijohn；' pointing to Slavin； 'and I'll lay five to one we can
lick any blankety blank thieves in the crowd；' and he held up a
roll of bills。
But Graeme proposed that he should give the hornpipe again； and the
floor was cleared at once； for Nixon's hornpipe was very popular；
and tonight； of course； was in high favour。 In the midst of his
dance Nixon stopped short； his arms dropped to his side； his face
had a look of fear； of horror。
There； before him； in his riding…cloak and boots； with his whip in
his hand as he had come from his ride； stood Mr。 Craig。 His face
was pallid； and his dark eyes were blazing with fierce light。 As
Nixon stopped； Craig stepped forward to him； and sweeping his eyes
round upon the circle he said in tones intense with scorn
'You cowards！ You get a man where he's weak！ Cowards！ you'd damn
his soul for his money！'
There was dead silence； and Craig； lifting his hat； said solemnly
'May God forgive you this night's work！'
Then； turning to Nixon； and throwing his arm over his shoulder； he
said in a voice broken and husky
'Come on； Nixon！ we'll go！'
Idaho made a motion as if to stop him； but Graeme stepped quickly
foreword and said sharply； 'Make way there； can't you？' and the
crowd fell back and we four passed through； Nixon walking as in a
dream； with Craig's arm about him。 Down the street we went in
silence； and on to Craig's shack； where we found old man Nelson；
with the fire blazing； and strong coffee steaming on the stove。 It
was he that had told Craig； on his arrival from the Landing； of
Nixon's fall。
There was nothing of reproach； but only gentlest pity； in tone and
touch as Craig placed the half…drunk； dazed man in his easy…chair；
took off his boots； brought him his own slippers； and gave him
coffee。 Then； as his stupor began to overcome him； Craig put him
in his own bed； and came forth with a face written over with grief。
'Don't mind； old chap；' said Graeme kindly。
But Craig looked at him without a word； and； throwing himself into
a chair； put his face in his hands。 As we sat there in silence the
door was suddenly pushed open and in walked Abe Baker with the
words； 'Where is Nixon？' and we told him where he was。 We were
still talking when again a tap came to the door； and Shaw came in
looking much disturbed。
'Did you hear about Nixon？' he asked。 We told him what we knew。
'But did you hear how they got him？' he asked； excitedly。
As he told us the tale； the men stood listening； with faces growing
hard。
It appeared that after the making of the League the Black Rock
Hotel man had bet Idaho one hundred to fifty that Nixon could not
be got to drink before Easter。 All Idaho's schemes had failed； and
now he had only three days in which to win his money； and the ball
was his last chance。 Here again he was balked； for Nixon；
resisting all entreaties； barred his shack door and went to bed
before nightfall； according to his invariable custom on pay…days。
At midnight some of Idaho's men came battering at the door for
admission； which Nixon reluctantly granted。 For half an hour they
used every art of persuasion to induce him to go down to the ball；
the glorious success of which was glowingly depicted； but Nixon
remained immovable； and they took their departure； baffled and
cursing。 In two hours they returned drunk enough to be dangerous；
kicked at the door in vain； finally gained entrance through the
window； hauled Nixon out of bed； and； holding a glass of whisky to
his lips； bade him drink。 But he knocked the glass sway； spilling
the liquor over himself and the bed。
It was drink or fight； and Nixon was ready to fight； but after
parley they had a drink all round； and fell to persuasion again。
The night was cold； and poor Nixon sat shivering on the edge of his
bed。 If he would take one drink they would leave him alone。 He
need not show himself so stiff。 The whisky fumes filled his
nostrils。 If one drink would get them off； surely that was better
than fighting and killing some one or getting killed。 He
hesitated； yielded； drank his glass。 They sat about him amiably
drinking； and lauding him as a fine fellow after all。 One more
glass before they left。 Then Nixon rose； dressed himself； drank
all that was left of the bottle； put his money in his pocket； and
came down to the dance； wild with his old…time madness； reckless of
faith and pledge； forgetful of home； wife； babies； his whole being
absorbed in one great passionto drink and drink and drink till he
could drink no more。
Before Shaw had finished his tale； Craig's eyes were streaming with
tears； and groans of rage and pity broke alternately from him。 Abe
remained speechless for a time； not trusting himself； but as he
heard Craig groan； 'Oh； the beasts！ the fiends！' he seemed
encouraged to let himself loose； and he began swearing with the
coolest and most blood…curdling deliberation。 Craig listened with
evident approval； apparently finding complete satisfaction in Abe's
performance； when suddenly he seemed to waken up； caught Abe by the
arm； and said in a horror…stricken voice
'Stop！ stop！ God forgive us！ we must not swear like this。'
Abe stopped at once； and in a surprised and slightly grieved voice
said
'Why！ what's the matter with that？ Ain't that what you wanted？'
'Yes！ yes！ God forgive me！ I am afraid it was；' he answered
hurriedly； 'but I must not。'
'Oh； don't you worry；' went on Abe cheerfully； 'I'll look after
that part； and anyway； ain't they the blankest blankety blank'
going off again into a roll of curses； till Craig； in an agony of
entreaty； succeeded