bound； and； before the knife could fall； the little Frenchman's
boot had caught the uplifted wrist； and sent the knife flying to
the wall。
Then there was a great rushing sound as of wind through the forest；
and the lights went out。 When I awoke； I found myself lying with
my head on Graeme's knees； and Baptiste sprinkling snow on my face。
As I looked up Graeme leaned over me； and； smiling down into my
eyes； he said
'Good boy！ It was a great fight； and we put it up well'； and then
he whispered； 'I owe you my life； my boy。'
His words thrilled my heart through and through； for I loved him as
only men can love men； but I only answered
'I could not keep them back。'
'It was well done；' he said； and I felt proud。 I confess I was
thankful to be so well out of it； for Graeme got off with a bone in
his wrist broken； and I with a couple of ribs cracked； but had it
not been for the open barrel of whisky which kept them occupied for
a time； offering too good a chance to be lost； and for the timely
arrival of Nelson； neither of us had ever seen the light again。
We found Craig sound asleep upon his couch。 His consternation on
waking to see us torn； bruised； and bloody was laughable； but he
hastened to find us warm water and bandages； and we soon felt
comfortable。
Baptiste was radiant with pride and light over the fight； and
hovered about Graeme and me giving vent to his feelings in admiring
French and English expletives。 But Abe was disgusted because of
the failure at Slavin's； for when Nelson looked in； he saw Slavin's
French…Canadian wife in charge； with her baby on her lap； and he
came back to Shaw and said； 'Come away； we can't touch this'； and
Shaw； after looking in； agreed that nothing could be done。 A baby
held the fort。
As Craig listened to the account of the fight； he tried hard not to
approve； but he could not keep the gleam out of his eyes； and as I
pictured Graeme dashing back the crowd thronging the barricade till
he was brought down by the chair； Craig laughed gently； and put his
hand on Graeme's knee。 And as I went on to describe my agony while
Idaho's fingers were gradually nearing the knife； his face grew
pale and his eyes grew wide with horror。
'Baptiste here did the business；' I said； and the little Frenchman
nodded complacently and said
'Dat's me for sure。'
'By the way； how is your foot？' asked Graeme。
'He's fuss…rate。 Dat's what you callone bite ofofdat leel
bees； he's dere； you put your finger dere； he's not dere！what you
call him？'
'Flea！' I suggested。
'Oui！' cried Baptiste。 'Dat's one bite of flea。'
'I was thankful I was under the barrels；' I replied； smiling。
'Oui！ Dat's mak' me ver mad。 I jump an' swear mos' awful bad。
Dat's pardon me； M'sieu Craig； heh？'
But Craig only smiled at him rather sadly。 'It was awfully risky；'
he said to Graeme； 'and it was hardly worth it。 They'll get more
whisky； and anyway the League is gone。'
'Well；' said Graeme with a sigh of satisfaction； 'it is not quite
such a one…sided affair as it was。'
And we could say nothing in reply； for we could hear Nixon snoring
in the next room； and no one had heard of Billy； and there were
others of the League that we knew were even now down at Slavin's。
It was thought best that all should remain in Mr。 Craig's shack； not
knowing what might happen； and so we lay where we could and we
needed none to sing us to sleep。
When I awoke； stiff and sore； it was to find breakfast ready and
old man Nelson in charge。 As we were seated； Craig came in； and I
saw that he was not the man of the night before。 His courage had
come back； his face was quiet and his eye clear； he was his own man
again。
'Geordie has been out all night； but has failed to find Billy；' he
announced quietly。
We did not talk much； Graeme and I worried with our broken bones；
and the others suffered from a general morning depression。 But；
after breakfast； as the men were beginning to move； Craig took down
his Bible； and saying
'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