mission meeting on one of the side streets； and they seemed to be
used to that sort of thing there； for no one was surprised； and a
young fellow leaned across the aisle to me and said； 〃Why！ you just
bet He can！〃 His surprise that I should doubt； his bright face and
confident tone； gave me hope that perhaps it might be so。 I held
to that hope with all my soul； and'stretching up his arms； and
with a quick glow in his face and a little break in his voice； 'He
hasn't failed me yet； not once； not once！'
He stopped quite short； and I felt a good deal like making a fool
of myself； for in those days I had not made up my mind about these
things。 Graeme； poor old chap； was gazing at him with a sad
yearning in his dark eyes； big Sandy was sitting very stiff； and
staring harder than ever into the fire； Baptiste was trembling with
excitement； Blaney was openly wiping the tears away。 But the face
that held my eyes was that of old man Nelson。 It was white；
fierce； hungry…looking； his sunken eyes burning； his lips parted as
if to cry。
The minister went on。 'I didn't mean to tell you this； men； it all
came over me with a rush； but it is true； every word； and not a
word will I take back。 And； what's more； I can tell you this； what
He did for me He can do for any man； and it doesn't make any
difference what's behind him； and'leaning slightly forward； and
with a little thrill of pathos vibrating in his voice'O boys； why
don't you give Him a chance at you？ Without Him you'll never be
the men you want to be； and you'll never get the better of that
that's keeping some of you now from going back home。 You know
you'll never go back till you're the men you want to be。' Then；
lifting up his face and throwing back his head； he said； as if to
himself； 'Jesus！ He shall save His people from their sins；' and
then； 'Let us pray。'
Graeme leaned forward with his face in his hands； Baptiste and
Blaney dropped on their knees； Sandy； the Campbells； and some
others； stood up。 Old man Nelson held his eyes steadily on the
minister。
Only once before had I seen that look on a human face。 A young
fellow had broken through the ice on the river at home； and as the
black water was dragging his fingers one by one from the slippery
edges； there came over his face that same look。 I used to wake up
for many a night after in a sweat of horror； seeing the white face
with its parting lips； and its piteous； dumb appeal； and the black
water slowly sucking it down。
Nelson's face brought it all back； but during the prayer the face
changed； and seemed to settle into resolve of some sort； stern；
almost gloomy； as of a man with his last chance before him。
After the prayer Mr。 Craig invited the men to a Christmas dinner
next day in Black Rock。 'And because you are an independent lot；
we'll charge you half a dollar for dinner and the evening show。'
Then leaving a bundle of magazines and illustrated papers on the
tablea godsend to the menhe said good…bye and went out。
I was to go with the minister； so I jumped into the sleigh first；
and waited while he said good…bye to Graeme； who had been hard hit
by the whole service； and seemed to want to say something。 I heard
Mr。 Craig say cheerfully and confidently； 'It's a true bill： try
Him。'
Sandy； who had been steadying Dandy while that interesting broncho
was attempting with great success to balance himself on his hind
legs； came to say good…bye。 'Come and see me first thing； Sandy。'
'Ay！ I know； I'll see ye； Mr。 Craig；' said Sandy earnestly； as
Dandy dashed off at a full gallop across the clearing and over the
bridge； steadying down when he reached the hill。
'Steady； you idiot！'
This was to Dandy； who had taken a sudden side spring into the deep
snow； almost upsetting us。 A man stepped out from the shadow。 It
was old man Nelson。 He came straight to the sleigh； and； ignoring
my presence completely； said
'Mr。 Craig； are you dead sure of this？ Will it work？'
'Do you mean；' said Craig； taking him up promptly； 'can Jesus
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；