bursting of a hurricane the pintos leap forward； and with a
splendid rush cross the scratch； winners by their own length。
There was a wild quarter of an hour。 The shantymen had torn off
their coats and were waving them wildly and tossing them high；
while the ranchers added to the uproar by emptying their revolvers
into the air in a way that made one nervous。
When the crowd was somewhat quieted Sandy's stiff figure appeared；
slowly making towards them。 A dozen lumbermen ran to him； eagerly
inquiring if he were hurt。 But Sandy could only curse the little
Frenchman for losing the race。
'Lost！ Why； man； we've won it！' shouted a voice； at which Sandy's
rage vanished； and he allowed himself to be carried in upon the
shoulders of his admirers。
'Where's the lad？' was his first question。
The bronchos are off with him。 He's down at the rapids like
enough。'
'Let me go；' shouted Sandy； setting off at a run in the track of
the sleigh。 He had not gone far before he met Baptiste coming back
with his team foaming； the roans going quietly； but the bronchos
dancing； and eager to be at it again。
'Voila！ bully boy！ tank the bon Dieu； Sandy； you not keel； heh？
Ah！ you are one grand chevalier；' exclaimed Baptiste； hauling Sandy
in and thrusting the lines into his hands。 And so they came back；
the sleigh box still dragging behind； the pintos executing
fantastic figures on their hind legs； and Sandy holding them down。
The little Frenchman struck a dramatic attitude and called out
'Voila！ What's the matter wiz Sandy； heh？'
The roar that answered set the bronchos off again plunging and
kicking； and only when Baptiste got them by the heads could they be
induced to stand long enough to allow Sandy to be proclaimed winner
of the race。 Several of the lumbermen sprang into the sleigh box
with Sandy and Baptiste； among them Keefe； followed by Nelson； and
the first part of the great day was over。 Slavin could not
understand the new order of things。 That a great event like the
four…horse race should not be followed by 'drinks all round' was to
him at once disgusting and incomprehensible； and； realising his
defeat for the moment； he fell into the crowd and disappeared。 But
he left behind him his 'runners。' He had not yet thrown up the
game。
Mr。 Craig meantime came to me； and； looking anxiously after Sandy
in his sleigh； with his frantic crowd of yelling admirers； said in
a gloomy voice； 'Poor Sandy！ He is easily caught； and Keefe has
the devil's cunning。'
'He won't touch Slavin's whisky to…day；' I answered confidently。
'There'll be twenty bottles waiting him in the stable；' he replied
bitterly； 'and I can't go following him up。'
'He won't stand that； no man would。 God help us all。' I could
hardly recognise myself； for I found in my heart an earnest echo to
that prayer as I watched him go toward the crowd again； his face
set in strong determination。 He looked like the captain of a
forlorn hope； and I was proud to be following him。
CHAPTER III
WATERLOO。 OUR FIGHTHIS VICTORY
The sports were over； and there remained still an hour to be filled
in before dinner。 It was an hour full of danger to Craig's hopes
of victory； for the men were wild with excitement； and ready for
the most reckless means of 'slinging their dust。' I could not but
admire the skill with which Mr。 Craig caught their attention。
'Gentlemen；' he called out； 'we've forgotten the judge of the great
race。 Three cheers for Mr。 Connor！'
Two of the shantymen picked me up and hoisted me on their shoulders
while the cheers were given。
'Announce the Punch and Judy；' he entreated me； in a low voice。 I
did so in a little speech； and was forthwith borne aloft； through
the street to the booth； followed by the whole crowd； cheering like
mad。
The excitement of the crowd caught me； and for an hour I squeaked
and worked the wires of the immortal and unhappy family in a manner
hitherto unapproached by me at least。 I was glad enough when
Graeme came to tell me to send the men in to dinner。 This Mr。
Punch did in the most gracious manner； and again with cheers for
Punch's master they trooped tumultuously into the tent。
We had only well begun when Baptiste came in quietly but hurriedly
and whispered to me
'M'sieu Craig； he's gone to Slavin's； and would lak you and M'sieu
Graeme would follow queek。 Sandy he's take one leel drink up at de
stable； and he's go mad lak one diable。'
I sent him for Graeme； who was presiding at dinner； and set off for
Slavin's at a run。 There I found Mr。 Craig and Nelson holding
Sandy； more than half drunk； back from Slavin； who； stripped to the
shirt； was coolly waiting with a taunting smile。
'Let me go； Mr。 Craig；' Sandy was saying； 'I am a good Presbyterian。
He is a Papist thief； and he has my money； and I will have it out
of the soul of him。'
'Let him go； preacher；' sneered Slavin； 'I'll cool him off for yez。
But ye'd better hold him if yez wants his mug left on to him。'
'Let him go！' Keefe was shouting。
'Hands off！' Blaney was echoing。
I pushed my way in。 'What's up？' I cried。
'Mr。 Connor；' said Sandy solemnly； 'it is a gentleman you are；
though your name is against you； and I am a good Presbyterian；
and I can give you the Commandments and Reasons annexed to them；
but yon's a thief； a Papist thief； and I am justified in getting my
money out of his soul。'
'But；' I remonstrated； 'you won't get it in this way。'
'He has my money；' reiterated Sandy。
'He is a blank liar； and he's afraid to take it up；' said Slavin；
in a low； cool tone。
With a roar Sandy broke away and rushed at him； but； without moving
from his tracks； Slavin met him with a straight left…hander and
laid him flat。
'Hooray；' yelled Blaney； 'Ireland for ever！' and； seizing the iron
poker； swung it around his head； crying； 'Back； or； by the holy
Moses； I'll kill the first man that interferes wid the game。'
'Give it to him！' Keefe said savagely。
Sandy rose slowly； gazing round stupidly。
'He don't know what hit him；' laughed Keefe。
This roused the Highlander； and saying； 'I'll settle you afterwards；
Mister Keefe；' he rushed in again at Slavin。 Again Slavin met him
again with his left； staggered him； and； before he fell； took a step
forward and delivered a terrific right…hand blow on his jaw。 Poor
Sandy went down in a heap amid the yells of Blaney； Keefe； and some
others of the gang。 I was in despair when in came Baptiste and
Graeme。
One look at Sandy； and Baptiste tore off his coat and cap；
slammed them on the floor； danced on them； and with a long…drawn
'sap…r…r…r…rie；' rushed at Slavin。 But Graeme caught him by the
back of the neck； saying； 'Hold on； little man；' and turning to
Slavin； pointed to Sandy； who was reviving under Nelson's care；
and said； 'What's this for？'
'Ask him；' said Slavin insolently。 'He knows。'
'What is it； Nelson？'
Nelson explained that Sandy； after drinking some at the stable and
a glass at the Black Rock Hotel； had come down here with Keefe and
the others； had lost his money； and was accusing Slavin of robbing
him。
'Did you furnish him with liquor？' said Graeme sternly。
'It is none of your business；' replied Slavin； with an oath。
'I shall make it my business。 It is not the first time my men have
lost money in this saloon。'
'You lie；' said Slavin； with deliberate emphasis。
'Slavin；' said Graeme quietly； 'it's a pity you said that； because；
unless you apologise in one minute； I shall make you sorry。'
'Apologise？' roared Slavin； 'apologise to you？' calling him a vile
name。
Graeme grew white； and said even more slowly； 'Now you'll have to
take it； no apology will do。'
He slowly stripped off coat and vest。 Mr。 Craig interposed；
begging Graeme to let the matter pass。 'Surely he is not worth
it。'
'Mr。 Craig；' said Graeme； with an easy smile； 'you don't
understand。 No man can call me that name and walk around
afterwards feeling well。'
Then； turning to Slavin； he said； 'Now； if you want a minute's
rest； I can wait。'
Slavin； with a curse； bade him come。
'Blaney；' said Graeme sharply； 'you get back。' Blaney promptly
stepped back to Keefe's side。 'Nelson； you and Baptiste can see
that they stay there。' The old man nodded and looked at Craig； who
simply said； 'Do the best you can。'
It was a good fight。 Slavin had plenty of pluck； and for a time
forced the fighting； Graeme guarding easily and tapping him
aggravatingly about the nose and eyes； drawing blood； but not
disabling him。 Gradually there came a look of fear into Slavin's
eyes； and the beads stood upon his face。 He had met his master。
'Now； Slavin； you're beginning to be sorry； and now I am going to
show you what you are made of。' Graeme made one or two lightning
passes； struck Slavin one； two； three terrific blows； and laid him
quite flat and senseless。 Keefe and Blaney both sprang forward；
but there was a savage kind of growl。
'Hold； there！' It was old man Nelson looking along a pistol
barrel。 'You know me； Keefe；' he said。 'You won't do any murder
this time。'
Keefe turned green and yellow； and staggered back； while Slavin
slowly rose to his feet。
'Will you take some more？' said Graeme。 'You haven't got much； but
mind I have stopped playing with you。 Put up your gun； Nelson。 No
one will interfere now。'
Slavin hesitated； then rushed； but Graeme stepped to meet him； and
we saw Slavin's heels in the air as he fell back upon his neck and
shoulders and lay still； with his toes quivering。
'Bon！' yelled Baptiste。 'Bully boy！ Dat's de bon stuff。 Dat's
larn him one good lesson。' But immediately he shrieked；
Gar…r…r…r…e a vous！'
He was too late； for there was a crash of breaking glass； and
Graeme fell to the floor with a long deep cut on the side of his
head。 Keefe had hurled a bottle with all too sure an aim； and had
fled。 I thought he was dead； but we carried him out； and in a few
minutes he groaned； opened his eyes； and sank again into
insensibility。
'Where can we take him？' I cried。
'To my shack；' said Mr。 Craig。
'Is there no place nearer？'
'Yes； Mrs。 Mavor's。 I shall run on to tell her。'
She met us at the door。 I