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Soon the camp was filled with men talking； laughing； chaffing； like
light…hearted boys。
'They are a little wild to…night；' said Graeme； 'and to morrow
they'll paint Black Rock red。'
Before many minutes had gone； the last teamster was 'washed up；'
and all were standing about waiting impatiently for the cook's
signalthe supper to…night was to be 'something of a feed'when
the sound of bells drew their attention to a light sleigh drawn by
a buckskin broncho coming down the hillside at a great pace。
'The preacher； I'll bet； by his driving；' said one of the men。
'Bedad； and it's him has the foine nose for turkey！' said Blaney； a
good…natured； jovial Irishman。
'Yes； or for pay…day； more like；' said Keefe； a black…browed；
villainous fellow…countryman of Blaney's； and； strange to say； his
great friend。
Big Sandy M'Naughton； a Canadian Highlander from Glengarry； rose up
in wrath。 'Bill Keefe；' said he； with deliberate emphasis； 'you'll
just keep your dirty tongue off the minister； and as for your pay；
it's little he sees of it； or any one else； except Mike Slavin；
when you're too dry to wait for some one to treat you； or perhaps
Father Ryan； when the fear of hell…fire is on to you。'
The men stood amazed at Sandy's sudden anger and length of speech。
'Bon； dat's good for you； my bully boy；' said Baptiste； a wiry
little French…Canadian； Sandy's sworn ally and devoted admirer ever
since the day when the big Scotsman； under great provocation； had
knocked him clean off the dump into the river and then jumped in
for him。
It was not till afterwards I learned the cause of Sandy's sudden
wrath which urged him to such unwonted length of speech。 It was
not simply that the Presbyterian blood carried with it reverence
for the minister and contempt for Papists and Fenians； but that he
had a vivid remembrance of how； only a month ago； the minister had
got him out of Mike Slavin's saloon and out the clutches of Keefe
and Slavin and their gang of bloodsuckers。
Keefe started up with a curse。 Baptiste sprang to Sandy's side；
slapped him on the back； and called out； 'You keel him； I'll hit
（eat） him up； me。'
It looked as if there might be a fight； when a harsh voice said in
a low； savage tone； 'Stop your row； you blank fools； settle it； if
you want to； somewhere else。' I turned； and was amazed to see old
man Nelson； who was very seldom moved to speech。
There was a look of scorn on his hard； iron…grey face； and of such
settled fierceness as made me quite believe the tales I had heard
of his deadly fights in the mines at the coast。 Before any reply
could be made； the minister drove up and called out in a cheery
voice； 'Merry Christmas； boys！ Hello； Sandy！ Comment ca va；
Baptiste？ How do you do； Mr。 Graeme？'
'First rate。 Let me introduce my friend； Mr。 Connor； sometime
medical student； now artist； hunter； and tramp at large； but not a
bad sort。'
'A man to be envied；' said the minister； smiling。 'I am glad to
know any friend of Mr。 Graeme's。'
I liked Mr。 Craig from the first。 He had good eyes that looked
straight out at you； a clean…cut； strong face well set on his
shoulders； and altogether an upstanding； manly bearing。 He
insisted on going with Sandy to the stables to see Dandy； his
broncho； put up。
'Decent fellow；' said Graeme； 'but though he is good enough to his
broncho； it is Sandy that's in his mind now。'
'Does he come out often？ I mean； are you part of his parish； so to
speak？'
'I have no doubt he thinks so； and I'm blowed if he doesn't make
the Presbyterians of us think so too。' And he added after a pause；
'A dandy lot of parishioners we are for any man。 There's Sandy；
now； he would knock Keefe's head off as a kind of religious
exercise； but to…morrow Keefe will be sober； and Sandy will be
drunk as a lord； and the drunker he is the better Presbyterian
he'll be； to the preacher's disgust。' Then after another pause he
added bitterly； 'But it is not for me to throw rocks at Sandy； I am
not the same kind of fool； but I am a fool of several other sorts。'
Then the cook came out and beat a tattoo on the bottom of a dish…
pan。 Baptiste answered with a yell： but though keenly hungry； no
man would demean himself to do other than walk with apparent
reluctance to his place at the table。 At the further end of the
camp was a big fireplace； and from the door to the fireplace
extended the long board tables； covered with platters of turkey not
too scientifically carved； dishes of potatoes； bowls of apple
sauce； plates of butter； pies； and smaller dishes distributed at
regular intervals。 Two lanterns hanging from the roof； and a row
of candles stuck into the wall on either side by means of slit
sticks； cast a dim； weird light over the scene。
There was a moment's silence； and at a nod from Graeme Mr。 Craig
rose and said； 'I don't know how you feel about it； men； but to me
this looks good enough to be thankful for。'
'Fire ahead； sir；' called out a voice quite respectfully； and the
minister bent his head and said
'For Christ the Lord who came to save us； for all the love and
goodness we have known； and for these Thy gifts to us this
Christmas night； our Father； make us thankful。 Amen。'
'Bon； dat's fuss rate；' said Baptiste。 'Seems lak dat's make me
hit （eat） more better for sure；' and then no word was spoken for
quarter of an hour。 The occasion was far too solemn and moments
too precious for anything so empty as words。 But when the white
piles of bread and the brown piles of turkey had for a second time
vanished； and after the last pie had disappeared； there came a
pause and hush of expectancy； whereupon the cook and cookee； each
bearing aloft a huge； blazing pudding； came forth。
'Hooray！' yelled Blaney； 'up wid yez！' and grabbing the cook by the
shoulders from behind； he faced him about。
Mr。 Craig was the first to respond； and seizing the cookee in the
same way； called out； 'Squad； fall in！ quick march！' In a moment
every man was in the procession。
'Strike up； Batchees； ye little angel！' shouted Blaney； the
appellation a concession to the minister's presence； and away went
Baptiste in a rollicking French song with the English chorus
'Then blow； ye winds； in the morning；
Blow； ye winds； ay oh！
Blow； ye winds； in the morning；
Blow； blow； blow。'
And at each 'blow' every boot came down with a thump on the plank
floor that shook the solid roof。 After the second round； Mr。
Craig jumped upon the bench； and called out
'Three cheers for Billy the cook！'
In the silence following the cheers Baptiste was heard to say；
'Bon！ dat's mak me feel lak hit dat puddin' all hup mesef； me。'
'Hear till the little baste！' said Blaney in disgust。
'Batchees；' remonstrated Sandy gravely； 'ye've more stomach than
manners。'
'Fu sure！ but de more stomach dat's more better for dis puddin'；'
replied the little Frenchman cheerfully。
After a time the tables were cleared and pushed back to the wall；
and pipes were produced。 In all attitudes suggestive of comfort
the men disposed themselves in a wide circle about the fire； which
now roared and crackled up the great w