Part 22 (1/2)

”I will make the record.” And, turning to Ruth: ”You are not afraid?”

”No, I am not afraid,” said the girl bravely, though she acknowledged to me afterwards that while she was not afraid of anything where her own skill was called in question, such as mountain-climbing, or even puma-hunting, she did not joyfully antic.i.p.ate swinging between heaven and earth on that incline. ”I will go,” she added, ”if my father will let me. ... May I?” she continued, turning to him.

Perhaps something of the father's pride came up in him, perhaps he had just got some suspicion that between his daughter and Mrs. Falchion there was a subterranean rivalry. However it was, he gave a quick, quizzical look at both of them, then glanced at Roscoe, and said: ”I'll make no objections, if Ruth would like to introduce you to Phil. And, as Mrs. Falchion suggested, I'll 'turn the crank.'”

I could see that Roscoe had a bad moment. But presently he appeared to me perfectly willing that Ruth should go. Maybe he was as keen that she should not appear at a disadvantage beside Mrs. Falchion as was her father.

A signal was given, and the cage came slowly down the cable to the mill.

We could see Boldrick, looking little bigger than a child at the other end, watching our movements. At the last moment Mr. Devlin and Roscoe seemed apprehensive, but the women were cool and determined. I noticed Mrs. Falchion look at Ruth curiously once or twice after they entered the cage, and before they started, and what she saw evidently gave her a higher opinion of the girl, for she laid her hand on Ruth's arm suddenly, and said: ”We will show these mere men what nerve is.”

Ruth nodded, then 'bon voyage' was said, and the signal was given. The cage ascended at first quickly, then more slowly, swaying up and down a little on the cable, and climbing higher and higher through the air to the mountain-side. What Boldrick thought when he saw the two ascending towards him, he expressed to Mr. Devlin later in the day in vigorous language: what occurred at his but Ruth Devlin told me afterwards. When the cage reached him, he helped the two pa.s.sengers out, and took them to his hut. With Ruth he had always been a favourite, and he welcomed her with admiring and affectionate respect.

”Never b'lieved you could have done it, Miss Devlin--never! Not but what I knew you weren't afraid of anything on the earth below, or the waters under the earth; but when you get swinging there over the world, and not high enough to get a hold on heaven, it makes you feel as if things was droppin' away from you like. But, by gracious! you did it like an eagle--you and your friend.”

By this time he was introduced, and at the name of Mrs. Falchion, he c.o.c.ked his head, and looked quizzically, as if trying to remember something, then drew his hand once or twice across his forehead. After a moment he said: ”Strange, now, ma'am, how your name strikes me. It isn't a common name, and I've heerd it before somewhere--somewhere. It isn't your face that I've seen before--for I'd have remembered it if it was a thousand years ago,” he added admiringly. ”But I've heard some one use it; and I can't tell where.”

She looked curiously at him, and said: ”Don't try to remember, and it will come to you in good time. But show us everything about your place before we go back, won't you, please?”

He showed them his hut, where he lived, quite alone. It was supplied with bare necessaries, and with a counter, behind which were cups and a few bottles. In reference to this, Boldrick said: ”Temperance drinks for the muleteers, tobacco and tea and sugar and postage stamps and things.

They don't gargle their throats with anything stronger than coffee at this tavern.”

Then he took them to the cave in which puma, bear, and wapiti skins were piled, together with a few stores and the kits of travellers who had left their belongings in Boldrick's keeping till they should come again. After Mrs. Falchion and Ruth had seen all, they came out upon the mountain-side and waved their handkerchiefs to us, who were still watching from below. Then Boldrick hoisted a flag on his hut, which he used on gala occasions, to celebrate the event, and, not content with this, fired a 'feu de joie', managed in this way: He took two anvils used by the muleteers and expressmen to shoe their animals, and placed one on the other, putting powder between. Then Mrs. Falchion thrust a red-hot iron into the powder, and an explosion ensued. I was for a moment uneasy, but Mr. Devlin rea.s.sured me, and instantly a shrill whistle from the little mills answered the salute.

Just before they got into the cage, Mrs. Falchion turned to Boldrick, and said: ”You have not been trying to remember where you heard my name before? Well, can you not recall it now?”

Boldrick shook his head. ”Perhaps you will recall it before I see you again,” she said.

They started. As they did so, Mrs. Falchion said suddenly, looking at Boldrick keenly: ”Were you ever in the South Seas?”

Boldrick stood for an instant open-mouthed, and then exclaimed loudly, as the cage swung down the incline: ”By Jingo! No, ma'am, I was never there, but I had a pal who come from Samoa.”

She called back at him: ”Tell me of him when we meet again. What was his name?”

They were too far down the cable now for Boldrick's reply to reach them distinctly. The descent seemed even more adventurous than the ascent, and, in spite of myself, I could not help a thrill of keen excitement.

But they were both smiling when the cage reached us, and both had a very fine colour.

”A delightful journey, a remarkable reception, and a very singular man is your Mr. Boldrick,” said Mrs. Falchion.

”Yes,” replied Mr. Devlin, ”you'll know Boldrick a long time before you find his limits. He is about the most curious character I ever knew, and does the most curious things. But straight--straight as a die, Mrs.

Falchion!”

”I fancy that Mr. Boldrick and I would be very good friends indeed,”

said Mrs. Falchion; ”and I purpose visiting him again. It is quite probable that we shall find we have had mutual acquaintances.” She looked at Roscoe meaningly as she said this, but he was occupied with Ruth.

”You were not afraid?” Roscoe said to Ruth. ”Was it not a strange sensation?”

”Frankly, at first I was a little afraid, because the cage swings on the cable, and it makes you uncomfortable. But I enjoyed it before we got to the end.”

Mrs. Falchion turned to Mr. Devlin. ”I find plenty here to amuse me,”

she said, ”and I am glad I came. To-night I want to go up that cable and call on Mr. Boldrick again, and see the mills and the electric light, and hear your whistle, from up there. Then, of course, you must show us the mill working at night, and afterwards--may I ask it?--you must all come and have supper with me at the summer hotel.”

Ruth dropped her eyes. I saw she did not wish to go. Fortunately Mr. Devlin extricated her. ”I'm afraid that will be impossible, Mrs.