To The West Part 104

I heard Mr Raydon draw a low hissing breath.

"How did you know this?" he said.

"Lost my way in the forest, and saw the light of their fire."

"And the men at the claim?"

"All right, sir.--I heard these wretches say they were coming on."

"Lost, eh?" said Mr Raydon.

"Yes, sir. I've been wandering for hours."

"We were in search of you, and drew back to let these men go by. You hear his story, Grey?"

"Yes, sir. Quite right. He would lose his way in the dark. What orders?"

"His plan will be the best," said Mr Raydon. "Gordon, finding you in such company made me suspicious."

"You always do suspect me, sir," I said, bitterly.

"Silence, and come along. Grey, I shall wait till they are close up, and about to make their attempt; then at the word, fire and load again.

They will be taken by surprise, and think they are between two parties.

The surprise may be sufficient. If not it will alarm those within."

"And then?"

"Be ready to fire again, or make for the far side. We must get in there. Forward! I'll lead."

Mr Raydon went on first and I followed, Grey bringing up the rear. I was hurt, for it was evident that Mr Raydon's ideas of my character were poor indeed, and that at the slightest thing he was ready to suspect me of any enormity. But as I paced on quickly behind him I grew more lenient in my judgment, for I was obliged to own that my position was not a satisfactory one. I had not returned as I should have done, and when I was found, it was in company with a gang of men who were about to attack and pillage the Fort.

I had no farther time for thoughts like these. We were gaining rapidly on the gang now, and in a few minutes' time we could hear footsteps, and then they had suddenly ceased, and a whispering began, as if the leader of the party were giving orders.

Mr Raydon touched me to make out that I was close up, and I felt Grey take his position on the other side, while my heart beat so loudly that I half thought it might be heard.

All at once Mr Raydon pressed on my shoulder, and leaned over me to whisper to Grey.

"They ought to have heard this approach," he whispered. "This is not keeping good watch."

"Dark--very quiet," said Grey, in what sounded to me like a remonstrant tone; and directly after a loud clear voice rang out from the block-house at the left-hand corner near the gate.

"Who goes there? Halt, or I fire."

A low murmur arose in front of us, and Mr Raydon drew a deep breath, as if relieved. Then there was a quick advance, the flash of a rifle, and the sharp clear report.

"Only one," cried a hoa.r.s.e voice. "Too dark to see. Over with you, boys!"

Bang! Another shot; and then, as I panted with excitement, Mr Raydon whispered--

"Now, altogether, fire!"

I had raised my piece at his warning, and drew the trigger; but though there was a sharp report on either side of me, my piece did not speak, and suddenly recollecting that I had forgotten to c.o.c.k it, I lowered it again.

"Who's that behind? Who fired there?" cried the hoa.r.s.e voice of the leader from the darkness ahead.

It was just as I was ready, and raising my piece, I fired, the b.u.t.t seeming to give my shoulder a heavy blow; while directly after came three flashes from the block-house, as many roars, and, like their echoes, Mr Raydon and Grey fired again, after a rapid reloading.

This was too much for the attacking party. They were so thoroughly taken between two fires, that the next thing we heard was the hurried rush of feet, and I saw very faintly what appeared to be a shadow hurry by me, while a couple more shots from Mr Raydon and Grey completed the enemy's rout.

"Cease firing, there!" roared Mr Raydon.

A loud hail came back from the block-house, and a few minutes later we were being admitted through the well-barred gate, whose fastenings dropped with a loud clang. Then I walked up to the quarters with Mr Raydon, where the next thing I heard was Mr John's voice.

"Found him?"

"Yes; all right, and the enemy beaten," said Mr Raydon, cheerily. "Go and tell them inside."

"No need," said Mr John; "they have heard. Where are you, Mayne? Ah, that's better. Why, my dear lad, you have scared us terribly."

"I lost my way," I said, hastily.

"But what was the meaning of this firing?"

"The enemy coming in force," said Mr Raydon. "We have beaten them off though without bloodshed, and Mayne Gordon here has had another lesson in the dangers of opening up gold-claims to the sc.u.m of the earth."

"That you, Mayne Gordon?" said a familiar voice soon after, as I approached our quarters.

"Yes," I said. "Not hurt, are you, Esau?"

"Not a bit; nor you neither?"

"Yes," I said, bitterly; "wounded again."

"Eh? whereabouts? Here, come on. Mother's got lots of rag."

"No, no," I said, laughing sadly. "Not that sort of wound. It was with words."

"Go on with you. Frightening a chap like that," cried Esau. "I thought it was real."

CHAPTER FIFTY.

OUR PATIENT AWAKES.

There was no alarm next day, and scouts who were sent out came back to report that they had tracked the enemy down the river, and then up into the forest by one of the side streams, the second beyond the Golden Valley.

"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr Raydon, "pleasant that, John. They have taken to the lovely wooded vale I had marked down in my own mind for your future home."