To The West Part 84

"Oh," said the big fellow, with a laugh. "Turning nasty, eh? Well then, we'll take it. Show him your shooting-irons, lads, and let him see that we can be nasty too."

Half a dozen of the men pulled out revolvers, and there were a few sharp clicks heard.

"Did you hear me, Gordon?" said Mr Raydon, harshly. "Run."

"I can't run away, and leave you like this," I said. "Obey orders, boy.

Both of you back, quick!"

There was a something about him which enforced obedience, and I went back towards the house wondering why the other men did not come to their chiefs help, especially now that he was being backed slowly across the enclosure by the gang of men, each of whom had a revolver in his hand.

"Yes," said Mr Raydon, sharply, and Grey and another man turned and ran for one of the little block-houses in the corner of the enclosure.

"Hah! Yah! Hoo!" roared the fellows, derisively; and one of them fired a shot, an example followed by two more, not aimed at the retreating party, but evidently meant to scare them and hasten their retreat.

There was another roar of laughter at this, followed by more derisive shouts, as Grey and his companions disappeared in the building before named.

"It's all right, lads; that's where the landlord's cellar is: come on!"

Mr Raydon still backed toward the corner building, and Esau and I continued our retreat to the chiefs quarters, where I saw Mr and Mrs John at the door, alarmed by the firing.

"Tell them to keep in," cried Mr Raydon to me; and seeing that there was danger, I ran to them, half forced them back, and without instructions I s.n.a.t.c.hed up Mr Raydon's double rifle and cartridge-belt.

"Good heavens, Gordon, what is the matter?" cried Mr John.

"Nothing serious, I hope," I said. "Orders: stay inside."

I darted out again with the rifle, and ran to where Mr Raydon was standing his ground still, and he was saying something in a loud voice to the men, but I only caught the words--"Fair warning."

"Hah! Good!" he exclaimed, as I ran up with the rifle; and he caught it and the cartridge-belt, but he did not attempt to load.

"Back to them," said Mr Raydon to me; and I went unwillingly, for it seemed cowardly to go.

"He's going to fight," said the leader of the gang. "There, don't pepper him, mates."

There was another roar of laughter at this.

"I warn you once more, my good fellows. This is an outrage you are committing, and if blood is shed the fault will be yours."

"Those bottles o' whiskey."

"You get nothing here. Go!"

"Rush them, lads."

The miners with their revolvers were about a dozen yards from the corner block-house, and Mr Raydon and the man with him were half-way to the door, their backs towards it, when the bully gave his order.

Like an echo of that order, and just as the men were in motion, came one from Mr Raydon.

"Make ready--present!"

I shrank back startled as I heard the loud military commands, and the effect was the same upon the gang of rough gold-diggers, who stopped short, while half of them turned and began to run.

For, as the order rang out, Grey and another man sprang to the door with presented pieces, and from the openings on the floor above half a dozen more rifles were thrust out.

"Another step forward and I give the word--Fire!" cried Mr Raydon, fiercely. "You see we are prepared for unpleasant visitors here, whether they are white savages or red. Now then, have the goodness to go, and don't trouble us with your presence here again."

"Oh, it was only a joke, mate," cried the big fellow. "Needn't make such a fuss about it."

"A joke, to fire on my retiring men?" said Mr Raydon, fiercely. "Go, or my men will perpetrate a similar joke on you, you miserable bully and coward."

"Bully am I?--coward am I?" growled the fellow, menacingly c.o.c.king his revolver.

"Cover this fellow, Grey," said Mr Raydon without turning, and I saw Grey make a slight movement.

"That man is a dead shot, my good man," said Mr Raydon. "Once more, go!"

"Right; we're going, eh, mates?"

"No," said another. "Let's--"

"Another word, and I order my men to fire," cried Mr Raydon, fiercely.

"We have driven off a hundred Indians before now, and I tell you that we are well prepared."

"Oh, all right," growled the fellow. "Come on, mates. This is English hospitality, this is. Well, every dog has his day, and perhaps ours 'll come next."

They walked slowly toward the gate, and pa.s.sed out muttering threateningly; and as they pa.s.sed out, in obedience to an order, Grey and another man ran across to the opening with their rifles at the trail, each seizing one of the swing-back gates which they were about to close, when half a dozen of the gang reappeared and fired from their revolvers. Before they could repeat the shots the gates were banged to and barred, while Grey sprang up a few steps and applied his eye to a loop-hole.

"Well?" said Mr Raydon, advancing quietly.

"Running back toward the river, sir. Shall we fire over their heads?"

"No. They have gone," said Mr Raydon.

Then turning to me, where I stood just outside the door of his house, he said sternly--

"You see why I wished to keep this district free of all that is connected with gold?"

I made no answer, for none would come.

"We have enough enemies among the Indians," he continued. "These people add to our cares."

Still I made no answer, for I was thinking of Gunson, who was, as I had heard, gold-finding up our stream, perhaps quite alone. These people, all well-armed, were going up his way, and one of them had sworn to do him some mischief. Did he know that Gunson was there? Did Gunson know that this man was within a few miles of him, perhaps close at hand?

I shuddered as I thought of the wealth up that stream. These men could only be fresh-comers, attracted by rumours of a new find of rich gold.

Perhaps Gunson had already found a good deal; he most likely would have found a great deal, and this would be an additional inducement for them to attack him, rob, perhaps kill him out of revenge.

"And this was all due to the discovery of the gold," I thought, and it was emphasised the next moment, for Mr John came up to his brother-in-law.

"Who are those men, Daniel?" he said, eagerly.