"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.
"Scum of the earth come for the metal whose existence I have kept secret
ever since I came here. I fought very hard to keep the gold unknown,
but my efforts have been in vain. You see for yourself the result of
the discovery;" and then, as I saw his lowering brow and anxious face,
he exclaimed--
"Yes, the rich finds are made known, and we do not know the extent of
the mischief yet."
He glanced at me again sharply, and I knew I looked very conscious; but
it was not on account of the stubborn suspicion he persisted in feeling
about me, but because I was excited about Gunson, for I was asking
myself what I ought to do with respect to a man who in his rough way had
done so much for me, and the answer came at once just as if something
had whispered to me--
"Never mind about what people think if your intentions are good and
true. Warn the poor fellow before it is too late. Go!"