We were not kept in doubt long about the proceedings of the enemy. I
was in the strangers' quarters next day, talking in a whisper to Mrs
John, while taking her turn at nursing poor Gunson, who still lay
perfectly insensible, and so still that I gazed at him with feelings
akin to terror, when Mr Raydon came in and walked straight to the
bedside. We watched him as he made a short examination, and then in
answer to Mrs John's inquiring look--
"I can do nothing," he said. "He is no worse. There is no fracture;
all this is the result of concussion of the brain, I should say, and we
can only hope that nature is slowly and surely repairing the injury."
"But a doctor, Daniel?" said Mrs John.
"My dear sister, how are we to get a surgeon to come up here? It is a
terrible journey up from the coast, and I believe I have done and am
doing all that a regular medical man would do."
"But--"
"Yes," he said, smiling gravely, "I know you look upon me as being very
ignorant, but you forget that I have had a good deal of experience since
I have been out here. I learned all I could before I came, and I have
studied a good deal from books since. Why, I have attended scores of
cases amongst my own people--sickness, wounds, injuries from wild
beasts, falls and fractures, bites from rattlesnakes, and I might say
hundreds of cases among the Indians, who call me the great medicine
man."
"I know how clever you are, dear," said Mrs John.
"Thank you," he said, kissing her affectionately. "I wish I were; but I
am proud of one achievement."
"What was that, dear?"
"The prescription by which I cured you." Then, turning sharply on me,
his face grew hard and stern again.
"Well, Mayne Gordon," he said, "you have heard the news, of course?"
"I have heard nothing, sir," I said, eagerly, for it was pleasant to
find him make the slightest advance towards the old friendly feeling.
But my hopes were dashed the next moment, as I heard his words, and felt
that they were intended as a reproach.
"Your friends made a raid on one of the little camps nearest the river
last night, and carried off all the gold the party had washed."
"Was any one hurt?" said Mrs John, excitedly.
"Happily nothing beyond a few blows and bruises," replied Mr Raydon.
"It was a surprise, and the gold-diggers fled for help. When they
returned in force the gang had gone. Taken to the forest, I suppose.
Get back to your duty, Mayne," he said; and I hurried away to find Esau
deep in conversation with Grey about the last night's attack.
"Think they'll come up here?" said Esau.
"Like enough. If they do--"
"Well?" I said, for the man stopped. "If they do?"
"I shall be obliged to fire straight," he said, slowly. "Men who act
like that become wild beasts, and they must be treated similarly."