"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 hoarse 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 cock it, I lowered it
again.
"Who's that behind? Who fired there?" cried the hoarse voice of the
leader from the darkness ahead.
It was just as I was ready, and raising my piece, I fired, the butt
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 scum 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."