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!" ejaculated 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."
Mr John shrugged his shoulders, and gave his wife and brother-in-law a
half-sad, half-laughing look.
"I am not surprised," he said, "I always was the most unlucky of men."
"Nothing of the kind, sir," retorted Mr Raydon. "You have had as much
good fortune as other men--quite as much as I have. My dear John," he
added more gently, "we men have a bad habit of forgetting the good in
our lives, and remembering all the bad. My dear fellow, half your
troubles have been caused by your want of energy."
"Yes," he said, smiling sadly, "I suppose so. I have always been too
ready to give up. But," he added quickly, "I never complain."
Mr Raydon never looked so pleasant in my eyes before as he smiled at
his sister, and then laid his hand on Mr John's shoulder.
"Never, John, never. You annoy me sometimes by being so easy and
yielding."
"Yes, yes," said Mr John; "but I'm going to turn over a new leaf, and
be stern and energetic as you are."
Mrs John crossed to him and took his hand.
"No," she said quietly, "you are going to turn over no new leaves, dear.
You are best as you always have been. Daniel is wrong; we cannot have
all men of the same mould."
"Do you hear all this, Mayne Gordon?" said Mr Raydon, laughingly; and
before I could reply, he said quickly, "Go on now, and take your turn as
sentry; I want to think out my plans. Don't talk about it to the men,
but something must be done. A combination must be made to capture these
men again, for we shall have no peace or safety till they are cleared
away."
"What are you thinking of doing?" said Mrs John, taking alarm at his
words.
"Trying to end the matter peaceably, and without bloodshed."
Mrs John uttered a sigh of relief, and I went out wondering what would
be done, and thinking that if I had my way, I should collect all the
miners, join forces, and then send one party to the head of the little
vale, and attempt to advance with the others from the bottom by the
river, little thinking what difficulties there would be in such a plan.
As soon as I was outside Mr Raydon's office, I met Grey, who gave me a
grim, dry look.
"Know how many men you shot last night?" he said.