"Don't--don't say--" I faltered.
"All right!" he replied; "but if you're going to carry a rifle, and you
use it, you must expect to knock some of the enemy over. There, I was
only joking you, soldier. I don't think anybody was even scratched by a
ball. If you're going to stop with us, I shall have to make a marksman
of you, so that you can do as I do--give a man a lesson."
"In shooting?" I said.
He laughed.
"Yes, but you don't understand me. I mean give him such a lesson as
will make him behave better. 'Tisn't pleasant, when you have grown cool
after a fight, to think you have dangerously wounded or killed a man;
not even if he tried to kill you. I felt that years ago, and I
practised up, so that I can hit a man with a rifle just where I like--
that is nearly always."
"It was you who fired at those two wretches then?" I said eagerly.
"Of course it was, and I hit one in the leg, and the other in the hand.
Did nearly as well as killing 'em, eh?"
"Yes," I said, laughing. "I must practise too."
"You shall, and I hope you'll have no need to use your rifle afterwards,
except on bears or deer. Where are you going?"
"Mr Raydon said I was to relieve one of the men."
"So you shall, but the first one's got an hour yet to be on duty. I'll
call you when you're wanted. How's Mr Gunson?"
"I'm just going to see," I said; and I went up to the strangers'
quarters and looked in, to find Mrs Dean on duty by the bedside, and
Esau seated by the fire, cutting out something which he informed me was
part of a trap he had invented to catch squirrels.
"How is he?" I said in a low voice to Mrs Dean.
"Very bad, my dear, and so weak."
"But hasn't he shown any sign of recovering his senses?"
"No, my dear; and it does seem so discouraging."
"Never mind, mother; you'll cure him."
"Hist!" I said.
"Well, I am whispering, ain't I," said Esau. "He couldn't hear if I
didn't."
"But he must be kept quiet, Esau, and you have such a big voice. Your
whispers are as loud as some people's shouts."
"Hush!" I said, as I heard steps. "Mr Raydon."
Mrs Dean rose and curtseyed as Mr Raydon entered, followed by Mr and
Mrs John; and he looked surprised on seeing me there.
"Not on duty, Gordon?" he said.
"Mr Grey told me to wait till he was ready for me, sir."
"Oh!--Well, Mrs Dean, how is your patient?"
"Seems to sleep very calmly and gently, sir. I did think he looked at
me sensibly once, but I'm not sure."
"Poor fellow!" said Mr Raydon gravely, as Mrs Dean left the place,
followed by Esau, while I felt as if I should like to follow them; but I
stayed, knowing that if I did go, Mr Raydon would think I felt guilty
at being found there, when I was only obeying his officer's orders. So
I remained watching, and waiting to be called.
Mr Raydon bent over the couch, and laid his hand upon his patient's
head.
"Nice and cool. He must be mending, and sooner or later I believe he
will recover. It is time, though, that he made some sign of returning
consciousness. Ah, Mayne, my lad, this is the thirst for gold with a
vengeance. I dreaded it; I have dreaded it for years. Poor fellow! A
thorough gentleman at heart, but his desire for wealth was his ruin."
The words leaped to my lips, but I felt that all Mr Gunson had told me
of his former life was in confidence; and beside, Mr Raydon's treatment
did not encourage mine, so I was silent for a moment or so, gazing sadly
at the thin worn face before me, and wishing that I was a clever doctor
and able to cure him, when I started with surprise and pleasure, for Mr
Gunson's eyes opened, and he lay looking fixedly at me for some time in
the midst of a painful silence.
Then a look of recognition came into his gaze, and he smiled at me
faintly.
"Time to get up?" he said, in a whisper. "I--"
He looked quickly round then, and his face worked a little.
"Where am I?--what?" he faltered. "Mayne, where am I? Ah! I remember
now," he said, faintly.
Mr Raydon bent over him.
"Don't try to talk, Gunson. You have been ill, but you are getting
better now."
"Yes," he said, softly; "I remember. Struck down just now."