The scouts went out again and again, and though they never saw the
enemy, they always brought back reports that they were still in the
little valley, and trying for gold there.
Mr Barker had been up to the Fort with some of the principal
gold-seekers, and Mr Raydon had been down to the valley, which had
rapidly grown into a busy hive. But days glided by and no plans were
made, while the enemy made not the slightest sign of their presence; and
Mr Raydon said it was a mystery to him how they obtained provisions.
Then, as no more attacks were made at the camp, the excitement gradually
cooled down, and it was decided to leave the men alone so long as they
remained peaceable, or until such time as the Governor of the colony was
in a position to send up a little force to protect people, and ensure
peace in his increasing settlement.
The days glided on and Mr Gunson rapidly began to mend, while I spent
all the time I could at his side--Mr Raydon quietly letting me see that
I was only a visitor there, the companion of the sick man; and it was
regularly settled that as soon as Mr Gunson was quite well again he was
to return to his claim, and I was to go with him; Esau also having,
after quite a verbal battle with his mother, determined to cast in his
lot with ours.
"And I shall be very glad to get away from this life of inaction,"
Gunson said to me one day. "They are all wonderfully kind, and I am
most grateful, but I think Raydon will be pleased to see us gone."
"Yes," I said; "I shall be glad to go."
"You mean it, boy?" he said, smiling.
"Yes; there is nothing I am wanted for, and I feel as if I were an
intruder. It was an unlucky day when we found that gold."
"No," cried Mr Gunson, with fierce energy; "a most fortunate day. You
forget what it is going to do for me and mine."
"Yes; I spoke selfishly," I said, bitterly.
"Bah! don't look back, boy; look forward," he cried; and he suddenly
became silent, and leaned back in his chair, gazing out through the open
window at the wide prospect of hill, mountain, and dark green forest.
"I am looking forward to being out again in those glorious pine-woods,
breathing the sweet mountain air. I shall soon be quite strong again
then."
I thought of my own wound, and how I had seemed to drink in health and
strength as soon as I got out.
"It would not be a bad life to settle down here," continued Mr Gunson;
"I should enjoy it. A beautiful life, far better than hunting for gold.
But what about those scoundrels who made me like this? Is there any
fresh news of them?"
"None," I said.
"That's bad. They may be in mischief. Awkward if they come and attack
us again when we get back to the claim. Raydon must lend us some of his
men, or else I must join forces with that Barker, though I would far
rather keep the place to myself. But we cannot risk another such
attack. You see what a coward weakness has made me."
"You a coward!" I cried, scornfully.
"Yes, my lad," he said, with a smile. "I do not feel a bit like a brave
man should. Well," he cried, with a laugh, "that is strange!"
"What is?" I cried.
"Look," he said, pointing out of the window to a group of men coming in
at the gate; "the very man I was speaking about--Barker."
"There's something wrong," I said, excitedly, as I sprang from my chair.
"Go and see," he cried; but I was already at the door, and rushed out
just as Mr Raydon and Mr John came from the office, and Grey from one
of the block-houses.
"How are you?" said Barker, coming up with a serious look on his face
that told of bad news before he spoke.
Mr Raydon took the extended hand.
"Well," he said, "what is it? That gang again?"
"Yes," said Barker, rather huskily; "we were in hopes that we had seen
the last of them, but they made an attack last night. We did not know
till quite late this morning, when a man from the next claim went down
to the bar nearest the big river."
"Yes, go on--quick!" said Mr Raydon.
"They had been there some time in the night. There was a party of six
working together, and I suppose they surprised them."
"Well?"
"Two of the poor fellows are lying dead, sir, and the other four badly
wounded. They have swept the place of everything, and got a good deal
of gold."
As this bad news was told I could not look at Mr Raydon, for fear his
eyes should gaze reproachfully into mine. I felt that he did glance at
me as if to say--"Your work, Gordon!"