"I've come up, sir, with my mates, as we agreed to help one another. We
are peaceable people, and we only ask to be let alone; but after last
night's work it must be war. This can't go on."
"No," said Mr Raydon, firmly.
"We're right away here from any settlement, and there might be no law at
all for any help it can give us, so we must be our own judges and jury."
"No," said Mr Raydon, firmly; "not that, but we must be our own
soldiers and police."
"Then you will act with us, sir? You and your people know the country,
and perhaps can lead us to where we can find and surprise them."
"If you all give me your undertaking that there shall be no unnecessary
bloodshed, and that these men shall be merely seized and taken down to
the coast, I will help you to the best of my power."
"Here's my hand upon it," cried Barker. "You're more of a soldier than
I am, so tell us what to do, and the sooner it's done the better."
"Go back then at once, and get all your men together, and I will join
you with all I can spare from the protection of my place."
"How long will you be, sir?"
"Half an hour after you get back. But be quiet, and do not let a hint
reach the enemy of what is afoot."
"You may trust us, sir," said Barker. "Come on back, lads;" and all
looking very stern and serious, the men turned and went steadily off.
"You'll take me, sir?" said Grey, appealingly.
"I wish I could, my man," replied Mr Raydon. "One of us must stay to
take charge here, and my place is with the men to guard against
excesses."
Grey looked disappointed, but he was soldier-like in his obedience to
orders, and without another word he went with us to the block-house,
where four men were selected and duly armed.
All at once Mr Raydon turned, and found me gazing intently at him.
"Well?" he said.
"You will let me go too, sir?" I said.
"No; you are too young to fight. Yes; you shall carry an extra rifle
for me, and my surgical case."
I ran back to where Gunson lay impatiently waiting for news, and told
him.
"Yes," he said, "it is quite right. This must be put down with a strong
hand. Oh, if I had only strength to be one of the party! Mayne Gordon,
I envy you."
Ten minutes later I was saying good-bye to Mrs John, who looked pale
and horrified at the news she had heard, and began to object to my
going, till Mr John whispered a few words to her, when she turned upon
me a piteous look.
"I am only going as the doctor's assistant," I said, lightly, but I felt
as excited as if I were about to form one of a forlorn hope.
"Ready?" said Mr Raydon, coming to the door. "Get to the men, Gordon.
Good-bye, sister."
"But, Daniel!" she said, clinging to him; "is this necessary?"
"Absolutely," he replied. "John, I look to you to shoulder a rifle, and
help to defend this place. Good-bye."
He shook hands hastily to avoid a painful parting, and strode out with
me, so that I only had time to wave my hand to Mrs John, who was
watching us as we tramped out of the gate--the five men by me looking
stern and determined enough to be more than a match for the enemy, if it
was a case of fair fighting, though that was too much to expect from
such men as these.
Hardly a word was spoken as we descended the valley, keeping close down
to the river-side, till we reached the narrow entrance to the little
gorge, whose stream came bubbling and plashing down into the pool, and
we had not gone above a couple of hundred yards up it, when a stern
voice bade us stand, and we found ourselves face to face with the whole
strength of the mining camp.
"That's right, sir," said Barker; "ready for action. Yes? Then what's
it to be?"
"My plan is very simple," replied Mr Raydon. "I propose going up the
valley with my men to Gunson's claim, where I shall, of course, join the
four stationed there."
"That's right," said Barker. "We asked them to come with us, but they
refused. Well, sir?"
"You and your men will march down to the river, and descend till you are
opposite the little vale where these people are hiding. You will find
it very beautiful and park-like for the first half mile, but as the
glade narrows it grows more dense, till it is filled from side to side
with magnificent pines. You will spread your men out, to guard against
the enemy passing you, and this will grow more and more easy as you go
slowly on."
"I understand; and what are you going to do, sir?" said the man.
"Come over the ridge, and through the forest which separates this valley
from that, so as to get to the head of the little stream. Then we shall
begin to descend, and, I hope, drive the scoundrels into your hands."
Barker gave his rifle-stock a hearty slap.
"Capital!" he cried. "And you can get over there?"
"I know every part here for miles round," said Mr Raydon, as I felt
quite startled at his plan being exactly the same as the one I had
thought of. "I will set over there somehow."
"Then we shall have them between two fires, sir," cried Barker--"good!"
We parted directly after this, it being understood that the miners were
to move slowly, so as to give us ample time to make our arrangements,
get round over the mountain-ridge, and go down to meet them so as to
have the enemy safely between us, Mr Raydon being of opinion that the
sides of the valley in which they were encamped would be too steep to
give them a chance of escape.
We pressed on past the various little claims, with the place looking
untidy and desolate, consequent upon the number of camping-places all
along the beautiful stream; and whenever we came upon the more desolate
places, with the traces of fire and burned trees, I saw Mr Raydon's
brow knit, and more than once he uttered an angry ejaculation.
Gunson's claim was neared at last, just as I was beginning to feel
exhausted with the difficulties of the climb up the rugged rock-strewn
track, and Mr Raydon was looking more severe than ever, when all at
once, from out of the trees there rang out a sharp "Halt!" and there was
the clicking of a rifle-lock.
"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, brightening up at once at this display of
watchfulness, which proved to him how trustworthy his men were. Then
stepping to the front he shouted a few words, and the man who had spoken
came from his post, which commanded an approach to the claim.
We were met with an eager welcome, and in spite of the risks they would
have to encounter, the four men were overjoyed at hearing of the
business in hand, clearly showing that they were tired of their
monotonous inactive life.
A brief halt was made, during which our party lay about making a good
meal; and then, at a word from Mr Raydon, they all sprang up together
quite in military fashion, while he explained to the four men the plan.
"We must try and get over here at once," he said, as he glanced up at
the tremendous wall of rock, piled up quite a thousand feet above our
heads, and dotted with patches of trees, wherever there was soil or
crevice in which a pine could take root.
"Better place higher up, sir," said one of the men. "There's a little
branch of the stream goes off west: I followed it the other day after a
sheep. I think we could get far enough up the mountain then to cross
over and strike the other stream."
"Right," said Mr Raydon at once; "that will be better. All ready?
Ammunition?"
"Ready! ready!" rang along the little line.
Mr Raydon nodded.
"No talking, and go as silently as you can; sound travels in these high
parts, and we do not know how high up the scoundrels may be camping.
Now, understand once more--single file till we cross over into the other
valley, then spread out as widely as the place will allow, and keep as
level a line as possible. The object is to drive these men back to the
mining party, and not one must break through our line now. You lead. I
trust to you to get us well over into that valley."
The man who had spoken of the branch from the stream stepped to the
front, rifles were shouldered, the word was given, and with Mr Raydon
next to the leader, and I behind him, carrying a spare rifle and the
surgical case, the advance was begun.