To The West Part 100

"No," said Quong. "No. Keep all along. You sabbee?"

"Very well, I'll keep it," said Mr Raydon; and just then there was a tap at the door.

"Come in."

Grey entered.

"Want me?"

"Bad news, sir," said Grey, in a sharp whisper. "That man from the little valley--Barker he says his name is--"

"Which was Barker?"

"That sensible man you shook hands with."

"What does he want?"

"Wants to see you, sir. They started that gang down the river with half a dozen armed miners, and they rose against them in the night."

"Yes," said Mr Raydon, excitedly. "Well?"

"They killed two, wounded all the rest, and they are all free again."

"And their own wounded men?"

"Took them into the woods with them."

"This is bad news indeed," said Mr Raydon, beginning to pace the room.

"He wants to know what's to be done," said Grey.

"I must think--I must think," said Mr Raydon, hastily. "Two men away guarding that claim."

"Yes, sir. Weakens us."

"Yes," said Mr Raydon; "and we must be weakened more. Two of our men must go to strengthen them at the claim. There must be four there."

"Won't draw them away and give up the claim, sir?"

"No," said Mr Raydon, firmly. "Go back to this Mr Barker, and say I'll be with him directly."

"Yes, sir," said Grey; and he went out with all the quiet precision of a soldier.

"Bad news--bad news indeed," said Mr Raydon, half aloud. "More trouble to lay upon your shoulders, Mayne Gordon. All your fault."

I felt a chill run through me, and I believe a cold hard look must have come into my face.

"Well, we must make the best of it. Of course you two lads must stop here."

"If you wish it, sir," I said, "we will go directly."

"I do not wish it, boy," he replied sternly. "Do you wish to leave those who have been your friends in the lurch now you have dragged all this trouble to their door?"

"No, sir," I said, as I set my teeth hard, determined to be cool, in spite of the injustice with which I felt that I was being treated.

"No, of course not. You have some stubborn pluck in you--both of you."

Esau growled in a very low tone, and made his mother look at him in a startled way, as if she had suddenly awakened to the fact that her son possessed the nature of a bear's cub.

Mr Raydon took another turn or two up and down the room.

"Mrs Dean," he said, "I can do nothing more for your patient. No doctor could; time is the only thing. I'll come back as soon as I can.

Meantime my sister will come to you, and you can have either of my men's wives to a.s.sist you in nursing. They are Indians, but well trained in that way. Do your best."

"Mother always does," growled Esau.

Mr Raydon gave him a sharp look, but Esau did not flinch.

"Look here, you two," said Mr Raydon, after a pause. "I am going to send two more of my men away, for the fellows in that gang are not going to beat me. The law-and-order party must and shall prevail. This will weaken my little garrison, so you two will have to mount rifles, and take the places of two of my absent men."

"Yes, sir," I said, eagerly. "I'll do my best."

"Thank you. Now, Esau Dean, what do you say?"

"Course I shall do as he does. I'm ready."

"No, no, Esau, my boy. Your feet, your feet," cried Mrs Dean.

"Do be quiet, mother. There you go with the spoon again. Fellow don't shoot off a rifle with his foot."

I saw Mr Raydon bite his lips to repress a smile.

"I had forgotten your burnt feet. Do they feel very bad?"

"Oh, pretty tidy, sir, but I don't mind. I should like to have a pop at one of them as held me to that fire."

"Naturally," said Mr Raydon.

"But I'm afraid I can't do much marching."

"You will be posted in one of the block-houses."

"That'll do," cried Esau. "Come along, Mayne Gordon."

"You have never used a rifle."

"Why, Mr Gunson there showed us all about it. Don't you be afraid; I'll try."