To The West Part 95

Mr Gunson, Mayne Gordon, don't be such cowards as to run away and leave a fellow. They're a-killing of me."

"Hold your row, will you," cried a gruff voice that was familiar to me now. "There, you won't run away in a hurry. Have you tied that other shaver up?"

"No," growled the man, who was lying across me.

"Look sharp then, and let's see what they've got to eat. Done the job neatly this time."

"Yes," said another voice, whose words made me shudder; "bit too well, mate. This chap's a dead 'un."

"Bah! not he. Crack on the head with a soft bit o' wood won't kill a man. Here, let's see what they've got. Make up that fire a bit.

Plaguey dark."

While this was being said, I felt hands busy about my hands and legs, and then a voice by me said--

"There he is, tight as a bull-calf in a butcher's cart."

Soon after the fire blazed up vividly, sending its light in amongst the trees; and I saw the faces of the two big fellows, our old friends, and several of the others, who, after making sure of the rifles and revolvers, hunted out what food there was in Gunson's little tent, and began to prepare themselves a meal.

"Don't seem to be no whiskey," said the big fellow, who was leader, as he pa.s.sed close by me; and there I lay listening, perfectly helpless, and with my heart beating heavily with dread, as I pondered on the man's words about Gunson.

I waited till the men were talking round the fire, and then whispered--

"Mr Gunson--Mr Gunson," but there was no reply, and a chill feeling of horror ran through me, and the cold dew gathered on my forehead.

"Ain't you going to say a word to me, Mayne Gordon?" said Esau, in a piteous voice.

"Say? What can I say?" I replied.

"Dunno, but you might say something. They've tied me so tight that the ropes cut right down to the bone."

"So they have me, and it hurts horribly."

"Can't hurt you so much as it does me. Pretty sort of chap you were to keep watch, and let them jump on us like that."

"Pretty sort of fellow you were to go to sleep," I returned, bitterly.

"Didn't go to sleep," grumbled Esau. "Only shut my eyes for a moment."

"There, don't make paltry excuses," I said, angrily.

"Dare say you two was asleep too," he said, sulkily. "I say, have they killed poor old Gunson?"

"Don't--don't--don't!" I whispered, piteously; and in spite of the pain it gave me, I rolled myself over and struggled along, till at last, after a terrible struggle, I reached Gunson's side.

"Mr Gunson," I said; "Mr Gunson, pray, pray speak."

He uttered a low groan, and it sent a thrill of joy through me.

"Hurray!" whispered Esau; "he ain't dead. I say, can't we get untied and drop on to them now when they don't expect it?"

"Impossible," I said, bitterly, "they've got the rifles too."

"Oh, I say," groaned Esau, "ain't it too bad, Mayne Gordon! Just as we was all going to be rich, and now we shall be cheated out of it all.

Only wish I could get my hands undone."

What he would have done I cannot say, for his hands were tied fast, and we lay there listening to the talking and coa.r.s.e laughter of the men about the fire, and a faint groan now and then from Mr Gunson, till the day began to break; and as the sun lit up the misty valley, and shot its bright, golden arrows through the trees, the men rose, and two of them took hold of Mr Gunson's head and heels, and carried him out into the open. "Dead?" said one of them.

"Not he. Take a harder crack to kill him," said the big fellow. "Bring out them two boys and lay 'em here. I'm going to hold a court."

"Here, mind what you're doing," cried Esau, as he was lifted. "You hurt."

"Hold your row, warmint," growled one of his hearers; and as Esau kicked out viciously, they threw him down by Gunson just as if he was a sack of wheat.

"All right, cowards," exclaimed Esau, viciously. "I'll serve you out for this."

I set my teeth hard, so as not to make a sound, though they hurt me horribly, and I too was thrown down on the gra.s.s near the fire, while the big leader seated himself on a stone, took out and filled his pipe, lit it with a burning brand, and then began to smoke, while the men formed a circle round.

"Now then, young 'un," the big ruffian said to me, "speak up, and we shan't hurt you, but if you don't tell the whole truth, one of my mates here will take you into the woods there, and use his knife."

"And then you'll be hung," said Esau, sharply. "For cutting off his ears, monkey," growled the fellow. "Well, they wouldn't do it for cutting off yourn, so we'll try them first."

"Yah! you daren't," cried Esau, viciously. "Don't, don't," I said.

"It's of no good."

"Not a bit," said the big fellow. "Now then, boy, where's your mate hid his pile?"

"I don't know," I said.

"What! No lies, or--"

He clenched his fist, and held it towards me threateningly.

"I tell you I don't know, and if I did I wouldn't tell you."

"We'll soon see about that. Now then, you," he said, turning to Esau, "where's your mate keep his pile?"

"Dunno," said Esau, laughing. "Find out."

"Oh, we can soon do that. Won't take long. Here, you, how much did you get out of the stream every day?"

"Don't know," I said, "anything about it."

"Ho! Very good. I say, mates, who's got the sharpest knife?"

"All on us," said his princ.i.p.al companion--the man who was with him first.

"Well then, we'll have his ears off, and if that don't make him speak, his tongue ain't no use, and we'll have off that."

"You dare to touch him," cried Dean, fiercely, "and I'll never rest till the police catch you."