Home > Authors Index > George Manville Fenn > To The West > This page
To The West, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
||
Chapter 46. The Representative Of The Law |
||
| < Previous |
Table of content |
Next > |
|
________________________________________________
_ CHAPTER FORTY SIX. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAW "Right behind him, mate. Don't be afraid. Tie his thumbs together too." I heard these words as I lay there in the darkness, and knew that our assailants must be securing Gunson, while directly after Esau's angry expostulations told what was going on with him. "Let go, will you! Oh, I say, it hurts. What yer doing of? Here, hi! 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 passed 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 coarse 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 grass 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 principal 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." "Thank ye," said the big ruffian, and one man burst into a roar of laughter. "There, it's of no use, boys; tell us where he buried his pile, and you shall have a handful apiece. I don't know but what we'll let you stop in camp and cook for us. Now then, out with it." "I told you before," I said firmly, "I don't know, and if I did I would not tell you." "Look here," said one of the men, "give him a taste o' Indian. That'll make him speak." "What d'yer mean?" "Pull off his boots, and put his feet close to the fire to warm." "Oh!" cried Esau, "I wish my hands were untied." "And serve him the same," said the man who had made the proposal. "It'll be a race between 'em who shall speak first." "There, it's all right. Ears off last. But they're going to speak; arn't you, boys?" We both remained silent. "Oh, very well," said the big fellow; "off with their boots then." "Don't you say a word, Esau," I whispered; "it's only to frighten us." "No, it arn't," said the big ruffian, fiercely, for he must have guessed what I said. "It arn't done to frighten you. Off with 'em, lads, and hold their feet close. That'll make 'em speak--or squeak," he added, with a grin. "It will not, you cowardly brute," I cried, desperately, "for we neither of us know." "And him as does can't speak," cried Esau, fiercely. "Call yourselves men to tie us two lads up, and do this? Yah! you're afraid." "Where's he hid his pile, then?" growled the big ruffian. "Don't answer him," I said; "it's of no use." "Not a bit, my saucy young whelps. Now I give you one more chance. Hold hard a moment," he cried to the men who held us. "Now then, where's that there gold?" "I don't know," I said, furiously, for the pain I suffered made me reckless; "and I tell you again, if I did know I wouldn't say." "I say, mates," said the big fellow, with mock seriousness, "arn't it awful to hear two boys lie like that? Must teach 'em better, mustn't us?" There was a burst of laughter at this, and the men dragged off our boots and stockings. "That's the way," he said; "now set 'em down close to the fire, and just warm their soles a bit; just to let 'em know what it's like." "Oh, Esau!" I groaned, as I was seized; but he did not hear me, for as they took hold of him he began to struggle and writhe with all his might. Then for a few moments I began to think that this was all done to frighten us, till I heard Esau give a shriek of pain. "Now, will you tell us?" cried the big fellow. "Give the other a taste too." Four men laid hold of me, and they carried me close up to the fire, whose glow I felt upon my face, as I too made a desperate effort to escape. But it was useless, and I was turning faint with horror and dread combined, for in another moment they would have forced my feet close to the glowing embers, when I uttered a cry of joy, for Mr Raydon, rifle in hand, suddenly strode out from among the pines, and I was dropped, for every man seized his weapon. "Put up your pistols," cried Mr Raydon, in a voice of thunder, as he came up to us, his piece in his left hand, while with his right he struck the man nearest to me a blow full in the eyes which sent him staggering across the fire, to fall heavily on the other side. "Stand fast, mates," cried the big ruffian, fiercely; "he's only one. It's him from the Fort, and we've got my gentleman now." "Stand back, sir!" roared Mr Raydon, "if you value your life." "Give up that gun if you value yours," cried the man, and, bowie-knife in hand, he sprang right at Mr Raydon. But at that moment there was the sharp crack of a rifle, the ruffian's legs gave way beneath him, and he fell forward, sticking his knife deep into the earth. "Fool! I warned you," said Mr Raydon, hoarsely. "Stand! all of you. You are surrounded and covered by rifles--look!" He pointed to where a thin film of smoke rose from among the pines, close by where Esau had blazed the tree. "It's a lie, mates," groaned the prostrate ruffian; "there's only two of 'em. Don't let him bully you like that." "No, mate," cried his chief companion. "It was a shot from behind. Come on." He in turn rushed at Mr Raydon, who merely stepped back as the man raised his hand to strike, when a second shot rang out from the same place, and, with a yell of agony, the hand which held a knife dropped, and the blade fell with a jingling sound upon a block of stone. "Will you believe me now?" said Mr Raydon. "I tell you there are men all round you, and every one is a marksman who can bring you down. Do you surrender?" "No," cried the big ruffian, through his set teeth, as he dragged himself up on his hands. "It's the same one fired both shots. Mates, you won't cave in and give up a claim like this?" "No!" came in chorus. "It's our claim, and we'll fight for it." "It is Mr Gunson's claim," I cried, angrily; "and it was ours before he came." "If any one has a right to the claim, it is I," said Mr Raydon; "and I give you warning, my men, if one of you is seen in these parts after to-day, he shall be hunted down and placed in irons till he can be sent back to the coast for attempted murder and robbery." "Don't listen," cried the big ruffian, hoarsely; and I could see that he was ghastly pale. "He's nobody. He's trying to scar' you. Stand up and fight for your rights." "Mr Raydon, quick!" I shouted. "Take care!" I was too late, for a revolver-shot rang out, fired by the second man; but it was with his left hand, and I uttered a cry of joy, for it had missed. "Keep to your places," cried Mr Raydon; "I am not hurt. Grey and number two advance. Stop number two and number three advance, and collect their weapons. You others cover your men. Grey, bring down the next who lifts a hand." Two of the men from the Fort ran out from the pines, rifle in hand; but at that moment there was a crackling and rustling of branches, and one by one at least a dozen gold-finders from below came running up, armed with rifles and revolvers. "Ah," cried the big ruffian, from where he lay; "come on, mates. They're trying to put a stop to the gold-washing, and to rob us of our claim." "Gag that scoundrel if he speaks again," cried Mr Raydon, coolly, as the rough-looking men clustered together, dirt-stained, unkempt, and drenched with water some of them, and all anxiously handling their pieces. There was a low angry murmur from the new-comers, and our assailants shouted-- "Yes; come to rob us of our claim." "Silence!" cried Mr Raydon, turning then to the gold-finders. "I am Mr Daniel Raydon, chief officer of Fort Elk, the station of the Hudson's Bay Company." "Ay, that's right," said one of the new-comers. "I stand to all here as the magistrate of this district till the Governor, her Majesty's representative, sends officers to preserve order, and protect you and your rights and claims in this newly-discovered goldfield." "That's right, sir; that's right, sir," said the same man. "But when we've chosen claims you're not to take them away." "Hear, hear!" roared the big ruffian, faintly. "And shoot him down," cried another of the fresh coiners; and there was a loud murmur like a chorus of approval. "Of course not, my men," said Mr Raydon, calmly. "Don't listen to him. It's a robbery," cried one of the big ruffian's gang. "Fired at us; shot two of our men." "Yes; we heard the shots," said the first gold-finder. "And I am glad you have come," said Mr Raydon. "Now then, you boys. Has either of you seen a man here and those two lads before?" "Seen the man," said the first speaker; "not the boys." "Well, do you know he was working this claim with a Chinaman?" "Yes," said another; "I saw the Chinaman only yesterday morning." "Last night the Chinaman came to the Fort to tell me they were attacked by a gang of ruffians, and I brought my men over the mountains to come to their help." "It's all a lie," said the big fellow, in a faint voice. "Ask the boys, my good fellows," said Mr Raydon. "Ask them where Mr Gunson is." "Lying yonder," cried Esau, "half dead. They did it." "These boys are bound too, you see. Tell them, Mayne Gordon, what they were about to do when I came to your help." "Hold our feet in the fire to make us tell where the gold is hidden." "No, no; a bit of a game," chorussed the gang. "Look at my feet," cried Esau, piteously; "is that a bit of a game?" and he tried to hold up his bound legs, which the leader of the new-comers raised and examined. "It's true enough," said the chief speaker, indignantly; and a roar of execration arose. "It is all true," cried Mr Raydon. "Where is the Chinaman?" "Allee light--me come along," cried Quong; and there was a roar of laughter, for his voice came from high up in a tree. "Come down, Quong; there is no danger," said Mr Raydon. "Some of you cut these poor lads' limbs free. Stop, fool!" he roared, as one of the gang began to sidle off. "Stand, all of you, if you value your lives. Fire on the first scoundrel who tries to escape. I have men planted, and good shots," he said to the leader of the gold-finders. "You carry it with a high hand, governor," said this man, rather abruptly. "Well, sir, I have come to save these people here. I should have done the same for you. This is English ground, where every man's life and property must be protected by the law. For the time being I represent the law, and I'll have myself obeyed. Now what have you--what have any of you to say?" "Three cheers for old England and the law!" cried the man. "I beg your pardon, sir: you're right, and I'm wrong. What shall we do? Hang this lot?" "That's not obeying the law," said Mr Raydon, smiling. "No; two of them are wounded. Their leader has his thigh broken; and his companion his hand smashed, as he tried to stab me. They have got their punishment. Disarm the rest. Then four of my men shall go with you to see these scoundrels well down the valley. If they show their faces here again they know the risks." "Right!" cried the leader; and he snatched the revolver from the nearest man, and his example was so rapidly followed, that in a few minutes the utterly cowed gang was huddled together, unarmed, and guarded by four of the Company's people, who had advanced from the wood at a word from their chief. "And now what about our claims along this stream?" said the leader of the new-comers. "I am here to help you maintain your just rights, sir," said Mr Raydon, quietly. "Now help me to maintain order, and to see to the wounded men. Bring lint and bandages, Grey." And as that individual produced the linen from his haversack, Mr Raydon handed his rifle to one of the gold-finders, and went down on one knee to examine Mr Gunson's injury, which he carefully washed and bandaged. "A terrible cut," he said, in answer to my inquiring eyes, "and concussion of the brain. I hope not more serious. Now, my man," he continued, turning to the big ruffian, "you tried to take my life, and I have got to try and save yours." The fellow made no answer, but winced and groaned with pain as his shattered limb was set and supported by rough splints. "This fellow will have to be carried," said Mr Raydon, rising; "he will not walk again for many months. Now, sir, you." He bent over the second ruffian and examined his hand, bathed and bandaged it, and then went to the stream to wash his own. By this time several more armed men had come up from the lower part of the stream, and eagerly asked for particulars, while I heard a great deal, and noted nearly everything, as I sat by Mr Gunson, suffering agonies, for my arms and legs throbbed with the return of the circulation. Mr Raydon had only just finished his task when the chief speaker of the gold-finders came up with half a dozen more. "All my mates here, sir," he said, "from down stream ask me to speak, and say we thank you for what you've done. We want protection, and law, and order, and for every man to make his pile in peace. We see you've got half a dozen men with you, and you talk of sending four down the river with this gang." "Yes," said Mr Raydon. "Well, sir, we think we can save you that job. We'll see those chaps off the premises." "No violence," said Mr Raydon, sternly. "Not if they behave themselves, sir, I promise that. For we think, as there's no knowing who may come next, we should be glad if you'll keep your men, so that in case of trouble we can appeal to you." "Very well," said Mr Raydon; "let it be so then." "Don't trust him," snarled one of the wounded men; "he'll rob you all of your claims." "Not he," said the chief speaker. "No," said Mr Raydon, "and the first step I shall take will be to leave two of my men in charge of this claim, which has been taken up by the wounded prospector, Gunson." "That's right; that's fair," came in chorus, and after a little more conversation the men moved off with the prisoners, the wounded fellow being carried on a litter of poles. "Edwards," said Mr Raydon, "you and another had better stay here with the Chinaman. Gordon, where is the gold?" "I have not the least idea, sir." "Oh, then you, Dean." "Don't know a bit, sir," said Esau, who was nursing his blistered feet. "Here, Quong, where has Mr Gunson stored the gold he has found?" "Me no sabbee, sah. Quong give allee gole Mis Gunson take callee. No sabbee. Hide allee gole ploply." "Cut poles and lash them together," said Mr Raydon to Grey; "we must carry him to the Fort. Gordon, Dean, you had better come and stay till he is better." I looked up at him doubtingly. "Yes," he said; "it will be best." Half an hour after we were on our way back, with Esau limping painfully. Two of the miners volunteered to help carry the litter, so as to relieve the four we had, and the claim was left in charge of the two others, for whom, as we came away, Quong was making, as he expressed it, "plenty good flesh tea." It was dark night again as we reached the gate of the Fort, and heard the deep-toned baying of the great dog; and a few minutes later Mrs John was holding my hands, and as she kissed me there was a tear left upon my cheek. "So glad, so very glad to see you back, Mayne," said Mr John, warmly. "I hope all the trouble now is at an end." I said nothing, only helped to get Mr Gunson in his old quarters, after Esau had at last extricated himself from his mother's arms. "Is it all real, Esau?" I said, after Mr Raydon had gone, telling us not to be alarmed at Mr Gunson's insensibility, for it might be hours before he came to. "I shall come and see him twice in the course of the night," he said, as he went out. "You, Esau, you must rest those feet." "Yes, sir; all right," said Esau; and it was then that I said, "Is it all real?" "If your feet smarted like mine do, you wouldn't ask that," he replied, sulkily. "I want to know why I wasn't carried back in a litter too?" "It was impossible," I said. "Wasn't impossible to have given a fellow a pig-a-back. Oh, my feet, my feet! Oh, yes, it's precious real." "I never expected to come back here like this," I said. "Nor I neither," replied Esau. "I say, you'll keep watch by Mr Gunson, won't you?" "Yes, of course," I said. "That's right. I'm going to do something for my trotters." "What are you going to do?" "Go off to sleep." In a few minutes I was listening to his hard breathing, and asking myself whether, after the past night, I could do duty in watching the wounded man, when there were footsteps, and two of the men's Indian wives came in. "To nurse Mr Gunson," they said, in fair English, and a short time after I too was fast asleep. _ |
||