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To The West, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 51. On Active Service |
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_ CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. ON ACTIVE SERVICE 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!" But at that moment the visitor went on speaking-- "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. _ |
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