Part 83 (2/2)

”The change worked wonders,” I said.

”Yes, of course, it did her good, sir; but no change is of any good without plenty of nursing.”

I saw that I was touching on tender ground, and was trying to think of a fresh subject, when loud, bl.u.s.tering voices outside made both Esau and me get up to see, for there was evidently an angry altercation going on just inside the gate.

”I have told you plainly,” Mr Raydon was saying as we drew near. ”This is neither an hotel nor a liquor-bar, and you cannot have it here.”

”Well, you might be civil,” said a voice which made me start and feel puzzled as to where I had heard it before. ”Not going to refuse travellers a shelter or a gla.s.s of liquor, are you?”

Esau gave my arm a jerk, but I did not look at him, for my attention was taken up by Mr Raydon, who was facing, with Grey and two more of the men, a party of a dozen roughs.

”You do not want shelter on a fine night like this, and I have no spirits except to use for medicine.”

”That's right,” said the familiar voice. ”Medicine--physic--that's what we want; drop o' spirits for medicine--eh, lads?”

There was a chorus of laughter at this, and the men began to press forward.

”Then you will not get it here, my lads, so go back to the place from whence you came,” said Mr Raydon, firmly. ”Bread and meat, and b.u.t.ter or milk, you can have; nothing more.”

”But we want a drink,” said another man. ”Here, we don't want you to give it us. Look here,” he cried, taking some gold from, his pocket.

”Now then, I'll give you all this for a bottle of whiskey.”

”Ay, and I'll give you this for another bottle,” cried a third man.

”Keep your stuff in your pockets, lads,” cried the first speaker, and I felt a kind of thrill run through me now, for I had recognised in him the big, fierce fellow who had wrestled with Gunson on board the boat, and threatened mischief next time they met. ”Keep your stuff in your pockets; the old 'un is going to give us a bottle or two of the liquor he swaps with the Injuns for the bear-skins. Now then, old boy.”

”I am going to give you nothing, neither food nor drink,” said Mr Raydon, firmly. ”You have only come down from the camp yonder this evening.”

”Well, who said we hadn't? That's right enough. We've got claims up there, and we've come to treat you all and have a drink with you.”

”I have told you that you will get no drink here.”

”Get out!” said the big fellow, whose voice I had first heard. ”You don't mean that. Come, get out the bottles. Come along, lads; we arn't going to be served like this.”

”No,” came angrily in chorus; and the men pressed forward, but Mr Raydon and his party stood their ground.

”We're going to take it, arn't we, if he don't fetch it out--eh, lads?”

”Ay.”

”Stand back!” cried Mr Raydon, authoritatively. ”Grey!”

The latter took half a dozen steps backward, and stood waiting for orders.

”You, Gordon, and you, Dean, run to my house, and keep there in shelter.”

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