Part 107 (1/2)
”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.