Part 46 (1/2)

he said, and turned to Sewell with a little gesture of deprecation.

Sewell nodded. ”You're right--if we can manage it,” he said.

In the meanwhile the young trooper was walking towards the barrier.

Ingleby surmised that he had no great liking for his task, but beyond the fact that he was holding himself unusually straight, and looking steadfastly in front of him, he showed no sign of it. The moonlight was on his face, and it was almost expressionless.

”Stop right where you are,” said one of the miners sharply. ”I guess you'd better!”

The trooper did not stop, nor did he answer. If he had his misgivings as a human being, he was also a part of the great system by which his nation's work is done and its prestige maintained; and he went on with stiff, measured strides which suggested the movements of an automaton. A handful of men behind the log, and another handful standing in the moonlight on the gleaming snow, stood silently watching him, and most of them felt an almost unpleasant sense of tension.

Then he came to the branches, and stopped a moment, as though uncertain what to do. His carbine presented the difficulty, since to scramble over that tangle of branches and twigs both hands would be necessary. Then he slung it behind him, and every one could hear the sharp snap of the clip-hook through the bitter air. After that there was a crash as he plunged into a maze of dusky needles, and he was gasping when he emerged again. He was, however, still coming on, crawling over branches, swinging himself under some of them, while two miners waited for him, intent and strung up, behind the log. When he reached it the top of the bark was almost level with his head, and, throwing an arm upon it, he essayed to draw himself up. At the same moment two pairs of sinewy hands seized his shoulders, and lifted him from his feet. Then there was a shout and a swing, and he was hurled backwards like a stone. He broke through the shadowy needles amidst a crash of snapped-off twigs, and there was a confused floundering in the darkness below. Then a head rose out of it, and the trooper stood straight in the moonlight upon the fork of a great limb, looking back towards his officer now.

”Am I to try again, sir?” he asked.

There was a burst of approving laughter from the miners, and the trooper sprang down from the branch and moved towards his comrades when Esmond made a sign, while a man who had been speaking apart with the latter suddenly stepped forward.

”It's the major,” said one of the miners. ”Give him a show. Come right along, sir. n.o.body going to hurt you!”

Coulthurst made a little gesture with a lifted hand, and his remarks were brief.

”You'll gain nothing by making fools of yourselves, my men,” he said.

”The law is a good deal too strong for you. Now, try to tell me sensibly what is worrying you, and if it comes within my business I'll see what I can do.”

Sewell stood up upon the log, and took off his big, shapeless hat.

There was silence for a moment while the major looked at him.

”Mr. Sewell,” he said gravely, ”I'm sorry to see you here.”

”I'm a little sorry myself, sir,” said Sewell. ”Still, that's not quite the point, and if you will listen for a minute or two I will try to make our views clear. They are really not unreasonable. In the first place we want Tomlinson tried here by his peers, which, although a little unusual, could, I think, be done. If Captain Esmond can prove him guilty, we will give him up, and he can get a regular court to confirm the verdict. Then we ask immunity for the men who held up the outpost, and one or two trifling modifications of the mining regulations which are probably within the discretion afforded you by your commission.”

”It seems to me,” said Coulthurst drily, ”that you are asking a good deal. More, in fact, than you are likely to get. You insist on all that?”

”We feel compelled to do so, sir.”

Coulthurst made a little sign and moved back to where Esmond stood. They conferred together, and the major spoke again.

”Captain Esmond is willing to promise that if you go home straightway no proceedings will be taken against any man for his share in this night's work. He will promise you nothing further, and I may say that in this I quite concur with him. I must warn you that what you are doing is a very serious thing.”

”Then,” said Sewell quietly, ”there is nothing more to be said. We have strength enough effectively to prevent Captain Esmond from going any further up the valley. It would be better for everybody if he did not compel us to make use of it.”

Esmond, who had been unusually patient hitherto, apparently lost his self-command.

”We will endeavour to whip the insolence out of you,” he said. ”By the time the thing is settled your leaders will be exceptionally sorry for themselves.”

He drew back a little with the major, and they appeared to be talking earnestly for a s.p.a.ce. It seemed to Ingleby that Esmond wished to chance an attack; but perhaps the troopers were worn-out, or the major recognized the strength of the miners' position, for at last he made a little sign, and the men moved back silently into the shadow of the pines. Then the tension slackened, and Ingleby s.h.i.+vered a little as he strode towards the fire.

”It's horribly cold, though I never felt it until a minute or two ago,”

he said. ”Well, I suppose we are in for it now!”