To The West Part 102

"Well?" I said, for the man stopped. "If they do?"

"I shall be obliged to fire straight," he said, slowly. "Men who act like that become wild beasts, and they must be treated similarly."

I shuddered slightly, as I thought of his skill with the rifle.

"I know what you think," he said, gravely; "that it's horrible to shed blood. So it is; but I've got a wife here, and children, and out in a wild place like this, a man has to be his own soldier and policeman, and judge and jury too."

"It seems very horrible," I said. "It is very horrible, my lad, but it's not our doing. If these people will leave us alone, we shall not interfere with them."

"Of course not," said Esau. "Wonder whether I could hit a man."

"I hope you will not have to try," said Grey. "It's what the Governor has been afraid of for years and years."

I winced again, for it was as if everything I saw or heard tended to accuse me of destroying the peace of the place.

"Wonder whether they'll come here to-night," said Esau.

"We must be ready for them; but I don't think it's likely," said Grey.

"They got a good deal of plunder last night, and plenty of provisions.

I should say that they will do nothing now for a few days. They'll wait till they think we are not on the look-out."

It proved as Grey said, and for the next few days there was no alarm.

Communications had been kept up with the mining camps, and one morning, as I was talking with Mr John about the terribly weak state in which Mr Gunson lay, partaking of the food and medicine administered, but as if still asleep, Mr Raydon came up.

"Gordon," he said, "you and Dean have wandered about well, and gone in nearly every direction, have you not?"

"Yes, sir," I said, wondering what was coming.

"Do you think you could find your way to Gunson's claim?"

"Of course, sir," I said, smiling.

"I do not mean by the valley," he said, testily. "I want some one to go by the short cut over the mountains--the way I came to your relief."

"I don't know, sir," I said. "I have never been there, but I will try."

"Bravo!" said Mr John. "Mayne, you're like Pat with the fiddle. He said he would try if he could play."

"Are you willing to try?" said Mr Raydon.

"With Dean, sir?"

"No; alone. I cannot spare two."

"Yes," I said, eagerly; "I'll go."

"I do not see what harm could befall you," said Mr Raydon, musingly.

"The direction is well marked, and the trees are blazed through the bit of forest. Any beasts you came near would skurry off. Yes; I think I will let you go. By the way, you may as well take your rifle and pistol."

"Yes," I said, feeling quite excited over my mission. "Have you anything for me to take to the men?"

"No; it is only a visit to an outpost, to let them see that they are not forgotten, and to ask them if they have seen the enemy, or want anything. But perhaps you had better go by the valley; it is surer."

"I should like to try the near way, sir," I said.

He gazed at me thoughtfully for a few moments.

"Well," he said, to my great satisfaction, "you shall try it. You ought to know every trail round. Go and make a hearty meal before you start, and then you need not take any provisions, for you can easily be back before dark. Which way shall you go at first?"

"Up through the pines at the back," I said.

"No. Go down the valley to where that rounded rock stands up like a dome, and climb up at once, keeping to the left. Then go right over the side of the valley, and make straight for the big pine-forest you will see across the open, striking for the tallest pine at the edge. That tree is blazed with a white patch cut out by an axe. The trees right through are blazed, and from one you can see the next, and from that the next, so that you cannot go wrong."

"I see," I said; "I see."

Then he went on and told me what to do when I got through the dense forest--this being a narrow corner which ran out into the open lands, and on the other side went right off into the wilds, where it was impenetrable. He roughly sketched out points, b.u.t.tresses, and ravines, which were to serve me as landmarks to make for; and then I was to go to right or left, as the case might be; and one way and another, he marked down for me a series of prominences to make for, so as to gain one and then see another from it, till I reached to where I could look down into Golden Valley, as I called it now, right above Gunson's claim.

He made me repeat my instructions, impressing upon me that I was to treat the landmarks he gave me just as I did the blazed trees in the forest, making sure of another's position before I left one, and, satisfied at last, he gave me a nod of the head, and said abruptly--

"Off as soon as you can."

"I should like to go with you, Mayne," said Mr John, eagerly.

"No, no! Nonsense!" cried Mr Raydon. "I cannot spare you, John. I may want you to shoot down a few hundreds of the enemy."

Mr John took these words so seriously that I could not help laughing, when he saw them in the right light, came with me to my quarters, watched me make a good meal, and then walked with me to the slope beneath the dome, where he shook hands and stood to see me climb.

"Be careful, my boy," he said, at parting. "It is very steep and dangerous."

I laughed, and ran up the side feeling like a goat. There was something very delightful in the excursion, after the confinement within the block-house, and in the glorious sunshine and the bright clear air, I sprang forward, turning from time to time, as I climbed higher, to wave my hand to him, and look down on Fort and valley, till the inequalities of the wild, stony side hid him from my view.

I felt in high spirits, for this task made me think that Mr Raydon was beginning to trust me again; and as I went on I thought about Mrs John and her gentle words, as she told me all would come right in the end.

Then I began to think about poor Gunson, and wondered whether he would soon be better, as I hoped and prayed that he would.

This made me feel low-spirited for a while, but the glorious scene around me chased these gloomy thoughts away, for there before me in the distance was the great pine towering up above its fellows at the edge of the forest.

"Oh, it's easy enough to find one's way," I said, and excited by my task I whistled, sang, and shouted, to have my voice come echoing back.

"I want Esau over here," I said aloud, as I shifted the heavy rifle from one shoulder to the other. "How he would enjoy it!" Then I began thinking of how attentive Mr Raydon was in his stern, grave way to poor Gunson, and it struck me that he must feel a great respect for him, or he would not be so careful, seeing how he disliked it all, in keeping guard over his gold claim.

Then I had to think of my task, and climb over some rough ground, till I reached the first trees, which very soon hid the huge pine, and found it to be not quite at the edge of the forest. But I soon caught sight of it again, and on reaching it saw the great mark or blaze in its side, and from it the next. From this I could see another, and so found no difficulty in getting through the solemn groves.

On the other side, as I stood by the last blazed tree, I had no difficulty in making out a vast ma.s.s of rock, for which I at once stepped out, and all proved to be so clear, there were so many landmarks in the shape of peculiar stones, falls, and clumps of trees, that I made my way easily enough, and felt no little pride in being so trusted to tramp through these vast solitudes with a pistol in my belt and my rifle over my shoulder.

"How grand! how grand!" I kept on saying to myself, as I climbed to the top of some high point and looked around, while at such times a feeling of awe came over me at the silence and loneliness of the scene.

I found my way at last to the top of a ridge where I could look down into a green valley, seeing here and there in the distance faint lines of smoke rising over the tops of the trees, and after a hot, rather difficult descent through the pines, just as Mr Raydon must have come to our help that day, I reached the little camp, and was greeted by the men with a cheery shout.

They had not seen a sign of danger, they said, and as I looked round I saw no sign of the place having been disturbed. I heard too that the gold-washing was going on very busily below, but no party had gone higher than they were, Barker having urged upon his fellow-miners the necessity for keeping well together.