To The West Part 106

He looked quickly round then, and his face worked a little.

"Where am I?--what?" he faltered. "Mayne, where am I? Ah! I remember now," he said, faintly.

Mr Raydon bent over him.

"Don't try to talk, Gunson. You have been ill, but you are getting better now."

"Yes," he said, softly; "I remember. Struck down just now."

I exchanged glances with Mr Raydon.

"No, not just now, because I have been lying here. Some one nursing me--yes," he cried, with more energy, as his eyes rested on Mrs John's sympathetic face, "you."

"We have all nursed you," said Mrs John, quietly. "But do not try to talk."

"No," he said, decisively; "but--there is one thing--must say--my claim--the gold."

I saw Mr Raydon's face pucker up, and a frown gather on his brow, but it cleared away directly, and he bent down over his patient, and laid his hand upon his forehead.

"Gunson, you must be quiet," he said. "Your claim is quite safe. I have men protecting it, and no gold has been found or taken away."

"Thank heaven!" sighed Gunson; and giving a grateful look round he closed his eyes, and seemed to go to sleep.

"Come away now," whispered Mr Raydon. "You will stay with him?"

Mrs John bowed her head, and softly took the chair by the pillow, while we all stole gently out of the room.

"His first waking thought, John," said Mr Raydon, bitterly; "gold-- gold--gold. There, it is of no use to murmur: I must swallow my pet antipathy, I suppose."

Once more the thought of all Mr Gunson had said to me came as words to my lips; but though my friend was being wrongly judged, I felt that I could not speak.

"Some day he will know all the truth," I said, "and I must wait."

Just then Grey came up.

"Your time, Gordon," he said, abruptly. Then seeing our excited looks, he glanced towards the strangers' quarters.

"Not worse, sir?" he said, eagerly.

"No, Grey; the turn has come--better," said Mr Raydon.

Grey took off his fur cap, waved it in the air, and then with a satisfied smile he marched me off.

"That's what I like to hear; he'll be all right soon now. This place would set any man up. But I can't understand the gov'nor. He was always mad against any one coming about here hunting for gold, and yet somehow he seems to have quite taken to your friend, who talks about nothing else."

"Yes," I said; "I can't help thinking that he likes Mr Gunson."

"Oh, there's no doubt about it, my lad. We shall have him taking to gold-hunting himself one of these days."

"Never," I said, decisively, as we reached my post.

"Never's a long day, boy," said Grey, thoughtfully; "but I think you're right."

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 princ.i.p.al 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."