at, and I've told you I know
it. Of course Mr Raydon don't like it, but he can't help himself. Now
then. You're in disgrace here, but you won't be up at the camp; and
when his bit of temper's past, Mr Raydon will be sorry for what he
said, and ask us to come and look at the piece of land after all."

While he kept on speaking, my temper, which had always remained
irritable through my illness, kept on rising, and I stood there trying
to fight it down, but in vain, for it was very rapidly getting the
mastery. It was as if something hot was rising within me, ready to boil
over if it grew a little hotter, and it soon did.

"There, it's all right," cried Esau, catching me by the arm. "Never
mind our things; we'll fetch them another time. Let's be off at once."

"Let go of my arm," I said, hoarsely.

"Shan't. Don't be stupid. You ain't been yourself since you were hurt,
and I'm going to think for you, and do what's right. Come along."

"Let go of my arm!" I said again, in a low menacing tone.

"No, nor I shan't let go of your arm; and you ain't going to frighten
me, Mayne Gordon, because I'm ever so much the stronger now, so come
along."

"Let--go--of my arm!" I said, in quite a whisper, as Esau hauled me
towards the door.

"S-h-a-r-n-'t!" cried Esau. "You're going along with me up to those
gold-washings. Come along. It's of no use for you to struggle, I'm too
much for you--Oh!"

In my rage at my inability to reason with him, I suddenly doubled my
fist and struck him full in the face, and as he uttered a cry of pain,
he started back; but it was only for a moment, and then he flew at me
angrily, so that the next minute we two sworn friends, who had suffered
so much together, were fighting hard, giving and taking blows, now down,
now up, and each growing hotter and more vindictive as we fought--Esau
with determination, I with despair, for I felt myself growing weaker and
weaker, and knew that in a few minutes I should be hopelessly beaten.
But still in my blind fury I kept on, and I was just in the act of
delivering a furious blow when I heard voices, and some one uttered a
cry of horror.

The struggle was over, for we two started back from our contest, Esau
ashamed of his rage, and I feeling utterly crushed; for there before me,
as far as I could see them in my half-blinded state, giddy as I was with
weakness and blows, stood Mr Raydon, and with him the people I would
have given the world then not to