continued our retreat to the chiefs quarters, where I saw Mr and Mrs
John at the door, alarmed by the firing.

"Tell them to keep in," cried Mr Raydon to me; and seeing that there
was danger, I ran to them, half forced them back, and without
instructions I snatched up Mr Raydon's double rifle and cartridge-belt.

"Good heavens, Gordon, what is the matter?" cried Mr John.

"Nothing serious, I hope," I said. "Orders: stay inside."

I darted out again with the rifle, and ran to where Mr Raydon was
standing his ground still, and he was saying something in a loud voice
to the men, but I only caught the words--"Fair warning."

"Hah! Good!" he exclaimed, as I ran up with the rifle; and he caught it
and the cartridge-belt, but he did not attempt to load.

"Back to them," said Mr Raydon to me; and I went unwillingly, for it
seemed cowardly to go.

"He's going to fight," said the leader of the gang. "There, don't
pepper him, mates."

There was another roar of laughter at this.

"I warn you once more, my good fellows. This is an outrage you are
committing, and if blood is shed the fault will be yours."

"Those bottles o' whiskey."

"You get nothing here. Go!"

"Rush them, lads."

The miners with their revolvers were about a dozen yards from the corner
block-house, and Mr Raydon and the man with him were half-way to the
door, their backs towards it, when the bully gave his order.

Like an echo of that order, and just as the men were in motion, came one
from Mr Raydon.

"Make ready--present!"

I shrank back startled as I heard the loud military commands, and the
effect was the same upon the gang of rough gold-diggers, who stopped
short, while half of them turned and began to run.

For, as the order rang out, Grey and another man sprang to the door with
presented pieces, and from the openings on the floor above half a dozen
more rifles were thrust out.

"Another step forward and I give the word--Fire!" cried Mr Raydon,
fiercely. "You see we are prepared for unpleasant visitors here,
whether they are white savages or red. Now then, have the goodness to
go, and don't trouble us with your presence here again."

"Oh, it was only a joke, mate," cried the big fellow. "Needn't make
such a fuss about it."

"A joke, to fire on my retiring men?" said Mr Raydon, fiercely. "Go,
or my men will perpetrate a similar joke on you, you miserable bully and
coward."

"Bully am I?--coward am I?" growled the fellow, men