acingly cocking his
revolver.

"Cover this fellow, Grey," said Mr Raydon without turning, and I saw
Grey make a slight movement.

"That man is a dead shot, my good man," said Mr Raydon. "Once more,
go!"

"Right; we're going, eh, mates?"

"No," said another. "Let's--"

"Another word, and I order my men to fire," cried Mr Raydon, fiercely.
"We have driven off a hundred Indians before now, and I tell you that we
are well prepared."

"Oh, all right," growled the fellow. "Come on, mates. This is English
hospitality, this is. Well, every dog has his day, and perhaps ours 'll
come next."

They walked slowly toward the gate, and passed out muttering
threateningly; and as they passed out, in obedience to an order, Grey
and another man ran across to the opening with their rifles at the
trail, each seizing one of the swing-back gates which they were about to
close, when half a dozen of the gang reappeared and fired from their
revolvers. Before they could repeat the shots the gates were banged to
and barred, while Grey sprang up a few steps and applied his eye to a
loop-hole.

"Well?" said Mr Raydon, advancing quietly.

"Running back toward the river, sir. Shall we fire over their heads?"

"No. They have gone," said Mr Raydon.

Then turning to me, where I stood just outside the door of his house, he
said sternly--

"You see why I wished to keep this district free of all that is
connected with gold?"

I made no answer, for none would come.

"We have enough enemies among the Indians," he continued. "These people
add to our cares."

Still I made no answer, for I was thinking of Gunson, who was, as I had
heard, gold-finding up our stream, perhaps quite alone. These people,
all well-armed, were going up his way, and one of them had sworn to do
him some mischief. Did he know that Gunson was there? Did Gunson know
that this man was within a few miles of him, perhaps close at hand?

I shuddered as I thought of the wealth up that stream. These men could
only be fresh-comers, attracted by rumours of a new find of rich gold.
Perhaps Gunson had already found a good deal; he most likely would have
found a great deal, and this would be an additional inducement for them
to attack him, rob, perhaps kill him out of revenge.

"And this was all due to the discovery of the gold," I thought, and it
was emphasised the next moment, for Mr John came up to his
brother-in-law.

"Who are those men, Daniel?" he said, eag