I whispered.
"I'm afraid about Mr Gunson. Suppose he is up there somewhere alone,
and has found a great deal of gold?"

"What!" cried Esau, excitedly, for my words had moved him now.

"I say, suppose he has collected a lot of gold, and those rough fellows
know of it?"

"Why, they'd kill him, and take every scrap," cried Esau. "Here, let's
go and tell Mr Raydon."

"He would not stir to help, I am sure. Mr Raydon does not want Gunson
there, and he would be glad if he was driven away."

"Think old Gunson knows of those chaps coming?"

"I don't know. I should think not."

"Let's go and see."

"Yes?"

"And if he don't know, tell him."

"Yes; that is what I should like to do," I said. "We ought to warn
him."

"Course we ought. He helped us."

"But how can we manage it?"

"Go. We know the way."

I stood for a few moments thinking, and at last made up my mind.

"You will go with me, Esau?" I said.

"Yes; soon as it's dark."

"They wouldn't let us go now?" I said, dubiously.

"You try," said Esau, with a laugh. "Why, if old Raydon thought we were
going to try and get out, he'd lock us up."

"Don't let's stand here," I said, in a husky voice, for the excitement
was increasing. "Let's go back to the quarters and talk there."

"Can't. Mother's in there, and we shouldn't be able to say a word."

"Then as soon as it's dark we'll climb over, and make straight for the
mining camp."

"That's so," said Esau; and we waited patiently for the coming on of
night.

As soon as it was decided, that which had seemed to me so very easy
began to show itself in quite another light, and difficulties sprang up
one after the other of which I had not taken thought before.

First of all I learned that a strict watch was to be kept at night, and
in consequence it would be next to impossible to get over the palisade
without being heard or seen.

Next, when we had escaped--I inadvertently used that word, for it was
like running away, though I meant to return--there would be the
difficulty of hitting the right valley in the darkness. Then, if we
found the valley, how were we to find out the place where Gunson had
made his camp? and above all, how were we to pass the camp or
resting-place of the gang of men who had been to the Fort that day? It
was pretty certain that one of their number would be on guard.

"Yes, and pop at us," said Esau, when I told him of this difficulty.
"Never mind; he couldn't hit us i