o me. "We must keep together.
If one of us played spy and reconnoitred, the chances are that the enemy
would come while we were away."

"But what does Quong say?" I asked. "He went down the stream last
night."

"That there are thirty parties between here and the river, and that
means some of them are new-comers, making their way up here before long.
To-morrow we shall have to send him to the Fort to beg for food."

"But there is a store lower down, Quong told me."

"Yes, and to buy off the people at their exorbitant prices, I shall have
to pay with gold, and for the present I wish to avoid showing that there
is any here."

The next day dawned, and was passing as the others had passed, for Mr
Gunson was hesitating still about sending Quong for provisions, that
little gentleman having announced that there would be "plenty bread,
plenty tea, plenty bacon for another day."

"Mayne," said Mr Gunson, as the sun was getting low, "I think I shall
go down the stream to-night, and see if those men are there. Perhaps,
after all, we are scared about nothing; they may have gone up another of
the valleys instead of this, and found gold in abundance--who knows?
But I must end this suspense some--"

He started, for I was pointing down stream at something moving.

"Is that a deer?" I whispered; and before he could answer a voice
cried--

"Come on, lads, it's more open up here, and it looks a likely spot."

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

GUNSON'S DECISION.

"Sit fast," said Gunson, "both of you. Don't make any sign, and leave
me to speak. But mind, if I say `Tent,' run both of you to the tent,
and seize your weapons ready to do what I say."

I gave him a nod, and sat with beating heart watching the moving figure,
which directly after caught sight of us.

"Hullo!" he said; "some one here?" Then turning, "Look sharp, some of
you."

Both Gunson and I had recognised the man as Quong's principal assailant,
and I glanced sharply toward the Chinaman, to catch sight of the soles
of his shoes as he crept rapidly in amongst the trees, a pretty evident
sign that he too had recognised his enemy.

"Nice evening, mate," said the big fellow, advancing, as Gunson sat by
me, coolly filling his pipe. "Ah, I just want a light."

He came closer, looking sharply round, while we could hear the trampling
and breaking of the fir-boughs, as others were evidently close at hand.

Gunson drew a burning stick from the fire, and offered it t