o the man,
who took it, and said quietly, as he lit his own pipe--

"Camping here for the night, mate?"

"Yes: camping here."

"Going on in the morning?"

"No; this is my claim."

The man dropped the burning stick, and stared at Gunson.

"What?" he said. "Oh no, that won't do. Me and my mates have chosen
this patch, so you'll have to go higher up or lower down; haven't we,
lads?" he continued, as one by one the rest of the gang came up.

"Eh? all right, yes, whatever it is," said one of them, whom I
recognised as the second of Quong's assailants.

"There, you see," continued the first man; "it's all right, so you'll
have to budge."

"No," said Gunson, quietly; "this is my claim. I've been here some days
now, and here I stay."

"Oh, we'll see about that," said the fellow, in a bullying tone. "It's
the place for us, so no nonsense. Been here some days, have you?"

"Yes, some days now, my lad; and the law gives me a prior right."

"Ah, but there arn't no law up here yet. Look here," he cried, suddenly
seizing Gunson, and forcing him back. "What's the pay dirt worth? How
much gold have you got? How--Why, hallo! it's you, is it? Here, old
lad," he cried to the other speaker, "it's our wrastling friend. I told
you we should run up agen each other again, and--why of course--here's
the boy too. This is quite jolly."

"Keep your hands off," said Gunson, shaking himself free, and springing
up, an example we followed. "This part of the country's wide enough, so
go your way. I tell you again, this claim is mine. What I make is my
business, so go."

"Hear all this?" said the big fellow, quickly. "Hear this, mates? We
arn't inside a fence now, with a lot o' riflemen ready, so just speak
up, some of you. Isn't this the spot we mean to have--isn't this the
claim Tom Dunn come up and picked?"

"Yes, yes," came in chorus, as the men closed up round us in the
gathering gloom; while I felt sick with apprehension, and stood ready to
spring away as soon as Mr Gunson gave the order to go, while,
fortunately for us, the way was open, being beyond the fire.

"You hear, mate," cried the big fellow, fiercely, "so no more words.
You and your boys can go, and think yourselves lucky we don't slit your
ears. Do you hear?"

"Yes," said Gunson, smiling.

"There's plenty of other places, so be off. Where's your traps? Now
then, cut!"

He took a step forward, and his companions seemed about to rush at us,
wh