en Mr Gunson's voice rang out--

"Tent!"

We sprang across the fire, whose thin smoke half hid us as we rushed in
among the trees, and seized our weapons.

"Scared 'em," roared the big fellow; and there was a chorus of laughter
from his companions, who gathered about the fire, kicking it together to
make a blaze, and get lights for their pipes.

We were in darkness, and they were in full light, the flames flashing
up, and giving a strangely picturesque aspect to the group.

"Soon jobbed that job," said the big fellow. "How they ran! wonder
whether they got any dust."

"You ought to have searched 'em," said the second. "I know they had, or
they wouldn't have run."

"_Cock_," whispered Gunson, as there was a momentary pause; and the men
all started, and their hands went to their hips for their pistols, as
the ominous clicking of our pieces was heard.

"Bail up!" roared Gunson, his voice pealing out of the darkness; "you
are covered by rifles, and the man who moves dies."

There was an angry growl, and the men threw up their hands, one of them
holding a pistol.

"Put that iron away," roared Gunson; and the man slowly replaced it, and
then raised his hands like his fellows.

"Now go back the way you came, or strike up further," said Gunson,
firmly. "Show your faces here again, and it is at your own risk, for I
shoot at sight. Off!"

There was a low muttering growl at this, and the men walked slowly away
in the direction by which they had come, while we sat listening till
there was not a sound.

"Gone," I said, with the painful beating of my heart calming down.

"Yes, my lad, gone," said Gunson; "and we shall have to follow their
example. It is a horrible shame, but till we have people sent up by the
governor, those scoundrels take the law in their own hands."

"But they will not dare to come back."

"I don't know. But I shall not dare to try and hold the place against
such a gang."

"But you weren't afraid of 'em?" said Esau.

"Indeed, but I was," said Gunson, with a bitter laugh, "horribly afraid.
I should have fought to the end though, all the same, and so would
you."

"Dunno," said Esau; "but I was going to try and hit one, for I thought
it a pity to waste a shot, and I can hit without killing; can't I, Mayne
Gordon?"

"Don't talk about it," I said, with a shudder.

"Why not? Wish we could wound all that lot like I wounded you, and that
they would be as bad for six months."

"Don't ta