m ready to dare everything, but I have
you two boys with me, and I have no right to risk your injury, perhaps
your lives. What do you think I ought to do?"

"Stand your ground," I said, firmly. "I would."

I said this, for I had a lively recollection of the cowardice these men
had displayed, both at the Fort and here, as soon as they had been
brought face to face with the rifles.

Gunson grasped my hand and pressed it hard.

"Thank you, my lad," he said, in a low deep whisper. "I half expected
to hear you say this, but my conscience is hard at work with me as to
whether I am justified in tying your fate up with that of such an
unlucky adventurer as I am."

"I am only an adventurer too," I said; "and it is not such very bad luck
to have found all this gold."

He was silent for a few minutes, as if he were thinking deeply, but at
last he spoke.

"I've been weighing it all in the balance, Mayne," he said, "and God
forgive me if I am going wrong, for I cannot help myself. The gold is
very heavy in the scale, and bears down the beam. I cannot, gambler
though I may be, give up now. Look here, Mayne, my lad, here is my
decision. I am going to try and get a couple of good fellows from down
below to come in as partners. So as soon as it is light you had better
get back to the Fort, explain your position, and I know Mr Raydon to be
so straightforward and just a man, that he will forgive you."

"There is nothing to forgive," I said, firmly; "and I'd sooner die than
go back now."

"Nonsense! heroics, boy."

"It is not," I said. "Mr Gunson, would two strange men, about whom you
know nothing, be more true to you than Esau Dean and I would?"

"No; I am sure they would not," he cried eagerly. "Then I shall stay
with you, and whatever I do Esau will do. He will never leave me.
Besides, he is mad to get gold too. We are only boys, but those men are
afraid of the rifles, and even if they mastered us, they would not dare
to kill us."

"No, my lad, they would not," cried Mr Gunson. "Then you shall stay."

He turned toward me, and grasped my hand. "And look here, Mayne, I have
for years now been the rough-looking fellow you met in the steerage of
the ship; but I thank heaven there is still a little of the gentleman
left, and you shall not find me unworthy of the trust you place in--Ah!"

I started back, for there was the sound of a heavy blow, and Mr Gunson
fell forward upon his face, while two strong hands sei