rding that claim."

"Yes, sir. Weakens us."

"Yes," said Mr Raydon; "and we must be weakened more. Two of our men
must go to strengthen them at the claim. There must be four there."

"Won't draw them away and give up the claim, sir?"

"No," said Mr Raydon, firmly. "Go back to this Mr Barker, and say
I'll be with him directly."

"Yes, sir," said Grey; and he went out with all the quiet precision of a
soldier.

"Bad news--bad news indeed," said Mr Raydon, half aloud. "More trouble
to lay upon your shoulders, Mayne Gordon. All your fault."

I felt a chill run through me, and I believe a cold hard look must have
come into my face.

"Well, we must make the best of it. Of course you two lads must stop
here."

"If you wish it, sir," I said, "we will go directly."

"I do not wish it, boy," he replied sternly. "Do you wish to leave
those who have been your friends in the lurch now you have dragged all
this trouble to their door?"

"No, sir," I said, as I set my teeth hard, determined to be cool, in
spite of the injustice with which I felt that I was being treated.

"No, of course not. You have some stubborn pluck in you--both of you."

Esau growled in a very low tone, and made his mother look at him in a
startled way, as if she had suddenly awakened to the fact that her son
possessed the nature of a bear's cub.

Mr Raydon took another turn or two up and down the room.

"Mrs Dean," he said, "I can do nothing more for your patient. No
doctor could; time is the only thing. I'll come back as soon as I can.
Meantime my sister will come to you, and you can have either of my men's
wives to assist you in nursing. They are Indians, but well trained in
that way. Do your best."

"Mother always does," growled Esau.

Mr Raydon gave him a sharp look, but Esau did not flinch.

"Look here, you two," said Mr Raydon, after a pause. "I am going to
send two more of my men away, for the fellows in that gang are not going
to beat me. The law-and-order party must and shall prevail. This will
weaken my little garrison, so you two will have to mount rifles, and
take the places of two of my absent men."

"Yes, sir," I said, eagerly. "I'll do my best."

"Thank you. Now, Esau Dean, what do you say?"

"Course I shall do as he does. I'm ready."

"No, no, Esau, my boy. Your feet, your feet," cried Mrs Dean.

"Do be quiet, mother. There you go with the spoon again. Fellow don't
shoot off a rifle with his foot.