"

I saw Mr Raydon bite his lips to repress a smile.

"I had forgotten your burnt feet. Do they feel very bad?"

"Oh, pretty tidy, sir, but I don't mind. I should like to have a pop at
one of them as held me to that fire."

"Naturally," said Mr Raydon.

"But I'm afraid I can't do much marching."

"You will be posted in one of the block-houses."

"That'll do," cried Esau. "Come along, Mayne Gordon."

"You have never used a rifle."

"Why, Mr Gunson there showed us all about it. Don't you be afraid;
I'll try."

"Oh, Esau!" cried Mrs Dean.

"And mother shall nurse me when I'm wounded."

"Oh, my boy--my boy!"

"Silence, sir! Mrs Dean, he is only tormenting you. It is not likely
that he will be hurt, but out here in the wilderness we do sometimes
have to fight to protect the women and children. There, do not be
uneasy; I see your son will do you credit."

Esau gave a gulp, and turned red in the face, while I suffered a twinge
of jealousy on finding that the lad, whom I blamed as the cause of all
the trouble, should be spoken to in this way while I was treated with a
coldness that, in my sensitive state, seemed to freeze all the better
nature within me.

"A pretty mess this, sir," said Barker, as we joined him out in the
enclosure. "Those stupid donkeys have let loose a nice gang. They'll
be as savage as possible against everybody, and be coming down upon us
just when we don't expect it."

"But have they arms and ammunition?"

"Plenty, sir. They stripped our men, and if we don't look out they'll
strip us. Why, the little valley will never be safe again while they
are about."

"No," said Mr Raydon. "It's a bad look-out, but we must take every
precaution. You may rely on my helping you, as I promised, and if I am
the unlucky one attacked first, I look for help from you."

"And you shall have it, sir. I answer for the lads up the valley. What
do you propose doing first?"

"Nothing," said Mr Raydon.

The man stared at him aghast, and Mr Raydon smiled.

"But--but hadn't we better get a party together, and hunt them down,
sir?"

"An excellent plan," said Mr Raydon, "but impossible in this wild
country. They would lead us a terrible dance, weary us out, and perhaps
take advantage of our absence to plunder our places. The better way
will be to keep a sharp look-out, and punish them if they attack us."

"But if they take us by surprise, sir?"

"They must not," said Mr Raydon, quietly.