ometimes by being so easy and
yielding."

"Yes, yes," said Mr John; "but I'm going to turn over a new leaf, and
be stern and energetic as you are."

Mrs John crossed to him and took his hand.

"No," she said quietly, "you are going to turn over no new leaves, dear.
You are best as you always have been. Daniel is wrong; we cannot have
all men of the same mould."

"Do you hear all this, Mayne Gordon?" said Mr Raydon, laughingly; and
before I could reply, he said quickly, "Go on now, and take your turn as
sentry; I want to think out my plans. Don't talk about it to the men,
but something must be done. A combination must be made to capture these
men again, for we shall have no peace or safety till they are cleared
away."

"What are you thinking of doing?" said Mrs John, taking alarm at his
words.

"Trying to end the matter peaceably, and without bloodshed."

Mrs John uttered a sigh of relief, and I went out wondering what would
be done, and thinking that if I had my way, I should collect all the
miners, join forces, and then send one party to the head of the little
vale, and attempt to advance with the others from the bottom by the
river, little thinking what difficulties there would be in such a plan.

As soon as I was outside Mr Raydon's office, I met Grey, who gave me a
grim, dry look.

"Know how many men you shot last night?" he said.

I looked at him in horror.

"Don't--don't say--" I faltered.

"All right!" he replied; "but if you're going to carry a rifle, and you
use it, you must expect to knock some of the enemy over. There, I was
only joking you, soldier. I don't think anybody was even scratched by a
ball. If you're going to stop with us, I shall have to make a marksman
of you, so that you can do as I do--give a man a lesson."

"In shooting?" I said.

He laughed.

"Yes, but you don't understand me. I mean give him such a lesson as
will make him behave better. 'Tisn't pleasant, when you have grown cool
after a fight, to think you have dangerously wounded or killed a man;
not even if he tried to kill you. I felt that years ago, and I
practised up, so that I can hit a man with a rifle just where I like--
that is nearly always."

"It was you who fired at those two wretches then?" I said eagerly.

"Of course it was, and I hit one in the leg, and the other in the hand.
Did nearly as well as killing 'em, eh?"

"Yes," I said, laughing. "I must practise too."

"You shall, and I hope yo