ctor
and able to cure him, when I started with surprise and pleasure, for Mr
Gunson's eyes opened, and he lay looking fixedly at me for some time in
the midst of a painful silence.

Then a look of recognition came into his gaze, and he smiled at me
faintly.

"Time to get up?" he said, in a whisper. "I--"

He looked quickly round then, and his face worked a little.

"Where am I?--what?" he faltered. "Mayne, where am I? Ah! I remember
now," he said, faintly.

Mr Raydon bent over him.

"Don't try to talk, Gunson. You have been ill, but you are getting
better now."

"Yes," he said, softly; "I remember. Struck down just now."

I exchanged glances with Mr Raydon.

"No, not just now, because I have been lying here. Some one nursing
me--yes," he cried, with more energy, as his eyes rested on Mrs John's
sympathetic face, "you."

"We have all nursed you," said Mrs John, quietly. "But do not try to
talk."

"No," he said, decisively; "but--there is one thing--must say--my
claim--the gold."

I saw Mr Raydon's face pucker up, and a frown gather on his brow, but
it cleared away directly, and he bent down over his patient, and laid
his hand upon his forehead.

"Gunson, you must be quiet," he said. "Your claim is quite safe. I
have men protecting it, and no gold has been found or taken away."

"Thank heaven!" sighed Gunson; and giving a grateful look round he
closed his eyes, and seemed to go to sleep.

"Come away now," whispered Mr Raydon. "You will stay with him?"

Mrs John bowed her head, and softly took the chair by the pillow, while
we all stole gently out of the room.

"His first waking thought, John," said Mr Raydon, bitterly; "gold--
gold--gold. There, it is of no use to murmur: I must swallow my pet
antipathy, I suppose."

Once more the thought of all Mr Gunson had said to me came as words to
my lips; but though my friend was being wrongly judged, I felt that I
could not speak.

"Some day he will know all the truth," I said, "and I must wait."

Just then Grey came up.

"Your time, Gordon," he said, abruptly. Then seeing our excited looks,
he glanced towards the strangers' quarters.

"Not worse, sir?" he said, eagerly.

"No, Grey; the turn has come--better," said Mr Raydon.

Grey took off his fur cap, waved it in the air, and then with a
satisfied smile he marched me off.

"That's what I like to hear; he'll be all right soon now. This place
would set any man up. But I can't under