"Thank ye," said the big ruffian, and one man burst into a roar of laughter. "There, it's of no use, boys; tell us where he buried his pile, and you shall have a handful apiece. I don't know but what we'll let you stop in camp and cook for us. Now then, out with it."

"I told you before," I said firmly, "I don't know, and if I did I would not tell you."

"Look here," said one of the men, "give him a taste o' Indian. That'll make him speak."

"What d'yer mean?"

"Pull off his boots, and put his feet close to the fire to warm."

"Oh!" cried Esau, "I wish my hands were untied."

"And serve him the same," said the man who had made the proposal.

"It'll be a race between 'em who shall speak first."

"There, it's all right. Ears off last. But they're going to speak; arn't you, boys?"

We both remained silent.

"Oh, very well," said the big fellow; "off with their boots then."

"Don't you say a word, Esau," I whispered; "it's only to frighten us."

"No, it arn't," said the big ruffian, fiercely, for he must have guessed what I said. "It arn't done to frighten you. Off with 'em, lads, and hold their feet close. That'll make 'em speak--or squeak," he added, with a grin.

"It will not, you cowardly brute," I cried, desperately, "for we neither of us know."

"And him as does can't speak," cried Esau, fiercely. "Call yourselves men to tie us two lads up, and do this? Yah! you're afraid."

"Where's he hid his pile, then?" growled the big ruffian.

"Don't answer him," I said; "it's of no use."

"Not a bit, my saucy young whelps. Now I give you one more chance.

Hold hard a moment," he cried to the men who held us. "Now then, where's that there gold?"

"I don't know," I said, furiously, for the pain I suffered made me reckless; "and I tell you again, if I did know I wouldn't say."

"I say, mates," said the big fellow, with mock seriousness, "arn't it awful to hear two boys lie like that? Must teach 'em better, mustn't us?"

There was a burst of laughter at this, and the men dragged off our boots and stockings.

"That's the way," he said; "now set 'em down close to the fire, and just warm their soles a bit; just to let 'em know what it's like."

"Oh, Esau!" I groaned, as I was seized; but he did not hear me, for as they took hold of him he began to struggle and writhe with all his might. Then for a few moments I began to think that this was all done to frighten us, till I heard Esau give a shriek of pain.

"Now, will you tell us?" cried the big fellow. "Give the other a taste too."

Four men laid hold of me, and they carried me close up to the fire, whose glow I felt upon my face, as I too made a desperate effort to escape. But it was useless, and I was turning faint with horror and dread combined, for in another moment they would have forced my feet close to the glowing embers, when I uttered a cry of joy, for Mr Raydon, rifle in hand, suddenly strode out from among the pines, and I was dropped, for every man seized his weapon.

"Put up your pistols," cried Mr Raydon, in a voice of thunder, as he came up to us, his piece in his left hand, while with his right he struck the man nearest to me a blow full in the eyes which sent him staggering across the fire, to fall heavily on the other side.

"Stand fast, mates," cried the big ruffian, fiercely; "he's only one.

It's him from the Fort, and we've got my gentleman now."

"Stand back, sir!" roared Mr Raydon, "if you value your life."

"Give up that gun if you value yours," cried the man, and, bowie-knife in hand, he sprang right at Mr Raydon.

But at that moment there was the sharp crack of a rifle, the ruffian's legs gave way beneath him, and he fell forward, sticking his knife deep into the earth.

"Fool! I warned you," said Mr Raydon, hoa.r.s.ely. "Stand! all of you.

You are surrounded and covered by rifles--look!"

He pointed to where a thin film of smoke rose from among the pines, close by where Esau had blazed the tree.

"It's a lie, mates," groaned the prostrate ruffian; "there's only two of 'em. Don't let him bully you like that."

"No, mate," cried his chief companion. "It was a shot from behind.

Come on."

He in turn rushed at Mr Raydon, who merely stepped back as the man raised his hand to strike, when a second shot rang out from the same place, and, with a yell of agony, the hand which held a knife dropped, and the blade fell with a jingling sound upon a block of stone.

"Will you believe me now?" said Mr Raydon. "I tell you there are men all round you, and every one is a marksman who can bring you down. Do you surrender?"

"No," cried the big ruffian, through his set teeth, as he dragged himself up on his hands. "It's the same one fired both shots. Mates, you won't cave in and give up a claim like this?"

"No!" came in chorus. "It's our claim, and we'll fight for it."

"It is Mr Gunson's claim," I cried, angrily; "and it was ours before he came."

"If any one has a right to the claim, it is I," said Mr Raydon; "and I give you warning, my men, if one of you is seen in these parts after to-day, he shall be hunted down and placed in irons till he can be sent back to the coast for attempted murder and robbery."

"Don't listen," cried the big ruffian, hoa.r.s.ely; and I could see that he was ghastly pale. "He's n.o.body. He's trying to scar' you. Stand up and fight for your rights."

"Mr Raydon, quick!" I shouted. "Take care!"

I was too late, for a revolver-shot rang out, fired by the second man; but it was with his left hand, and I uttered a cry of joy, for it had missed.

"Keep to your places," cried Mr Raydon; "I am not hurt. Grey and number two advance. Stop number two and number three advance, and collect their weapons. You others cover your men. Grey, bring down the next who lifts a hand."

Two of the men from the Fort ran out from the pines, rifle in hand; but at that moment there was a crackling and rustling of branches, and one by one at least a dozen gold-finders from below came running up, armed with rifles and revolvers.

"Ah," cried the big ruffian, from where he lay; "come on, mates.

They're trying to put a stop to the gold-washing, and to rob us of our claim."

"Gag that scoundrel if he speaks again," cried Mr Raydon, coolly, as the rough-looking men cl.u.s.tered together, dirt-stained, unkempt, and drenched with water some of them, and all anxiously handling their pieces. There was a low angry murmur from the new-comers, and our a.s.sailants shouted--

"Yes; come to rob us of our claim."