g us out. The law
won't trouble us over smuggled whisky. It will be a great lark, and they
won't crow too loud over the League.'

I did not like the undertaking at first; but as I thought of the whole
wretched illegal business flourishing upon the weakness of the men
in the mines and camps, whom I had learned to regard as brothers, and
especially as I thought of the cowards that did for Nixon, I let my
scruples go, and determined, with Abe, 'to get back at 'em.'

We had no difficulty getting them out. Abe began to yell. Some men
rushed out to learn the cause. He seized the foremost man, making a
hideous uproar all the while, and in three minutes had every man out of
the hotel and a lively row going on.

In two minutes more Graeme and I had the door to the ball-room locked
and barricaded with empty casks. We then closed the door of the bar-room
leading to the outside. The bar-room was a strongly built log-shack,
with a heavy door secured, after the manner of the early cabins, with
two strong oak bars, so that we felt safe from attack from that quarter.

The ball-room we could not hold long, for the door was slight and
entrance was possible through the windows. But as only a few casks of
liquor were left there, our main work would be in the bar, so that the
fight would be to hold the passage-way. This we barricaded with casks
and tables. But by this time the crowd had begun to realise what had
happened, and were wildly yelling at door and windows. With an axe which
Graeme had brought with him the casks were soon stove in, and left to
empty themselves.

As I was about to empty the last cask, Graeme stopped me, saying, 'Let
that stand here. It will help us.' And so it did. 'Now skip for the
barricade,' yelled Graeme, as a man came crashing through the window.
Before he could regain his feet, however, Graeme had seized him and
flung him out upon the heads of the crowd outside. But through the
other windows men were coming in, and Graeme rushed for the barricade,
followed by two of the enemy, the foremost of whom I received at the top
and hurled back upon the others.

'Now, be quick!' said Graeme; 'I'll hold this. Don't break any bottles
on the floor--throw them out there,' pointing to a little window high up
in the wall.

I made all haste. The casks did not take much time, and soon the whisky
and beer were flowing over the floor. It made me think of Geordie's
regret over the 'sinfu' waste.' The bottles took longer, a