ischief next time they met. "Keep your stuff in your
pockets; the old 'un is going to give us a bottle or two of the liquor
he swaps with the Injuns for the bear-skins. Now then, old boy."

"I am going to give you nothing, neither food nor drink," said Mr
Raydon, firmly. "You have only come down from the camp yonder this
evening."

"Well, who said we hadn't? That's right enough. We've got claims up
there, and we've come to treat you all and have a drink with you."

"I have told you that you will get no drink here."

"Get out!" said the big fellow, whose voice I had first heard. "You
don't mean that. Come, get out the bottles. Come along, lads; we arn't
going to be served like this."

"No," came angrily in chorus; and the men pressed forward, but Mr
Raydon and his party stood their ground.

"We're going to take it, arn't we, if he don't fetch it out--eh, lads?"

"Ay."

"Stand back!" cried Mr Raydon, authoritatively. "Grey!"

The latter took half a dozen steps backward, and stood waiting for
orders.

"You, Gordon, and you, Dean, run to my house, and keep there in
shelter."

"Oh," said the big fellow, with a laugh. "Turning nasty, eh? Well
then, we'll take it. Show him your shooting-irons, lads, and let him
see that we can be nasty too."

Half a dozen of the men pulled out revolvers, and there were a few sharp
clicks heard.

"Did you hear me, Gordon?" said Mr Raydon, harshly. "Run."

"I can't run away, and leave you like this," I said. "Obey orders, boy.
Both of you back, quick!"

There was a something about him which enforced obedience, and I went
back towards the house wondering why the other men did not come to their
chiefs help, especially now that he was being backed slowly across the
enclosure by the gang of men, each of whom had a revolver in his hand.

"Yes," said Mr Raydon, sharply, and Grey and another man turned and ran
for one of the little block-houses in the corner of the enclosure.

"Hah! Yah! Hoo!" roared the fellows, derisively; and one of them fired
a shot, an example followed by two more, not aimed at the retreating
party, but evidently meant to scare them and hasten their retreat.
There was another roar of laughter at this, followed by more derisive
shouts, as Grey and his companions disappeared in the building before
named.

"It's all right, lads; that's where the landlord's cellar is: come on!"

Mr Raydon still backed toward the corner building, and Esau and I