.

"Fool! I warned you," said Mr Raydon, hoarsely. "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, hoarsely; and I could see that he
was ghastly pale. "He's nobody. 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