Of course there was so far a pretext for his caution in the fact that there were scoundrels in those regions, who sometimes banded together and attacked people who were supposed to have gold-dust about them in large quantities, but as such assaults were not common, and as every one was equally liable to them, there seemed no sufficient ground for Bevans excessive care in the selection of his fortress.
On reaching it, Tom found its owner cutting up some firewood near his plank-bridge.
Hallo, Brixton! he cried, looking up in some surprise as the young man advanced; you seem to have bin in the wars. What have e been fightin wi, lad?
With a bear, Paul Bevan, replied Tom, sitting down on a log, with a long-drawn sigh.
Youre used up, lad, an want rest; mayhap you want grub also. Anyhow you look awful bad. No wounds, I hope, or bones broken, eh?
No, nothing but a broken heart, replied Tom with a faint attempt to smile.
Why, thats a queer bit o you for a bar to break. If you had said it was a girl that broke it, now, I could have
Where is Betty? interrupted the youth, quickly, with an anxious expression.
In the hut, lookin arter the grub. Youll come in an have some, of course. But Im coorious to hear about that bar. Was it far from here you met him?
Ay, just a short way this side o Pine Tree Diggings.
Pine Tree Diggins! repeated Paul in surprise. Why, then, didnt you go back to Pine Tree Diggins to wash yourself an rest, instead o comin all the way here?
Becausebecause, Paul Bevan, said Tom with sudden earnestness, as he gazed on the others face, because Im a thief!
You might be worse, replied Bevan, while a peculiarly significant smile played for a moment on his rugged features.
What do you mean? exclaimed Tom, in amazement.
Why, you might have bin a murderer, you know, replied Bevan, with a nod.
The youth was so utterly disgusted with this cool, indifferent way of regarding the matter, that he almost regretted having spoken. He had been condemning himself so severely during the latter part of his journey, and the meanness of his conduct as well as its wickedness had been growing so dark in colour, that Bevans unexpected levity took him aback, and for a few seconds he could not speak.
Listen, he said at last, seizing his friend by the arm and looking earnestly into his eyes. Listen, and I will tell you all about it.
The man became grave as Tom went on with his narrative.
Yes, its a bad business, he said, at its conclusion, an uncommon bad business. Got a very ugly look about it.
You are right, Paul, said Tom, bowing his head, while a flush of shame covered his face. No one, I think, can be more fully convinced of the meannessthe sinof my conduct than I am now
Oh! as to that, returned Bevan, with another of his peculiar smiles, I didnt exactly mean that. You were tempted, you know, pretty bad. Besides, Bully Gashford is a big rascal, an richly deserves what he got. No, it wasnt that I meantbut its a bad look-out for you, lad, if they nab you. I knows the temper o them Pine Tree men, an theyre in such a wax just now that theyll string you up, as sure as fate, if they catch you.
Again Tom was silent, for the lightness with which Bevan regarded his act of theft only had the effect of making him condemn himself the more.
But I say, Brixton, resumed Bevan, with an altered expression, not a word of all this to Betty. You havent much chance with her as it is, although I do my best to back you up; but if she came to know of this affair, youd not have the ghost of a chance at allfor you know the gal is religious, mores the pity, though I will say it, shes a good obedient gal, in spite of her religion, an a fectionate darter to me. But shed never marry a thief, you know. You couldnt well expect her to.
The dislike with which Tom Brixton regarded his companion deepened into loathing as he spoke, and he felt it difficult to curb his desire to fell the man to the ground, but the thought that he was Bettys father soon swallowed up all other thoughts and feelings. He resolved in his own mind that, come of it what might, he would certainly tell all the facts to the girl, and then formally give her up, for he agreed with Bevan at least on one point, namely, that he could not expect a good religious girl to marry a thief!
But you forget, Paul, he said, after a few moments thought, that Betty is sure to hear about this affair the first time you have a visitor from Pine Tree Diggings.
Thats true, lad, I did forget that. But you know you can stoutly deny that it was you who did it. Say there was some mistake, and git up some cock-an-a-bull story to confuse her. Anyhow, say nothing about it just now.
Tom was still meditating what he should say in reply to this, when Betty herself appeared, calling her father to dinner.
Now, mind, not a word about the robbery, he whispered as he rose, and well make as much as we can of the bar.
Yes, not a word about it, thought Tom, till Betty and I are alone, and thena clean breast and good-bye to her, for ever!
During dinner the girl manifested more than usual sympathy with Tom Brixton. She saw that he was almost worn out with fatigue, and listened with intense interest to her fathers embellished narrative of the encounter with the bar, which narrative Tom was forced to interrupt and correct several times, in the course of its delivery. But this sympathy did not throw her off her guard. Remembering past visits, she took special care that Tom should have no opportunity of being alone with her.
Now, you must be off to rest, said Paul Bevan, the moment his visitor laid down his knife and fork, for, let me tell you, I may want your help before night. Ive got an enemy, Tom, an enemy who has sworn to be the death o me, and who will be the death o me, I feel sure o that in the long-run. However, Ill keep him off as long as I can. Hed have been under the sod long afore now, ladifif it hadnt bin for my Betty. Shes a queer girl is Betty, and shes made a queer man of her old father.
But who is this enemy, and whenwhat? explain yourself.
Well, Ive no time to explain either when or what just now, and you have no time to waste. Only I have had a hint from a friend, early this morning, that my enemy has discovered my whereabouts, and is following me up. But Im ready for him, and right glad to have your stout arm to helpthough you couldnt fight a babby just now. Lie down, I say, an Ill call you when youre wanted.
Ceasing to press the matter, Tom entered a small room, in one corner of which a narrow bed, or bunk, was fixed. Flinging himself on this, he was fast asleep in less than two minutes. Kind natures sweet restorer held him so fast, that for three hours he lay precisely as he fell, without the slightest motion, save the slow and regular heaving of his broad chest.
At the end of that time he was rudely shaken by a strong hand. The guilty are always easily startled. Springing from his couch he had seized Bevan by the throat before he was quite awake.
Hist! man, not quite so fast gasped his host shaking him off. Come, theyve turned up sooner than I expected.
Whatwho? said Brixton, looking round.
My enemy, of coorse, an a gang of redskins to help him. They expect to catch us asleep, but theyll find out their mistake soon enough. That lad there brought me the news, and, you see, he an Betty are getting things ready.
Hist! man, not quite so fast gasped his host shaking him off. Come, theyve turned up sooner than I expected.
Whatwho? said Brixton, looking round.
My enemy, of coorse, an a gang of redskins to help him. They expect to catch us asleep, but theyll find out their mistake soon enough. That lad there brought me the news, and, you see, he an Betty are getting things ready.
Tom glanced through the slightly opened doorway, as he tightened his belt, and saw Betty and a boy of about fourteen years of age standing at a table, busily engaged loading several old-fashioned horse-pistols with buckshot.
Whos the boy? asked Tom.
They call him Tolly. I saved the little chap once from a grizzly bar, an hes a grateful feller, you seehas run a long way to give me warnin in time. Come, heres a shot-gun for you, charged wi slugs. Im not allowed to use ball, you must know, cause Betty thinks that balls kill an slugs only wound! I humour the little gal, you see, for shes a good darter to me. Weve both on us bin lookin forward to this day, for we knowed it must come sooner or later, an I made her a promise that, when it did come, Id only defend the hut wi slugs. But slugs aint bad shots at a close range, when aimed low.
The man gave a sly chuckle and a huge wink as he said this, and entered the large room of the hut.
Betty was very pale and silent. She did not even look up from the pistol she was loading when Tom entered. The boy Tolly, however, looked at his tall, strong figure with evident satisfaction.
Ha! he exclaimed, ramming down a charge of slugs with great energy; well be able to make a good fight without your services, Betty. Wont we, old man?
The pertly-put question was addressed to Paul Bevan, between whom and the boy there was evidently strong affection.
Yes, Tolly, replied Bevan, with a pleasant nod, three men are quite enough for the defence of this here castle.
But, I say, old man, continued the boy, shaking a powder-horn before his face, the powders all done. Wherell I git more?
A look of anxiety flitted across Bevans face.
Its in the magazine. I got a fresh keg last week, an thought it safest to put it there till requiredan havent I gone an forgot to fetch it in!
Well, that dont need to trouble you, returned the boy, just show me the magazine, an Ill go an fetch it in!
The magazines over the bridge, said Bevan. I dug it there for safety. Come, Tom, the kegs too heavy for the boy. I must fetch it myself, and you must guard the bridge while I do it.
He went out quickly as he spoke, followed by Tom and Tolly.
It was a bright moonlight night, and the forks of the little stream glittered like two lines of silver, at the bottom of their rugged bed on either side of the hut. The plank-bridge had been drawn up on the bank. With the aid of his two allies Bevan quickly thrust it over the gulf, and, without a moments hesitation, sprang across. While Tom stood at the inner end, ready with a double-barrelled gun to cover his friends retreat if necessary, he saw Bevan lift a trap-door not thirty yards distant and disappear. A few seconds, and he re-appeared with a keg on his shoulder.
All remained perfectly quiet in the dark woods around. The babbling rivulet alone broke the silence of the night. Bevan seemed to glide over the ground, he trod so softly.
Theres another, he whispered, placing the keg at Toms feet, and springing back towards the magazine. Again he disappeared, and, as before, re-issued from the hole with the second keg on his shoulder. Suddenly a phantom seemed to glide from the bushes, and fell him to the earth. He dropped without even a cry, and so swift was the act that his friends had not time to move a finger to prevent it. Tom, however, discharged both barrels of his gun at the spot where the phantom seemed to disappear, and Tolly Trevor discharged a horse pistol in the same direction. Instantly a rattling volley was fired from the woods, and balls whistled all round the defenders of the hut.
Most men in the circumstances would have sought shelter, but Tom Brixtons spirit was of that utterly reckless character that refuses to count the cost before action. Bettys father lay helpless on the ground in the power of his enemies! That was enough for Tom. He leaped across the bridge, seized the fallen man, threw him on his shoulder, and had almost regained the bridge, when three painted Indians uttered a hideous war-whoop and sprang after him.
Fortunately, having just emptied their guns, they could not prevent the fugitive from crossing the bridge, but they reached it before there was time to draw in the plank, and were about to follow, when Tolly Trevor planted himself in front of them with a double-barrelled horse-pistol in each band.
We dont want you here, youred-facedbaboons! he cried, pausing between each of the last three words to discharge a shot and emphasising the last word with one of the pistols, which he hurled with such precision that it took full effect on the bridge of the nearest red mans nose. All three fell, but rose again with a united screech and fled back to the bushes.
A few moments more and the bridge was drawn back, and Paul Bevan was borne into the hut, amid a scattering fire from the assailants, which, however, did no damage.
To the surprise and consternation of Tolly, who entered first, Betty was found sitting on a chair with blood trickling from her left arm. A ball entering through the window had grazed her, and she sank down, partly from the shock, coupled with alarm. She recovered, however, on seeing her father carried in, sprang up, and ran to him.
Only stunned, Betty, said Tom; will be all right soon, but we must rouse him, for the scoundrels will be upon us in a minute. Whatwhats thiswounded?
Only a scratch. Dont mind me. Father! dear fatherrouse up! They will be hereoh! rouse up, dear father!
But Betty shook him in vain.
Out o the way, I know how to stir him up, said Tolly, coming forward with a pail of water and sending the contents violently into his friends facethus drenching him from head to foot.
The result was that Paul Bevan sneezed, and, sitting up, looked astonished.
Ha! I thought that ud fetch you, said the boy, with a grin. Come, youd better look alive if you dont want to lose yer scalp.
Ho! ho! exclaimed Bevan, rising with a sudden look of intelligence and staggering to the door, here, give me the old sword, Betty, and the blunderbuss. Now then.
He went out at the door, and Tom Brixton was following, when the girl stopped him.
Oh! Mr Brixton, she said, do not kill any one, if you can help it.
I wont if I can help it. But listen, Betty, said the youth, hurriedly seizing the girls hand. I have tried hard to speak with you alone to-day, to tell you that I am guilty, and to say good-bye for ever.
Guilty! what do you mean? she exclaimed in bewildered surprise.
No time to explain. I may be shot, you know, or taken prisoner, though the latters not likely. In any case remember that I confess myself guilty! God bless you, dear, dear girl.
Without waiting for a reply, he ran to a hollow on the top of the mound where his friend and Tolly were already ensconced, and whence they could see every part of the clearing around the little fortress.