“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.