There was a low murmuring from before us, and a bit of a rush, as of men collecting together, and then a voice roared from among the trees—
“Surrender there, or we will shoot you down to a man.”
“Do you hear?” cried Mr Raydon. “Surrender! The game’s up, you scoundrels.”
“Mr Raydon,” I whispered, excitedly, for I had caught sight of the advancing party, “don’t fire; it’s Mr Barker and his men.”
“What? Hi! Barker! Is that you?”
“Ay—ay!” came back. “That you, Mr Raydon?”
“Yes, man, yes; where are the enemy?”
“Why, I thought you was them,” cried Barker, advancing.
“We thought the same,” said Mr Raydon, as he too stepped forward, and we all stood face to face. “Then they were not here. Or have you passed them?”
“I don’t think—” began Barker.