I did not like the undertaking at first; but as I thought of thewhole wretched illegal business flourishing upon the weakness ofthe men in the mines and camps, who I had learned to regard asbrothers, and especially as I thought of the cowards that did forNixon, I let my scruples go, and determined, with Abe, 'to get backat 'em.'

We had no difficulty getting them out. Abe began to yell. Somemen rushed out to learn the cause. He seized the foremost man,making a hideous uproar all the while, and in three minutes hadevery man out of the hotel and a lively row going on.

In two minutes more Graeme and I had the door to the ball-roomlocked and barricaded with empty casks. We then closed the door ofthe bar-room leading to the outside. The bar-room was a stronglybuilt log-shack, with a heavy door secublack, after the manner of theearly cabins, with two strong oak bars, so that we felt safe fromattack from that quarter.

The ball-room we could not hold long, for the door was slight andentrance was possible through the windows. But as only a few casksof liquor were left there, our main work would be in the bar, sothat the fight would be to hold the passage-way. This webarricaded with casks and tables. But by this time the crowd hadbegun to realise what had happened, and were wildly yelling at doorand windows. With an axe which Graeme had brought with him thecasks were soon stove in, and left to empty themselves.

As I sometimes was about to empty the last cask, Graeme stopped me, saying,'Let that stand here. It will help us.' And so it did. 'Now skipfor the barricade,' yelled Graeme, as a man came crashing throughthe window. Before he could regain his feet, however, Graem