To The West Part 35

"Punch o' the head, I suppose. Well, hooroar! and I'm glad we've got rid of him at last."

"I don't know," I said. "I should have liked to shake hands first."

"Come, lads, what a while you've been," said Gunson, coming up out of the cabin. "I told that boy to say you were to make haste."

"What boy?" I said.

"The one I sent. Didn't he tell you?"

I shook my head.

"Went to the wrong place, perhaps. Boxes are all right below yonder."

"But how are you going to get ash.o.r.e?" I said, wonderingly.

"Same as you do."

"But--"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I thought I'd come across with you, and see you well on your way. Esau there wouldn't be comfortable without me. I don't know when I became such friends with any one before as I have with him. Well, did you get a good dinner?"

He fixed Esau with his eye, and I saw the perspiration begin to stand in little drops on my companion's forehead, as he stammered out something about "good-dinner."

"But what about yours?" I said.

"Oh, I was afraid of some muddle being made with our luggage, so I stopped and got something to eat here."

"Our luggage?" I said.

"Oh yes," he replied with a curious laugh. "Mine is below too."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

GUNSON FIGHTS MY BATTLE.

Gunson left us then, as if on purpose to give us an opportunity to talk about him; and as soon as he was out of hearing, Esau began by wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the back of first one hand, then with the other.

"It's o' no use," he said in a low, hoa.r.s.e voice; "we shan't get rid o'

that chap till he has had his wicked way of us."

I was puzzled by Gunson's acts, but all the same, I could not help laughing at Esau's comically dismal manner.

"Why, what idea have you got in your head now?" I cried.

"Him!" whispered Esau, in a tragic way. "I don't quite see through it all, but I do through some of it. Look here, Mr Gordon, sir, you mark my words, he's one of that gang we met at 'Frisco, only he plays the respectable game. He'd got me into their hands, and had me robbed, and then he was going to rob you, only I turned up just in time to save you."

"Look here, Esau," I said angrily; "if you talk any more nonsense like that I'll kick you."

"All right: kick away," he said--"I won't mind; but I'm not going to see you served as I was without saying a word."

"What you said was ridiculous."

"It was ridiklus for me to be served as I was, p'r'aps, but never mind; you'll see."

"I tell you what you say is absurd."

"Very well, then, you have a say, and tell me what he means by hanging on to us as he does."

"I cannot explain it, of course. How can I tell what Gunson means? All I know is, that it's better to have a man with us who seems to know something about the country."

"Ah, but does he?" said Esau, with a cunning look. "I don't believe he knows anything about it. He's been cramming us full of stories about dangers and stuff to frighten us. You'll see it won't be half so bad as you say. Hullo! what's the matter?"

For at that moment there arose a curious yelling sound which sent a chill through me.

"We've run down a boat," I said excitedly, "and the people are drowning."

I ran toward the bows of the little panting and snorting steamer, where those on board were gathered in a knot, and just then the skipper shouted an order, the clank of the engine ceased, and I caught sight of a curious-looking canoe that had come out from one of the islands which dotted the channel, and had been paddled across our course.

"Is any one drowned?" I said to Gunson excitedly.

"Drowned? no. Only going to take a pa.s.senger on board."

By this time I was looking over the side at the occupants of the canoe, which was formed of skins stretched over a framework, and was now being paddled up close alongside. Then one of the men in her caught the rope thrown to him, and held on while a little yellow-complexioned boy, as he seemed to me, dressed in a blue cotton pinafore and trousers, and wearing a flat, black skull-cap, made of rolls of some material joined together, suddenly stood up and threw a small bundle on board, after which he scrambled over the side himself, nodding and smiling to all around. The rope was loosened by the man in the boat, the paddle-wheels began to beat the water again, and I watched the canoe as it rapidly fell astern.

"Well, what do you think of the Indians?" said Gunson, coming to where I stood.

"Were those Indians?"

"Yes; three siwashes and a klootchman, as they call themselves--three men and a woman."

I began to regret that I had not taken more notice of them, and seeing how I leaned over to get another glimpse, Gunson continued--

"Oh, you'll meet plenty more. But you see how civilised they are getting, carrying pa.s.sengers aboard. I did not expect to find him here."

"Do you know that boy then in the blue blouse?" I said wonderingly.

"Oh yes, I know him. I used to see a good deal of him right away yonder in the south; and now I see that he is getting naturalised here. Come up from 'Frisco, I suppose."

"But you don't mean that you know that particular boy?"

"Oh no. I was speaking of him as a cla.s.s. He must have an object in coming across here."

Gunson said this in a thoughtful way that I did not understand then; and as he saw that I was watching him curiously, he drew my attention to the mainland, towards which we were gliding.

"There," he said, "you'll soon be able to say goodbye to the sea. It will be canoes and legs for the rest of your journey."

"Legs," I said laughing; "I don't think we could manage a canoe."