To The West Part 46

Esau was quite right; he had a terribly discoloured eye next morning, and it was the first thing I saw as we both sat up together in the soft light under the great pine, though I was half asleep still. But I had started up on hearing a shrill voice close to me say--

"Bleakfa.s.s all ready."

"Come and bathe your face, Esau," I said; and I led the way down to the water's edge to have a good wash, Gunson and Esau following my example, while when we got back to the fire it was to find that Quong had been making himself quite at home with our stores. For not only had he cut up and cooked some bacon, and made the tea, but he had found the flour-bag; and there, upon a piece of sheet-iron, was a large bread-cake freshly baked in the embers.

Gunson laughed as he saw these preparations, but he said no more till we had partaken of a hearty meal. Then the four Indians came up to be paid, readily taking the dollars promised for the trip, and going back directly to the boat to land the boxes; but Gunson followed them, and they agreed to take them to the front of the biggest shanty about half a mile higher up, waiting till we were ready.

Quong was busy now making his breakfast, and Gunson turned to him.

"Now, my Celestial friend," he said; "we're going to say good-bye to you. Where are you bound for?"

"Up libber, washee gole."

Gunson started.

"What?" he cried.

"Up libber, washee gole."

"Who told you that there was gold there?"

"Melican man come down, show bit gold to Melican man. Big man you chuckee chuckee down in boat."

Gunson looked disturbed, but he made no remark then, and at last I said to him--

"I suppose we shall part company to-day, Mr Gunson?"

"What for? Like your friend there, Esau--tired of me?"

"No," I said; "but we are going on tramp now up to Fort Elk."

"Yes," said Esau, "that's what we're going to do; but I don't quite see what we're to do with our boxes."

"Leave them in charge, as I shall mine, at this settlement," said Gunson. "You'll have just to make a bundle in your blanket that you can carry easily. I shall do the same, and we may as well go on together, and protect one another as we did last night."

He laughed and looked at Esau, who coloured up. "But we are going to Fort Elk," I said.

"So am _I_," said Gunson, coolly; and I saw Esau give quite a start, and look at me with a countenance full of dismay.

Gunson saw it, and went on quietly--

"I did not mean to go on there, only up this river for some distance, and then off here or there toward the sources of one or other of the streams that run into it from the mountains; but as I have run up against you two, why we may as well go on together; it will give me a chance to knock you both on the head, and then come back here, and get your chests, as well as the money you have in your belts under your clothes."

I stared at him in a horrified way for a moment, and then, as I seemed to understand him, I burst out laughing.

"Nonsense!" I said.

"Oh no. That's the idea of me your companion here has taken."

"Never said nothing of the sort," cried Esau, defiantly, and with his face scarlet.

"Your face says you thought so, my lad."

"Well, a chap can think what he likes, can't he?"

"No, boy," said Gunson, and his one eye seemed to blaze; "not of a man who has done nothing but kindness for you ever since we met, even if it was in a rough way."

"How was I to know you didn't mean artful, and it was all a trick?" said Esau sourly.

"Ah, how indeed?"

"Everybody out here's been trying to get the better of us, and rob us.

I couldn't tell you wasn't one of 'em."

"Why, you ill-conditioned cub!" cried Gunson, angrily, "you make me feel as if I should like to thrash you till you could not stand."

"Better not try it," grumbled Esau; "you go your way, and let us go ours. We told you all about ourselves, and where we were going; but you've done nothing but shut yourself up, and look as if you were after no good."

"Esau!" I cried angrily; "it isn't fair. Mr Gunson has always been the best of friends to us, and given us good advice."

"Ah, you always did take his part. I ain't going to make friends with strangers."

"Mr Gunson isn't a stranger. We've known him nearly six months. If you don't trust him, I do."

I held out my hand to him as I spoke, and he brought his down in it heavily, giving me such a grip that I had hard work not to wince.

"Thank you, my lad," he said, cheerily. "Then you're going to pitch me over?" said Esau, surlily.

"I'm going to kick you if you go on in this stupid, suspicious way.

Don't take any notice of him, Mr Gunson."

"I do not intend to."

"Oh, come, we can't go on like that," cried Esau quickly. "I don't want to be bad friends. I don't want to think you mean to rob us. I don't think--I don't--"

Esau stopped short, shuffled about from one leg to the other, faltered again in his speech as he tried to say something which would not come, and then in a sharp, short, decisive manner, cried--

"Beg your pardon, Mr Gunson. Couldn't help thinking what I did."

"That will do," said Gunson, holding out his hand, which was eagerly seized by Esau. "I know you couldn't help it, my lad. Mine is not a face to invite confidence. I'm an ill-looking dog, and I bite hard sometimes; but I never bite my friends, and they are very few. Look here, Mayne Gordon," he continued, after glancing in Quong's direction to see if he was within hearing, "I am going up this river on such a mission as needs silence, and you have to keep silence too. First of all, what do you suppose I am?"

I shook my head.

"Emigrant," said Esau.

"No; I am a prospector."

"I know," cried Esau, eagerly. "I've copied lots of 'em for prospectors--prospectuses. You get up companies?"