To The West Part 86

"He would not stir to help, I am sure. Mr Raydon does not want Gunson there, and he would be glad if he was driven away."

"Think old Gunson knows of those chaps coming?"

"I don't know. I should think not."

"Let's go and see."

"Yes?"

"And if he don't know, tell him."

"Yes; that is what I should like to do," I said. "We ought to warn him."

"Course we ought. He helped us."

"But how can we manage it?"

"Go. We know the way."

I stood for a few moments thinking, and at last made up my mind.

"You will go with me, Esau?" I said.

"Yes; soon as it's dark."

"They wouldn't let us go now?" I said, dubiously.

"You try," said Esau, with a laugh. "Why, if old Raydon thought we were going to try and get out, he'd lock us up."

"Don't let's stand here," I said, in a husky voice, for the excitement was increasing. "Let's go back to the quarters and talk there."

"Can't. Mother's in there, and we shouldn't be able to say a word."

"Then as soon as it's dark we'll climb over, and make straight for the mining camp."

"That's so," said Esau; and we waited patiently for the coming on of night.

As soon as it was decided, that which had seemed to me so very easy began to show itself in quite another light, and difficulties sprang up one after the other of which I had not taken thought before.

First of all I learned that a strict watch was to be kept at night, and in consequence it would be next to impossible to get over the palisade without being heard or seen.

Next, when we had escaped--I inadvertently used that word, for it was like running away, though I meant to return--there would be the difficulty of hitting the right valley in the darkness. Then, if we found the valley, how were we to find out the place where Gunson had made his camp? and above all, how were we to pa.s.s the camp or resting-place of the gang of men who had been to the Fort that day? It was pretty certain that one of their number would be on guard.

"Yes, and pop at us," said Esau, when I told him of this difficulty.

"Never mind; he couldn't hit us in the dark. See, too, if old Gunson doesn't shoot at us if we go disturbing him in the night."

"He would not fire at us," I said, contemptuously.

"Oh, we are clever!" cried Esau. "How's he going to know it's us?"

"Well, we must risk it," I said.

"Oh, yes, we'll risk it. Way is to crawl up; then if they fire, they're sure to miss."

That starting-time seemed as if it would never come. I had my evening meal with Mr Raydon and Mr Dempster, Esau having his with his mother at the Greys', but I hardly ate anything, for in spite of Mrs John's pleasant smiles and words, the constraint seemed to have increased, and I felt, unjustly enough perhaps, as if my presence was only tolerated on account of my friends.

I got away as soon as I could, and as I waited for Esau to come, I began now to think that I was not doing right. But I drove the thoughts away in a reckless fas.h.i.+on. Esau would laugh at me, I thought, and, full of determination now, I was glad when he came.

"Well," he said; "mean to go?"

"Mean to go? Of course!"

"'Cause they're going to be on the look-out pretty sharp, so Grey says, and they've got orders to fire at any one strange."

"To fire?" I said, feeling rather startled.

"Yes; so if we get fired at when we go, and fired at when we get there, it's bound to be a lively sort of a time."

I was silent.

"Well, what do you think of it now?" said Esau, as I did not speak.

"Going?"

"Do you want to hang back, Esau?" I said, huskily.

"No; I'll stick to you, o' course."

"Then we'll go as soon as we can."

"I thought you'd say so," he said. "You always was so fond of old Gunson."

"Then you don't want to go?"

"Course I don't, now I've got mother here, safe. But if you're going, I'm going, so how soon?"

It was already dark, and feeling if I waited much longer the hesitation I suffered from might increase, I said excitedly--

"Now."

"All right then; let's get a little way further from the corner, make straight for that look-out place, where Grey watched the chaps going, and get over there."

"Yes," I said, thoughtfully; "we can get on the top of the big paling and drop down from there. But I say, Esau," I whispered, "how are we to climb back?"

"Dunno. Let's do one job first," he whispered back, philosophically.

"Now then, are you ready?"

"Yes," I said, desperately.

"Then down on your hands and knees, and let's creep like dogs. They will not see us then."