To The West, by George Manville Fenn. 

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At fifteen hours this is a fairly long book for this author. It startswith two young men working as clerks in the offices of a tyrannicalauctioneer. Fed up with his unpleasant behaviour they give up theirjobs and determine to set out for British Columbia. To get there theymust take passage in a ship going round the Horn, and up to SanFrancisco. Then they have to make their way further up the coast totheir destination. On the way they encounter various characters, somegood and honourable, and others very much the reverse. Finally theyarrive and set to work seeking for gold. Of course there are moreadventures and tense situations, as you would expect from this author. 

Fenn is very good at describing places, even ones to which he has neverbeen. Personally I prefer the books set in England, but that is not tosay that this book is anything but most enjoyable, and I commend it toyou. 

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TO THE WEST, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

MR. JOHN DEMPSTER. 

"What would I do, sir? Why, if I were as poor as you say you are, andcouldn't get on here, I'd go abroad. "

"But where, sir? where to?"

"Anywhere. Don't ask me. The world's big enough and round enough foryou, isn't it?"

"But without means, Mr Dempster?"

"Yes, sir, without means. Work, sir--work. The same as I have done. Ipay my poor rate, and I can't afford to help other people. Goodmorning. "

I heard every word uttered as I sat on my stool in the outer office, andI felt as if I could see my employer, short, stout, fierce-looking andgrey, frowning at the thin, pale, middle-aged man whom I had usheredin--Mr John Dempster he told me his name was--and who had come to askfor the loan of a little money, as he was in sore distress. 

Every word of his appeal hurt me, and I felt, when the words camethrough the open door, as if I should have liked to take my hat and goaway. But I dared not, for I had been set to copy some letters, and Iknew from old experience that if Mr Dempster--Mr Isaac Dempster thatis--came out or called for me, and I was not there, I should have arepetition of many a painful scene. 

I tried not to listen, but every word came, and I heard how unfortunateMr John Dempster had been; that his wife had been seriously ill, andnow needed nourishing food and wine; and as all that was said becamemixed up with what I was writing, and the tears would come into my eyesand make them dim, I found myself making mistakes, and left off indespair. 

I looked cautiously over the double desk, peeping between some books tosee if Esau Dean, my fellow boy-clerk, was watching me; but as usual hewas asleep with his head hanging down over his blotting-paper, and thesun shining through his pale-coloured knotty curls, which gave his headthe appearance of a black man's bleached to a whitey brown; and as Ilooked through the loop-hole between the books, my fellow-clerk's headfaded away, and I was looking back at my pleasant old school-days atWiltboro', from which place I was suddenly summoned home two yearsbefore to bid good-bye to my mother before we had to part for ever. 

And then all the old home-life floated before me like a bright sunnypicture, and the holidays at the rambling red-brick house with its greatwalled garden, where fruit was so abundant that it seemed of no value atall. There was my pony, and Don and Skurry, the dogs, and the river andmy boat, and the fellows who used to come and spend weeks with me--school-fellows who always told me what a lucky chap I was; and perhapsit was as well, for I did not understand it then, not till the news cameof my father's death, and my second summons home. I did not seem tounderstand it then--that I was alone in the world, and that almost thelast words my mother said to me would have to be thought out and put tothe test. I had a dim recollection of her holding my hand, and tellingme that whatever came I was to be a man, and patient, and never to giveup; but it was not till months after that I fully realised that in placeof going back to school I was to go at once out into the world and fightfor myself, for I was quite alone. 

I can't go into all this now--how I used to sit in my bed-room at nightwith my head aching from thinking and trying to see impossibilities. Let it be sufficient if I tell you that after several trials at variousthings, for all of which I was soon told I was inefficient, I foundmyself, a big, sturdy, country-looking lad, seated on an oldleather-covered stool at a double desk, facing Esau Dean, writing andcopying letters, while my fellow-clerk wrote out catalogues for theprinter to put in type, both of us in the service of Mr Isaac Dempster, an auctioneer in Baring Lane, in the City of London, and also both ofus, according to Mr Dempster, the most stupid idiots that ever dippedpen in ink. 

I supposed then that Mr Dempster was right--that I was stupid and notworth my salt, and that he had only to hold up his little finger and hecould get a thousand better lads than we were; but at the same time Ifelt puzzled that he should keep us on, and that Saturday after Saturdayhe should pay our wages and never say a word about discharging us--Esaufor going to sleep over his work, and me for making so many mistakes. 

I had had scores of opportunities for judging that Mr Dempster was ahard unfeeling man, who was never harder than when he had been out tohis lunch, and came back nibbling a toothpick, and smelling verystrongly of sherry; but it had never come so thoroughly home to me as onthat bright day, just at the time when for nearly an hour the sun shonedown into the narrow court-like lane, and bathed our desk, and made methink of the country, the garden, the bright river, and above all, ofthose who were dead and gone. 

As I told you, my eyes were very dim when I saw Mr John Dempster comeout of the office slowly and close the door, to stand on the mat shakinghis head sadly. 

"He who goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing, " he said to himself, softly. "I might have known--I might have known. "

He turned then and glanced at Esau, smiling faintly to see him asleep, and then his eyes met mine gazing at him fixedly, for somehow he seemedjust then to have a something in his face that recalled my father, as helooked one day when he had had some very bad news--something aboutmoney. And as I gazed at our visitor that day the likeness seemed togrow wonderful, not in features, but in his aspect, and the lines abouthis eyes and the corner of his mouth. 

"Ah, my lad, " he said, with a pleasant smile full of sadness, "you oughtto pray that you might be always young and free from care. Good-day. "

He nodded and passed out of the office, and I heard his steps in thenarrow lane. 

I glanced at Esau, who was asleep still, then at the door of the inneroffice, and started as I heard a cough and the rustling of a newspaper. Then, gliding off my stool, I caught my cap from the peg where it hung, slipped out at the swing-door, and saw our late visitor just turning thecorner at the bottom of the lane into Thames Street. 

The next minute I had overtaken him, and he turned sharply with a joyfullook in his eyes. 

"Ah!" he said, "my cousin has sent you to call me back?"

"No, sir, " I stammered, with my cheeks burning; and there I stopped, forthe words would not come. 

How well I remember it! We were close to the open door of a warehouse, with the scent of oranges coming out strongly, and great muscular menwith knots on their shoulders, bare-armed, and with drab breeches andwhite stockings, were coming up a narrow court leading to a wharf, bearing boxes of fruit from a schooner, and going back wiping theirforeheads with their bare arms. 

"You came after me?" said our visitor, with the old pained look in hiseyes, as he half turned from me, and I stood turning over something inmy hand. 

"You came after me?" he said again; and as he once more looked in myeyes, they seemed to make me speak. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, what is it? Speak out. "

"I--I couldn't help hearing all you said to Mr Dempster, sir, " Ifaltered. 

"Eh!" he cried, with a start. Then with a smile full of bitterness, "Let it be a lesson to you, boy. Work--strive--do anything sooner thanhumble yourself as I have done this day. But--but, " he said, as if tohimself, "Heaven knows I was driven. "

"Mr Dempster never will lend any one money, sir, " I said hastily; "butif you wouldn't mind--I don't want this for a bit. I've been saving itup--for a long time--and--by and by--you can pay me again, and--"

I had stammered out all this and then stopped short, drawing my breathhard, for he had seized my hand, and was gripping it so hard that thecoin I held was pressed into my fingers, as I gazed up into his face, while he slowly relaxed his hold and looked down into my palm. 

"A sovereign!" he said slowly; and then fiercely, "Did your employersend you with that? And, " he cried hastily, "you heard?"

"Yes, sir. I was not listening. "

"How--how long has it taken you to save up this?"

"I don't know, sir--months. "

"Ah!" Then as he held my hand tightly, he said in a half-mocking way, "Do you know when I came into the office I envied you, my boy, for Isaid, Here is one who has begun on the stool, and he'll grow up to be arich City man. "

"I don't think I shall, sir, " I said, with a laugh. 

"No, " he said, "you are of the wrong stuff, boy. Do you know that youare a weak young idiot to come and offer me, a perfect stranger, allthat money--a man you have never seen before, and may never see again?How do you know I am not an impostor?"

"I don't know how, sir, " I said, "but I can see you are not. "

He pressed my hand more firmly, and I saw his lips move for a fewmoments, but no sound came. Then softly--

"Thank you, my lad, " he said. "You have given me a lesson. I wassaying that it was a hard and a bitter and cruel world, when you came upto show me that it is full of hope and sunshine and joy after all if weonly seek it. I don't know who you are, but your father, boy, must havebeen a gentleman at heart, and your mother as true a lady as everbreathed. Ah!"

He bent towards me as he still held my hand, for he must have read thechange in my face, for his words sent a curious pang through me. 

"Your mother is--?" He finished his question with a look. 

I nodded, and set my teeth hard. 

"Now, sir, _please_!" cried a rough voice, as a heavily-laden man cameup, and my companion drew me into the road. 

"Tell me your name. "

"Gordon, sir, " I said. "Mayne Gordon. "

"Come and see me--and my wife, " he said, taking a card from a shabbypocket-book. "Come on Sunday evening and have tea with us--KentishTown. Will you come?"

"Yes, " I said, eagerly. 

"That's right. There, I can't talk now. Shake hands. Good-bye. "

He wrung my hand hard, and turned hurriedly away, but I was by his sideagain. 

"Stop, " I said. "You have not taken the--the--"

"No, " he said, clapping me on the shoulder, "I can't do that. You'vegiven me something worth a thousand such coins as that, boy as you are--renewed faith in my fellow-man--better still, patience and hope. Good-bye, my lad, " he said, brightly. "On Sunday, mind. Don't losethat card. "

Before I could speak again he had hurried away, and just then a coldchill ran through me, and I set off at a run. 

Suppose Mr Isaac Dempster should have come out into the office andfound I had gone out!

CHAPTER TWO. 

MR. ISAAC DEMPSTER. 

I was in the act of opening the swing-door stealthily, and was halfthrough when I saw that Mr Dempster was acting precisely in the sameway, stealing through the inner doorway, and making me a sign to stop. 

I obeyed, shivering a little at what was to come, and wishing that I hadthe courage to utter a word of warning. For there was Esau with hishead hanging down over the catalogue he was copying out, fast asleep, the sun playing amongst his fair curls, and a curious guttural noisecoming from his nose. 

It was that sound, I felt, which had brought Mr Dempster out with hislips drawn back in an ugly grin, and a malicious look in his eyes as hestepped forward on tiptoe, placed both his hands together on myfellow-clerk's curly head, and pressed it down with a sudden heavy bangon the desk. 

Something sounded very hollow. Perhaps it was the desk. Then there wasa sudden bound, and Esau was standing on the floor, gazing wildly at ouremployer. 

"You lazy idiotic lump of opium, " roared the latter. "That's the way mywork's done, is it?"

As our employer uttered these words he made at Esau, following up andcuffing him first on one side of the head and then on the other, whilethe lad, who seemed utterly confused with sleep, and the stunningcontact of his brow against the desk, backed away round the office, beginning then to put up his arms to defend himself. 

"Here, " he cried, "don't you hit me--don't you hit me. "

"Hit you!--you stupid, thick-headed, drowsy oaf! I'll knock some senseinto you. Nice pair, upon my word! And you--you scoundrel, " he cried, turning on me, "where have you been?"

"Only--only just outside, sir, " I stammered, as I felt my cheeks flush. 

"I'll only just outside you, " he roared, catching me by the collar andshaking me. "This is the way my work is done, is it? You're alwayslate of a morning--"

"No, sir, " I cried, indignantly. 

"Silence!--And always the first to rush off before your work's done; andas soon as my back's turned, you're off to play with the boys in thestreet. Where have you been?"

I was silent, I felt that I could not tell him. 

"Sulky, eh? Here, you, " he roared, turning upon Esau, "where has hebeen? How long has he been gone?"

"Don't you hit me! Don't you hit me!" cried the boy, sulkily; "I shan'tstand this. "

"I say, how long has he been gone?"

"I was only gone a few minutes, sir, " I said. 

"Gone a few minutes, you scoundrel! How dare you be gone a few minutes, leaving my office open? You're no more use than a boy out of thestreets, and if I did my duty by you, I should thrash you till you couldnot stand. Back to your desk, you dog, and the next time I catch you atany of these tricks off you go, and no character. "

As I climbed back to my place at the desk, hot, flushed, and indignant, feeling more and more unable to explain the reason for my absence, andguilty at the same time--knowing as I did that I had no business tosteal off--Mr Dempster turned once more upon Esau, who backed away fromhim round the office, sparring away with his arms to ward off the blowsaimed at him, though I don't think they were intended to strike, butonly as a malicious kind of torture. 

"Here, don't you hit me! don't you hit me!" Esau kept on saying, as ifthis was the only form of words he could call up in his excitement. 

"I'll half break your neck for you, you scoundrel! Is that cataloguedone?"

"How can I get it done when you keep on chivvying me about the place?"cried Esau. 

"How can you get it done if you go to sleep, you scoundrel, you mean. Now then, up on to that stool, and if it isn't done you stop after hourstill it is done. Here, what are you staring at? Get on with thoseletters. "

Mr Dempster had turned upon me furiously as I sat looking, and with asigh I went on with my writing, while red-faced and wet-eyed, for hecould not keep the tears back, Esau climbed slowly on to his stool, andgave a tremendous sniff. 

"I shall tell mother as soon as I get home, " he cried. 

"Tell your mother, you great calf! You had better not, " roared MrDempster. "She has troubles enough. It was only out of charity to herthat I took you on. For you are useless--perfectly useless. I losepounds through your blunders. There, that will do. Get on with yourwork. "

He went back into the inner office, and banged the door so heavily thatall the auction bills which papered the walls of our office began toflap and swing about. Then for a few minutes there was only thescratching of our pens to be heard. 

Then Esau gave a tremendous sniff, began wiping his eyes on the cuffs ofhis jacket, and held the blotting-paper against each in turn as helooked across at me. 

"'Tain't crying, " he said. "Only water. Ketch him making me cry!"

"You were crying, " I said, quietly. 

"No, I wasn't. Don't you get turning again' me too. Take a better manthan him to make me cry. "

I laughed. 

"Ah, you may grin, " grumbled my companion; "but just you have your headknocked again' the desk, and just you see if it wouldn't make your eyeswater. "

At that moment the door was opened with a snatch. 

"Silence there! You, Gordon, will you go on with your work?"

The door was banged before I could have answered. Not that I shouldhave said anything. But as soon as the door clicked Esau went on againwithout subduing his voice--

"I ain't afraid of him--cheating old knocktioneer! Thinks he's a rightto knock everybody down 'cause he's got a licence. "

"Go on with your work, " I whispered, "or he'll come back. "

"Let him; I don't care. I ain't afraid. It was all your fault forgoing out. "

"And yours for being asleep. "

"I can't help my head being heavy. Mother says it's because I've got somuch brains. But I'll serve him out. I'll make all the mistakes I can, and he'll have to pay for them being corrected. "

"What good will that do?"

"I dunno; but I'll serve him out. He shan't hit me. I say, what didyou go out to buy?"

"Nothing. I went out to speak to that gentleman who came. "

"What gentleman who came?"

"While you were asleep. "

"There you go! You're as bad as old Knock-'em-down. Fellow's only gotto shut his eyes, and you say he's asleep. But I don't care. Everybody's again' me, but I'll serve 'em out. "

"You'd better go on with your writing. "

"Shan't. Go on with yours. I know. I'll 'list--that's what I'll do. Like to see old Going-going touch me then!"

There was a busy interval of writing, during which something seemed toask me why I let Mr Dempster behave so brutally to me, and I beganwondering whether I was a coward. I felt that I could not be as braveas Esau, or I should have resisted. 

"Not half a chap, you ain't!" said my companion, suddenly. 

"Why?"

"You'd say you'd come with me. Deal better to be soldiers than alwaysscrawling down Lot 104 on paper. "

"I don't want to be a soldier, " I said. 

"No; you're not half a chap. Only wait a bit. I'd ha' gone long ago ifit hadn't been for mother. "

"Yes; she wouldn't like you to go. "

"How do you know?"

"Mrs Dean told me so. She said you were mad about red-coats. "

"That's just like mother, " said Esau, with a grin, "allus wrong. Idon't want to wear a red coat. Blue's my colour. "

"What--a sailor?" I said quickly. 

"Get out! Sailor! all tar and taller. I'm not going to pull ropes. Imean blue uniform--'Tillery--Horse Artillery. They do look fine. I'veseen 'em lots o' times. "

"Here, you two, I'm going out. I shall be back in five minutes, " saidMr Dempster, so suddenly that he made us both start. "Look sharp andget that work done. "

He stood drawing a yellow silk handkerchief round and round his hat, which was already as bright as it could be made, and then setting it onvery much on one side, he gave his silk umbrella a flourish, touched hisdiamond pin with the tip of his well-gloved finger, and strutted out. 

"Back in five minutes! Yah!" cried Esau. "It's all gammon about beinghonest and getting on. "

"No, it isn't, " I said, as I carefully dotted a few i's. 

"Yes, it is. Look at him--makes lots o' money, and he cheats people andtells more lies in a day than I've told in all my life. "

"Nonsense!"

"Tain't. He's a regular bad 'un. Back in five minutes! Why he won'tcome till it's time to go, and then he'll keep us waiting so as to getall the work he can out of us. "

But that time Esau was wrong, for in about five minutes the outer doorwas opened, and our employer thrust in his head. 

"There's a letter on my table to post, Gordon, " he said. "Be sure itgoes. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, and as the door closed again I looked at Esau andlaughed. 

"Oh, I don't mind, " he said. "That wasn't coming back. He only lookedin to see if we were at work. I shan't stop here; I shall 'list. "

"No, you will not, " I said, as I went on writing quietly. 

"Oh, yes, I shall. You can go on lodging with the old woman, for youwon't be the chap to come with me. "

"You won't go, " I said. 

"Ah, you'll see. You don't mean to stop here, do you, and be bulliedand knocked about?"

I went on writing and thinking of how dearly I should have liked to gosomewhere else, for my life was very miserable with Mr Dempster; but Ialways felt as if it would be cowardly to give up, and I had stayed on, though that day's experience was very like those which had gone before. 

We had both finished our tasks an hour before Mr Dempster returned, nearly an hour after closing time, and even then he spent a long time incriticising the writing and finding fault, concluding by ordering Esauto go round with the catalogue he had made out to the printer's. 

"There's a master for you!" cried my fellow-clerk, as we went up intothe main street. "I shan't stand it. I'm going for a soldier. "

I laughed. 

"Ah, you may grin at what I say, but wait a bit. Going home?"

"No, " I said, "I shall walk round with you to the printer's. "

He gave me a quick bright look, and his manner changed as if, once freeof the office, he felt boy-like and happy. He whistled, hummed overbits of songs, and chatted about the various things we passed, till wehad been at the printer's, and then had to retrace our steps so as tocross Blackfriars Bridge, and reach Camberwell, where in a narrow streetoff the Albany Road Esau's mother rented a little house, working hardwith her needle to produce not many shillings a week, which weresupplemented by her boy's earnings, and the amount I paid for my bed, breakfast, and tea. 

It was my fellow-clerk's proposal that I should join them, and I hadgood cause to be grateful, the place being delightfully clean, andlittle, quaint, homely Mrs Dean looking upon me as a lodger who was tobe treated with the greatest of respect. 

"Shan't go for a soldier to-night!" said Esau, throwing himself back inhis chair, after we had finished our tea. 

"I should think not indeed, " cried his mother. "Esau, I'm ashamed ofyou for talking like that. Has he been saying anything about it to you, Master Gordon?"

"Oh, yes, but he don't mean it, " I replied. "It's only when he'scross. "

"Has master been scolding him then again?"

"Scolding?" cried Esau scornfully, "why he never does nothing else. "

"Then you must have given him cause, Esau dear. Master Gordon, what hadhe done?"

"Mr Dempster caught him asleep. "

"Well, I couldn't help it. My head was so heavy. "

"Yes, " sighed Mrs Dean, "his head always was very heavy, poor boy. Hegoes to sleep at such strange times too, sir. "

"Well, don't tell him that, mother, " cried Esau. "You tell everybody. "

"Well, dear, there's no harm in it. I never said it was your fault. Lots of times, Master Gordon, I've known him go to sleep when at play, and once I found him quite fast with his mouth full of bread andbutter. "

"Such stuff!" grumbled Esau, angrily. 

"It is quite true, Master Gordon. He always was a drowsy boy. "

"Make anybody drowsy to keep on writing lots and figures, " grumbledEsau. "Heigho--ha--hum!" he yawned. "I shan't be very long before I goto bed. "

He kept his word, and I took a book and sat down by the little fire toread; but though I kept on turning over the pages, I did not follow thetext; for I was either thinking about Mrs Dean's needle as it darted inand out of the stuff she was sewing, or else about Mr John Dempster andour meeting that day--of how I had promised to go up and see him onSunday, and how different he was to his cousin. 

The time must have gone fast, for when the clock began to strike, itwent on up to ten; and I was thinking it was impossible that it could beso late, when I happened to glance across at little Mrs Dean, whosework had dropped into her lap, and she was as fast asleep then as herson had been at the office hours before. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

MY NEW FRIENDS. 

Poor Esau and I had had a hard time at the office, for it seemed that mypatient forbearing way of receiving all the fault-finding made MrDempster go home at night to invent unpleasant things to say, till, as Ihad listened, it had seemed as if my blood boiled, and a hot sensationcame into my throat. 

All this had greatly increased by the Saturday afternoon, and had set methinking that there was something in what Esau said, and that I shouldbe better anywhere than where I was. 

But on the Sunday afternoon, as I walked up the sunny road to KentishTown, and turned down a side street of small old-looking houses, eachwith its bit of garden and flowers, everything looked so bright andpleasant, even there, that my spirits began to rise; and all the morefrom the fact that at one of the cottage-like places with its porch andflowers, there were three cages outside, two of whose inmates, a larkand a canary, were singing loudly and making the place ring. 

It is curious how a musical sound takes one back to the past. In aninstant as I walked on, I was seeing the bright river down at home, withthe boat gliding along, the roach and dace flashing away to right andleft, the chub scurrying from under the willows, the water-weeds andwhite buttercups brushing against the sides, and the lark singing highoverhead in the blue sky. 

London and its smoke were gone, and the houses to right and left had noexistence for me then, till I was suddenly brought back to the presentby a hand being laid on my shoulder, and a familiar voice saying--

"Mr Gordon! Had you forgotten the address? You have passed thehouse!"

As these words were uttered a hand grasped mine very warmly, and I waslooking in the thin, worn, pleasant features of Mr John Dempster, whichseemed far brighter than when I saw him at the office. 

"Very, very glad to see you, my dear young friend, " he cried, taking myarm. "My wife and I have been looking forward to this day; she is veryeager to make your acquaintance. "

To my surprise he led me back to the little house where the birds weresinging, and I could not help glancing at him wonderingly, for I hadfully expected to find him living in a state of poverty, whereaseverything looked neat and good and plain. 

"Give me your hat, " he said, as we stood in the passage. "That's right. Now in here. Alexes, my dear, this is my young friend, Mr Gordon. "

"I am very glad you have come, " said a sweet, musical voice; and my handwas taken by a graceful-looking lady, who must once have been verybeautiful. "You are hot and tired. Come and sit down here. "

I felt hot and uncomfortable, everything was so different from what Ihad expected; for the room was not in the least shabby, and thetea-things placed ready added to the pleasant home-like aspect of theplace. 

"You have not walked?" said Mr John Dempster. 

"Oh, yes, " I replied. 

"From--where?"

I told him. 

"Camberwell? And I was so unreasonable as to ask you to come all thisway. "

I did not know how it was, but I somehow felt as if I had come to visitsome very old friends, and in quite a short time we were chattingconfidentially about our affairs. They soon knew all about my own home, and my life since I left school so suddenly; and on my side I learnedthat Mrs John Dempster had had a very serious illness, but wasrecovering slowly, and that they were contemplating going abroad, thedoctors having said that she must not stay in our damp climate foranother winter. 

I learned, too, that, as Mr John Dempster said, when things came to theworst they improved. It had been so here, for the night after his visitto his cousin in the city, a letter had come from Mrs John Dempster'sbrother, who was in the North-west--wherever that might be--and theirtemporary troubles were at an end. 

That would have been a delightfully pleasant meal but for one thing. Noallusion was made to the visit to the city, and though I sat trembling, for fear they should both begin to thank me for my offer, not a word wassaid. The tea was simple. The flowers on the table and in the windowsmelled sweetly, and the birds sang, while there was something aboutMrs John that fascinated me, and set me thinking about the happy olddays at home. 

The one unpleasantly was the conduct of the little maid they kept. Shewas a round rosy-faced girl of about fifteen, I suppose, but dressed inevery respect, cap and apron and all, like a woman of five-and-twenty. In fact she looked like a small-sized woman with very hard-looking shinydark eyes. 

Upon her first entrance into the room bearing a bright tin kettle, forthe moment I thought that as she looked so fierce, it was she whouttered little snorts, hisses, and sputtering noises. But of course itwas only the kettle, for she merely looked at me angrily and gave adefiant sniff. As the evening went on, I found that this was Maria, andit soon became evident that Maria did not like me, but looked upon me asa kind of intruder, of whom she was as jealous as a girl of her classcould be. 

Pleasant evenings always pass too rapidly, and it was so here; I couldnot believe it when the hands of the little clock on the chimney-piecepointed to nine, and I rose to go. 

"How soon it seems!" sighed Mrs John. "Well, Mayne, "--it had soon cometo that--"you must call and see us again very soon--while we are here, "she added, slowly. 

"Ah, and who knows but what he may come when we are far away!" said MrJohn. "The world is only a small place after all. "

"Where should you go?" I said, earnestly. "I would come if I could. "

"Possibly to Canada, " said Mr John. "But there, we are not gone yet. You will not feel lonely, dear, if I walk a little way with ourvisitor?"

She gave him a very gentle smile, and as I held out my hand, she drew meto her and kissed me. 

I could not say "Good-bye" then, for there was a strange choking feelingin my throat which made me hurry away, and the last thing I heard as Iwent out was the sharp banging and locking of the little gate, followedby another defiant sniff. 

"Come and see us as often as you can, Mayne, " said my new friend atparting. "We never had any children, and it is a pleasure to us to haveyoung people about us, for since my misfortunes we have lived very muchto ourselves. In fact, my dear wife's health has made it necessary thatshe should be much alone. "

"But she is getting better, sir?"

"Oh, rapidly now; and if I can get her abroad--Ah, we must talk aboutthis another time. Goodnight. "

"Good-night. "

It was like the opening out of a new life to me, and I walked back toCamberwell as if the distance was nothing, thinking as I was all thetime about the conversation, of Mrs John's sweet, patient face, and theconstantly attentive manner of Mr John, every action of his beingrepaid by a grateful smile. "I wonder, " I thought, "how it is possiblethat Mr Dempster and Mr John could be cousins;" and then I went onthinking about the interview at the office when Mr Dempster was soharsh. 

This kept my attention till I reached the Deans', and then I walkedstraight in to find Mrs Dean making believe to read, while Esau wasbending his head slowly in a swaying motion nearer and nearer to thecandle every moment. In fact I believe if I had not arrived as I did, Esau's hair would have been singed so as to need no cutting for sometime. As it was, he leaped up at a touch. 

"Oh, here you are!" he said. "If you hadn't come I believe I shouldsoon have dropped asleep. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

HOW MR. DEMPSTER USED HIS CANE. 

My life at the office grew more miserable every day, and Mr IsaacDempster more tyrannical. 

That's a big word to use, and seems more appropriate to a Roman emperorthan to a London auctioneer; but, on quietly thinking it over, it isquite correct, for I honestly believe that that man took delight inabusing Esau and me. 

Let me see; what did some one say about the employment of boys? "A boyis a boy; two boys are half a boy; and three boys are no boy at all. "

Of course, as to the amount of work they do. But it is not true, for Iknow--one of the auction-room porters told me--that Mr Dempster used tokeep two men-clerks in his office, till they both discharged themselvesbecause they would not put up with what the porter called "hisnastiness. " Then we were both engaged. 

That was one day when Dingle came down in his green baize apron andcarpet-cap, and had to wait till our employer returned from his lunch. 

"Ah!" he said, "the guv'nor used to lead them two a pretty life, andkeep 'em ever so late sometimes. "

"But he had more business then, I suppose?" I said. 

"Not he. Busier now, and makes more money. Nobody won't stop withhim. "

"Yes, they will, " said Esau. "You said you'd been with him fourteenyears. "

"Yes, " said Dingle, showing his yellow teeth, "but I'm an auctioneer'sfixtur', and going ain't in my way. "

"Why not?" asked Esau. 

"Got a wife and twelve children, squire, and they nails a man down. "

Just then Mr Dempster came in, ordered Dingle to go into his room, andwe could hear him being well bullied about something, while as he cameout he laughed at us both, and gave his head a peculiar shake. 

"Off!" he whispered. "Flea in each ear. "

I mention this because it set me thinking that if we two lads of sixteenor seventeen did all the work for which two men were formerly kept, wecould not be quite so useless and stupid as Mr Dempster said. 

I know that my handwriting was not so very good, and I was not quite soquick with my pen as Esau, but his writing was almost like copper-plate, and I used to feel envious; though I had one consolation--I never madeEsau's mistakes in spelling. 

But nothing we ever did was right, and as the weeks went on, made brightto me now by my visits up in North London, Esau would throw down his penthree or four times a day, rub his hands all over his curly head, andlook over the top of the desk at me. 

"Now then, " he used to say; "ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"To go and 'list. We're big enough now. "

"Nonsense!"

"'Tain't nonsense, " he said one morning, after Mr Dempster had been alittle more disagreeable than usual about some copying not beingfinished, and then gone out, leaving me thinking what I could do to givehim a little more satisfaction, so as to induce him to raise the verypaltry salary he paid me. "'Tain't nonsense. Mother says that if Istop I shall some day rise and get to be Lord Mayor, but I don't thinkDemp would like it, so when you're ready we'll go. --Ready?"

"No. "

"You are a fellow!" said Esau, taking up his pen again. "I say, though, I wish we could get places somewhere else. "

"Why not try?"

"Because it would only be to do writing again, and it's what makes me sosleepy. I'm getting worse--keep making figures and writing outcatalogues till my head gets full of 'em. "

"It is tiring, " I said, with a sigh. "But do go on; he'll be so crossif that list isn't finished. "

"Can't help it. I'm ever so much more sleepy this morning, and thewords get running one atop of another. Look here, " he cried, holding upa sheet of ruled paper. "This ought to have been `chest of drawers, 'and it's run into one word, `chawers'; and up higher there's anotherblunder, `loo-table, '--it's gone wrong too--do you see?--`lable. ' Myhead's all a buzz. "

"Tear it up quickly and write it again. "

"Shan't; I shall correct it. No, I know. I shall cut the paper up, andstick it on another sheet, and write these lines in again. Pass thegum. Oh!"

"What's the matter?"

"Here's `mogany' lower down, and `Tarpet' for `Turkey carpet. '"

"Write it again, do, " I said, for I dreaded the scene that I knew therewould be. 

"Ah, well, all right, but I know I shall muddle it again, and--"

"As usual, " cried Mr Dempster, and we both started back on to ourstools, for we had been standing up on the rails leaning towards eachother over the double desk, so intent on the errors that we had notheard him open the door softly--I believe, on purpose to surprise us. 

We began writing hard, and I felt my heart beating fast, as our employerbanged the door heavily and strode up to the desk. 

I gave one quick glance at him as he turned to Esau's side, and snatchedup the sheet of paper the boy tried to hide under the blotting-pad; andas I looked I saw that his face was flushed and fierce-looking as I hadnever seen it before. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated, as he took off his glossy hat and stood it on achair, with his ivory-handled Malacca cane across it. "Pretty stuffthis, upon my word. Here, let me look at that letter. "

He reached over and snatched the missive I was writing from the desk, and held it up before him. 

"Do you call that writing?" he roared. "Disgraceful! Abominable! Thefirst boy I met in the street would do better. There--and there--andthere!"

He tore the letter to fragments and threw the paper in my face. 

"Now then; write another directly, " he cried; "and if you dare to--Here, what are you going to do?" he roared, as Esau took hold of the sheet ofpaper containing the errors. 

"Going to write it over again, sir. "

"Write it over again, you miserable impostor!" he cried, as he snatchedthe paper back and laid a leaden weight upon it. "I'll teach you towaste my time and paper gossiping--that's what it means. "

"Here, what are you going to do?" cried Esau, as Mr Dempster seized himby the collar. 

"I'll show you what I'm going to do, you idle young scoundrel, " criedMr Dempster, and he reached out his hand to take his stout cane fromwhere it lay across his hat. 

"Here, don't you hit me, " cried Esau; and he tried to get away, as I satbreathless, watching all that was going on, and thinking that MrDempster dared not use the walking-cane in the way he seemed tothreaten. Esau evidently thought he would, for he struggled hard now, but in vain, and he was dragged towards the chair. Then, as pullingseemed no use, the lad changed his tactics, and he darted forward tomake for the door, just as Mr Dempster's hand was touching the stick, which he did not secure, for the jerk he received sent cane and hat offthe chair on to the floor. 

"You dog!" roared Dempster, as the hat went on to the oilcloth with ahollow bang. 

"Don't you hit me!" cried Esau, struggling wildly to escape; and thenext moment, as they swayed to and fro, I heard a strange crushingsound, and on looking to see the cause, there lay Mr Dempster'sbeautiful guinea-and-a-half hat crushed into a shapeless, battered mass. 

"Ah!" roared Mr Dempster, "you dog; you did that on purpose. "

"I didn't, " cried Esau; "it was your foot did it. "

"Was it? was it?" snarled Mr Dempster, and the struggle recommenced, until I, with the perspiration standing on my forehead, caught tightlyhold of the desk. 

Esau was pretty strong, but he was almost helpless in the bands of theangry man who held him, and the struggle ended, after the high stool andthe chair had both been knocked over with a crash, by Mr Dempster'sgetting Esau down and holding him there with one knee upon his chest. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated, panting. "Here you, Gordon, get down and pick upmy cane, " and he gave his head a jerk in the direction of where thestick lay, just as it had been knocked close to the door. 

Months of rigid obedience to the tyrant had their effect, and I got downfrom my stool trembling with excitement. 

"Oh, don't, don't, Gordon!" cried Esau; "don't give it him. "

But my employer's eyes were fixed upon me with such a look that I wasfascinated, and as if moved against my own will, I crossed the officeand picked up the thick cane. 

"Give it here, quick!"

For I stood there hesitating, but the imperative voice mastered me, andI moved towards the speaker. 

"Don't--don't give it him, " cried Esau. 

"Quick--this instant!" roared Mr Dempster, and I handed the cane. 

"You sneak!" cried Esau angrily; "I'd ha' died first. "

His words sent a sting through me, and I would have given anything tohave been able to say, "I couldn't help it, Esau. " But I wasspeechless, and felt the next instant as if a blow had fallen upon me, as I saw with starting eyes Mr Dempster shift his position, keeping atight hold of Esau by the collar as he rose into a stooping position, and then, _whizz! thud_! he brought the cane down with all his forceacross the lad's shoulders. 

Esau uttered a yell as he tried to spring up, but he was held fast, andthe blows were falling thick and fast upon the struggling lad, when Icould bear it no longer, and with one bound I was at the auctioneer, andhad fast hold of the cane. 

"Stop!" I shouted, half hysterically; "you shan't beat him. You haveno right to do it, sir. Esau, get up. Run!"

"Let go!" cried Mr Dempster, turning a face black with passion at me. "Do you hear, beggar? Let go!"

"I will not, " I cried, for my blood was up now, and I did not feel inthe least afraid. "You have no right to beat him. "

"Let go!"

"Don't, don't, Gordon! Yah! you great coward!"

"Once more, will you let go?" cried Mr Dempster, as he stood with onehand in Esau's collar, bent down, and tugging at the cane, to which Iclung. 

"No, " I cried. "You shall not strike him again. "

I had hardly spoken when Mr Dempster rose up, loosening his hold ofEsau, and dashing his free hand full in my face, while, as I fell back, he jerked the cane away and struck at me a cruel stinging blow from theleft shoulder, as a cavalry-man would use a sabre, the cane striking mefull across the right ear, while the pain was as acute as if the blowhad been delivered by a keen-edged sword. 

For a few moments I staggered back, half stunned and confused, whileblow succeeded blow, now delivered on my back and arms with all hismight. 

As I said, the first cruel, cowardly blow half stunned me; those whichfollowed stung me back into a wild state of rage and pain which made mereckless and blind, as, regardless of pain and the fact that he was awell-knit, strong man, I made a dash at the cane, got hold of it withboth hands, and in spite of his efforts kept my grip of the stoutelastic stick. 

I knew that I was swung here and there, and the cane was tugged at tillthe ivory handle fell on the floor, and then he changed his attack, letting go of the cane with one hand and catching me by the throat. 

"Now then, " he cried, and I felt that I was mastered. 

Then I knew I was wrong, for at that moment Mr Dempster was drivenforward, his forehead striking mine, and as I fell back my assailantfell on his knees, and I stood panting, the master of the cane. 

The explanation was simple. Esau had watched his opportunity, andleaped upon our tyrant's back, pinning his arms to his sides, and makinghim in his surprise loosen his hold of the cane. 

It is hard work to recall it now, so wild and confused it all seems; butI remember well that I must have struck Mr Dempster, and that as hecame at me Esau seized and overturned the great desk right in his way, sending him down again, while the next moment my fellow-clerk washolding open the door, shouting to me to come. 

I caught down my hat and Esau's, and made for the door, which Esaudragged to in our employer's face, and the next minute we were tearingup the lane. 

"Stop them! stop thief!" was shouted hoarsely, and in our excitement welooked back to see our enemy in pursuit, while, as we turned again torun, we found ourselves face to face with a burly City policeman, whocaught each of us by an arm. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

A MISERABLE NIGHT. 

"Hah! The scoundrels!" panted Dempster, as he came up, flushed, bareheaded, his glossy coat covered with dust, and a great dark wealgrowing darker moment by moment on his forehead, while for the firsttime I became aware of the fact that my right ear was cut and bleedingfreely. 

"What is it, sir?" said the policeman; and I shivered slightly as I felthis grip tighten on my arm. 

"Take them. I give them in charge, " panted Mr Dempster, hoarse withrage--"robbery and assault. "

"What?" shouted Esau, furiously. 

"It is not true!" I cried wildly. 

"Take them, " shouted Mr Dempster. "I'll follow in a cab. Take them. "

"You'll have to charge them, sir, " said the constable. 

"Yes. I know. I must make myself decent first. "

"You can do that afterwards, sir. Better all get in a cab at oncebefore there's a crowd. "

The cool matter-of-fact policeman was master of the situation, and, summoning a cab, he seemed to pack us all in, and followed to unpack usagain a few minutes later, both Esau and I with the spirit evaporatingfast, and feeling soft and limp, full of pain too, as we were usheredinto the presence of a big, stern-looking inspector, who prepared tofill up a form. 

All that passed is very misty now; but I remember Mr Dempster, as heglared at us, telling the inspector that he had had cause to complainabout our conduct, and that we had, evidently after planning it, made asudden attack upon him, and beaten him savagely with a stick. 

"But you said robbery, sir, " the policeman suggested. 

"Ah!--I will not press that, " cried Mr Dempster. "I don't want toquite ruin the boys. I proceed against them for assault. "

I looked wildly at Esau for him to speak out, and he was looking at meas if half stupefied. The next I recollect is that the big policemansigned to us to follow him, and we were marched away. 

Then we were in a whitewashed cell, a door was banged to, and we heardthe bolts shot. 

For a few minutes I stood there as if stunned, but was brought back tomyself by Esau. 

"Well, " he said loudly, "this is a nice game. "

"Oh, Esau!" I said weakly. 

"Yes, it is `Oh!'" he cried. "What will my mother say?"

I could not answer--only look at him in the dim light hopelessly, andfeeling in my mental and bodily pain as if everything was over for me inthis world. 

To my horror Esau burst into a heavy fit of laughter, and sitting downhe rocked himself to and fro. 

"What a game!" he cried; "but, I say, you didn't half give it to him. "

"Oh, Esau!" I cried, "it's horrible. "

"For him, " he replied. "I say, I'm precious stiff and sore though; didhe hurt you very much?"

"Yes; my arms ache, and my ear bleeds. Esau, we shall never be able togo back. "

"Hooray!" cried my companion defiantly. "Who wants to? But that isn'tthe worst of it; he will not pay us our wages. "

"No, " I said; "and we shall be punished. "

"Then it's a jolly shame; for he ought to be punished for hitting us. Isay, can't we have a summons against him for assaulting us?"

"I don't know, " I said, wondering. "How my head does ache!"

"Some one coming, " whispered Esau. 

For there were heavy footsteps, and the bolts were drawn. Then the dooropened, to show the inspector and the big policeman. 

"Here, boy, " said the former roughly, "let me look at your ear. "

I was holding my handkerchief to the place, which was bleeding a gooddeal. 

"Better have the doctor, " he said. 

"What, for that! Only wants bathing and some sticking-plaster. "

He smiled. 

"Well, we shall see, " he said, looking at me curiously. "What did youdo with the money?"

"What money?"

"That Mr Dempster said you took. "

"He didn't take any!" cried Esau indignantly. "He knocked us about, andwe hit him again, and he got the worst of it. "

"Oh, that's it, is it? Come, my lad, that's not true. "

"It is, sir, indeed, " I said earnestly. 

"But look at your handkerchief. Seems to me you got the worst of it. "

"Oh, that's nothing, " I said. 

"You had a regular scrimmage, then?"

"Yes, sir, " I said; and I told him exactly how it happened. 

"Humph!" ejaculated the inspector, when I had finished, "I dare say youwill not get more than seven years. "

"Seven years, sir!" cried Esau. "What for? Old Demp ought to get it, not us. "

"You must tell the Lord Mayor that, or the alderman, to-morrow. "

"But are we going to be kept in prison, sir?" I asked, with my couragesinking. 

"You are going to be locked up here till tomorrow, of course. Like tohave a good wash?"

Of course we said "Yes, " and before long we looked fairly respectableagain, with the exception of scratches, bruises, and the ugly cut I hadon my ear. 

The thing that encouraged me most was the way in which I saw theinspector and constable exchange a smile, while later on they and theother constables about gave us a good tea with bread and butter andmeat, and we had to tell all our adventures again before we were lockedup for the night, after refusing an offer that was made. 

"Think we ought to have sent?" said Esau, as we sat together alone. 

"I have no one I could send to but Mr John, and I shouldn't like to dothat, " I said, as I wondered the while whether he would be very angry. 

"And I've got nobody but mother, " said Esau, "and that's what made it soqueer. "

"What do you mean? Queer?"

"Yes, if I sent to her and she knew I was locked up at the station, she'd come running down here in a dreadful fright and be having fits orsomething. "

"But she'll be horribly frightened now!"

"Not so much frightened. She'll think we've gone to see something, orbeen asked out to supper. "

"But she'll sit up. "

"That won't matter, because she's sure to go to sleep. "

So no message was sent--no opportunity afforded of our having bail; butafter a time this did not trouble us much. In fact, as we werediscussing our future in a low tone, wondering what punishment would bemeted out to us, and what we could do afterwards, Esau burst into a fitof laughter. 

"It was fine, " he said, as he sat afterwards wiping his eyes. "And yousuch a quiet, patient fellow!"

"What was fine?"

"To see you go on as you did. I say, I wonder what he'll say to thejudge?"

"We shall not go before a judge, " I told him. 

"Well, madjistrit then. He'll say anything, and you'll see if we don'tget sent to prison. "

I said I hoped not, but I felt pretty sure that we should be punishedvery severely, and the outlook seemed so bad that I began to think myonly chance would be to follow Esau's fortune, and go for a soldier. 

All at once, just after he had been wondering how long "mother" would bebefore she dropped off to sleep, and what she would say when she foundthat we had not been home, I became aware of a low dull guttural sound, which told me that Esau had dropped off, and was sleeping soundly. 

But I could not follow his example for thinking. What would Mr Johnsay? What would Mrs John think? They would set me down as a recklesslad with a savage temper, and if we were punished they would never knowthe truth. Then another idea, one which made me shiver, occurred to me;the whole account would be in the newspapers, given as PoliceIntelligence, and that completely baffled all my attempts to sleep. 

It was a very quiet night at the station. I heard doors opened andclosed twice over, with a good deal of talking; and once while I wasthinking most deeply, I started and stared curiously at a bright blazeof light, beyond which I could not see; but I felt that a constable hadthat light in his hand, and that he had come to see if we were asleep. 

I had not heard the door open, I suppose I was thinking too deeply; butI heard it shut again, and heavy steps in the long stone passageoutside. Then I began thinking again intently, full of remorse for whatI had done, and how soon it would be morning; and then I began to envyEsau, who could sleep so soundly in spite of our position. 

I remember it all--the trampling of feet outside, the dull muttering ofvoices, and the curious guttural sound Esau made as he slept, one that Iwas often to hear in years to come; and I sat there with my head restingin a corner, envying him, and wishing that I too could forget. And overand over again came the events of the past day--the struggle in theoffice, and the savage, malicious look of Mr Dempster as he struck me. 

Weary, aching, and with my head throbbing, I sat and wondered now at mydaring; and then came all kinds of mental questions as to the amount ofpunishment I, a poor boy, would receive. 

All at once, as these miserable thoughts kept on repeating themselves ina strange, feverish way, that was somehow connected with a throbbing, smarting sensation in one ear, Mr Dempster seemed to have raised me bythe arm once more, and to begin shaking me roughly--so vigorously that Imade a desperate effort to escape, when he cried--

"Steady, steady! You're all right. Come, rouse up and have a wash, mylad. It's nearly eight. Ready for some coffee and bread and butter?"

I looked up in the dim light to see the big, burly policeman leaningover me, while Esau was giving vent to a noisy yawn. It was morning, indeed, and though not aware of the fact, I must have slept about sevenhours. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

AN ESCAPE, AND A SUGGESTION. 

I don't know whether I was any more cowardly than most boys of my age;but I certainly felt a curiously nervous sensation that morning, and Iwas not alone in it; for Esau had a strange scared look, and his fairhair did not curl nearly so tightly as usual. 

"Eh?" he said, "feel frightened?" in answer to a question. "No, I don'tthink I do; but I wish they'd leave the door open so that a fellow couldrun. "

But there were no doors open for us to escape, and at last, after aweary time of waiting, the big policeman who had us in his charge bentdown to us in the place where we were waiting, and said--

"Your case comes on next. There, hold up, my lads. Speak out, both ofyou, like men, and tell the whole truth. It's Sir Thomas Browningto-day. "

I listened to him, but I felt as if I was growing hopelessly confused, and that I should never be able to say a word in my defence, while whenI looked at Esau, I found that he was looking at me with his foreheadfull of wrinkles. 

"It's all very well for him to say `hold up. ' He haven't got to betried, " he whispered. "I'm 'fraid it's all up with us, Gordon. Wish wecould be together when they sends us off. "

"Now then!" said the policeman, clapping me on the shoulder; "it's us. Don't you be scared. Sir Thomas is a good 'un. "

The next minute Esau and I were standing somewhere with our constableclose by, and somewhere before us, in places that looked like pews, sata number of gentlemen, some of whom wore wigs. Some were writing, and, seen as it were through a mist, a number of people looking on. Next, ina confused way, I saw a red-faced, white-headed gentleman, who took offhis spectacles to have a good look at us, and put them on again to reada paper before him. 

It was all dim and strange, and there was quite a singing in my ears, asI looked vacantly about while some talking went on, ending by a voicesaying--

"Kiss the book. "

Then the white-headed old gentleman said--

"Well, Mr Dempster, what have you to say?"

At the name Dempster, I started and looked sharply about me, to see thatmy employer was a little way off, very carefully dressed, and with aglossy hat in his hand. 

"That can't be _the_ hat, " I remember thinking, as I stared at himwildly. 

The mist had cleared away now, and I stood listening to him as he wenton speaking, in a very quiet subdued way, about the troubles he had hadwith the two defendants--boys whom he had taken into his service out ofkindness. 

"Yes, yes, yes, Mr Dempster, " said the old gentleman testily; "but thisisn't a sale of house property. There's a very long charge-sheet. Youhave given these two lads into custody on a charge of assault. Now, shortly, please, how did it happen?"

"The fact is, your worship, " said Mr Dempster, "I have had much troublewith both of them. The boy Dean is idle in the extreme, while Gordon isa lad of vile and passionate temper. "

"Well, sir--well, sir?"

"I had occasion to speak to them yesterday about idling in my absence, the consequence being that a great many mistakes were made. "

"Allus careful as I could be, " said Esau, in an ill-used tone. 

"Silence, sir! How dare you?" cried the old gentleman. "You shall beheard presently. Now, Mr Dempster, please go on. "

"I was angry, Sir Thomas, and I scolded them both severely, when to myutter surprise--stop, I will be perfectly accurate--things had come tosuch a pass that I had threatened them with dismissal--when in a fit ofpassion Dean struck my new hat from a chair on which it was laid, jumpedupon it, and crushed it. "

"Oh, what a whopper!" cried Esau, excitedly. "Will you be silent, sir?"cried the old gentleman, tapping the desk in front of him with hisknuckles. 

"Here is the hat, Sir Thomas, " said Mr Dempster, and stooping down heheld up his crushed and beaten head-covering in corroboration of hiswords, when a perfect roar of laughter ran round the court, and I sawthe old gentleman lift his glasses and smile. 

"Well, Mr Dempster, well?" he said. 

"Then, Sir Thomas, then, to my utter astonishment, evidently bycollusion, Gordon seized my Malacca cane, and the boy Dean shouted tohim to come on now, and they made a combined attack upon me, breakingoff the handle of my cane, inflicting the injuries you see, and but formy energetic defence I believe they would have robbed me and gone off. Fortunately I was able to call for the police, and give them intocustody. "

"Well, of all--" began Esau; but the old alderman turned upon himsharply. 

"I shall commit you, sir, for contempt of court, " he cried. 

"But he is telling such--"

"Silence, sir!"

"Quiet, you young donkey, " whispered the policeman. "Hsh!"

"Hm! Mr Dempster, Mr Dempster, " said the old gentleman, "this is apolice court, not an auctioneer's rostrum. "

"I beg your pardon, Sir Thomas, " said Mr Dempster, with dignity. 

"You are sworn, sir, and I wished to remind you that this is not arostrum. You auctioneers are licenced gentlemen, and you do exaggeratea little sometimes. Are you not doing so now?"

"Look at my face, Sir Thomas. My arm is terribly strained. "

"Um--yes, but it does not sound reasonable to me, as an old man of theworld who has had much to do with boys. "

"I have stated my case, Sir Thomas, " said Mr Dempster in an ill-usedtone. 

"Are you sure that you did not use the cane first yourself?"

"I--I will not swear I did not, Sir Thomas. I was very angry. "

"Hah! yes, " said the old gentleman, nodding his head. "Now, boy, speakthe truth. This is a very serious business; what have you to say?"

"Got hold of me, sir, and was going to hit me, and we wrestled, and thehat was knocked over, and the stick, and he trod on his 'at, sir, and Isings out to Mayne Gordon--this is him, sir--to take the stick away, buthe got it, sir, and I calls out to Gordon not to let him thrash me. "

"Gently, gently, " cried the old gentleman, holding up his hands, forEsau's words came pouring out in a breathless way, and every one waslaughing. 

"No, sir, not a bit gently; 'ard, sir, awful! and I can show the marks, and Gordon--that's him, sir--says he'd no business to 'it his mate, andhe 'it him, and then Gordon got hold of the cane and held on, and MrDempster, he got it away again, and cut him across the ear, sir, and itbled pints, and 'it him again, and then I went at him and held him, andGordon got the cane away and 'it 'im, sir, and then we ran away, and thepolice took us and locked us up, and that's all. "

"And enough too, " said Sir Thomas good-humouredly. "There, hold yourtongue. --Now, you, sir, what have you to say?--the same as yourcompanion?"

"I'm very sorry, sir, " I said huskily; and then a feeling of indignationseemed to give me strength, and I continued, "What Esau Dean says is alltrue. Mr Dempster has behaved cruelly to us, and I could not standstill and see him beat Esau. I only tried to hold the stick so that heshould not strike him, and then he hit me here, and here, and then Ithink I got hold of it, and--I don't remember any more, sir. I'm verysorry now. "

"I ain't, " said Esau defiantly. 

"Do you want me to send you to prison, sir?" cried the old gentleman. 

"No, sir. "

"Then hold your tongue. Any witnesses, constable?"

"No, Sir Thomas. "

"Humph! Well, really, Mr Dempster, from what I know of human nature, it seems to me that these lads have both spoken the truth. "

"Incorrigible young scoundrels, Sir Thomas. "

"No, no, no! Excuse me, I think not. A boy is only a very young man, and there is a great responsibility in properly managing them. Themarks upon these lads show that they have had a very cruel attack madeupon them by somebody. You confessed that you struck one of them. Well, I am not surprised, sir, that one took the other's part. I saythis, not as a magistrate, but as a man. You have to my mind, sir, certainly been in the wrong--so have they, for they had their remedy ifthey were ill-used by applying to a magistrate. So understand this, boys--I do not consider you have done right, though I must own that youhad great provocation. "

"Then am I to understand, sir, " began Mr Dempster, in a very differenttone of voice to that which he had before used, "that you are not goingto punish these young scoundrels?"

"Have the goodness to recollect where you are, sir, " said the oldalderman sternly. "Yes, sir, I dismiss the case. "

"Then a more contemptible mockery of justice, " roared Mr Dempster, "Inever saw. "

"Exactly, " said the old alderman, quietly; "your words, Mr Dempster, quite endorse my opinion. You are a man of ungovernable temper, and notfit to have charge of boys. "

"Then--"

"That will do, sir. --The next case. "

"I should like to shake hands with that old chap, " whispered Esau; andthen aloud, as he tossed his cap in the air, "Hooray!"

There was a roar of laughter in the court, and the old alderman turnedvery fiercely upon Esau, and shook his head at him, but I half fancy Isaw him smile, as he turned to a gentleman at his side. 

Then in the midst of a good deal of bustle in the court, and the callingof people's names, the policeman hurried us both away, and soon afterstood shaking hands with us both. 

"You've both come off splendid, my lads, " he said, "and I'm glad of it. Old Sir Thomas saw through Master Dempster at once. I know him; he's abad 'un--regular bully. One of his men--Dingle, isn't his name?--hasoften told me about him. "

"Ah, you don't know half, " said Esau. 

"Quite enough, anyhow, " said the constable, clapping Esau on theshoulder; "and you take my advice, don't you go back to him. "

"No, " said Esau; "he wouldn't have us if we wanted. "

"What are you going to do, then?"

"Join the Royal Artillery, " said Esau, importantly. 

"Join the Royal Nonsense, boy!" said the big, bluff constable. "Betterbe a p. C. Than that. Plenty of gents in the city want clerks. "

"Then, " said Esau, "they shan't have me. "

But he did not say it loud enough for the constable to hear, the wordsbeing meant for me, and after once more shaking hands with us the mansaid, "Good-bye, " and we were out in the busy streets once more--as itseemed to me, the only two lads in London with nothing to do. 

I was walking along by Esau's side, low-spirited in spite of ouracquittal, for everything seemed so novel and strange, when Esau, whohad been whistling, looked round at me. 

"Now then, " he said, "will you come with me?"

"Where?"

"Woolwich. 'Tillery. "

"No. And you are not going. "

"Oh, ain't I?"

"No, " I said. "You are going home. Your mother must be very anxiousabout us. "

"I'd forgotten all about her, " cried Esau. "I say, look: here's oldDemp. "

If I had obeyed my first inclination I should have turned down the firststreet to avoid our late employer; but I kept on boldly, as he cametowards us, and I expected that he would go by, but he stopped short, and looked from one to the other. 

"Oh, here you are, " he said; "look out, my lads, I have not done yet. If you think I am going to be beaten like this, you are--"

"Come on, Esau, " I whispered, and we did not hear the end of his threat. 

"There!" cried Esau. "Now what do you say? He'll be giving us intocustody again. 'Tillery's our only chance. He daren't touch us there. But I say, he isn't going back to the office. Let's run and get what'sin our desks. There's my old flute. "

"I thought you did not want to be given into custody again?" I cried. "Why, if we go and try to touch anything there, and he catches us, he issure to call in the police. "

"Never thought o' that, " said Esau, rubbing one ear. "I say, don't be acoward. Come on down to Woolwich. "

"You go on directly to your mother and tell her all about it. "

"I say, don't order a fellow about like that. You ain't master. "

"You do as I tell you, " I said, firmly. 

"Oh, very well, " he replied, in an ill-used tone. "If you say I am to, I suppose I must. Won't you come too?"

"No; I'm going up to see Mr John Dempster to tell him all about it, andask him to give me his advice. "

"Ah, it's all very fine, " grumbled Esau; "it's always Mr John Dempsternow. You used to make me a friend and ask my advice: now I'm nobody atall. You always was such a gentleman, and too fine for me. "

"Don't talk like that, Esau, " I said; "you hurt me. "

He turned and caught hold of my hand directly. "I didn't mean it, " hesaid, huskily. "On'y don't chuck me over. I won't go for a soldier ifyou don't want, but let's stick together. "

"I should like to, Esau, " I said, "for I've no friends but you and MrJohn. "

"Oh, I don't know 'bout friends, " he said. "I don't want to be friends, 'cause I'm not like you, but let's keep together. I'll do anything youwant, and I'll always stick up for you, same as you did for me. "

"I should be an ungrateful brute if I did part from you, Esau, for Ishall never forget how kind you and your mother have always--"

"Don't! don't! don't!" he cried, putting his fingers in his ears. "Nowyou're beginning to preach at me, and you know I hate that. I say, let's call at the auction-rooms and say good-bye to old Dingle. Dempster won't be there. "

I hesitated, and then hurried down the next street with Esau, for Ithought I should like to say a friendly word to the porter, who hadalways been pleasant and kind, little thinking how it would influence myfuture career. 

He was just inside the long sale-room, and he came out to us directly toshake hands gleefully. 

"All right, lads, " he cried. "I know all about it. I was there, andheard every word. Serve him precious well right! Ah, you're luckyones. Wish I was out of his service. What are you both going to do?"

"I don't know, " I said sadly. "Esau here wants to be a soldier. "

"Yes, he always was mad that way. Don't you listen to him. "

"Better be a soldier than old Demp's clerk. "

"Don't you be too sure, my lad, " said Dingle. "There are such things asdrill-sergeants in the army, and they tell me they're a kind of DoubleDempsters. It's awkward for you, Master Gordon. You see, you'll haveto send to the guv'nor for a reference when you try for another place, and he won't give you one, see if he does. "

"No, " I said sadly, "there is no chance there. What would you do?"

"Well, " he said, taking off his carpet cap, and stroking his thin greyhair, "it's easy to advise anybody, but it ain't easy to advise right. "

"Never mind, " I said, "try. "

"Well, sir, speaking as a poor man, if I was like you, out of a'gagement, and no character 'cept for being able to thrash your ownmaster--"

"Oh, Dingle!" I cried. 

"Well, sir, it's true enough, " he said; and he bent down to indulge in along silent fit of laughter. 

"Don't do that, " I said uneasily, "it's nothing to laugh at. "

"Well, 'tis, and it 'tisn't, sir, " said Dingle, wiping his eyes on thecorner of his apron. 

"What would you do if you were out of an engagement?"

"Me? I should do what my brother did--hemigrate. "

"Your brother did, Ding? To a nice place?" cried Esau. 

"Yes, my lad, and he's getting on fine. "

"Then why didn't you go too, and get on fine?"

"'Cause I've got a houseful o' children, and nearly all gals. That'swhy, Clevershakes. "

"But what does your brother do?" I said eagerly. "Is he anauctioneer's porter?"

"Love and bless your heart, Mr Gordon, sir, no, " he cried. "I don'tbelieve there's such a thing over there. He went out in the woods, andgot a bit o' land give him, and built hisself a log-house, and made agarden, and got cows, and shoots in the woods. "

"Here, hold hard, Ding, " cried Esau, excitedly; "that'll do. Goesshooting in the woods?"

"Yes, and gets a deer sometimes, and one winter he killed a bear and twowolves, my lad. "

"That's the place, " cried Esau. "Hooroar! Come on, Master Gordon, let's go there. "

Dingle laughed. 

"Hark at him, sir. What a one he is! Why, you don't know even where itis. "

"I don't care where it is, " cried Esau. "You say you can go there, andget some land, and live in the woods, and make your own house, and shootbears and wolves--that's just the thing I should like to do. "

"Why, you said you wanted to jyne the Ryle Artilleree. "

"Yes, but I didn't know of this place then. Where is it? How do yougo? You'll come too, won't you?"

"I don't know, " I said, slowly, for my imagination was also fired by theidea of living in such a land of liberty as that. In fact, as I spoke, bright pictures of green forests and foaming rivers and boats began toform in my mind. "Yes, " I cried, "I think I should like to go. "

"Hooroar! Where is it, Ding?"

"Oh, my brother's in Bri'ish Columbia, but it's a long, long way. "

"Oh, we don't mind that, " cried Esau. "How do you get there?"

"Him and his wife and their boy went eight or nine year ago. Sailed ina ship from the docks, and it took 'em five months. "

"Oh!" said Esau, in a disappointed tone. "Five months! Why, I didn'tthink there was anywhere so far off as that. "

"Ah! but there is, and in one letter he told me that a man he knew wasonce a year going, but he went in a waggon instead of a ship. "

"Get out! He's gammoning us, " cried Esau. "You can't drive a waggonover the sea. "

"Who said you could, Clevershakes?" said Dingle--then turning to me, "Hewent over to Canady by ship, and then all acrost the prayerees in awaggon--lots o' waggons all together, because o' the Injins. "

"Fire-injins?" said Esau, eagerly. "No. Dunno though, " said Dingle, grinning; "they did fire at 'em a deal. "

"Red Injins!" cried Esau. "Oh, I say, I think I'd rather go that way, because there'd be some fighting. "

"What, ain't you had fightin' enough, boy? Want to get at it again?What yer thinking about, Mr Gordon?"

I started, for my thoughts were far away. "I was thinking about yourbrother, " I said, hastily. 

"Ah! but such a life wouldn't do for you, my lad. There's no cleanhands out there--leastwise I dessay they're clean sometimes. What Imean is, it's always hard, rough work, and no setting on a stuffed seatand writing on bloo paper. Why, what do you think my brother had forchairs in his house?"

"Boxes, " I said. 

"No, boxes made tables. Stumps of wood--logs cut off a fir tree--nocastors on them, my lad. "

"British Columbia?" I said, thoughtfully, as I tried to remember wherethat country was on the map, and I am afraid getting a very hazy notionas to its position. 

"Yes, my lad, Bri'ish Columbia; and if you go out there and mention myname, my brother will be glad enough to see you, I know. There--I mustget to work 'fore the guv'nor catches me, or p'r'aps there'll be anotherfight, and me wanting a fresh place too. " So we shook hands, promisingto go and see him again, and directly after Esau and I parted, he goingsouth for home, I going north, and feeling a curious sensation ofshrinking as I neared Mr John Dempster's home. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

MY FRIENDS' PLANS. 

They were both in the little sitting-room, when Maria, who had given mea very indignant look for dragging her down to the gate, announced thevisitor and went away, closing the door more loudly than was necessary, and the reception I had was very warm as they both rose from where theyhad been turning over some letters together. 

"Why, Mayne, " cried Mr John, "this is an unexpected pleasure, " and hemade way for Mrs John, who took my hand, smiling in her gentle way, andthen turning serious and eager as she exclaimed--

"There is something the matter?"

I nodded, for I could not speak. 

"Some trouble with--my cousin?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, hoarsely; and for a few minutes the words would notcome, the incidents of the past twenty-four hours having upset me morethan I was aware. 

"Don't hurry, my boy, don't hurry; and don't question him, Alexes. Didyou walk up?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Ah, a nice day for walking. We two ought to have had ours, but someletters--a little business--kept us in. We have had a very longcommunication from my wife's brother, and it necessitates a great dealof thinking at our time of life. "

"I--I have left Mr Dempster, sir, " I said. 

"Indeed! I am not surprised, Mayne, and--bless me! what is the matterwith your ear?"

The words came now, and I told him everything, while before I had halfgot through my narrative, Mr John was upon his legs tramping excitedlyup and down the little room, and uttering angry ejaculations from timeto time. 

"You--you are not very angry with me?"

"Angry?" he cried. "I am more than angry that such a thing could havehappened, and the principal actor in it have been one who bears the samename as myself. It is cruel--scandalous--disgraceful; and above all, tohave exposed you to such an indignity--in custody like a common thief!But there, you shall not continue in his office. "

I could not help giving him rather a droll look. 

"Of course, sir, " I said, "I am discharged. "

"Yes, yes, I had forgotten that, " he said, hurriedly. "You must have abetter post--one more suited to your abilities. Now, let me see--let mesee--what steps ought I to take first? Something in the city, perhaps, or I would rather see you in one of the Government offices. "

I looked at him wonderingly, as he sat down at the table now, and takingup a letter, used it to tap on the polished wood. 

"Yes, I think in one of the Government offices, " he continued, while Iglanced now at Mrs John, whose face was full of the lines caused by herthoughts. 

As she met my eyes, she gave me a piteous look, and shook her headsadly, as if saying something by way of warning. 

"Yes, I think decidedly one of the Government offices, my dear, butwhich?"

As he spoke he raised his eyes and looked at Mrs John, who met his gazewith one so full of loving tenderness that it impressed me, and the morethat I saw what a change took place directly in Mr John's countenance, ending by his looking down at the letter he held in his hand. 

"Ah, " he exclaimed, "what a miserable dreamer I am! Always the same!Mayne, my boy, " he added, piteously, "you must not listen to me. Icannot even help myself, and here am I talking to you in this vain, foolish way. "

He let his head drop into his hands, and sat bent down till Mrs Johnwent to his side. 

"Don't give way, " I heard her whisper; "it was your good heart thatspoke. "

"My good heart, " he said piteously--"no, my weak, foolish, dreamingbrain. It was always so, and I have brought you down to poverty likethis. "

She bent lower, and whispered a few words which seemed quite totransform him. 

"Yes, " he cried, with his face flushing, "I am always ungrateful, andletting present troubles set benefits aside. Mayne, my boy, I wantedyou to come and see us. I told you that we were going abroad--for mywife's health--I might say for my own, " he added, with a smile, "for Iam no use here in England. "

"And you are going, sir?" I said, glad to find that the conversationwas changing. 

"Yes; to join my dear wife's brother. He has sent us an invitation. Hethinks I might like the life out there, and he is sure that it will giverenewed health to his sister. "

"I am very glad, sir, " I said, holding out my hands to both, "and--verysorry. "

"To lose _us_, " said Mr John. "Yes; now we are getting to know eachother so well, it will be painful. "

"Are you going to Canada, sir?" I said, hastily, for the idea of losingalmost my only friends chilled me. 

"To Canada first, then on by slow degrees to the great North-West. Mybrother-in-law--did I not tell you?"

I shook my head. 

"He is in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, chief at one of theirstations in British Columbia. "

"British Columbia!" I exclaimed. 

"Yes. What do you know of the country?"

"Nothing, sir, only that one of Mr Dempster's men has a brother there. But it is a rough place, wild, and there are forests. Mrs John couldnot go there. "

"No place could be rough or wild to me, Mayne, " she said, smiling, "if Icould find health and strength. "

"And you will there, dear, " cried Mr John excitedly. "Your brothersays the country is lovely, and that the slow waggon journey across, though rough, will be invigorating. It will take many months, Mayne, "he continued, speaking as eagerly and joyfully as a boy preparing for aholiday, "but my brother-in-law has sent us ample for our expenses, andhe tells us to take our time, and once there I shall easily be able torepay him, either by assisting him, or by means of a farm. Alexes, mydarling, I feel now that nature meant me for a farmer, and at last I amgoing to succeed. "

"Nature meant you, John, " she replied, with a look of pride at him, "forwhat you are, what you always have been, and will be. "

"A poor dreamer?"

"No, my dear husband--a gentleman. "

"I thought I was sorry as well as glad, " I said, after a pause. "I amnow very glad. When do you go?"

"As soon as we can make all the arrangements, " said Mr John. 

"But you cannot journey in a waggon by yourselves. "

"We cannot?"

"No, sir; you must join a party--quite a caravan. "

"That is what Dan said in the letter, dear, " said Mrs John. 

"Of course. My head is in such a whirl. I had forgotten--but you, Mayne, you talk as if you understand all this. "

"I have beard, sir, " I said, colouring a little; "that is all. "

"But you, my boy?--we can't go and leave you in distress, and without anengagement. "

He whispered something to her. 

"I had thought the same, " she said, gently; "but I did not think itright to propose it. "

"Not if he could do better here, " cried Mr John, excitedly. "Mayne, myboy, we have only known each other a few months, but it has been enoughto make me understand you. My wife will vouch for me. It seems to methat you are alone, an orphan without a chance of raising yourself here:will you come with us to try your fortune in the new land?"

"Would you take me with you?" I cried, excitedly. 

"Take you, my boy?" he cried, "gladly; but, Alexes, speak for me, dear. I am so prone to let heart master judgment. Should I be doing right?Should I be doing right?"

There was a silence in the little room which lasted for some minutes, and during that time the shouts of a party of lads engaged in some sportcame ringing through the window. 

"Yes, " cried Mr John, "you hear that--boys at play! It seems to methat our young friend here should be engaged as they are, and not becalled upon to enter into the struggle for life away in some wildcountry. "

"But I have been at work now for years, Mr John, " I said. 

"Yes, my lad, I know, and I want to help you; but misfortune has somarked me for her own that I seem now to have lost all faith in myself. "

"Have you no relatives, Mayne?" said Mrs John, gravely. "There arepeople who could help you to some engagement?"

I shook my head. 

"None that I know of, " I said. 

"And when we are gone what will you do?"

"Obtain some situation, I hope. "

"You hope, my boy. It is a poor prospect, that. I do not like to say, come with us to this new land, though I believe any enterprising ladwould be sure to make his way. "

"Then why shouldn't I come?"

"Because prosperity will have to be fought for, and obtained at so greata cost. Civilisation has to be left behind. It will be a rough life. "

"But if a delicate lady could bear it, why should not I?"

"I have told you why I could bear it, " she said, smiling. "You must notjudge hastily, Mayne. I am afraid to say come. "

"Would you both like me to come?" I said, looking from one to theother. 

"For our own sakes, yes. For yours we are afraid to speak, " said MrsJohn, and her husband nodded his acquiescence in her words. 

"Then I shall come, " I said, firmly. "Not with you. I shall go bysea. "

"You will go?" cried Mr John, looking at me wonderingly. 

"Yes, sir; and perhaps I shall get there first. "

"But, my dear boy, how?"

"I don't know, sir, " I said, laughing; "I am going to talk to a man Iknow, and--Oh, I had forgotten!"

"Forgotten what?"

"Esau, " I said, "the lad who worked with me in the office. "

Mr John looked at his wife in a perplexed way. 

"Let us think about it all, " said Mrs John. "This companion of yours--Esau--do you like him?"

"Oh, yes, " I cried; "he has always been most kind, and he wants to gowith me--for us to be together. "

I did not grasp it so well then as I did afterwards, though I had anundefined feeling that my fellow clerk's company would not be agreeableto them; and when I left them that night, it was with the feeling thatit was quite certain that my new friends would start, possibly beforethe month was out; while as far as I was concerned, my prospects werevery much as they were. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

A STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT. 

That night when I got back to Camberwell, I found that not only hadsupper been ready above an hour, but Mrs Dean and Esau were bothwaiting for me to join them. 

"I thought we'd make a sort of a party of it, " said Esau, "only not askanybody, so that we could enjoy ourselves, though if that policeman wasanywhere near, and old Dingle wasn't so far off, I should like to havehad them in. "

"Oh, I am glad you've come, " cried Mrs Dean, "for Esau has been goingon so. "

"Only, " continued Esau, ignoring his mother's words, "you couldn't askold Dingle without asking his wife and twelve children, and that wouldtake such a lot of plates, without counting the pie mother's made, andthat's only just enough for three. "

"But why have you got such a grand hot supper?" I said. 

"Because of its being a holiday, and because we're going to make a freshstart in life over there in the woods. "

"Esau, my dear, don't, pray don't, " whimpered his mother. "It was badenough sitting up for you all night, and you not coming, but it's farworse when you will go on like that. "

"Come, sit down, Mr Gordon. I'm as hungry as can be. Why you know youwent to sleep, mother. "

"I didn't, my dear. I never had a wink all night for expecting you. "

"Well, how could I help it, mother? We should have been home safeenough if we hadn't been locked up in a dun John. "

"Yes, and my boy in custody--in prison. Oh dear me! oh dear me!"

"Ah!" shouted Esau, striking the table hard with a spoon. "You dare tocry again, and I won't eat a bit of supper. "

"But I can't help it, Esau, " sobbed the poor little woman; "I declareI've been seeing nothing but policemen and prison vans ever since youtold me where you had been. "

"All comes o' getting into bad company, mother, " said Esau, cutting thesteaming steak pie. "There; that's an extra spoonful o' gravy for youif you promise not to cry. "

He passed a plate to where his mother sat, and began to help me. 

"Bad company's the ruin of all boys, " continued Esau, laughing at me. "Look at Mr Gordon's ear, and that mark on his face. "

"Oh, my dear, " cried Mrs Dean, "my eyes were so dim, I didn't see. Isit very bad?"

"'Course you couldn't see, " cried Esau, "if you keep on crying. Why youought to laugh for joy to think Mr Gordon and me's got out of badcompany, and left old Dempster for good. "

"I am glad, my dear, if it's for your good, I'm sure. Let me give you ahot baked potato, Mr Gordon, my dear. But Esau has been going on inthe wildest way--says he shall start across the sea to some dreadfulplace. "

"That I didn't, mother; I said it was a lovely place. There you are, master. Mr Esau Dean, may I have the pleasure of helping you to somepoy?"

"He says he shall be an emigrant, my dear, and shall go and buildhimself a house in the woods. "

"Well, " said Esau, helping himself quickly, "there's no room here inLondon to build one, and if there was the people wouldn't let me havethe ground. "

"And it's all madness, and wild as wild. "

"Well, you might give your poor son, who has just escaped outer prison, a hot potato, " said Esau, grinning at me again. 

"Oh, my dear, I beg your pardon. There, let me help you. That's abeauty. "

"Then why didn't you give it to Mr Gordon?"

"Do be quiet, my dear. How you do talk. I really think you're halfcrazy. "

"I was, mother, to stop with old `going, going, gone' so long. Nevermind; I'm going to have land of my own, and a house in the woods, whereI can go and shoot bears and wolves. "

"There, Mr Gordon, my dear, that's how he has been going on ever sincehe came home. "

"Hold your plate for some more gravy, " said Esau to me. "That's theworst part of it. I shan't have mother to make hot steak pies andlovely crusts. "

"It isn't half so good as I should like to make it, Esau, " said the poorlittle woman sadly; "but do be a good boy, and leave off all thatdreadful talk. Mr Gordon don't go on like that. "

"No, but he thinks all the more, mother. "

"He don't, I'm sure. Now do you, Mr Gordon?"

"I'm afraid I've quite made up my mind to go, Mrs Dean, " I said sadly. 

"Oh, my dear, don't, " she cried. "It's too dreadful. Right on theother side of the world, where there's bears and wolves, and for all weknow perhaps savage Red Indians. "

"Oh, there are, mother, lots of 'em; and they scallop people and roast'em. "

"Esau!" half shrieked the poor little woman wildly. 

"Don't eat 'em afterwards, do they, Mr Gordon?"

"Don't listen to him, Mrs Dean, " I cried. "He is saying all this totease you. "

"I thought so, " she cried triumphantly. "Then he doesn't mean to go?"

I was silent, and Mrs Dean's knife and fork dropped on the table. 

"Tell me--the truth, " she cried, rising and laying her hand on myshoulder. 

"The truth is, Mrs Dean, that we have both lost our situations, andthat I'm afraid Mr Dempster will be so malicious that he will keep usfrom getting others. "

"Yes, I'm afraid of that, " she said sadly. 

"So as we have heard that any one who likes to try can get on out there, we did think of going. "

"And we do think of going, mother dear, " said Esau gently. "Come, tryand look at it sensibly. I know you will not like me to go, and when itcomes to the time, I shan't like to leave you; but I'm such asleepy-headed chap, I shall never get on here, and if I go over there itwill wake me up. "

"But I couldn't part with you, my boy, " cried Mrs Dean. "I should beall alone. What would become of me?"

"Why you'd go on just as you are, and I should send you home some moneysometimes; and when I've made my fortune I shall come back and make alady of you. "

"No, no, no, " she said, with the tears running down her cheeks; "I'drather stop as we are, Esau. "

"Yes, but we can't. "

"Yes, we can, dear. I've saved a few pounds now, and it only meansworking a little harder. I can keep you, and I'm sure--"

"Stop!" roared Esau huskily. "I'm ashamed of you, mother. Do you thinkI'm going to be such a sop of a fellow as to sit down here and let youkeep me? I suppose you'll want to keep Mr Gordon next. "

"Then you've got nothing to be ashamed of, I'm sure, sir, " said thelittle woman tartly. "What's enough for two's enough for three, and Iwas going to say, when you went on like that, that if Mr Gordonwouldn't mind, and not be too proud at things not being quite soplentiful, which everything should be clean as clean, it's very, verywelcome you'd be, my dear, for you never could have been nicer if youhad been my own boy. "

"Mrs Dean, " I cried, with a curious feeling in my throat, while Esaulooked at me searchingly, as if he thought I was going to accept theoffer, "that is quite impossible. Neither Esau nor I could do that. Why, I should be ashamed even to think of it. "

"Oh no, " said Esau, sarcastically, "it's all right. Let mother do thework, and we two will play at tops and marbles all day. "

"Be quiet, Esau. I know you're only teasing. But why not, my dear? Iknow I'm a very little woman, but I'm very strong. "

"It's be quiet, mother, I think, " cried Esau angrily. "What do you meanby talking like that to Mr Gordon? I often calls him Gordon, 'causehe's always been such a good chap to me; but I don't forget he's agentleman's son, and his mother was a born lady. I'm ashamed of you, mother, that I am. "

"But it's so dreadful, my boy--worse than your being a soldier. I couldcome down to Woolwich to see you sometimes. "

"No, no, Mrs Dean, " I said; "don't say that. It really would be wisefor us to go. People do get on out there, and those friends of mine, Mr John Dempster and Mrs John, are going. "

"That's it then, " cried the little lady angrily. "It's their doing, andit's a shame. "

"Here, hold hard, mother!" cried Esau. "I say, is that true?"

"Quite. "

"And now you're trying to blind me, Esau, " cried Mrs Dean; "but youcan't cheat me. "

"Who's trying to blind you?"

"You, sir. Just as if you didn't know all the time. "

"He did not know, neither did I know till I went up there to-day, " Isaid. 

"Ah, I never liked those people. They're only Dempsters, and notcontent with weaning you away from me, they've done the same now with myboy. "

"Did you ever hear such an unbelieving old creature, " cried Esauexcitedly. "Mr and Mrs John D. Going! Why you've coaxed 'em intoit. "

"You don't deceive me; you don't deceive me, " said Mrs Dean, sobbing. 

"Be quiet, mother!--But how is it they're going?"

"For Mrs John's health. I told you before they said they might go toCanada. "

"So you did. "

"Of course you did, " said Mrs Dean, scornfully. 

"They are going to join Mrs John's brother, who is manager out at aHudson's Bay Company's station. "

"Hudson's Bay, " said Esau, making a grimace; "that's up at the NorthPole. I don't want to go there. "

"Nonsense!" I said; "it's somewhere in British Columbia. "

"Hudson's Bay, Baffin's Bay, Davis' Straits--all up at the North Pole. Think nobody never learnt jography but you?"

"Ah, well, never mind where it is, " I said impatiently; "they're goingout there. "

"And they've coaxed you two boys away from a poor lone widow woman to gowith them, " cried Mrs Dean; "and it's a sin and a shame. "

"I assure you, Mrs Dean--"

"No, sir, you can't. "

"Will you be quiet, mother!" cried Esau angrily, "and go on with yoursupper, and let us. You're crying right into the salt. "

"I'm not, sir! and I will not be put down by a boy like you. I say youshan't go. "

"And I say I shall, " replied Esau surlily. "If you don't know what'sfor the best, I do. "

"It isn't for the best, and it's cruel of you, Esau. "

"Well, " said Esau, turning to me, "I've made up my mind, Gordon; shewon't care when it's all over, and then she'll see it's for the best forall of us. So once for all, will you stick to it?"

"Yes, " I said, "I am quite determined now. "

"Hear that, mother?"

"Oh yes, I hear, sir. "

"Then don't say sir; and let's finish supper comfortably, for I haven'thad half enough. But let's have it all over, and then settle down toit. So once for all, I'm going out to British Columbia to make myfortune. "

Mrs Dean had been sitting down for some little time now, and as Esausaid these last words she started up, gave the table a sharp slap withher hand, looked defiantly at us both, and exclaimed--

"Then I shall come too. "

We two lads sank back in our chairs astonished. Then we looked at eachother, and we ended by bursting out laughing. 

"Oh, all right, " said Esau at last. "That's right, mother. --She'scoming to do the shooting for us while we build up the house. "

"Ah, you may laugh, sir. But if that's a place that is good for twolads like you to get on in, it's a good place for a respectablehard-working woman who can wash, and cook, and bake bread, whether it'sloaves or cakes. "

"Well, mother can make cakes, " said Esau, "and good ones. "

"Of course I can, sir; and very glad you'll be of 'em too when you'rethousands of miles from a baker's shop. "

"Yes; but the idee of your coming!" cried Esau. "Haw, haw, haw!"

Somehow it did not seem to me such a very preposterous "idee, " as Esaucalled it, for just then I too had an idea. Mrs John was going thatlong waggon journey; what could be better for her than to have a cleverlittle managing, hard-working woman like Mrs Dean with her?

But I did not say anything about it then, for I had to think the matterover. Only a few hours ago it had seemed as if my connection with Esauwas likely to be in the way of my accompanying the Dempsters; nowmatters were taking a form that looked as if my friendliness with himwas to be the reason, not only for my being their companion, but ofhelping them admirably as well. 

But matters were not quite in shape yet, and we all went to bed thatnight feeling as if Esau's opinion was correct--that the little supperhad not been a success. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

DIFFICULTIES. 

Mrs Dean was in waiting for me next morning, and attacked me directly. 

"Do, do, pray try and help me, my dear, " she whispered, so that hervoice might not rise to the little bed-room where we could hear Esaustamping about, knocking the jug against the basin, and snorting like ahippopotamus over his ablutions. "You have such a way with you, andEsau looks up to you so as being a gentleman, and I know he'll do whatyou tell him. "

"Nonsense, Mrs Dean!" I said; "surely he'll mind his mother more thanhe does me. "

"No, my dear, no, " she said sadly. "He has always been the dearest andbest of boys, and I used to make him think just as I liked; but of late, since he has been grown big and strong, he generally ends by making methink as he likes, and he is so obstinate. "

"Oh no; he's a very good fellow. "

"Yes, my dear. Hush! don't talk so loud. You see he has got it intohis head that it is the best thing for us, and I want you to get itout. "

"But how can I, when I think the same?"

"Now, Mr Gordon, my dear, you don't--you can't think it's best for youtwo boys to go trapesing hundreds of thousands of miles, and goingliving among wild beasts in forests. "

"I'm afraid I do, without the wild beasts, " I said. 

"But suppose you were both taken ill, my dear, there's no hospitals, ordispensaries, or doctors out there. "

"But you said you would come with us, and if we were taken ill, wherecould we get a better nurse?"

"It's very kind of you to say so, my dear, and of course I shouldn'tthink of going without some camomiles, and poppy-heads, and a littlecastor-oil, and salts and senny, and jollop. Yes, and a roll ofsticking-plaster. And that reminds me, how is your poor ear?"

"Oh, not very bad, " I said laughing. "But there, I'm afraid I cannot dowhat you wish, Mrs Dean, for if Esau does not come, I shall certainlygo myself. "

"And he'd be sure to, then, my dear. He'd have been a soldier by thistime, only you kind of held him back. He does think such a deal of--"

"Hallo, you two! Ketched you, have I, making plots and plans?"

"No, no, my dear. "

"Why, you've been coaxing him to get me not to go. "

"Well, my dear, it was something of that sort. "

"Yes, I know, mother. That's just like you, trying to stop me when I'mgoing to make a big fortune. "

"But you don't know that you are, my dear. Such lots of people goabroad to make fortunes, and I never knew one yet who brought a fortuneback. "

"Then you're going to know two now--him and me. Breakfast ready?"

"Yes, my dears; and I thought you'd like some hot rolls, so I went andgot 'em. "

"I say, mother, you're going it. Hot rolls! Are they buttered?"

"Yes, my dear, and in the oven. "

"Did you cut 'em in three?"

"Yes, dear, and put plenty of butter in, as you like them. "

"Hooray! Come on then, and let's begin. "

"But, Esau dear, if you'll only promise to stop, you shall have hotrolls for breakfast every morning. You shall, if I work night and day. "

"Then Esau and I would rather have hard biscuit and dry bread outyonder, Mrs Dean, " I said warmly; and Esau shouted--

"Hear, hear!"

Two days passed, then a third, and we had been out, and, to pleaseEsau's mother, tried in several places to get engagements. But we soonfound that it was hopeless, and after tramping about for hours went backto the cottage. 

"Such waste of time, and such a lot of trouble, " grumbled Esau. "Why, we might have done a lot of good work hunting, or shooting, orgardening, out in Merriky yonder. "

But Mrs Dean only shook her head, and told us to try again; and wetried. 

I think it was on the fourth evening that we were sitting in the littlekitchen, tired, discontented, and miserable, with Mrs Dean stitchingaway more quickly than ever, when we all started, for there was a doubleknock at the door, "Hullo!" cried Esau. 

"Hush! my dear, " said his mother, mysteriously; "I know. It's eitherMr Dempster to beg you to go back, or news about a new place. "

She smoothed her apron and went to the door, picking off threads andravelings from her dress so as to look neat, though that she alwayslooked; and the next moment I ran to the door too, for I heard afamiliar voice, and to my surprise found both Mr and Mrs John. 

"Ah, my dear boy, " he cried eagerly, "we were getting uneasy about you, and thought you must be ill. My wife could not rest till we came. "

I led them into the little parlour, and placed chairs; while Mrs Dean, after a humble courtesy, went away into the kitchen. 

"Is that your landlady?" continued Mrs John, as she glanced quicklyround; and, before I could answer, "How beautifully neat and clean. "

"Yes, beautifully, " assented Mr John, hurriedly. "Have you heard of anengagement, Mayne?"

"No, sir, " I said sadly. 

"Then you have not tried?"

"Indeed, sir, both Esau and I have tried very hard, as his mother is soaverse to his going abroad. "

"Then you have given up all thought of going abroad, my dear boy?"

I shook my head. 

"But you should, Mayne, " said Mrs John, in rather a low voice. "We areforced to go for my health's sake, but you are young and strong, andwith energy you ought to succeed here. "

"I should like to do what you think right, ma'am, " I said sadly. 

"And we both think it right, my boy, " said Mr John. "We should dearlylike to have you with us; but it would be unjust to you to encourage youto take a step which you might afterwards bitterly repent, and we shouldfeel ourselves to blame. "

I looked at Mrs John, and she took my hand, and said sadly--

"Yes, we have had many talks about it, Mayne, and we can only come tothat conclusion. "

"Then you are both going away, and I shall never see you again?" I saidbitterly. 

"Who can say?" said Mrs John, smiling. "You know why I am going. Imay come back in a few years strong and well, to find you a prosperousand--Ah!"

"Alexes! my child!" cried Mr John in agony, for Mrs John, who had beenspeaking in a low voice, suddenly changed colour, raised her hands toher throat, as she uttered a low sigh, and would have fallen from herchair if I had not caught and supported her. 

We were lifting her to the little horse-hair couch, when there was a tapat the door, and Mrs Dean appeared. 

"Is anything the--"

"Matter, " she would have said, but as she caught sight of Mrs John'swhite face, she came forward quickly, and with all the clever managementof a practised nurse, assisted in laying the fainting woman back on thecouch. 

"She's weak, and been trying to do too much, sir. "

"Yes, yes, I was afraid, " cried Mr John. "But she would come--to seeyou, Mayne. Tell me where--I'll run for a doctor. "

"Oh no, sir, " said Mrs Dean, quietly; "I'll bathe her temples a bit. She'll soon come round. "

Mrs Dean hurried out of the room, and was back directly with basin, sponge, towels, and a tiny little silver box. 

"You hold that to her nose, Mr Gordon, while I sponge her face. Mind--it's very strong. "

"But a doctor, " panted Mr John in agony. "She has been so terriblyill. This was too much for her. "

"If you fetched a doctor, sir, he'd tell us to do just what we'rea-doing. Bathe her face and keep her head low. There, poor dear! she'scoming round. Oh, how thin and white she is!"

Mrs Dean was quite right, for under her ministrations the patient soonopened her eyes, to look vacantly about for a few moments, and murmur--

"So weak--so weak. "

"Are you better, dearest?" whispered her husband. 

She smiled feebly, and closed her eyes for a time. Then with a deepsigh she looked up again, and made an effort to rise. 

"Ah, that's right, " said Mr John; "you feel better. "

"No, no, " said Mrs Dean, firmly, "not yet. She must lie still till thefaintness has gone off, or she'll bring it back, " and, with a sigh, MrsJohn resigned herself to the stronger will, Mr John nodding at me, andsaying in a whisper--

"Yes, Mayne; she knows best. "

A few minutes later Mrs Dean went towards the door. 

"I'll be back again directly, " she whispered. "I want to speak toEsau. "

She was back directly, and Mrs John held out her hand to her. 

"Thank you, thank you so very much, " she whispered. "I am so sorry tohave given you all this trouble. "

Mrs Dean laughed. 

"Trouble!" she said, merrily; "as if it was trouble for one woman tohelp another. I mean a lady, " she said, colouring. 

There was silence for a few moments, and then Mrs John said--

"I thought I must come down to see Mayne. Has he told you of his wishto go with us to the West?"

"Told me?" cried Mrs Dean, excitedly. "Ah, now you are talking abouttrouble indeed. "

"We came down to tell him that it is impossible--foolish of him to thinkof such a thing. "

"Oh, thank you kindly, ma'am, " cried Mrs Dean; "and me thinking allkinds of evil of you, and that you had been persuading him to go. "

"No, no, my good woman, no, " said Mr John. 

"And thank you too, sir. And I hope Mr Gordon will take it to heart, for if he had gone my Esau would have been sure to go too, and I shouldhave seemed to be quite alone in the world. "

"Yes, it would be hard for you, " said Mrs John, looking at hersearchingly. "Mayne, my dear, you will not try and influence her son?"

I shook my head. 

"Oh, but he don't, ma'am, never, " said Mrs Dean, eagerly; "he crosseshim; but my Esau always sets Mr Gordon here up for a hidle, and thinkswhatever he does must be right. "

"Why, Mayne, " said Mr John, smiling, "I did not know you were such amodel boy. "

"Oh, but he is, sir, " cried Mrs Dean; "and my Esau is ever so muchbetter since--"

"I'm going for a walk, " I said, with my face scarlet. 

But just then there was a tap at the door, to which Mrs Dean responded, and came back directly with a little tray, on which was her favouriteblack teapot and its companions. 

"I'm afraid, ma'am, it isn't such tea as you're used to, but I thought acup--and my boy Esau got it ready. "

Mrs John gave her a grateful look, and soon after, very much refreshed, she quite sat up, Mrs Dean helping her to a chair. 

"But oh, my dear, " she said, "you're so weak and thin; you're not fit totake a long voyage and a journey such as Mr Gordon talked about. "

"If I stay in England I shall die, " said Mrs John, sadly. 

"Oh, don't say that, my--ma'am. But are you going alone?"

"No; with my husband. "

"And soon?"

"The vessel sails in a fortnight. "

"A fortnight? There, Mr Gordon, you see you could not go. It is toosoon. "

"And you will give up all thought of going, Mayne?" said Mrs John, "forour sake. "

I was silent for a few moments, and then my voice was very husky as Isaid--

"For some years now I have had no friends except Mrs Dean and her son. Then I met Mr John Dempster, and since then it has been like having oldtimes. Now you are going away, and you say don't go too. "

"Yes, yes, " said Mrs John; "I am speaking for your good. "

"I know you think you are, Mrs John; but if Mr John here had at my agebeen placed in my position, I'm sure he would not have done as youadvise. "

"I'm afraid I should, my boy, " he faltered. "I never did have yourenergy. "

"Then I can't help it, " I cried. "I shall not say good-bye to you, forgo I must. "

"Oh, Mr Gordon, " cried Mrs Dean, "if you go Esau is sure to go too. "

"Then we will try the harder either to make you a home out there, or tocome back here prosperous men. "

"Then I say it again, " cried Mrs Dean, just as if she were putting myhopes into shape, "you two couldn't make a home comfortable; so if it isto be, why there's an end of it. And look here, sir and ma'am, thispoor dear is not fit to go all that long journey alone, and as I'm goingtoo, I shall come along with you and tend to her, and do the best Ican. "

"Oh no, no, " cried Mrs John. 

"It is impossible, " said Mr John. 

"Do you want to wake up some day, sir, " cried the little woman firmly, "and find this poor, weak, suffering thing dying for want of help? Ofcourse you don't. Here, Esau, " she cried, throwing open the door. 

"Yes, mother; more hot water?" came from the kitchen. 

"No; you may begin to pack up. We're going across the sea. "

Before Mr and Mrs John left us that night it was all settled; and whenI returned from going part of the way with them, I found Esau and hismother hard at work, planning as to what was to be taken and what sold, Mrs Dean rousing her son's anger as I entered the kitchen, and makinghim stamp. 

"Why, what is the matter?"

"Mother is so obstinate, " he cried. 

"Why, what about? Does she say now she will not go?"

"No, Mr Gordon, I only told him I must take my four flat-irons with me. They don't take up much room, and take 'em I will. Why, bless theboys! do you think you won't want clean shirts?"

CHAPTER TEN. 

OFF TO THE WEST. 

That was really the prime difficulty in our leaving England--to keepMrs Dean's ideas of necessaries within bounds. Poor little woman! Shecould not, try how her son and I would to make her, understand what wasthe meaning of simple necessaries. 

"Now it's of no use for you to fly in a passion with your poor mother, Esau, " she used to say. "I've consented to go with you to this wildsavage land, but I must have a few things to make the house comfortablewhen we get there. "

"But don't I tell you you can't take 'em, because they won't have 'emaboard ship; and you can't stuff 'em in a waggon and carry 'em millionsof miles when you get across. "

"If you wouldn't be so unreasonable, Esau. There, I appeal to MrGordon. "

"So do I, " roared Esau. "Does mother want a great ironing-board?"

"No, " I said; "we can make you hundreds out there. "

"Oh dear me. You'll say next I mustn't take my blankets and sheets. "

"You must only take what you can pack in one big chest, " I said. 

"But no chest would hold what I want to take, " whimpered the poor littlewoman. "I declare if I'd known that I was to give up everything I havescraped together all these years I wouldn't have consented to go. Here, Esau, what are you going to do with those ornaments?"

"Set 'em aside for the broker. "

"Esau, I must take them. "

"All right, mother. We'll have a ship on purpose for you, and you shalltake the kitchen fender, the coal-scuttle, the big door-mat, and the oldfour-post bedstead. "

"Oh, thank you, my dear; that is good of--Esau! you're laughing at me, and you too, Mr Gordon. I declare it's too bad. "

"So it is, mother--of you. Once for all, I tell you that you must packthings that will be useful in one big chest, and you can take a fewthings that you'll want on the voyage and in the waggon in a carpetbag. "

"But it's ruinous, my dear--all my beautiful things I've taken suchpride in to be sacrificed. "

"Oh, do hark at her!" cried Esau, sticking two fingers in his ears, andstamping about. "I wish to goodness I'd never had no mother. "

"Then you're a cruel, ungrateful boy, and you'll break my heart beforeyou've done. Mr Gordon, what am I to do?"

"To try and think that we are going to start a new life, and that whenEsau makes a new home for you, all these household things can be gottogether by degrees. "

"But it's ruin, my dear. All these things will go for nothing. "

"They won't, I tell you, " roared Esau. "How many more times am I totell you that Dingle will give us fifty pounds for 'em? Him and anotherman's joining, and they're going to put 'em in sales; and if they don'tmake so much, we've got to pay them, and if they make more, Dingle'sgoing to pay us. What more do you want?"

"Nothing, my dear; I've done, " said Mrs Dean in a resigned tone, suchas would have made a bystander think that the whole business wassettled. It was not, however, for the next day most likely the wholeargument would be gone through again about some trifle. 

Meanwhile I had been helping Mr John, and here Mr Dingle's knowledgecame in very helpful, and he devoted every spare minute he had, workingso well, that he arranged with one of our well-known auctioneers to takethe furniture of the cottage, and triumphantly brought Mr John a chequefor far more than he expected to receive. 

One way and another, Mr John was well provided with funds, laughinglytelling me he had never been so rich before, as I went with him to hislandlord's to give up the key of the pleasant little house. 

For during the rapidly passing days of that fortnight everything hadbeen settled, a passage had been secured for Mrs Dean in the samevessel by which Mr and Mrs John were going, and it had been finallydecided that Esau and I were to go by quite a different route. Forwhile they were to go by swift steamer across to Quebec, and from therethrough Canada with one or other of the waggon-trains right to Fort Elk, on the upper waters of the Fraser, we lads were, after seeing the littleparty off to Liverpool, to go on board the _Albatross_, a clipper shipbound from London to the River Plate, and round by Cape Horn to SanFrancisco, from which port we were to find our way north the best way wecould. 

There would be no difficulty, we were told, for vessels often sailedfrom the Golden Gate to the mouth of the Fraser, but our voyage would beslow. 

It would be rapid though compared to the land journey across theprairies. Our trip would probably last five months, more if our stay atSan Francisco were long; but allowing for halts at the settlements, andthe deliberate way in which, for Mrs John's benefit, the journey was tobe made, their trip would extend to a year--probably more. 

Mr John had gone through it all with me again and again, reading longextracts from his brother-in-law's letter written expressly for theirguidance, till I knew them pretty well by heart. In these he was toldto hasten on to the high and mountainous lands, for it was there theadvantage to Mrs John would be. They would find it cold as the autumnpassed into winter during their journey, intensely cold, perhaps; but itwould be bright and sunshiny as a rule, and the clear pure air of theelevated regions gave health and strength. 

I thought a great deal about it, and felt puzzled sometimes, wonderingwhether it could be wise to take a delicate woman all that tremendousdistance. But I was too young, I thought, to have opinions worthconsideration, and I always came to the conclusion that my elders mustknow best. 

Then came the day for parting, so quickly that I could hardly believeit. The luggage had gone on some days before to Liverpool, and therewere Esau and I seeing after the few things that were to accompany thetravellers in their cabins, as we stood on the platform at Euston. 

Mrs John looked terribly thin and worn, more suited, I thought, forgoing at once to her bed than to venture on such a terrible journey; butthere was a bright, hopeful look in her eyes as I helped her to herseat, and she spoke quite cheerily as she held my hand, Mr John holdingthe other, and we occupied ourselves with our final good-byes, so as notto notice Mrs Dean and her son. But I could not help hearing Esau'swords--

"Oh, I say, mother, don't--don't! You must get to your seat now. There, good-bye, dear. It isn't so very far after all, and we'll bethere waiting for you, and ready to welcome you when you come. "

"But is it right, dear?" she said; "is it right?"

"'Course it is. Don't turn coward. You must go now all the things aresold. "

There was a final embrace; Mrs Dean was hurried into her seat, the doorclosed; Mr John pressed my hand hard without a word, and Mrs John puther arms about my neck and kissed me. 

"God bless you! _au revoir_!" she said. 

"Stand back, sir, please, " some one shouted; the engine gave a piercingshriek, and Esau and I stood on the stone platform watching the trainglide away with many a head out of the window, and hand and kerchiefwaving growing more and more confused, while a sense of desolation andloneliness oppressed me till I quite started at my companion's words. 

"Oh, won't poor mother have a big cry up in a corner all the way down. It's very rum, but I suppose she is fond of me. "

"Fond of you?" I said; "of course. "

"Well, " he said, "here we are, passages paid, and all that money in ourpockets, and nothing to do for two days. What shall us do--go and havea bit of fun, or get on board at the docks?"

"Get on board the _Albatross_, " I said. "There don't seem to me as ifthere is any more fun in the world. "

"Well now, that is a strange thing, " said Esau; "that's just how I feel. Look here. "

"What at?"

"I feel just in the humour for it--as cross and nasty as can be. Let'sgo and say good-bye to old Demp. "

But we did not; we went sadly to the docks, where our boxes alreadywere, and that night took possession of our berths. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

SEVENTEEN WEEKS AT SEA. 

"Much better have let me had it my way, sir, " said Esau, who, ever sincehe had seen the John Dempsters and their treatment of me, had grown tobehave as if I was his superior. 

He spoke those words one day when we had been at sea about a week, theweather having been terribly rough, and the passengers sufferingseverely. 

"Oh, I don't know, Esau, " I said, rather dolefully. 

"I do, sir. If you'd done as I wanted you we should ha' been walkingabout Woolwich now in uniform, with swords under our arms; and I don'tknow how you get on, but I can't walk at all. "

"You should catch hold of something. "

"Catch hold o' something? What's the good when the ship chucks youabout just as if you were a ball. See that chap over there?"

"What, that one-eyed man?"

"Yes; he was going to hit me just now. "

"What for?"

"'Cause I run my head into his chest. I couldn't help it. I'd got mylegs precious wide apart, and was going steadily, when the ship gave aregular jump and then seemed to wag her tail, and sent me flying, andwhen I pollergized to him he said I was always doing it, and ought tosit down. "

"Well, it is safest, Esau, " I said; "I've got several nasty bruises. "

"Bruises! Why, I'm bruised all over, and haven't got a place left clearfor another, so I've begun again making fresh bruises top of the old'uns. "

I laughed. 

"Ah, I don't see nothing to grin at. If you was as sore as I am youwouldn't laugh. Wouldn't have ketched me coming to sea if I'd known howbad it was. Why, it's like being knocked about by old Demp, only worse, for you've got no one to hit back at. "

"It's only a storm, Esau, and you'll like it when the weather's fineagain. "

"Not me. Like it! Look here; I've read books about your yo-ho sailorsand jolly tars, and your bright blue seas, but them as wrote 'em oughtto be flogged. Why, it's horrid. Oh, how ill I have been. I wouldn'tha' cared if mother had been here. She would ha' been sorry for me;'stead o' everybody laughing, as if it was good fun. "

"Well, you can laugh at them. "

"Yes, and I just will too. Oh, hark at that. Here, hold tight, sir!we're going. "

For a tremendous wave struck the ship, making it quiver as tons of waterwashed over her, seeming to beat her down; but she rose as if shakingherself, and then made a pitch. 

"I say, " cried Esau, "I didn't know ships went like fishes sometimes. "

"What do you mean?" I said, as I listened to the rush and roar, andnoticed that it seemed to be getting dark. 

"Why, swim right under water. Shall we ever come up again. Hah! that'sbetter, " for the light streamed in again through the thick round glassat the side by our heads. "I've had about enough of this, sir. What doyou say to getting out at the next pier and walking back?"

"Oh, Esau, " I cried, "don't be such a Cockney. What pier? This is nota river steamer. "

"I only wish it was. But I say, I can't eat, and I can't sleep, and I'msore outside and in. Let's go back and follow mother and them two in awaggon. "

"But don't you know that we should have a rough voyage across first?"

"Couldn't be so rough as this. Oh, there it goes again. I know we'regoing to dive down right to the bottom. Wish we could, and then wemight get out and walk. Here, let's go on deck. "

"We can't, " I said. 

"No, " said the one-eyed man, a big, broad, Saxon-looking fellow, "we'rebattened down. "

"Oh, are we?" said Esau. 

"Yes; you can't go up till this weather's better. Want to be washedoverboard?"

"I should like to be washed somewhere, " said Esau, "for I feel verydirty and miserable. "

"Sit down and wait patiently, my lad, " said the man; "and don't you comebutting that curly head of yours into me again, like an old Southdownram coming at a man. I don't want my ribs broke. "

"Have you been at sea before?" I said to him, as he sat back smoking ashort pipe. 

"Often. Been to 'Stralia, and New Zealand, and the Cape. "

"Was it ever as rough as this?"

"Worse, " he said, laconically. 

"But not so dangerous?" said Esau, in a questioning tone. 

"Worse, " said the man gruffly. 

"But we keep seeming as if we should go to the bottom, " said Esau, fretfully. 

"Well, if we do, we do, boy. We're in for it, so what's the good o'making a fuss?"

"I don't see no good in being drowned without saying a word, " grumbledEsau. "We two paid ever so much for the passage, and a pretty passageit is. "

"Oh, it'll be all right if you keep quiet; but if you get wanderingabout as you do, we shall have you going right through the bulk-head, and have to get the carpenter to cut you out with a saw. "

"Wish he was as ill as I am, " whispered Esau. 

"Thank ye, " said the man, nodding at him. "My eyes are a bit queer, butmy ears are sharp. "

"Where do you suppose we are?" I said. 

"Off Spain somewhere, and I dare say we shall be in smooth water beforelong. Shan't be sorry for a little fresh air myself. "

I was longing for it, our experience being not very pleasant down in thecrowded steerage; and I must confess to feeling sorry a good many timesthat I had come. 

But after a couple more days of misery, I woke one morning to find thatthe ship was gliding along easily, and in the sweet, fresh air and warmsunshine we soon forgot the troubles of the storm. 

The weather grew from pleasantly warm to terribly hot, with calms andfaint breezes; and then as we sailed slowly on we began to find theweather cooler again, till by slow degrees we began to pass into wintryweather, with high winds and showers of snow. And this all puzzledEsau, whose knowledge of the shape of the earth and a ship's course wererather hazy. 

"Yes; it puzzles me, " he said. "We got from coolish weather intohotter; then into hot, and then it grew cooler again, and now it's cold;and that Mr Gunson says as soon as we're round the Horn we shall getinto wet weather, and then it will be warmer every day once more. "

And so it of course proved, for as we rounded the Cape, and got into thePacific, we gradually left behind mountains with snow in the hollows anddark-looking pine trees, to go sailing on slowly day after day throughdreary, foggy wet days. Then once more into sunshine, with distantpeaks of mountain points on our right, as we sailed on within sight ofthe Andes; and then on for weeks till we entered the Golden Gates, andwere soon after at anchor off San Francisco. 

Seventeen weeks after we had come out of the West India Docks, and everyone said we had had a capital passage, and I suppose it was; but wepassed through a very dreary time, and it is impossible to describe thefeeling of delight that took possession of us as we looked from the deckat the bright, busy-looking city, with its forest of masts, tall houses, and dry, bare country round. 

Esau and I were leaning against the bulwarks, gazing at the shore, uponwhich we were longing to set foot, when Gunson, who had all through thevoyage been distant and rather surly, came up behind us. 

"Well, youngsters, " he said, "going ashore?"

"Yes, " I said, "as soon as we can get our chests. "

"Well, good-bye, and good luck to you. Got any money?"

"A little, " I replied, rather distantly, for I did not like the man'smanner. 

He saw it, and laughed. 

"Oh, I'm not going to beg or borrow, " he said roughly. "I was onlygoing to say put it away safe, and only keep a little out for use. "

"Oh, we're not fools, " said Esau, shortly. 

"Don't tell lies, boy, " said the man, giving him an angry look. "Don'tyou be too clever, because you'll always find some one cleverer. Lookhere, " he continued, turning to me, "perhaps you're not quite so cleveras he is. I thought I'd just say a word before I go about the peoplehere. There's plenty of a good sort, but there's a set hanging aboutthe wharfs and places that will be on the look-out to treat you two ladslike oranges--suck you dry, and then throw away the skins. Going tostop here?"

"No, " I said; "we are going up country to join some friends. "

"Then you get up country and join your friends as soon as you can. That's all. Good-bye. "

He nodded shortly at me, but did not offer to shake hands. 

"Good-bye, sharp 'un, " he growled at Esau. 

"Good-bye, " said Esau, defiantly, and then the man turned away. 

"Never did like chaps with one eye, " said Esau. "Strikes me that he'spretending to be so innocent, and all the while he's just the sort offellow to try and cheat you. "

"Oh no, " I said; "he's not a pleasant fellow, but I think he's honest. "

"I don't, " cried Esau. "He took a fancy to that four-bladed knife ofmine on the voyage, and he has been waiting till he was going to leavethe ship. I'm not going to make a row about it, 'cause I might bewrong; but I had that knife last night, and this morning it's gone. "

"And you think he stole it?"

"I shan't say one thing nor I shan't say another. All I know is, thatmy knife's gone. "

"But hadn't you better have him stopped and searched?"

"What, and if the knife ain't found, have him glaring at me with thateye of his as if he would eat me? Not I. We're in a strange country, with 'Mericans, and Indians, and Chinese all about, and we've got to becareful. All I say is, my knife's gone. "

"There, put it in your pocket, " I said, handing him the knife, "anddon't be so prejudiced against a man who wanted to give us a bit offriendly advice. "

"Why! eh? How? You took the knife then. "

"Nonsense; you lent it to me last night when I was packing up ourthings. "

Esau doubled his fist, and gave himself a good punch on the head. 

"Of course I did, " he cried. "Well of all! Why how! I say, my headmust be thick after all. "

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

WE GET INTO HOT WATER. 

We were on shore next day, and, by the captain's advice, went to a kindof hotel, where they undertook, not very willingly, to accommodate us, the captain having promised to help us in getting a ship for the FraserRiver. But though day after day passed, and we went to him again andagain, he was always too busy about his cargo being discharged, orseeing other people, to attend to us, and at last we sat one day on sometimber on a wharf, talking about our affairs rather despondently. 

"We seem to be regularly stuck fast, Esau, " I said; "and one feels sohelpless out in a strange place like this. "

"Yes, " he said; "and the money goes so fast. "

"Yes, " I said, "the money goes so fast. We must get away from heresoon. "

"Couldn't walk up to what-its-name, could we?"

"Walk? Nonsense! Many, many hundreds of miles through a wild country, and over mountains and rivers. "

"Well, I shouldn't mind that, lad. It would all be new. "

"We shall have plenty of that when we get to British Columbia. "

"What's all this then?" he said. 

"Part of the United States--California. "

"Oh, ah! of course. Seems to me I spent so much time learning to writea good hand, that I don't know half so much of other things as Ishould. "

"Plenty of time for learning more, Esau. "

"Yes, plenty of time. Seem to have more time than we want, and I don'tenjoy going about much, though there's plenty to see. One's sounsettled like. "

"Yes; we want to get to our journey's end. "

"So this is California, is it? That's where they got so much gold. Isay, let's stop here. "

"Nonsense! We must get to Fort Elk, and see what is to be done theretill Mr John comes. "

"All right, I'm ready for anything. Here's one of the chaps coming whowanted us to let him get us a ship yesterday. "

For just then a yellow-looking fellow, one of the many idlers who hungabout the docks, came slouching along towards us; and as soon as I sawhim I whispered a word or two to Esau, and we got up and walked away, with the man still following us at a little distance. 

"Those chaps smell money is my belief, " said Esau. 

"Yes, and Mr Gunson was right. We mustn't trust any one, but wait tillthe Captain tells us of some respectable skipper who's going up Northand will take us. "

"That's it. I say, what rum-looking chaps these Chinees are, " continuedEsau, as a man in blue, with a long pig-tail, passed us and smiled. "Why, he don't know us, does he?"

"We don't know him, " I replied. 

We went on past the crowded wharves, where ships were loading andunloading, and then by the grey-tinted wooden buildings, all bright andfresh-looking in the sunshine. Everybody nearly seemed busy and in ahurry except us, and the idle-looking scoundrels who hung about thedrinking and gambling saloons, into one or two of which Esau peeredcuriously as we went by; and then, as if attracted by the shipping, wemade our way again down by the wharves in hopes of hearing of a vesselthat would take us on. 

I have known well enough since, that had we been better instructed, allthis would have been simple enough; but to us ignorant lads, fresh comefrom England, it was a terrible problem to solve, one which grew moredifficult every day. In those days, when settlers were few, andVancouver Island just coming into notice, there was no regular steamer, only a speculative trading-vessel now and then. Still there wascommunication, if we had only known where to apply. 

We were watching one vessel just setting out on her voyage, and thinkingthat in an hour or two she would be outside the great opening to theharbour, and abreast of the bare, whitish-looking cliffs which form thatpart of the Californian coast, when Esau said--

"I wonder whether she's going up to Fraser River. I say, why didn't wefind out she was going to sail, and ask?"

"You want to go up the Fraser River?" said a voice close behind us. "Guess I never see such chaps as you. Why didn't you say so sooner?"

We both faced round at once, and found that the man who had beenhaunting us for days was close behind us, and had heard every word. "Look here, " said Esau, shortly. "There, don't you got rusty, stranger. That's the worst of you Englishers, you think everybody wants tew hurtyou. "

"Come along, " I whispered. 

"Yew just let him alone. He's all right. Now here's yew tew havelanded here days, yew may say, outer the _Albytross_, and yew goes tospensife hotel, wasting yew're money, when we've got quite a home forstrangers like yew for half what yew pay, and we'll get yew a ship toFraser, Skimalt, or wheer yew like. "

As he was speaking three more men sauntered slowly up and stood lookingon--men whom I felt sure I had seen with him before, and it made meuneasy, especially as a couple more came out of a low-looking saloonclose by, and we were some distance from the better part of the city. 

"Look here, " I said sharply, "do you know of a ship going to sail to theFraser River, or to Esquimalt?"

"Why, of course I do. Here, where's your money? It's twenty-fivedollars a-piece. Splendid berths, best of living. Like gentlemenaboard. Hand over, and I'll take you to where they give out thetickets. "

"Thank you, " I said. "I should like to see the ship, and an agent. "

"But don't I tell yew everything's first chip, and I'll do it for yew asyew're strangers. "

"Yes, it's very kind of you, " I said; "but I won't trouble you. "

"Trouble? Oh, come, we're not like that here to strangers. Nonsense, lad. Hand over. "

"We're not going to give twenty-five dollars a piece, I can tell you, "put in Esau. 

"Why, it's next to nothing for a voyage like that. But there, nevermind, you two are new-comers, and the skipper's a friend of mine. I'llput you right with him for twenty dollars each. Here, hi! Any of youknow the _Pauliner_?"

"Know her? yes, " said one of the men hard by; and they all came up andsurrounded us. "What about her?"

"Sails for the Fraser, don't she, to-morrow?"

"Yes, of course. "

"Splendid clipper, ain't she, with cabins and all chip chop?"

"Yes, " came in chorus. 

"There, what more do you want? Come along, lads; lucky I met you. Comeand have a drink. "

"No, thank you, " I said. "Come, Esau. "

"Get, " said the man with a forced laugh. "What's the good of beingstrangers. Come and have a drink. I'll pay. "

"Pay? Ah, " said the second man; "and we'll all share in turn. Come onin here. "

This fellow clapped his hand on my shoulder with a boisterous display offriendliness, while the firstcomer thrust his hand through Esau's arm, and began to lead him toward the saloon. 

"That will do, " I said, trying to be cool, for I began to fear that wewere being dragged into some disturbance, and felt that the time hadcome to be firm. "We are much obliged to you for your friendliness, butwe neither of us drink. Be good enough to tell me where the agent ofthe ship lives, and I'll give you half-a-dollar. "

"Nonsense! come and have a drink, my lad. "

"No, thank you, " I said. "Come, Esau. "

"Why, what a fellow you are. Very well, then, hand over the twentydollars each, if you can't take a friendly drop. I'll get the ticketsfor you all the same. "

"No, no, " said the other man. "Let's do no business without a drinkfirst; they think we want to make them pay, but I'll stand liquors forthe lot. "

"No, let 'em have their own way, " said the first man; "they're not usedto our customs. You let 'em alone. I'm going to get 'em passages inthe _Paulina_, for twenty dollars each. Come, lads, where's yourmoney?"

I glanced quickly to right and left, but we seemed to be away from help, and, strangers as we were, in the lower part of the port, quite at themercy of these men. Then, having made up my mind what to do, I pressedup to Esau, pushing rather roughly by our first friend. 

"Now, Esau, " I said, "back to the hotel. Straight on, " I whispered. "Run!"

"I bet you don't, " said our first friend; "that trick won't do here, stranger;" and his smooth looks and tones gave place to a scowl and theair of a bully. "Come along, Esau, " I said sharply. "No, nor you don'tcome along neither, " said the man, as the others closed round us as ifout of curiosity, but so as to effectually bar our retreat. 

"What's matter?" said one who had not yet spoken. 

"Matter?" cried our friend. "Why jest this. These here tew have beenholding me off and on for three days, wanting me to get 'em a ship totake 'em to Esquimalt. First they wanted to go for ten, then they'dgive fifteen. "

"Fifteen dollars to Skimalt?" cried the new man. "Gammon. "

"That's so, " said our friend. "Last they said they'd give twentydollars a-piece, and after a deal o' trouble we got 'em berths, and paidhalf the money down; now they want to back out of it. "

"Oh, yes, " cried the second man; "that won't do here, mates. "

"It's not true, " I said, indignantly. "And now wants to bounce me outof it. Here, yew wouldn't hev that, mates, would yew?"

There was a regular excited chorus here, and the men closed in upon us, so that we were quite helpless, and for a moment I felt that we must buyourselves out of our awkward position. But a glance at Esau showed thathe was stubborn and angry as I, and that if called upon he would beready to fight for it, and make a dash for liberty. 

Those were only momentary thoughts, for we were two lads of sixteen orseventeen against a gang of strong men who were holding us now, and ourposition was hopeless. 

Just then our first friend said in a carneying tone--

"There, don't be hard on 'em, mates. They're going to be reasonable. Now then, are you going to pay those twenty dollars each for yourpassages?"

"No, " I said, choking with rage. 

"Yew don't mean to go in the _Pauliner_?"

"No, we don't, " cried Esau. 

"Very well, then, yew must each on yew pay the smart. I paid for yew--ten dollars each, and tew fur my trouble. That's fair, ain't it, mates?"

"Ay, ay. Make 'em pay three dollars, " was chorussed. 

"There, yew hear 'em, so out with the spots, and no more nonsents. "

"You won't get no money out o' me, " cried Esau, fiercely. 

"Nor from me, " I cried. 

"We'll soon see that. Now quick!"

It was broad daylight, but we seemed to be quite alone, and I was beingforced back over a man's knee, when I was jerked up again, and the manwho was holding me went backwards, while a familiar voice said--

"Hullo, boys; seem to be enjoying yourselves. "

"Mr Gunson, help!" I cried, as I recognised our shipboard companion;"these men--"

"I see, my lad, steady. Ah, would you!" For a quick look had passedamong the men, and they were about to make a rush, when Gimson steppedback and whipped out a revolver. 

"Don't come too near, boys, " he said. "I'm rather a good shot. "

The men stopped short at the sight of the revolver barrel covering firstone and then another. But the first man said "Come on!" with quite asnarl, drew a knife, and flung himself at Gunson. 

I felt a horrible sensation run through me as I listened for the report;but instead of firing, Gunson struck up with his revolver, and the manwent over sidewise, while our friend now fired over the heads of theothers of the gang. 

This stopped them for the moment, but as they saw that no one fell, theycame on again, and one of them seized Gunson before he could fire, orbefore he attempted to fire, for, as he told me afterwards, he did notwant to feel that he had killed a man. 

In the struggle which followed I saw the pistol drop from our defender'shand, and one of the men stooped to pick it up, but Esau was too quickfor him. Making quite a leap, as if playing leap-frog, he pitched withhis hands right on the man's shoulders, sending him over and over, butfalling himself, while I picked up the pistol and drew the trigger. 

The sharp report made my ears ring, and I stood back now with the weaponpresented, expecting some of the others to rush at me. But the tworeports had spread the alarm, and a couple of the officials came runningup, whilst our assailants took to flight, giving Gunson an opportunityto rise and shake himself. 

"Hurt, my lads?" he said, as he took his pistol. "They were too manyfor me; I got the worst of it. "

"I'm not hurt, sir; are you?" I said. 

"Only a bit bruised. "

"I am, " grumbled Esau. "Feel as if my wrist's out of joint. "

By this time a crowd had assembled, and we were very glad to get awaywith our protector, after a few words of explanation to the twopolicemen, who told us we had better mind what company we got into, nodded to one another and laughed, as if it was all a good joke, andthen went their way. 

"Here, come to my diggings, " said Gunson, rather gruffly. "I thought Itold you two to mind what you were about, and what sort of customers youwould meet with out here. "

"Yes, " I said; "but--"

"Wait till we get to my place, and we'll sit down and talk there. Someone has been pretty foolish to let two boys like you come wanderinground the world by yourselves. "

In about ten minutes he stopped at so shabby looking a hotel that I halfshrank from entering. 

Gunson noticed it. 

"Needn't be scared, " he said. "Decent people. Germans;" and throwingoff my hesitation, I followed him with Esau to his room, where hepointed to a chair and a stool, and seated himself upon a veryhomely-looking bed, taking out his revolver, and putting in two freshcartridges. 

"Nasty thing to carry, " he said, "but it's as good as a big dog. It canbark loudly as well as bite. Barking did this time. Now then, " hecontinued, as he replaced the pistol in his hip pocket, "I suppose youtwo know that those fellows were regular blackguards, who would havestripped you of every shilling you possessed--by fair means or foul. How was it you were with them?"

I told him all that Esau would let me say, for he was very anxious torelate the story himself. 

"Oh, that was it, was it?" said Gunson. "Glad you were so sensible, butyou see what this place is. It will be all right by and by, but atpresent it's a regular sink for all the ruffians in the States to draininto. Why don't you get out of it?"

"That's what we are trying to do--hard, " I said eagerly. 

"Why you can't have tried much. There are plenty of ways out. Where doyou want to go?"

"To the Fraser River, " I said, "and then away north to Fort Elk. "

"Ah, " he said, looking at us both curiously. "Fraser River, eh? That'swhere I'm going. "

I looked at him distrustfully, and he saw it. 

"Quite true, my lad, " he said, smiling good-humouredly; "and I sail by avessel which starts the day after to-morrow. What did those rascalswant twenty-five and then twenty dollars a-piece for your passage money?Humph! Well, I think I can do better for you than that. "

"If you would give us the name of the agent, " I said. 

"I'll do better--I'll take you to him, and say you are friends of mine, if you are not ashamed of such a disreputable-looking character. "

"I was not ashamed to take your help just now, " I said. 

"No, " he replied drily; "but you had no time then to examine myappearance. Where are you staying, my lads?"

I told him, and he uttered a long low whistle. "Of course I don't knowwhat your friends are, but doesn't the money run away very fast?"

"Fast?" cried Esau; "why, I could live ten times as long on the samemoney in London. "

"I dare say you could live twenty times as long, boy; I could. Lookhere; these people are decent, clean, and honest, --do as you like, --hadn't you better come here? They'll board you for half the money I'mpaying--that is, they would you. I don't know about him--he's such awolfish-looking fellow. "

"Why, I don't eat any more than he does!" cried Esau. 

"Don't think you do, boy, you should say. Well, what do you think ofit?"

"Dunno, " said Esau, rather surlily. "Seems to me as if everybody herewants to rob you. How do I know you don't?"

"Ah, to be sure, boy, how do you know? Perhaps I do. Going to plan toget you somewhere all by yourselves, and then shoot you both. I ampretty good with a revolver. "

"Didn't seem like it just now. "

"No, it didn't, " said Gunson, coolly. "Ah, how like a boy that sounds. Do you know what shooting a man means?"

"Killing him if you fire straight, " said Esau. 

"Right; and hurting him, eh?"

"Of course. "

"Well, look here, my lad; the man who shoots another hurts himself farmore than he hurts his victim. You don't understand that. Wait tillyou are as old as I am, and you will. I did not want to kill either ofthose ruffians. It was not a question of aiming, I had only to hold thepistol down, and it would have hit one of them. Well, " he continued, "shall I take you to the captain? and will you bring your things here?or will you go your own way?"

I looked at him fixedly, for everything in the man's appearance seemedto say, "Don't trust him, " till his one eye lit up, and a smile began tocurl his lip. Then my hand went out to him. 

"Yes, " I said, "you are an Englishman, and I'll trust you. "

He gripped my hand hard, and then turned to Esau. 

"Well, " he said, "what do you say? Think I shall do you a mischief?"

"Yah! Not you, " said Esau. "I'm not afraid of you. Here, let's getour things from that other place. "

"Let's have the landlady in first, " said Gunson, smiling; and he went tothe door and called. 

A pleasant-looking German woman came, and in the most broken up EnglishI ever heard, said we could come at once, but got into a muddle overterms till Gunson joined in, and spoke to her in German, when thedifficulty was at an end. 

"Nice bright-looking place, and plenty of sunshine, " said Gunson, as heled us down to a wharf where a schooner was being laden with barrels, while a red-nosed, copper-complexioned man looked on smoking a cigar. 

"Here, skipper, two more passengers for you--friends of mine; will youhave them?"

The captain looked us both over, and then nodded. 

"How much?"

The captain looked at us again, and then said a certain number ofdollars for the two--a price which astonished us. 

"I'll say right for them, " said Gunson. "They'll send their chests onboard. "

"There!" said our new friend, as we walked back. "That matter was soonsettled. Now go and pay your bills, get your traps, and come on to me. "

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

IN NEW QUARTERS. 

Gunson nodded, and we parted, Esau keeping very quiet for a few minutesbefore speaking. 

"I suppose it's all right, " he said; "but if ever a chap looked like badcompany, he do. "

"But he seems as friendly to us as can be. "

"Yes, " said Esau. "But what does he want here with a pistol? Some ofthe people board ship was coming to keep shop, some to farm, and some tobe servants. I want to know what he wants here?"

"Perhaps the same as he would in New Zealand, and at the Cape of GoodHope. I should say he's a traveller. "

"What in? Yah! He don't look the sort of man people would trust withgoods to sell. Traveller? Why, you see dozens of 'em in the streetsoff Cheapside--big, good-looking fellows, with great curly whiskers andbeards. He isn't a traveller. Nobody would buy of him. "

"I mean a man who goes through foreign countries. "

"What for?"

"To see them. "

Esau shook his head. 

"I don't think he's a traveller of that sort. I say, look out. "

"What is it?" I said, expecting to see a dray come along. 

"That chap. "

Sure enough, there was the dark, yellow-looking scoundrel watching us, and he followed at a distance till he had seen us enter the hotel wherewe had been staying. 

We stated that we were going away, and went and packed up our few thingsat once, while from the corner of the window we had the satisfaction ofseeing two more of our assailants come up, and remain in conversationwith the first for a few minutes, after which they walked away. 

"Now, if we could get off at once, Esau, " I said, "they would not see usgo, and when they return they might come and watch here as long as theyliked. "

Esau jumped at the idea, and went out to see if he could find a man tohelp us carry our boxes, while I paid our bill. 

Before I had done he was back with Gunson, whom he had met, and toldwhat he was after, with the result that they had returned together. 

"I'm only a poor man, " said our friend, with a laugh, "so I thought Imight as well come and earn half a dollar. I thought too, " he added, seriously, "that it would be better not to employ a stranger, who wouldbe able to point out where you are staying, in case your acquaintanceswant to hunt you out to do you an ill turn. "

We were only too glad of his offer, and in less than an hour we weresafely in the shelter of our new resting-place; while upon Esau's goingout to reconnoitre, taking a good round so as not to be seen, hereturned shortly in high glee, to tell us that the three men were seatedon a stack of timber, watching the hotel we had left. 

"And ready for some mischief, I'll be bound, " said Gunson. "Thesefellows work in clans, and I shall be very glad if we can get awaywithout a crack on the head. "

As we sat chatting with Gunson the rest of that day and evening, heseemed to puzzle me, for sometimes he talked quite like a steeragepassenger, just as the rough-looking man he seemed should talk, while atothers, words and ideas kept slipping out which made me think he must beone who had had a good education. He had travelled a great deal, as weknew, but he seemed singularly reserved about his intentions. That hewas going to the Fraser River he made no secret; but though he kept usin the dark, he somehow or another, now that he was more with us, contrived to possess himself of all our projects. 

He seemed at times quite changed, and his manner set me wondering why itwas that, though we had passed nearly five months together on board the_Albatross_, seeing us every day, he had rarely spoken to us then, andwe parted almost as much strangers as on the first day when weencountered each other in the dark cabin of the ship. 

First one and then the other would think he had found a clue to ourcompanion's intentions; but when we parted for the night we felt farfrom sure, but more curious than ever. 

"So you are going hunting, are you?" he said, in the course of ourconversation. 

"No, " I said. 

"What do you call it then, a chase--wild-goose chase?"

"I don't see that it's a wild-goose chase for two lads to come to a newcountry to try and get on, " I said. 

"Not a bit, my lad, but a very worthy thing to do. I meant it wasrather a wild-goose chase for this friend of yours to send you in thehope of his brother-in-law helping you. Isn't he rather an inconsistentsort of a gentleman?"

"Mr John Dempster is one of the best of men, " I said warmly. 

"Perhaps so; but the best of men make mistakes sometimes, and it lookslike one to me for him to be taking a sick wife right across the countryto this new home. Tried it before, perhaps?"

"No, " I said; "Mr John was never out of England. He told me so. "

"Then he will have rather a startling experience, and I wish him wellthrough with it. "

"I say, don't talk like that, " said Esau, suddenly, "because my mother'sthere. "

"Then I wish her well out of it too. "

"Have you ever made the journey?" I said eagerly. 

"Yes, once, " said Gunson, quietly. "Once was enough. "

"But Mrs John's brother told them he thought it would do his sistergood. "

"Well, it may. I'm not a doctor; but after what I went through I shouldhesitate about taking a delicate woman such a route. And you too. Whenyou get to the Fraser, how do you mean to journey hundreds of miles upto Fort Elk?"

I was silent, for it seemed to me as if we were for the first timecoming face to face with the difficulties of our task. 

"Dunno, " said Esau, thoughtfully. "S'pose there ain't no 'buses. "

"No, nor yet cabs, " said Gunson, laughing. 

"Might be a stage-coach running now and then, p'r'aps. "

"My good lad, there isn't even a road. Perhaps there is a trail. Thereis sure to be that, of course, for the Indians would go to the Fort withtheir pelting. "

"With their what?" said Esau. 

"Pelts--skins, to sell to the company's agent. "

"Oh, " said Esau. 

"But the river, " I said suddenly. "We could go up that by a boat, couldn't we?"

Gunson laughed. 

"Yes, there is a river, " he said; "but, like all mountain streams, boatscannot go up very far for the torrents and falls and rocks. Have youany arms?"

"Of course, " said Esau. 

"I mean weapons. "

"No, " I said. 

"Humph! Perhaps better without them--at your age. "

"You have, " I said, as I glanced toward his hip-pocket. 

Gunson nodded. 

"Got a gun too?" said Esau. 

"A rifle or two, " replied our companion, rather reluctantly; and he rosethen and left the room, as if to avoid being questioned. 

"Hunting and shooting, that's what he's after, " said Esau triumphantly, as soon as we were alone. 

And at that moment I could not help thinking that he was right, and thatwe had hit upon a very satisfactory companion, for part of our journeyat least, if it did not turn out that Gunson had some designs of hisown. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

A SERIOUS TROUBLE. 

Esau took it all coolly enough. I believe he thought hard sometimes, but it was soon over; and to him the most serious things in life seemedto be making a big meal and having a good sleep. 

Now for my part I could not help thinking a great deal, and worrying somuch about the future that my thoughts would not let me sleep. 

My thoughts generally took this form--"Suppose--" And then I used to besupposing: suppose Mrs John were taken much worse and died; suppose theparty were attacked by Indians; suppose they never got across all thatgreat stretch of country; suppose Esau and I were lost in the woods, tostarve to death, or drowned in the river, and so on, and so on; tilltoward morning sleep would come, and I began dreaming about thatlong-haired dark Yankee loafer, who had got hold of me, and was bangingmy head against the ground, and trying to kill me, till I opened my eyesthe next morning and found that it was Esau. 

"I say, " he cried, grinning, "don't you ever call me a sleepy-headedchap again. Why, I've been shaking you, and doing everything I could torouse you up. "

"Oh, " I exclaimed, "I am so glad! I was dreaming. "

"As if I didn't know. Why, you were on your back snorting, and puffing, and talking all sorts of nonsense. That's eating 'Merican pie forsupper. "

"I couldn't go to sleep for hours. "

"Yah! that's what mother always said when she was late of a morning, andI had to light the fire. I say, wonder how they are getting on?"

"So do I. I lay thinking about them last night, hoping they wouldn't beattacked by Indians. "

"I don't think an Indian would like to attack my mother again. Sheain't a big woman, but she has got a temper when it's roused. Makehaste; I want my breakfast. "

I was not long in dressing, and on going down we found Mr Gunsonwaiting for us, and looking more sour, fierce, and forbidding than ever. 

"Come, young sirs, " he said, "you must learn to see the sun riseregularly out here in the West. Sit down, and let's have breakfast. I've a lot to do ready for starting to-morrow. "

"I'm sorry I am so late, " I said. "I could not sleep last night. "

"Why? Let's look at you. Not ill?"

"Oh, no, " I said, beginning on my breakfast to try and overtake Esau. 

"No, " he said, "you're not ill, or you couldn't eat like that. Whycouldn't you sleep?"

"I was thinking so much of what you said about the difficulties beforeus. I never thought of them before. "

"Oh!" he said, looking at me curiously. "Well, I'm glad of it. Butdon't worry yourself. The troubles will not come all at once. You canfight them one at a time, and get over them, I dare say. "

"Then you think we shall be able to get up to Fort Elk somehow?"

"If you make up your minds to it, and say you will do it. That's theway. There, make a good breakfast, and then perhaps you can help me abit. I want to finish buying a few things that one can't get up thecountry. By the way, you will have to leave those chests of yours up atone of the settlements. "

"Leave our chests?" said Esau, staring. 

"Why, you don't expect to be able to carry a great box each on yourhead, do you, through such a country as you'll have to travel. Neverthought of that, I suppose?"

"I'm afraid I did not, " I said. 

"Of course you did not. Look here, while I think of it. Have you bothgot blankets?"

"No, " I said. "I thought we need not buy them till we built a house. "

"And don't you want to go to sleep till you've built a house? My goodlads, a thoroughly well made thick blanket--a dark-coloured one--is aman's best friend out here. It's bed, greatcoat, seat, cushion, carpet-bag, everything. It's even food sometimes. "

"Go on, " cried Esau, laughing. "You can't eat your blanket. "

"There was a snake at the Zoo once thought differently, " said Gunson, laughing. "No, you can't eat your blanket, but you can roll yourself upwarm in it sometimes when there's no food, and have a good sleep. _Quidort dine_, the French folk say. "

"But do you mean to say that up there we shan't get anything to eatsometimes?" cried Esau, who looked aghast. 

"Yes, often. A man who wants to get on in a new country must not thinkof eating and drinking. Why, I went three days once with nothing but adrop of water now and then, and a bit of stick to chew, so as to keep mymouth moist. "

I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, and Gunson lookedannoyed. 

"It's no joke, young fellow, " he said; "and I'm not romancing. "

"No, no, no, " I panted out; "not--laughing--at you. Look--look!"

I pointed at Esau, and Mr Gunson's face relaxed into a smile, and thenhe too laughed heartily at the comical, horror-stricken countenancebefore us. 

"What are you laughing at?" cried Esau. "I say, though, do you mean it?Shall we have to go without sometimes like that?"

"Of course you will. "

"I say, Mr Gordon, " said Esau, in despondent tones, "hadn't we bettergo back?"

"Go back?--no!" I cried. "It will not be very pleasant, but we can eatall the more afterwards. "

Esau brightened up. 

"Yes, " he said. "I didn't think of that. "

"You neither of you seem to have thought anything about what's beforeyou, my lads. "

"Then you think we have done very foolishly in coming?" I said. 

"Not I. You have done wisely; and if you make up your minds to takeeverything as it comes, I have no doubt that you will grow up intowell-to-do hearty men. There, now, let's talk business. I'll go withyou and see that you are not cheated while you buy yourselves a blanketapiece. Have you knives?"

"Yes, " I said; and we each produced one. 

"Ah, well, you can keep those in your pockets to pick your teeth withwhen you do get anything to eat. You must buy yourselves each a goodstrong case-knife, big enough to chop wood or skin an animal, and to usefor your food. "

"Anything else, sir?"

"There are other things you'll want, but you can wait till you join yourfriend up at Fort Elk. I dare say he will be able to supply you out ofhis store. "

"But he does not keep a store, " I ventured to observe. "He is the headman over one of the Hudson's Bay Company's depots. "

"Exactly. Then he keeps a store. You don't suppose he gives theIndians dollars for the skins they bring in, do you? He keeps a storeof blankets and cutlery, and all kinds of useful things for barter withthe people. Blankets up yonder are like bank-notes. Well, what are youlooking at?"

"I was wishing I knew as much about the place as you do. "

"Have patience, " he said, laughing, "and I dare say you'll know a gooddeal more. "

We went out soon after breakfast, and I had my first lesson in frontierlife in watching Gunson make his purchases after he had helped us makeours; and the rest of the day was occupied in overhauling our chests, and repacking them with things our new friend assured us that we shouldnot want, while he pointed out to us those we did, and showed us how tomake a light package of them that we could easily carry. 

Twice over that day I caught sight of the man I wanted to avoid, butfortunately he did not see us, and at last night came, and we sat downto our supper with our chests on board the schooner, and nothing to dothe next morning but walk on board. 

I slept well that night, and we were down in good time, Mr Gunsonnodding his approval, and after breakfast he said--

"Look here, my lads, I've seen those roughs hanging about as if theymeant mischief. Of course we could get the protection of the law, butthat might mean detaining us, and as the schooner sails at noon, wedon't want any complications of that sort. "

"Of course not, " I said. 

"So my advice is, that you stop here quietly till nearly the time, andthen we'll go on board, though I dare say it will be evening before wereally start. "

I agreed at once, but Esau looked disappointed. 

"Well, what is it?" said Gunson. 

"I did want to go back to that store and buy something else before westarted. "

"Money burning your pocket?"

"No, it aren't that, " said Esau, turning a little red. 

"Well, you are your own master, my lad. Go and buy what you want, andmake haste back. "

Esau brightened up, and I rose to go with him. 

"No, no; I don't want you to come, " said Esau. "You stop with MrGunson. I shan't be long. "

It struck me that this was rather curious on my companion's part, but Isaid nothing, only sat and looked out at the lovely bay, while Gunsonbusied himself with writing a letter. 

"There, " he said, when he had done; "want to write too?"

I shook my head. 

"Better, " he said. "Mayn't have another chance to write home formouths. "

"I have no home, " I said sadly, "and no one to whom I could write. "

He clapped me on the shoulder, and looked down at me searchingly as Ithought. 

"Never mind, lad; you are going to make a home and friends too. Someday you may have more friends to write to than you want. "

I walked away to the window, to stand looking out at the shipping, wondering how long Esau would be, and what the article was that hadtaken his fancy, till all of a sudden the idea came to me that it mustbe a revolver. 

"Do you know what your young mate has gone to buy?" said Mr Gunson justthen, but I avowed my ignorance. "I hope he will not be very long, because we may as well be getting on board and settling down. Ourchests are all right. The captain told me that they were right down inthe hold, and well above the chance of getting any bilge water uponthem. "

He went to the window I had just left. 

"Looks like fine weather, " he said, "with perhaps a little wind. Youmust try and be a better sailor this time. "

The last look round was given, the bill paid, and as we waited, Icongratulated myself upon the fact that we were going to escape withoutanother encounter with the loafers, for I felt sure they had beenwatching for us, so as to pick a quarrel. But the time glided on, andEsau did not return. 

Gunson got up and went to the door twice, coming back each time with avery severe look on his countenance, as I saw at a glance, for I avoidedhis eyes, feeling, as I did, unwilling to meet some angry outburst, andhoping every moment to have an end put to a very unpleasant state ofaffairs. 

Over and over again I started at some impatient movement on the part ofGunson; but he did not speak, contenting himself with walkingimpatiently up and down like some animal in a cage. 

"Have you no idea what Dean has gone to buy?" he said at last. 

"Not the least, unless he has fancied that he would like a revolver. "

"Absurd!" cried Gunson; and there was another pause, during which Ilistened to every passing step, hoping against hope that it might beEsau. 

My position was growing more and more painful, and at last I could bearit no longer. 

"What is it? What are you going to do?" said Gunson, as I suddenlyjumped up. 

"Look for Esau, " I said. 

"Sit still, boy. What do you know about the place, and which way willyou go?"

I was obliged to say that I didn't know, but I would hunt for him well. 

"It is now close upon twelve o'clock, " said Gunson, angrily, "and he hasbeen gone nearly three hours. If he is coming back it must be directly, and then, with you gone, we shall miss the boat, and all our belongingswill go on up north without us. Hang him, he must be mad!"

"But I would not go far without coming back, " I said. 

"I think, my lad, you may save yourself the trouble. "

"What do you mean? He will be back here directly?"

"No. I'm afraid, " said Gunson, bitterly, "that we have been talking toomuch for him lately. "

"Mr Gunson?"

"We have scared him with our account of the troubles, and he has backedout. "

"Backed out?" I faltered, quite horrified at the idea of being leftalone. 

"Yes, and gone into hiding until we have sailed. "

"Oh, impossible!"

"No, my lad, quite possible. You saw how startled he was at the idea ofa journey through a wild country. "

"No, no, I think not, " I said. 

"I feel nearly sure of it. He had no real reason for going out thismorning, and his excuses to get away were as slippery as could be. Depend upon it we shall not see him again--at least, I shall not, for ofcourse you will wait for him. "

"If I thought he could play such a mean, deceitful trick I should gowithout him, " I said hotly. 

"Indeed? Well then, my lad, you had better come, for it is high time wewere off. "

I stared at him wildly, for what he had said seemed terribly likely. Esau had been startled on hearing the real difficulties and dangers thatwe had to go through, and much as he seemed to like me, he might havebeen overcome by his thoughts, and at the last moment felt that he mustturn tail. 

"Well?" said Gunson, "what do you say? Will you come? I must be offalmost directly. "

"Yes, " I said, "you must go, but I'm sure Esau is in some trouble. Hecould not be such a coward as that. "

"Then you will not go with me?"

"I would if I could think as you do, " I said; "but I'm sure he would notforsake me. "

"Human nature, boy. "

"It isn't his human nature, " I said boldly. "If he had wanted to backout he would have confided in me, and wanted me to go with him till youhad sailed. "

"I have no time to argue, " said Gunson sternly. "What are you going todo?"

"I must try and find my companion. "

"But your chests?--they will be taken on to Esquimalt. "

"We should have to go up and claim them afterwards. "

"You believe, then, that he is staunch?"

"I am sure of it, sir. "

"Well, then, good-bye, my lad. I'll speak to the captain about yourchests, and have them left with the agents of the ship, but you willhave to give up your passage-money. There will be no getting thatback. "

"I'm afraid not, " I said gloomily. 

"Yes, they may sail at any time, " said Gunson, impatiently. "Better gowith me, boy. "

"No, " I said. 

"You are giving up your passage and your chances for the sake of afellow not worth his salt. "

"You don't know him as I do, " I replied. "I will not believe it ofhim. "

"Well, if he is not staunch you are, at all events, my lad. Good-bye. If he does come back run down to the wharf at once, the schooner may nothave sailed. "

"He has got into some trouble, I'm sure, " I cried. 

"Good-bye. "

"Good-bye, " I said, holding out my hand; but my lips quivered, for I washorribly disappointed. 

"Once more, " cried Mr Gunson, as he gripped my hand hard, "I tell youhe is playing you false. You had better come. "

"No. "

"You are not afraid, are you?"

I flung his hand away. 

"No, " he said, smiling, "not a bit. There, Mayne, my lad, he has thrownyou over, but I can't. If you stay, I'll stay too. "

"Mr Gunson!" I cried. 

"Yes, my lad, and we'll see if he comes back. "

"He will if he can, I'm sure, " I cried. "Well, we shall see. "

"I am sure he has got into some trouble; I am certain of it. Ah, herehe is!"

For the door opened at that moment, but it was not Esau, only thelandlady, who in broken German-English, told us that a message hadarrived from the captain to say we were to go on board. 

"Thank you. _Gut_!" said Gunson, laconically. And then, as the womanleft the room, he continued, "Well, I'll take your view of it, my lad. We'll say he has got into some trouble and cannot get back. "

"Yes; I'm sure of it, " I cried. "Very well, then, we must get him outof it. Of course it is no use for us to waste time by going from houseto house. I'll go and see the chief man in the police, and see if theycan find him for us. "

"Yes, " I said, eagerly; "come on. "

"No, no, you stay. He may, as you say, return, and you must be here tomeet him, or he may go off again, and matters be worse. "

"He'd go to the schooner then. "

"If the schooner had not sailed. You stop, and I hope he will turn uphero. "

Anxious as I was to go in search of Esau, I was obliged to obey, and Iwas directly after left to myself to pass quite a couple of hours beforeGunson came back. 

"No news yet, " he said; "the police are trying what they can do, but ifhe is in hiding they are not likely to succeed. "

"Then he is not in prison?"

"Oh, no; as far as I can hear, nothing has been seen of him. "

"I thought he might have got in some trouble, and been arrested. Thenthose men must be at the bottom of it, Mr Gunson. "

"Yes, I thought so, but what could I do? I told one of the chiefs ofthe police that I was afraid he had been attacked, and the man lookedserious, and said `Very likely. ' Then he asked me to describe the men, and I did. "

"Well?" I said eagerly. 

"He told me that my description was like that of hundreds of scoundrelsabout the place. "

"Let's go and see if we can meet them anywhere about, " I said. "Theywere watching our hotel yesterday where we stayed. "

"Yes, I know, " said Gunson, thoughtfully. "It hardly seems likely. Idon't know, though, there are always men hanging about ports ready to doanything for the sake of a few shillings, all the world over. "

I felt a shiver run through me at his words, as my busy brain began tosuggest endless horrors that might have befallen poor Esau; and as Ifollowed Gunson out into the road, these thoughts grew and grew till Ifound myself telling poor little Mrs Dean about the loss of her son, and hearing her reproaches as she told me that it was all my fault, andthat if it had not been for me Esau would have stayed at home. 

We went along the road, and down to the wharves, and to and fro aboutthe hotel where we had been staying, and there was no sign of either ofthe men who had assailed us. There were, as the police had said, plentyof a similar class, many of whom resembled them somewhat in appearance;but our search was entirely in vain, while towards evening, as we cameout once more where we had a full view of the beautiful bay, I sawsomething which made me start, and, full of misery and self-reproach, Istopped and looked up at Gunson. 

"Yes, " he said, frowning heavily, "I see. There she goes, and with agood wind too. Nice clean-sailing little vessel. We ought to have beenon board. "

For there, a mile now from the shore, with her sails set, and lookinghalf-transparent in the light of the setting sun, was thegraceful-looking schooner, which I felt must be ours, heeling overgently, and taking with her our few belongings. 

"Pretty good waste of time as well as money, Gordon, my lad, " said mystrange-looking companion, harshly. "But there, it is of no use to cryover spilt milk. You could not go off and leave your mate in this way, and I, as an Englishman, could not leave a fellow-countryman--I meanboy--in trouble. "

I tried to thank him, but suitable words would not come, and he clappedme on the shoulder in a friendly way. 

"There, " he said, "come back to our friend the Frau. You are faint andhungry, and so am I. She shall give us a good square meal, as they callit out here, and then we shall be rested, and better able to think. "

I was faint, certainly, but the idea of eating anything seemed to makeme feel heart-sick; but I said nothing, only followed my companion backto the little hotel, feeling as if this was after all only some bad, confused dream. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

WHERE ESAU HAD BEEN. 

"We are forgetting one thing, " said Gunson, as we drew near ourresting-place; and I believe now he said it to try and cheer me on. "Perhaps while we have been away the truant may have returned. "

His words had the required effect, for I hurried on by Gunson's side, and was the first to enter and ask the landlady if Esau had been back. 

"Nein! nein! nein!" she cried. "Bood der Herr captain send doo dimesfor you bode, and say he go doo sea mit dout you, and die schip istgone. Ya. "

"Yes, gone, " said Gunson; "and we have come back. Give us some tea anddinner together. "

"_Zo_, " cried the landlady. "Ach you are sehr hungrig. "

She hurried away nodding her head, and we heard her shrill voice givingorders directly, while Gunson began to try and cheer me up. 

"It's very kind of you, " I said; "but what shall we do?"

"Wait patiently, my lad. There, don't mind about me, perhaps it's allfor the best; the schooner may get into a bad storm, and we shall bebetter ashore, perhaps save our lives, who knows. There, lie down onthat bench, and try and have a nap. "

But I couldn't close my eyes for thinking of poor Esau. Perhaps he wasdead; perhaps even then he was shut up somewhere by a gang of scoundrelswho might be meaning to keep him till they could secure a ransom. 

Ah, what a host of thoughts of that kind came rushing through my wearyhead, which now began to ache terribly. 

In due time the landlady came in, bringing us our meal; and, signing meto take my place, Gunson seated himself and began to eat, not like a manwho partakes of food for the pleasure of the meal, but as if it was anecessity to supply himself with the support required for doing a greatdeal of work. And I suppose it was in something like that spirit that, after he had first requested me to eat, and then ordered me sharply, Imanaged to force a little down. 

It was getting quite dark, when Gunson said suddenly--

"Now is there anything else we could do--anything we have not thoughtof?"

"The hospital, " I said suddenly, as the idea came like a flash of light. 

"I did not say anything to you, my lad, " replied Gunson, "but that wasthe first place I went to, thinking he might have been knocked down. No: try again. "

But no, I could think of nothing else, and my despondency was rapidlyincreasing, when all at once Gunson jumped up and said sharply--

"It's too bad to destroy your belief, my lad, but I feel sure that mateof yours is playing you a dirty trick. He is a miserable coward, andhiding away. The lad has turned tail and--I'm a fool. "

For at that moment, panting and exhausted with running, Esau rushed intothe room, with nothing on but his shirt and trousers, and the formertorn halfway across his back. 

"Esau!" I shouted, joyfully. 

"Then--you're--not gone, " he panted hoarsely; and turning from me, hethrew himself into a chair at the table and began to eat ravenously. 

"You young scoundrel! where have you been?" cried Gunson, angrily. 

"Tell you presently, " said Esau, with his mouth full. "Go and fetch thepolice. "

"Police! no, " cried Gunson, excitedly. "Here, do as I do, " hecontinued; and taking out his handkerchief, he hastily made a bundle ofthe meat, butter, and bread we had left. 

"No, no, " cried Esau, "I'm so hungry. "

"Eat as we go. "

"Where?" I cried. 

"Boat. We may catch the schooner after all. "

"No, no, " cried Esau; "fetch the police. They've got my clothes, money, everything. I'll show you where. "

"And I'll show you where, " cried Gunson, "if you don't come along. "

"But I can't go like this, " cried Esau. 

"Can't you, " said Gunson, fiercely. "Here, hi! Frau!"

The landlady came running in, and began to exclaim on seeing Esau'sstate; but she was silenced directly by Gunson, who thrust a couple ofdollars into her hands, and between us we hurried Esau out into theroad. 

"But I can't--my--"

"Come along!" cried Gunson, fiercely. 

"And they'll be after me directly, " panted Esau. "Said I shouldn't gotill I'd paid a hundred dollars. "

"They had better come for them, " muttered Gunson between his teeth; andafter that Esau suffered himself to be hurried along, consoling himselfwith a few bites at the piece of bread he held, as we ran on to where inthe soft moonlight we could see several good-sized fishing-boats lying, with men idling near them on the shore. 

"Now then, " cried Gunson, quickly; "we want to be put aboard theschooner that sailed this evening. Three dollars. There she is, twomiles out. "

No one answered. 

"Four dollars!" shouted Gunson. "There's a good light wind, and you cansoon reach her. "

Still no one stirred, the men staring at us in a dull, apathetic way. 

"Five dollars, " cried Gunson, angrily. 

"Say, stranger, " said one of the men, "what's your hurry? stolesuthin'?"

"No, " I shouted; "but it's as if they have. Our chests are aboard, andwe've paid our passage. "

"Come on then, " said one of the men, rousing himself. "I'll take youfor five dollars. Jump in. "

He led the way to a little skiff, two more of his companions followinghim, and they rowed us out to one of the fishing-boats, made fast theone we had come in with the painter, cast off the buoy-rope, and beganto hoist a sail, with the result that a soft pattering sound began underthe boat's bows, and she careened over and began to glide softly away, the man who had gone to the rudder guiding her safely through thevessels lying by the buoy near the shore. 

"There, " cried Gunson, taking off the pea-jacket he wore, and throwingit to Esau. "Put that on, my lad; and here, eat away if you're hungry. You shall tell us afterwards where you've been. "

"But they've got my money, " said Esau, in an ill-used tone. 

"Then we must share with you, and set you up. Think we shall catch theschooner, skipper?"

"Guess we shall if this wind holds. If it changes she'll be off out tosea, and we shall lose her. Guess you'll pay your five dollars all thesame?"

"Look here, " said Gunson, roughly. "You've got an Englishman to dealwith. "

"Oh, yes; guess I see that; but you send some ugly customers out heresometimes, stranger. Not good enough for yew to keep at home. "

Gunson made no answer, but sat watching the vessel, which, as it lay farout in the soft moonlight, looked faint, shadowy, and unreal. 

Every now and then a good puff of wind filled our sail, so that the boatrushed through the water, and our hopes rose high, far we felt that inless than an hour we should be alongside our goal; but soon after Gunsonwould utter an impatient ejaculation, for the wind that sent us surgingthrough the beautiful waters of the bay, sent the schooner along rapidlytoo, so that she grew more faint. 

Once or twice I glanced back at the shore, to see how beautiful the townlooked with its lights rising above lights, and all softened and subduedin the clear moonlight; but I was soon looking ahead again, for ourchase was too exciting for me to take much interest in a view. 

Every now and then the boat tacked, and we went skimming along with hergunwale close down to the water, when we were all called upon to shiftour position, the boatman evidently doing his best to overtake theschooner, which kept seeming nearer and then farther off in the mosttantalising way. 

"Guess I didn't ask you enough, skipper, " said the boatman. "This isgoing to be a long job, and I don't think we shall dew it now. "

"Do your best, man, " said Gunson quietly. "I must overtake the schoonerif it is possible. "

All at once the wind dropped, the sail shivered and flapped, and we layalmost without motion, but to our annoyance we could just make out theschooner with her sails well filled, gliding steadily away. 

The master of the boat laughed. 

"Wait a bit, " he said. "She won't go on like that long. P'r'aps weshall have the wind next and she be nowhere. "

Gunson glanced at the oars, but feeling that if we were to overtake thevessel it must be by means of the sails, he said nothing, but satwatching by me till we saw the schooner's sails die away. 

"Gone?" I whispered. 

"No; she has changed her course a little and is stern on to us. There, you can see her again. "

To my great delight I saw that it was so, the schooner having nowturned, and she grew plainer and plainer in our sight as the moon shonefull now on the other side of her sails, and we saw that she too wasbecalmed. Then in a few minutes our own sails filled, and we wentgliding on over the glistening sea, which flashed like silver as welooked back. 

I uttered a sigh full of relief, for the schooner still lay becalmed, while we were now rushing through the water. 

"Well, my lad, " said Gunson suddenly, "we thought we had lost you. Howwas it? One of us thought you had turned tail, and slipped away. "

"That wasn't Mr Gordon, I know, " said Esau. "I ain't the slipping awaysort. Those chaps got hold of me again, and I don't like going awaylike this without setting the police at them. "

"You are best away, my lad, " said Gunson. 

"I don't know so much about that, " cried Esau. "They've got all mymoney, and my knife and coat, and that new pipe. "

"What new pipe?" I said sharply. "You don't smoke. "

"Nobody said I did, " replied Esau, gruffly. "Fellow isn't obliged tosmoke because he's got a pipe in his pocket, is he?"

"No, but you had no pipe in your pockets this morning, because youturned them all out before me. "

"Well, then, I'd got one since if you must know. "

"Why, you did not go away to buy a pipe, did you?" I said. 

"Why, there wouldn't ha' been any harm in it if I had, would there?" hesaid surlily, as he held one hand over the side to let the water foamthrough his fingers. 

"Then you gave us all this trouble and anxiety, " I cried angrily, "andhave made us perhaps ruin our passage, because you wanted to learn tosmoke. "

"I didn't know it was going to give all this trouble, " he said, in agrumbling tone. 

"But you see it has. "

"Well, I've got it worse than you have, haven't I? Lost everything I'vegot except what's in my chest. "

"And it begins to look as if you've lost that too, my lad, " said Gunsonbitterly. "You'd better have waited a bit before you began to learn tosmoke. There goes your chest and your passage money. "

"Yes, and ours, " I said, as Gunson pointed to where the schooner's sailswere once more full, and she was gliding away. "Is it any use to shoutand hail them?"

"Stretch your breathing tackle a bit, my lad, " said the master. "Do yougood p'r'aps. "

"But wouldn't they hear us?"

"No; and if they did they wouldn't stop, " said the master; and we allsat silent and gloomy, till the injury Esau had inflicted upon usthrough that pipe came uppermost again. 

"Serves you well right, Esau, " I said to him in a low voice. "Youdeserve to lose your things for sneaking off like that to buy a pipe. You--pish--want to learn to smoke!"

I said this with so much contempt in my tones that my words seemed tosting him. 

"Didn't want to learn to smoke, " he grumbled. 

"Yes, you did. Don't make worse of it by telling a lie. "

"Who's telling a lie?" he cried aloud. "Tell you I wasn't going tosmoke it myself. "

"Then why did you go for it?"

"Never you mind, " he said sulkily, "Pipe's gone--half-dollar pipe in acase--nobody won't smoke it now, p'r'aps. Wish I hadn't come. "

"So do I now, " I said hotly. "You did buy it to learn to smoke, andwe've lost our passage through you. "

Esau was silent for a few moments, and then he came towards me andwhispered--

"Don't say that, sir. I saw what a shabby old clay pipe Mr Gunson hadgot, and I thought a good noo clean briar-root one would be a nicepresent for him, and I ran off to get it, and bought a big strong one aswouldn't break. And then, as I was out, I thought I'd look in at someof the stores, and see if there wasn't something that would do for you. "

"And you went off to buy me a pipe, my lad?" said Gunson, who had heardevery word. 

"Didn't know you was listening, " said Esau, awkwardly. 

"I could not help hearing. You were excited and spoke louder than youthought. Thank you, my lad, though I haven't got the pipe. Well, howdid you get on then?"

"That's what I hardly know, sir. I s'pose those chaps we had the tusslewith had seen me, and I was going stoopidly along after I'd bought yourpipe--and it was such a good one--staring in at the windows thinking ofwhat I could buy for him, for there don't seem to be anything you canbuy for a boy or a young fellow but a knife, and he'd got two already, when in one of the narrow streets, Shove! bang!"

"What?" I said. 

"Shove! bang! Some one seemed to jump right on me, and drove me upagainst a door--bang, and I was knocked into a passage. 'Course Iturned sharply to hit out, but five or six fellows had rushed in afterme, and they shoved me along that passage and out into a yard, and thenthrough another door, and before I knew where I was they'd got me downand were sitting on me. "

"But didn't you holler out, or cry for help?"

"He says didn't I holler out, or shout for help! I should just think Idid; but before I'd opened my mouth more than twice they'd stuffed somedirty old rag in, --I believe it was some one's pocket-hankychy, --andthen they tied another over it and behind my head to keep it in, rightover my nose too, and there I was. "

"But you saw the men, " said Gunson, who was deeply interested. 

"Oh yes, I saw 'em. One of 'em was that long-haired chap; and it washim whose hands run so easy into my pockets, and who got off my coat andweskit, and slit up my shirt like this so as to get at the belt I had onwith my money in it. He had that in a moment, the beggar! and then ifhe didn't say my braces were good 'uns and he'd change. They were good'uns too, real leather, as a saddler--"

"Well?" said Gunson. "What took place then?"

"Nothing; only that long-haired chap grinned at me and kicked me twice. 'Member that policeman as took us up, Mr Gordon?"

"Yes. "

"I only wish I could hand that long-haired chap over to him. Strikes methey'd cut his hair very short for him before they let him go. "

"But what happened next?"

"Nothing, sir; only they tied my hands behind me, and then put a roperound my ankles, and then one took hold of my head and another of myfeet, and they give me a swing, and pitched me on to a heap of them dryleaves like we used to see put round the oranges down in Thames Street. "

"Indian corn, " said Gunson, shortly. 

"Yes; and then they went out, and I heard 'em lock the door, leaving mein the half dark place nearly choked with that hankychy in my mouth. "

"Yes; go on, Esau, " I said eagerly. And just then the master of theboat spoke--

"Say, youngster, you was in for it. They meant to hit you over the headto-night, and chuck you into the harbour after dark. "

"Yes, " said Gunson. 

"Well, I saved 'em the trouble, " said Esau. "Oh, I just was mad aboutthat pipe; and I seemed to think more about them braces than I did aboutthe money, because, you see, being sewed up like in a belt I never sawthe money, and I used to see the braces, and think what good ones theywas, every day. "

"Go on, Esau, " I said. "How did you get away?"

"Well, I lay there a bit frightened at first and listened, and all wasstill; and then I began to wonder what you and Mr Gunson would thinkabout me, and last of all, as I couldn't hardly breathe, and that greatrag thing in my mouth half choked me, I turned over on my face, andbegan pushing and pushing like a pig, running my nose along till I gotthe hankychy that was tight round my face down over my nose, and thenlower and lower over my mouth and chin, till it was loose round myneck. "

I glanced round and saw that the man who was forward had crept back, andthat the other who held the sheet of the sail, and the master who wassteering, were all listening attentively, while the boat rushed swiftlythrough the water. 

"Next job, " said Esau, "was to get that choking rag out of my mouth; andhard work it was, for they'd rammed it in tight, and all the time I wastrying I was listening too, so as to hear if they were coming. I say, ought one to feel so frightened as I did then?"

"Most people do, " said Gunson quietly. 

"And 'nuff to make 'em, " said the master. 

"Well, I kept on working away at it for what seemed to be hours, "continued Esau, "but all I could do was to get one end of the rag outbetween my teeth, and I couldn't work it any further, but lay there withmy jaws aching, and feeling as if I hadn't got any hands or feet, because they'd tied 'em so tight. 

"It was very horrid, for all the time as I lay there I was expectingthem to come back, and I thought that if they did, and found me tryingto get the things off, they'd half kill me. And didn't I wish you'dbeen there to help me, and then was sorry I wished it, for I shouldn'thave liked anybody to have been in such a fix. 

"I got so faint and dizzy at last that things began to go up and down, and round and round, and for ever so long I lay there thinking I wasaboard ship again in the storm, just like when I was off my head at homewith the fever I had when I was a little chap. But at last I came toagain, and lay on my side wondering how I could get that horriblechoking thing out of my mouth, for I couldn't move it even now when Itried again, only hold a great piece between my teeth. 

"The place was very dark, only light came in here and there throughcracks and holes where the knots had been knocked out of some of theboards; and as I thought I said to myself, if I could get that thing outI might call for help; but directly after I felt that I dared not, forit would p'r'aps bring some of those chaps back. 

"All at once, where the light came through a hole, I saw something thatmade my heart jump, and I wondered I had not seen it before. It was ahook fastened up against one of the joists, with some bits of ropehanging upon it. It was a sharp kind of thing, like the meat-hooks yousee nailed up against the sides of a butcher's shop; and I began rollingmyself over the rustling leaves, over and over, till I was up againstthe side, and then it was a long time before I could get up on my kneesand look up at the hook. 

"But I couldn't reach it, and I had to try and get on to my feet. Ittook a long time, and I went down twice before I was standing, and eventhen I went down again; for though I did stand up, I didn't know I hadany feet, for all the feeling was gone. Then all at once down I wentsidewise, and lay there as miserable as could be, for I couldn't hardlymove. But at last I had another try, getting on to my knees, and takingtight hold of the edge of one of the side pieces of wood with my teeth;and somehow or other I got on my feet again and worked myself along, nearly falling over and over again, before I could touch the hook withmy chin, and there I stood for fear I should fall, and the hook run intome and hold me. "

"What did you want the hook for, boy?" said the master, shifting hisrudder a little, and leaning forward with his face full in themoonlight, and looking deeply interested. 

"What did I want the hook for?" said Esau, with a little laugh. "I'lltell you directly. "

The master nodded, and the others drew a little nearer. 

"What I wanted was to hold that end of the great rag in my teeth, andsee if I couldn't fix it on the hook; and after a lot of tries I did, and then began to hang back from it gently, to see if I couldn't drawthe stuff out of my mouth. "

"And could you?" I said eagerly. 

"Yes; it began to come slowly more and more, till it was about half out, and then the sick feeling that had come over me again got worse andworse, and the hook and the great dark warehouse place swam round, and Ididn't know any more till I opened my eyes as I lay on the leaves, staring at a great wet dirty rag hanging on that hook, and I was able tobreathe freely now. 

"I felt so much better that I could think more easily; but I was verymiserable, for I got thinking about you two, and I knew I must have beenthere a very long time, and that the schooner was to sail at twelveo'clock, so I felt sure that you would go without me, and think I'd beenfrightened and wouldn't come. "

"That's what I did think, " said Gunson; "but Mayne Gordon here stuck upfor you all through. "

"Thankye, Mr Gordon, " said Esau, who was gently chafing his wrists. "That's being a good mate. No, I wouldn't back out. I meant comingwhen I'd said I would. Well, next thing was to get my hands clear, andthat done, of course I could easily do my legs. So I began to get upagain, with my feet feeling nowhere; and as I tried, to wonder what Iwas going to do next, for I couldn't see no way of getting out of aplace with no windows in, not even a skylight at the top. But anyhow Imeant to have that rope off my hands, and I was thinking then that ifthe hook could help me get rid of the rag, it might help me to get ridof the tie round my wrists. "

"O' course, " said the master. "See, lads, " he said, turning round tohis two companions; "he gets the hook in threw the last knot and hitchesthe end out. That's easy enough;" and the two men uttered a low growl. 

"Oh, is it?" said Esau. "Just you be tied up with your hands behind youfor hours, and all pins-and-needles, and numb, and you try behind you toget that hook through the knot in the right place. You wouldn't say itwas easy. "

"But anyways that was hard, I reckon, " said the master. 

"Yes, that was hard, " said Esau; "but I kep on seeming to tighten it, and the more I tried the worse it was; till all at once, as I strainedand reached up behind me, I slipped a little, and the hook was fastsomehow, and nearly jerked my arms out of my shoulders as I hung forwardnow, with my feet giving way, and I couldn't get up again. "

"If a fellow had on'y ha' been there with a knife, " said the master, shaking his head. 

"Yes; but he wasn't, " cried Esau; "and there I hung for ever so long, giving myself a bit of a wriggle now and then, but afraid to do much, ithurt so, dragging at my arms, while they were twisted up. I s'pose Imust have been 'bout an hour like that, but it seemed a week, and I wasbeginning to get sick again, when all at once, after a good struggle, Ifell forward on to my face in amongst the dry leaves. My wrists andhands were tingling dreadfully, but they did not feel so numb now; andafter a bit, as I moved them gently up and down, one over the other, soas to get rid of the pain, I began to find I could move them a littlemore and a little more, till at last, as I worked away at them in aregular state of 'citement, I pulled one of 'em right out, and sat upcomfortable with my hands in my lap. "

"Well done, well done, " cried the master; and I could not help joiningin the murmur of satisfaction uttered by the men. 

"And then yew began to look at the rope round your legs, " said one ofthe latter. 

"That I just did, " said Esau; "but my fingers were so bad it took mehours, as it seemed, before I had those knots undone. "

"But yew got 'em off?" said the master. "Oh yes, I got 'em off at last, every knot undone; but when I'd unwound the rope, there I sat, feelingas if it was not a bit of use, for I could not move my feet, nor yetstand. They felt as if they were made of wood. "

"Yew should have chafed 'em, stranger, " said one of the men. 

"Well, of course that's what he did do, mate, " said the master, reprovingly; "and yew got 'em to work easy at last, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's what I did do, when they would work. I had to set to andsee if I couldn't get away out of that place. "

"'Fore them scallywags come back, " said the master, drawing a longbreath. "That's right. "

"There was the door locked fast, " continued Esau, "and I knew I couldn'tget out that way; so as there was no windows, and the boards were allnailed down tight, the only way seemed to be through the roof. "

"I know, " said the master, changing the course of the boat. "Yew meantto get up, knock off some shingles, and then let yewrself down with thetwo ropes tied together. "

"Look here, " said Esau, ill-humouredly, "you'd better tell the story. "

"No, no, stranger; go on, go on, " said the master, apologetically. "Goon, go on. "

"Well, that's just what I was going to do, " said Esau, condescendingly, "only there wasn't any shingles that I saw, but the place was coveredover with wooden slates. "

"Those are what they call shingles, my lad, " said Gunson. 

"Oh, very well, I don't care, " said Esau, acidly. "All I know is, Ijoined those two pieces of rope together, tied one end round my waist, and I was just going to climb up the side to the rafters, when I thoughtto myself I might meet somebody outside, who'd try to stop me; andthough I felt that you two would be gone, I didn't want to have takenall my trouble for nothing, and be locked up there again. So I had abit of a look round, and picked out from some wood in a corner a prettytidy bit, with a good headache at the end. "

The master chuckled. 

"And I'd no sooner done that than I heard some one coming. "

"Did yew get behind the door?" said the master hoarsely. "Yew said itwas dark. "

"I do wish you'd let me go on my own way, " said Esau, in an ill-usedtone. 

"Yes, yes, yes; go on, my lad, go on, " said the master. 

"Why can't you let him bide!" growled the others; and I saw Gunsonlooking on in an amused way, as he turned from watching the distantschooner, far enough away now. 

"My wrists and my ankles ache so I can't hardly bear it, " continuedEsau; "and when you keep on putting in your spoon it worries me. "

"Yes, yes, my lad; I won't do so no more. "

"'Tain't as if I was a reg'lar story-teller, " grumbled Esau. "I ain'tused to this sort o' thing. "

"Go on telling us, Esau, " I said. "They were only eager to know. "

"Well, " he continued, "that's what I did do, as it was dark. I gotbehind the door with that there stick in my hand, just as I heard thekey rattling in the lock, and then the door was opened, and the leavesrustled, and I saw just dimly that there long-haired chap's head come inslowly; and he seemed to me to look puzzled, as he stared at the heap ofleaves as if he thought I'd crept under 'em and gone to sleep. "

At this moment I looked round, to see in the bright moonlight the facesof the master and the two fishermen watching Esau excitedly, as theywaited for the end of the scene he described. Gunson's face was inshadow now, but he too was leaning forward, while, in the interest ofthe recollection of what he had passed through, Esau began to act aswell as speak. He raised one hand as if it was still grasping thehead-aching stick, and leaned toward the listeners, looking from one tothe other as he spoke, and as if the narrative was intended expresslyfor them and not for us. 

"All at once, " continued Esau, "he took a step forward toward the heapof leaves, and then another, and then he turned sharply round as if hehad heard me move or felt I was close behind him. But when a man triesto jump out of the way, he don't move so quickly as a big stick. I'dgot that well up with both hands, and down it came right on his head, and there he was lying just about where him and the rest of 'em hadpitched me. "

"Ah!" ejaculated the master, and his two companions gave a shout andjumped up. 

"Sit down, will yew!" he shouted. "Want to swamp the boat. He arn'tdone yet. "

"Not quite, " said Esau. "I felt horrid frightened as soon as I'd doneit, for fear I'd given it him too hard, and I turned to run out of theplace, but I could hear a lot of men talking, so I took out the key, putit inside, and shut and locked the door. Then I clambered up the sideand soon had some of those wooden slates off, to find as I crawled on tothe roof that it was quite evening, and whereabouts I was to get down Icouldn't tell. I dare not stop though, for fear the others should cometo look after their mate, so unfastening the rope from my waist I tiedit to a rafter, slid down as far as it would reach, and hung swinging atthe end, thinking that it was all no good, for you two would be gone;and then I dropped, and found myself in a yard. 

"Some one saw me and shouted, " continued Esau, "but I didn't stop tohear what he had to say, for I went over first one fence and thenanother till I got out into a lane, at the bottom of which was a street;and then I went into one after the other, looking like a fellow begging, till I knew where I was, and got down at last to the hotel. "

"And well done too!" cried Gunson, clapping him on the shoulder. "Allto get me a new pipe, eh?"

"Yes; and I'll get you another too some day. "

"I knew you wouldn't leave me in the lurch, Esau, " I whispered; and thenI started, for the master brought down his hand with a heavy slap on hisknee. 

"That was a good 'un, " he cried. "There's too many o' them sort in'Frisco, and it gives the place a bad name. I don't wish that loaferany harm, but I hope you've killed him. "

"I hope not, " I said, fervently. 

"Best thing as could happen to him, my lad, " said the man. "You seehe's a regular bad 'un now, and he'd go on getting worse and worse, sothe kindest thing your mate could do was to finish him off. But hearn't done it. Them sort's as hard as lobsters. Take a deal o' lickingto get through the rind. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Gunson just then. 

"What's matter?"

"She is leaving us behind, " said Gunson, as he looked sadly out to sea. 

"Now she arn't, " said the master; "and I arn't going to let her. Herskipper and me's had many a argyment together 'bout his craft, and he'sprecious fond o' jeering and fleering at me about my bit of a cutter, and thinks he can sail twiced as fast. I'm going tew show him hecan't. "

"Do you think you can overtake him then?" I cried eagerly. 

"Dunno about overtake, my lad, but I'm going to overhaul him. Here, Zeke, come and lay hold of this here tiller. You keep her full. Elim, you and me's going to get up that forsle. I'm going tew put yew chapsaboard o' that schooner if I sail on for a week. "

"Without provisions?" said Gunson, sadly. 

"Who says 'thout provisions, " retorted the man. "There's a lockerforrard and there's a locker aft, for we never know how long we may begetting back when we're out fishing. I say I'm going to put you aboardthat there schooner for the dollars as we 'greed on first, and if Idon't, why I'm more of a Dutchman than lots o' them as comes from theeast to set up business in 'Frisco. There!"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

EMULATING THE CORNISHMEN. 

Unwittingly we had made friends with the master of the little fishingcraft and his men; and as we sat watching them in the moonlight, andlooking away at the schooner, which always stood out in the distancefaint and misty, as if some thing of shadow instead of real, a spar wasgot out from where it was lashed below the thwarts, and run out over thebows, a bolt or two holding it in its place, while the stays were madefast to the masthead and the sides of the boat. Then a large red sailwas drawn out of the locker forward, bent on, run up, and the boatheeled over more and more. 

"Don't capsize us, " said Gunson. "Can she bear all that sail?"

"Ay, and more too. If we capsized yew we should capsize ourselves too, and what's more, our missuses at home, and that wouldn't do. We won'tcapsize yew. Only sit well up to the side, and don't mind a sprinkle ofwater now and then. I'm going to make the old girl fly. "

He chuckled as he saw the difference the fresh spread of canvas had madein the boat's progress, and, taking the tiller now himself, he seemed tosend the light craft skimming over the sea, and leaving an ever-wideningpath of foam glittering in the moonlight behind. 

"That's different, my lads, eh?" the master said, with a fresh chuckle. "Yew see yew were only kind o' passengers before--so many dollarpassengers; now yew're kind o' friends as we wants to oblige, whilewe're cutting yonder skipper's comb for him. Say, do yew know what theydo in Cornwall in England? I'll tell yew. When they want to make askipper wild who's precious proud of his craft, they hystes up a bitmore sail, runs by him, and then goes aft and holds out a rope's end, and asks him if they shall give him a tow. That's what I'm going to doto the schooner's skipper, so don't you fret no more. You hold tight, and you shall be aboard some time. "

"I hope we shall, " said Gunson quietly; but I could feel that there wasdoubt in his tones, and as I looked at the shadowy image away there inthe offing, the case seemed very hopeless indeed. 

We had been sailing for some time now, but the distance from the citywas not very great, the wind not having been favourable. Consequentlyour course had been a series of tacks to and fro, like the zigzags of amountain road. Still we had this on our side--the schooner had to shapeher course in the same way, and suffer from the constant littlesuccession of calms as we did. 

The confident tone of our skipper was encouraging, but we could not feelvery sure when we saw from time to time that the schooner was evidentlyleaving us behind. But we had not calculated on our man's nauticalknowledge, for as we got further out he began to manoeuvre so as to makeshorter tacks, and at last, when the moon was rising high in theheavens, and we were getting well out from under the influence of theland, the easy way in which the course of the boat could be changed gaveus a great advantage, and towards midnight our hopes rose high. 

"There, " said our skipper, "what do yew say now? That's a little craftto move, ain't she?"

"Move? she flies, " said Gunson; "but with this wind, arn't you carryingtoo much sail?"

"Not enough, " said the skipper gruffly. "You let me alone. Only thingthat can hurt us is a spar going, and they won't do that. That theremast and bowsprit both came from up where you're going--VancouverIsland. There's some fine sticks of timber up there. "

We eased off the way of the boat a little, for water was lapping overthe bows, and even he had tacitly agreed that we were heeling over morethan was quite safe. 

"Swab that drop o' juice up, " he growled; and one of the men quietlymopped up the water, of which there was not enough to bale. 

"She must see us now, " said Gunson, after another long interval, duringwhich we all sat holding on by the gunwale. 

"See us? Oh, she sees us plain enough. "

"Then why doesn't she heave to?"

"Skipper's too obstint. Perhaps he don't think there's any one aboard, for it's misty to make anything out in the moonlight, even with a glass. P'r'aps he knows the boat again, and won't take no heed because it'sme. But you wait a bit; we're going through the water free now, eh, squire?"

"You'll sink her directly, " said Esau, who had already grasped the factthat a vessel was always "she. "

"Not I. I say, you didn't expect a ride like this t'night, did yew?"

"No, " said Esau, whose attention was all taken up with holding on to theside. 

"No, not yew. Steady, my lass, steady, " he said softly, as the boatmade a plunge or two. "Don't kick. Say, youngster, any message forthat there chap as you hit?"

"Yes; tell him I'll set the police to work if ever I come back here. "

"Right. I'll tell him. I know where to find him. "

"Where will that be?" I said, wondering whether he meant the veryworst; and I breathed more freely as I heard his answer. 

"In the hospital, lad, in the hospital. They'll have to mend the crackin his head, for I dessay your mate here hit as hard as he could. "

"I did, " said Esau. 

And now we sat in silence gazing at the moonlit water, with itswonderful flecks of silvery ripple, then at the misty schooner, and thenacross at the lights of the city; while I wondered at the fact that onecould go on sailing so long, and that the distance looked so small, fora mile at sea seemed to be a mere sham. 

"What do yew say now?" said the master an hour later. "Shall weoverhaul her?"

"Yes, we must catch her now, " said Gunson, excitedly. "Don't overdo itwhen we are so near success. "

"Yew let me alone; yew let me be, " he grumbled. "I'm going to putt yewaboard that craft, first, because I think yew all ought to be helped;and second, because I want to show the schooner's skipper that he arn'teverybody on these shores. "

On we went through the silver water, with the path behind us lookinglike molten metal, and the wind seeming to hiss by us and rattle in theboat's sails, we went so fast. Every now and then from where I sat Icould look down and see that the lee bulwark almost dipped under water, but always when it was within apparently half an inch of the surface themaster eased the boat and it rose a little. 

The schooner was going on the opposite tack to ours, so that when atlast we crossed her we seemed so near that one might have hailed; but inobedience to the master's wish we passed on in silence, so as to let himenjoy the triumph of over-sailing the bigger vessel, and then hailingher after the Cornwall fashion of which he had boasted. 

"Now, " he said, "we're ahead. " And almost at that moment there was aloud crack, the mast went by the thwarts, and the sails lay like thewings of a wounded bird upon the silvery sea. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

"IT'S THEM. "

"Wal, " said the master, "reckon that arn't quite such a good stick as Ithout it war. "

I sat looking despondently at the wreck, for the accident had happenedjust as I felt sure of our overtaking the schooner, which was rapidlygliding away from us again, when Esau caught hold of my arm. 

"I say, arn't going to the bottom, are we?"

"All our trouble for nothing, I'm afraid, my lads, " said Gunson. 

"What are yew two looking at?" roared the master. "Going to let themtwo sails drag down under the boat? Haul 'em in, will yew!"

These words startled the two men into action, and they began to loosenthe ropes and haul in the sails rapidly, prior to getting the brokenmast on board. 

"Wal, might ha' been worse, " said the master, giving his head a scratch;"but there goes your dollars, mister, for a new stick. "

"I'll pay for it, " said Gunson, quickly. "Could you rig up the brokenspar afresh?"

"Guess I'm going to try. "

"Do you think they could hear us on the schooner if we all shoutedtogether?"

"No, I don't, my lad. If I had, I would have opened my mouth to onced. Here, let me come by; them two's going to sleep. I want to fix thatstick up again. I won't be able to give the schooner a tow this time. He's beat me, but I'll do it yet. "

He set to work getting out the broken stump, which was standing jaggedabove the thwart, and looked at it thoughtfully. 

"Make a nice bit o' firewood for the old woman, " he said, as he laid itdown forward before beginning to examine the broken end of the mast. 

"Guess yew arn't got such a thing as a saw in your pocket, hev you, either on yew?" he continued, with a grim smile. "Not yew! One neverhas got what one wants in one's pocket. Lend a hand here, Elim, nevermind about them stays. Don't shove: them sharp ends 'll go through thebottom. If they do, one of you youngsters 'll hev to putt your legthrough the hole to keep the water out. Now, Zeke, never mind the sail. Hyste away. "

Between them they raised the broken mast, which was now about three feetshorter, tightened the ropes, and, just as the schooner was coming backon the next tack, to pass us about half a mile away, the master said--

"They ought to see as we're in trouble, but I 'spect they're nearly allasleep. Here, all on yew be ready, and when I cry, _hail_! open yourshoulders, and all together give 'em a good _ahoy_! Not yet, mind--nottill I speak. Lot o' little footy squeaks arn't no good; we must have abig shout. Guess we shan't haul up the sail till we've tried whetherthey'll lay to. "

The schooner came nearer and nearer, with her sails growing so plainthat even the ropes that held them glistened white in the moonlight, andlooking so beautiful as she glided smoothly onward, that for the momentI forgot our predicament; but I was roused up at last by the master'svoice. 

"All together!" he said, quietly. "Hail!"

Our voices rose high in a discordant shout. 

"Now again, " cried the master. 

Our voices rose once more, and then another shout broke the stillness ofthe soft night air; but the schooner glided on, her sails hidingeverything, so that we did not see a soul on board save the man at thewheel, whose white face gleamed for a few moments as it emerged from theblack shadow cast by the great mainsail. 

"They're all asleep, " cried the master, fiercely. "Here, lay holt, Zeke. I say, squire, take holt o' the tiller, and keep her straight. Hyste away, Elim, we'll show 'em the rope's end yet. "

"Look!" cried Gunson, quickly. 

"Eh? Why, they did hear us, " cried the master, in a disappointed tone. "Why didn't they hail back? Shan't show him the rope's end arter all. "

For the schooner glided slowly round till she was head to wind; andinstead of her sails curving out in the moonlight, they were now dark, save where they shivered and flapped to and fro, so that a part of thecanvas glistened now and then in the light. 

"Ahoy!" came faintly from her decks, for she was a quarter of a mileaway; and in a few minutes a boat dropped over the side with a splash, and four men began to row toward us. 

"There you are, " said the master, grimly; "they'll take you aboard now. Going up the Fraser, arn't you?"

"Yes, I hope so, " said Gunson, as he thrust his hand into his pocket, and then handed some money to the old man, who took it with adissatisfied grunt, and turned it over in his rough hand. 

"What's this?" he said roughly; "ten dollars. There, we said five. Take them back. " He held out half the money. "No, no: bargain's abargain. Lay holt. "

"But the broken spar?"

"Don't you fret yewrself about that. I'm going to show it to him assold it to me, and make him take it again. There, good luck to you all. Good-bye, youngsters; and if you find any gold up yonder, bring me backa little bit to make a brooch for my old missus. "

Gunson pressed him to keep the money, but he refused angrily. 

"Shake hands, all on yew, and good-bye. I meant to put you all aboard, and I've done it, arn't I?"

"Indeed you have, " I said; "and we are very grateful. "

"That's right, lad, " he said, shaking hands warmly; after which theothers held out their hands, and to my great satisfaction Gunson said--

"Will you let me give these two a dollar each?"

"Oh, very well, " grunted the master. "If yew've got so much money tothrow away, yew can dew it. "

"Hillo!" came from the fast-nearing boat, "what's the matter?--sinking?"

"No, " roared the master. "Sinking indeed! What yer going off andleaving all your passengers behind for?"

"Oh, " said a gruff voice, "it's them. "

It was the skipper of the schooner who spoke, and a quarter of an hourlater we were on board his vessel, waving our caps to the master and histwo sturdy fisher-lads, as, with their shortened sails now filling, theboat began to glide rapidly back, while the schooner's head was turnedonce more for the open sea. 

"Thought you warn't coming, " said the skipper, gruffly, after seeingthat the little boat was swinging safely from the davits. 

"Yes, it was a close shave, " replied Gunson, who hardly spoke again tous, but went below; and soon after we two were fast asleep, forgetful ofall the past troubles of the day. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

When I awoke next morning it was blowing hard, and the timbers of theschooner were groaning and creaking so dismally, that when every now andthen a wave struck the bows, Esau turned to me and shook his head, "Nextbig one as comes 'll knock her all to pieces. "

We did not care much for our breakfast, for more than one reason, andwere glad to get on deck, where we found Gunson talking with theskipper, or I should say Gunson talking, and the old captain rolling aneye, or giving a short nod now and then. Away to our right lay thecoast of California, with its pale-coloured bare-looking cliffsappearing anything but attractive; and as we tossed about in the littleschooner, I could not help thinking how different it was to the greatclipper-ship in which we had sailed round the Horn. 

We were soon glad to go below again, and there, as Esau could not get athis chest, which was down in the hold, he was glad to accept the loan ofa blue jersey from one of the sailors, so as to set Gunson's jacket atliberty. 

It was almost a repetition of our experience in the _Albatross_ for somedays, only in this case we could have gone on deck at any time; butthere was no temptation to do so, for it meant holding on by the side, and being soaked by the spray which kept on flying aboard. 

During those days Esau passed the greater part of his time lying down, and about once an hour he got into the habit of lifting his head, andlooking at me fixedly. 

"I say, " he would begin. 

"Yes?"

"Don't think I shall take to sailoring;" and I agreed with him thatother lines would be pleasanter. 

It was not that we were so very cowardly, for the sailors we spoke toall agreed that it was one of the worst trips they had ever had alongthe coast; and we afterwards heard that the skipper had been veryanxious more than once. But there is always an end to bad weather; andthe morning came when I went on deck to find sky and sea of a lovelyblue, and away to my right a glorious green land, with swelling hills, forests of pines, and beyond them, dazzlingly white in the brightsunshine, the tops of two snow-capped mountains. 

As I leaned aft, gazing at the beautiful land, my spirits began to growbrighter, and I was turning round to go down and fetch Esau to come andsee the place, when I found that Gunson had come on deck too, and waslooking at me in his peculiar manner which always repelled me. 

"Is that British Columbia?" I said, to break an awkward silence, for hestood perfectly silent, fixing me with that one piercing eye. 

"No, not yet--that's Yankee-land still. We've got to get into theStraits yet before we can see our country. "

"Straits--Gibraltar?" I said thoughtlessly; and then I felt red in theface at my stupidity. 

"Not exactly, my lad, " he said, laughing. "Why, my geography is betterthan yours. The straits we go through are those of Juan de Fuca, theold sailor who discovered them. But from what I know of it, the countryis very much the same as this. Think it will do for you?"

"It is lovely, " I cried, enthusiastically. 

"Yes, " he said, thoughtfully, and speaking in a quiet soft way thatseemed to be very different from his appearance; "a lovely land--a landof promise. I hope your people will all get up yonder safe and sound. It is a long, weary task they have before them. "

"Can't be worse than ours has been, " I said. 

"Well, no, I suppose not; but very trying to those poor women. Lookhere, my lad, " he said, after a pause, "how are you going to manage whenyou get ashore at Victoria?"

"Start at once for Fort Elk. "

"How?"

"Get somebody who knows the way to tell us, and then walk on a few milesevery day. It can't be very difficult to find if we keep along theriver bank. "

"Along the towing-path, eh?"

"Yes, if there is one, " I said, eagerly. 

"Towing-path! Why, you young innocent, " he cried, angrily, "don't youknow that it's a fierce wild mountain-torrent, running through canons, and in deep mountain valleys, with vast forests wherever trees can grow, all packed closely together--sometimes so close that you can hardlyforce your way through?"

"I did not know it was like that, " I said; "but we must make the best ofit, I suppose. If we can't go twenty miles a day we must go fifteen. "

"Or ten, or five, or one, " he cried, with a contemptuous laugh. "Why, Mayne, my lad, that last will often be the extent of your journey. "

I looked at him in dismay. 

"You have no friends then at Victoria--no introductions?"

I shook my head. 

"And you do not even seem to know that Victoria is on an island, fromwhich you will have to cross to the mouth of the Fraser. "

"I'm afraid I am very ignorant, " I said, bitterly; "but I am going totry to learn. I suppose there are villages here and there up thecountry?"

"Perhaps a few, not many yet; but you will find some settler's place nowand then. "

"Well, they will be English people, " I said, "and they will help us. "

"Of course. "

"Where are you going?" I asked suddenly. 

He gave a little start, and his face relaxed. 

"I?" he said quickly, and he looked as if he were going to take me intohis confidence; but just then Esau came on deck to stand lookingshoreward, and Gunson turned cold and stern directly. "Don't know forcertain, " he replied. "Morning, my lad, " to Esau, and then walkedforward to speak to the skipper. 

"There, Esau, " I said eagerly; "that's something like a country to cometo, " for the fresh beauties which were unfolding in the morning sun mademe forget all Gunson's suggestions of difficulties. 

"Yes, that's something like, " said Esau. "What makes those big hillslook so blue as that?"

"They are mountains, and I suppose it's the morning mist. "

"Mountains!" said Esau, contemptuously, "not much o' mountains. Why, that one over yonder don't look much bigger than Primrose Hill. "

"Not much, " said Gunson, who was walking back with the skipper. "Verymuch like it too, especially the snow on the top. How far is thatmountain off?" he added, turning to the skipper. 

"Hunard miles, " grunted the person addressed. 

"Look here, " whispered Esau, as soon as we were alone, for the skipperand Gunson went below, "I don't say that he hasn't been very civil tous, and he helped us nicely about getting on here, but I don't like thatchap. Do you?"

"I really don't know, " I said with a laugh. 

"Well, I do know. He looks at one with that eye of his, as if he wasthinking about the money in your belt all the time. "

"He can't be thinking about yours, " I said drily. 

"Oh dear! I forgot that, " said Esau. "But all the same, I don't like aman with one eye. "

"But it isn't his fault, Esau. "

"No, not exactly his fault; but it sets you against him, and he's got somuch pump in him. "

"Pump?"

"Yes; always getting out of you everything you are going to do, and whoyou are, and where you come from. "

"Yes, he does question pretty well. "

"He just does. Very well, then; I want to know who he is, and where hecomes from, and what he's going to be up to. Do you know?"

"No, not in the least. "

"Same here. Well, I don't like a man who's so close, and the sooner weboth shake hands with him, and say good-bye, the better I shall likeit. "

"Well, Esau, I'm beginning to feel like that, " I said, "myself. "

"That's right, then, and we shan't quarrel over that bit o' business. Soon be there now, I think, shan't we?"

"To-morrow about this time, " said a familiar voice; and we both started, for Gunson was standing close behind us. "Didn't you hear me come up?"

"No, " I said hurriedly; and he laughed a little, rather unpleasantly, Ithought, and walked forward to stand with his elbows on the bulwarkwatching the distant shore. 

"There!" whispered Esau. "Now would a fellow who was all right andsquare come and listen to all we said like that? Seems to be alwayscreeping up behind you. "

"I don't think he did that purposely. "

"Well then, I do. You always take his part, no matter what I say; andit sometimes seems to me as if you were pitching me over, so as to takeup with him. "

"That's right, Esau, " I replied. "That is why we sailed off together, and left you in the lurch. "

Esau pressed his lips together, gave his foot a stamp, and then pushedclose up to me. 

"Here, " he said, "punch my head, please. Do. I wish you would. Mytongue's always saying something I don't mean. "

I did not punch Esau's head, and the little incident was soon forgottenin the interest of the rest of our journey. For we sailed on now inbright sunshine, the uneasy motion of the schooner was at an end, andthere was always something fresh to see. Now it was a whale, then ashoal of fish of some kind, and sea-birds floating here and there. Thensome mountain peak came into view, with lovely valleys and vast forestsof pines--scene after scene of beauty that kept us on deck till it wastoo dark to see anything, and tempted us on deck again the moment it waslight. 

By midday we were in the port of Victoria, where the skipper began atonce to discharge his cargo, and hence we were not long before ourchests were on the rough timber wharf, side by side with those ofGunson, who left us in charge of them while he went away. 

"Wish he wouldn't order us about like that, " cried Esau, angrily; "let'sgo away, and let some one else look after his traps. "

"We can't now, " I said. 

"But we don't want him with us any more. I say, I don't think much ofthis place. "

"It's very beautiful, " I said, looking away over the sea at beautifulislands, and up at the wooded hills in view. 

"But it looks just like being at home in England. I expected all kindsof wonderful things in a foreign country, and not to be sitting down onone's box, with sheds and stacks of timber and wooden houses all aboutyou. We can get that at home. "

I was obliged to own that everything did look rather home-like, even tosome names we could see over the stores. 

"And do you know where the skipper's going as soon as he has unloaded?"

"No, " I said. 

"Up to some place with a rum name here in this island, to get a load ofcoals to take back. They only had to call it Newcastle to make itright. What are you looking at over yonder?"

"Those beautiful mountains across the sea, rising up and up in thesunshine. That's British Columbia, I suppose, and it must be up amongthose mountains that our river runs, and where Fort Elk lies. "

"All right, I'm ready. How are we to go?"

"We shall have to find out when some boat sails across I suppose. Let'sgo and find the captain, and ask him where we ought to go to get anight's lodging. "

"Here he comes back, " said Esau. 

"The skipper?"

"No, Gunson. Now let's say good-bye to him, and part friends. "

"There's a little steamer goes across to the settlement at the mouth ofthe river this afternoon, " said Gunson; "so we'll have your chestscarried down. Here, you two can get some kind of dinner in that place, where you see the red board up. You go on and get something ready; I'lljoin you as soon as I've seen your chests on board. The boat startsfrom close by here. "

"No, no, " whispered Esau; "we mustn't trust him, because--"

Esau stopped, for he had glanced at Gunson, and found his eye fixed uponhim searchingly. 

"I said I would see your chests safely on board, my lad, " he saidsternly. "I suppose you'll trust me, Gordon?"

"Of course I will, " I cried, eagerly; for I was ashamed of Esau'ssuspicions. 

"Go on then and order some dinner, " he said; and Esau accompanied meunwillingly to the rough kind of tavern. 

"It's like madness, " Esau kept on saying. "You see if he don't go offwith our chests, and then where shall we be?"

"Grumbling because I was so weak as to trust him. Never mind; I'mhungry. Let's have something to eat. "

We ordered it, and partook of a thoroughly hearty, English-looking meal;but Gunson did not come, and as soon as Esau had finished, he suggestedthat we should go and look after him. 

"But he said we were to wait for him here. "

"Yes, but I'm going to look for my chest, " cried Esau. "I don't see anyfun in losing that. "

"Nonsense! Don't be so suspicious, " I said; and we waited on a fullhour, with Esau growing more and more fidgety, and by degrees infectingme with his doubts. 

All at once we heard from the distance the ringing of a bell, and theEnglishman who, as he called it, "ran the place, " came up to us. 

"Didn't I hear you two say that you were going by the steamer 'safternoon?"

"Yes, " I said. 

"Well then, look sharp, or you'll lose the boat. She's just off. "

I glanced at Esau, and as soon as he had paid we set off at a run, reaching the little steamer just as she was being cast off from thewharf. 

"He ain't here, " cried Esau, excitedly. "What shall we do--stop?"

"No, " I said; "let's go on. We may find our chests on board. "

"Yes, " he said, sarcastically; "may. Well, we can come back again. Oh, what a set of thieves there are abroad. "

We were by this time on deck, and after a quick glance round, I pitchedupon a man who seemed to be either skipper or mate. 

"Were two chests sent on board here belonging to us?"

"One-eyed man with 'em?" he said, looking at us curiously. 

"Yes, " I cried eagerly. 

"All right. Down below. "

"There, Esau, " I cried, gripping him by the arm. "What do you deservenow?"

"Punch o' the head, I suppose. Well, hooroar! and I'm glad we've gotrid 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 ofthe 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 ashore?" I said, wonderingly. 

"Same as you do. "

"But--"

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

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

"But what about yours?" I said. 

"Oh, I was afraid of some muddle being made with our luggage, so Istopped 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 talkabout him; and as soon as he was out of hearing, Esau began by wipingthe perspiration from his forehead with the back of first one hand, thenwith the other. 

"It's o' no use, " he said in a low, hoarse 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 helplaughing 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 itall, but I do through some of it. Look here, Mr Gordon, sir, you markmy words, he's one of that gang we met at 'Frisco, only he plays therespectable game. He'd got me into their hands, and had me robbed, andthen he was going to rob you, only I turned up just in time to saveyou. "

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

"All right: kick away, " he said--"I won't mind; but I'm not going to seeyou 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 hangingon to us as he does. "

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

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

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

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

I ran toward the bows of the little panting and snorting steamer, wherethose on board were gathered in a knot, and just then the skippershouted an order, the clank of the engine ceased, and I caught sight ofa curious-looking canoe that had come out from one of the islands whichdotted 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 passenger 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 beingpaddled up close alongside. Then one of the men in her caught the ropethrown to him, and held on while a little yellow-complexioned boy, as heseemed to me, dressed in a blue cotton pinafore and trousers, andwearing a flat, black skull-cap, made of rolls of some material joinedtogether, suddenly stood up and threw a small bundle on board, afterwhich he scrambled over the side himself, nodding and smiling to allaround. The rope was loosened by the man in the boat, the paddle-wheelsbegan to beat the water again, and I watched the canoe as it rapidlyfell astern. 

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

"Were those Indians?"

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

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

"Oh, you'll meet plenty more. But you see how civilised they aregetting, carrying passengers aboard. I did not expect to find himhere. "

"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 yonderin the south; and now I see that he is getting naturalised here. Comeup from 'Frisco, I suppose. "

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

"Oh no. I was speaking of him as a class. He must have an object incoming across here. "

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

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

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

"No; but it would be wise to get your boxes as far up the country as youcan, and that can only be by means of the Indians and one of theircanoes. "

"But you would have to pay them. "

"Of course. "

"And would it be safe to trust them?"

"We shall see, my lad. But patience. They ought to have called thisplace New England. What a country and a climate for a man who could becontent to settle down to a ranch and farm. There, " he continued, "Idare say you two want to have a chat. I shall be aft there if you wishto say anything to me. "

He was quite right. Esau was waiting to come up and talk, pointing outdistant mountains, the islands we were passing, and the appearance ofthe land we were approaching, a place all mystery and interest to usnow. 

"I say, " he cried, "I've been talking to one of the men aboard here, andhe says it will be easy enough to find Fort Elk; that we've only got tokeep to the side of the river, and we shall be sure to get there sometime. "

"Some time?" I said rather dismally. "When is that?"

"Oh, there's no hurry, " cried Esau, enthusiastically. "It will be raregood fun going along by the river, and through the woods, with no one tointerfere with you, and order you to copy this or write out that. Butlet's get away from old Gunson as soon as we can. "

"You want boy?" said a mild, insinuating voice, and the little fellow inblue stood by us with his head on one side, and his black, currant-likeeyes twinkling in his yellow face. The black close cap which he hadseemed to wear had disappeared, for it had only been his curled-uppigtail, which now hung down his back nearly to his heels. "You wantboy?" he said again. 

He was so close to us now that I could see, in spite of his being onlyabout the stature of a lad of thirteen, that he must be a man of thirtyat least, and in spite of his quaint aspect, there was somethingpleasant and good-humoured about his countenance that was attractive. 

"Want a boy?" said Esau, rather roughly. "He's got one. Can't you seehim? Me!"

The Chinaman nodded and smiled at Esau, as if he admired hisfresh-coloured smooth face and curly fair hair. Then showing his teetha little, he went on--

"Me speak ploper Inglis allee same Melican man. Velly stlong. Washee. Cally big pack allee over countly. Cookee. Velly good cookee. Makenicee blead. Hot fire, plenty tea. "

"No, " I said, smiling at his earnestness. "We don't want a servant. "

"Yes; want boy. Quong. Me Quong, talk ploper Inglis. No talkeepidgin. "

"Get out!" cried Esau. "Who ever heard of talking pigeon! You mean aparrot. "

"Hey? Pallot. Yes, talkee pallot--pletty polly what o'clock?"

"Yes, that's right!" cried Esau. 

"Quong talk ploper Inglis. Allee same Melican man. No talkee pidgin, no talkee pallot. Quong come along cally big pack. Cookee. Washeeclean do. "

"But we don't want you, " I said. 

"No wantee Quong? Hey?"

"No. "

"Ah. "

He nodded as good-humouredly as if we had engaged him to cook and washfor us, and as we stood there leaning over the side of the puffinglittle steamer, we saw him go from one to another, and amongst them toGunson. But he was everywhere received with a shake of the head, and atlast, apparently in no wise discouraged, he sat down forward on thedeck, took his little bundle on his knees, and curled up his tail again. 

They were a curious lot of people on board, and I was dividing my timebetween watching the panorama of hills and mountains that seemed to riseup out of the sea, and trying to make out what the people might be bywhom I was surrounded, thinking that one or two must be Englishmen, others Americans, and some people who had settled down in the country towhich we were going, when a big, roughly-bearded fellow, who was veryloud and noisy in his conversation, suddenly burst into a roar oflaughter, and gave his leg a slap, while some of the men about himjoined in his mirth. 

For some minutes I could not make out what was the object whichattracted them, but Esau was quicker, and gave me a nudge with hiselbow. 

"They're going to play some games, " he said; and I grasped directly whatit meant, for the big fellow went quietly up behind the little Chinaman, and with a clever twitch unfastened the pin, or whatever it was whichheld up the coil, and the long tail untwisted and rolled down on thedeck amidst a roar of laughter--one which increased as the Chinamanturned to see who had played the trick, but only to find the manstanding near with his back toward him, apparently talking thoughtfully. 

"You pullee?" said the Chinaman good-humouredly. 

"What?" came back in a voice of thunder. 

"You pullee tail?"

The man gave him a furious scowl, and uttered a low growl like that ofsome savage beast, while the little Chinaman slunk toward the bulwark, and began to coil up his _queue_ once more, after which he bent forwardover his bundle, his eyes half closed, and evidently thinking so deeply, that he was quite ignorant of what was passing around. Perhaps he waswondering where he would be able to sleep that night, perhaps of how hewas to obtain work. At any rate he was too much occupied with histhoughts to notice that the big fellow was slowly edging his way towardhim. 

"They are going to play some trick, Esau, " I said softly. "What a shameit seems. "

"Yes; look. That other chap's going to help him. "

"But it's too bad. "

"Yes; lots of things are too bad; but it ain't our business, and if weinterfere we shall get into trouble. "

I heard my companion's words, but they did not make any impression onme, for I was too deeply intent upon what was taking place before me. There was the little Chinaman bent forward, blinking and apparently halfasleep, and there on either side were the men, evidently about todisturb him in some way or another. 

All at once, after exchanging glances with the others, I saw the bigfellow place his foot just under the Chinaman, and give him a lift whichsent him up against the other man, who roared out angrily. 

"Where are you coming to, you yellow-eyed, waggle-headed mandarin?" hecried; and he gave the poor fellow two or three cuffs and a rude push, which sent him staggering against his first disturber, who turned uponhim furiously in turn, and cuffed him back to the other. 

"Why, it's like playing shuttlecock and battledore, " said Esau grimly. "If they served me so I should kick. "

But the little Chinaman did not resist in the slightest degree; he onlybore the buffeting patiently till such time as he could rescue hisbundle, and escape to the other side of the deck, where, as if he wereaccustomed to such treatment, he shook himself, pulled down his blouse, and, amidst the roars of laughter that had arisen, he placed his bundleon the bulwark, and folding his arms upon it, leaned there gazing out tosea. 

"I do hate to see big chaps bullying little ones, " said Esau in awhisper, as I stood hoping that the horse-play was at an end, for Ishared Esau's dislike to that kind of tyranny; and though the littleCelestial was nothing to me whatever, I felt hot and angry at what hadbeen going on, and wondered why Gunson, a strong, a powerful man, hadstood there smoking without interfering in the least. 

But my hope of the horse-play being at an end was not gratified, for afew minutes after I saw the two men whisper together, and the big fellowtook out his knife and tried the edge. 

"Hullo!" whispered Esau, "he ain't going to cut his head off, is he?"

I did not answer, though I seemed to divine what was about to takeplace, and the blood flushed into my cheeks with the annoyance I felt. 

My ideas were quite correct, for directly after the second of the twomen lounged up quietly behind the Chinaman, and before he was aware ofit, he too cleverly undid the tail, but kept hold of it and drew it awaytight. 

"Hallo!" he shouted, so as to be heard above the roars of laughter whicharose, "why what's all this ere?"

The little fellow put up his hands to his head, and bent down, callingout piteously, while the big passenger took a step or two forward withthe open knife hidden in his hand. Then clapping his left on theChinaman's head, he thrust it forward, so that the tail was held outtightly, and in another moment it would have been cut off close to thehead, if in my excitement I had not suddenly made a leap forward, planting my hands on the man's chest, and with such good effectconsequent upon my weight being entirely unexpected, that he staggeredback some yards, and then came down heavily in a sitting position on thedeck. 

I was as much astonished at the result as he was, and as there was aroar of laughter from all on deck, he sat there staring at me and I athim, till I could find words to say indignantly--

"Let the poor fellow be. It's a shame!"

The next minute the man sprang up, and Quong, as he called himself, cowered behind me, the other having in his astonishment loosened thepoor fellow's tail and set him free. 

"Why, you young cockerel, " roared the big fellow, striding up to me, andbringing his left hand down heavily upon my shoulder. "Not to cut offthat yallow scoundrel's tail, arn't I?"

"No, " I cried stoutly, though I felt anything but brave; "let himalone. "

"Will I? Look here, I'm going to have off that tail; and just to giveyou a lesson, I'm going to try the edge o' my knife first on one of yourears. "

I wrested myself away, but he was as quick as I was, and had me againdirectly, holding the knife in a threatening way as if he reallyintended to fulfil his threat. 

"Get hold of the knife, Esau, " I shouted; but it was not his hand andarm which interposed, for Gunson forced himself between us, thrusting meright away, as he said quietly--

"Let the boy alone. "

"Let the boy alone!" cried the big fellow, fiercely. "No, I shan't letthe boy alone. What do you mean by interfering? Who are you?"

"Like yourself, man--an Englishman. "

"And a precious ugly one too. Here, I don't want to hurt you, so be offand lie down. "

He strode on one side, and then made at me, driving me to bay againstthe bulwark. 

"Now then, " he cried, with an ugly laugh, which did not conceal hisrage, "I've got you again, have I?"

"No, " said Gunson quietly, as he took him by the collar and swung himround, so that he staggered away; but he recovered himself and made atmy protector. "Keep back! the boy is a friend of mine, and I will nothave him touched. "

"Friend of yours, is he? Oh, then you want to fight, do you?"

"No, " said Gunson, standing firmly before him, "I don't want to fight, neither do you, so go your way, and we'll go ours. "

"After a bit, my lad, " cried the man, fiercely. "This isn't England, but a country where a man can fight if he likes, so clear the course, some of you, and let's see who's best shot. "

He thrust his hand behind him, and pulled a revolver from hiship-pocket, cocking it as he spoke. 

"Now then, out with your own, " he cried. 

But Gunson seized the man's wrist instead, gave it a wrench round, therewas a sharp report, and the pistol fell heavily on the deck, and wassecured by one of the sailors. 

"Give him a hug, mate, " cried the man who had joined in the attack uponthe Chinaman. 

"That's what I'm just going to do, my lad, " said the big fellow inhoarse, angry tones. "He's got hold of the wrong pig by the ear thistime;" and to my horror he drew back a little, and then suddenly dartedhis body forward and locked Gunson in his arms. 

I had often heard tell of and read accounts about wrestling, but thiswas the first time I had ever witnessed an encounter in the old Englishsport, if sport it could be called, where two strong men, one far biggerand heavier than the other, swayed to and fro, heaving, straining, anddoing all they could to throw one another. 

There was a dead silence on the deck, and passengers, skipper, andsailors all bent forward, eagerly watching the encounter, but not onewith such earnestness as I, who fully expected to see Gunson flungheavily. But no: he was raised again and again from the deck, but healways recovered his feet, and twined and swayed here and there in a waythat completely baffled his powerful adversary. 

All this took a very short time, but as I watched I was able to see thatGunson seemed to grow cooler as the struggle went on, while his opponentbecame more enraged. 

The excitement was now intense, and I felt my heart beat heavily as Imomentarily expected to see my defender dashed down insensible, while afeeling of rage at my own helplessness made my position more painful. For it was this: I could do nothing, and no man present made theslightest movement either to help or separate the combatants. Then, too, I felt that it was my fault for behaving as I did, yet I couldhardly feel regret for my interference. 

And while thoughts like these coursed rapidly through my mind, I too waswatching the struggling pair, who swayed here and there, and once struckso violently against the bulwark that I gave a sudden gasp as I expectedthat they would both go overboard together. But no; they struggled backagain to the middle of the deck, Gunson seeming quite helpless, andoffering scarcely any resistance, save when his opponent lifted or triedto throw him, when he suddenly became quick as light almost in hiseffort to recover himself. And all the while an excited murmur went onamong those crowded together to see the weaker fall. There was no doubtas to which it would be, and one of my great dreads was lest Gunsonshould not only be beaten but seriously hurt. 

At last the struggle seemed to be coming to an end. The big fellowswung my champion round and round, and lifted him again and again, justas he seemed to please, but could never unloosen the tight grip ofGunson's hands. 

"Now, Gully lad, " cried the second man, "down with him. "

These words seemed to act as a spur to the wrestler, and I saw his faceof a deep angry red as he put all his force now into a final effort tocrush the active man who clung so tenaciously to him. They hadstruggled now so far aft that another step would have brought them incontact with the man at the wheel; but Gunson gave himself a wrench, swung round, and as he reversed his position the big Englishman forcedhim a little backward, bearing right over him as it seemed to me; whilethe next moment, to my intense astonishment, I saw Gunson now lift thegreat fellow from the deck and literally throw him over his shoulder, tocome down on the planks with quite a crash. There was a curious cry ofastonishment from the group of spectators, in the midst of which thesecond man stepped to his companion's side. 

"Get up, my lad, " he cried. "Did he play foul?"

But there was no reply. The great fellow lay on the deck as if dead, and when his companion raised his head it went heavily down again. 

"Here, I can't stand this, " roared the fallen man's companion. "Youplayed foul--you played foul;" and he rushed at Gunson and seized him, the latter only just having time to secure a good grip of the attackingparty. 

There was a fresh murmur of excitement, followed by a roar, as, apparently without effort, Gunson threw his new opponent upon his back. 

"Was that foul?" cried Gunson, as he stood over him; but the man made noanswer. He only got up slowly. 

"Here, I want to help my mate, " he said surlily; and there was a burstof laughter, for the first fall had taken all desire out of him to tryanother. 

By this time the big fellow--Gully--gave signs of returningconsciousness, and sat up slowly to look about him, gently stroking hishead, and accepting the offer of a couple of hands as he rose to hislegs, and suffered himself to be led forward, while I turned my eyes nowto where Gunson was putting on his jacket. 

"Are you hurt?" I said. 

"No; only a bit strained, my lad. It was like wrestling with anelephant. I was obliged to let him have his own way till he grew tired, and then that old Cornish fall was too much for him. "

"I'm very sorry, " I said humbly. "It was all my fault. "

"Yes, " he said, laughing. "We ought to go different ways now. I can'tspend my time and strength in fighting your battles. There, I am goingto see for a bucket of water and a wash. "

He went forward with one of the sailors, while as I turned, it was tosee the Chinaman looking at me in a curious way. But just then Esaucame between us. 

"What did he say?" he whispered; "that we were going different waysnow?"

"Yes, " I replied; "but I don't think he meant it. I hope not. Why, Esau, what should we have done twice without him?"

"Well, he can fight and wrastle, " said Esau. "It was quite wonderful tosee how he upset those two. And that's what I don't like, because ifhe's so strong with those two big fellows, and can do just what he likeswith them, what chance should we have?"

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

A STRANGE HOTEL. 

We landed at a rough wharf at the mouth of the wide river, where a fewshanties and a plank warehouse stood just in front of a forest ofpine-trees, the stumps, five or six feet high, of many that had been cutdown to make room for the tiny settlement, still standing up and forminga graceful curve all round from the ground to the place where the marksof the axe still looked white and yellowish red. 

Our chests were carried out on to the shaky platform in front of theshanties, one of which was dignified by the title of hotel, and toEsau's great disgust, Gunson's two chests and a long wooden case wereset down close to them. Then three men who had been passengers landed, and lastly the little Chinaman, who had hung back for some time, tillthe steamer was about to start again, sprang quickly on to the wharf, with his luggage hanging to one crooked finger. His movements werequickened by the big fellow Gully, who, as soon as he caught sight ofhim, made a rush and then leaned over the gangway, uttering a roar likethat of some huge beast of prey. This done he shouted to us. 

"Wait a bit, " he said. "We shall run again one another some day. Thenwe'll all have another grip--"

"With all my heart, " said Gunson, in a loud voice; "but I should havethought you had had enough of my manners and custom's. "

We stood waiting till the boat had gone some distance, and then, as thethree men who had landed had disappeared, and the Chinaman was seated ona log at a short distance from where we stood, I turned to Gunson. 

"Where does the town lie?" I asked. 

"What town?" he said, smiling. 

"The one at the mouth of the river. "

"Oh, there is one over yonder, " he said, "but it is not much better thanthis, and as this was the handiest for you, I thought you had betterstop here. "

I had often felt low-spirited since leaving England, but that evening, with the last glow of the sun fast dying out over the ocean, the hugewall of enormous trees behind, and the gliding river in front, andnothing but a few roughly-built boarded houses in sight, my spiritsseemed to sink far lower than they had ever been before. 

I glanced at Esau, and he looked gloomy in the extreme. But I tried toput a good face on the matter, as I said to him--

"One of us had better go and see if these people will give us a night'slodging. "

"You may take that for granted, " said Gunson. "Take hold of one end ofmy chest here, and let's get it under cover. "

I saw Esau frown, and I knew that as soon as we were alone he wouldprotest against our being ordered about. But I did not hesitate, helping Gunson to get his two chests and packing-case into the house, when he frankly enough came and helped in with ours. 

The people did not seem disposed to be very friendly; but rough as theshed-like house was, everything seemed clean, and they were ready tosupply us with some cake-like, heavy bread, and a glowing fire composedof pine-roots and great wedge-like chips, evidently the result ofcutting down trees. 

"Rather rough, Squire Gordon, " said Gunson, with a laugh, as he saw mesitting disconsolate and tired on the end of my chest; "but you'll haveit worse than this. What do you say to camping out in the forest withno cover but a blanket, and the rain coming down in sheets? you'd thinkthis a palace then. "

"I was not complaining, " I said, trying to be brisk. 

"Not with your lips, my lad, but you looked as if you'd give anything tobe back in London. "

"Oh, we ain't such cowards as that, " said Esau shortly. 

At that moment the wife of the settler, who called himself in redletters a hotel-keeper, came toward us with a large tin pot like asaucepan with a loose wire cross handle. 

"Here's a kettle, " she said, in rather an ill-used tone; "and there's atub o' water for drinking outside. Got any tea?"

"Yes, thank you, " said Gunson, good-humouredly. "We shall do now. "

The woman left us, and Gunson turned to me. 

"Well, squire, " he said, "what have you got in the commissariatdepartment?"

"Some bread and cold ham, " I replied. 

"Oh, but we must have some hot. I've done better than you, " he said, laughing, and taking out of a wallet a piece of raw bacon, which he laidupon the rough board table, and then a tin canister. "Now then, Esau, my lad, let's see you cut that in slices, while I make some tea ready. Gordon, will you go and fill the kettle half full?"

He spoke so briskly and cheerily that I hardly knew the man again, andhis words had so good an effect upon me, that I soon had the kettlefilled and seated in the midst of the cheery blaze; while Esau wascutting up the bacon, and Gunson was heating and cleaning a bentgridiron, that had been made by binding some pieces of thick wire alittle distance apart. 

"Now then, Dean, " he said, "can you cook that bacon?"

Esau laughed scornfully. 

"Do you hear that?" he said, turning to me. "Why, I've cooked bacon andbloaters at home hundreds of times. "

"Good!" cried Gunson. "Then you shall cook a bit here. There will notbe any bloaters, but as much salmon as you like to grill. "

"Salmon?" said Esau, pausing in the act of paring off some bacon rind. 

"Yes; salmon. The rivers are so full of them here sometimes, that theycrowd one another out on to the shore. "

Esau gave him a look, and then went on preparing the bacon, afterwardssetting it to frizzle over the clear fire. 

"I must rout up some basins, " said Gunson, rising. "I don't suppose weshall get any tea-cups and saucers here. "

He went out of the rough room, and left us together just as the kettlebegan to sing, and the bacon to send out an appetising odour. 

"Well, " said Esau, "that don't smell bad. Seems to make one feel notquite so mizzable to hear a kettle singing again. I did feel bad a bitback. "

"Didn't you?"

"Yes: wretched, " I replied. 

"And all the more, " continued Esau, "because old Gunson seems to havetaken us into custody like, and orders us to do this and do that. "

"But--"

"Now do let _me_ finish, " grumbled Esau. "I know what you're going tosay, and I'll say it for you. You're allus getting into scrapes, andhe's getting you out of 'em. "

"And you?" I said, laughing. 

"Hah! that's better, " cried Esau, pouncing on a piece of bacon andturning it over. "I do like to see you laugh a bit; seems to makethings cheery. But I say, when is he going his way and going to let usgo ours?"

"How's the bacon getting on?" said Gunson, entering, and the rough boarddoor swung to. "Ah, nice and brown, and the kettle close upon the boil. Know how to make tea, Gordon? Not our way in camp I know. Look here. "

He turned out nearly a handful out of the common tin canister, waitedtill the water in the open kettle was bubbling all over, and then threwin the tea, lifted the kettle off, and stood it down. 

"There, " he said, "that's camp fashion. The old lady's going to bringus something to drink it out of;" and as he spoke the settler's wifebrought in two tin pint mugs and a cracked and chipped basin, which shebanged roughly on the table. 

Gunson gave me a peculiar look as the sour woman turned away. 

"I say, Mrs--I don't know your name. "

"Well, what is it now?" said the woman, in a vinegary tone. "I can'tspend all my time waiting on you. "

"My dear madam, no, " said Gunson, in the most gentlemanly way; "I onlywanted to say that a cup of good tea in this wilderness is a thing thatone may offer a lady, and as that is thoroughly prime China tea that Ihave brought up from 'Frisco, will you do us the honour of trying acup?"

The change in the woman's countenance was wonderful. It softened; thenthere was a smile, and her face looked quite pleasant. 

"Well, really, that's very good of you, " she said. "I'll go and getmyself a cup. A drop of good tea is such a treat out here. "

She hurried out of the room, and Gunson laughed. 

"Here, Gordon, " he said, "get out that sugar you'll find in my bag. Wemust do it well with company. "

I brought forth a tin of sugar and placed it on the table, and Gunsonhaving tidied it a little by throwing the bacon rind away, and spreadingthe mugs about, we sat listening to the sputtering of the bacon andwatching the flickering of the flames, which in the increasing darknessbegan to gild and tinge the rough boarded walls with red. 

Just then the woman came back, with two cups, a saucer, and another tin. 

"I thought I'd bring you a cup to dip with, " she said, "and a drop ofmilk. A neighbour of ours ten miles up the river has got two cows, andhe brings me a little milk when he comes down to buy stores. He washere this morning, so it's quite fresh. "

A few minutes later, and our landlady had finished her cup of tea, whichshe declared to be "lovely, " while upon a second one being dipped shetook it up and carried it off, saying she was too busy to stay. 

Left alone, we proceeded to discuss our own meal, slices of thecake-like bread forming our plates, and our pocket-knives doing doubleduty. Great draughts of hot tea washed down the bacon, and scarcely aword was spoken till Esau sighed, and began to wipe and polish his bignew knife. 

"Feel better, my lad?" said Gunson, smiling. 

"Yes, " said Esau, speaking rather reluctantly. "I am a bit better now. "

"A bit? Why, you are like a new lad. Nothing like a good tea meal outin the wilds, my lad, to put life into one. Why I've known days whenwe've been ready to break down, or give up, or go back; then we'veformed camp, got a bit of fire on the way, boiled the kettle with apinch of tea in it, and eaten our cold bacon and damper, and been fit todo anything after. So are you two. To-morrow morning you'll be readyto make your start up the river, and this will be like your first lessonin camping out. "

"Which way are you going, sir?" said Esau, after a long silence, duringwhich we had been sitting gazing at the fire, but not until there hadbeen a general tidy up of our table. 

"Nor'-east, " said Gunson, laconically. Then in a very abrupt way, "Nowthen, you've a hard day's work before you to-morrow, so roll yourselvesup in your blankets and go to sleep. "

"Where?" I said. "She has not showed us our bedroom. "

"No, because this is, as the old song says, `parlour and kitchen andhall, ' with sleeping accommodation included. There are plenty of finespreading spruces outside, though, if you prefer a bed there. "

"Oh no, " I said, as I began to realise that our journey now was going tobe very rough indeed; and thoroughly appreciating the value of theblanket I had brought, I rolled myself in it, and lay down to thinkwonderingly of where we should be to-morrow. I knew that I could not goto sleep, but thought it better to obey Gunson in every way while he waswith us; and as I lay there, I saw him rise and stand thoughtfullybefore the fire, while almost directly a sound arose from close by me asif Esau was practising ventriloquism, and wanted to give a goodimitation of wood-sawing. 

This grew so exasperating at last, that I should have kicked him to wakehim up if I had not been prevented by my blanket, which was twisted sotightly round my legs that they would not move. 

"I suppose he must be lying on his back, " I remember thinking; anddirectly after, as it seemed to me, when I looked at Gunson, whosefigure just before stood out big and black before the glowing fire, hewas not there. 

I think I considered it rather strange, but I was under the impressiondirectly after that he had lain down too. Then there was a low, dull, humming sound, which I knew came from the river, and then I was lookingup at Gunson, who was standing over me, with the fire lighting him onone side, and the broad, warm glow of the rising sun on the other. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

OUR MORNING BATH. 

"Well, have you had a good night's rest?" cried Gunson, smiling at me. 

"Have--have I been asleep?" I said, sitting up. 

"Asleep? Yes, for a good eight hours. There, tumble up. Yourwashhand-basin is waiting for you. Now, Dean, " he continued, touchinghim with his foot, "are you going to lie there all day?"

"Don't--I say, be quiet. I've only just closed my eyes. Why! Eh? Ifit ain't to-morrow morning!"

He got up and shook himself, and then followed my example of folding upmy blanket. 

"Can you lads swim?"

"I can, " I said; and the words recalled our river at home, and the greenbank off which I used to plunge. 

"I learned in Lambeth Baths, " said Esau. 

"Then if I were you I'd go and have a dip; freshen you both up for theday. There's a place under the trees about a hundred yards from thewharf. I've had a swim there this morning. "

"Already?" I said. 

"Yes, and done some business beside. But look here; keep to theshallows there, and don't venture into the stream, for the current isexceedingly swift. "

A swim in the bright morning sunshine sounded so delightful that I madefor the door at once. 

"Remember about the current, my lads, " said Gunson; "and you, Dean, ifyou keep your eyes open you'll see plenty of salmon. "

"That's his way of making fun of me, " said Esau, as soon as we wereoutside. "Somehow he don't like me. "

"And you don't like him, Esau?"

"That's about true, Mr Gordon, " cried Esau. "But oh my!--only look!"

I needed no telling, for as we stood on the banks of that swift river, with the forest rising behind us, and the sun glorifying everythingaround, all thoughts of the last night's low spirits, and the trouble wehad gone through, were forgotten, and I felt ready to shout for joy. 

The axe of the woodman had been at work, but so little that it washardly noticeable, and, look which way we would, all was lovely, glorious, more beautiful than words can paint. 

"Here, I want to shout. I want to lie down and roll. Here, lay hold ofmy ankles and hold me, " cried Esau, "Why? What are you going to do?"

"I feel as if I must stand on my head, or I shall go mad. I do indeed. "

"Don't be so stupid. "

"But it ain't stupid. It's all so--so--Oh! I can't tell you howbeautiful it is. "

"Never mind now. We are here, and can go on liking it. "

"Yes, I know; but--I say, lookye here. What a tree to climb, with allits branches standing out like steps, and--Why, it must be a hundredfeet high. "

"It's more than two, " I said as I gazed up at the grand green spire of aDouglas pine, tapering gradually up, as if it intended to pierce thebright blue sky. 

"Can't be so high as that, " said Esau. "But I don't know, " he cried. "Look at this stump; why, it must be twenty or thirty feet round. Andlook at 'em, hundreds and thousands of 'em, all standing as closetogether as they can. Oh, look! look! look! Can't help it, I mustshout. I don't care about the trouble or the work, or the long voyage. I'd go through it all again to come to such a place as this. Oh, I dowish mother was here to see. "

I did not give vent to my feelings in the same way, but I felt as much;and all the time, as my heart seemed to swell with joy, there were tearsrising to my eyes, and dimming the glorious view of river, mountain, andforest, while I kept on saying to myself, "Thank God for making such alovely world. "

The first excitement over, and the feeling of wonder that we had notseen all this last night passed away, we went on along the clearing tothe bank of the river, overlooking the shallows where we were to haveour bathe. 

The sun was shining down through the opening formed by the stream, andits waters were sparkling and flashing in the light, as we reached thespot Gunson evidently meant, and just then I caught hold of Esau's arm, and stood pointing away toward the middle. 

"I see 'em, " cried Esau, "just over those shallows. Just like shoals ofroach in the Lea or the New River. They must be gudgeon. "

"Gudgeon!--nonsense! You forget how big everything is here. They'resalmon. "

"Go along with you, " he cried. "Think I don't know better than that?Well, I am--"

This last was on seeing a bar of silver about three feet long shoot outof the water, describe a curve, and fall with a tremendous splash nothalf a stone's throw from where we stood. 

"Why, it is!" cried Esau, excitedly. "That was a salmon, and I can see'em now--they are big--hundreds of 'em, and oh! not a bit o'fishing-tackle of any sort, not so much as a line. "

"Are you coming to bathe?" I cried, laughing. 

"Who's to bathe when there's everything to look at like this? Here, don't let's go any further; let's write to mother and the others to comeover here. "

"There, I shan't wait for you, Esau, " I cried, slipping off my clothes;while he began more slowly, gazing about him all the while. 

"Can't help it, " he said. "I never thought there could be such placesas this. I say, ain't it too beautiful a'most?"

_Splash_!

That was my answer as I plunged in, only to shout as I rose to the topagain, for the water was so cold it sent quite a thrill through me, andthe next minute I was swimming about in the full enjoyment of the dip, after having to be content for months with a miserable allowance ofwater for washing purposes. 

"Here I come: look out!" cried Esau; and the next moment he too sprangin, sending the water up sparkling in the morning sunshine. "Oh!" hecried; "oh! ice! Isn't it cold?"

"You'll soon feel warm, " I shouted; and a minute later he was up closebeside me, swimming easily, and every now and then dipping his headunder water like a duck. 

"I shan't go away from here, " panted Esau. "It's too lovely to leave. I shall build a cottage down by the river side and live there, and thenwe can fish for salmon. What more does a fellow want?"

"Let's wait a bit, and see what the rest of the country is like. We mayfind a better place. "

"Couldn't, " cried Esau. "I say, one don't feel the water so cold now. I don't want a place to be any better than this. It's just right. "

"Well, let's swim back now, and dress. I want my breakfast, and I daresay Gunson's ready. "

"Bother old Gunson!" puffed Esau. "He's a regular nuisance. Is hegoing to-day?"

"I can't talk in--the water. "

"What?"

"Come on back now. "

I had turned, and begun swimming steadily back, for the water hardlyflowed here close to the shore; and as I swam I kept on glancing up atthe huge trees, which were four or five times the size of any I had everseen before. 

"Don't you want your breakfast, Esau?" I said, after a few minutes'swim, but he did not answer. "Esau, come along. " But still there wasno answer; and I turned round and looked back, to see that he was stillswimming in the other direction, and a long way from me. 

"Esau, " I roared, "come back!" and I had the satisfaction of seeing himturn, and begin to swim in my direction. 

Striking out strongly, I was making for the place where I had left myclothes, when I suddenly heard him hail me. 

"Hallo!" I shouted. 

"Can't seem to get along here. "

I stopped to watch him, and then a cold shudder ran through me, for Icould see that though he was swimming with his face toward me, he wasslowly gliding away by the trees on the opposite bank. 

"He has got into the current, " I thought; and I was going to shout awarning, but I had the good sense not to do so, for I felt that it wouldalarm him, and beginning to swim back, I cried--

"Turn in for the shore. "

"Eh?"

"Make for the shore. "

"Can't, lad, " came back; and the cold chill I had before felt thrilledme; while feeling as if I dared not speak, I swam towards him, in agonyall the time, for fear I should get into the current with which he wasstruggling. 

"Don't get much nearer, " he shouted, coolly enough, for he had not yetrealised his clanger; and making an effort to speak as calmly, I raisedmy voice and shouted--

"Of course you don't. Turn round and swim the other way, sloping forthe bank. "

He did not answer, but he had evidently heard my words, for he rose inthe water, turned with a bit of a splash, and began to swim in the otherdirection; while I followed, keeping close in where there was hardly anycurrent. 

Then I stopped and uttered a hoarse cry, for I saw him suddenly shootright out toward the centre of the stream, and begin going down at arate that was terrible. For I could see that any attempt to fightagainst the stream would be folly; all he could do was to keep himselfafloat, and trust to being swept into some other cross current whichmight take him shoreward. 

I felt willing enough to go to his help, but I could do nothing, and thefeeling of impotence began to rob me of such little power as Ipossessed. 

And now I saw that he realised his peril, for he raised one arm abovethe water and waved it to me, lowering it again directly, and swimmingwith the side-stroke, so that it seemed to me that he was drowning, forhis head was nearly hidden by the water. 

"Now, my lads, breakfast, " came from the bank, and I saw Gunson appearfrom among the pines. "Out with you. Where is Dean?"

I rose in the water, and pointed to where the poor fellow was rapidlypassing out of eye-shot, being now quite three hundred yards away, andrapidly increasing the distance. 

"What madness! He'll be--"

I didn't hear him finish the sentence, but I know what he meant to say;and in despair I swam to the shallows, waded out, and stood shading myeyes and watching Esau, who was still afloat, but rapidly being carriedaway. 

As I reached the bank, I just caught a glimpse of Gunson running alongthe clearing beyond the little settlement, and my feeling of despairincreased, for I knew that at the end of the opening the forest wentdown to the water's edge, and that any one would have to strugglethrough the tangle of branches and fallen trees. 

"No, " I thought; "he will get a boat. "

But I could not remember that there was a boat about the place. I hadnot seen one. As I thought all this in a wild, excitable way, Isnatched up some of my clothes, slipped them on partly as I ran; andeven then, incongruous as it may sound, I could not help thinking howthe wet hindered me. Then running on, I came upon Gunson, with his facecut and bleeding, struggling back from among the trees. 

"Boat! boat!" he shouted, hoarsely. "Is there no boat?"

His words brought out the settler's wife, and a couple of men from oneof the shanties. 

"No boat here, " said one of the men. "Anything the matter?"

Gunson tried to speak, but no words came, and in a despairing way hepointed down the river in the direction poor Esau had been swept. 

The man looked as he pointed, but nothing was visible, and just then thewoman cried out--

"Why, where's your mate?"

Neither could I say more than one word--"Bathing, " and I too pointeddown the river. 

"Bathing, and swep' away, " said one of the men. "Ah, she runs strongernor a man can swim. None on us here don't bathe. "

"No, " said the other man quietly; and they stood looking at us heavily. 

"But is there no boat to be had?" cried Gunson, hoarsely. "The Indians. A canoe!"

"Went down the river last night, after bringing the fish, " said thewoman wildly, and then--"Oh, the poor boy--the poor boy!" and shecovered her face with her apron and began to sob. 

"And we stand here like this, " groaned Gunson, "shut in here by theseinterminable trees. Is there no way through--no path?"

"No, " said the man who had spoken first, "no path. Only the river. Wecame by the water and landed here. "

"Gordon, " said my companion bitterly, "I'd have plunged in and tried tosave him, but I knew it was impossible. Poor lad! poor lad! I'd havegiven five years of my life to have saved him. "

"But will he not swim ashore somewhere lower down?" I cried, unwillingto give up all hope. "Where the stream isn't so strong. Let's try andfind a way through the trees. "

"Yes; let's try a way along by the river if we can, " he said, wearily. "Poor lad! I meant differently to this. "

He led the way back to the end of the clearing, and then hesitated. 

"If we could contrive something in the shape of a raft, we might floatdown the river. Hark! What's that?"

For there was a faint hail from somewhere down the river--in the parthidden from us by the trees. "Ahoy!" came quite distinctly this time. "He has swum to one of the overhanging branches, and is holding on, " Icried, excitedly. "Can't we make a raft so as to get to him?"

Gunson turned, and was in the act of running toward our stopping-place, with some idea, as he afterwards told me, of tearing down two or threedoors, when more plainly still came the hail. "Ahoy! Gordon. Ahoy!"

"Why, he is swimming back, " I cried. "Ah!" shouted Gunson, runningback. "The Indians! It was about their time. "

Almost as he spoke, the end of a canoe propelled by four Indians cameinto sight slowly from behind the trees, and as it drew a little furtherinto view, I could see Esau's head just above the side right back in thestern, and this was followed by one bare arm, which was waved in theair, and he shouted--"Gordon. Ahoy! Got my clothes?" Gunson gave hisfoot an angry stamp, and walked back to the settler's house. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

WE START UP THE RIVER. 

"Esau!" I cried, half hysterically, as the canoe was paddled up to thewharf; "you frightened us horribly. "

"You?" he said, coolly, "frightened you? Why, you should have been me. "

I said nothing then, but made signs to the Indians, who, partly from mymotions, and partly from their understanding a few words of English, paddled the boat up to where we had undressed; and as Esau leapedashore, and hurried on his clothes, he went on talking readily enough, though I could hardly say a word. 

"Yes, I did begin to get a bit scared when I found I couldn't doanything to paddle ashore, " said Esau quietly. "It does run fast. Andas soon as I was in the full stream, away I went. Didn't have notrouble about swimming, only a stroke now and then to keep one's headright; river did all the rest. I could have gone on for an hour, I daresay, if I could have kept from being frightened, but--don't tell oldGunson--I was scared, and no mistake. "

"Till you saw the Indians with the canoe, " I said huskily. 

"What?" cried Esau, staring at me in astonishment. "Why that made meever so much more frightened. How did I know but what they wanted topull all the hair off my head? Why, I tried to swim away from them, anddived down when they were getting close, so as to let them paddle rightby. I stopped under too as long as I could, and when I came up, if theyhadn't managed their boat just so as one of 'em could duck his hand downand catch hold of my curly hair. "

"Esau!"

"I shouted and struggled, but he held tight, and another came to helphim, and they dragged me over the side into the boat, where I durstn'tkick for fear of poking my feet through the bottom, for it's only skinstretched over a frame, just as you might make a boat as one would anumbrella, only I don't think they could shut it up. "

"But they didn't attempt to hurt you. "

"No; they were civil enough their way, and kept on jabbering at me, andsaying something about Si wash, si wash. I'd had si wash enough, butthey never offered to lend me a towel, and I had to get dry in the sun. "

"Esau, " I said, as he was finishing dressing, "you ought to be thankfulthat you have had such an escape. "

"Ought I? Well, I suppose I ought, lad; and I am thankful, though Itake it so easy, for my poor mother would have broke her heart if I'dbeen drowned. She thinks a deal of me. "

"Of course, " I said. 

"I say, what did old Gunson say?"

"Don't ask me; don't talk about it, " I said, for I felt half choking, Iwas so overset by the whole scene. 

"Why, Mayne Gordon, " said Esau softly, as he laid his hand on myshoulder, "don't go on like that. I ain't nothing to you, and--"

"Esau, " I cried angrily, "will you hold your tongue? Hush! don't sayanother word. Here's Mr Gunson. "

"Yes, " said Esau, in rather an ill-used tone, "it always is `Here's MrGunson!'"

"Breakfast's waiting, my lads, " he said. "Make haste; I don't want tokeep the Indians long. "

"Keep the Indians?" I said. "Ah, you mean we ought to pay themsomething for saving him. "

"Yes, for one thing; but that is not all. They will easily besatisfied. "

"I sha'n't give them anything, " said Esau sourly. "One of 'em tried topull the hair off my head. "

"Nonsense! It must have been to get you into the boat. Here we are. "

He signed to us to go into our room in the shanty, and I felt puzzled athis quiet calm way of speaking now, just as if there had been nothingthe matter that morning. But it was not so with Esau. The shock andits accompanying fright had had a peculiar effect upon his temper. 

As we entered the room there was the bright fire with the boiling water;and the landlady had been busy for us, and broiled some bacon, the smellof which was very welcome at that time in the morning; but as Esau wasabout to take his place he looked sharply round. 

"Where's my box?" he said. And as he spoke I saw that mine and theothers were gone. 

"In the canoe, " said Gunson, quietly. 

"What's it in the canoe for?" cried Esau. "Those Indian chaps will runaway with it. "

"If they do, " said Gunson, who was busy making the tea, "they'll takeyour companion's and mine too. "

"What's the good o' that to me?" cried Esau angrily. "That won't bringmine back. Here, I want my box. "

"Sit down, and don't be stupid, my lad. You've given us quite enoughtrouble this morning. "

"But I want my box, " cried Esau. "There's lots o' things in that Iwouldn't lose on no account. "

He moved toward the door, but Gunson set down the kettle and steppedbefore him. 

"Go and sit down, " he said sternly. 

"But I want--"

"Sit down!" roared Gunson. "Your companion here does not make an idiotof himself because his box is in the canoe. Do you think I want to runaway with it?"

"No; but those Indians--"

"Are more honest than you are, my lad, or as honest. "

"But who told them to take the boxes?"

"I did. For if you go and nearly drown yourself there is no opportunityfor consulting you about matters. You want to go up the river, do younot?"

"Well, I don't know, " cried Esau, whose anger was now comical. 

"Then we know for you. As it happens, my first halting-place is at asettlement twelve miles up the river. I wanted my chests taken upthere, and I ventured to think it would be doing you lads a good turn totake you and your boxes as well. So I engaged these Indians with theircanoe. They will paddle us up there and land us. "

"Oh, " said Esau discontentedly. And I burst out laughing. 

"I'm sorry you do not like it, Mr Dean; but if you wish it, I willapologise for the liberties my Indians have taken in saving your life asthey came, as well as in taking your chest. "

"Well, I--that is--if I'd--"

"Will you hold your mug this way for some tea, Mr Dean?" said Gunson, with mock politeness. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Esau. 

"There, help yourself to sugar and milk. Gordon, my lad, help thebacon, and give our much-injured friend the best piece. "

"Look here, " cried Esau fiercely, "you may hit me, or you may kick me, but I can't stand being made fun of. Say another word like that, and Iwon't eat a bit. "

"I have said my say, " cried Gunson, with a look at me. And aftergulping down his tin mug of tea, Esau seemed to get better, and the mealwas hastily finished in peace. 

"Now, Gordon, " said Gunson, "our landlady has been very civil to us, what shall we give her beside the pay for what we have had?"

"If I did what I liked, I should give her a little paper of tea. "

"Well done, Solomon of wisdom, " said Gunson, taking something from hispocket; "here it is, done up all ready. Now then, the sooner we startthe better. "

Our arrangements with the settler's wife were soon concluded, and it wasstill early morning when we took our places in the big skin canoe withall our personal belongings under our eyes now; and the Indians havingbeen well fed, pushed off rather sluggishly. But they kept time withtheir paddles, and soon set up a low, sad, crooning kind of chorus asthey carefully avoided the powerful stream by keeping well inshore, where I gazed up in wonder at the magnificent trees which appeared inmasses and clumps at every turn. 

It was a wonderful experience that first ride on the fierce river, whosesnow-charged waters gave quite a sting to the fingers whenever they wereimmersed. And there was always something fresh to see. Now it was avast shoal of salmon gliding up over the shallows, or collecting aboutthe edges of one of the many falls we passed, where some stream oranother came down from the high grounds to swell the already full bed ofthe river. Then some bird flew up within tempting distance for one whohandled a gun, and then there would be a little bit of excitement as weneared some fierce part of the river where the bed was dotted withrocks, a touch upon any of which must mean a hole through the bottom ofour canoe, and her freight sent whirling helplessly down the stream. 

It was at one of these rapids that Esau, who had been very quiet andrather ashamed of himself, suddenly half rose in his place, exclaiming--

"Don't let them go there; it isn't safe. "

"They know best how to manage the canoe, " said Gunson quietly. 

"But you won't let them go up that bit of water? It's like amill-race. "

"Yes; only fiercer, " said Gunson coolly. "Feel startled, Gordon?"

"I do feel a bit nervous, " I said. 

"And not ashamed to say so, " he replied, laughing. "Well, you are astrange lad. Of course you are not frightened, Dean?"

"Why it's enough to scare any one, " cried Esau. "We shall all have toswim for it directly, and nice chance we shall have. Get stunned withstones before we know where we are. Here, look! what are they going todo?"

"Sit still, and you'll see, " said Gunson; and he joined me in lookingeagerly at the men, who ran the boat as far as they could go toward theshallow rapids by energetic use of their paddles, and then, at a gruntfrom the one who seemed to take the lead, they dropped their paddles inthe canoe, and, as if by one movement, swung themselves over into therapids, and began to wade and drag the vessel against the surgingstream. 

"Look here, " said Gunson, with his lips close to my ear, for the noiseof the rushing water was deafening, "if we do go over, make for that bigpiece of rock below there, and try to climb up. "

"Yes, " I said rather breathlessly; "but tell Esau too. "

"Oh no; there is no need, " he said sarcastically. "Your companion istoo clever to want help. "

Meanwhile we were being dragged slowly up and up against the fiercecurrent, and in and out among rocks, any one of which would have oversetthe canoe; and as I looked forward and to right and left, where thesides of the river were formed by precipices which ran up so high thatthe trees growing here and there on the ledges looked quite small, Ifelt a kind of shrinking sensation at my own insignificance, and turnedat last to see what effect all this had upon Esau. 

He was seated holding on to the bottom of the canoe with all his might, and staring at the threatening rocks with eyes and mouth wide open. 

"Afraid?" I shouted in his ear. 

"Not a bit, " he replied; "but be ready for a swim if some of those rocksup above don't tumble down and sink us. "

And all the time the Indians dragged hard at the canoe, and with so muchsuccess that they proceeded over some three hundred yards of rapid, andthen stopped where the water looked deep and glassy, and where it wasevident that they could wade no further. 

Here, as they held the canoe fast to keep it from being swept back downthe rapids, one of the foremost swung himself in, took his paddle, andbegan to use it with all his might. Then another sprang in on the otherside, and paddled hard to keep the canoe stationary, two still holdingtightly. Then the third leaped in, and the one still holding uttered ahoarse cry, which made the others ply their paddles with all theirmight, for it seemed as if the stream would be too strong for them. Finally the fourth gave another cry, and his muscles stood out in thesunshine on his forehead and neck, as he gave the boat a tremendousthrust, swung himself in, and began to paddle rapidly. 

The thrust he gave the boat sent it on a couple of yards, and then itbecame stationary, with the water, which looked white and glassy, nowrushing by us, and threatening to drive the canoe on to the rocks justbehind, or else to capsize us, and sweep the party headlong down thelong water slope up which we had been so toilsomely drawn. And Ibelieve we should have been mastered, for what with three passengers andthe chests, the canoe was heavily laden; but Gunson suddenly pressedhimself close to the last Indian, reached out one strong arm, andgrasped his paddle, swaying with him, and bringing the full force of hispowerful muscles to bear. 

The hint was sufficient. I gave Esau a look, and crawled right forwardto the first paddler, and did precisely the same, and Esau actedlikewise, so that there was the addition of our arms on the port side ofthe boat to balance Gunson's on the starboard. 

For the moment my Indian, the first, seemed ready to start up, leapoverboard, and swim for his life, evidently thinking I was attackinghim; but he saw what it meant directly, and as soon as we boys were inregular swing with them, the chief man gave a shout, and the paddleswere plied with such effect that the canoe began to move from where ithad been stationary, as if one end were fixed on a rock, which allowedthe hows to sway a little. Then we gained a foot or two, the feetbecame yards, and the Indians set up a triumphant chorus, as we glidedon and on, more into smoother water, and at last right in, under thelowering precipice on our left, where we got along more rapidly, tillthe vessel was steered in behind a huge projecting mass of rock, whereone paddle was sufficient to hold her in the eddy that was caused by thestone, and here all paused to rest. 

"Well done, Bri'ish muscles!" said Esau, looking round, and smiling ashe wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "I say, I thought it wasall over once. "

"Yes, " said Gunson, "they had all they could do to hold their own, andof course they would soon have given way. "

"Is there much more like this?" I asked. 

"You know the river as well as I do, my lad, " said Gunson. "As far as Ican make out, it is nearly all like this, and runs through canons andwild places, where at times the sides are so high that it is quitegloomy below. "

"Well, I like it, " said Esau. "There's something in it. I've been onthe river at home in the steamers, but there's nothing to see. "

"You'll see enough here, " said Gunson, dryly. "What do you think ofyour journey up the river now? Didn't I hear one of you speak aboutwalking on the bank?"

I looked to right and left, and felt my forehead pucker up as I saw thedifficulties we should have to contend with. 

"But will the banks be always like this?" I said. 

"Of course not. I should say that we shall find everything, frompiled-up masses of rock to pleasant patches of meadow, and no two milesalike. "

"But no steamers could ever come up here, " said Esau. 

"Oh yes, out there in the broad channel in the middle, but they willneed very powerful engines and careful pilots. Ah, they are gettingready for a fresh start. "

"But it will take us a long time to get up to where we are to stop forto-night, " I said. 

"Twelve miles at the outside, " replied Gunson. "Yes, I am beginning tobe in doubt as to whether we shall get there to-night. "

The leader of the Indians shouted, they plunged in their paddles, andthe next minute we were again struggling with a rapid bit of the riverbetween two rocks; but they soon got into smooth water again, and, evidently quite at home in the intricacies of the navigation, they tookadvantage of every sheltering clump of rocks, and cut across swiftrapids to get into eddies here, there, and everywhere. Now we wereright in the middle of the stream, now crossing under the left bank, nowmaking for the right, but always advancing slowly, with the sides of theriver growing grander every hour, and Gunson smiling at our ecstasies, as we kept getting glimpses of ravines down which tumbled silverystreams, whose spray moistened the gigantic pines which shot up likespires. 

"Wouldn't have ketched me sitting on the stool in old Dempster's officeall that mizzable time, " cried Esau, "if I'd known there were placeslike this to come and live at. "

"It is a grand valley, " said Gunson thoughtfully, and looking at me ashe spoke; "but as it is, what is it? Only something beautiful to beadmired. You couldn't live on waterfalls and pine-trees here. SupposeI landed you two lads in that lovely gorge, where the water comes downlike a veil of silver, and--yes, look, there's a rainbow floating inthat mist just above the big fall. Look at the ferns, and perfect shapeof that great fir-tree, with its branches drooping right to the ground. You could sleep under its spreading boughs, and find a soft bed ofpine-needles; but I don't think it would be possible to climb up thesides of the gorge, and in a short time you would starve. "

"Oh would we?" cried Esau. "We'd soon build a hut, and we could catchthe salmon. "

"Yes, you might catch some salmon in the season; but there is nothingelse you could eat. It is very beautiful too, and those pine-trees thatstand there are as they stand worth nothing, but if you had them cutinto square timbers, and lying in one of the London docks, they would beworth from ten to forty pounds each. "

"But it is glorious to see all this, " I said eagerly. 

"Yes; glorious. In all my travels I have seen nothing more beautiful, "said Gunson; and he added laughing, "I never went up a river that was sorugged and so swift. "

It was just in such a nook as that which we had admired so much that theIndians ran the boat ashore about midday, and after making her fast in aglassy little pool, they signed to us to get out, after which they allsat down among the ferns, and under the shelter of the spreading boughsof a pine, and brought out some food. We imitated their example, andmade a hearty meal, washing it down with a tin of water from a littlefountain which gushed from a moss-covered rock. 

By this time the Indians were lying down apparently asleep, and it setme thinking about what our position would be if we followed theirexample and they decamped with our boxes and stores. Suppose there wasno way out of this neck, for the sides looked as if it would beimpossible to climb them, and it was evidently a rare thing for any boatto go up or down. 

However, these were only fancies, for after about an hour's rest theIndians suddenly jumped up and pointed to the boat. We got in, and thestruggle with the river began again, to be kept up till the sun haddescended behind the mountains, and it was beginning to look gloomywhere the river ran. Places that would have been glorious to the eye inthe bright sunshine now seemed weird and terrible, impressing even ourhard, stern friend, so that he suddenly said--

"We had better land at the first suitable place, and make camp for thenight. We can easily get a good fire. "

I was glad to hear him say this, for with the advancing evening thewaters looked cold, and the echoing roar of torrent and fall had anawful sound that began to affect my spirits, and Esau's as well, for hesuddenly said to me--

"I say, this part ain't half so beautiful as some of the others. "

Gunson set himself the task of explaining to the Indians that we wantedto land, a want that they grasped directly; the leader nodding andpointing forward beyond a sudden bend of the river, where it made asweep to our right round a towering buttress of rock, which projected sofar that it seemed to block up the channel, and turn the place into alake. Then bending once more to their paddles, they set up theirmonotonous chant, and in about an hour we were round the great rockybuttress, and making for a meadow-like patch surrounded by magnificenttrees, and upon which dotted here and there were rough shanties. 

"Why this is the settlement!" cried Gunson. "They have done as theypromised after all. Now, my lads, " he said, "what do you say?--shall wetry and get shelter at one of those places, or camp out for the firsttime, and you can try what it's like?"

"Camp out, " I said eagerly, for there was an attraction about the idea. "What do you say, Esau?"

"Same as you do, sir, same as you. "

"Then we will camp out, " said Gunson; and directing the Indians to anook away from the tents, they landed us there by a spring of coldwater, and then began to take out the chests. 

"No, no. To-morrow, " said Gunson. "Now then; first thing is a firewhen we have chosen our tent. "

Just then Esau cried sharply--"I say, lookye there!" and burst into afit of laughter. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

ESAU HAS A DREAM. 

I laughed too as I saw the little yellow-faced figure of our Chinesecompanion of the boat, as he came up with his small bundle swinging fromone finger. 

"Why how did you get up here?" I said. 

"Indian--chinook come along, walkee, walkee, " he said; and he pointedtoward the west. "Wantee fire--make blead?" he said laconically; andthen without losing a moment, he selected a sheltered spot, collected aquantity of pine-needles and fir-cones, produced a box of matches fromsomewhere, --I think it was from up his sleeve, --started the fire, nursedit carefully, and as soon as it began to burn freely, ran here and thereto collect dry wood, and after building this up round, dragged up biggerpieces, and then added these, making a famous fire in a very short time. 

Gunson laughed at the Chinaman's busy, officious way, and with us tohelp him, brought our stores ashore, while the Indians prepared theirown camping-place some little distance off. 

"We may as well make ourselves comfortable for the night, " he said. "Weshall work all the better to-morrow. "

"Where floul--make blead?" said the Chinaman, looking up suddenly. 

"Don't want any. Got plenty of bread. "

"Don'tee want any. Plenty blead?" said the Chinaman. "Want pot makumboil tea; want bacon--good fi' cook bacon. "

I was just unpacking the latter, which had been tucked in the kettlesafe receptacle, and our new acquaintance's fingers were soon busy. Heseized the kettle, went to the spring, rinsed it out, and brought itfull to the fire. Then, before I could interfere, he had seized uponthe bacon, taken out a long ugly knife, whetted it upon his boot, andbegan to cut off thin slices, which he laid upon a thin square of iron, whose purpose I had not divined when Gunson unpacked it, bore them tothe fire, and stood there ready for a clear place where one side was allaglow with embers. 

This done, the Chinaman placed one or two branches in more favourablepositions for burning, and turned to Gunson again. 

"Kettle nealy leady. Want tea?"

Gunson handed the tin to him, and the little yellow face lightened up asthe cover was taken off. 

"Melican tea? No. Good tea. Ah!"

There was a long, eager sniff taken, and then a look was given round. 

"One, two, thlee, " said the little fellow, raising finger after fingeras he counted. "One, two, thlee, " and he gave the tea a shake in thecanister. 

"Not enough, " said Gunson; "we like a good cup. "

"Hey? like good cup? Yes, plenty tea fo' good cup, " and he took off thelid of the tin, and went and squatted down by the kettle, set the teaaside, ready for the boiling of the water, and so brought the bacon overthe glowing embers slowly and carefully, using the point of his knife inplace of a fork. That tea proved to be excellent, and the bacon sodelicious that we felt kindly disposed toward the Chinaman as we ate it;and the more so that as soon as he saw us well started, in place ofhanging about to be asked to join, he whetted his knife again, trottedoff, and began to collect pine-needles, and cut down boughs of fir andspruce to pack together under the biggest tree for our bed. 

"Here, what are you doing?" said Gunson. "Hey?" cried the littlefellow, trotting up. "Doing! Want mo' bacon--make blead. Blead gonehigh. "

"No, no. Sit down and have some tea. "

"By and by!" said the little fellow. "Cut much bed. Velly blackdleckly; no see. "

He went off, and we heard his knife hacking away again, and the rustlingof the boughs, as he laid them neatly together in the big, pine naturaltent that was to be our home that night. 

"Well, " said Gunson, "what do you think of real camping out?"

"Lovely, " said Esau. "Oh! I say!"

"What's the matter?" I said. "Gnat sort of thing bit me on the side ofthe neck. Why, if there ain't another. "

He gave his face a sharp smack, and I was engaged too, and directlyafter Gunson was smacking his hands and legs, for a cloud of mosquitoeshad found us out, and were increasing in number every moment. 

"This is intolerable, " cried Gunson. "Old friends. Haven't been bittenfor years. We shall have to shift our quarters. "

Just then the Chinaman came up, and took in the situation at a glance. 

"Skittum, " he said, sharply. "I mudjums. "

Running to the fire, he took hold of the end of a branch, drew it out, gave it a wave to put out the flame, and then held it smoking low downby us on the side where the wind blew, with the result that a thickcloud of aromatic vapour was wafted by us, stinging our eyes a little, but making the vicious little insects turn their attention to theIndians, who started a burning branch as well, after which we could hearour enemies making their sharp, threatening hum all about us, but theyrarely ventured to attack us through the smoke. 

"I say, " cried Esau, "I hope there ain't many of these things about. My! how the bites itch. "

As he spoke he moved out from under the protecting smoke, but a sharptrumpeting hum sent him back directly with his head in the cloud. 

"Wants a good sharp wind to blow 'em away, " he muttered, as he began torub at the bites viciously, while Gunson turned to the Chinaman andnodded toward the remains of our food. 

"Have some tea, " he said, "and something to eat?"

The little fellow nodded and smiled. 

"All a done?" he said. "Tea velly good?" and filling himself a tin mugfrom the supply in the kettle, he sat sipping it with his eyes closed. Then helping himself moderately to the remains of the bread and bacon, he rinsed out the kettle and mugs, and set all aside under a big fern. 

"All leady fo' bleakfass, " he said, nodding. "Keep a fi'. Quong mind. Leady fo' bleakfass, mollow. You want?"

He looked at Gunson, who shook his head. 

"You want?" he said again, looking at Esau. 

"No, I don't want you, " replied Esau; and the same question wasaddressed to me, of course with the same result. 

"Velly ti'e. Go sleep, " said the little fellow; and, selecting a treeabout half way between us and the Indians' camp, I saw him, in thefast-fading light, put his bundle down for a pillow, and curl updirectly. 

"Good example, " said Gunson. "Let's follow it, and be off in goodtime. "

We took his advice; but this time I lay awake for long enough, listeningto the murmur of the wind in the pines, and the low, deep bass roar ofthe river. It had rapidly grown dark, and the fire flickered andflashed, and sent up curls of golden smoke; while on one side there wasa bough of a pine-tree with every needle standing out clear and brightagainst the intense blackness beyond. And as I lay there listening tothe heavy breathing of my two companions, I began to think how easy itwould be for the little Chinaman to crawl silently up and rob us of ourmoney and valuables; then that there was nothing to prevent the Indiansfrom making their way round among the trees and killing us all. I hadread of Indian massacres, and a curious, hot sensation of dread cameover me as I looked nervously round, half expecting that my fanciesmight not be without cause, and that my wakefulness was due to a senseof coming danger. 

But the various objects dimly seen by the firelight by degrees tooktheir proper form; and I saw that one which I had believed to be anIndian's head was only a tuft of some low growth; that it was a fern andnot a crouching enemy just beyond the fire; and the group to my left, acurious shadowy group, consisted of young pines which the falling in andfollowing blaze of the fire made quite plain. 

I told myself that it was foolish to feel so nervous, and that I was assafe out there in the forest as in some room at home; but myself wouldnot believe it, and kept on conjuring up dangers surrounding us till Ifelt irritable with my two companions for sleeping so peaceably. 

The time went on, and I began wondering how Mr John Dempster and thosewith him were getting on; how long it would be before we should meet--ifwe ever did meet; and then the end of my journey here became a greattrouble to me, as the question rose in a very portentous fashion--whatwould Uncle Dan, as they familiarly called him, say when I presentedmyself and said I had come?

Those hours--perhaps they only seemed to be hours--passed on verywearily, and I turned and turned again, troubled as I was by a painful, burning itching where I had been bitten, and never once thinking ofattributing my wakefulness to the real cause--the mosquitoes. 

At last, just when I was most miserable, nervous, and low-spirited, Isuddenly saw a bright, flashing eye appear over the edge of the blackridge on the other side of the river, and begin peering at me throughthe pine boughs, so full of peace and beauty that I lay gazing at it, feeling more and more calm as I recalled the times when I had seen thatsame planet shining so brightly in the dear old home; till at last myleaden eyelids closed, and I slept profoundly, but only to start intowakefulness as some one trampled upon me heavily; and as I leaped up, there close to me came the sounds of heavy blows, of the pine twigsbeing broken, and loud gaspings and pantings, mingled with heavytrampling, a low hoarse cry, and a heavy fall. 

My heart stood still, and I was paralysed for a few moments as I stoodthere in the dark; then the instinct of self-preservation rose strong inme, and I took out and drew the great knife I had bought, and stoodthere ready to sell my life as dearly as I could, but unwilling to movelest I should indicate to the Indians where they might make their nextattack. 

For I felt convinced that my imaginations had been realised; that theIndians had stolen upon us, and murdered my two companions in theirsleep, while I alone was left helpless in that wild place, and notdaring to call for help. 

I suppose all this could not have taken a minute, long as in my agony itseemed to me before a voice close by me said--

"Dean--Gordon! Wake up, lads. A light--a light!"

A thrill of joy shot through me as I recognised Gunson's voice, althoughit was changed by excitement, and panting, just as it sounded to meafter his encounter with the big settler; while before I could speakthere came an answer to his appeal in the shrill tones of the Chinaman. 

"Wantee lightee? Yes. "

Then there was a blaze, and directly after I saw the little fellowbearing a great pine branch which he had dragged out of the fire. 

"What is it?" I said, eagerly. 

"I don't know yet, boy. One of the Indians, I think. He struck me witha club, but fortunately it was only on the shoulder, and when I leapedup and struck out he went down. I've got him here. Don't come till wecan see. He may sting. "

The light flashed in under the pine boughs then, and I could seeGunson's back as he knelt down, evidently holding his enemy there by thethroat. 

"Why, hang it!" he cried, drawing back sharply; "it's Dean. "

"Dean!" I cried. "There must be some one else. "

"No; only him. He was striking about with--yes, here it is, " hecontinued, picking up a stout piece of pine, one of the branches thathad been in the fire till the small twigs were burned off, leaving it asa strong cudgel about two feet long. "He struck me with this, and hewas dashing it about among the branches. "

"He trampled on me too. I thought it was the Indians, " I said. 

"Then it's a false alarm, and I'm afraid I've hurt the poor lad a gooddeal. "

But just then Esau sat up, and began rubbing the side of his head. 

"Where's my stick?" he said. "Oh, you've got it. Have you driven 'emaway?"

"Driven whom away?" I said. 

"Injuns. I thought they would. They came at us, and I'd got that stickready. "

"Injun allee seepee, " said the Chinaman, waving the pine branch to makeit blaze. 

"No; they came and attacked us, and I fought 'em till one of 'em knockedme down and held me on the ground. "

"Did you see them come?" said Gunson. 

"Couldn't see 'em because it was so dark; but I sprang up at them, anddid the best I could. "

"Quong fuss wake. No Injun came all 'long. Quong been make fire alllight fo' bleakfass. "

"I tell you they came, " cried Esau, angrily. "Look here at my cheek. It's cut, and bleeds. That was one of their knives. "

"That was my knuckles, my lad, " said Gunson, "after you had hit me withthis cudgel. "

"What?" cried Esau. 

"Why, Esau, you were dreaming of Indians, and got up. You stamped onme. "

"Oh, come, if you won't believe it's of no use for me to talk, " criedEsau, angrily. 

"Not a bit, so lie down again and go to sleep. "

"Yes; allee go seep, " said the little Chinaman. "No Injun. Alleeseep. "

"Take away that branch, or you'll set this tree on fire, " said Gunson. "Then it's a false alarm. Too much supper, I suppose. "

"I wasn't asleep, " said Esau, surlily. 

"Don't be stubborn, " I cried, angrily. "Lie down. "

"Here, I ain't your dog, Mr Gordon, " said Esau, sourly. "I did all Icould to fight for you both. "

"Yes, and jumped on your companion, and nearly broke my collar-bone. "

"Well, you've cut my cheek. Why, I shall have a black eye to-morrow. "

"I think you and I may as well shake hands about that, " said Gunson. "There, good-night. "

As he lay down once more, and the fire flashed up consequent upon thelittle Chinaman throwing back the branch, Esau turned to me. 

"I say, " he whispered, "was I really dreaming?"

"No doubt about it. "

"And walked in my sleep?"

"Yes, and fought in your sleep. "

"But it was so real. I could see their grinning teeth and rolling eyes, and every one had got a knife in one hand and a chopper in the other asthey sprang at me. "

"That proves it, Esau, " I said. "How could you see their knives, andeyes, and teeth here in this darkness! Why, you can't see my face, noteven your own hands, and yet the fire's brighter than it was before. "

"Well, that is rum, " cried Esau, as if to himself. "I saw 'em all asplain as could be, and they shouted their war-cry. "

"War!--gammon!" said Gunson, crossly. "Lie down, you two fellows, andgo to sleep. He was dreaming, Gordon. Don't listen to hiscock-and-bull nonsense. "

"All right, " I said. "Good-night. "

"Good-night. "

"Good-night, Esau. "

"Good-night. But dreaming! Well, of all! And they were as plain ascould be, and had got feathers in their heads. "

"Yes, blue ones, " I said, grumpily. "And look here, Esau, if you'regoing to dance a war-dance on my chest again, please to take off yourboots. "

Esau chuckled, and the last thing I heard as I dropped asleep again wasEsau muttering to himself--

"Asleep!--dreaming! Well, of all!"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

I SEE FOOTPRINTS. 

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 softlight under the great pine, though I was half asleep still. But I hadstarted up on hearing a shrill voice close to me say--

"Bleakfass all ready. "

"Come and bathe your face, Esau, " I said; and I led the way down to thewater'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 beenmaking himself quite at home with our stores. For not only had he cutup and cooked some bacon, and made the tea, but he had found theflour-bag; and there, upon a piece of sheet-iron, was a large bread-cakefreshly baked in the embers. 

Gunson laughed as he saw these preparations, but he said no more till wehad partaken of a hearty meal. Then the four Indians came up to bepaid, readily taking the dollars promised for the trip, and going backdirectly to the boat to land the boxes; but Gunson followed them, andthey agreed to take them to the front of the biggest shanty about half amile 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 toyou. 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 youchuckee chuckee down in boat. "

Gunson looked disturbed, but he made no remark then, and at last I saidto 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 seewhat we're to do with our boxes. "

"Leave them in charge, as I shall mine, at this settlement, " saidGunson. "You'll have just to make a bundle in your blanket that you cancarry 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 toFort Elk, " I said. 

"So am _I_, " said Gunson, coolly; and I saw Esau give quite a start, andlook 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 thestreams that run into it from the mountains; but as I have run upagainst you two, why we may as well go on together; it will give me achance to knock you both on the head, and then come back here, and getyour chests, as well as the money you have in your belts under yourclothes. "

I stared at him in a horrified way for a moment, and then, as I seemedto 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 hisface 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 manwho has done nothing but kindness for you ever since we met, even if itwas in a rough way. "

"How was I to know you didn't mean artful, and it was all a trick?" saidEsau 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 feelas 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 goours. We told you all about ourselves, and where we were going; butyou've done nothing but shut yourself up, and look as if you were afterno good. "

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

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

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

I held out my hand to him as I spoke, and he brought his down in itheavily, 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 meover?" 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 wantto be bad friends. I don't want to think you mean to rob us. I don'tthink--I don't--"

Esau stopped short, shuffled about from one leg to the other, falteredagain 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 eagerlyseized by Esau. "I know you couldn't help it, my lad. Mine is not aface to invite confidence. I'm an ill-looking dog, and I bite hardsometimes; but I never bite my friends, and they are very few. Lookhere, Mayne Gordon, " he continued, after glancing in Quong's directionto see if he was within hearing, "I am going up this river on such amission as needs silence, and you have to keep silence too. First ofall, 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 forprospectors--prospectuses. You get up companies?"

"No, " said Gunson, smiling. "The companies follow sometimes. I am aprospector--a searcher for mineral veins and deposits in the mountains. I was convinced that there was gold up here, and we have just had proofthat I am right. That Chinaman you see is bound on a similar mission, for those fellows have a wonderful scent for gold. And you see thatthose big roughs that he calls Melican men, but who were undoubtedlyEnglish, have been up here, and found gold. That is a surprise and anencouragement, and a damping, all in one, for it may mean a regular rushof people up the river. Now do you see why I have kept my counsel solong?"

"Yes, " I cried. 

"Of course, " said Esau; "but why didn't you say so before? You mighthave trusted us. "

"Why didn't you become friendly before, my lad? you might have trustedme. "

Esau looked at him comically, and gave one ear a rub. 

"Now then, " said Gunson, "shall we travel on together in company?"

"Of course, " I cried. 

"Then the sooner the better. Your way will suit me as well as any, solet's make up our packs, leave the boxes in some one's charge here, andthen the word is forward. "

Two hours later, under Gunson's directions, we had made a pack each, consisting principally of provisions, and Gunson in addition had broughtout of his case a rifle and ammunition. 

"There, Dean, " he said, "you may as well shoulder that, and you may aswell carry this, Gordon, " he continued, taking a small revolver withholster, strap, and cartridge-box. "You are not to use it except in acase of the most extreme urgency. Strap it on, my lad. It looksformidable, and the possession of such a weapon will often keep offdanger. "

"What Quong cally?" said that gentleman when we were ready. 

"Nothing, " said Gunson, shortly; "you don't go our way. "

"Yes, go allee same way 'long libber. No other way. Quong cally pack. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Gunson; "if we don't employ him, he'll follow us, soone may as well make him useful. We can easily pay him; it will notmean much. Here, make yourself up a pack. "

Quong smiled with pleasure, and taking the blanket Gunson threw him outof his chest, he had it soon full of stores and necessaries, a bag offlour being added to his load. 

"Want um fizzlum?" said Quong, suddenly. 

"Want what?" I said. 

"Fizzlum. Bakum powdum make blead. "

"Ah, I had forgotten, " said Gunson; and he took a small tin from hisbox. 

An hour later the Indians were paddling slowly back along the river, andafter a friendly good-bye from the settler who had taken charge of ourboxes, we shouldered our packs, and began to trudge up the river-side, finding it easy going, for we were in quite an open part here, with agrassy margin for a short distance at the foot of the mountains on oneside. But higher up the rocks began to close in the prospect, there wasthe faint roar of tumbling water, and dense black pine forests clothedthe sides of the valley as far as we could see. 

Before we had gone very far along the forest track, the perspiration wasoozing out fast on my forehead; and lightly as I was loaded, I began tothink regretfully of the boat, and of how much easier it was to sit orkneel there, and watch the Indians paddle, while over and over again Ihad come to the conclusion that it was a very fortunate thing that wewere not alone, but backed up by such a tower of strength as Gunson, whose counsels were called in question every few minutes to decide whichway we were to go next. 

The direction was undoubted, for, so long as we kept to the valley inwhich the river ran, we could not be wrong, but the task was to keepalong it by a way that was passable to people carrying loads. 

For a mile or so beyond the tiny settlement we had left behind, wefound, as we had been told, some traces of a track; but it was wantingmore often than present, and several times over we thought we had cometo the end of it, only for it to begin again some fifty yards furtheron. 

At last though we had passed the final vestige of a trail, and there wasthe valley before us with the mountains rising up steeply on eitherside, and our way to make along the steep slope crowded with trees orcovered with the _debris_ of great masses of rock which had broken fromtheir hold hundreds upon hundreds of yards above us to come thunderingdown scattering smaller fragments, and forming a chaos of moss-coveredpieces, over and in and out among which we had to make our way. 

"Rather rough, " Gunson said, "but keep up your spirits: it will soon bemuch better, or much worse. "

"It's always like that--worse, " Esau grumbled to me at last, as ourcompanion went forward, while the patient little Chinaman plodded onwith his load as steadily as if he had been a machine. 

"Never mind, Esau, " I said. 

"I don't, " he replied, sturdily; and he drew himself up, and tramped onwith the rifle over his shoulder, evidently very proud of being trustedwith it; but he had an unpleasant way of turning sharply round every nowand then to look at something, with the result that, after being strucksmartly by the barrel of the piece, I had to jump out of his way. 

"Beg your pardon, " he would say, and a few minutes after forget allabout it, and turn the barrel upon me again. 

"I say, Esau, " I cried, at last, "do be careful with that gun. "

"'Tain't a gun--it's a rifle. "

"Call it what you like, but don't shoot me. "

"Ain't going to, " he said, drily. "What's the good? We ain'tcannibals. But I say, I wish something nice would come along. I know Icould hit it. What would you like--a deer? Deer's very good to eat, isn't it?"

"I suppose so. "

"Wonder which is the best place to aim at. His head, I suppose. Ishould like to bring one down. "

"I don't think you'll have a chance, Esau. Besides, we couldn't carryit. We've got as much as we can manage now. "

"Ah, but there's another way of carrying meat, " said Esau, with acurious cock of the eye. "I mean after it's roasted. "

"But we are not hungry yet. "

"Not hungry!" cried Esau. "Not hungry! Why, what a fellow you are!"and we trudged on in silence. 

After a time Gunson turned round and let us overtake him, laughing thewhile at our tired and weary looks. 

"Loads feel heavy, eh?" he said. "You are not used to them yet. I'vebeen talking to Mr Quong, and he tells me that he is going to huntabout till he finds gold. Then I suppose he'll leave us to ourselves. "

We were both too hot and tired to trouble about the Chinaman, and werevery glad when, about midday, Gunson called a halt under the shade of agreat tree, that grew beside a little brawling stream which camehurrying down from above. 

Here we dropped our burdens with a sigh of relief, and partook of somecold bacon and bread, which seemed about the most delicious thing I hadever tasted. 

Quong was given a lunch for himself, and he took it aside, ate itquickly, and then, in place of lying down as we did for a good twohours' rest during the heat of the day, he produced a little tin plateand picked his way down to the stream's edge, and then amongst therocks, till he came upon a patch of gravelly sand over which a fewinches of water danced merrily. 

Gunson watched him curiously; I did the same, Esau having dropped off tosleep as soon as he had eaten his midday meal. 

For it was interesting to see the busy little fellow. His first stepwas to roll up his sleeves to the elbow, stoop down, and scoop up asmuch gravel and sand as the tin plate would hold. This he shook about alittle under water, brought it all up again, and picked out the stones. Then he held it down low again and worked it about, and picked out asecond batch of much smaller stones. Again he placed the tin beneaththe water, where it ran pretty swiftly, and kept up a regular circularmotion, which caused the fine dirt and sand to be washed out and passover the side, till only a small patch of sand of a coarse grainremained on the tin; and at last, as if satisfied with his task, hestepped out on to the dry bank, and held the plate sidewise for thewater to drain off. This took some few minutes, the hot sun drying thesand as he turned it about with one finger. 

Every movement was performed with the most patient deliberation, and inutter unconsciousness of the fact that we were watching him, both eagerto learn the result of his search. 

It was a long time before we knew, for Quong turned the sand about overand over again, and then inspected it with a peculiarly magpieish air, before he shook his head, tossed the sand away, and selected anotherspot in the stream, where he went through the same process, while we layand watched him till the final examination. This time, just as I fullyexpected to see him toss out the sand, he rose up with a triumphant lookon his yellow face, and caught sight of us. His jaw dropped, and heappeared frightened, but the dread seemed to pass away, and he cametowards us with his tin. 

"Me washee gole, " he said, excitedly. "Fine gole. "

"Where?" said Gunson, abruptly. "Let's look. "

He stretched out his hand for the tin, which was placed in ithesitatingly, Quong's face betokening that he did not expect to see itagain. 

Gunson gave the half-dry sand a shake which spread part of it over thebottom of the tin, then another and another, while I looked on eagerly, and at last he uttered a contemptuous "pish!"

"I thought you said you had found gold. "

"Yes. Quong fine gole. Washee gole. "

"Washee gole! Where is it then?"

The Chinaman took back the tin, shook it, peered in among the grains ofsand; shook it again and again; then shook his head instead, and lookedup at Gunson. 

"Yes; washee gole, " he said, in a tone of voice which seemed to mean, "but it's gone away now. "

"Fancy, my lad, fancy. There, lie down and rest. I'll have a try whenwe come to a likely place. We must work in the river. "

"No; too muchee water, " said Quong. 

"Yes; here. We must go up higher. "

"Quong washee gole, " said the little fellow again. 

"Well then, where is it?"

Quong shook his head despondently once more. 

"Washee gole, " he whined, and again his tone of voice seemed to say tome, "and there was some in that plate, but where it's gone to now Ihaven't the least idea. "

"Come along and have a rest. "

"Ah! ah! ah!" cried Quong, excitedly, after giving the pinch of sand afinal shake. "Gole--gole!"

He held out the tin once more to Gunson, pointing now with one thinyellow finger, and looking triumphantly at both in turn. 

"Where?" said Gunson, laughing, as he followed the direction of thepointing finger, and took the plate in his hand to hold it in differentdirections in the sun. "Ah, I see it. Here, Gordon, come and have alook. He has found the contents of Aladdin's cave all at once. "

"I don't see any gold, " I said. "Not see it? Oh, there it is plainenough. My word, what patience these Chinese have! There it is, lad, just in the very centre of the plate. See it?"

"No. "

"Now try, " he cried, as he tilted the plate sidewise, and this time Isaw a tiny glittering speck, about the twentieth part of a pin's-head insize, but, small as it was, giving a suggestion of the peculiar yellowcolour of gold. 

"Is that all?" I cried, contemptuously. "Yes; that's all. There youare, heathen. Take it, and--no, you can't make much of it. That's nouse, my man. We must find better places than this, or you'll never goback to China a rich man and become a Mandarin. "

"No good place?"

"No; not worth washing. "

"Not good to washum, " said Quong. "Wait till we get higher up. " Quongnodded, took a little phial bottle from somewhere under his garments, and after a great deal of trying, contrived to get the tiny scale on theend of the cork, which he carefully inserted in the bottle once more. 

After this he settled himself down to rest till Gunson rose for us tocontinue our journey, which for the rest of that day was through pineforest, with the trees so closely packed that our progress wasexceedingly slow; and evening was coming on fast as we reached a partwhere the trees opened out more like those in an English park, and therewas soft grass beneath our feet. 

I was in advance with my eyes fixed upon the ground, which had suddenlybecome soft and marshy, the reason being plain, for on my left I couldhear the hum of falling water, when I suddenly stopped short, and drewback so quickly that I came in contact with Esau. 

"What's the matter?" he cried, sharply. 

"Hush! Indians, " I whispered. 

"Indians? Where?" cried Gunson, eagerly. 

"They have gone along here, " I whispered. "Footmarks. "

"Well, don't look so tragic, lad. They will be friendly ones no doubt;and perhaps there is a settlement near, and we can get some fish. Oh, those are their footprints, are they?" he said; and he turned and caughtthe rifle from Esau. "That fellow had a fine broad foot of his own. "

"Yes, he must have been a big man, " I said, as I gazed down at theplainly-marked sole and toes in the soft earth. 

"Bigger than the one made by Robinson Crusoe's savage, " whisperedGunson. "There, get out the revolvers, and mind how you handle them. Be ready to hand me one if I ask after I have fired. "

"But you said the Indians were friendly. "

"This tribe never is, " replied Gunson, cocking the rifle and lookingsharply round. "They run away generally, but sometimes they show fight, and we must be ready. "

He looked carefully in every direction, and then signed to us to follow. 

"He's gone straight on, just in the track we want to follow. "

"Is there only one?" I whispered. "Only one, and it's very awkward, for I was just thinking of making camp for the night. "

"But we needn't be afraid of one Indian, " said Esau, boldly. 

"No, " replied Gunson; "but we need be of one bear. "

"Bear?" I said. "Those are a man's footsteps. "

"Those are the prints of a very large bear, my lad, " said Gunson; "andjudging from their appearance, I should say it's not very long since hepassed. Now then, what had we better do?"

I did not feel myself capable of advising, and I suppose Esau was nomore of an expert in bear, for he too was silent. 

"Don't speak. Follow me; and as we go, hold your packs loosely so thatyou can drop them in a moment and take to a tree. "

"But bears climb trees, " I whispered. "Not they, " said Gunson. "Comealong. " And with the shades of evening closing in fast in that wildvalley, we followed our companion as he went cautiously on, scanningevery bush and rock, not knowing how soon the savage beast, whose printscontinued right in the direction we seemed compelled to take, might rushout and dispute the way. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

QUONG TAKES REFUGE. 

Our way was the same as the bear's, for the simple reason that it wasthe only open level part we could find on that side of the valley. Toour left, the rocks went up in huge, precipitous steps, and then wentdown to the right to where the river foamed along a couple of hundredfeet below. And there, with the greatest regularity, were the greatfootprints which had deceived me, pretty close beside a little streamwhich trickled on along the level, till suddenly it turned to the right, and plunged down towards the river. 

"Look!" said Gunson, pointing, and there were the footprints again, butturning off now to our right, while our way lay straight on. 

"Then he's gone!" cried Esau, eagerly. 

_Crash! Rush_! There was the sound of breaking twigs, as if somemonstrous creature was forcing its way through the undergrowth to theright, and I heard another rush behind me as I stood there behindGunson, too much paralysed to run, as I saw him drop on one knee andraise the rifle to his shoulder. 

The rushing noise continued, but it grew more faint, and Gunson rose tohis feet. 

"We've frightened him as much as he has frightened us. Here, hi!Hallo! where are you?" he cried, as he caught sight of two bundles lyingon the ground where they had been dropped. 

There was no answer. 

"Here, Dean, come along, " shouted Gunson again; and I shouted too. 

"Ahoy!" came back from some distance away, and a good ten minuteselapsed before Esau reappeared, looking hot and white. 

"Did you shoot him?" he said. 

"How could I, when you ran away with the ammunition. Seen the bear?"

"No. "

"Well, have you seen Quong?"

"No, " said Esau, rather dolefully, and looking as if extremelydissatisfied with the part he had played. 

"The bear can't have seized him?" I said, looking at Gunson. 

"Impossible, " he said. "It went the other way. "

Just then I caught sight of something blue, and burst out laughing. 

"What is it?" cried Gunson. 

I pointed upward to where, about fifty feet from the ground, the littleChinaman was perched in a great spruce fir, clinging tightly to one ofthe horizontal boughs, with his feet on another, and as he peeredanxiously down, looking like a human squirrel on the watch for foes. 

"Here, come down, " I cried. "It's all right now. Come down. "

"Yes, come down, you little coward, " shouted Esau, who brightened updirectly he found that some one had cut a worse figure than he. "Isay, " he continued, with a forced laugh, "doesn't he look comic upthere?"

"Yes, " said Gunson, grimly, as he gazed fixedly at Esau, who turneduncomfortable directly, and made no remarks about Quong, as he walked tothe foot of the tree, which was about a hundred yards away, and losingsight of its occupant now he was hidden by the intervening boughs. 

"Come, Quong, " I said, "get down, or we shall leave you behind. "

"Gone?" he said in a weak voice. 

"Yes; come along. "

He descended slowly, and stood before us shaking the grey moss and deadfir-needles from his blue cotton garment. 

"Big blown beace, " he said. "Quong see him. Velly frighten. "

He followed us to where the pack lay, slung it over his shoulder, and weonce more tramped on, till a suitable spot was found for our camp--aregular niche in the side of the valley, with a small pine spreading itsboughs overhead for shelter. 

Here, in spite of the risk of bears, we decided to halt for the night, and a good fire was soon blazing; and as if regularly engaged as ourservant, Quong set to work at once, and soon prepared our tea-supper, which was discussed as enjoyably as if we were in good quarters; andthat night passed away as I lay rolled up in my blanket, just as if Iclosed my eyes in the darkness and opened them directly to see the warmglow of the sun lighting up the east, and Quong busy baking cakes in theembers, the tea-kettle steaming away close at hand. 

The weariness and low spirits had passed away with the darkness, andafter a splash in the stream close by, I felt ready for any amount ofjourneying. 

As I came back from the stream I met Gunson coming towards me. 

"Did you see anything?" he said, quietly. 

"See anything? Only a squirrel. "

"Look down there. "

He gave his head a nod a little to the left, and I followed thedirection of his eyes. 

"Don't start; don't run, " he said, quietly. "If the Chinaman knows ofit he will make a stampede into the forest, and we shall lose him. "

"But perhaps there is one close by, " I said, nervously. 

"Very likely; for there have been two promenading backwards and forwardsabout us all night. Look at their marks. These prints are a littlesmaller than those. "

I had not noticed it till he pointed to the fact, and then I saw thefoot-marks of two bears plainly enough. 

"I'm beginning to think, " continued Gunson, "that we have selected theirlair for our camp; but as they have not interfered with us, I don'tthink they will if we leave them alone. "

"But I can't eat my breakfast with those things about, " I said. 

"You have never tried yet, my lad. Try now. I will have the rifle andrevolver ready to hand; but take not the slightest notice, and behave asif nothing was wrong. "

"But--"

"Come, Gordon, I thought better of you, " he said, smiling. "Where isyour courage?"

"Come along, " I said, making an effort to master the feeling of dreadwhich had come over me; and I saw him smile as Esau came up with hisarms full of dead wood for the fire, and directly after we were seatedat our meal. 

If I had been alone I should have left that spot, beautiful as it was, directly, and I have no hesitation in confessing that it was the mostuncomfortable meal I ever ate. But I kept my fears to myself, and onlyonce was caught by Gunson looking anxiously around at the slope clottedwith tree, bush, and clump of mossy rock, when his smile made me turn tomy tin mug of tea directly. 

"I thought you would be the first ready, " said Gunson, about half anhour later, when the sun was shining over the shoulder of one of theeastern mountains. "But look at Dean, how slow he is about shoulderingthe pack, and--what's the matter with Quong?"

For that little individual suddenly came up smiling, with his hand underhis blouse. 

As he came close up, he drew his tin plate from where it had been tuckedup his breast. 

"Stop velly little while. Quong washee--see gole. "

"Yes, " said Gunson, giving me a meaning look, and then taking a step ortwo nearer the stream; "it looks a likely place; but hallo, arn't thesebears' footprints?"

He pointed to the moist earth close to the water's edge, and both Esauand the little fellow ran to look. 

Directly after Quong came trotting back in a quick, comical manner, tucking his plate up under his blouse, and seizing and shouldering hispack, an example followed by Esau, who was the quicker of the two, andhe kept a sharp look out all the time. 

"Now if you went behind that rock and roared, Gordon, or I was to firemy piece, there would be a stampede. "

I looked so ready to do what he first proposed, that Gunson saidseriously--

"No, no; we have no time to waste;" and we went on up the valley, bothEsau and Quong stepping out famously, while I was not at all sorry toleave our baiting-place behind, my liking for bears being decidedly inassociation with pits, and a pole up which they can climb for buns. 

It was a wonderfully beautiful walk that morning, and we determined totry and arrange our halts better, for at the end of about half an hourwe found that had we known we could have rested under a roof; two men, who gave us a very friendly welcome, having started a rough kind ofranch, in a level nook close down by the river. In fact they weredisposed to be so hospitable that they were half offended because wewent almost directly. 

We learned from them though that we should find for days to comeshanties here and there. 

"Where we can rest for the night?" I said to one of the men. 

"Of course, " he said, with a smile. "We see anybody so seldom, thatwe're glad of a visitor who can speak of the old country. "

"You've got a beautiful place here. "

"Yes; tidy, tidy, " he said; "only we don't feel quite sure about theriver. "

"What do you mean?" asked Gunson. 

"Why, you see, mate, it's a lively sort of a stream. Quiet enough inwinter, unless there's been a power of rain; but in the hot weather, when the snow's melting, it gets so full, that like as not some day t'llwash all this place away. "

"But it's fifty feet down there to the water, " I said, smiling. 

"What's fifty feet to a river like that, boy? Why, after what I've seenI shouldn't jump out of my skin if I saw it rise up a hundred. "

"See many bears about?" said Esau, rather anxiously. 

"Tidy few, my lad; tidy few; and pretty big uns sometimes, " said theman, with a twinkle of the eye. "But berries has been rather plentifulthese last two years, and they haven't eat us yet. I wouldn't interferewith 'em, though, if you met any. "

"Dangerous?" said Gunson, giving me a merry look. 

"Well, it's just as it happens, " said the man, watching Esau's mouth, which had slowly opened; "if they takes a fancy to you, they opens theirarms, and just gives you a friendly hug; if they don't, they are a bitgiven to scratching and clawing. Where may you be going, squire?" headded, turning to me. 

"Fort Elk, " I said. 

"Oh! Fort Elk, where they collects the skins. I know. Well, you won'tget there to-morrow, nor yet next week. Pleasant journey to you. Don'twant to buy a bit o' bacon, I suppose?"

But Gunson said he did, and the transfer was made for a handful oftobacco, Quong grinning with delight at the sight of the red streaks oflean amongst the pinky-white fat, and apparently pleased with theprospect of carrying a few more pounds. 

That night we slept at a shanty, and for the next two nights we had noneed to camp out; while, what was of great import to us, we found thatwe need be under no apprehension about provisions, the people, who hadsettled down where they found open patches of grazing land, beingwilling enough to sell or barter away flour enough for our wants. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

A DIFFICULT PATH. 

One day seemed so much like another that we soon lost count of time, aswe followed the windings and turns of the river, the beauty of the deepravines that struck into the valley, each with its little fall ortorrent, and the glimpses we kept getting of snow-tipped mountains, keeping off the weariness we might have felt in some open monotonousland. 

Every now and then Quong settled down to wash the sands and gravel ofthe little streams that came tumbling down from the heights; and I sawthat Gunson took a good deal of interest in his proceedings; but inspite of Quong's patient endeavours his efforts were always barren, orresulted in the discovery of some tiny speck, which was added to theothers in the phial so slowly that, as Gunson laughingly said, it seemedlikely to take a year to build up enough gold to make a sovereign. 

"The gold is nearer the mountains if there is any, Gordon, " he said tome, "and it is impossible to search down here. We must go higher upbefore I begin after Quong has left us, for I expect that as soon as weget to a spot where he can wash out a scale or two with every pan ofsand, he will bid us good-bye. "

But as the days went on that time did not arrive. The Chinaman did notseem to think anything about pay for his services, but was delighted toperform them for the sake of the protection of travelling with us, and ashare of the food we provided. 

So far our journey had been glorious. There had been plenty of hardwork, forcing our way through bushes, climbing fallen trees, some sorotten that they crumbled to dust with our weight, and threading our wayamong rocks; but at every turn there was the grand river foaming andrushing down toward the sea, and masses of black-green forest with pinesspiring up toward the sky. One morning as we toiled slowly on, it wasvery evident that the river was narrowing, and the sides growingsteeper. We had often been at some height above it, but always on aslope, where, with a little scheming, we could have got down to thewater; but now a sheer wall of rock rose up forty or fifty feet oneither side, and below it, looking black and deep, the river swirled andeddied along. 

There was hardly a vestige of a trail here, the ground being too stonyto leave any traces; but the great stream was our guide, and we climbedand stumbled on, Quong in front bending down under his load, and alwayspatient, calm, and smiling, as if it was quite natural to him to bedoubled up under a big bundle which went along in front of us like somecurious blanket-clothed creature with thin blue legs. 

All at once the rough stony slope of the valley dived down, and Quong, who had just given his load a hitch up on his shoulders, disappeared. Iwas next, for Gunson had stepped back to take off one of his boots, withEsau holding his pack; and I had reached the spot where I had seen Quonglast, prepared for a jump down on to a lower part or ledge of the valleyslope, when I found myself face to face with the little fellow, and sawthat he had dropped his bundle, and was hurrying back. 

As soon as we met, he made a sign for me to be silent, and turned andpointed toward a clump of young firs. I could see no danger, and Iwhispered to him the one word "Bear?"

He shook his head, and pointed again, when, to my utter astonishment, the green boughs were parted, as there was a flash of silver, and agreat salmon fell about a couple of yards away, to begin beating heavilywith its tail, and flapping from side to side. 

I knew that these fish leaped, and I had heard that some of their boundsup cascades were tremendous, but I had never known that a salmon couldspring fifty feet up out of the water over the top of the rocky wallwhich formed the river-bank, and away through a screen of young firs. There, however, was the fact before me, and with delightful visions ofbroiled salmon before my eyes, I dropped my pack and ran forward tosecure the prize before it should take it into its head to make anothergymnastic leap into the water. 

It was a splendid fellow, a full yard long, its scales silvery blue andpearly in the morning sunshine, and regardless of wet and slime, Idropped on my knees. 

"Oh, you beauty!" I exclaimed, and I raised it by the gills, and--dropped it directly, and remained as if turned to stone, gazing in ahideous, painted red face, which had been thrust out between the boughsof the firs, and stared as wildly at me as I at its owner. 

For a few moments I forgot that I had friends behind, and rested therequite still with what seemed to me a terrible silence all around, tillit was broken by the salmon throwing itself over, and giving the stonesupon which it lay a resounding flap. 

I fully expected to see the arm belonging to the head thrust out with aknife in the fist; and when it was darted out from among the bushes, myown hand went involuntarily to the pistol I carried, but I dropped itagain as I saw that it was only an open palm extended toward me, and Iplaced mine therein for a friendly shake, my heart beating less heavily. 

Then the hand was withdrawn, the salmon pushed toward me, and the handheld out again. 

"Hallo!" cried a voice, which made me glow with satisfaction. "Beenfishing, Gordon?"

Gunson strode up to us, and seeing the situation at a glance, he tookout his tobacco-pouch, opened it, pinched out a piece, and pointing tothe salmon, offered the cut-up herb to the Indian, who now stood out infront of the young pines. I thought it ridiculous to offer what Iconsidered a pinch of rubbish for the salmon; but the Indian laughed, darted back, and returned holding another quivering fish by the tail, threw it down, and held out his hand for the tobacco, evidently wellpleased with his bargain. 

"Fish is cheap out here, " said Gunson, laughing. "Here, Quong, one tocook and one to dry. "

Our Celestial friend literally pounced upon the two salmon as prizes assoon as he saw that there was no danger, and set to work cleaning andsplitting the fish, lightening them by getting rid of head and tail, andthen cutting some splints of wood to keep one well open for drying inthe sun and for easy carriage. 

"There is nothing to mind, " said Gunson. "It is only a fishing party;"and leading the way through the line of young firs, which acted as ascreen, we came upon a group of Indians, two men and four women, allbusy cleaning and splitting the fish which another man kept hauling upfrom the river in a rough net. 

It seemed a very primitive way of fishing, and we stood looking on andexamining some of the salmon hung to dry upon several roughly rigged uppoles, before we went to the edge of the shelf upon which all this wasgoing on, to find straight below us the other Indian standing upon arough platform, made by driving a couple of stout poles into the wall ofrock at a fissure, and throwing a few branches across. This man had acoarse net on a ring at the end of a long, stout pole, and watching hisopportunity as the fish came rapidly up the rushing water, he plungedthe net down, and brought it up with a gasping, struggling salmon. Thiswas transferred to a hanging basket, and hauled up by the Indian at theedge, and carried to the party who were preparing and drying them in thesun for their winter store. 

It was all ridiculously easy. The Indian had only to keep on dippingout fish as fast as they could be prepared, and what I saw quite removedany ideas of our taking advantage of the man who had let the fish hecarried slip out of his basket, so that it came with a dart to my sideof the screen of firs. 

"That's an easy way of getting a living, " said Esau, as we parted in afriendly way from the Indians, who stared at us in a very heavy, stolidway. "I think I should like to try that. "

"For how long?" cried Gunson, with a laugh. "Why, my good fellow, you'dbe tired of catching the fish in a week, and more tired of eating themin a fortnight. "

"Tired?--of eating salmon?" said Esau, laughing. "Oh, you don't knowme. I had some once, and it was lovely. "

"Well, we'll try one of ours when we stop for dinner, " said Gunson; "butwe must do a good morning's tramp first. "

That good morning's tramp did not seem to progress much, for the waygrew more and more difficult, and it was once taken into considerationwhether we had not better strike in away from the river; and we shouldhave adopted this course but for the fear of losing ourselves in thelabyrinth of mountains to the north and east, and not being able tostrike the stream again. 

"You see, hard as the way is, it is sure, " said Gunson; "and as yourgoal and mine too are on the upper waters of the river, we had betterkeep to it. "

It was getting toward midday, and the sun shone forth with such powerthat we felt the little air there was come down the valley like thebreath of an oven, and we should have decided to stop at once, cook ourdinner, and rest, but for the fact that there was neither wood norshade. For we had quite left the patches of forest behind at thispoint, and were tramping slowly over a bare sterile region of the mostforbidding character, low down by the river. Higher up where we couldnot climb the tall trees again appeared, and every ledge and slope wascrowned with dwarf pine, fern, and moss. 

"We had better keep on past that bare slope, " said Gunson. "I can seetrees on beyond it. It looks green, too, as if there was water. "

Of course we agreed, for there was not a sign of water where we stood, and thirst was beginning to trouble us all. 

So we tramped on, Gunson now leading, and the rushing sound of the riverbelow the wall of rock sounding very tantalising as we grew hotterstill, and the heat began to be reflected from the stones in a mostunpleasant way. It would have been bad enough for the unladen, but forpeople burdened as we were it was hard work indeed. 

At the end of half an hour the river, which had been hidden from us savewhen we went close to the edge and looked down, came into view again, for the character of the valley had suddenly changed. We found now thatthere was the steep slope from high up the mountain to the level of thewater, which roared and surged along, and swept away the thin pieces ofslaty stone which formed the slope--a clatter-slide, as west-countrypeople would call it. These pieces were all loose and extremelyunpleasant to walk upon, being shaley fragments of all sizes, from thatof a child's hand up to thin fragments a foot or two across. 

The heat here was tremendous, and as we walked the stones gave waybeneath our feet, and began setting in motion little stony avalanches, which kept on gliding down till the whole of the slope seemed to berunning into the river. No one talked, but strode on, not planting hisfeet in the footsteps of him who had gone before, but avoiding them, forthey formed the centres of so much loose stuff ready to give way at atouch. 

We got along over about half a mile of this, and then paused on a bit ofa shelf to rest, for about a quarter of a mile farther we saw ourresting-place; the clatter ceasing, to give way to verdure with plentyof trees, and in their midst, temptingly beckoning us to freshexertions, there was the water we needed--a beautiful filmy veil, floating down from hundreds of feet up, arched by a hopeful rainbow, andanon gliding softly like a shower of silver rockets down behind the tallgreen firs. 

We knew that there would be a beautiful pool of water at the foot ofthat cascade, with green, mossy grass, and plenty of pine-boughs for ourfire and to shade us from the scorching sun; and toward this enviablespot we pressed on, with the slope growing steeper and steeper, till atlast we paused again for Gunson to investigate. 

It was time. For the past five minutes the slide had kept running somuch toward the perpendicular, that at every step we loosened stoneswhich began to tear down toward the river, and necessitated leaps andquick plunges to keep us from being carried with them, while a slipwould have meant a headlong fall, increasing in speed till theunfortunate was plunged into the foaming torrent which poured down, andwould have swept him instantly away. 

"Watch how I go, " said Gunson. "Keep cool, and don't think of falling. I know it is a hard bit to get over, but it is not above a couple ofhundred yards where it is so bad; after that it grows better and better, till you reach the trees. Now then, all stand still while I go first. "

He tightened his pack over his shoulder, took a good grip of the rifle, stood for a moment, and then strode forward, going diagonally, as if toreach the top of the slope. 

This seemed for the moment unnecessary, and likely to make the journeylonger, but I soon saw that it was properly calculated, for as thestones kept on sliding beneath his feet as he struggled upward, he wasconstantly being brought down to the level of where we stood, perspiringprofusely, and fascinated by the peril of the task. 

It was only now that I fully realised how steep the side of the valleywas, and that a fall must end in the river among the black craggy rockswhich stood up so threateningly amongst the white foam. 

He went steadily on, and as I stood there I felt, to use the commonsaying, as if my heart was in my mouth. A dozen terrible thoughtsflashed through my mind:--what should we do if he fell and was sweptaway? It would be impossible to save him; and as to his own powers, Idid not believe that any man could battle with that terribletorrent-like river, which would sweep him down, dashing him from rock torock, till he was carried from our sight, leaving us alone in ourdespair to try some other way. 

The thoughts were paralysing as they came with lightning-like rapidity, for now it was dawning upon me, that shocking as it would be to see myfellow-creature hurled to death like that, somehow Gunson, that rough, stern, disfigured man, had made a kind of impression upon me--that thereexisted a tie between us. I don't think I liked him, but I felt at thatmoment as if I would have given anything to have been by his side, as Isaw him totter, slip, recover himself, slip again, and begin glidingdown fast, but always preserving his perpendicular. 

"He's gone, " I said aloud; but as the words left my lips he made two orthree bounds, sending the stones rushing down heavily, as he regainedhis old level and went on rapidly. Onward still, but what a length thatseemed!--and now I was learning from his progress that the only chanceof getting across was to keep right on, exercising all the strength ofnerve and muscle one possessed to go forward, for to have stood stillmeant to begin gliding rapidly downward, sinking more and more in agathering avalanche of stones as others were loosened from above to fillup the vacancy that was made. 

Two-thirds--three-quarters of the way across--and once more he began toslide, but with desperate energy he went on by leaps and bounds now, andwe set up a hoarse cheer as we saw him reach firm ground--a cheer whichdid not reach him, for the whole side of the slide seemed to be inmotion, and as I saw him throw himself down, there was a curiousrushing, rattling roar, as if fragments of ice were formed on thesurface of a torrent and were rushing down into the river. 

It was very evident that Gunson was exhausted by his tremendous efforts, for he lay on the rocks, motioning to us with his hand not to come, andwe stood looking from one to the other, mutely inquiring what was to bedone next. At last he rose, unfastened his pack, threw it down behindhim, and came close to the edge of the slide, to look up and about withhis eyes sheltered, as if seeking for a better place for us to cross. 

I did the same, gazing high up to where the stones grew smaller, andthen right down to where the flat, thin fragments plunged into therunning river, to be swept away; but, like Gunson, I could see no betterplace. 

By degrees, though, the fluttering, rattling glide ceased, and the slopelooked level once more, and then Gunson put his hands to his mouth andshouted--

"Can you hear what I say?"

"Yes. "

"Take your packs on your heads, and when you start keep right on; neverhesitate; I'll be ready to help. "

We heard every word distinctly, and it sounded curiously like a whisperthat ran along the surface of the stones; and when he had ended, Quonglooked at me sharply with his little black eyes. 

"Me go long nex', " he said; and as I nodded, he balanced his great packdeftly on his head, paused for a few moments to get it quitesatisfactory, and then stretching out his arms like one who walks alonga pole, he started off, while so steep was the slope that his extendedfingers nearly touched the stones as he went along. 

The little fellow was so light, so steady and clever, that he trippedforward without dislodging anything like the amount of stones thatGunson had set running. But I could see that the effort needed wasterrible as he went on and on, increasing his speed now, slowing then, and getting more and more over with far less effort, and giving us noend of encouragement, as he at length reached the rocks, tumbled theload off his head--the load which had never seemed once to lose itspoise--and finally we could see him seated facing us wiping his hot facewith the front of his blouse. 

"He's got over, " said Esau, hoarsely. 

"Yes, " I said, in the same husky tones. 

"One of us has got to go next. "

"Yes, " I said. "Who shall go?"

"Wish I'd got a good pole with a spike at the end, " said Esau. 

"So do I. "

"Or I wouldn't mind if it was only a clothes-prop. "

"But we have neither, Esau. "

"Well, don't I know we haven't? What's the good o' being soaggravating, and keeping on saying we ain't--we ain't? Lots o'beautiful trees behind us to cut clothes-props to last all Camberwellfor life, and there's lots over there in front, but they don't bring usone. It's always the way. There's lots o' money in the Bank o'England, but we couldn't get it to come out here. "

"Don't be unreasonable, " I said, and I gave quite a start as a stonefrom above came rattling down. 

"Who's unreasonable?" grumbled Esau; "I ain't: only a bit wild at havingto go across that precious bit o' solid slide. What do you think mymother would say if she saw me coming here and going to start over thatplace? Why, it would kill her. "

"It does look dangerous, " I said, sadly. 

"Look! Why, it is. It's horrid. "

"But they've got over safely. "

"That don't mean I shall. Oh dear, oh dear! This comes o' picking upstrange friends, and letting 'em lead us into difficulties. And not somuch as a walking-stick to help us. "

I was in no humour to argue, with the perilous crossing before me, so Iremained silent. 

"I said--and not so much as a walking-stick to help us. "

"Yes, Esau, I heard you. "

"Then why don't you say something?"

"What can I say? Only be plucky and go. "

"There you go again! Oh, it does aggravate me. Now you want me to gooff first. "

"No; I'll go first if you like; but I should like to see you safe over. "

"That's just what I feel about you. I say--if I fall I shall go headover heels down, like a ball. "

"No, no; you must drop into a sitting position, and slide down. "

"If you can, " grumbled Esau. "Oh dear, I wish I hadn't come. I'd giveall I've got to be sitting down in old Dempster's office, with himbullying me about a mistake in the copying. "

"Come along!" came like an echo over the stones, and even that soundsent a few stones sliding down as I looked across and saw Gunson withhis hands to his mouth, while just then I saw something which quitecheered me. For there was a faint curl of smoke rising up from amongthe trees, and I knew that it was Quong making a fire to get us sometea. 

"There, Esau, " I said, "Quong's getting ready to cook something. Come, you go, and let's have a rest and a good meal. "

"Ready to cook indeed! Why the sun's cooking one side of me now. There, look at that. "

"Yes, " I said, as I looked in the direction indicated; "some kind ofeagle. "

"Yes; flying away as easily as he likes. Don't it seem a shame that astupid bird should be able to go along like that, and we have to climband fall down?"

"Oh, I can't argue about that, " I said, desperately, as, somewhat indoubt whether I could balance my pack on my head, I raised it there andstood perfectly still. "I'm going to take a long breath and thenstart. "

"Here, what yer going to do?" he cried. "I ain't going to be left allalone here. "

"Well, then, go first. "

"But I can't go first and leave you. S'pose you can't get over after, or tumble down, what am I to say to that Mr John?"

"What an unreasonable fellow you are, Esau!" I cried angrily. 

"There, you're getting nasty with me. That's right. Now I ask you, ain't a fix like this enough to make any fellow unreasonable?"

"But if we've got it to do, why not do it?"

"Come on!" Gunson shouted, and I took two steps forward, when, bringingup his pack, Esau made a desperate plunge and got before me, sendingquite an avalanche of stones down as he shouted--

"Me first!--you wait. "

I had no alternative but to step back to the easier slope, and regain myposition, while Esau went on tramp, tramp, balancing himself steadily, but instead of striking up the slope he kept straight on for a time, andgradually sinking lower and lower as he went farther away. 

"Work upward!" I shouted. 

"Well, ain't I?" came back, faintly heard amidst the rattling of thestones; and once more I stood there waiting, suffering agonies as I sawhim struggle on, now going down, now fighting his way up, so that hiscourse was like that of a snake across a dusty road, such as I had manya time seen down in the country. Every now and then he tottered, and Ithought he was going to fall, but he recovered himself, and went on withhis feet sinking in the loose stones, and every now and then descendingso far that I thought he would never recover his lost ground. 

I did not feel the heat so much now, the perspiration that stood upon myface was cold, and I gave a start now and then, as I shivered in mydread, making sure that he was gone. 

When at last I saw him get right across, I closed my eyes, feeling sogiddy that I was glad to sit down on my pack for the sensation to passoff, being quite unequal to the task of going in my turn. 

"I wish I were not such a coward, " I said to myself, as I looked forwardand saw Esau lying down and resting. Then I wished I had persevered andgone on, for I should have been out of my misery by that time. Lastly, as I saw Gunson wave his hand, I rose, balanced my pack, and changed theside till I made it fit well over my head. I was quite encouraged tofind that it seemed to add to my steadiness, and after taking a lastlook round, and ending by fixing my eyes upon a point high above whereGunson stood, I took two steps and then stopped, saying to myself, "Ishall never do it. "

I started again, and from that moment the nervous sensation of dreadleft me. I felt firm and strong, and that all I had to do was to stepboldly, and think of nothing but my pack, taking care that it did notescape from its resting-place upon my head. And oddly enough, myanxiety lest I should let it fall to go bounding down the slope, kept mefrom thinking about myself as I tramped on, with stones rattling, myfeet going down with them, and my breath coming shorter and shorter withthe exertion. But I kept my load well balanced, and went on till I wasabout half way across, when the stones seemed to be much smaller andbegan to flow like sand. It appeared as if all the larger ones had beenset in motion by my companions, and that they had gone down, sweepingthe surface clear for me to grow more involved at every step, till Ifound that no matter how I struggled to get higher so as to keep nearthe horizontal line of the crossing, I kept sinking lower and lower tillI felt that I should glide right into the river before I was across. 

With a desperate feeling of determination I kept on bearing up towardthe top, but it was always quite labour in vain, through my want ofskill, as the smaller stones being more fluent, I found myself stillsinking down more and more with every step, till, mingled with thepeculiar rattle of the gliding stones, came the roar of the riverfoaming and dashing amongst the rocks, and into which I expected to beplunged. 

Forward still, with a feeling of anger growing within me--a contempt formy own weakness that still kept back the feeling of dread. I had lostsight of Gunson and Esau, and thinking now of nothing but keeping on mylegs, I dragged foot after foot out of the stones, and tried to plantone on firmer ground, but tried in vain, till at last I had been carrieddown so low that though my head was averted, and my eyes were directedtoward the spot I ought to have reached, I knew, as I made my lastdesperate effort, that I was only a few yards above the water. 

Then, crash!--crash!--crash!--crash!--my feet striking heavily andsending the stones flying, I fought blindly on. There was a singing inmy ears, a sense of strangling in my throat, and above all, a dull, half-stunned sensation, mingled with which were thoughts of the others;and then as darkness came over me, and I fell forward, there was a sharpjerk, a few encouraging words were said by some one, and I found myselflying amongst stones and moss, too much exhausted to speak. 

"Better?" said a well-known voice. 

"Better?" I said, faintly; "have I been ill?"

"Ill? No, my lad; but you've had a narrow escape. You were nearly downto the edge of the river when I got hold of your hand. "

"And the pack?" I said, in a husky whisper. 

"It lies out yonder on the slope, waiting till the next slide of stonessweeps it away. "

"Then I dropped it?" I said, wonderingly. 

"Yes. Never mind the pack; you are safe. Why, you did not manage sowell as we did, Gordon. "

"No, " I said, feeling very much exhausted and faint; "and yet I thoughtI could do it better. The stones gave way so. "

Gunson laughed. 

"Yes; we ought to have tried another plan. The whole slope is quiterotten, and nothing holds the stones together. "

I looked round now, and found that we were at the very bottom of a steepbit of precipice, down which something blue was coming cautiously, whichwe recognised as Quong. 

"What is it, my man?" said Gunson. 

"Come 'long down get pack, " said Quong. "You velly bad?" he continuedto me. 

"No, no, we must leave it, " said Gunson; and I looked at where my packlay, tightly done up in its blanket, about a score yards away. 

"Leave pack?" cried Quong, looking at Gunson as if he thought him mad. "Leave fo' Indian man come find? No. Quong set him. " And goingquickly and delicately over the stones with a step that was almostcat-like in its lightness, he had reached my bundle almost before Gunsoncould protest. Swinging it up on his head as he turned, he began tocome back as quickly as he went, but now he began to get lower andlower. 

"He'll be swept away!" cried Gunson, excitedly; and, placing one foot atthe extreme verge of the firm ground, he reached out towards theChinaman. 

"Give me your hand, my lad, " he cried, hoarsely; and as I lay there, Istretched out my hand to have it seized, while I watched Quong comingnearer, splashing up the water now and sending the spray flying as hestrained forward to get hold of Gunson. 

For a few moments we both thought he was gone, for he had glided downtill the water was over his ankles, and still, as he reached out, he wasa few inches from Gunson's grasp, while for him to have moved would havebeen fatal; but he made one more effort, hooking his fingers overGunson's, and then there was another jerk, the bundle came over on tome, and as our friend made a violent muscular effort to throw himselfback, the little Chinaman was dragged right over on to firm ground. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

HOW WE FOUND OUT A PUZZLE. 

"Ah!" said Quong, getting up and shaking his legs; "got velly wet. "

"You stupid fellow! you nearly lost your life, " said Gunson, angrily. 

"Lose life?" said Quong, looking puzzled; "who lose life? Don't know. "

"There, go on up and take the pack. Can you climb up, my lad?"

I replied that I could, and followed Gunson, who showed me the way hehad descended by the help of the rocks, and projecting roots of thedwarf firs which began to grow freely as soon as the slaty shale ceased. 

Esau was waiting at the top, ready to lend me a hand, smilingtriumphantly as soon as we were alone. 

"You should have tried to go up all of a slope as I did, " he said, "notdown of a slope as you did. "

"I tried my best, Esau, " I said, sadly. 

"Of course you would. Well, I hope there isn't going to be much morelike that for us to do. Once is enough. "

By this time Quong was back at his fire, and we soon after partook ofour mid-day meal, with copious draughts of tea for washing it down, andafter an hour's good nap started off again to find no furtherdifficulties that afternoon, for our journey was through pine forestonce more, where the grey moss hung like strands from the olderbranches, and in the more open places the dark, bronze-leaved barberrygrew plentifully, with its purple-bloomed fruit which hung in clusters, and had won for themselves the name of "Oregon Grapes. "

They did not prove to be grapes, though, that we cared to eat, forEsau's testing of their flavour was quite enough for both. The reporthe gave me was "Horrid"; so I contented myself with the littlebilberries and cranberries we came upon from time to time. 

It was on the second day after our struggle across the slope, that wecame to a complete change in the scenery. The valley had beencontracting and opening out again and again; but now we seemed to comeat once upon a portion of the river where the sides rose up almostperpendicularly, forming a wild, jagged, picturesque, but terriblegorge, down which the river came thundering, reduced to narrow limits, and roaring through at a terrible speed. The noise, multiplied as itwas by echoes, was deafening, and as we stood gazing at the vastforbidding chasm, our journey in this direction seemed to have comesuddenly to an end. 

I looked up at Gunson, and found he was looking at me, while Esau hadgot his hat off scratching his head, and Quong had placed his bundle onthe ground, seated himself, and was calmly resting as if there were nodifficulties before him--nothing troublous in the least. 

"Well, " said Gunson, looking at Esau, "what do you think of the canon?"

"Don't see that it'll bear thinking about, " replied Esau. "Going backnow, ain't we?"

"Going back? I thought you were making for Fort Elk. "

"Yes, but that ain't the way, " said Esau. "Nobody couldn't go along aplace like that. "

"We shall have to climb up the side, and go round somehow, shall wenot?" I said to Gunson. 

"That seems to be the most sensible way, my lad, " he replied; "but howare we to get up the side? We might perhaps manage if we were acrossthe river, but this wall of rock is so nearly perpendicular that itwould puzzle an engineer. We could not scale that without ladders, ropes, and spikes. "

Both Esau and I stared up at the precipice which towered above ourheads, and my companion took off his cap and rubbed his curly hairagain. 

"We couldn't get up there?" he said, looking at me. "I'll try if youdo. "

"Oh, impossible, " I cried. "We shall have to go on along the side justabove the river. "

"What? In there!" cried Esau. 

"Yes. "

"Why, you must be mad, " he said. "Isn't he? No man couldn't get alongthere. It would want a cat. "

"I don't know, " said Gunson, thoughtfully. "Here, let's camp for abit. "

At these words, Quong, who had been rocking himself quietly to and fro, jumped off his bundle, looked sharply about him, and then made a run fora niche in the side of the gorge right up in the entrance, where thesides literally overhung. 

Here he placed his pack, and began to collect wood, descending towardthe river to where a large tree, which had been swept down the gorgewhen the river was much higher, now lay beached and stripped, andthoroughly dry. He attacked it at once with the axe, and had soonlopped off enough of the bare branches to make a fire, and these hepiled up in the niche he had selected, and started with a match, theinflammable wood catching at once; while I took the axe and went oncutting, as Quong unfastened the kettle and looked around for water. 

There was plenty rushing along thirty or forty feet below us, but it wasmilky-looking with the stone ground by the glaciers far up somewhere inthe mountain. That, of course, had to be rejected. 

"Make mouth bad, " Quong said, and he climbed up to where a tiny springtrickled down over a moss-grown rock so slowly that it took ten minutesto fill our kettle. 

"This is a bit of a puzzle, " said Gunson, as he sat calmly smoking hispipe and gazing up the terrible gorge; and I was returning from thefire, where I had been with a fresh armful of wood, leaving Esaupatiently chopping in my place. 

"Puzzles can be made out, " I said. 

"Yes, and we are going to make this one out, Gordon, somehow or another. What an echo!"

He held up his hand, and we listened as at every stroke of Esau's axethe sound flow across the river, struck the rock there and was thrownback to our side, and then over again, so that we counted five distinctechoes growing fainter as they ran up the terribly dark, jugged rift, till they died away. 

"Can't we find some other way?" I said, for I felt awe-stricken by therushing water, the forbidding nature of the rocks as they towered up, and the gloom of the place, in which quite a mist arose, but there wasno sun to penetrate the fearful rift, and tint the thin cloud withrainbow hues. 

"I'm afraid not, Gordon, " he replied. "I fancy that there is a trackalong there that has been used, and that we might use in turn. If I canconvince myself that it is so, we English folk must not turn our backsupon it. Such a ravine as that cannot be very long. Will you try?"

I wanted to say _no_, but something within me made me say _yes_, and Isaw Gunson smile. 

"Why are you laughing?" I said, with my cheeks feeling warm. 

"Because I was pleased. I like to see a lad like you master himself. "

"Ahoy! wood ho!" shouted Esau from below; and I gladly seized theopportunity to end a conversation which troubled me. 

Half an hour later, we were seated together enjoying a hearty meal, which had the peculiarity of making the canon seem less terrible to us, while as to Quong, everything was the same to him, and he was ready togo anywhere that Gunson indicated as the way. 

"Now, " said the latter, as we finished, and Quong took our place as amatter of course, "what do you say? It must be midday, when we alwayshave a nap till it grows cooler. Shall we have one now or start atonce?"

"It will be cool enough in there, " I said. 

"Have a nap, " said Esau; "we're all tired. "

"But it may take us a long time to get through, and we don't want to becaught in a place like that at night. "

"Right, Gordon, " said Gunson. "Dean, you are in the minority. We musteither start as soon as we can or wait till morning. "

"That is the best, " said Esau, uneasily. "I don't want to show no whitefeathers, but I ask any one--Is that a nice place to tackle after beingwalking all the morning with a load?"

"No; I grant that, " said Gunson. "But come along, Gordon, and lot'sexplore it a little way. "

He led off and I willingly followed him, to descend close to the rushingwaters, and then climb up again, looking in every direction forsomething in the way of a track, but without avail. On every hand werepiled-up rocks, and though we climbed on one after another and stoodlooking into the gorge, there was nothing to be seen. As far as wecould make out the place had never been trodden by the foot of man. 

We had penetrated about a hundred yards, and stood upon a flat-toppedrock, looking down at the roaring, swishing water, while before useverything appeared of a dark forbidding grey, in strange contrast tothe bright slit of mossy green we could see when we looked back, in themidst of which rose up a column of smoke, and beside it the dark figureof Esau with his hand over his eyes, evidently peering in after us. 

"The puzzle is difficult to make out, my lad, " said Gunson. "It's hardwork making your way through a country that has not been thoroughlymapped. Can't get along here, eh?"

"No, " I said, rather despondently, and then I started, for Esau hailedus to come back, and we could see him shouting with his hands to hismouth, evidently in a great state of excitement. 

We waited till the echoes of his voice had died away, and then I shoutedback, and a curious creeping sensation ran through me at the sound of myvoice. 

It was impossible to hurry back, for there were too many impediments inthe way, but we made all the haste we could, for there was evidentlysomething wrong, though what that might be was invisible to us, as wedescended and climbed, and wound our way in and out in places thatGunson confessed were "ticklish, " as he called it, and where he alwayspaused in his firm, quiet way to offer me his help. 

At last we were close to Esau, who was waiting anxiously with the riflein his hand, ready to thrust it into Gunson's. 

"Indians, eh?" said the latter, as we now saw what had been hidden fromus by the shape of the valley--a group of half a dozen spear-armedIndians, who drew back a little and stood watching us on seeing theaccession made by our crossing to the group by the fire. 

Gunson did not hesitate. He took the rifle, and felt whether hisrevolver was ready to his hand before walking straight up to the group, making signs intended to be friendly. They had their effect, for themen came forward, one of them holding out a freshly-opened salmon as atoken of good-will. 

That was enough for Quong, who ran forward smiling, whilst Gunson triedthe men with such Indian words as he could remember. But it was all invain. They gave up the great fish to the Chinaman quietly enough, andstood staring at us in a stolid way, till our leader took out histobacco-pouch and gave each a good pinch. They were friends directly;and now by signs Gunson tried to make them understand that he wanted togo through the canon, and that he would give them a present if theywould guide us. 

"I can't make them understand, my lad, " he said at last. 

"But I think they do understand, " I said. "Let's shoulder our packs, and see if they will lead the way. "

"Must be going our way, " said Esau, "because they overtook us. "

"Well, let's try, " said Gunson; and in a couple of minutes we werestanding loaded, Gunson pointing up the gorge. 

One of the Indians showed his teeth, said a few words to his companions, and they all faced round, and began to lead the way back. 

"No, no, " I shouted, and I pointed up the gorge, when the leading Indiansmiled and went on again. 

"This will not do, " I said to Gunson. "Stop a few minutes, " he said, thoughtfully. --"Let's see. I think they understand us. "

So we followed them back for a couple of hundred yards or so, when theystopped short, pointed upwards, and began to ascend the side of thevalley at a spot where it was too stony for any trace of a track to beseen, but where it was possible to climb up and up, with the way growingmore giddy moment by moment, and the exertion so great that we were soonglad to shift our packs. 

This brought the Indians to a stand, and their leader said somethingwhich was responded to by four of the men taking our packs and bearingthem for us, the chief going first, and the other man taking the spearsof those who carried the loads, and walking last. 

In a few minutes we were where the smoke of our fire rose up in faintblue wreaths right above our heads, and all doubts of there being a waywas at an end, for without the slightest hesitation the Indians went on, their leader evidently quite at home, though as I looked down I couldonly see rugged stones, without a trace of their having been worn byfeet, while above us was the vast wall of rock along whose side we creptlike so many ants, and below there was the river foaming and roaringalong toward the mouth. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

ESAU IN DIFFICULTIES. 

"Oh dear! oh dear!" whispered Esau, as he came up close behind me. 

"What's the matter?"

"'Spose they pitch us head over-heels down here and go off with ourloads, what then?"

"We shouldn't be tired to-night, Esau. "

"Oh, I say, don't laugh, " he whispered; "it's too dreadful. What aplace to come along! Feel giddy?"

"No; don't talk about it, " I replied quickly, for the idea was toohorrible. But I took heart as I glanced at the loaded men, who walkedon as calmly as if there were no danger whatever, while Quong camebehind Esau, quite as coolly. 

I am afraid to say at what angle the rocky wall went up above us. Esaudeclared it was quite straight, which was absurd; but I believe I amright in saying that the part along which the principal Indian led uswas as steep as it was possible for a man to make his way along, whileover and over again the rock curved right above our heads. 

It was evident that we were going along a regular track, for the Indiannever hesitated. Sometimes he led the way down and down till we werenearly close to the water, then up and up till it looked as if we wereto be led right to the top of the mighty rock wall, and out among themountains. But the track always led down again; and at last in the dimtwilight we found that we were close to a sheer precipice which rose outof the water, and along which, not six feet above the torrent, theleader began to make his way sidewise, his face to the rock, his armsextended, and his feet supported by a ledge formed by the bottom part ofthe vast rock projecting a little beyond the upper. 

The ledge at its widest was not five inches across, and as I saw firstone Indian and then another hang our packs away from them and begincreeping along that ledge, clinging by their outstretched hands, I fullyexpected to see them fall headlong into the boiling torrent and be sweptaway. My palms grew moist, my eyes dilated, so that there was a painfulaching sensation as if they were strained, and I felt as though I shouldlike to run away, and at the same time so fascinated that I was obligedto watch them. 

At last I turned shudderingly away, and then caught sight of mycompanions, to see that Gunson was holding on to a piece of rock withone hand, while he reached forward to watch the men, every featureintent, and his shaggy brows knit, and his upper teeth displayed as hepressed them on his lower lip. Esau had his eyes close shut and hisface wrinkled up into a grin, as if he were in pain. And there justbehind him was Quong, seated on a projecting stone, looking straightaway before him, as if he were gazing at his home in China, blinking, dreamy, and paying not the least heed to the danger of the men or tothat which was to come for us all. 

There was another present--the last Indian, who stood like a bronzestatue, resting upon the sheaf of spears he held, and watching us allcuriously, as if noting our manner, and trying to read our thoughts. 

Not a slip, not a moment's hesitation. The Indians went on, with ourpacks threatening to drag them off the ledge into the river; but thesewere only threats, and we watched till they had nearly reached the endof the ledge, where I saw the leader pass round a projection anddisappear. 

"I say, " whispered Esau, "tell me when they are all safe. "

I did not answer, and he opened his eyes and looked round at me. 

"I say--look, look! There are only two there, " he cried excitedly. "Have the others gone in?"

"No, no. They are safe. Look!" For the last two gradually passed onout of our sight, and Gunson drew a long breath full of relief. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated. "All right. Well, lads, if those fellows can doit with the loads hanging from them, it ought to be easy for us. Whogoes first?"

There was no reply, and Gunson said quickly--

"Now, Quong, on with you. "

"Me go 'long nex? All light. "

He stepped down on the ledge, carefully catching hold of the rock, andedged his way along without a moment's hesitation. 

"There, Gordon, " said Gunson, "that's the advantage of having a verysmall brain. On with you next, Dean. I want to see you lads oversafe. "

"But I ain't got a small brain, " said Esau. "Won't you go first?"

"No. I went over the clatter slide first, and regretted it directly Ihad started. I felt as if I ought to have been last. Now then, don'thesitate. "

"But--"

"Shall I go over, Esau?" I said. "Yes, please. One of my legs is abit stiff, and I think I'll take off my boots first. "

By this time Quong had nearly reached the part where there was theprojection to go round, and I stepped down with something else to thinkabout, for I saw Gunson laughing rather contemptuously at Esau, who satdown at once to remove his boots, his face scarlet with shame andannoyance, for Gunson said mockingly--

"Don't take off the stiff leg too, my lad; you'll want it. "

I glanced back, and caught Esau's eye, and fancied that I heard histeeth click together as he gave a kind of snap, looking as if he wouldlike now to take my place for very shame. 

But it was too late. I was already on the ledge, feeling for places toget a hold, and finding that the rock was so full of cracks that I couldinsert my fingers easily enough, and steady myself as I shifted my legalong. Gunson had followed down close behind me. 

"Well done!" he shouted, so as to be heard above the roar of the water. "Don't look down at the river, my lad, but keep your eyes on the rock, and you'll soon be over. "

I made no attempt to reply, but kept sidling my way along slowly andcautiously, and finding the task much easier than I thought it wouldprove; in fact, if it had been solid ground below me instead of thatawful torrent, I felt that the task would have been nothing. It was thethought that a slip would be fatal which made all the difference, and Ihad hard work to resist the magnetic attraction of that writhing water, which seemed to be trying to make me look at it, so that I might turngiddy and fall. 

Step by step, with a careful hold taken, and making myself determined asI mastered my feelings of cowardice, I kept on in a fixed stolid way, till I thought that I must be half-way along the ledge, and that nowevery step would bring me nearer to safety, when, to my utterastonishment, I found myself within a yard of Quong, who was againseated on a block of stone, blinking thoughtfully, and ready to look upat me and nod and smile. 

A curious feeling of satisfaction came over me--that glow of pleasureone feels at having conquered a difficulty, and instead of going on Iedged back a little, till I could stand and watch for the others coming. 

To my surprise I found that Gunson was half-way across, and he hastenedhis pace as he saw me there. 

"Here, what is it?" he shouted, so as to make his voice heard. "Afraidto go any further?"

"No, no; I stepped back to see Esau come along. "

"Oh! He had not got both his boots off when I started. "

There stood Esau plainly enough beside the Indian. His boots were tiedtogether by the strings, and hung about his neck, and he was watchingus. 

I should have shouted at him, but my words would not have been heard, and even if I had felt disposed to wave my hand, leaving part of myhold, Esau could not have seen me, as Gunson was between. And still thelad did not move. 

We saw the Indian look at him and walk down toward the ledge, and itseemed to us as if he tried to make him go by saying something, which ofcourse Esau could not understand in words, but he comprehended hismovements, and we saw him turn upon him angrily. 

"Oh, " shouted Gunson, "I wish that savage would spur him on with one ofhis spears, the miserable coward!"

"He'll come directly, " I shouted back. "He isn't a coward, only ittakes him a long time to make up his mind. "

"He and I will have a desperate quarrel one of these days, I know. Hah!at last, " cried Gunson, for, as if desperate, Esau now stepped on to theledge and began to sidle along, the Indian coming close behind him. 

But he made very slow progress, stopping every now and then to look downat the water; and at such times we saw him clinging fast to the rock, asif afraid to move afterwards. Then on again for two or three steps, with the Indian calmly following him up and waiting his pleasure. 

This went on till Esau was about half-way, when we saw him look downagain, and then make quite a convulsive clutch at the rock, againstwhich he now rested motionless, and without making an effort to move. 

"Is he resting?" I shouted. 

"No; lost his nerve entirely, " said Gunson. "Stop where you are andhold my rifle. "

He thrust it into my hand, and then went quickly along the ledge back towhere Esau stood motionless, and I saw him go to the poor fellow andspeak to him. 

Esau raised his head and looked at him as I thought piteously, and thenonce more he began to edge his way along, step by step, with Gunsonclose by him, and, as it seemed to me, through the mist which rose fromthe water, holding one arm behind him to help him along. 

Very soon, though, I saw what had been done. The Indian had stretchedout one of the spears he carried behind Esau, and Gunson had hold of theother end, so that as they held it the shaft formed a rail behind Esau'sback, giving him more moral than real support, but sufficient toencourage him to try, with the result that they soon came so near that Ihad to creep back along round the corner; and a few minutes later wewere on better ground, where the Indians raised the packs once more, andagain led the way onward, with Esau and me last. 

We trudged on in silence for nearly an hour before Esau spoke. I hadtried to draw him into conversation several times, but he had preserveda sulky silence, which annoyed me, and I went on just in front, for ofcourse we were in single line. All at once he said loudly--

"'Tain't my fault. "

"What is not?"

"That. I was born and brought up to walk on flag-stones. I was nevermeant to do this sort of thing; if I had been, mother would have paidfor me to learn to walk on tight-ropes. "

"There, " I said, "you got over it. Never mind now. "

"But I ain't got over it, and I do mind now, " he cried angrily. "Howwould you like to be laughed at because you were thought to be a coward?And I ain't one, I'm sure. "

"Of course you are not. "

"But of course I am, and you know I am. I never expected BritishColumbia was made like this. Here's a pretty place! Why, it's just asif the world had been split open ever so far, and we was obliged to walkalong the bottom of the crack. "

"Yes, " I said, as I looked up the side of the canon to where the skyseemed to be a mere strip above our heads; "but then see how awfullygrand it is. "

"Oh, yes, I know it's awfully enough, but I don't see no grand. I wishI hadn't come. "

"What, because we've had a bit of difficulty?"

"Bit? Why it's all difficulty. I couldn't help it. I wanted to comealong pluckily like you did, but something inside wouldn't let me. Itwas just as if it kept whispering, `Don't go; you'll be sure to fall, and then what'll your mother say?'"

"But it was a horrible bit to go along. "

"You didn't seem to think so, " he said, in an ill-used tone. 

"But I did feel so, and I was frightened. "

"Couldn't ha' been, or you'd have stuck fast same as I did. "

"But I was frightened, I tell you, and so was Gunson. "

"Then he needn't have been so nasty with me. "

"What did he say?"

"Nothing. That was the worst of it. Only wish he had, 'stead o'looking at me as he did. For I couldn't help it a bit. "

"Well, never mind; it's all past now. "

"It ain't, I tell you, and never will be past. Everybody will know thatI am a horrible coward, and it will stick to me as long as I live. "

I tried to laugh, at him and pass it off, but it was of no use. He tookit regularly to heart, harping constantly upon Gunson's manner to him. 

"But you are making mountains of mole-hills, " I cried at last, angrily. 

"Well, that's what they are made out of, isn't it, only plenty of it. "

"But you say he looked at you. "

"Yes; he looked at me. "

"Well, what of that? There's no harm in his looking at you. "

"Oh, ain't there? You don't know. He just can look. It was just as ifhe was calling me a miserable cowardly cur, and it cut me horrid. S'pose I did stick fast in the middle of that path--Bah! it isn't a pathat all--wasn't it likely? If I hadn't stopped and held on tight, Ishould ha' been half-way back to the sea by this time, with my noseknocked off at the least, and the salmon making a meal of what was leftof me. 'Course I held on as tight as I could, and enough to make me. "

"Well, never mind, " I said. "There: I won't hear a word more about it. Perhaps I shall be a horrible coward next time, and then Gunson willlook at me. "

"If he does, I shall hit him, so there. "

Esau looked ill-used at me because I laughed, and kept on muttering allthe time we were in that terrible gorge, just as if the gloom of theplace oppressed him. As for me, I seemed to have enough to do to watchwhere I placed my feet as we slowly climbed on for hour after hour, thinking all the time of the valley I had read of years before in the_Pilgrim's Progress_, and feeling half ready to see some horrible giantor monster rise up to stop our way. 

It was rapidly growing so dark down between those terrible jagged wallsthat I began to think we should have to make camp soon and sleep therein some one or other of the black hollows, and without fire, for therewas nothing visible but scraps of moss, when, all at once, on turning acorner which had appeared to block the way, it began to grow lighter, for the sides of the gorge were not so perpendicular. 

Then another corner was turned, and it was lighter still with the warmsoft light of evening, and there in the distance was a glowing spotwhich I took at first for the sun, but which I knew directly after to bethe ice-capped top of a mountain glowing in the sun. Below it was thepine forest again, looking almost black, while away on high a cascadecame gliding down like golden spray, touched as it was by the settingsun. 

Half an hour's more weary tramp, and the chief of the Indian partystopped short, and we found that we had suddenly come upon an opening bythe river where about a couple of dozen Indians were standing by therows of salmon they had hung up to dry in the sun. 

They all stood gazing at us in a stolid way, till the man who had guidedus went up to them, and then one of the party turned back to theircluster of teepees and came up to us directly after with a friendlyoffering in the shape of a couple of freshly-caught still living salmon, which Quong bore off eagerly to a spot above the camp. 

"But the Indians, " I said to Gunson. "Shall we be safe?"

"Safe or in danger, my lad, " he replied, "I want food and rest. This isthe worst day's work we have had. Ah, I am beginning to believe inQuong. Here, let's help the little fellow. You get some water while Icut some wood. "

As we separated I had to go by Esau, who looked at me suspiciously. 

"I say, " he whispered, "what has old Gunson been saying about me?"

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

"LOOK!"

I can't describe my feelings towards Gunson. One hour he seemed to mecoarse, brutal, and common; at another he was the very reverse, andspoke in conversation as we tramped along together about books andlanguages in a way which made me think that at one time he must havebeen a gentleman. At these moments his voice sounded soft and pleasant, and he quite won me to him. 

On the morning after our perilous passage through the gorge, he quitetook me into his confidence, talking to me and consulting with me as ifI were a man of his own age, while Esau hung aloof looking jealous andanswering in a surly way whenever he was addressed. 

"You see, " Gunson said, "the matter stands like this: along by theriver, which is getting more and more to assume the character of amountain torrent, the way must be difficult. It winds, too, terribly, so that we have to travel perhaps twice as far as we should if we made astraight cut for the Fort. "

"That sounds the easiest way, " I said. 

"Yes; but we do not know the country; we have not the least idea whereFort Elk lies; we shall be met now and then by other rivers, which maybe very hard to cross, perhaps impossible without making long journeysto right or left; lastly, we shall get into a wild country whereprobably there will be no Indians, or if there are, they may be a fiercehunting race, who will object to our going through their district. Soyou see that though we may save a good deal of walking if we can get anidea from some settler where the Fort lies, we may meet with a greatmany difficulties such as I have named. On the other hand, if we keeptramping on here, we are certain to hit the Fort if we can master thetroubles of the way, while we are among a people who seem to live byfishing, and are as friendly as can be. "

"Yes, " I said, thoughtfully, as I glanced at where the Indians werepeaceably catching and drying the fish they speared. 

"Well, what do you say? I am ready to do either--perhaps to break awayfrom the river would suit me best, for I should be coming across smallerstreams such as I could examine for metals. You must not forget thatI'm a prospector, " he added, laughingly. 

"I do not, " I said, "and I should like for you to go the way best suitedfor yourself. But surely you could find that way, and reach Fort Elk. "

"I am disposed to risk it, and yet we should be turning away from oursupplies. "

"Yes, " I said, for he looked at me questioningly; "I feel quite indespair sometimes about getting along this terrible way, but I think weought to keep to it, for those people said we should find littlesettlements all the way along. "

"Yes; and we might find ourselves in a queer position without foodunless we could get a guide, so forward's the word. "

He nodded to me and went off to the Indian camp to make the people apresent before we started, and as soon as I was alone, Esau hurried up. 

"Has he been saying anything against me?"

"No, of course not, you suspicious fellow, " I cried. "There, come alongand pack up. We start directly. I say, Esau, you don't want to go backnow?"

He turned sharply, and glanced at the beginning of the dark canon, andthen said angrily--

"Needn't jump on a fellow because he didn't get along so well as youdid. Here you, Quong, we're going on. "

"Velly nea leady, " came back cheerily. 

"Don't seem to mind a bit, " grumbled Esau. "I believe he'd go anywhere. He don't understand what danger is. "

"Ready?" said Gunson, coming back. "I can't make anything out of theIndians, but I suppose there is a way all along here. "

"Those settlers said there was. "

"Then let's try it if we can find our way. We can't come upon a worsebit to go along than that yesterday, and if we can't get along we mustcome back. "

We were on our way again directly after, Quong's load made more heavy bythe addition of two goodly fish, an addition which did not trouble himin the least, for he showed them to me smiling and patting their roundedsilvery sides as if he had an affection for them. 

Our way was very difficult, the traces of a trail being very few, andfaintly marked. But in spite of the difficulties, we kept on steadilyall through that day, and with no worse adventures than a few falls, with the accompaniments of bruises and scratches, we reached the patchof wood we selected for our resting-place that night. 

It was Quong, when in advance, who suggested it, by stopping suddenly, lowering his patiently borne load, and pointing out its advantages ofshelter, fire-wood and water, and here we stayed for the night. 

The next day passed in a similar way, and the effect on me of ourjourney seemed precisely the same as on Esau and the others--for wereached our resting-place fagged, hungry, faint and low-spirited, withEsau grumbling horribly and wishing he was back on "old Dempster's"stool. Then Quong would prepare his fire, make cakes, boil the kettle, cook bacon or salmon, make a good cup of tea, and we all ate atremendous meal, after which the beds were made in shelter, probablyunder the tree which produced what Esau called the feathers, that is thesoft boughs. Then our blankets were spread ready, and we lay aboutwatching the last rays of the sunlight on the snowy peaks of themountains, or the bright stars, and listened to Gunson while he smokedhis pipe and told us tales about his adventures in the MalayArchipelago, where he went up the country in search of gold, or inAustralia; and as we sat listening, the weary low-spirited feelingpassed away, we grew deeply interested, and soon after lay down tosleep, to wake at sunrise full of high spirits, life, and vigour, eagerto continue our journey up the river. 

Then came days when we halted at settlers' huts, where we were made verywelcome for the sake of the news we brought; then at Indian camps to beregaled with fish, and finding these people so friendly that we soonforgot to feel any fear of them. Then again we went up a side streamhere and there for a few miles, to enable Gunson to try and discovermetals, and though he was always disappointed, Quong was in ecstasies. 

"Why, he must have got enough gold in that bottle of his to make awedding-ring as big as mother's old thin one, " said Esau, with achuckle. "I say, don't take much to make him happy. "

And all this time the weather had been lovely. We had had a fewshowers, after which the sun shone out more brightly than ever, and onenight we had a tremendous thunderstorm, when, from our shelter under aledge of rock, we could see the flashes of lightning darting in everydirection, while the thunder rolled echoing along the valley. But thatsoon passed away, the stars came out as the clouds rolled off the sky, and the next day all was as beautiful as ever. 

Three nights after we came to a halt at the mouth of a shallow cave, andthe day having been very hot and wearying we soon dropped off to sleep, from which I was aroused in the darkness by feeling a touch, and as Iopened my eyes, I heard a curious shuffling noise, and felt hot breathfan my cheek. 

This was so momentary that I thought I must have been dreaming, andturned softly over to go to sleep again, for the rest after the heavyday's work was delicious. 

I suppose I must have dropped off once more, and must have been dreamingas I was touched again; then the touch was repeated, and in a drowsy wayI sighed with satisfaction at not having to move myself, but having someone to move me, for a great hand readied over me, and drew me along alittle way, and I dreamed that I was tumbling out of bed and Esau drewme back in my place. 

I lay perfectly still for a time, and then I was moved a little more, the big hand drawing me along very gently as if I was not quite in theright position; finally, after getting me straight, giving me a gentlethrust before leaving me quite at peace. All at once I was thoroughlyaroused by a terrific yell, and I started up, but only to be knockedover. There was a rush of feet, followed by a rustling, and cracklingof bushes, and this sound grew fainter and fainter till it died away. 

"What is it? Who shouted?" cried Gunson, jumping up. 

"It was me, " cried Esau. 

"What for? Who was it ran away? Here; where is Gordon?"

"I'm here, " I said. "What's the matter?"

"That's what I want to know, " said Gunson. "Was it an Indian, Dean?"

"No; it was a great pig as big as a bullock; he'd got one hoof on mychest, and was smelling me with his wet snout touching my face when Iwoke up and shouted, and he ran off. "

"Pig, eh?" said Gunson. "It must have been a bear. "

"A bear! What, touching me like that?" cried Esau, excitedly. 

"No doubt about it. But it does not matter. You frightened it morethan it frightened you, and it has gone. "

"Ugh!" cried Esau, with a shudder. "Was it going to eat me?"

"Probably, " replied Gunson. 

"What!"

"Well, it might have been. You are not bitten?"

"I dunno, " cried Esau, excitedly. "P'r'aps I am. "

"Are you scratched or clawed?"

"Can't say, sir; very likely. Oh dear, oh dear, what a place to cometo! I can't go to sleep again after this. But do you really think itwas a pig, sir--I mean a bear?"

"It must have been. The only other creature possible would be a bisonor a deer, and it is not likely to have been one of them. "

Gunson took his rifle, and I heard the click of the lock as he cockedit, to step out of the shelter, and look round, but he stopped directly. 

"Where is Quong?" he cried. 

"Me velly safe up here, " came in a high-pitched voice from somewhereover our heads in the darkness. 

"Did you see anything?" cried Gunson. "Was it a bear?"

"Too dalk see anything, " he replied. "Only hear velly much woodbleaking. "

All was quite still now, save Gunson's footsteps as he walked about ourcamp, and the roar of the falling waters down toward the river where thestream near us dropped in a cascade; and he was soon back. 

"I shall break my neck in the darkness, " he said, as he joined us. "Ican hear nothing, and I have nearly gone headlong twice. "

"Do you think it will come back?" I said, feeling no littletrepidation. 

"No; Dean's yell was enough to scare a whole zoological garden. But liedown, lads, and finish your night's rest. I'll light my pipe and playsentry for the remainder of the night. "

"And I'll sit up with you, " I said. 

"No; go to sleep, " he replied, firmly. "I am used to this sort ofthing. "

"But I want to get used to it, " I said. 

"Afraid?"

This came with a slightly sarcastic tone, which made me turn away fromhim, and go back into the shelter without a word. 

"Come, Esau, " I said; and I wrapped my blanket round me, and lay down atonce. 

"It's all very well to say `Come, Esau, '" grumbled that gentleman. "Youain't been half torn to pieces by a bear. "

"But you are not hurt, are you?"

"How do I know when it's so dark?" he said, petulantly. 

"But you could feel. "

"No, I couldn't. I've heard that people who have been half killed don'tfeel any pain at first; and there ain't a doctor nowhere. "

"But, Esau, " I whispered, seriously, "has the brute hurt you?"

"I keep on telling you I don't know. He pawed me about and turned meover, and smelt me and stood on me once. I say: how dark it is!"

"Lie down, " I said, "and try and go to sleep. I don't think you can behurt, or you would feel some pain. I felt the bear touch me too, but Iam not scratched. "

"Must I lie down?"

"Yes; you would be better. "

"But suppose he came again?"

"Gunson is watching. There is no fear. "

"But I'm sure I can't sleep. It's too horrid to be woke up and findwild beasts swarming all over you. "

"Yes, it was startling, " I said, as I listened to the noise he maderolling himself in his blanket, and making the fir-boughs crackle as heturned about. "I was horribly scared at first, but I don't think I mindnow. "

"I do, " said Esau, with a groan, "and I never pretended to be as braveas you. It's of no use, I can't go to sleep. "

"Why, you haven't tried yet, " I said, as I began to feel satisfied thathis injuries were all fancy. 

"No use to try, " he said, gloomily. "Fellow can't go to sleep expectingevery moment to be seized by some savage thing and torn to bits. "

"Nonsense!" I said. "Don't make so much fuss. "

"That's right; jump on me. You don't behave half so well to me as I doto you, Mayne Gordon. "

I made no reply to this reproach, but lay gazing out into the gloom, where after a few minutes I heard a faint scratch, saw a line of light, and then the blaze of a match sheltered in Gunson's hands, and a flashmade as he lit his pipe and threw the match away, after which at regularintervals I saw the dull glow of the tobacco in the bowl as our sentrykept patient watch over us. 

"Esau, " I said at last, "do you feel any pain?"

There was no reply. 

"Esau, can you feel anything now?" I said. 

Still no reply, and I began to be startled there in that intensedarkness where it took so little to excite one's imagination. Had heafter all been seriously hurt by the bear, and now sunk into a state ofinsensibility?

"Esau!" I whispered again, but still there was no reply; so half risingI reached over to touch his face, which was comfortably warm, and Iheard now his regular hard breathing. For a few minutes I could notfeel satisfied, but by degrees I grew convinced Esau was sleepingheavily, and at last I lay down too, and dropped off soundly asleep ashe. How long I had been in the land of dreams I did not know till nextday, when I found from Gunson that it must have been about a couple ofhours, and then I awoke with a start, and the idea that the bear hadcome back and seized me, till the voice of our companion bidding me getup relieved me of that dread. 

"What is the matter?"

"Look, " he cried. 

I was already looking at a blaze of light, and listening to a fiercecrackling noise. There before me was one of the great pine-trees withthe lower part burning, and clouds of smoke rolling up. "But how--whatwas it set it on fire?"

"Ask Quong, " said Gunson gruffly, as he stood by me with the glow fromthe fire lighting him up from top to toe, and bringing the trees androcks about us into view. 

"Me only put fire light when bear go, leady for make water velly hot, "said the little Chinaman, dolefully; "fire lun along and set alight. "

"Yes, you couldn't help it, " said Gunson. "The dry fir-needles musthave caught, and gone on smouldering till they reached a branch whichtouched the ground, and then the fire ran along it like a flash. "

"But can't we put it out?" I cried, excitedly, as the boughs of thehuge green pyramid began to catch one after the other. 

"Put it out!" he said, with a half laugh. "Yes; send Dean there for thenearest fire-engine. There's plenty of water. I did try at first whileyou were asleep, and burned myself. "

"But--"

"Oh, let it burn, " he said, carelessly. "It stands alone, and a treemore or less does not signify in these regions. A hundred more willspring up from the ashes. "

I stood silently gazing at the wondrous sight, as the huge fire beganmore and more to resemble a cone of flame. High up above the smokewhich rolled like clouds of gold, and the tongues of fire which keptleaping up and up to the high branches, there was still a green spiredark and dimly seen as it rose to some two hundred and fifty feet abovewhere we stood. But that upper portion was catching alight fast now, and the hissing crackle of the burning was accompanied by sharp reportsand flashes, the heat growing so intense that one had to back away, while quite a sharp current of cold air began to rush past our ears tosweep out and fan the flames. 

"What a pity!" I said at last, as I turned to Esau, who stood therewith his eyes glowing in the light, Quong being seated on a stoneholding his knees, as he crouched together, his yellow foreheadwrinkled, and little black eyes sparkling the while. 

"Yes, I s'pose it's a pity, " said Esau, thoughtfully. "My! how itburns. I s'pose there's tar and turpentine and rosin in that big tree?"

"Why, Esau, " I said suddenly, as a thought struck me, "how about thebear?"

"Bear? Where?" he cried, grasping my arm. "Not here, " I said with alaugh. "No wild beast would come near that fire. I mean how about yourhurts?"

"My hurts?" he said, beginning to feel his arms. "Oh, I'd forgotten allabout them. "

"No fear of its catching any other tree, " said Gunson, returning towhere we stood after being away, though I had not missed him. "I'vebeen all round it, and there isn't another for twenty yards. "

"But it will set light to them when it falls, " I said. 

"No, my lad. That tree's enormous at the bottom, but the boughs growsmaller and smaller till the top is like a point. Look, the fire isreaching it now, and it will go on burning till the trunk stands up halfburned down, and then gradually go out, leaving a great pointed stick ofcharred wood. No fear of its falling either upon us. I should havebeen sorry for us to have started a forest fire, that might have burnedfor weeks. "

He ceased speaking, and we all stood gazing in awe at the magnificentspectacle as the flames rushed higher and higher, till from top tobottom there before us was a magnificent cone of roaring fire, whichfluttered and scintillated, and sent up golden clouds of tiny sparks faraway into the air, while a thin canopy of smoke spread over us, andreflected back the glow till the valley far around looked almost aslight as day, and the green pines stood out gilded, though sombre intheir shades, and the water flashed and sparkled where it rushed along. 

It was a wonderful sight, impressing even Quong, and for a long time noone spoke. 

It was Gunson who broke the silence. 

"Well, Quong, " he cried, "what do you think of your work?"

"Velly solly, " said the little fellow, dolefully. 

"Ah, " said Gunson, "it is a bad job. All the King of China's horses andmen could not build that up again--eh, Gordon?"

"No, " I said, sadly; for there seemed to me to be something pitiful inthat grand forest monarch, at whose feet we had supped the past night, being destroyed. 

"But one of the seeds out of a cone hidden under the ground will produceanother, " he said, "in a hundred or two years. And we shan't wait tosee it, Gordon. "

I looked at him wonderingly. 

"And that's how the world goes on, boy; fresh growth makes up for thedestruction, and perhaps, after all, we have done some future settler agood turn by helping to clear the ground for him, ready for his home. Now then, will you lie down and have another nap?"

"What, with that tree burning?" I cried; and Esau uttered a grumblingsound expressing dissent, in which I fancied I detected words whichsounded like fire and bears. 

"Well, it is hardly worth while, " said Gunson. "Look sharp, Quong--tea. We'll get breakfast over, and make a fresh start. "

"What, so soon?" I cried. 

"Soon? Yes--look!"

He pointed upward, and to my astonishment I saw what seemed to beanother huge pine-tree on fire far away in the distance; but realiseddirectly after that it was the icy point of a mountain touched by thefirst rays of the rising sun, long before it illumined the lower earth. For morning was close at hand, and Quong began piling up sticks on ourlittle fire, from which soon after we could trace the black path ofburnt needles away to where, as Gunson said, some branch must havetouched the ground, as was the case in many directions near. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

WE MEET A STRANGER. 

The pine-tree was still burning as we set off just after sunrise thatmorning, but a turn in the valley soon hid it from our sight. Theweather was glorious again, and we made good progress, stopping thatnight at the snuggest settler's house we had yet come upon; but we couldhear very little about Fort Elk. The man, who was living with his wifeand son in that solitary place, had heard of the Fort that it was"somewheres up to the norrard. " That was all he knew, but he gave us agood supper of roast deer flesh, and told us that if we looked out wecould easily get more on our way, and when we were higher up we mightperhaps get a mountain sheep. He was curious to know our object inmaking so long a journey, but saved Gunson from any difficulty inexplanations by supposing that we meant to do something in skins, sayingthat he had heard that the company up there did a big trade with theIndians in furs. 

We left him and his son the next morning many miles from his ranch, forhe had insisted upon shouldering a rusty piece and showing us part ofour way by a short cut which saved us from a journey through a canon, where the path, he said, was "powerful bad, " and it did seem a changewhen he left us with instructions to keep due north till we struck theriver again, where we should find another ranch. For in place of beinglow down in a gorge, made gloomy by the mighty rock-sides and theeverlasting pines, we were out on open mountain sides, where the windblew, and the sun beat down pretty fiercely. 

We reached the ranch in due time, obtained shelter for the night, andwent on the next day, finding the country more open. I was trudgingalong side by side with Esau, Quong was behind us, and Gunson out ofsight among the rocks in front, when we were startled by a sharp crash, followed by an echoing roar. 

"What's that?" said Esau, turning pale. "Here, stop!" he cried. 

But I was already running forward, to come up to Gunson, reloading hisrifle, and in answer to my inquiry--

"Don't know yet, " he said; "I fired at a sheep up on that rocky slope. There was one standing alone, and half a dozen behind him, but I onlycaught sight of their tails as they disappeared up that little valley. The smoke kept me from seeing whether I hit one. Let's leave the packshere, and go up and see. "

It was a hot and difficult climb, for the valley was again steep andcontracted here, and when we reached the shelf where Gunson said thesheep had stood, there was nothing to be seen but a wild chaos of rocksand the narrow rift down which a stream bounded, and up by whose bed thesheep had rushed. 

"Bad job, " said Gunson, after a full half-hour's weary search. "Thatmeat would have tided us on for days, and made us independent when wereached the next ranch, where the people would have been glad of theskin. "

"Shall we climb up higher?" I said, in a disappointed tone. 

"No; let's get back, and go on. Those two are having a comfortablerest, " he added, as he pointed to where, far below, Esau and Quong werelying down by the packs. 

"Hurrah!" I shouted just then, for right away down in a pool of therushing stream I had caught sight of something sticking out just abovethe water. 

"What is it?" cried Gunson, eagerly. 

"The sheep under water. That's a leg sticking out. "

"A piece of wood, " he said, contemptuously. "No: you are right. It isthe sheep. "

We had a difficult climb down to the place, but did not heed that, forin a few minutes we had dragged out the prize, which Gunson soonlightened in a very business-like way, while I signalled to the othersto come up. 

Half an hour after we toiled down again, each bearing a quarter of thesheep, the beautiful head and skin being left as too heavy. 

Our load was lightened at mid-day, and again at night, when we camped, and the rapid disappearance of that sheep during the next days wasstartling, for the fresh pure air and exercise created a tremendousappetite which it was not always easy to satisfy. 

But somehow in our most hungry times we generally managed to get hold ofprovisions, either from the Indians or some settler. Twice over Gunsonshot a deer, but the scarcity of bird and quadruped was very striking. There were plenty of berries, but they were not very satisfying food tohungry lads. 

Esau proved a great help, though, twice during the many toilsome dayswhich followed, by his discoveries in two streams, and I helped him todrive some delicious little trout into shallow water, where they werecaptured, to Quong's great delight. 

How many days and weeks had passed before we were busy by one of thesmall streams which ran down into the river I cannot now remember, for Ihave lost count. It seemed that we had been tramping on for a greatwhile, and that it might have been last year when we left the sea. 

It was long past midday, and the appearance of this little stream hadattracted Gunson so that he determined to camp by it for the night; andleaving Quong and Esau to get a fire and make cakes with the last of ourflour, he took the gun, and I a light pine pole, to see if we could notget something in the way of fish or game. I did not say anything, but Iknew that Gunson meant to try the sands of the stream as well for gold. 

After about an hour's walking, and stopping from time to time to wash alittle of the gravel, and pause in likely places, I suddenly drew mycompanion's attention to something moving in an open glade dotted withsmall pines and bushes, where the stream ran slowly by through quite alawn-like stretch. 

He threw himself down and I followed his example, watching him as hecrawled forward, taking advantage of every bush and rock, till hesuddenly stopped, aimed, there was a puff of white smoke, and we bothsprang up. 

"No miss this time, Mayne, " he said, as I reached him. "Look!"

Not above eighty yards away lay a beautiful little deer, quitemotionless, and I forgot the destruction of the graceful little animalin the longing for a good supper that night. 

"Too much to carry back, eh?" he said, as he finished reloading. 

"Oh, no, " I cried; "we must carry it somehow. " And after the meat wasdressed, we divided the load, making two packs of it in the halved skin, and then began to return, when a part of the stream tempted Gunson tomake a fresh trial. 

"Disappointing work, " he said, as he waded in. "Sit down and rest, mylad, for a few minutes. I'll soon see. "

But he found nothing, and I sat down in the little gully watching him, and thinking that the prize he sought to find ought to be very big torecompense him for the tremendous labour he went through. It was verystill and peaceful; and, hot and tired as I was with walking, I wasturning drowsy, when I heard a voice say loudly--

"I saw the smoke rise quite plainly somewhere here;" and, as I startedup, a tall, grey-haired, severe-looking, elderly man, in leatherhunting-shirt and leggings, and wearing a fur cap, stood before me, rifle in hand, while another man was coming up not a dozen yards away. 

"Hallo!" the first exclaimed, as he glanced from me to my companion, sawthe cut-up deer, and took in Gunson's occupation as it seemed to me in asharp glance of his clear grey eyes. "I thought I was right. You firedhalf an hour ago?"

"Yes, " said Gunson, quietly, "and hit. "

"Who are you, stranger, and where are you for?" said the grey-hairedman, in a firm, stern tone of voice, while his companion stood backleaning on a rifle too, as if waiting to be told to come up. 

"English. Travelling and shooting, " said Gunson, a little distantly. 

"And prospecting, " said the new-comer sharply. "Well, have you struckgold?"

"No, " said Gunson. "Have you?"

"No; nor deer either. Not your luck to-day. "

"Sorry for you, brother sportsman, " said Gunson, rather sneeringly, Ithought. "Well, where's your shanty? We shall be glad to share ourgame. "

"Where are you making for?" said the stranger, looking at me. 

"Fort Elk, " I said; and I saw him raise his eyebrows. "Is it very muchfarther?"

"Not five English miles, " he said, looking at me fixedly. 

"Do you hear that, Gunson?" I cried. "Here, let's get back and tellEsau. "

"Not alone then?" said the stranger. 

"No, sir. I have a companion down by the river, and there is a Chinamanwith us. "

"Any more questions?" said Gunson, rather gruffly; "because if not, perhaps you'll put us on the trail for the nearest cut to the Fort. "

"You can't do better than go back to the river, " said the stranger. "I'll set you on your way. Mike, help him carry the deer-meat. "

The man took one of the packages, thrust the barrel of his rifle throughthe deerskin thongs, and placed it on his shoulder, while the new-comerasked me for my pole, thrust it through the other, and Gunson and I tookan end each, for I would not let our guide carry it. 

"Where are you from last?" said the stranger. 

I waited for Gunson to speak, but as he did not, I said that we hadtramped up by the river. 

"All the way from the sea, eh?" said the stranger, looking me over as Iexamined him and thought what a strong, keen, clever-looking man heseemed. 

"Yes; all the way from the sea. "

"And what are you going to do at Fort Elk, eh?"

Gunson looked round at him sharply. 

"Well?" said the stranger, meeting Gunson's look firmly. 

"Only going to ask you if you were an American from down coast. "

"No, I am an Englishman like yourself. Why?"

"Because you ask questions like a Yankee commercial traveller--drummersdon't they call them?"

"Yes, I think so, " said the stranger, quietly. "I always do askquestions when I want to know anything. "

"Good way, " said Gunson, gruffly; and it was very plain that they twowould not be very good friends. 

"Do you know Mr Daniel Raydon at the Fort?" I asked, to change theconversation, which was growing ticklish. 

"Oh yes, I know him. "

"He is the chief officer there, isn't he?" I continued eagerly, as Iseemed now to see the end of my journey. 

"Yes; he's head man, my lad. "

"What sort of a person is he?"

"Humph! Well, how am I to describe him? What do you mean? His looks?"

"Yes; and altogether what sort of a man is he?"

"As far as appearance goes, about such a man as I am. Stern, determinedsort of fellow, my lad; accustomed to deal with the Indians. Bit of ahunter--naturally from living in these parts; bit of a gardener, andbotanist, and naturalist; done a little in minerals and metals too, " hecontinued, turning to Gunson. "Sort of man to talk to you, sir, as Isee you are prospecting--for gold, I suppose?"

"You can suppose what you like, " said Gunson, drily. "This is a freecountry, I believe. I never heard that Government interfered withpeople for looking up the place. "

"Oh no; it's free to a certain extent, but we settlers who are fixedhere like to know what perfect strangers are about. "

"Look here, " said Gunson, "I always make a point of keeping my businessto myself. Do you want to quarrel with me?"

"By no means, " said the stranger, smiling. "I think the disposition tobe quarrelsome is more on your side. I merely asked you a few plainquestions, such as you would have asked me if our positions had beenreversed. Suppose you had marked down a deer, being a resident here, and came out for it and found a stranger--"

"Poaching, " said Gunson, mockingly. 

"No; we have no game laws here, sir--had bagged your deer, and when youcame up to him, wishing to be civil, and offer him the hospitality oneEnglishman should offer to another in this out-of-the-way corner of theworld, he cut up rough with you, as I think, on consideration, you mustown you have done with me. What then?"

I glanced from one to the other, ready to appeal to Gunson, for heseemed to me to be horribly in the wrong. 

There was a great difference in them, and it seemed to me to be verymarked just then; the stranger so tall, commanding, and dignified, inspite of his rough hunting-dress, his eyes keen and flashing, and hiswell-cut features seeming noble by comparison with Gunson's, whosecare-lined and disfigured face, joined with his harsh, abrupt way, madehim quite repellent. 

But just as I was anticipating quite an explosion of anger, I saw hisface change, and grow less lurid. He looked frankly in the stranger'sface, took off his hat, and I felt that it was a gentleman speaking, as, in quite an altered tone, he said simply--

"I beg your pardon. I was quite in the wrong. "

"Hah!" ejaculated the stranger, "that is enough;" and he held out hishand. "There's a ring of dear old England and good society in that, sir. Welcome to these wilds. It is a treat to have a visitor who cantalk about the old country. It's many years since I have seen it. Andyou?"

"Oh, we were there seven or eight months ago, " said Gunson, quietly; andas we walked on, and our new friend plied him with questions aboutLondon, the Government, and the changes that had taken place, alwayscarefully avoiding any allusions to the object of our visit to thenorth-west land, it seemed to me that I was listening to quite adifferent man to the rough prospector, and I fancied that the strangerwas noticing that Gunson was not the sort of man he seemed. 

It was so pleasant to listen to the converse of these two gentlemanly, well-informed speakers, that the distance seemed quite short back towhere Esau was lying down idly throwing stones in the river, while Quonghad the kettle boiling, and, as soon as he caught sight of us, camerunning up to seize upon one of the packs of deer-meat, and trot offwith it. 

"Useful sort of fellow, that, " said the stranger, nodding at Quong as heran on before us. "Good cook, I suppose?"

"Excellent, " replied Gunson. "You had better stop and have a bit ofdinner with us. He'll have a steak ready in a few minutes. "

"With all my heart. Mike, you have some cake in your wallet. "

"Yes, sir, " said the man respectfully; and I saw Gunson's one eye turnto him sharply. 

"We can easily walk to the Fort in an hour afterwards, " said thestranger. 

"And do you live near?" I said, eagerly. 

"Yes, very near, " he replied, smiling. 

"It's very lucky we met you, " I said, "for we had no idea how far wewere off. Here, hi! Esau!" I shouted, as soon as we were withinearshot, for he was coming towards us now in a slow, hesitating way. "This is my companion who has come with me. "

"Friend or brother?"

"Friend, " I said; and I was going to say more, but I caught Gunson'seye, and it seemed to suggest that I was talking too fast. 

In less than half an hour we were partaking of the hot juicy steakswhich Quong brought round to us on the point of his knife, and washingit down with hot tea, while the stranger and Gunson chatted away aboutthe sport to be had in that part of the country, filling my head witheager hopes of partaking therein, as I heard of the different kinds ofgame and deer, some of which were of huge size--elk and moose as high ashorses, which were shot in the winter. 

It soon became evident that our new acquaintance was a keen sportsman, but he talked in quite an easy modest way of what he had done, and atlast I felt obliged to join in, telling of our adventures with thebears, and asking if he had seen or shot any. 

"Several, " he said. "Many, I may say, but of course spread over a longstay here. I can show you their heads and skins. I generally savethem. That man Michael Grey is a clever hunter, and an admirableskin-dresser. "

"Are the bears very dangerous?"

"Only under certain circumstances, my lad. There are several kindshere, varying very little. I mean beginning with the smallest; hestrongly resembles the next larger, and he again the one larger still, and so on, till we get up to the cinnamon, and from him to the greatgrizzly, who is a fierce beast best avoided. As for the others, theyare stupid, inoffensive creatures, whose great aim in life is to get outof man's way, and who will not interfere with him or fight if they areleft alone. Now then, what do you say to going on?"

"By all means, " said Gunson; and we rose, to my regret, for I hadenjoyed the meal and rest, and the hunting narratives were delightful. 

We were all ready for starting, and I shouldered one pack, Quong loadinghimself up with the deer-meat, and our new friend and his followerinsisting upon helping to share our burden, while I noticed that Mike, as he was called, kicked the burning embers about in all directions soas to extinguish the fire. 

"What is that for?" said our new companion, interpreting my looks; "thatis what every hunter or traveller should do. Never leave a fire. Thereis abundance of wood--huge forests all about, but none that ought to bedestroyed. The pine-trees burn fiercely. "

I nodded, for I knew. 

"And, once a forest is set on fire, we never know where it may end. "

We walked on, chatting about the beauty of the country, which everyminute grew more open; and I was listening full of interest, when Esaugave my jacket a tug. 

"I say, who is he?" came in a whisper. 

"Don't know. Going to show us the way to the Fort. "

"Is it much further?"

"Oh no, " I whispered back; "only a mile or two. "

"Thank goodness, " murmured Esau; "I am getting so tired. "

It proved to be only about a mile and a half, or, as I ought to call itin that country of no roads and many climbs and descents, aboutthree-quarters of an hour's walk, before we came upon a wide, open spot, dotted with trees like a park, through which the river ran, making asharp elbow, at the corner of which there was what seemed to be a highfence, with square wooden buildings at two of the corners. These tookmy attention directly, for they looked like strong, square, woodentowers, trying to be like the sides of a man-of-war, inasmuch as theywere fitted with portholes, out of which projected the muzzles of smallcannon. I could see that there was a rough trail leading up to a grimgateway in the square fence, and that the nearer we got to the place, the bigger and stronger that fence looked, and that inside was quite alarge square with huts and other buildings, and what seemed to be agarden, beside which there were cultivated fields with corn growing andpotatoes, outside. 

"So that's Fort Elk, is it?" said Gunson, thoughtfully. "Why, I supposeyou could stand quite a siege there from the Indians. "

"We could, and have done so before now. "

"But what about fire?" continued Gunson. 

"That is our worst enemy, " said the stranger, as he struck the roughbeaten path. 

"But where is your garrison?" said Gunson. "Oh, busy about in thestores and garden. We are not at war with any of the people about, sothere is no occasion to play at soldiers now. "

"But where is your ranch?" I said, as we approached the gate. 

"Oh, inside the fence, of course. "

"Then you live in the Fort?" I said, looking at him curiously, for asuspicion was beginning to rise in my breast, as we came right up to thegreat palisade, and I realised how much bigger it all was than it hadseemed. 

"Yes, " he replied, smiling, "I live in the Fort--the Hudson's BayCompany's trading store and station; and I bid you all a heartywelcome. "

"May I know whom we have to thank before you show my young friend Gordonhere to the chief's place. You ought to go to him first, Gordon, mylad. "

"Yes, that is quite right, " said our friend, smiling; "but you can dothat without trouble, for my name is Raydon. I am the chief officerhere. "

I stopped short and stared, and Esau's jaw seemed to drop so as to showthe whole interior of his mouth. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

AN AWAKENING. 

After the first fit of startling I don't think I was much surprised, forsomething seemed to have suggested that this might be Mrs John'sbrother. 

He smiled at us, as if amused, and led the way to one of the woodenbuildings, where wood was burning in a stone fire-place. 

"This is our travellers' hotel, " he said, as we entered the bare-lookingroom, which was beautifully clean. "Don't trouble about cooking orpreparing anything, for you are my guests. There is a sleeping-placehere. "

He walked across to a door at one corner, and showed me anotherfair-sized place, bare as the first, but beautifully white and clean, and with some of the boards looking quite ornamental from the finegrain. There was a row of sleeping-bunks and plenty of water ready, andplain and rough as everything was, it seemed princely to the style ofsleeping accommodation we had been accustomed to for so long. 

He nodded and left us, and we had to explain to Quong that he was not tocook and prepare our evening meal, an explanation which for the firsttime made the little yellow-faced fellow look discontented. 

"You all velly angly? What Quong been do?"

"Nothing at all. Mr Raydon's people are going to send us our supper. "

"Don't like--don't like, " he said, shaking his head. "All angly. Quongno make good blead?"

"Yes; everything has been capital, " I said. "Don't you understand?"

"No; can't undlestan. Quong velly solly. Go now?"

"No, no. Stop. "

He shook his head and went and sat doleful-looking and unhappy in onecorner; out of which he had to be almost dragged at last to partake ofthe evening meal Mr Raydon sent in for us, absolutely refusing to joinus, and waiting patiently till we had done. 

There was capital bread, plenty of tea with milk and sugar, cold ham, and hot slices of the deer-meat we had brought with us, and when we hadfinished and set Quong to his supper, Gunson went to the door to smokehis pipe, while Esau came to me smiling. 

"Rather lonely sort of place, " he said, "but it will do, eh?"

"Oh yes, if Mr Raydon is willing for us to stay. "

"Eh? Why, of course he will be, won't he? I say, though, what lovelyham!"

"What's the matter with Quong?" I said, for the little fellow wasmuttering and grumbling as he sat on the wooden bench at thewell-scrubbed table. 

I went to him, and asked what was wrong. 

"Allee dleadful, " he said. "No cookee meat plopelly. No makee teaplopelly. Blead bad. "

"Why, I'm sure it isn't, " I said, crumbling off a piece to taste. 

"Yes; allee bad. No bake blead to-day. Blead high. "

"High?" I said; "you mean stale?"

"Yes; stale high. Keep blead too long. Not good to eat. "

"Why, Quong, " I cried; "you're grumbling because somebody else cookedand baked, " and I burst out laughing. 

The little fellow jumped up with his yellow forehead all wrinkles andhis eyes flashing and twinkling comically with resentment. But as Istill laughed at him, the creases began to disappear from his face, andthe angry look to depart, till he too smiled up at me. 

"You velly funny, " he said. "Laugh at me. "

"Well, you made me by grumbling for nothing. "

"Quong cook well--better allee this? Cookee ploply. "

"Yes; everything you have done has been delicious. Here, go on withyour supper. "

"Quong cook bleakfast?"

"Yes; I'll ask Mr Raydon to let you. Here, go on. "

This pacified the little fellow, and he finished his meal quickly. Hewas busy clearing up when Mr Raydon came in, and I saw him glancesharply at the busy little fellow, whose tail was whisking about in alldirections as he bobbed here and there, just as if he not been walkingall day. 

"Had a good supper?" said Mr Raydon. "That's right. Now then come tomy office, and let us have a talk. "

I followed him with some trepidation, Esau coming on nervously behind;and as we went outside, and then along to another building, catchingsight of men and women at different places about the enclosure, our hostwent on to where I now saw that Gunson was waiting for us by a woodenhouse that had some show of comfort. 

"Come in, " said our host, and he pointed to roughly-made, strong chairs, while he seated himself behind a deal desk. 

The walls were covered with weapons, and heads and horns of the variousanimals that I presumed had fallen to his rifle were nailed up here andthere, the white deal floor being nearly covered with skin rugs. Thesevarious objects of interest kept my eyes busy for a few moments, andthen I was called back to my position by Mr Raydon's voice, as headdressed Gunson. 

"You are quite welcome, " he was saying, "and I dare say I could give youa little shooting if you were disposed to stay. "

"No, " said Gunson, "I thank you; but I have finished one part of my taskhere. I am not going of course to make any secret of my mission. I ama prospector. "

"Yes. "

"It was my fortune to come out with these lads, and when I heard thatthey were journeying up the river, I determined to get up to the higherwaters by the same route as they did for the sake of helping them. "

"Then you would not have come this way, Mr Gunson?" I said. 

"No, my lad, " he replied, smiling. "I should have struck up one of theside rivers sooner. "

"Oh!" I ejaculated. 

"For it seemed to me that it was utter madness for two boys like theseto attempt the journey alone in perfect ignorance of what they hadundertaken. "

"And you made up your mind to see them through?"

"I did, for they would never have done it alone. "

"Indeed we should, " I said, quickly. 

Gunson laughed, leaned forward, and patted me on the shoulder. 

"No, no, Mayne, my lad, " he said kindly. "There's all the pluck--theEnglish spirit in you; but there was more than you could have done byyourselves. You would have struggled on, but Master Dean here wouldhave broken down long enough ago, and wanted to go back home to hismother. "

"How could I have wanted to go back home to mother when she ain't athome?" cried Esau, angrily. 

"Well, to have gone back, " said Gunson. "There, I am in real earnest, my lads. It was more than you could have done. "

"But we should have persevered, " I said, warmly. 

"And failed, as better men have done. Besides, there were the Indians, my lad. They always seemed very peaceable towards us, but you had awell-armed man with you; and it may have made some difference. There, Idon't want to rob you of any credit you deserve, and I tell Mr Raydonhere before you that I have derived no little assistance from you both, and enjoyed my journey all the better for your company. What do yousay, Mr Raydon--would they have found their way up here alone?"

"In time, perhaps, " he replied; "if they had met with other peoplemaking the trip they might have got here. Certainly not alone, and itwould have been madness to have attempted it. It has been a mad projectaltogether. "

Gunson looked at me and smiled. 

"But there, you have reached your goal safe and sound, and to-morrowmorning we'll shake hands and say good-bye. "

"Please understand, Mr Gunson, " said our host, quietly, "that you haveno occasion to hurry. "

"I beg your pardon, " replied Gunson; "you are wrong. Time is glidingon, sir. I have spent years already in my quest and have no time tospare. "

"The quest of wealth?" said Mr Raydon, rather sarcastically. 

"Yes, sir; the quest of wealth to redeem the past. You do not know myearly life, and I'm not going to tell of it. "

"I only know enough to prove to me that Mr Gunson was educated as anEnglish gentleman. "

"And is now the rough prospector you see, " replied Gunson. "There, sir, one lives for the future, not the past. To-morrow morning, thanking youwarmly for your hospitality, I start; and I ask you to give my youngfriends here what you have offered so generously to me. "

"Your Chinese servant going with you, of course. You said `I start. '"

"My Chinese servant!" said Gunson, laughing. "I keep no servants. Thepoor fellow attached himself to us, and has worked for us patiently eversince. He is one of the poor patient Celestials, hunting for gold, andif ever he scrapes together fifty pounds' worth he will account himselfrich. "

"And you?"

"Ah, my desires are far higher, " said Gunson, laughing. "Now, if youwill excuse me, I'll go outside and enjoy a pipe in this deliciousevening air. "

"Let me offer you a cigar, Mr Gunson, " said our host. "I have a fewgood ones for my visitors. "

"Thanks, no. I'll keep to my pipe till better times come. Now, mylads, it is your turn to have your chat with our host. "

He rose. 

"One moment, Mr Gunson, " said Mr Raydon. "There is a powder magazinein the enclosure. "

"Yes; I caught sight of it, " was the reply. "I shall not drop anymatches near. "

I saw our host watch him very thoughtfully as he went out of the office. Then turning to us sharply he looked from one to the other, his cleareyes seeming to search us in a way that was far from encouraging. 

"Now, young fellows, " he said, "I need not ask your names: Mayne Gordonand Esau Dean. I have been expecting you. "

"Expecting us, sir?" I said. 

"Of course. Because you have been six months coming; a letter would notbe all this while. I have known of your proposed visit for some time, though I tell you frankly that when I read my thoughtless, inconsistentbrother-in-law's letter, I never expected to see you here. You havebeen very lucky, that's all. "

"If you mean Mr John Dempster is thoughtless and inconsistent, sir, " Isaid warmly, "I must speak. He is all that is kind, thoughtful, andgentlemanly, and he is the best--almost the only--friend I have in theworld. "

"What, sir? Isn't it thoughtless and inconsistent of a man to send tworaw boys nearly all round the world on such a mad journey as this? Athoughtful man would say the person who planned it was a fool. "

"No thoughtful man who knew Mr John Dempster would speak of him likethat, sir, " I said, angrily. 

"Why you might just as well say so of some one who set him and poor MrsJohn to travel thousands of miles the other way here, " cried Esau, coming to my help. 

"Means that I am a fool!" said our host, sharply, as he turned on Esau. "Here, you hold your tongue, sir, till your turn comes. "

I saw Esau shrink, and Mr Raydon went on--

"I sent for my sister to come, because I believed the journey would beher salvation, as to her health, and because I wanted to end her sadlife of penury. Your best friend, Mr Gordon, has not behaved well toher. "

"Why they are as happy and affectionate as can be, " I said. "You don'tknow. "

"I knew that for twenty years he has been a dreamer, growing poorer, andwearing out her life with anxiety, my lad, and I wanted to get themhere, where I can start them in a new life. He is a good fellow in hisway, but weak and helpless as to getting on in the world. If I leadhim, I believe it will be different. But enough of that. Here is mycomplaint. As soon as, after long and careful thought, I decided tobring them here, and send them the funds for the purpose, my thoughtfulbrother-in-law writes me word that they are coming, and that he has sentme two lads, friends of his, to take under my charge, and do the best Ican for them. Why, sir, it came upon me like a thunderclap. "

All the high spirits and hopefulness at our journey being successfullyended, oozed away, and a despairing sensation came over me that washorrible. Then my pride came to my help, and I spoke out. 

"I am very sorry, sir, " I cried, "and I will not impose on yourkindness. To-morrow morning Esau Dean and I will make a fresh start. "

"What start?" he said, harshly. 

"Perhaps go with Mr Gunson, prospecting. "

"Out of the question, sir. More madness. "

"Then we'll go to work. "

"What at?"

"For some settler. We are both young, and willing. "

"I should just think we are, " cried Esau, sharply. 

"Silence! Hold your tongue, please. "

Esau subsided. 

"Where are you going to find your settler? Those here have only enoughwork for themselves. "

"But other people have got on. "

"Where you two could not, sir. You two boys think it all easy enough, but you are not beasts of the field, to be able to pick up a living inthis wild solitary land. Do you think you can join some tribe, andbecome young Indian chiefs? Rubbish. Find gold? What's the use of ithundreds of miles away from places where it can be sold. Play RobinsonCrusoe in the woods? Bah! Where is your ship to go to for stores?Why, you pair of silly ignorant young donkeys, do you know what yourprojects would end in?"

"Success, sir; fighting our own way in life, " I cried, proudly. 

"For the carrion birds, " he said, grimly; "good meals for them, andlater on some hunter finding a couple of whitened skeletons, lyingbeneath a great sheltering pine. "

"Oh, I say!" cried Esau; "don't, don't talk like that. "

"I am compelled to, my lads, so as to get some common manly sense inyour heads. "

"Here, I say, Mayne Gordon, " cried Esau, rising; "let's go back atonce. "

I rose too, slowly and thoughtfully, waiting to speak, but unable tofind suitable words. I was cruelly hurt and surprised at the roughreception I had met with, for I had at least expected to be made welcomefor Mrs John's sake. At the same time though, much as it pained me tohear Mr John spoken of so harshly, I began to see dimly that what MrRaydon said was right, and that it had been a wild idea for us two ladsto make such a journey in so speculative a manner. But before I hadmade up my mind what to say, and while I was standing there hesitating, Mr Raydon began again, in a sharp authoritative tone. 

"What have you lads been?" he said. 

"Writers--clerks in an office, " said Esau, glumly. 

"Hah! yes: about the most unsuitable avocation for any one coming outhere. You did not expect to find a post at a desk, I suppose?"

"No, " said Esau, gloomily, "I meant to build myself a house, and start afarm. "

"How?" said Mr Raydon, with a contemptuous laugh. 

"Dunno, " said Esau. 

"Do you understand farming?"

"No, sir, but I'm going to learn. "

"Where? at what farm? What do you know about crops? Why, I don'tsuppose you could grow a potato. Did you ever do any gardening?"

"Only grown mustard and cress, sir, in a box. "

Mr Raydon laughed aloud. 

"And you, Mayne Gordon, " he said; "do you understand stock-raising andsheep?"

I shook my head sally. 

"Can you ride?"

"Oh yes, " I cried, as I recalled the days when I had about as wild alittle Welsh pony as ever boy sat. 

"Come, that's something; but you can't ride without a horse. "

"No, sir. "

"And have you any capital to buy land, and stock it?"

"Only a few pounds left, sir. "

"Oh, you have a few pounds. Well, yours seems a lively position, and Isuppose you both see that you have very little chance of getting on. "

"Oh, I don't know, sir, " said Esau. "We've seen lots of places where wecould build a hut to begin with, and get on by degrees. "

"Your eyes want opening a little wider, my lad. Suppose you took up oneof the beautiful patches of land you saw near the river. "

"Yes, sir, quite close, where we could catch salmon same as the Indiansdo, and dry them. I don't see if the Indians can live why we couldn't. "

"For the simple reason that you are not Indians--savages, my lad. Doyou know that if you did as you propose, some night you would have toclimb for your life, and cling in the branches of a huge pine, while theflooded river swept away your hut. "

"Don't sweep away your huts, " said Esau, sulkily. 

"Because they are two hundred feet above the river. Well, what are yougoing to do?"

"Start back again, sir, at once, " I replied. 

"And then?"

"Try to get work somewhere. "

"And what am I to say to my sister and her husband when they come?"

"That we found out we had made a mistake, sir, and had set to work atonce to try and remedy it. "

"You will sleep here to-night though, of course?"

I looked at Esau, and his eyes flashed back my opinion. 

"No sir, " I said. "We thank you for what you have done, but we shallstart back directly, and sleep where we made our camp in the middle ofthe day. "

"Don't be hasty, my lad, " said our host. "It's wise sometimes to sleepon a determination. "

"It can't be here, sir, " I said bitterly, "so goodbye, and thank you. Come, Esau, we can get on for a couple of hours before it is quitedark. "

"All right, " said Esau, sturdily; "and we can find our way back if wedidn't know it coming. "

"Well, perhaps you are right, " said Mr Raydon; "but of course youunderstand that you are going back alone. Mr Gunson will be on his wayinto the mountains, and I dare say that China boy will follow him. "

"I suppose he will, sir, " I said. "Better sleep on it, my lad. "

"No, sir, " I said, firmly. "I would rather not. "

"Too proud to accept the hospitality of the man who has told you suchhome-truths?"

"Yes, sir; but more so to stay where I feel that we are not welcome. "

"But you are welcome, my lads, as visitors. Is not your friend andleader very unreasonable, young man?" he continued, turning suddenly toEsau; and I listened eagerly in dread, lest he should be won over to askfor shelter for the night. 

"Not a bit, " said Esau, with a scowl. "He's all right, and knows what'sbest, and always did. If it hadn't been for him I should have beenstupid enough to have gone for a soldier. "

"Indeed!"

"Yes, indeed!" cried Esau; "and I tried all I could to get him to gotoo, only he knew better. Now then, Mr Gordon, I'm 'bout tired oftalking. When you're ready, I am. "

He moved toward the door and I followed him, having no words to say forthe moment; but as I reached the door they came, and I faced around tosee Mr Raydon's clear eyes fixed upon me. 

"Good-bye, sir, " I said, "and thank you. When Mr John and dear MrsJohn come, don't scold them and talk to them as you have to me. Itwould only upset her, and she is sure to be still very delicate. Tellthem I have gone to make a start for myself, and as soon as I am doingwell I shall try and write to her. Good-bye. "

"Good-bye, " said Esau, defiantly; and he put his hands in his pockets, began to whistle, and turned to me, to point to the head of a mountainsheep with enormous curled horns. 

"Pretty good load for a thing to carry, " he said, as we reached thedoor. 

"Stop!"

That word seemed to cut its way into our brains, it sounded so fierceand sharp, and its effect was to make us both face round wonderingly, and look inquiringly at the speaker. 

"I should have thought, sir, that it would have been more decent if youhad offered to shake hands with your host before you went. "

"I beg your pardon, sir, " I said, holding out my hand. "Good-night--good-bye!"

His large firm long fingers closed tightly on mine, and held my handprisoned so hardly that he gave me a good deal of pain. 

"One minute, my lad, " he said. "Your father and mother were bothEnglish, were they not?"

The mention of them made me wince. 

"Both dead, I think my sister said?"

"Yes, " I said huskily, and I tried to drag my hand away, but he held itfast. 

"So you are true English?" he said; "and a pretty opinion you have ofyour fellow-countryman. "

"I--I don't understand you, sir. "

"To think after you have struggled up here so pluckily, and in so manlya way, he would be such an inhuman brute as to let you go. "

"Mr Raydon!" I cried, huskily. 

"And your friend, my lad, I hope, for my sister's sake and your own too, if you justify the impression you have made. There, you came to mequite a stranger, and I wanted to see whether you had the manliness andcourage to refuse to stay, and I know that you have both, and would havegone back. Come, " he said, pressing my hand warmly, "let what haspassed during the past few minutes go. Sit here for a bit, both of you. To-morrow we'll have a chat over what is to be done. "

He smiled at me, gave Esau a nod, and went out. 

We neither of us spoke, but looked across at each other in the softeninglight, till suddenly Esau turned sharply round, and went and stoodlooking out of the window, while I sank down on a stool, turned my backto my companion, folded my arms on a desk, and laid my head thereon. 

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

WAS I DREAMING?

Quite an hour must have passed, and it had grown dark in that room, where the heads of moose, elk, bear, and mountain sheep looked down uponus from the walls, and the old clock had it all its own way, _tick-tack_. For neither of us spoke; I confess that I dared not. Perhaps it was childish to feel so upset; perhaps it was natural, for Ihad been over-wrought, and the pain I had suffered was more than I couldbear. 

Esau, too, was overcome, I was sure; but it always after remained apoint of honour with us never to allude to the proceedings of that nightwhen we remained there back to back without uttering a word, and, tillwe heard steps, without moving. Then we both started round as if guiltyof something of which we were ashamed. But the steps passed the door, and they did not sound like those of Mr Raydon; and once more we waitedfor his return. 

It grew darker and darker, and as I slowly let my eyes wander about thewalls, there on one side was the long, melancholy-looking head of amoose, with its broad, far-spreading horns, seeming to gaze at medolefully, and on the other I could see the open jaws and grinning whitefangs of a grizzly bear, apparently coming out of the gloom to attackme, while the deer's heads about were looking on to see what would bethe result. The place was all very strange, and the silence began to bepainful, for only at intervals was there some distant step. 

At last, though, there came a loud, fierce barking, and it was quiteinspiriting to hear so familiar a sound. This made Esau take a longbreath as if he felt relieved, and it unlocked his tongue at once. 

"Hah!" he said; "seems quite natural-like to hear a dog bark. Wonderwhat he is? Bet sixpence he's a collie. Yes, hark at him. That's acollie's bark, I know. "

We sat listening to the barking till it ceased, and then Esau said--

"Did seem too hard, didn't it? But somehow I couldn't help feeling allthe time that he wouldn't serve us so bad as that. So different like toMrs John, eh?"

"Hush! Here he comes back. " For there was a firm heavy step that waslike a march, and the door was thrown open. 

"Ah, my lads, all in the dark? I had forgotten the light. "

He struck a match, and lit a large oil-lamp, and sent a bright pleasantglow through the place, which, from looking weird and strange, now had awarm and home-like aspect. 

"You'll like to get to bed soon. Pretty tired, I expect. I am too. Weare early people here. Early to bed and early to rise; you know therest of the proverb. You'll sleep in the strangers' place tonight;to-morrow we'll see what we can do. Mine is a bachelor home, but wehave women here. Some of my men have wives, but they are Indian. Rather a wild place to bring my sister to--eh, Mayne?"

Then without giving me time to speak--

"Come along, " he said. "I told Mr Gunson that I would fetch you. "

We followed him out, and I wanted to thank him; but I could not then, and he seemed to know it, for he kept on chatting to us as we went alongone side of the enclosed square, pointing out how clear the sky was, andhow full of promise for the next day. Then, as we reached the long lowbuilding where we had had our meal, he threw open the door, and stoodback for us to enter. 

"Good-night, Mayne, " he said. 

"Good-night, sir, " I replied, rather huskily, and I clung to his hand alittle as he held it out. 

"Good-night, Dean, " he continued, and turning sharply off he saunteredaway back towards his quarters. 

"Might ha' shook hands with me too, " said Esau, sullenly. "Didn'toffend him too much, did I?"

"No, no, don't say any more about it, " I whispered. 

Then we entered, to find Gunson seated on a rough stool by the firesmoking his pipe, or pretending to, for I saw no smoke, and the red glowfrom the embers lit up his face strangely. 

"Ah, boys, " he said, starting up from his musings; "there you are. Well, you have dropped into snug quarters. Bed-time, isn't it?"

"I suppose so, " I said sadly. "Hallo! Not cheery that!"

"Are you still thinking of going, Mr Gunson?" I said. 

"Yes; at sunrise to-morrow morning, so if you want to see me off, youmust take down your shutters early. "

"I am sorry. "

"I am glad, " he cried--"that you are sorry. Been a pleasant trip up, mylad, and I dare say we shall meet again some day. We will, if I canmanage it. "

"I say, where's old Quong?" said Esau, suddenly. "Asleep this hour, inthe corner there. "

"You want Quong--flesh tea--make blead--now?"

"No, no; go to sleep, " said Gunson, laughing. "Allee light. I get upand makee fi' keep bun; no let fi' go out. "

He coiled up again under his blanket, and we sat some little time insilence before Gunson rose. 

"Good-night, boys, " he said; and he went to the rough sleeping-place hehad chosen. 

"S'pose we had better go too, " said Esau, after we had sat looking atthe fire a few minutes in silence. 

"I'm ready, " I said quickly, and we went to our places, where I laylistening to the hard breathing of my companions, for sleep would notcome. All was so new and strange. The fire had sunk down into a faintglow which brightened now and then as a light breeze swept by the house, and then sank down again, making the fireplace look ruddy, while all therest of the place was intensely dark. Then all grew blacker still, andI was listening to Mr John Dempster's hopeful words about meeting me athis brother-in-law's home, and--

I was staring hard at the fire again, awake and fully aware that I hadbeen fast asleep, and that something was wrong. The door was wide open. I was sure of it, for I could see the square opening lit up withbrilliant stars, and to add to my certainty, the embers of the woodfire, which had sunk lower and lower, were glowing again, as the softair from the door swept over them, in a curious phosphorescent way. 

I listened, and heard that the others were sleeping heavily, and as Igazed at the door I saw some of the stars blotted out by somethingmoving, while almost at the same instant a faint sound made me glancetoward the fire, where for a moment I saw against the faint glow theshape of some animal. A panting sound; it was a wolf I was sure, and Ilay there paralysed with dread, as I heard the soft pit-pat of theanimal's feet, and directly after a movement that did not seem to bethat of an animal. 

I was right in that; for the fire glowed up, and I could see that it wasa man standing close by now, whose dress indicated that he must be anIndian, for I just made out the edge of a hunting shirt, and I saw thathe wore leggings. 

What ought I to do? I thought if I shouted to spread the alarm it mightmean a sudden quick attack, perhaps death at once for me, while theothers would be unable to defend themselves in the dark. The coldperspiration oozed from my face, and I felt a sensation as if somethingwas moving the roots of my hair. 

At last when the agony grew so intense that I felt I must shout forhelp, the soft pit-pat of the animal's feet passed by me again, and wasfollowed by the sound of the man moving his moccasined feet, hardlyheard upon the boarded floor, and the stars were completely blotted outby the closing door. 

I started again, for there was a quick rustling sound now from my left, and something passed me and made for the fire. Then came relief, forthere was no doubt this time--it was Quong softly laying fresh pieces ofwood on the embers to keep the fire going till morning. 

I lay back thankfully, determined to speak to him as he came back, andask him if he had heard a noise. But I did not; he was so long incoming; and when I did speak it was to Gunson, who was getting up, andthe grey light of morning was now filling the room, battling with theglowing fire. For I had been asleep after all, and I began to askmyself whether I had dreamed about the Indian and the wolf. 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

LEAVE-TAKING. 

A few minutes after I saw how darkness and fancy can combine to startleone who wakes suddenly from sleep, for the man who had been Mr Raydon'scompanion on the previous day suddenly made his appearance silently atthe door and walked in, his deerskin moccasins making no sound as hecame towards us. He was followed by a great fierce-looking dog, aboutwhose neck was a formidable ruff of loose hair, and as he trottedtowards me I saw in them the Indian and the wolf of my scare. 

"Morning, " said the man, quietly; "needn't ask you how you slept. Icame in late to see if the fire was all right, and you were all fast. Here, Rough--quiet! Better make friends with him at once, " hecontinued, turning to me. 

For, after sniffing at Gunson, and Esau, who got out of his way as soonas possible, the dog turned his attentions to me, smelling me all round, as if to try whether I was good to eat, and then uttering a low deepgrowl, to indicate, I suppose, that he was satisfied that I was astranger. 

"Well, " I said, laying my hand upon his head, feeling nervous though notshowing it, "are we to be friends?"

There was a deeper growl, and two fierce eyes glared up at me, while Ifully expected that my hand would be seized. Then there was a slightagitation of the great fluffy tail, which began to swing slowly fromside to side, and before I knew what was about to happen the great beastrose up, planted its paws upon my shoulders, threw up its muzzle, anduttered a deep-toned bay. 

"That's all right, " said the man; "you and he will be good friends now. Can I do anything for you? Start this morning, don't you?"

"Yes, " said Gunson, "I'm off directly. "

"Right; my wife will bring you some breakfast. --Come along. "

He went to the door, and the great dog followed him with his muzzledown; but as soon as he was outside he ran back to me, thrust his greathead against my side, uttered a loud bark, and then trotted off. 

A few minutes after an Indian woman, dressed partly in English fashion, came in with a kettle of tea and some cake and bacon, which shesmilingly placed ready for us, while Quong stood over by the firelooking very serious and troubled. 

Gunson smiled and gave me a cheery look, and we sat down to the earlymeal; but I did not feel hungry, and was playing with my breakfast whenMr Raydon came in, looking quiet and firm as he wished us good morning. 

"Quite ready for your start then?" he said; "quite decided to goto-day?"

"Quite, " replied Gunson, shortly. "If you come back this way I shall beglad to see you, " continued our host. 

"Thank you. I hope to come back safely some day, and, " he said, turningto me, "to see how you are getting on. "

"I shall be very glad to see you again, " I said warmly; for though I didnot feel that I exactly liked the prospector, there was something besidegratitude which attracted me to him. 

"The Chinaman goes with you, I suppose?" said Mr Raydon, glancing towhere Quong stood, looking troubled and uneasy at being superseded. 

"I don't know. He is free, and not tied to me in any way. "

"What are you going to do?" said Mr Raydon, turning sharply on thelittle fellow. 

"Light n'--make blead--plenty tea hot--stlong. Cookee, velly muchcookee. Speak ploper English, allee same Melican man. "

"Yes; but are you going on with Mr Gunson here?"

Quong looked at the prospector and then at me and at Esau, his littleblack eyes twinkling, and his face as full of lines as a walnut-shell;but Gunson made no sign, only went on with his breakfast. 

"No wantee me, " said Quong, shaking his head. "Go washee washee gole, no wantee Quong. "

"Then if I offered you work, would you like to stay here for a while?"

"Make blead, flesh blead? Yes, Quong going stop. "

He looked at us and laughed. 

Then Gunson spoke. 

"Yes, " he said, "he had better stay. I can carry my own pack and cookall I require. There, " he said, rising, "I'm ready for my start now. Will you lads walk a little way with me?"

"Yes, " I cried; and two minutes later we were outside, with Esaushouldering the pack, while its owner stood for a few minutes talkingearnestly to Mr Raydon. I could not hear his words, but from hisglancing two or three times in my direction, I guessed the subject oftheir conversation. 

Gunson would not let us go far, but stopped short at the rise of a steepslope, at the foot of which the river ran. 

"Good-bye, Mayne, " he said. "I shall come and look you up by and by ifthe Indians do not kill me, or I am starved to death somewhere upyonder. No, no: my nonsense, " he continued, as he saw my horrifiedlook. "No fear; I shall come back safely. Good-bye. "

He shook hands with us both hurriedly, shouldered his pack, and we stoodthere watching him till he disappeared round a curve in the valley. 

"He don't like me, " said Esau, in a grumbling tone, as we began to walkback. 

"And you never liked him, " I said. 

"No. Perhaps it's because he had only got one eye. Never mind, he'sgone now, and we're going to stay. Will the old man set us to work?"

There seemed to be no sign of it at first, for when we returned to theFort Mr Raydon was away, and when he returned we spent our time in whatEsau called sight-seeing, for Mr Raydon took us round the place, andshowed us the armoury with its array of loaded rifles; took us into thetwo corner block-houses, with their carefully-kept cannon, and showed ushow thoroughly he was prepared for danger if the Indians should evertake it into their heads to attack him. 

Then there were the stores, with the gay-coloured blankets and othergoods which were dear to the Indian and his squaw, and for which aportion of a tribe came from time to time to barter the skins they hadcollected by trapping and shooting. 

There they were, bales of them--seal, sea-otter, beaver, skunk, marten, and a few bear, the sight of all raising up in our hearts endless ideasof sport and adventure possibly never to be fulfilled. 

"There, " said Mr Raydon, when we had seen all the stores, includingthat where an ample supply of provisions was laid up, and we had visitedthe homes of his men, all of whom had married Indian wives, "I have notsettled anything about you two lads yet. I may set you to work perhaps, but at all events not for a few days, so you can wander about the place. Don't go away from the streams. Why?" he added, as he saw my inquiringlook; "because if you wander into the forest there is nothing to guideyou back. One tree is so like another that you might never find yourway out again. Easy enough to talk about, but very terrible if youthink of the consequences. If you ascend one of the streams, you haveonly to follow it back to the river. It is always there as a guide. "

Nothing could have gratified us more, and for some days we spent ourtime exploring, always finding enough to attract, watching theinhabitants of the woods, fishing, bathing, climbing the trees, andgoing some distance up into the solitudes of one of the mountains. 

It was a pleasant time, and neither of us was in a hurry to commencework, the attractions were so many. 

"It's so different to being in streets in London, " Esau was alwayssaying. "There it's all people, and you can hardly cross the roads forthe 'busses and cabs. Here it's all so still, and I suppose you mightgo on wandering in the woods for ever and never see a soul. "

It almost seemed as if that might be the case, and a curious feeling ofawe used to come over me when we wandered up one of the little valleys, and were seated in the bright sunshine upon some moss-cushioned rock, listening to the murmur of the wind high up in the tall pines--a soundthat was like the gentle rushing of the sea upon the shore. 

Mr Raydon generally asked us where we had been, and laughed at ourappetites. 

"There, don't be ashamed, Mayne, " he said, as he saw me look abashed;"it is quite natural at your age. Eat away, my lad, and grow muscularand strong. I shall want your help some day, for we are not always soquiet and sleepy as you see us now. "

I had good reason to remember his words, though I little thought thenwhat a strange adventure was waiting to fall to my lot. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

WE MAKE A DISCOVERY. 

We two lads wandered away one day along a valley down which a streamcame gliding here, roaring in a torrent there, or tumbling over a massof rock in a beautiful fall, whose spray formed quite a dew on theleaves of the ferns which clustered amongst the stones and masses ofrock. To left and right the latter rose up higher and higher crownedwith fir-trees, some of which were rooted wherever there was sufficientearth, while others seemed to have started as seeds in a crevice at thetop of a block of rock, and not finding enough food had sent down theirroots over the sides lower and lower to where they could plunge into theearth, where they had grown and strengthened till the mass of rock wasshut in tightly in what looked like a huge basket, whose bars held thestone fast, while the great fir-tree ran straight up from the top. 

These wild places had a constant attraction for us, the greater that wewere always in expectation of hearing a deer rush away, or catchingsight of some fresh bird, while there was always a shiveringanticipation of our coming face to face with a bear. 

The sun came down glowing and hot into the ravine, where the strongaromatic scent of the pines floated to us laden with health as we toiledon higher and higher, leaping from rock to rock, wading or climbing, andoften making use of a great pine-trunk for a bridge. 

"It's so different to the city, " Esau used to say. "The roaring of thewater puts you a bit in mind of Cheapside sometimes; but you can't liedown there, and listen and think as you can here. "

"What do you generally think about, Esau?" I said. 

"Dunno; mostly about getting higher up. Let's get higher up now. Isay, look at the trout. Shall we try and get a few for dinner; the oldman likes them?"

"As we come back, " I said. "Let's go up higher now. "

"How far would it be up to where this stream begins?"

"Not very far, " I said. "It cannot come from the ice up yonder. "

"Why not?" he said sharply. "I think it must. "

"It cannot, because it is so clear. We couldn't see the trout if it wasa glacier stream. "

"Humph, no, I s'pose not. Where does it come from then?"

"Oh, from scores of rills away perhaps in the mountains. Howbeautifully clear the water is!--you can see every stone at the bottom--and, look, it's like a network of gold on the sand. "

"What makes that?" said Esau. 

"The ripple of the water as it runs. How beautiful it all is!"

"Yes; I should like to build mother a cottage up there when she comes. "

"That's what you always say. Why don't you set to work and build oneready when she does come?"

"If you talk like that I will, " said Esau, irritably. "Of course Ialways say so--shame if I didn't. "

"Well then, select your place and let's begin. "

"Shan't! not for you to make fun of me, " cried Esau, throwing himselfdown. "Now then, if you want to quarrel again, go it. I shan'tgrumble. "

We went on by the side of the little stream for quite half-an-houralmost in silence, not from Esau being out of temper, but from theintense satisfaction we felt in being in so beautiful a place, and atlast sat down close by a gravelly-looking shallow, where the beautifulclear water tempted us to lie flat down, lean over till we could touchit, and drink. 

"That's good water, " said Esau, as he wiped his mouth. "I wish plentyof fruit grew here too. What are you doing? Why, you're not going tohunt for gold, are you?"

I did not answer, but went on with what I was doing; scooping up thegravel and sand, and agitating my hand till the light sand was washedaway and only the stones remained. It was in imitation of what I hadseen Gunson and Quong do scores of times, and in the idlest of moodsthat I did this, partly, I think, because the water felt cool andpleasant to my hands, and the sensation of the sand trickling between myfingers was agreeable. 

"I wonder whether Gunson has found a good place for gold yet?"

"Dunno, " replied Esau, with a yawn. "I wish those people would comehere, so that we could set to work in real earnest, and be making ahouse. Shall you come and live with us, or with Mr and Mrs John?"

"Can't say at present. All that sort of thing must be left till theycome, and--oh!"

"What's the matter?"

"Nearly slipped in; that's all, " I said, selecting a fresh stone for myseat, the one I had been using at the edge of the stream having turnedslowly over and pitched me forward. 

"Only got wet; you would soon get dry again in the sunshine. "

"Yes, " I said, taking a fresh handful of gravel and beginning to shakeit to and fro in the stream, pausing every now and then to pick out thebig stones and throw them away, and the gravel after them, before takinganother handful. 

"Makes your hands nice and clean, doesn't it?" said Esau. "Nothing likesand for that. Found any gold yet?"

"Not yet, " I said. 

"No, nor you won't. There's no gold here, only a few little specks likeQuong got. "

"Oh, there might be, " I said carelessly, as I thrust in my hand a littledeeper, and brought out a good handful of sand from lower down. "Gunsonsaid he was sure there was plenty if you could--"

"Well, could what?" said Esau, as he lay back with his hands beneath hishead, his cap over his eyes, and his voice sounding hollow and strangefrom having to run round inside his hat. 

I did not answer, for I was washing the contents of my hand with asudden feeling of eagerness. 

"Well?" he said again, "could what?"

"Esau, come and look down here, " I whispered very huskily. 

"Can't, " he said, lazily. "Too comfortable to move. "

"Come here!" I cried again. 

"Shan't. I'm tired. I don't want to be roused up to look at a fly, orsome stupid bird in a tree. You can look at it all to yourself. "

"Come here, will you?" I said so fiercely that he sprang up. 

"What's the matter?"

"Come and look here!"

He rose and came to me, looking wonderingly at my hands, which I heldclosely clasped together. 

"What's the matter?" he said; "cut yourself? Wait till I tear up myhank'chief. "

"No, no, " I panted, and the excitement I felt made me giddy. 

"Well, I thought you hadn't, " he cried. "Don't bleed. Here, what isit? What's the matter with you? You look as silly as a goose. "

I stared at him wildly, and no answer came. 

"He's going to be ill, " I heard Esau mutter, as he shook me angrily. "Isay, don't, don't have no fevers nor nothink out here in this wild placewhere there's no doctors nor chemists' shops, to get so much as an ounceo' salts. Oh, don't, don't!"

"I'm not ill, " I said at last. "There's nothing the matter. "

"Then what do you mean by frightening a fellow like that? I say, I likea game sometimes, but that's too bad. "

"I--I didn't want to startle you, Esau, " I said, hurriedly, as the giddysensation passed away. "Look--look here. "

I held my hands open before him, raising one from the other slowly, as Ifelt half afraid that it was partly fancy, and that when my hand wasquite open, that which I believed I held would be gone. 

"Well?" said Esau, "what of it? Wet stones? Think you'd caught alittle trout?"

"No, no, " I cried impatiently. "Look--look!"

I raised one finger of my right hand, and began to separate the littlewater-worn stones with my palm raised in the sunshine, and for a fewmoments neither spoke. Then as Esau suddenly caught sight of somehalf-dozen smoothly-ground scales, and a tiny flattened bead with quitea tail to it, he uttered a shout. 

"Hooray!" he cried. "Gold! That beats old Quong; he never got as muchas that in his tin plate. Yah! 'tain't gold. Don't believe it! it'swhat old Gunson called Pyrrymids. "

"Pyrites? No, " I said. "It's gold; I'm sure of it. Look what abeautiful yellow colour it is. "

"So's lots of things a beautiful yellow colour, " said Esau, sneeringly, as he curled up his lip and looked contemptuously at the contents of myhand. "Tell you what it is--it's brass. "

"How can it be brass?" I said, examining the scales, which looked deadand frosted, but of a beautiful yellow. 

"Very easy. "

"Don't be absurd, " I cried, bringing my school knowledge to bear; "brassis an artificial product. "

"That it ain't, " cried Esau, triumphantly; "why, it's strong as strong, and they use it for all sorts of things. "

"I mean, it's made by melting copper and tin or zinc together. It's analloy, not a natural metal. "

"Don't tell me, " said Esau, excitedly; "think I don't know? It's brass, and it's got melted up together somehow. "

"Nonsense, " I cried; "it's gold; I'm sure of it. "

"'Tain't. Yah! that isn't gold. "

"It is; I'm sure. "

"It's brass, I tell you. "

"Impossible. "

"Then it's copper. "

"Copper isn't this colour at all, Esau. It's gold. "

"Not it; may be gold outside perhaps. It's gilt, that's what it is. "

"You stupid, obstinate donkey!" I cried in a pet. 

"Oh, I am, am I? Look here, mister, donkeys kick, so look out. "

"You kick me if you dare!" I cried. 

"Don't want to kick you, but don't you be so handy calling peopledonkeys. "

"Then don't you be so absurd. How can a piece of metal out here begilt?"

"By rubbing up against other pieces, of course, just the same as yourboots get brazed by rubbing 'em on the fender. "

"I believe you think it's gold all the time, only you will not own toit, " I cried. 

"'Fraid to believe it, lad; too good to be true. Why, if you can findbits like that by just wiggling your hand about in the sand, there mustbe lots more. "

"Yes; enough to make us both rich. "

"I say, think it really is gold?" whispered Esau, hoarsely. 

"Yes, I feel sure of it. "

"Look! there's another bit, " he cried, dashing his hand down and sendingthe water flying, as he caught sight of a scrap, about as big as aflattened turnip-seed, in the sand, into which it sank, or was drivendown by Esau's energetic action. 

"Gone!" he said, dismally. 

"Never mind; we'll come on here with a shovel, and wash for more. "

"But, I say, how do you know it's gold? How can you tell?"

"One way is because it's so soft, you can cut it almost like lead. "

"Who says so?"

"Gunson told me. "

"Then we'll soon see about that, " cried Esau, pulling out and openinghis knife. "Sit down here on this stone and give me that round bit. "

"What are you going to do?" I said. 

"Try if it'll cut. Split it like you do a shot when you go a-fishing. "

He picked the little pear-shaped piece from the sand, laid it on thestone beside us, and placing the edge of the knife upon it, pressed downhard, with the result that he cut a nick in the metal, which held onfast to the blade of the big knife. 

"There!" I cried, triumphantly. 

"I don't believe it yet, " said Esau, hoarsely. "Are you sure it ain'tthat pyrry stuff?"

"Certain!--that all splinters into dust if you try and cut it. I amsure that's gold. "

"Ain't much of it, " said Esau. "Take four times as much as that to makea half-sovereign. "

"Well, if we only got four times as much as that a day, it would meanthree pounds a week. It is gold, and we've made a discovery that Gunsonwould have given anything to see. "

"And he's gone nobody knows where, and it's all our own, " said Esau, looking cautiously round. "I say, think anybody has seen us?"

"What, up here?" I said, laughing. 

"Ah, you don't know. I say, slip it into your pocket. "

"Let's pick out the stones first. "

"Never mind the stones, " cried Esau; "slip it in. We may be watched allthe time, and our finding it may turn out no good. I'll look round. "

He looked up and ran back a little way, peering in amongst thetree-trunks and clumps of berries and fern. Then returning he wenthigher up the stream and searched about there before coming back. 

"Don't see no one, " he said, looking quite pale and excited at me. "Isay, you're not playing any games are you?" he whispered, looking up. 

"Games?"

"Yes; you didn't bring that and put it down there, and then pretend tofind it?"

"Esau! As if I should!"

"No, of course you wouldn't. It is all real, ain't it?"

"Yes; all real. "

"Then we shall have made our fortune just before they come out to us. Oh, I say! but--"

"What is it?"

"Shall we find this place again?"

"Yes; we only have to follow up the stream here, and it doesn't matterabout this one place: there must be gold all the way up this littleriver right away into the mountains. "

"But it will be ours, won't it?"

"I don't know, " I said. 

"But we found it--leastwise you did. All this land ought to be yours, or ours. I say, how is it going to be?"

"I don't understand you, " I said. 

"I mean about that. I s'pose you consider you found it?"

"Well, there isn't much doubt about that, " I said. 

"Oh, I don't see nothing to laugh at in it. All right, then. I don'tgrumble, only you can't say as all the country up here is to be yours. "

"Of course not. What do you mean?"

"Oh, only that I don't see no fun in your making a fortune and me beingleft nowhere. I want a fortune too. I'm going to hunt now for myself. "

"Nonsense!" I cried; "what is the use of your going away? Isn't thereenough here for both of us?"

"Dunno, " said Esau, scratching his head. "That is what I want to know;you ain't got much yet. "

"Why, Esau, " I said, struck by his surly way, "we were the best offriends when we came out. "

"Yes; but we hadn't found gold then--leastwise you hadn't. "

"But what difference does that make?"

"Ever so much. You're going to be rich, and I ain't. Every one ain'tso lucky as you. "

"But, Esau, " I cried, "of course you will share with me. We found ittogether. "

"Say that again. "

"I say that we will share together. "

"What, go halves?"

"Of course. "

"You mean it?"

"Why, of course I mean it. You've as good a right to the gold we findas I have. "

"Here, shake hands on it. "

I laughingly held out my hand, which he seized and pumped up and down. 

"I always thought your father was a gentleman, " he cried. "Now I feelsure as sure of it. Halves it is, and we won't tell a soul. "

"But we must, " I cried. 

"What, and let some one come and get it all?"

"I should only tell some one who has a right to know: Mr Raydon. "

"What right's he got to know?" cried Esau. "I say, don't go and throwit all away. "

"I consider that Mr Raydon, who has welcomed us here and treated us asfriends, has a perfect right to know. "

"But it's like giving him a share in it. "

"Well, why not?"

"But, don't you see, it will be thirds instead of halves, and he'll wantto bring some one else in, and it 'll make it fourths. "

"Well, and if he did? Sometimes a fourth is better than a half. I meanwith the help of a clever man we should get more for our fourth than weshould if we had half apiece. "

"Oh, all right. I s'pose you know, " he cried; "but I wouldn't tell anyone else. "

"Of course I'm right, " I said, sharply. 

"And we couldn't go on getting the gold here without his knowing it. Soyou'd better tell him. "

"That's a nice selfish way of looking at it, Master Esau, " I said. 

"Dessay it is, " he replied; "but gold makes you feel selfish. I dunnothat I feel so glad now that we've found it. "

And I don't think I felt quite so excited and pleased as I had a shorttime before. 

"It ain't my fault, " said Dean; "it's your thinking I didn't want toplay fair. "

"Don't talk like that, " I cried, angrily. "Who thinks you don't want toplay fair? No, no; don't say any more about it. Now then: can werecollect this spot exactly?"

"Why, you said that there must be gold all along. "

"Yes, I know, " I cried; "but Mr Raydon may want to see the place, andwe must bring him where we can find some and show him directly. "

"Well, " said Esau, "there's a clump of fir-trees on this side, and aclump of fir-trees on that side. "

"Oh, you old stupid, " I cried, "when there are clumps of fir-treeseverywhere. That won't do. "

"Well then, let's make a cross with our knives on those twisting ones. "

"What, to tell people this is the very place? That wouldn't do. "

"Well then, " he cried, peevishly, "you find out a better way. "

I stood thinking a few minutes, but no better way came. Then I thoughtI had hit out the plan. 

"Look here, " I said, "we'll make the two crosses on the other side ofthe trees. No one would notice them then. "

Esau burst into a hoarse laugh. 

"Of course they will not, " he said, "nor us neither. Why, you keep oncoming to trees like these over and over all day long. We shan't find'em again. "

I felt that he was right, and thought of plan after plan--putting stonesin a heap, cutting off a branch, sticking up a post, and the like, butthey all seemed as if they would attract people to the spot, and theninduce them to search about and at last try the sand as Quong did, and Isaid so. 

"Yes, " said Esau, "that's right enough. There ain't many people likelyto see 'em but Indians, and I s'pose they won't go gold-washing, nor anyother washing, for fear of taking off their paint. "

"Well, what shall we do?" I cried. "We mustn't lose the place againnow we have found it, and we shall be sure to if we don't mark it. I'veseen hundreds of places just like this. "

"Well then, why not make a mark?" said Esau. "Because whoever sees itwill be sure that it means something particular, for some one to stopand search. "

"Make a mark then on that big tree which will tell 'em to go on, " saidEsau, grinning. 

"But how?"

"I'll show you, " he said; and he took out his big knife from its sheath. "Let's look round again first. "

We looked round, but the silence was almost awful, not even a bird'snote fell upon our ears. Once a faint, whistling sound came from thefar distance, that was all; and Esau went up to the biggest fir-treewhose trunk was clear of boughs, and he was about to use his knife, whenwe both jumped away from the tree. For from close at hand came a sharp, clear tap, as if somebody had touched the ground with a light cane. 

"What's that?" whispered Esau, with his eyes staring, and his mouthpartly opened. 

I shook my head. 

"Some one a-watching us, " he whispered. "Here, let's dive right inamong the trees and see. "

But I held his arm, and we stood in that beautiful wild ravine, listening to the rippling of the water, and peering in among the tallpines, expecting to see the man who had made the sound. 

"I say, " whispered Esau, "I can't see or hear anything. Ain't it ratherrum?"

He said "rum, " but he looked at me as if he thought it very terrible, with the consequence that his fear was contagious, and I began to feeluncomfortable as we kept looking at each other. 

"Shall we run?" whispered Esau. 

At another time such an idea would not have occurred to him. The forestand the streams that run up the valleys were always solitary, but wefelt no particular dread when going about, unless we saw the footmarksof bears. But now that we were in possession of the secret of the gold, the same idea of our being watched impressed us both, and we turned coldwith fear, and all because we had heard that faint blow on the ground. 

I don't know whether I looked pale as I stood by Esau, when he asked meif we should run, but I do know that the next moment I felt utterlyashamed of myself, and in the reaction--I suppose to conceal my shamefor my cowardice--I struck Esau heavily on the shoulder and made a falsestart. 

"Run--run--the Fort!" I cried. Esau bounded off, and I hung backwatching him till he turned to see me standing there laughing, when hestopped short, looking at me curiously, and then came slowly to where Iwas. 

"What did you say run for?" he cried, angrily. 

"You asked me if you should, " I replied. 

"Then there ain't no one coming?"

"No. "

"What a shame!" he cried. "It's too bad. "

"Yes, for us to be frightened at nothing. Do you know what that noisewas?"

"No, I don't know. "

"It was a squirrel dropped a nut or a fir-cone. Why, it's just the samenoise as you hear in the country at home when they drop an acorn. "

"Then why didn't you say so? I've never been in no countries wheresquirrels shies nuts and acorns at people. I've always seen 'em incages spinning round and round. "

"That's what it was, Esau. There's nobody watching. Now then, how areyou going to mark the tree?"

He looked at me rather sulkily, but began to smile directly, as he drewhis keen-edged knife across the trunk of the great tree upon which hewas going to operate before. Then, making a parallel incision close tothe first, he produced a white streak where he removed the bark. 

"Well, " I said, "that's as bad as anything. "

"No, it ain't: wait a bit, " he said; and carving away at the thick bark, he made four deep incisions at one end so as to form an arrow-head, andeight at the other end for the feathering of the arrow, so that when hehad ended there was a rough white arrow on the red bark pointing downthe river, and of course in the direction of the Fort. 

"There!" he said, triumphantly. "No brave will think that means gold inthe stream, will he?"

I confessed that it was most unlikely, and we started off home. 

"Wouldn't old Quong like to know of that?" I said. 

"Yes; he'd give something--half of what he found I dare say, " criedEsau; "but he isn't going to know, nor anybody else, from me. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

"ON MY WORD OF HONOUR. "

I felt rather startled when we left the valley, for we came suddenlyupon a large party of Indians who seemed very different to the quiet, stolid-looking beings we had been accustomed to see with their skincanoes, or busy fishing along the side of the river. These wereswarthy, fierce-looking fellows, mounted on sturdy, wiry-lookingponies--steeds which they sat admirably. 

It might be thought that they would be as much surprised and startled aswe were, but they did not make a sign to indicate that they even saw us, but rode slowly along, well armed, and with their long hair, feathers, and gaily-coloured blankets, giving them a brightly picturesque look. 

"They don't mean mischief, do they?" whispered Esau. 

"No, they must be friendly Indians, " I said; "and look, they've gotpacks on those other horses. I know: they are taking skins up to theFort. "

This proved to be the case, for the party kept right on in the sametrack as we were taking, halting a short distance from the gate of theFort; but, though we were pretty close to them all the time, they nevermade the slightest sign of being aware of our presence; and when weentered, and I glanced back, I could see that they were alreadybeginning to make their little camp, while others were seeing to theladen horses. 

"What!" said Mr Raydon, when I told him of my discovery. "Gold?"

"Yes; and I think in large quantities. "

"Are you sure it is gold?" he said. I took out what I had found, andplaced the little scales before him. He seized them, and examined themcarefully, closing his hand over them afterward, and sitting gazingstraight before him for some moments, while a chill of dread ran throughme. 

"It is not gold, " I thought; and as I gazed at him intently, he lookedup. "Well?" he said. 

"You think it is not gold, sir?" I said. "I am sure it is, " hereplied, sadly. "Tell me whereabouts you found it;" and I described theplace. 

"Yes, " he said; "one of our most lovely valleys. Here, are you tired?"

"No. "

"Are you?" he said, turning to Esau, who replied that he was not theleast so. 

"Stop a moment--to whom have you spoken?"

"Spoken, sir?"

"How many people about the place have you told about the gold?"

"No one, sir. "

"Neither of you?" he said, with a sharp look at Esau. 

"We came straight to you, " I said, "because I felt that you ought toknow about it, and I thought you would give us your advice. "

He laid his hand on my shoulder, and gripped it fast, speaking veryfirmly, but in a kindlier tone than I had heard from him before. 

"That's right, " he said, "quite right. We'll go up there at once, andsee if this is an important discovery, or only one of the little patchesthat are found at times. "

"Then no one saw you there?" he said, after a few minutes' thought. 

"We did not see a soul, sir, till we came out of the little valley, andfound that party of Indians coming here. "

He stood with his brows knit, thinking deeply, and then he nodded hishead sharply. 

"Yes, " he said, "we'll go at once. Come along. "

He led us to his garden, and out of the shed took a shovel and a shallowwooden basket. 

"You lads can carry these, " he said, "and I'll take my rifle. It willlook as if we are going on some pleasure trip. One minute, though, while I give orders about those Indians. "

He spoke to his second in command, giving him some instructions, whoseimport I did not understand then; and afterwards we strolled out throughthe gate slowly enough, and wandered away along the track and down bythe lake, Mr Raydon stopping every now and then to pick up some floweror stone to which he drew my attention. 

This went on till we were out of sight of the Fort, when his wholemanner changed. 

"Now, boys, " he said, sharply, "on as fast as you can. How far is itfrom here?"

"About two hours' walk, " I said. 

"Then we shall not be back much before dusk; so best leg foremost. "

It was quite the two hours before we got to the spot where the tree wasblazed, and Mr Raydon's keen eyes detected the sign long before we wereabreast of it. 

"Your mark to show the spot, eh?" he said. "Very ingenious. It wouldhave deceived me. Now wait a few minutes. "

He walked forward for a few hundred yards, and then returned. 

"No one has been along here, " he said. "There is not a footmark. Nowthen; to work. "

He stood his rifle against a tree, stripped off his boots and stockings, and signed to me to do the same. 

"You, my lad, " he said to Esau, "keep watch by my rifle, and at theslightest sign or sound give me warning. Now then, Gordon, in with youand use the shovel. "

I stepped into the stream, where it was shallow, and in obedience to hisinstructions plied the tool, and threw three or four spadefuls into theshallow wooden basket, which he held down then in the running water, andrapidly agitated, giving it a curious circular motion, and letting thelight sand run with the water over the side. Then he stopped from timeto time to pick out stones. 

"Another shovelful, " he said, "from that place. Yes, " he continued, asI obeyed him; "now another from as deep as you can. In with it. "

Thus in the late afternoon, with the sun getting low, and throwing ourshadows far over the stream, he worked the basket about in the watersomewhat after the manner adopted by Quong, but of course on a largescale, for the basket was heavy with what I had thrown in, and it madethe muscles stand out in knots upon his arms where he had rolled hissleeves up to his shoulders; and I remember thinking, as I gazed at hissun-browned face and grey hair, what a fine thing it must be to feel sobig and strong and manly. 

Esau stood resting on the rifle, for he could not resist the temptationof taking hold of it to stand like a sentry, while I, nearly up to myknees in water, raised one foot and rested it on the blade of theshovel, as intent as my companion, and, I am afraid, indulging in allkinds of golden dreams of wealth and position, and of how happy weshould all be. 

It did not take long to arrange what I should do for Mrs John Dempster. I know I had determined upon a carriage and pair, with a very carefulcoachman, expressly for her use; though how it was to be got out to thatwilderness, or used there, I did not stop to think. I only meant her togrow well and strong, and have every luxury, while Mr John could be aperfect country gentleman, and study, and be my friend. That gold wasto be regular Arabian Nights wealth, and I felt already quite a prince. These ideas floated rapidly through my brain, while Mr Raydon made alow washing noise with the tiny basket, and discoloured the flowingwater as he let the fine sand pass away. 

All at once he stopped, held the dripping basket--every drop which ranfrom it turned to ruddy gold by the sinking sun--tightly between hisknees, and again rapidly picked out the larger stones, sending themflying about, to fall with a splash in the water. 

"Can I help you, sir?"

"No, my boy, no, " he said. "I have done this thing before. One canmanage it best. "

Just then I heard a sigh from Esau, who could not refrain in his anxietyfrom coming nearer the river. 

This made Mr Raydon look up sharply, and he smiled. 

"Hullo, sentry, " he said, "you're not keeping a good look out. Mindwhat you are about with that rifle. "

"Yes, sir, I'll be very careful, " said Esau, "and I am looking outwell. "

"For the gold, " said Mr Raydon, in an undertone, which words I caught, as he went on picking and throwing out smaller stones, then washing thebasket round again and again, and the more he worked, the more hiscountenance seemed to change, till it looked older and more carewornthan I had ever seen it before. 

I knew that there were a few scales and beads of gold, for I had seenthem glisten in the sunshine as he rapidly moved the basket but directlyafter I felt horribly disappointed, for he set it right down in thewater, the weight of stones within it keeping it at the bottom, andsplashed toward me. 

"Here, " he said roughly, "give me the shovel. "

I gave it into his hand, and he waded half across to where there was aneddy behind a huge mass of rock, and bending down here, he scraped awaythe stones and sand, as if trying to make a hole, discolouring the waterright along the stream. Then, forcing the shovel down as far as hecould drive it, he brought up a dripping quantity of sand and smallgravel, placed it in the basket, returned for another shovelful, andplaced it with the other before handing the shovel to me. 

"If there is much gold, " he said, "it would lie at the bottom of thateddy, where it would be swept when the stream is in flood. Now, then, we shall see. "

For another ten minutes he went on washing again, while I could seeEsau, as he crept nearer and nearer, perspiring with impatience, andglancing up and down what in the setting sun now seemed to be a goldenvalley, for water, rocks, and the ferns seemed to be tinted of a ruddyyellow, and the tall fir-trees stood up like spires of gold. 

At last I caught a glimpse of something bright again, but I could not besure that there was more gold in the basket; it might only be the stonesglistening in the wonderful ruddy light that filled the ravine. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, and he once more set down the basketbeneath the water. "Hard work. What trouble men take to get gold!"

"There is some in the basket, isn't there, sir?" I said anxiously, andin no wise prepared for the result. 

"We'll see directly, " he said. "Let's get out of this. The water isbitterly cold. "

He waded out now with the basket, from which the golden water dripped asif the contents were melting. 

"Why, there is some, " cried Dean, excitedly. 

"Some?" cried Mr Raydon, bitterly. "Unfortunately, yes. Look!" and heheld the basket sidewise in the full blaze of the glowing sun, giving ita shake, so that we could see scales, beads, and tiny nuggets dottedabout among the flashing stones, and all looking of that beautiful pureyellow colour which is possessed alone by native gold. 

"Why, there must be pounds, " cried Esau, excitedly. 

"Pish!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, contemptuously. "How you boys let yourimagination go wild! There must be, however, a full ounce--a wonderfulwashing for the trial. "

"Then you are not disappointed, sir?" I said, eagerly. 

"Yes, " he cried, turning upon me fiercely; "horribly. "

"But there must be quantities more, sir. "

"Yes. I was in hopes that it was a mere patch, but everything points tothe fact that the stream is rich, and it may be far better higher up. "

"But you said you were disappointed, sir?" I said, as he sat down, andbegan to replace his stockings and boots. 

"I am boy, horribly. "

"With all that wealth before us?"

"Yes. Do you know what it means?"

"Riches for us all, sir, " I said, proudly. 

"Hah! Look here, boy. I have been out in these glorious valleys manyyears now. The place is a perfect Eden, where nature smiles upon us, and wealth showers her golden gifts. You know my home, and that notroubles come, save some trifle with the Indians now and then. Do youknow what would happen if it were known that this ravine teems withgold?"

"We should set to work and make fortunes of it, sir, and not let it beknown. "

"Bah! Impossible, Gordon. In one month from now the news would havespread; and as long as the gold lasted, this place would be turned froma Paradise into a horror. The scum of the American population wouldfloat here, with all the lawlessness that was in California in its earlydays. Drinking-bars and gambling-saloons would rise like mushrooms; andwhere now all is beauty and peace, there would be robbery, violence, murder, drunkenness, and misery too horrible to contemplate. "

"What!" I cried, incredulously, "because a rich supply of gold isfound?"

"Yes. I have seen it all, and I know, " he cried; "and I have oftenhoped and prayed that no gold might be found near here. Gold can bemade a blessing, but too often it has proved a curse. "

I looked at Esau, and in spite of my trouble and disappointment as I sawmy fortune fading away, and with it Mrs John's carriage and my life ofease and plenty, I could not help smiling, for my companion's face wascomic in the extreme. 

"There, let's get back, " said Mr Raydon, stamping his feet in his heavyboots. 

"But what--"

"Am I going to do with the gold?" he said, quickly. "Oh, we'll take ithome with us. Dig up a root or two of those ferns to put in the basket, and hide what we have found. "

"Then you will not work for the gold with us, sir?" I said, as Esaustood holding the rifle, listening eagerly. 

"No, " said Mr Raydon, sternly. "And now listen. I am chief officer ofthis fort and station. I am, so to speak, almost a king here amongthese people; and amongst the tribes who come to trade I am their fatherand chief of chiefs, and my word is law. "

"Yes, sir, I know, " I said. 

"You two lads were sent out to me by my thoughtless brother-in-law, whois always meaning well and doing ill. You were delighted by theprospect, and did not see what a mad scheme it was. As it happens, allhas turned out well, though it is almost a miracle to me that you haveboth reached me in safety. "

I thought of Gunson, and how we could not have done it without his help;and as I thought of him, I recalled the object of his visit to thisregion--prospecting for gold and other metals--and of what he would sayto our discovery. 

"Well, " said Mr Raydon, "you reached me safe and sound, and though Iwas annoyed at your coming and being thrown on my hands as you were, Ithink I may say I have not treated you unkindly. "

"Indeed you have not, " I cried earnestly, as I held out my hand to him. "You have been very generous to us both, sir, and I am most grateful. "

"Then prove it, " he cried, gripping my hand. 

"How, sir? What shall I do?"

"Hold your tongue. Do not say a word of your discovery to a soul. Above all, that friend of yours, Gunson, the prospector, must neverknow. "

"Not tell any one, sir? Not make use of our discovery?"

"No, " he said, firmly. "Promise. "

"Oh, I say!" cried Esau. 

"And you too, sir!" said Mr Raydon. 

I stood looking at him for a few minutes, thinking as he fixed his eyeson mine, and then I pressed his hand firmly. 

"Yes, sir; I promise. "

"On your word of honour as a gentleman's son?"

"On my word of honour as a gentleman's son, sir, " I said, proudly. 

"That will do, " he said, releasing my hand, and smiling at me warmly. "I like that, Mayne, better than any oaths. Now, Esau Dean, what haveyou to say?"

"Oh, I don't like it at all, sir, " said Esau, bluntly; "but him and me'sbeen mates all through, and I won't go back from anything he says. Butit is disappointing, now ain't it?"

"It seems so to you, my lad, " said Mr Raydon, kindly; "but give me yourpromise, and it may prove of more value to you than your share of thegold. You see I give up my claim, and mine would be a big one if Iliked to exercise it, I dare say. "

"Am I to promise, Mr Gordon, sir?" said Esau. 

"Yes, just as I have. "

"All right, I promise too. "

"I look to you both to keep your words. "

"I shan't tell nobody unless he does, " said Esau, gruffly, as he stoodthe rifle against a stone. 

"And he will not, " said Mr Raydon. "There, let's get back. I neverleave the place as a rule when Indians are about. "

"Are they dangerous?" I asked. 

"No; and yet not to be trusted. What savages really are, Gordon?Thanks, my lad, " he said, as I dug up and placed a couple of fern-rootswith their spreading fronds in the basket, so as to completely cover thefine gravel at the bottom, and the gold. "We must wash it again when weget back, " he continued, "and then divide it in two equal portions, foryou lads to keep as a memento of to-day's work. Now, Dean, give me myrifle. "

Esau ran back to where he had stood the rifle, and was coming back, whenhe tripped and fell. 

At the same moment it seemed to me that some one struck me a violentblow beneath my left shoulder which drove me partly round, and made medrop the basket just as there was a sharp report, followed by a peculiarringing in my ears, and then all was blank. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

MY DOCTOR AND NURSE. 

When I opened my eyes again it was with a horrible sensation of sicknessat my heart, and my eyes swam, but I could dimly make out Mr Raydon'sface, as he leaned over me, and I heard him say, as if he was speaking avery long way from me in a very small voice--

"That's right; go on. Keep bathing his face. "

Then I heard Esau speak in a faint choking voice. 

"Oh, sir! oh, sir! He won't die, will he? Tell me he won't die. "

"I tell you to keep on bathing his face. There, take that basket andthrow the wretched gold back into the stream. The basket will hold alittle water at the bottom. No, no! squeeze what you have in yourhandkerchief first over his face. "

There was a cool refreshing sensation on my face directly after, and allthe time I could hear that Esau was in great trouble, for he kept onsofter with a curious moaning voice--

"Oh--oh--oh--oh!"

It seemed very strange, and sounded to me as if it was all occurringsome distance off, and I wanted to shout to him, and ask what was thematter. But Mr Raydon was still leaning over me, pulling me about itseemed, and a sharp pain suddenly shot through me, and made me wince. 

"Don't--don't, " I said, faintly; but he kept on burning me, so it seemedto me, with a red-hot iron in the chest; and after doing this for sometime, while Esau kept on after a bit making his low moaning sound andsplashing water over my face, Mr Raydon turned me over, and beganburning me on the back. 

I wanted to struggle, and tell him to leave off, but no words wouldcome; and he kept on hurting me dreadfully, and pushing me about, forwhat seemed to be a terribly long time, before he turned me again uponmy back. 

"Oh, do tell me, sir, please do tell me, whether he'll die, " I heardEsau say again, and I fancied that I caught sight of him through a thickcloud. 

"I cannot tell you, my lad, " I heard Mr Raydon say. "Please God! no. "

"But I shot him, sir; I shot him. It was me, and I declare to goodnessI'd sooner have shot myself. "

"Yes, my lad, I believe you, " said Mr Raydon, very faintly, fromfurther away now. 

"Is it--is it right through the heart?"

"No, no, no, not, so bad as that. The bullet has passed right throughjust below the shoulder. "

"There--then he'll bleed to death, " groaned Esau. 

"No; I've stopped that. Quick! more water; he's going off again. "

"He's dying! he's dying!" cried Esau, very close to me now, as it seemedto me; but his voice died out quickly, beginning as a shrill cry andending in a faint whisper, and it all grew dark and silent for a time. Then once more I seemed to wake up with a shrill-toned bell ringingloudly in my ears; and I lay with a terrible sensation of deathlyfaintness till I heard Esau say, close to me--"I'll carry him, sir. "

"No, no, my lad. "

"But you don't know how strong I am, sir. "

"We must not shake him more than we can help, and he must be in an easyposition. Have you your knife? I left mine. "

"Yes, sir, here, " cried Esau; and then in a low voice, "Oh, poor chap!poor chap!--what have I done!"

I lay very still then, listening to a hacking noise as if some one werechopping with a knife, and I listened again for what seemed a long timeto a good deal of rustling and panting, and what sounded like thetearing up of handkerchiefs. 

"There, " said Mr Raydon, "if we are careful that will bear him. Nowthen--no, wait a moment. I must tie the rifle to this pole. I wantsomething else. "

"Here's my other boot-string, sir, " I heard Esau say. 

"Yes, capital. That will do. Now, are you ready? Get hold of his legsquietly; don't hesitate, and when I say _now_, both lift together. "

I had some faint, wondering thought as to whom they were talking about, when a terrible pang shot through me, and I felt myself lifted up andlaid down again on what felt like a bed of fir-branches. The sicknessdid not increase, and I lay there listening to some one moaning as if inpain, while I became conscious of a curious, swinging motion as I wasbeing gently borne up and down and carried through the air. 

Then I seemed to fall into an uneasy sleep, and to lie and dream aboutMr Raydon burning my chest with red-hot irons, and these changed tolittle nuggets of gold which burnt me every time they touched my chestor back. At times the pain ceased, and then it began again, always withthe swaying motion, while now and then, when the movement ceased, Ibegan to dream of cool fresh water moistening my brow, and beingtrickled between my burning lips. 

That was a long, wearisome, painful dream, which lasted for what feltlike an indefinite time, to be succeeded by other dreams in which theterrible bear's head from Mr Raydon's office was always pursuing me, and the great moose's head looking on in a melancholy, pitiful way. 

And it did not appear strange to me that as I tried to escape andstarted on up and up a ravine where the sun scorched my brains, that theheads should be following without, any bodies. There they always were, the bear's head with the huge teeth waiting to seize me if I only haltedfor a minute, and the moose's head hurrying on to be there and pity mewhen I was caught. 

How I seemed to toil in terrible agony to get away, the sun burning, andthe way up which I climbed growing more and more stony with precipices, down which I was always about to fall! Then great rows of the heads ofthe mountain sheep came in my way with their large curled hornsthreatening to drive me back into the jaws of the grizzly bear, whichwas always close behind. It seemed hidden sometimes behind heaps ofskins, but I always knew it was there, and its great muzzle came outagain. 

I tried to run--to climb further, but something held me back, and theburning on my head grew terrible. I was thirsty too, and I thought thatthe moose pitied me, and would show me the way to water; but it onlylooked at me mournfully till I awoke in the darkness, and lay wonderingfor a few minutes before I stretched out my hand and felt that I was inmy bed, and as I lay there, I suddenly saw in the darkness the shape ofmy door formed by four faint streaks of light which grew brighter, anddirectly after there was the sharp point of light where the keyhole was, near one side. 

It seemed very strange, and more so that the door should open directlyafter, and Mr Raydon be standing there in his shirt and trouserscarrying a candle. 

"What does he want?" I thought to myself in a confused way, as I sawhim come into our room, and the light fell on Esau, who was notundressed, but lying on his bed with his mouth wide open. 

Suddenly he started up, and Mr Raydon raised his hand, and I heard himsay, "_Sh_!" The next minute he was holding the candle over my bed, looking in on my face. 

"What's the matter?" I said; "I'm not asleep;" but it did not soundlike my voice speaking. 

It was Mr Raydon's turn now, and he whispered to me--

"Lie quite still, Mayne. Are you in much pain?"

"No, " I said. "I don't know. My shoulder aches. "

"Don't talk; try and go to sleep again. "

I looked up at him in a confused, puzzled way, and as I looked his facebegan to grow misty, and the candle to burn more dimly, till both fadedslowly away, and all was dark once more. 

I opened my eyes once more, and there was Mr Raydon standing by me witha candle, and it was so faint that I could not be sure; and so it wasagain and again as it seemed to me, and when I opened my eyes at last, the bedroom window was wide, the sun shining in, and bringing with itthe sweet lemon-scented odour of the pines, and Esau was seated therewatching me. 

"Hush!" he said, as I was opening my lips to speak. "Mustn't talk. "

"Nonsense, " I said; "I want to know. "

I stopped there, for my voice puzzled me, and I lay wondering for a fewmoments, till, like a flash of the sunshine coming into my darkenedbrain, I recollected the blow, the report of the rifle, and Esau's cry, and knew that the rifle had gone off when he fell, and I was lying therebadly wounded. 

"Mr Raydon said you wasn't to speak a word, " said Esau, softly; and hestole out of the room so quietly that I knew he must be without hisboots. 

A few minutes passed, and the door opened again, with Mr Raydon comingin on tiptoe to advance and take my right hand within his left, andplace a couple of fingers on my wrist. I smiled as he played the partof doctor like this, and he smiled back. 

"Don't talk, " he said; "I'll do that, my lad. Come, this is better. Not so feverish as I expected. Just whisper when I ask a question. Feel in much pain?"

"My shoulder aches and burns, " I said. 

"Yes; it will for a time; but that will soon go off. You remember nowabout the accident? Yes? That's right. You were a little deliriouslast night, and made me anxious, for we have no doctor hereabouts. "

"Don't want one, " said Esau, softly. 

Mr Raydon asked me a few more questions, cautioned me not to speakmuch, and to lie quite still, and then left us together. 

Esau sat looking at me for a few minutes with his arms rested upon hisextended knees. 

"I say, you're not to talk, you know, but I may. I say, I am so sorry. Hush!--no! You mustn't say you know that, or anything else. I onlywant to tell you it was an accident. You do know, don't you?"

I nodded, and then lay back with my eyes closed; the pain caused even bythat slight movement being agonising. 

Dean saw it, and rose to moisten a sponge with cool water, and apply itto my temples, with the effect that the faint sensation coming on diedaway. 

"Don't--please don't try to move again, " he whispered, piteously. "Youdon't know how it hurts. "

The idea of its hurting Esau sounded so comical to me in my weak statethat I could not help smiling. "That's right, " he said; "laugh again, and then I shall know I needn't go and fetch him. I say, do make hasteand get better. Shall I tell you all about it? Don't speak; only say`yes' and `no' with your eyes. Keep 'em open if you mean _yes_, andshut 'em for _no_. Now then, shall I tell you?"

I kept looking at him fixedly. 

"That means yes. Well, I was bringing the gun, when I tripped and felland it went off, and I wished it had shot me instead. "

Esau gave a gulp here, and got up and began to walk up and down theroom, pressing first one hand and then the other under his arms as if inpain from a cut at school with the cane; and for some moments the poorfellow was suffering so from emotion that he could not continue. Atlast he went on in obedience to an eager look from my eyes. 

"I run up just as he caught you, and tore off your things. Oh, it washorrid. I felt when I saw what I'd done, and him bandaging you up, asif I'd killed you. But you don't feel so bad now. You ain't going todie, are you? Say you ain't. "

I kept my eyes fixed on his, forgetting in my excitement what I ought tohave done, when a cry brought me to myself, and I closed my eyessharply. 

"Ah, that's better, " cried Esau, and kneeling down by my bed he went ontelling me how, as soon as I was bandaged, Mr Raydon cut two lightpoles and bound short pieces across them. Then on these he laidpine-boughs, and I was lifted up, for them to convey me slowly down theravine, and back to the Fort. 

"I say, " whispered Esau, "I thought last night he meant to cheat us, andget all the gold for himself; but I don't think so now. Wish he likedme as much as he likes you. What? Do I think he does like you? Yes;I'm sure of it. He was in a taking last night. And I say--ain't hequite a doctor too? He could do anything, I believe. There, I mustn'ttalk to you any more, because you were to be kept quiet. "

It must not be imagined that Esau had kept on saying all the above to merapidly, for one of these sentences was whispered very slowly now andthen as I lay back feeling not much pain, but hot and feverish, and thischange was noticed soon after by Mr Raydon when he came into the room. 

"You have been letting him talk, " he said, angrily, as soon as he hadtaken my hand. 

"That I ain't, sir, " cried Esau, indignantly. "Never let him speak aword. "

"That's right. He must be kept very still, " said our friend, and hehurriedly left the room. 

"Rather hard on a chap when he has been so particular, " grumbled Esau. "Well, it was my doing, so I mustn't mind. "

He was still grumbling when our host re-entered with something in a cupwhich he gave me a little at a time, so that I should not have to move, and soon after he had left me my eyelids grew heavy, and I fell into adeep sleep, which lasted till it was growing dark, and I could only justmake out Esau's head as he sat watching by my bed. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

IN THE SPRING. 

Ask anybody what is the most delicious thing in life, and see what he orshe will say. I do not believe any one will tell you what I do now. Itis to have been dangerously ill, to be brought down very weak, to begetting better, and then to be carried or led out to sit in the sunshineof some bright genial morning. 

Ah! that long breath of sweet life-inspiring air--those trees--thoseflowers--the blue sky--the bark of that dog--those kindly words ofinquiry--that all-round feeling of joy and delight at being out thereonce more; the sensation which will bring the weak tears in your eyesfor the simple reason that you are so happy. Yes, it is a pleasantthing to have been very ill, if only for the sake of the thankfulsensation that comes the first time you go out once more in the brightsunshine. 

How delightful it was, and what a long weary dream of misery I hadpassed through! I hardly knew even then how bad I had been. When Ispoke to Esau he used to screw his face up full of wrinkles, and shakehis head, while Mr Raydon was as reticent. 

"Never mind that, " he would say; "you are better now. "

I learned later though, that for several months he had been in greatdoubt of my recovery. My wound would not heal, consequent upon a raggedfragment of the rifle-bullet remaining beneath a bone, and when at lastit did come away, I was weak in the extreme, and, as Esau said, "Youcouldn't get a doctor when you liked out there. "

So there I lay all through the long dark days of the winter, listeningsometimes to the howling of the winds from the mountains, then to thebeat and rush of the rain, and then at my worst time wondering whyeverything was so quiet, and learning from Esau that we were snowed updeeply. 

I remember that he used to talk rapturously about the beauty of thescene around, with the great pine-trees loaded down with snow, and thesun in the clear blue sky, making the crystals of ice glitter till hiseyes ached. 

"And you won't get up and come and have a look, " he said. "You are afellow. "

"Yes, I am a fellow, " I replied. "Don't bother me, Esau. I want to goto sleep. "

"But you're always going to sleep, " he cried; "and so much sleep can'tbe good for you. "

All the same I passed through that long winter, and it seemed as if Inever should be strong again. 

But, as the old country folk say, "Never's a long day"; and as the earthbegan to waken from its lone sleep, so did I, and at last I was dressedto sit by the bonny log fire Esau kept up as if he meant to roast me. There came a day when I sat with my window open, listening to the roarof the river, thinking and ready to ask myself whether it had all been adream. Then another day, when the sun was shining, and the scent of thepines came to where I sat; and at last in the spring-time I was to goout for the first time. I had to lean on patient, constant Esau, anduse a stick to get to where a chair had been set for me at the foot of agreat Douglas pine, where the moss was golden green, and the barberryleaves bright with a purply bronze. The river ran foaming and splashingbefore me at the bottom of a slope, looking milky and dirty, but downthe rocks close by tumbled and sparkled one of the many tiny streams, and this was clear as crystal, and the brook flashed like diamonds inthe bright sunshine. 

There was a great scarlet blanket thrown over the chair, ready to bedrawn round me as soon as I had taken my seat; and as soon as Esau hadsafely piloted me there, looking serious as a judge all the time, hesuddenly seemed to go mad, for he cut a curious caper, threw his caphigh up in the air, and shouted "Hurrah. "

"There, " he cried, as I lay back smiling and content, "you just say youain't getting well, and I'll pitch into you. "

"I'm not going to say it, " I said. "Oh, Esau, I do feel so weak, but sohappy and well. I say though, don't shoot me again. "

Esau's countenance changed. All the pleasure faded out, and he turnedhis back, and began walking slowly away. 

"Esau, " I said, "don't go. "

"I must, " he said, stopping short, but without trying to face me. "Gotto fetch your stoo. He said it was the best physic you could take. "

"But, Esau, I don't want it now; I'm sorry I said that. "

"So am I; sooner ha' shot myself hundreds o' times. Wish I had shotmyself dead instead, and then you wouldn't be able to jump on me. "

"It was very unkind, " I said; "please forgive me. "

"All right, I'm going to fetch your stoo. "

He did not turn round, but walked away toward the gate of the palisadejust as there was a fierce deep-toned barking, and Rough came boundingdown toward my chair. 

"He'll knock me over, " I thought, as I saw his gleaming teeth, and thethick pile of hair about his neck, a natural armour which had protectedhim in many an encounter with wolf or bear. And for the moment itseemed as if the great animal would send me clean over as he chargedwildly; but just as he was close to me he turned off, dashed away, cameback, up and down, barking furiously, and ended by making a sudden stop, to stand there with his great muzzle laid in my lap, and his eyeslooking earnestly up in mine. 

I placed my hand upon his head, and as I did so I could not helpthinking how thin and white it was; and this made me lie back recallinghow bad I must have been, and how clever Mr Raydon had been to save mylife, tending me as he had just like a doctor. That made me think tooof every one else--the men's wives, who had waited on me and brought meflowers; Grey, who shot game; and above all of Quong and Esau, who hadseemed to spend all their time in attending upon one who had beenirritable, and as helpless as a baby. 

As I thought, my fingers played about the great head in my lap, pullingthe long ears, stroking the muzzle, and all the time the eyes blinked upat me, and once there was a long-drawn sigh as of satisfaction, whichmade me ready to fancy that even the dog was glad to see me out againafter my long, weary illness. 

All at once Rough raised his head and uttered a low, muttering growl, followed by a couple of short barks; and on looking round there wereEsau and Quong coming, the latter bearing a basin and a plate of bread. 

"Velly good soup, " said Quong, eagerly. "Velly stlong. Quite leady. "

He placed the basin on my knees, Rough drawing back a little, andlooking as if it was hard work not to make a snatch at that cake andbear it off. But he had been well trained, and sat watching mepatiently, content to catch the pieces thrown to him with a loud snap, while I partook of what Esau called my "stoo. "

It was very good, and "so stlong, " as Quong called it, that I felt as ifI ought to feel the strength coming back into my weak arms and legs. 

"Dlink um allee up, " said Quong; and I persevered and finished thecontents of the basin, which he then took, nodded at me, and then turnedto the dog, who stood now on all fours and barked at him fiercely. 

"Hey?" cried Quong. "You say wantee allee bone left?"

There was a peal of furious barks here. 

"Allee light. You come 'long. Velly good dog. "

Rough uttered another hoarse bay, and went off after the littleChinaman, looking so big by his side that I could not help thinking ofwhat the consequences might have been if they had proved enemies insteadof friends. 

"Well, Esau, " I said, "I'm a long time growing well. "

"Oh, I don't know. You're getting on now fast. I say, do you everthink about that gold now?"

"Oh, yes, " I replied, with a shudder; "often. "

"Well, " he said, in an ill-used tone, "you needn't think of the accidenttoo. For it was an accident, you know. "

"Yes, we've talked about that times enough, all those weary months. "

"Yes, it was tiring, and it put a stop to all the hunting and shootingwe might have had. But it's been good as well as bad. You missed lotsof bad weather, and cold, and snow. "

"What's the day of the month?" I said. 

"Day of the month? I dunno. End of March, they say, and it's going tobe fine weather now. "

"Has Mr Raydon ever said anything to you about the gold?"

"No, never a word. But I say, it do seem a pity not to get more of it, don't it?"

"I don't know, " I replied. "I want strength, not gold. How long willit be before Mr and Mrs John get here?"

"Ah, that's what I want to know, " cried Esau. "I was thinking aboutthat this morning; leastwise I wasn't thinking about them, but aboutmother. Wonder what she'll say to me when she knows?"

"Knows what?"

"'Bout me shooting you. She will be wild, for she was a deal fonder ofyou than she was of me. "

"Nonsense, Esau!" I cried. "Why, she used to talk to me about you forhours. "

"Dessay she did. But, I say, do make haste and get well before theIndians come again. Grey says they'll be here soon with loads of skinsthat they've shot and trapped in the winter. "

Our conversation was interrupted by the coming of Mr Raydon. 

"Ah, Mayne, " he said; "that's better. You must keep that up every daywhen it's fine. Fresh air and the scent of our pines form the fineststrengthening medicine a sick man can have. "

He stopped chatting to me for some time, and at last I ventured upon thetopic which interested both Esau and myself. 

"How long do I think it will be before the travellers get across to us?Hah! that's a poser, my lad. So much depends upon my sister's health, and her ability to travel. Of course they have been resting during theworst time. However, I hope they will not be here till you arethoroughly on your legs again. "

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

"DO I LOOK FORTUNATE?"

As the time glided on I used to be quite in despair. 

"I don't get any stronger, Esau, " I used to say, pettishly. 

"What? Why, look at you!" he'd cry. "On'y t'other day you was walkingwith a stick and a crutch. "

"I was not, " I said, indignantly. "I never had a crutch. "

"That you did, sir, " he said, with a chuckle; "and now you've chucked'em both away and goes alone. "

"But my legs feel so weak, and ache so directly. "

"Tchah! What o' that! Why, only t'other day they used to double uplike an old two-foot rule, or a knife with the spring broke. You'recoming all right enough. I say, I want to talk to you. "

He gave a sharp look round as we stood beside the stream where itentered the river--the stream up which we had found the gold, and towhose bank we had come to catch trout with rods and lines of our ownmanufacture, and grasshoppers for bait. 

I had been fishing, but after taking three decent trout, I had lain downwearied out, and now Esau squatted down by me, with his rod across hisknees. 

"I say, " he whispered, "what about that gold up yonder?"

"Well, what about it?"

"Don't you never think about it a deal?"

"Sometimes. Do you?"

"Always. I can't get away from it. Seems as if something's alwaystempting me to go and get it. "

"But you cannot, " I said, sharply. "We gave our word to Mr Raydon. "

"Yes, that's the worst of it. I can't think how a fellow can be sostupid. "

"Let it go, and don't think about it. "

"That's what I want to do, but I can't help myself, and I'm alwayswanting to get lots of it, and be rich. "

"Rubbish!" I cried, testily. 

"Gold ain't rubbish, " said Esau, gruffly. "Of course I should give youhalf. "

"We promised Mr Raydon not to touch that gold any more, " I said; "sodon't talk or think about it. Promise me. "

"I'll promise not to talk about it, " he replied; "but it's no use topromise not to think about it, because it will come. Why, I dream aboutit every night. "

"Then you must not, " I said. "I was talking to Mr Raydon last nightabout what is to be done when Mr John comes. "

"Well, what does he say? Anything about the gold?"

"No, " I cried, fiercely. "Of course you think about it if you arealways talking of it. He says that he thinks the best thing will be forMr John to have some land lower down the river at a place we passed;that there are twenty or thirty acres of good rich soil, and that as hewill have us with him, we must learn to use axes and help him to clearthe land, and plant it with fruit-trees, and build a house on theclearing. "

"Yes; that's all right enough, only the trees take so long to bear. "

"That he will help us with different things till we can manage alone;and that before many years are gone we can make ourselves quite a goodhome. "

"Oh!" ejaculated Esau. "But then that will take a long time, and youwon't be able to work much, and I don't think Mr John Dempster will, not being strong, and all the time there's enough gold up--"

"Will you hold your tongue?" I cried, angrily. "Do you want me to hityou?"

"If you like, " he said, grinning. "Don't think you could hurt me much. "

"You coward!" I cried. "Wait till I get strong again. "

"I shall be precious glad, " said Esau, "for I'd a deal rather you gaveme one or two cracks than kept on saying the things you do sometimes. My! how you have given it me ever since you have been ill! It has madeyou raspy. "

I winced a little at this, for I felt that I had been horriblyirritable. 

"I can't help thinking about the gold, but I won't say gold no more aslong as I live. "

I could not help laughing at this earnest delivery, and Esau showed histeeth. 

"There, I don't care, " he said. "I'm happy enough here if you'll getwell. But I do wish old Gunson knew about it. "

I looked sharply at Esau, for these words of his impressed me. I hadoften wished that Gunson knew of what we had found, for I thought thatperhaps he was struggling on without a bit of good fortune. Thethoughts passed from my mind directly, as Esau began to make casts withhis line here and there, as if fishing in the grass. 

"Well, I don't mind, " he said. "Turn farmer, eh?--and plant trees, andcut trees down, and build a house. All right. It will be good enough, and you and me will go and shoot and fish. I shall like it. Shall wehave old Quong?"

"I suppose so, if he'll stay. There, let's go on fishing, and take backsome trout for Mr Raydon's tea. I do feel so idle and helpless. Doyou think he ever feels that we are staying too long?"

"Dunno, " said Esau. "I should if I was him. "

These words made me feel very low-spirited, and that night I broachedthe subject to Mr Raydon, apologising for being there so helpless andweak, and ending by asking him if I had not better go down to the mouthof the river again. 

He looked at me searchingly. 

"Tired of this place?" he said. 

"Oh no, " I replied. "I have been very happy here. "

"Then why do you talk of going?"

"Because I feel as if I must be a burden to you. "

"Indeed! Well, suppose I say go, and you make your way back along theriver very slowly, for you are in a miserably weak state?"

"Yes, sir; but I am getting better now. "

"Yes, I know; but suppose, as soon as you are gone, my sister and herhusband appear, what am I to say to them?"

"I had not thought of that, " I replied. 

"But you see I had. But come, Mayne, be frank with me. You have someother reason for wanting to go. "

He looked at me so searchingly that I coloured, for I could feel mycheeks burning. 

"No, sir, " I said; "no other reason. "

"Not gold-hunting?"

"No; indeed, no. "

"But you and Dean have been talking about your discovery a good deal. "

"I--I think not, sir, " I said, hesitatingly. "We have talked about it. "

"And what a pity it is for a fortune to be lying there untouched?"

"Dean thought something of the kind, sir. I did not. "

"Ha!" he said, as he again fixed me with his eyes. "No, Mayne, you mustnot think of going away. You have not exhausted my stock of hospitalityyet. "

Perhaps it was fancy, I said to myself, but it certainly seemed to meduring the next few days, whenever I went out for a good long strollwith Esau, some one seemed to be watching us. 

One day it was Grey who encountered us somewhere on the mountain-side;another day it was one of the men; and again, on another, Mr Raydonhimself, whose presence was announced by the great dog, who camebounding up, to be followed in a few minutes by his master. 

He did not stay long, but as soon as he was gone I found that myfeelings were shared by Esau himself. 

"I say, " he growled, "are they afraid we are going to lose ourselves?"

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because whenever we come right away into the woods, they send that dogto scent us out. "

"Yes; they generally send somebody, " I said, thoughtfully. 

"Do you know why?" whispered Esau. 

I glanced at him, but did not answer. 

"It's because the chief's afraid we shall go up yonder trying for gold. "

"And he does not trust us, " I said to myself, as I felt that Esau mustbe right; and the uncomfortable feeling of being suspected seemed toincrease. 

I was thinking about this a good deal, and had made up my mind to askMr Raydon if he thought I could be so dishonourable, when we neared theFort, and I was startled back from my musings which were carrying me onthrough the interior, when Esau uttered a cheery hail. 

"What's the matter?" I said. 

"Can't you see? Look!" he cried. 

"Gunson!" I exclaimed; and sure enough there he was, coming slowlytowards us, looking very old and careworn, and as if he had gone througha great deal of trouble since we parted in the autumn. 

"Why, my lad, " he cried, shaking hands with me warmly, "you look quitethin and white. Been ill?"

"Yes, " I said, as I grasped his hand warmly. 

"Fever?"

"No, " I said, hesitatingly; "an accident. "

"Why don't you tell him?" said Esau, sturdily. "I shot him. "

"You shot him?"

"Yes, " I said, quickly; "he let the rifle slip out of his hand somehow, and the ball hit me. "

"I'm not surprised, " cried Gunson, in a tone full of anger and contempt. 

"Don't say any more about it, " I cried. "It was an accident, and I'mgetting better fast. Tell me about what you have been doing. "

Gunson laughed. 

"Walking, wading in rivers, washing sand, climbing mountains, exposed toall sorts of weather, half-starved, half-frozen, and all to get thetempting gold. "

"No luck then?" said Esau, eagerly. 

"Not a bit, my lad. "

"What, ain't you found gold at all?"

"Oh, yes, in scores of places, but always where it would cost thirtyshillings to earn a pound's worth. Not profitable work, eh?"

Esau glanced at me, and I at Esau, the same thought in both our minds--that we could, in a couple of hours' walk from where we were, show him--the wearied-out prospector--an ample supply. 

"If I only could tell him, " I thought, as I recalled how generous andkind he had always been to us. But it was impossible, and I darted alook at Esau which he understood, for he nodded at me in a curious way, setting me thinking that I must speak to him seriously again about ourduty to Mr Raydon. I had hardly thought this when I saw the lattercoming towards us. 

"Ah, Mr Gunson, " he said, with a sharp, keen glance, "you have keptyour word, then, and come back. "

"Yes, I've come back, and shall be glad of a day or two's rest. "

"You are welcome, " replied Mr Raydon. "Well, have you been veryfortunate?"

"What a question to ask me!" said Gunson; "the most unlucky man thatever lived! Do I look fortunate?"

"No, " said Mr Raydon, smiling; "far from it. There, come up to myplace, and let me hear what you have been doing. "

As we approached the strangers' quarters, Quong made his appearance withhis eyes twinkling. 

"Plenty flesh tea, " he cried. "Plenty new blead. "

"Hullo, my Celestial friend, " said Gunson, smiling at the eager-lookinglittle fellow. "Did you see me coming?"

"No. Not see. Gley tell me Mr Gunson come, and make tea dilectly, andcook bacon. "

"Ready to come on with me now, Quong?" said Gunson. "I'm going up thewestern part. "

Quong stared. 

"What! Go away? No. Stop allee long here. "

"That's right, my lad. Don't leave good quarters. Been washing forgold lately?"

"Eh? Washee washee gole? Too much piecy make work. Cook along bigmeat. No go out at all. You likee likee flesh blead, not blead high. "

"Indeed, it will be a treat, " said Gunson, going into the place with MrRaydon, while we kept back until he had finished his meal. 

"I say, " said Esau, as we walked about the enclosure, "can't littleQuong tell fibseys. "

"That's what I was thinking, " I replied. "Why, I've met him twice upthe river trying for gold. "

"Oh. I've seen him lots of times. He gets away when he has done hiswork, looking as innocent as you please, and all the time he's huntingfor gold. I say, you see if Mr Raydon don't keep an eye on us for fearwe should tell old Gunson. My! wouldn't he like to know of our find. Ican't understand how it is that he who knows all about it should be sounlucky, and you--"

"We, " I said. 

"Well, we, then--should be so lucky, and find so much. Dunno, though;it hasn't brought us much luck as yet. "

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

QUONG IS MISSING. 

It was all done in a quiet, unobtrusive way, but it seemed plain to methat Mr Raydon did try to keep us apart, or under his eye, duringGunson's stay. 

This was not for long. The man seemed a good deal changed, and as ifdissatisfied at being so very unsuccessful; and during his visit thetemptation was very strong upon me to give him a hint as to where hemight go and find all that he desired. And about this time I found thatEsau looked strange, and avoided me a good deal, going about as if hehad something on his mind, and I was afraid to ask him what. 

"Going to-morrow morning?" said Mr Raydon, as Gunson made theannouncement. "That is rather soon. "

"Well, yes, it is soon, " replied Gunson; "but I may be coming back. "

"Yes, of course, " said Mr Raydon, giving him a quick look. "You may becoming back. "

These seem trifling words, but they made an impression upon me at thetime, and I thought about them a good deal afterwards. In fact, Ithought of them that night. 

It came on very dark, and I was standing just outside our place, when Iheard a step, and directly after Gunson came up slowly and thoughtfully. 

"Who's that?" he cried sharply. 

I spoke, and he took my arm. 

"Come and have a stroll out here, " he said; and he led me out throughthe gateway and down toward the river. 

It seemed to me as if he were waiting for me to talk to him, for he wasvery silent; and at last, as I suggested that it was growing late, heturned back toward the Fort, whose gates we had just reached, when Isuddenly became aware of a figure standing there. 

"Mr Raydon, " I said. 

"Yes. Been having a walk?"

"Down as far as the river, " replied Gunson. "By the way, " he continuedsharply, "what should you say to my trying your streams about here?"

I saw Mr Raydon start slightly, but his voice sounded quite calm as hereplied--

"That you had better follow out your original plans. "

"You would not recommend me to try?"

"Decidedly not. "

We all went in, and after sitting for a time, Gunson rose to go to rest. 

Quong had a famous breakfast ready next morning, of which I too partook;and an hour later we saw Gunson once more on his way, Mr Raydonaccompanying us, till with a careless wave of the hand the prospectorwent off, and we returned to the Fort. 

That visit seemed to do me good. It was as if I had had a fillip, andduring the next few days I felt a return of my old vigour--a feelingwhich made me restless and eager to be out in the sunshine all day long. I found myself eating, too, almost ravenously, and my sleep at nights, instead of being broken and feverish, grew to be long and restful. Butsomehow I did not feel happy, for Mr Raydon, though always pleasant andpolite, was less warm, and he looked at me still in a suspicious waythat made me feel uncomfortable. 

In other respects everything went on as usual, till one day, about afortnight after Gunson's departure, Mr Raydon said to me at breakfast--

"Do you feel strong enough to go for a week's journey?"

"Oh yes, " I said eagerly, for I was beginning to long for something inthe way of change. 

"It means walking every step of the way, " he said, smiling at myeagerness. 

"Oh, I can walk again well now, " I said. "Dean and I were climbing upthe first west mountain yesterday--that one, " I said, pointing out ofthe window. "I don't know how many hours we were, but it was dark whenwe came back. "

"Well then, we'll try. I shall take Grey to try and lighten our loads alittle, but we shall not go very far down the river. "

"You are going down the river?" I said, as I saw Esau prick up hisears. 

"Yes; I have two or three spots in my mind's eye that would be suitablefor a home for my sister, and I want to see if they will do. Perhapsyou noticed them as you came--places that you would naturally pick outfor camping as evening came on. "

"I can remember several at the mouths of little streams, or belowfalls, " I said excitedly. "One or two were quite like bits of parks, with great sweeping branched pine-trees growing near. "

"Good memory, Mayne, " he said, smiling. "Well, I have made myarrangements. Your Chinaman shall go with us to cook, and we willselect three or four spots; and afterwards, when these travellers come, we can take them to see the selection, and they can choose which theylike. "

"How soon shall you start, sir?" I said. 

"This morning. It is a leisure period for me. No Indians are likely tocome for some time; and I can leave my people to take care of the placetill we return. You feel that you can manage the walking?"

"Oh yes, " I cried. "I am getting stronger every day. "

"That's right. Dean, my lad, fetch Quong, and let's see what sort of aload of flour, tea, and sugar we can pack up for him. I can easilysupply our little camp with meat. "

"Then there will be some hunting and shooting too?" I said, as Esauhurried out to find Quong. 

"Oh yes, for the larder, " replied Mr Raydon, speaking more in his oldfashion now. "Come, you are beginning to look quite yourself, my boy. I was beginning to be afraid I should have nothing but a broken-downinvalid to show my sister. "

"I feel more like I did, " I said, with my cheeks flushing. 

"Be thankful then, my boy, for you had a very narrow escape. Let mesee; we must not overload ourselves, but I must have powder and bullets, as well as my rifle. A blanket each, of course, and our knives. Thatwill be nearly all we need take, unless you lads bring a line or two andtry for some trout. "

He began chatting then about Mr John and his sister, and of how great achange it would be for her from a London life. 

"But health is the first consideration, " he said, smiling. "A palace islittle more than an infirmary to a sick person, and out here a snugcottage such as we can soon run up will become a palace to one whorecovers health. Isn't Master Dean a long time gone? Oh, here he is. Well, where is Quong?"

"Can't find him anywhere, sir, nor his bundle neither. "

"What? Absurd! He cannot have gone out. He cooked the breakfast. Didany one see him go?"

"I asked several of the men and women, sir, and they had not seen him. "

"Asleep somewhere perhaps, as he feels that his work is done. Here, wemust find him, or he will throw my arrangements all wrong, and we shallhave to wait till another day. It's a pity I did not speak last night, but I was not sure then. "

"I'll soon find him, " I said. 

"Yes, do, my lad, while I see to the rifle and ammunition. "

"Come along, Esau, " I said; and he followed me as I hurried out. 

"Well, where are you going?" grumbled Esau. "I suppose you are veryclever, but I should like to know how you are going to find him!"

"But you have not searched everywhere. "

"I've searched everywhere that he was likely to be, " replied Esau. 

I stopped short, thinking as to which direction we had better take. 

"Here, I know where he is, " cried Esau excitedly. 

"Yes? Where?"

"Gone up one of the streams to try for gold on the sly. You see if hedon't find out our bit one of these days. "

"Perhaps he has gone for that, " I said thoughtfully. 

"I feel sure of it. He has been away lots of times for a bit, and Ishouldn't wonder if he is getting that little physic-bottle of hispretty full. "

"He had better not let Mr Raydon know of it. He'd be in a toweringrage, " I said. "Here, let's hunt him out, and put a stop to it. "

"All right, " said Esau. "Here we are then. Which way shall we go?--east, west, north, or south, or half-way between any two of 'em. I'mwilling; don't make no difference to me. "

I stood and stared at him, for now I saw first how absurd my proposalwas, and how unlikely we were to find Quong if we had really gone off onsuch a mission. Esau grinned. 

"I say, 'tain't so easy, is it?"

I made no reply, but stood thinking, and trying to find a solution tothe difficulty. 

"Seems to me, " said Esau, "that about the best way of finding thislittle gentleman is to go and sit down by his fire till he comes, for hegoes off so quietly, and he may be anywhere now. "

"Let's look round again, " I said, "and if we cannot find him we hadbetter go and tell Mr Raydon. "

It was humiliating, but the only thing to do; and after asking at everycottage in the enclosure without effect, I turned to go back to MrRaydon's quarters, just as we saw the man Grey going in that direction. 

"Why, he might know, " I said, hurrying my pace so that we entered almostat the same time, but too late to question him. 

"Well, " said Mr Raydon, "have you found him?"

"No, " I replied; and then turning quickly to Grey, who had not yetspoken--"Have you seen anything of Quong?"

"Yes; he is at the west valley, I met him going there. "

"The west valley?" said Mr Raydon, starting and looking excitedly atthe speaker. "What was he doing there?"

"Gone to join Mr Gunson and a party of men I suppose, " said Grey, slowly. 

"Mr Gunson? Back?" I said wonderingly, but with a chill of dreadspreading through me as I spoke. "What is he doing there?"

"Busy with the others. They have set up camp, and are washing forgold. "

I glanced at Mr Raydon, whose eyes were fixed on me, and I saw afurious look of anger gathering in his face, while Esau backed slowlytoward the door. 

"This is your doing, sir. Here, you--stop! don't sneak away like that, and leave your companion in the lurch. "

"Wasn't going to sneak away, " said Esau, surlily. "Go away then, youmiserable coward. Well, Mayne Gordon, I hope you are satisfied. Isthis your gratitude?"

I fully expected these words, but I was not prepared to answer him, andin the rush of his indignant accusation my defence was swept down, and Icould only stammer out--

"You are mistaken, sir. "

"No, " he cried, "I am not mistaken. I told you when you made thatunlucky discovery I wished to keep all the wild gold-seeking scoundrelsaway from my peaceful happy valley; and in spite of all I have done towelcome you for my sister's sake, you give me evil for good. "

"Indeed you are wrong, sir; I have not told a soul, " I cried. 

"Bah!" said Mr Raydon, furiously. "How can I think otherwise, when Isee you holding half-secret meetings with that man Gunson, who returnsin force to destroy this place? Well, my lad, I wish you joy of yourshare, but, mark my words, this gold-seeking is miserable gambling, thework of men who will not see that the real way to find gold is ingenuine honest work. Take the gold-seekers all round, and they wouldhave made more of the precious metal by planting corn than by thisdigging and washing in the river-beds. "

"Then you will not believe me, sir?"

"I cannot, my lad, after what I have seen, " he said. "Your conduct hasnot seemed to me manly and frank. "

"I have tried to be, sir, " I cried. 

"And failed, boy. The temptation of the gold has proved to be too muchfor you. "

I stood silent now, for I could not speak. I wanted to say a greatdeal, but there was a swelling in my throat--a hot feeling ofindignation and misery combined kept me tongue-tied, and above all therewas a guilty feeling that he was just. 

"As for you, " Mr Raydon continued, turning to Esau, "I shall not wastewords upon you. Of course you agreed with your companion, but you wouldboth have done better for yourselves as lads, and earned betterpositions in life, by being faithful to me, than by letting yourselvesbe led away by this miserable temptation. "

"I ain't done nothing, " said Esau; "I only--"

"That will do, " cried Mr Raydon, fiercely, cutting him short. "Nowgo. "

"All right, sir, " said Esau; and now I found my tongue again. 

"Yes, Esau, we had better go, " I said, bitterly. "Mr Raydon will someday find out how unjust he has been to us. "

"That will do, " cried Mr Raydon, sternly. "No hypocrisy, sir. Oncefor all, I know that you gave Gunson either full particulars or hints, such as enabled him to bring a gang to this peaceful place. "

"Well, if you won't let a fellow speak, " began Esau. 

"Silence, sir!" cried Mr Raydon, as I moved towards the door. "Andyou, Gordon, where are you going?"

"I don't know, sir, " I said. 

"Then I do. You are going to join that wild crew up at thegold-washings. "

"I was going to see and tell Mr Gunson of what had happened, sir. "

"Exactly. Then I forbid it. You shall not go. "

"You ain't got no right to keep us here if we want to go, " said Esau, who was now losing: his temper fast. 

"Indeed!" said Mr Raydon. 

"You won't believe in a fellow--I mean this fellow, " continued Esau;"and you don't believe Mr Gordon, so I'm going straight up to MrGunson to see if he will, and I'll trouble you to hand over that gold wefound that day. "

"Esau!" I cried, angrily. 

"Well, you won't speak out, so I must. Come on. Much obliged for allyou've done in keeping us, sir, and good-bye. "

"Grey, " said Mr Raydon, sharply. 

"Yes, sir. "

"See that those lads do not leave the Fort till I give them permission. When you go off duty Hanson is to take your post. "

"What?" cried Esau, as I felt my cheeks burning with indignation, "ain'twe to be allowed to go out?"

"Am I to put them in the block-house, sir?" said Grey. 

"No; they can occupy the strangers' quarters, but they are not to passthe gates. That will do. Go!"

CHAPTER FORTY. 

INOPPORTUNE ARRIVALS. 

I hardly remember how I left Mr Raydon's office, but I do recollectseeing the bear's head grinning at me, and that of the moose gazing atme in its weak, sorrowful way. My head felt hot, and I was bitterlyangry; so that when Grey went from us without speaking, after leading usto the strangers' quarters, it only wanted a few words from Esau to makeme turn upon him fiercely. 

"Look here, " he said, "this ain't England, and there's no police andmadgistrits about, so I'm not going to stand it. He ain't everybody. I'm off. "

"To the gold-washings?" I said. "Don't you think you've done mischiefenough by betraying it to Mr Gunson?"

"Oh, come, I like that, " cried Esau. 

"That's pleasant, that is. Say it was me, eh? Why, you know you toldhim. "

"I told him?"

"Well, he coaxed it out of you when he had you all by himself. "

"Esau!"

"There, don't shout at me. I don't wonder. I've been sometimes so thatI couldn't hardly bear myself for wanting to tell somebody; and it was apity for all that gold to go begging, and us not get a share. "

"Then you believe I told Mr Gunson?"

"Course I do. I didn't; and there was no one else knew where it wasexcept the captain, and of course he wouldn't. "

"You are saying that to aggravate me. Esau, once more, do you believe Itold Mr Gunson?"

He looked at me and laughed. 

"Why don't you answer?" I cried, angrily. "Do you believe I told MrGunson?"

"Why, of course I do. What's the good of making a fuss over it with me?Should ha' thought you might ha' trusted me by this time. "

I sank back on one of the benches staring at him, feeling weak andhopeless. 

"Don't look like that, " cried Esau; "I didn't want to hurt yourfeelings. It was quite natural. Mr Gunson was our friend before MrRaydon was; and it was your duty to do him a good turn if you could. Who's Mr Raydon that he's to have everything his way? If he don't wantgold, other folks do. I do--lots; and I'm going up now to get myshare. "

"Then you really believe I told?"

"Why, of course I do. Why, how could you help it? Seems queer to MrRaydon, because he has been very kind; but it would have seemed queererto poor Mr Gunson. Why, as mother used to say, my heart quite bled forhim when he came back so tired-looking and shabby, after hunting formonths and finding nothing. I'd ha' told him directly if I hadn'tpromised you I wouldn't. There, don't be in such a fidge about it; youcouldn't act square to both of them. "

"Then it's of no use for me to keep on saying I did not tell, " I said, gloomily. 

"Not a bit; and I'm precious glad you did tell the poor fellow. I don'tlike him much, and he never liked me much; but he often helped me, andI'd help him. Now then, I want to talk about what we're going to do. What do you say? Do speak. I hate to see you sit mumchance, sayingnothing. "

"There's nothing to do, " I said, sadly, "only wait. "

"What, like a prisoner? I'm going up to that place where the gold is, to get mine and mother's share, and you're coming too for yours. "

"I'm not, " I said, through my set teeth. 

"What?"

"I wouldn't stir from here now for all the gold in the world. "

"Why, you're talking madness. We come out here to make our fortunes, and there's our fortunes waiting to be made. The door's open and thegate's open; and though Mr Raydon talked big, he dare not try to stopus. Come on. "

"I tell you nothing should make me stir from here now, till Mr Raydonknows the truth. "

"Yah! What's the good o' keeping on with all that make-believe? Heknows the truth now. "

I leaped up as if stung. 

"That's right. Come on. "

My voice was very husky as I said--

"I've told you what I meant to do, and you keep on insulting me. "

"Don't talk stuff. What's the good of making all that fuss? Youcouldn't help telling Mr Gunson, I know that, and I've told you I knowit. Of course Mr Raydon don't like it, but he can't help himself. Nowthen. You're in disgrace here, but you won't be up at the camp; andwhen his bit of temper's past, Mr Raydon will be sorry for what hesaid, and ask us to come and look at the piece of land after all. "

While he kept on speaking, my temper, which had always remainedirritable through my illness, kept on rising, and I stood there tryingto fight it down, but in vain, for it was very rapidly getting themastery. It was as if something hot was rising within me, ready to boilover if it grew a little hotter, and it soon did. 

"There, it's all right, " cried Esau, catching me by the arm. "Nevermind our things; we'll fetch them another time. Let's be off at once. "

"Let go of my arm, " I said, hoarsely. 

"Shan't. Don't be stupid. You ain't been yourself since you were hurt, and I'm going to think for you, and do what's right. Come along. "

"Let go of my arm!" I said again, in a low menacing tone. 

"No, nor I shan't let go of your arm; and you ain't going to frightenme, Mayne Gordon, because I'm ever so much the stronger now, so comealong. "

"Let--go--of my arm!" I said, in quite a whisper, as Esau hauled metowards the door. 

"S-h-a-r-n-'t!" cried Esau. "You're going along with me up to thosegold-washings. Come along. It's of no use for you to struggle, I'm toomuch for you--Oh!"

In my rage at my inability to reason with him, I suddenly doubled myfist and struck him full in the face, and as he uttered a cry of pain, he started back; but it was only for a moment, and then he flew at meangrily, so that the next minute we two sworn friends, who had sufferedso much together, were fighting hard, giving and taking blows, now down, now up, and each growing hotter and more vindictive as we fought--Esauwith determination, I with despair, for I felt myself growing weaker andweaker, and knew that in a few minutes I should be hopelessly beaten. But still in my blind fury I kept on, and I was just in the act ofdelivering a furious blow when I heard voices, and some one uttered acry of horror. 

The struggle was over, for we two started back from our contest, Esauashamed of his rage, and I feeling utterly crushed; for there before me, as far as I could see them in my half-blinded state, giddy as I was withweakness and blows, stood Mr Raydon, and with him the people I wouldhave given the world then not to have met in such a state--the threetravellers, who had ended their long weary journey that unfortunatemorning. 

Mrs Dean ran to Esau, and flung her arms about his neck, as Mr Raydonsaid angrily--

"What is the meaning of this?"

No one answered, and for a few moments the silence was to me terrible. Then Mr Raydon spoke again. 

"Come back to the house, " he said; and I saw him take his sister's hand, draw it through his arm, and lead her away. 

But Mr John, who looked brown and wonderfully changed, hung back, andheld out his hand. 

"Oh, Mayne, " he said, sadly, "I did not expect to come and find you likethis. What is the meaning of it all?"

"Don't, mother; do be quiet, " cried Esau just then. "He hit me first. "

"Oh, but, Esau, my boy, my boy!"

"Well, what's the good o' crying? Don't; you're crying all down myneck. Be quiet. How are you? There. Now do leave off hanging on me. I want to go and have a wash. "

"Oh, Mr Gordon, " cried the poor little woman, as Esau ungraciouslyshook himself free, "how could you hit Esau first--and you suchfriends?"

"Because he was trying to make me out a blackguard, " I cried. 

"Well, I couldn't help it, " cried Esau; "I thought it was true. "

"But you'll shake hands with me, my dear, after I've come all thesehundreds and thousands of miles--shake hands and say you're sorry youhit Esau first. "

"Oh, do be quiet, mother, " cried Esau angrily. "What's the good o'making such a fuss? We fell out and had a bit of a fight, and it's allover, and I'm very sorry, and if he'll shake hands, there's mine. "

"Not till you tell me you don't believe I did that, " I cried fiercely. 

"Well, there then, I don't believe you told him. I can't now you'veknocked it all out of me. But I should have won. "

"If I had not been so weak from my wound, you would not have won, " Icried. 

"Well, no, " said Esau thoughtfully, as we shook hands, "for you do hitprecious hard. There, mother, will that do?"

"Oh yes, my dear, " cried Mrs Dean, clinging to my hands now; "and may Ikiss you, my dear?"

I bent down and kissed the little woman, whose face was full of sympathyfor me. 

"And you've been dangerously ill and nearly dead, Mr Raydon told us. Well, that excuses everything. Esau's temper was horrible after he hadbeen ill with measles. You remember, my dear?"

"I don't, " said Esau, on being thus appealed to. "I know you werealways cross with me, and wouldn't let me go out. "

"Ah well, ah well, " said Mr John Dempster, "never mind about that now. Mayne, my dear boy, do wash your face, and let's have a long talk. I amsorry my dear wife saw you like this, for she has been talking so muchabout you. I am very sorry. "

"Sorry, sir!" I cried passionately; "it is horrible. "

"Yes, it is unfortunate, but an accident, " he said smilingly, as he laidhis hand upon my shoulder. "You have not fought much since I saw youlast?"

"Fought? No, " I said, unable to keep back a smile at his question. 

"Ah! you laugh, but I have one memory of your prowess in that way. There, remove those marks. "

"That's better, " he said, a few minutes later. "Now I want to know allabout your adventures. "

"And I about yours, sir, " I said eagerly, for we were alone, Esau havingpassed out of the strangers' quarters with his mother. "Tell me aboutMrs John. Is she better?"

"Ah, you did not see, " he said, with a smile that was quite womanlylighting up his face. "For a time she frightened me, but once we wereat sea she began to mend, and for months now the change has beenwonderful. "

"I am glad, " I cried. 

"Yes, wonderful, " he continued. "My brother Raydon was right; but had Iknown, enthusiastic as I am, what a terribly long, slow, tedious journeyit was across those vast plains, I should never have dared to venture. "

"But she has borne it well?"

"Borne it! My dear boy, she is no longer the same. The delightful air, the freedom from all restraint, the grandeur of the scenery we have comethrough, everything has seemed to be giving her back her lost strength, and it is a new life she is beginning to live. "

"I am thankful, " I said. 

"But tell me, Mayne, " he said; "there is some coolness between you andmy brother. He did not tell me what it was. Have you not been happywith him?"

"Yes, " I said, "till now. "

And then I told him everything, from the discovery of the gold to themoment of his arrival. He stood looking thoughtful for a few moments, and then said--

"And young Dean believes it too?"

"Yes, " I said; "and that caused the struggle that you saw. "

"Of course--of course. I see. "

"But, Mr John, indeed, indeed I kept my word. I did not--I would nottell a soul; and I have carefully avoided going to the place. "

He stood with his brows knit in silence, looking straight away. 

"You do not believe me?" I said, piteously. 

"Believe you? Why not?" he said, rousing himself from his musing. "Ofcourse I believe you, Mayne, and so will my brother. He ought not tohave doubted you. Ah, here he comes back. "

I felt a curious shrinking as I saw Mr Raydon coming across theenclosure; and as he entered there was the stern severe look in hiscountenance which he put on when he was angry. 

"I came to fetch you back, John, " he said quietly. Then turning to me, "May I know the cause of the disgraceful scene that was taking place alittle while ago?"

"Yes, " cried Mr John, instituting himself as my champion directly. "Itseems that you have had unjust suspicions of my young friend Mayne, andthat his companion shared them. Mayne could not turn and thrash you, but he could young Dean, and he did. "

Mr Raydon looked at me sharply. 

"You may take his word for it, " continued Mr John, "as I do. There hasbeen a mistake. "

"You have not altered a bit, John, " said Mr Raydon drily. "Come. "

"Yes, I'll go back with you, for there is so much to say. Come, Mayne. "

I saw Mr Raydon raise his brows a little, and that was enough. 

"Not now, Mr John, " I said. 

"But my wife, she wants to see you. "

"Yes, sir, and I want to see her; but not now. "

"He is quite right, John, " said Mr Raydon. "Let him stay for thepresent. "

Mr John looked from one to the other and then said seriously--"As youwill, Dan. Good-bye then for the present, Mayne. There, keep up yourheart. I'll talk to my brother, and I'll warrant that before long hewill see the truth as I do. "

He stopped back to say this, and then went on after Mr Raydon, leavingme to fling myself on the bench, rest my elbows on the table, and burymy face in my hands. For it seemed to me that I had never felt somiserable before, and as if fate was playing me the most cruel oftricks. I felt indignant too with Mr Raydon, who had seemed to lookupon his brother-in-law's faith in me with a cruel kind of contempt, treating him as if he were an enthusiast easily deceived. 

And all this stung me cruelly. I was touched in my pride, and the worstpart of it seemed to be that Mrs John might have so much faith in herbrother, that she would be ready to believe his word before mine. 

As I sat there thinking, I was obliged to own that matters did lookblack against me, and that with such terrible evidence in array, therewas some excuse for Mr Raydon. 

"But she might believe me, " I said, half aloud. But even as I saidthis, I recalled how he had evidently dreaded that I should betray thesecret, and watched me and Gunson at our last meeting, which certainlydid look suspicious when taken into consideration with the object of thelatter's visits to the neighbourhood. 

"Gunson shall come here and tell him everything. He shall make himbelieve, " I said to myself; and then in a despondent way, I felt that Icould not go up to the camp without making Mr Raydon think worse of meat once, and then Mrs John would believe in him more and more. And itall seemed over, and as if the happy days I had looked forward to whenthe travellers came, would never be, and that I was the most unfortunatefellow that had ever breathed, when a hand was laid gently on my head, and a voice said--

"Mayne. "

I started to my feet, and there was Mrs John gazing at me sadly, but sochanged since I had seen her before my start, that I could only look ather wonderingly, and when she held out her hand I caught it and wasabout to raise it to my lips, but she drew me to her, and the nextmoment she was seated on the bench I had left, and I was down upon myknees gazing up into her sweet face, feeling that while she lived I hadone who would always take for me the part of the mother I had lost solong. 

CHAPTER FORTY ONE. 

AN INVASION OF SAVAGES. 

It was quite two hours later that, as she rose to go back to MrRaydon's quarters, Mrs John said--

"There, I believe in you, Mayne, and so does my husband. Be satisfied. "

"I never shall be till Mr Raydon tells me he was wrong, " I said. 

"And he will as soon as he feels convinced, so be patient and wait. Mybrother is rather strange in his ways, and always was. When he becomesprejudiced through some idea he is very hard to move. "

"But I cannot stay here, " I said. 

"You will not go and leave us now that we have come so far. We shallwant your help. "

"But--"

"Come, Mayne, you will not object to suffering a little, I hope, for oursake. I dare say my brother will keep on in his stern, hard way, for atime; but when he is fully convinced, you will be glad that you borewith him. "

"I shall do exactly as you wish me to, " I said quietly; and I againlooked wonderingly at her, she was so changed. 

"We shall not lead you wrong, Mayne, " she said, smiling; and, at herwish, I walked back with her to Mr Raydon's place, where Mr John roseto make room for us, but Mr Raydon hardly glanced at me, and his mannerwas so strained during the next hour, as I sat listening to theconversation about the adventures during the long journey across theplain, that I was very glad to make an excuse so as to get away to whereMrs Dean was seated in the strangers' quarters relating her story toEsau. 

"Ah, " she cried, as I entered; "and what do you think of Mrs John?"

"I hardly knew her, " I said. "She is indeed better. "

"Yes, " said Mrs Dean, drawing herself up proudly, "I think I did myduty there. "

"I am sure you did. "

"Such a poor, thin, weak creature as she was till I began to nurse her. "

"The change worked wonders, " I said. 

"Yes, of course, it did her good, sir; but no change is of any goodwithout plenty of nursing. "

I saw that I was touching on tender ground, and was trying to think of afresh subject, when loud, blustering voices outside made both Esau andme get up to see, for there was evidently an angry altercation going onjust inside the gate. 

"I have told you plainly, " Mr Raydon was saying as we drew near. "Thisis neither an hotel nor a liquor-bar, and you cannot have it here. "

"Well, you might be civil, " said a voice which made me start and feelpuzzled as to where I had heard it before. "Not going to refusetravellers a shelter or a glass of liquor, are you?"

Esau gave my arm a jerk, but I did not look at him, for my attention wastaken up by Mr Raydon, who was facing, with Grey and two more of themen, a party of a dozen roughs. 

"You do not want shelter on a fine night like this, and I have nospirits except to use for medicine. "

"That's right, " said the familiar voice. "Medicine--physic--that's whatwe want; drop o' spirits for medicine--eh, lads?"

There was a chorus of laughter at this, and the men began to pressforward. 

"Then you will not get it here, my lads, so go back to the place fromwhence you came, " said Mr Raydon, firmly. "Bread and meat, and butteror milk, you can have; nothing more. "

"But we want a drink, " said another man. "Here, we don't want you togive it us. Look here, " he cried, taking some gold from, his pocket. "Now then, I'll give you all this for a bottle of whiskey. "

"Ay, and I'll give you this for another bottle, " cried a third man. 

"Keep your stuff in your pockets, lads, " cried the first speaker, and Ifelt a kind of thrill run through me now, for I had recognised in himthe big, fierce fellow who had wrestled with Gunson on board the boat, and threatened mischief next time they met. "Keep your stuff in yourpockets; the old 'un is going to give us a bottle or two of the liquorhe swaps with the Injuns for the bear-skins. Now then, old boy. "

"I am going to give you nothing, neither food nor drink, " said MrRaydon, firmly. "You have only come down from the camp yonder thisevening. "

"Well, who said we hadn't? That's right enough. We've got claims upthere, and we've come to treat you all and have a drink with you. "

"I have told you that you will get no drink here. "

"Get out!" said the big fellow, whose voice I had first heard. "Youdon't mean that. Come, get out the bottles. Come along, lads; we arn'tgoing to be served like this. "

"No, " came angrily in chorus; and the men pressed forward, but MrRaydon and his party stood their ground. 

"We're going to take it, arn't we, if he don't fetch it out--eh, lads?"

"Ay. "

"Stand back!" cried Mr Raydon, authoritatively. "Grey!"

The latter took half a dozen steps backward, and stood waiting fororders. 

"You, Gordon, and you, Dean, run to my house, and keep there inshelter. "

"Oh, " said the big fellow, with a laugh. "Turning nasty, eh? Wellthen, we'll take it. Show him your shooting-irons, lads, and let himsee that we can be nasty too. "

Half a dozen of the men pulled out revolvers, and there were a few sharpclicks heard. 

"Did you hear me, Gordon?" said Mr Raydon, harshly. "Run. "

"I can't run away, and leave you like this, " I said. "Obey orders, boy. Both of you back, quick!"

There was a something about him which enforced obedience, and I wentback towards the house wondering why the other men did not come to theirchiefs help, especially now that he was being backed slowly across theenclosure by the gang of men, each of whom had a revolver in his hand. 

"Yes, " said Mr Raydon, sharply, and Grey and another man turned and ranfor one of the little block-houses in the corner of the enclosure. 

"Hah! Yah! Hoo!" roared the fellows, derisively; and one of them fireda shot, an example followed by two more, not aimed at the retreatingparty, but evidently meant to scare them and hasten their retreat. There was another roar of laughter at this, followed by more derisiveshouts, as Grey and his companions disappeared in the building beforenamed. 

"It's all right, lads; that's where the landlord's cellar is: come on!"

Mr Raydon still backed toward the corner building, and Esau and Icontinued our retreat to the chiefs quarters, where I saw Mr and MrsJohn at the door, alarmed by the firing. 

"Tell them to keep in, " cried Mr Raydon to me; and seeing that therewas danger, I ran to them, half forced them back, and withoutinstructions I snatched up Mr Raydon's double rifle and cartridge-belt. 

"Good heavens, Gordon, what is the matter?" cried Mr John. 

"Nothing serious, I hope, " I said. "Orders: stay inside. "

I darted out again with the rifle, and ran to where Mr Raydon wasstanding his ground still, and he was saying something in a loud voiceto the men, but I only caught the words--"Fair warning. "

"Hah! Good!" he exclaimed, as I ran up with the rifle; and he caught itand the cartridge-belt, but he did not attempt to load. 

"Back to them, " said Mr Raydon to me; and I went unwillingly, for itseemed cowardly to go. 

"He's going to fight, " said the leader of the gang. "There, don'tpepper him, mates. "

There was another roar of laughter at this. 

"I warn you once more, my good fellows. This is an outrage you arecommitting, and if blood is shed the fault will be yours. "

"Those bottles o' whiskey. "

"You get nothing here. Go!"

"Rush them, lads. "

The miners with their revolvers were about a dozen yards from the cornerblock-house, and Mr Raydon and the man with him were half-way to thedoor, their backs towards it, when the bully gave his order. 

Like an echo of that order, and just as the men were in motion, came onefrom Mr Raydon. 

"Make ready--present!"

I shrank back startled as I heard the loud military commands, and theeffect was the same upon the gang of rough gold-diggers, who stoppedshort, while half of them turned and began to run. 

For, as the order rang out, Grey and another man sprang to the door withpresented pieces, and from the openings on the floor above half a dozenmore rifles were thrust out. 

"Another step forward and I give the word--Fire!" cried Mr Raydon, fiercely. "You see we are prepared for unpleasant visitors here, whether they are white savages or red. Now then, have the goodness togo, and don't trouble us with your presence here again. "

"Oh, it was only a joke, mate, " cried the big fellow. "Needn't makesuch a fuss about it. "

"A joke, to fire on my retiring men?" said Mr Raydon, fiercely. "Go, or my men will perpetrate a similar joke on you, you miserable bully andcoward. "

"Bully am I?--coward am I?" growled the fellow, menacingly cocking hisrevolver. 

"Cover this fellow, Grey, " said Mr Raydon without turning, and I sawGrey make a slight movement. 

"That man is a dead shot, my good man, " said Mr Raydon. "Once more, go!"

"Right; we're going, eh, mates?"

"No, " said another. "Let's--"

"Another word, and I order my men to fire, " cried Mr Raydon, fiercely. "We have driven off a hundred Indians before now, and I tell you that weare well prepared. "

"Oh, all right, " growled the fellow. "Come on, mates. This is Englishhospitality, this is. Well, every dog has his day, and perhaps ours 'llcome next. "

They walked slowly toward the gate, and passed out mutteringthreateningly; and as they passed out, in obedience to an order, Greyand another man ran across to the opening with their rifles at thetrail, each seizing one of the swing-back gates which they were about toclose, when half a dozen of the gang reappeared and fired from theirrevolvers. Before they could repeat the shots the gates were banged toand barred, while Grey sprang up a few steps and applied his eye to aloop-hole. 

"Well?" said Mr Raydon, advancing quietly. 

"Running back toward the river, sir. Shall we fire over their heads?"

"No. They have gone, " said Mr Raydon. 

Then turning to me, where I stood just outside the door of his house, hesaid sternly--

"You see why I wished to keep this district free of all that isconnected with gold?"

I made no answer, for none would come. 

"We have enough enemies among the Indians, " he continued. "These peopleadd to our cares. "

Still I made no answer, for I was thinking of Gunson, who was, as I hadheard, gold-finding up our stream, perhaps quite alone. These people, all well-armed, were going up his way, and one of them had sworn to dohim some mischief. Did he know that Gunson was there? Did Gunson knowthat this man was within a few miles of him, perhaps close at hand?

I shuddered as I thought of the wealth up that stream. These men couldonly be fresh-comers, attracted by rumours of a new find of rich gold. Perhaps Gunson had already found a good deal; he most likely would havefound a great deal, and this would be an additional inducement for themto attack him, rob, perhaps kill him out of revenge. 

"And this was all due to the discovery of the gold, " I thought, and itwas emphasised the next moment, for Mr John came up to hisbrother-in-law. 

"Who are those men, Daniel?" he said, eagerly. 

"Scum of the earth come for the metal whose existence I have kept secretever since I came here. I fought very hard to keep the gold unknown, but my efforts have been in vain. You see for yourself the result ofthe discovery;" and then, as I saw his lowering brow and anxious face, he exclaimed--

"Yes, the rich finds are made known, and we do not know the extent ofthe mischief yet. "

He glanced at me again sharply, and I knew I looked very conscious; butit was not on account of the stubborn suspicion he persisted in feelingabout me, but because I was excited about Gunson, for I was askingmyself what I ought to do with respect to a man who in his rough way haddone so much for me, and the answer came at once just as if somethinghad whispered to me--

"Never mind about what people think if your intentions are good andtrue. Warn the poor fellow before it is too late. Go!"

CHAPTER FORTY TWO. 

WE MAKE UP OUR MINDS. 

Mr John gave me a troubled look, for in his simple earnest way he washurt at seeing the strained situation, and, as he told me afterwards, there was great excuse for his brother-in-law, as matters did look blackagainst me, sufficient to make Mr Raydon feel that I had acted a veryunworthy part. 

I stood there alone, and otherwise quite unnoticed for a few minutes, while Mr Raydon gave his people some quick, sharp orders, and thenwalked into his quarters with Mr John. 

"What shall I do?" I thought. "If I go and ask him to let me run andwarn Mr Gunson, he will think I want to join him, and that this is onlyan excuse. I can't go down on my knees and vow and protest again that Ikept my word. Some one told Gunson, of course. Could it have beenEsau, and is he playing unfairly?"

I did not like to think it of him, and I was just trying to drive thethoughts away, when he came out of the strangers' quarters, where I hadseen him go with Mrs Dean. 

"Well, it's all over, " he said. "I thought we was going to have somerare fun. "

"Esau!" I cried, aghast. "What, with men being shot!"

"Yes; why not, if they tried to shoot us? But, I say, they'll come backagain; see if they don't, to help themselves to all there is here. "

I shook my head. 

"No, " I said; "they've been too much scared as it is. "

"Not they. Of course they run when they saw the rifles. I shouldn'twonder if we have a really big fight like you've read of in books. "

"You are talking nonsense, " I said. "But look here, Esau. About thatgold?"

"Yes, " he cried eagerly; "going to have a try for it?"

"No. "

"Oh, " said Esau, gloomily. "Thought you were coming to your senses. Idon't see why other folks should get it all, and us left nowhere. "

"Esau!" I said, as I caught him by the sleeve, "you see how I am beingsuspected of all this. Mr Raydon still thinks I told Mr Gunson. "

"Well, so you did, didn't you?" he replied, with a curiously sly look. 

"No, " I cried, fiercely; "and you know I did not. But did you?"

Esau looked me full in the face for a few moments, before turning hiseyes away, and beginning to whistle softly. 

"Do you hear what I say?" I cried, angrily. "Course I do, " he replied, with a mocking laugh. 

"Then tell me--at once--the truth. Did you give Mr Gunson tounderstand where this gold was?"

"Let's see: you asked me before, didn't you?" said Esau, coolly. 

"You know I did. "

"Well, then, don't ask no questions, and nobody won't tell you no lies. "

"Then it was you, " I cried; "and it was a mean, cowardly, cruel trick tolet me be suspected and treated as I have been here. I have always beenfair and open with you. "

Esau whistled again in a low soft way, giving me a sidelong glanceagain, and then taking out his great knife and making a pretence ofcutting his nails, for which task the knife was about as suitable as abillhook. 

"Are you going to own it?"

No answer. 

"Are you going to own to it?" I said, more loudly. 

"No, I ain't, " he cried, angrily, "and I don't want to be bothered aboutit no more. Wish I'd gone after the gold myself. I could ha' mademother rich and comfortable all her life. What business had he tointerfere and keep it all from us? Meant to have the place to himself, and now somebody else has got it, and serve him right. "

I turned away from him angrily, but I was too much worried to be able todo without advice, and I walked back to where he was still chopping athis nails. 

"Esau, " I said; "you saw that big fellow with the gang?"

"Easy enough to see, " he replied, sulkily. 

"You saw who it was?"

"Yes. Chap Gunson pitched over that day aboard the steamer. "

"Yes. And you remember how he threatened Mr Gunson?"

"Course I do. "

"Well, they're going up the little valley to where Mr Gunson is. "

"And if old Gunson meets him he'll send him back with a flea in hisear. "

"One man against a party of twelve all well armed, Esau?" I whispered. "I'm afraid about Mr Gunson. Suppose he is up there somewhere alone, and has found a great deal of gold?"

"What!" cried Esau, excitedly, for my words had moved him now. 

"I say, suppose he has collected a lot of gold, and those rough fellowsknow of it?"

"Why, they'd kill him, and take every scrap, " cried Esau. "Here, let'sgo and tell Mr Raydon. "

"He would not stir to help, I am sure. Mr Raydon does not want Gunsonthere, 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 warnhim. "

"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 weregoing to try and get out, he'd lock us up. "

"Don't let's stand here, " I said, in a husky voice, for the excitementwas 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 themining camp. "

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

As soon as it was decided, that which had seemed to me so very easybegan to show itself in quite another light, and difficulties sprang upone 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, andin consequence it would be next to impossible to get over the palisadewithout being heard or seen. 

Next, when we had escaped--I inadvertently used that word, for it waslike running away, though I meant to return--there would be thedifficulty of hitting the right valley in the darkness. Then, if wefound the valley, how were we to find out the place where Gunson hadmade his camp? and above all, how were we to pass the camp orresting-place of the gang of men who had been to the Fort that day? Itwas 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 Gunsondoesn'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'resure to miss. "

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

I got away as soon as I could, and as I waited for Esau to come, I begannow to think that I was not doing right. But I drove the thoughts awayin a reckless fashion. Esau would laugh at me, I thought, and, full ofdetermination 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 oldGunson. "

"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 hesitationI suffered from might increase, I said excitedly--

"Now. "

"All right then; let's get a little way further from the corner, makestraight 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 palingand drop down from there. But I say, Esau, " I whispered, "how are we toclimb 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. Theywill not see us then. "

It is impossible to describe the feeling of excitement which came overme as I followed Esau's example, and letting him lead, began to crawlpretty quickly across the enclosure. I looked back, and there were thelights in Mr Raydon's quarters, where my friends were seated, andwondered what they would think when they heard that I had gone, and whatconstruction Mr Raydon would place upon my departure, for somethingseemed to tell me that we should be found out; and it was not likelythat we should be credited with going for so innocent a reason. 

"No, " I said to myself; "he will think I have gone to join Gunson towash for gold, and--"

"Don't! I say, mind where you are coming. "

For my head had come sharply in contact with my companion. 

"What's the matter? Why did you stop?"

"Only to look back at that place where mother is. My! won't she be in ataking if they find out we are gone?"

"Go on quickly, then, " I whispered, "and let's get back before they knowit. "

At that moment there was a loud growl toward one of the block-houses. 

"Rough's heard us, " whispered Esau. "Come on. "

We crept forward, and then I felt a chill of dread, for there was aquick rustling sound, a loud bark, and though we could not see him, Iknew that the great dog was coming at us full speed. 

My first idea was to get up and run, but before I could put my intentionin force, the dog was upon us, barking furiously; but the next minute, after knocking me right over, he was whining and fawning upon me, andgiving a share of his attentions to Esau. 

"Down! Quiet! Get out!" whispered Esau. "Why don't you wipe yournose?"

"Here, Rough! What is it, lad? Hold him!" came from the direction ofthe block-house. 

"Oh, it's all up, " I whispered, as the dog set up a loud volley ofbarking. 

"Seize him!" cried the voice, which I knew to be Grey's; but the dogbarked again, as if in remonstrance, and seemed more disposed to playwith us than to seize. 

"What is it then? What have you got?"

There was another burst of barking. 

"Let's go back, " whispered Esau. 

"No, no, go on. Never mind the dog. "

"Let's run for it then, " whispered Esau, and catching hold of my hand, he led the way quickly toward the fence, with Rough leaping and boundinground us, and every now and then uttering one of the volleys of barkingwhich sounded terribly loud in the utter silence of that dark night. 

We had nearly reached the place, when I heard a familiar voice say--

"What's the matter with that dog?"

"Don't know, sir. Seems to have found something, or he wouldn't go onlike that. Here! Hi! Rough, Rough, Rough!"

But the dog would not leave us. We were only friends, and he kept onhis excited bark. 

"Here, Rough!" cried Mr Raydon, angrily; and at that moment we reachedthe fence, fortunately for us just by the loophole. 

"Over with you first, " cried Esau, and I climbed rapidly to the top, threw my legs over, lowered myself to the full extent of my arms, anddropped lightly. 

"Come across and see, " came just then from the other side; and now whileI heard the rustling and scrambling noise made by Esau in climbing, as Istood there listening with my heart beating heavily, the dog began tobark furiously, then to growl. There was a struggling noise, and thenEsau's voice came through the crack of the paling. 

"He's got hold of me tight. Run, lad, run!"

But I could not run then and leave my companion in the lurch, and I wasabout to climb back when the worrying, growling sound ceased, and Esaudropped beside me. 

"Come on!" he whispered. "This way. He's got half the leg of mytrousers. "

Catching my hand again we trotted on. 

"Jumped at me, and held me so as I shouldn't get over, " he whispered. "Here, this way. We're right, I know. "

The dog's barking was furious now, and I whispered to Esau--

"They're opening the gate. "

"Hist! Don't take no notice. "

For there was a shout from behind. 

"Halt, there, or we fire!"

"Go on then, " muttered Esau. "Sha'n't halt now. You couldn't hit us ifyou tried. "

"Do you hear? Halt!"

It was Mr Raydon who shouted, but I was desperate now I had gone sofar, and we kept up our trot, with Esau acting as guide. His eyes werebetter than mine in the darkness. 

"Fire!" came from behind now, and three flashes of light appeared for aninstant, followed by the reports of the rifles. 

"Not killed me, " muttered Esau, with a chuckle. But I did not laugh, for a thought had struck me. 

"Esau, " I whispered; "they'll set the dog on our scent, and use him torun us down. There, do you hear?"

For the barking of the dog began once more. 

"Can we cross the river?" I said. 

"No. "

"Then make for the first stream and let's wade along it a little way. "

"Never thought of that, " muttered Esau. "Here, let's go along by theriver. "

Five minutes later we were splashing along close to the edge, keepingour feet in the water for a time, with the dog's deep baying behindcoming on so slowly that I knew he must be chained and some one holdinghim back. 

"He will not track us now, " I said breathlessly. "They'll think we havecrossed. "

"Then they'll think we're drowned, and go and tell mother, " said Esau, stopping short. "Here, let's go back. "

"Not now we have gone so far, " I said. "I could not face Mr Raydonnow. Besides, they will know that we could take care of ourselves. "

"Course they would, " said Esau. "Come on. " But before we had gone ahundred yards he said, "Why they won't know it is us yet. "

We tramped on as quickly as we could go for the darkness, and by degreesthe barking of the dog grew more faint in the distance, and finallyceased. 

"There, " said Esau; "they'll be clever if they find us now. "

"And we shall be clever if we find our way. "

"Oh, I'll find my way. I shall never forget how to get to that place, after what happened that day. "

I shuddered, for his words brought up my long illness, and made me trampon down alongside the stream with a curious sensation of awe. 

For the darkness was at times intense, and in the blackest parts theriver seemed to dash and roar in a way that was startling, and as we hadnever heard it before. 

It was all fancy of course, and so it was that the pines rose up soblack that it was hard work to make out the landmarks in the valleywhich had grown familiar during our many wanderings. 

Twice over we stopped to argue, for Esau was positive and obstinate to adegree, insisting that we had come to the right ravine, while I was assure that we had not. 

He gave way sulkily, assuring me that I was going right on past it, andat last I began to think he must be correct. For I had lost all countof time in my excitement, and I stopped short. 

"I've taken you right by it, Esau, " I said sadly. "We must go back. "

"No, you haven't, " he replied, to my great surprise. "I've thoughtsince that couldn't be it, because there was no open pool just below thefall. Don't you remember, where we saw so many trout?"

"Of course, " I cried; "I remember now. Then it is lower down, and weought to hear the noise of falling water. "

We listened, but there was only the rumbling roar of the river down onour left. 

"I'm afraid we're wrong, " I said despondently. "If it only were not sodark!"

"Let's go on a bit further first, " said Esau; and I followed him full ofdoubts, till we turned a corner where the river made a sudden bend, andEsau uttered a low cry. 

"There it is, " he said. "Hark!"

Sure enough there was the roar of a fall, and we knew that we hadreached the entrance of the little side valley, where the pool lay belowthe falls. 

Another minute, and we were passing through a clump of little fir-trees, also familiar to us; and then Esau stopped short, for there was a brightlight just in front--a light which puzzled us for a few moments, beforewe understood that it must be the reflection from a fire which we couldnot see, shining in the clear waters of the pool. 

CHAPTER FORTY THREE. 

OUR WARNING. 

After a whispered consultation we crept on again through the trees, until we could see a good-sized fire blazing and sparkling close down bythe side of the pool, and about it--some asleep, some sitting resting, and others talking--were a group of rough-looking men, whom we had notmuch difficulty in making out to be our visitors at the Fort. 

It was plain enough. They had come down after leaving us, and hadcamped there for the night, perhaps found gold there; and this was theirstation. If so, Gunson must be higher up and safe. 

I whispered my ideas to Esau, who thought for a few minutes beforespeaking. 

"No, " he said, "I don't believe they'd stop here. But p'r'aps they'requite new-comers. What shall we do?"

"Get by them, " I said resolutely. "We must hurry on to Mr Gunson now. "

"But how?" he whispered. "Ain't they stopping up all the road?"

"Not all, " I said. "Let's go down on our hands again, and creep by. "

"All right, only you go first, and be careful. Mind, if they see usthey'll fire. "

I don't know whether it was recklessness or desperation. I had felttimid, and had shrunk from the task at first; but now that I felt I mustgo on, the dread had pretty well passed away. 

Going down on my hands and knees, I found to my great satisfaction thatthe fire was invisible; and if so, of course we must be out of sight ofthe men about it. I whispered this to Esau, who responded by a grunt, which, added to his position, made him bear a strong resemblance to ananimal, and for the moment it amused me, and took my attention from thedifficulty of my task. 

We had had to leave the track, and our way was amongst blocks of stonecovered with moss, between which short stiff patches of bush grew, making our passage difficult, and not to be accomplished without noise. 

But I kept on with the light on my left, knowing that if I kept it inthat position I must be going in the correct direction; and it wasnecessary to keep this in mind, as every now and then a tree or a blockof stone forced me to diverge. 

The men were talking loudly, and now and then there arose a rough burstof laughter, while there was no doubt about who the party were, for Iheard an allusion made to the Fort. 

Just then, as we were about level with the fire, a piece of a branchupon which I pressed my knee gave a loud crack, and the conversationceased instantly. 

We neither of us moved, but crouched there, listening to our beatinghearts, and expecting to have either a shot sent in our direction, or tosee part of the men come rushing toward us. 

At last, after what seemed to be quite ten minutes, a voice said--

"Hear that?"

"Yes, " was growled. 

"What was it?"

"Don't know. "

They began talking again slowly, and by degrees the conversation grewgeneral and loud. 

"Go along, " I whispered, after carefully removing the dead branch, andonce more our rustling progress began. 

Oh, how slow it was, and how I longed to jump up and run. But we werein the opening of the little valley now, and our only chance was tocreep on till we were well beyond the light cast by the fire, and so wepersevered. 

At last, after creeping along inch by inch, we paused, for in front ofus the undergrowth ceased, and I saw an open patch of sand faintly litby the fire, and across this we must pass to reach the shelter beyond. 

"Go on first, " whispered Esau, and, drawing a _long_ breath, I started, going as silently and quickly as I could into the darkness of theshelter beyond, and turned to look at Esau. 

From where I knelt I could see the fire clearly, and as he came across, I was thinking how animal-like he looked, when I fancied I saw amovement, and before I could be sure, there was a flash, a loud report, and a twig dropped from over my head upon one of my hands. 

"Bear! bear!" shouted a voice, and the men sprang to their feet. But bythis time Esau was alongside of me, and rising up we hurried along in astooping position, leaving the eager voices more and more behind, themen being evidently hunting for the bear one of them believed that hehad shot. 

"Was he firing at me?" said Esau. 

"Yes; he saw you, I suppose. "

"But he might have hit me, " cried Esau, indignantly. "Chaps like thathave no business to be trusted with guns. "

"Hist!"

"Come on, lads, " we heard plainly. "I'm sure I hit him. "

"Don't be a fool, " cried another voice. "Wait till daylight. Do youwant to be clawed?"

"Shall I roar?" whispered Esau. 

"Don't--don't, whatever you do, " I whispered back in alarm, for I hadnot the slightest faith in my companion's imitation, and felt certainthat we should be found out. 

The men too seemed to be coming on, but in a few minutes the rustlingand breaking of wood ceased, and we crept on again for a little way; andthen, with the light of the fire reduced to a faint glow, we stoodupright and began to ascend the little valley at a fairly rapid rate forthe darkness. 

"What an escape!" I said, breathing more freely now. 

"That's what I ought to say, " grumbled Esau. "That bullet came close byme. "

"And by me too, " I replied. "I felt a twig that it cut off fall uponme. But never mind as we were not hit. "

"But I do mind, " grumbled Esau. "I didn't come out here to be shot at. "

"Don't talk, " I said. "Perhaps we shall come upon another camp beforelong. "

I proved to be right, for at the end of an hour we came upon a roughtent, so dimly seen that we should have passed it where it stood, somuch canvas thrown over a ridge pole, if we had not been warned by a lowsnoring sound. 

We crept down to the waterside, and slowly edged our way on; but when wewere some fifty yards farther we stopped to consider our position. 

"S'pose that's old Gunson, " said Esau, "and we're going away from himnow?"

The idea struck me too, but I set it triumphantly aside directly. 

"If it were Mr Gunson there would be a fire, and most likely Quongkeeping watch. Besides, we don't know that he had a tent like that. "

"No, he hadn't got a tent, " assented Esau; and we went on, to find thatat every quarter of a mile there was a tent or a fire; and it soonbecame evident that the solitary little valley we had explored on theday of my accident was rapidly getting to hold a population of its own. 

We had passed several of these busy encampments, and were beginning todespair of finding Mr Gunson, when, as nearly as we could guess in thedarkness, just about where we washed the gold, we came upon a fire, whose warm yellow glow lit up a huge pine, and at the scene before us westopped to reconnoitre. 

"That's where I was cutting the tree, " muttered Esau; "and--yes, there'sold Quong. Look!"

Sure enough there was the yellow-faced, quaint little fellow coming outof the darkness into the light to bend down and carefully lay some freshwood upon the fire, after which he slowly began to walk back. 

Mr Gunson must be here, I thought, for Quong would naturally be drawnto him as a strong man who would protect him. 

"Come along, " I said; "we are right after all. "

"No, no, stop!" he cried, seizing me and holding me back, for Quongevidently heard our voices, and darted back among the trees. 

"Nonsense, " I said, struggling. 

"Keep back, I tell you. 'Tain't safe. They don't know it's us, andsomebody may shoot. "

It was a foolish thing to do, but I wrested myself free and ran forward. 

As I did so I heard the ominous _click click_ of a gun-lock, and stoppedshort. 

"Halt! Who's that? Stand!" cried a deep voice; and the effect was sogreat upon me, that I felt like one in a nightmare trying to speak, butno words came. 

Esau was not so impressed, however, for he shouted wildly--

"Hi! Don't shoot. It's only us. Mr Gunson there?"

The boughs were parted, and the familiar figure of the prospector cameout into the light, rifle in hand. 

"Why, Gordon!" he cried. "You? Glad to see you; you too, Dean. Butthat's risky work, my lad. Don't you know the old proverb--`Letsleeping dogs lie'? I did not know you were friends, and these aredangerous times; I might have tried to bite. "

He shook hands with us both as he spoke, and Quong came cautiously outfrom among the trees. 

"Ay, ay, ay!" he cried, beginning to caper about. "You come along? Howde-do-di-do. Quong make hot flesh tea. "

"No, no; they don't want tea at this time of night. "

"Yes, please give me some, " I said, for I was hot and faint withexertion. "I shall be glad of a mug. "

"Hot flesh tea, " cried Quong, beginning to rake the fire together. "Makee cakee dleckly. "

"Why, Gordon, what brings you here?" cried Mr Gunson. "You belong tothe opposite camp. Raydon hasn't let you come gold-washing?"

"No, " I said, hurriedly. "Have you seen those men?"

"What men? There are plenty about here. "

"I mean those men you quarrelled with on the steamer about Quong. "

"Eh? 'Bout Quong?" cried the little Chinaman, looking up sharply. "Badman on puff-boat pullee tail neally off. No. "

"Yes; they have been at the Fort to-day--yesterday--which is it--andthey are down below yonder now. "

"What, those fellows?" cried Gunson, excitedly; and he gave vent to along low whistle. "That's awkward. "

"I was afraid you did not know, " I said, hurriedly. "I knew you werehere, and I came to warn you. Mr Raydon--"

"Sent you to warn me?" interrupted Gunson. 

"No, " I said; "we had to break out of the Fort to-night and come. MrRaydon is not good friends with me. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Gunson. "So you came to let me know?"

"To put you on your guard, " I said. "Yes. "

I saw him look at me fixedly for a few moments, and then in ahalf-morose way he nodded his head at me, saying--

"Thank you, my lad--thank you too, Dean. "

"Warn't me, " said Esau, sourly. "It was him. I only come too. "

"Well, it is awkward, " continued Gunson, after a few moments' thought, "for I have got to the spot now that I have been looking for all theseyears. "

"Then you're finding lots of gold?" cried Esau, eagerly. 

"I am finding a little gold, " replied Gunson, quietly; "and Quong istoo. "

"Eh? Me findee gole?" cried Quong, looking up from the half-boilingkettle, and hastily-made cakes which he had thrust in the embers tobake. "Yes; findee lil bit, and put um in littlee bottle. "

"But these men--will they attack you?" I said, anxiously. 

"Yes, if they find that I have a good claim. More than two, you say?"

I told him all about the coming to the Fort, and how we had passed themdown below. Gunson looked very serious for a while; then with a smilehe said quietly--

"Well, union is strength. Now you two lads have come, my force isdoubled. You will stay with me now?"

"No, " I said, firmly. "As soon as it is light I must go back to theFort to our friends. "

"But you have quarrelled with Mr Raydon, and after this night'sbusiness he will not have you back. "

"No, " cried Esau, eagerly. "Let's stop and wash gold. "

"And leave your mother, " I said, "for the sake of that. "

"I wish you wouldn't be so nasty, Mayne Gordon, " cried Esau. "Who'sa-going to leave his mother? Ain't I trying to get a lot o' money so asto make her well off?"

"We cannot stay, " I said. "I don't want Mr Raydon and my friends--"

"They have arrived then?"

"Yes, " I said. "What would they think if I ran off like this?"

"Humph! you're a strange lad. You take French leave, and come to warnme. They fire at you, and hunt you with that great hound, and yet youare going back!"

"Yes, " I said, "as soon as it is light; Esau too. "

"And suppose old Raydon won't have us back?" cried Esau. 

"But he will when he knows why I came. "

"I am not so sure, " said Gunson. "Well, I suppose you are right. "

"No, no, " cried Esau. "I meant to stop along with you. I shan't go. If I do, it'll be to fetch mother. "

I told Esau I did not believe him, and Gunson went on--

"It's awkward about those fellows, for at present might is right uphere. The worst of it is, Quong can't fight. "

"No fightee, " said Quong, looking up sharply. "Melican man fightee. Quong makee flesh tea, talkee ploper English. Makee flesh blead allhot. Hot closs bun. "

"I should like to stay with you, Mr Gunson, " I said; "and it is verytempting. But I must go back. "

"And if Mr Raydon refuses to have you, my lads, come back, and I'llmake you as welcome as I can. "

"Flesh tea all leady, " said Quong; and I was soon after gladly partakingof the simple meal, close to the spot where I had met with the terribleaccident six months before. 

Before we lay down for a few hours' rest, I wanted to tell him moreabout my trouble, and how Mr Raydon suspected me. I wanted to ask himtoo how he had found out about this spot. But Esau was lying close byme, and I suspected him of playing a double part. I felt sure just thenthat he had been Gunson's informant, so I had to put it all off till amore favourable opportunity; and while I was thinking this I dropped offfast asleep. 

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. 

GREY'S MESSAGE. 

"Flesh tea allee leady, " cried a familiar voice in my ear; and I startedup to see the sun peering over the edge of the mountains to light up thebeautiful opalescent mists floating below. There was the scent of thebruised pine-boughs where I lay, and a more familiar one wafted from thefire--that of hot, newly-made bread. 

"Yes, all right, I'm getting up, " grunted Esau; and directly after wewent down to the stream and had a good wash, finding Gunson waiting bythe fire and watching the frizzling of some slices of bacon on ourreturn. 

"Good morning, " he said. "Come and have your breakfast. Well, " hecontinued, as we began, "what's it to be? Going back?"

"Yes, " I said, "directly after breakfast. "

"Oh!" cried Esau. 

"I can't help it, Esau; we must. We are in honour bound. "

"And we might make our fortunes. "

"You leave me, then, to the mercy of those scoundrels down below?" saidGunson, drily. 

"I am only a boy, sir, " I said; "how can I fight for you? I'll beg MrRaydon to send help to you though, directly. "

"Yes; do, my lad. I shall be in rather a dangerous position. Say I begof him to try and give me protection, for though I am fighting againsthim here, all this was sure to come, and I might as well grow rich asany one else. "

I promised eagerly that I would; and we were hurrying through ourbreakfast, when there was the trampling of feet and the breaking of woodjust below. 

Gunson looked up and seized his rifle, to stand ready; and directlyafter a man strode out of the dense forest and stood before us. 

"Grey!" I exclaimed, wonderingly. 

"Yes, " he said, stolidly. "Morning. "

"Have some breakfast?" said Gunson. 

"Yes. Bit hungry, " said Grey. Then turning to me and Esau--"Chief saysI'm to tell you both that as you have chosen to throw in your lot withMr Gunson here, you are not to come back to the Fort again. "

I dropped my knife and sat half stunned, wondering what Mr and MrsJohn would say; and as I recovered myself, it seemed as if when a fewwords of explanation would have set everything right, those words werenever to be spoken. 

Esau had been as strongly affected as I was; but he recovered himselffirst. 

"Not to come back to the Fort again?" he cried. 

"No, " said Grey, with his mouth full. "Chief said if you were so madafter gold, you might go mad both of you. "

"Hurray!" cried Esau. "Then I'm going to be mad as a hatter with hatsfull. "

"Right, " said Grey, stolidly, as he munched away at the cake and bacon. "You're in the right spot. "

"But hold hard, " cried Esau, as another thought struck him. "This won'tdo. He ain't going to keep her shut up in the Fort. I want my mother. "

"Right, " said Grey, setting down the tin mug out of which he drank hishot tea. "I'll tell him you want your mother. "

"Yes, do. I don't mind. I wanted to come up here. "

"Well, Gordon, what have you to say?" cried Mr Gunson. "Any message tosend back?"

"Yes, " I said, flushing and speaking sharply. "Tell Mr Raydon--no, tell Mr and Mrs John that I have been cruelly misjudged, and that someday they will know the whole truth. "

"Right, " said Grey. "I won't forget. Nothing to say to the chief?"

"No, " I said; "nothing. "

"Yes; a word from me, " said Gunson. "Tell him that something ought tobe done to preserve order here, for the people are collecting fast, andsome of them the roughest of the rough. "

"Yes, " said Grey. "I'll tell him; but he knows already; we had a tasteof 'em yesterday. Anything else?"

"No, " said Gunson; "only that perhaps I may want to send to him forhelp. "

"Best way's to help yourselves, " said Grey, at last rising from a heartybreakfast. "Good-bye, my lads, " he said, "till we run agen each otherlater on. I say, " he continued, after shouldering his rifle, "did youtwo lads bring away guns?"

"No, " I said; "of course not. "

"Haven't got any then. How many have you?" he continued, turning toGunson. 

"Only my own and a revolver. "

"Lend you mine, young Mr Gordon, " he said, handing it to me, and thenunstrapping his ammunition-belt, and with it his revolver in itsholster. "Better buy yourself one first chance, and then you can sendmine back. Take care of the tackle; it's all good. "

"Thank you, Grey, " said Gunson, grasping his hand. "You couldn't havemade him a better loan. I won't forget it. "

"Course you won't. Nor him neither, I know. "

"Ain't got another, have you?" said Esau. 

Grey shook his head. 

"Good-bye, " he said. 

"I say, tell mother not to fret, I'm all right, " cried Esau. 

"And give old Rough a pat on the head for me, " I cried. 

"I will. Nice game you had with him last night, " said Grey, laughing. "Too good friends with you to lay hold. "

"Oh, was I, sir?" cried Esau; "he's made one of my trousersknee-breeches. Look!"

He held up his leg, where the piece had been torn off below the knee, and Grey laughed as he went and disappeared in the forest that fringedthe banks of the stream. 

"Then now we can begin gold-digging in real earnest, " cried Esau, excitedly. "I say, Mr Gunson, how's it going to be?"

"What, my lad?"

"Each keep all he finds?"

"We'll see about that later on, " said Gunson, sternly. "There will beno gold-washing yet. "

Esau stared. 

"There are too many enemies afoot. I am going to wait and see if thosemen come up this way. If they do, there will be enough work to maintainour claim, for, setting aside any ill-feeling against me, they may wantto turn us off. "

"Well, they are ugly customers, " said Esau, rubbing one ear. "I say, doyou think they'll come to fight?"

"If they think that this is a rich claim, nothing is more likely. "

"And I say, " cried Esau, "I didn't mean that. "

"If you feel afraid you had better go. I dare say you can overtake thatman. "

"But I don't want to go. "

"Then stay. "

"But I don't want to fight. "

"Then go. "

"But there ain't nowhere to go, and--Oh, I say, Mayne Gordon, what is afellow to do?"

"Do what I do, " I said, quickly. 

"What's that?"

"Trust to Mr Gunson the same as we have done before. "

"Thank you, Mayne Gordon, " said Gunson, laying his hand on my shoulder;"but I hardly like exposing you to risk. "

"The danger has not come yet, " I said, smiling, though I confess tofeeling uncomfortable. "Perhaps it never will. "

"At any rate we must be prepared, " said Gunson. "Only to think of it!What a little thing influences our careers! I little fancied when Iprotected that poor little fellow on board the steamer, that in so doingI was jeopardising my prospects just when I was about to make thesuccess of my life. "

"It is unfortunate, " I said. 

"Unfortunate, boy?--it is maddening. But for this I should once morehave been a rich man. "

I looked at him curiously, and he saw it. 

"Yes, " he said, laughingly, "once more a rich man. "

"Is one any the happier for being rich?" I said. 

"Not a bit, my lad. I was rich once, and was a miserable idiot. Mayne, I left college to find myself suddenly in possession of a good fortune, "he continued, pausing excitedly now, and speaking quicker, for Esau hadstrolled off to a little distance with Quong. "Instead of making gooduse of it, I listened to a contemptible crew who gathered about me, andwasted my money rapidly in various kinds of gambling, so that at the endof a year I was not only penniless, but face to face with half a dozenheavy debts of honour which I knew I must pay or be disgraced. Bah! whyam I telling you all this?"

"No, no; don't stop, " I said eagerly; "tell me all. "

"Well, " he said, "I will; for I like you, Mayne, and have from the daywe first met on board the _Albatross_. It may be a warning to you. No:I will not insult you by thinking you could ever grow up as I did. Forto make up for my losings, I wildly plunged more deeply into thewretched morass, and then in my desperation went to my sister and motherfor help. "

"And they helped you?" I said, for he paused. 

"Of course, for they loved me in spite of my follies. It was for thelast time, I told them, and they signed away every shilling of theirfortunes, Mayne, to enable me to pay my debts. And then--"

"And then?" I said, for he had paused again. 

"And then I had the world before me, Mayne, " he said, sadly. "I wasfree, but I had set myself the task of making money to restore my motherand sister to their old position. I tried first in London, but soonfound out it would be vain to try and save a hundredth part of what Iought to pay them, so I tried adventure. There were rumours of goldbeing discovered in Australia, then in the Malay Peninsula, and again atthe Cape, so I went to each place in turn and failed. Other men madefortunes, but I was always unlucky, till once at the Cape, where I hitupon a place that promised well, but my luck was always against me. Mytent was attacked one night, and I was left senseless, to come to myselfnext morning, and find that I had been robbed, and so cruelly ill-usedthat the sight of one eye was gone for ever, and there was nothing leftfor me to do but sell my claim for enough money to take me back toEngland amongst my poor people to be nursed back to health. Then, as Igrew strong again, there came rumours of the gold in British Columbia, and I started once more, taking passage as a poor man in the steerage, and meeting on board one Mayne Gordon, with whom I became friends. Am Iright?"

"Indeed, yes, " I cried, giving him my hand. 

"That's well, " he said, smiling. "Since then I have worked, as youknow, for the golden prize that, if it does not make those at homehappy, will place them far above want, but always without success, passing away from Fort Elk, when there was abundance near, and returningpoorer than I went, to find out quite by accident that here was indeedthe golden land. Mayne, I have gold worth hundreds of pounds alreadyhidden away safe. "

"I am very, very glad, " I cried. "But I want to know--"

"Yes?" he said, for I had stopped. 

"Have you--no, not now, " for just then Esau came up to us. 

"Look here, my lad, " said Gunson, quickly, "I sincerely hope that we maynever have cause to use weapons against our fellow-men; but we must beprepared for emergencies. Do you know how to handle a revolver?"

Esau shook his head. 

"Hit ever so much harder with my fists, " he said. 

"But that will not do. The sight of our weapons may keep evil visitorsoff. Let me show you how to load and fire. "

"Will it kick?" said Esau. 

"Not if you hold it tightly. Now, look here. "

And as I looked on, Mr Gunson showed Esau how to load and fire, andgenerally how to handle the weapon, the lesson acting as well for me. 

"There, " said Mr Gunson at last, "you ought to be a valuable help to menow; for the beauty of a weapon like this is, that the very sight of itsbarrel will keep most men at a distance; and if they come I hope it willthese. "

"Did yesterday, didn't it?" said Esau, laughingly, to me. 

"Now, " said Gunson, "about your rifle, Mayne; can you manage it?"

"I think so, " I said; and I handled it in a way which satisfied mymaster. 

"That's right, " he said. "Never mind about hitting. To fire is thething; the noise will, I hope, scare enemies. Now if Quong could be ofsome use, it would make a show of four defenders; but we know of old hisstrong point. "

"Getting up a tree, " I said, laughing. 

"Exactly. Perhaps he could throw boiling water, but I shall not ask himto do that. There, we are all right; every force must have acommissariat department, and some general once said that an army fightsupon its stomach. We'll have him to feed us, while we keep guard aboutthe place. "

"And won't you wash for gold at all?" said Esau, in a disappointed toneof voice. 

"No, nor yet mention it, " said Gunson, firmly. "To all intents andpurposes there is no gold here whatever. We are settlers, and we aregoing to hold this spot. You see, there is our brand on that tree. "

As he spoke he pointed to the mark we had cut on the great fir-tree hardby, and I could not help a shudder as I recollected the events of thatday. 

The morning passed, and the afternoon came without our hearing a soundbut those made by the birds and squirrels, and after partaking of a mealwe began to look anxiously for the night as the time of danger; but wesaw the ruddy blaze of light die out on snow-topped peaks, and then thepale stars begin to appear. 

"This place is wonderfully like Switzerland in parts, " said Gunson, aswe sat near the fire always on the _qui vive_ for danger; and in a lowvoice he chatted to us till it was quite night, and the sky was a blazeof stars. 

"I think we may sleep in peace to-night, " said Gunson, and he was a trueprophet, for, though I woke twice with a start of fear, the noise whichhad wakened me was only caused by Quong going to throw some wood uponthe fire, which he never suffered to die out, but coaxed on so as tohave a plentiful heap of hot ashes in which to bake. 

Two days passed in peace, and then a third, with the inaction tellingupon us all. For we were constantly on the strain, and the slightestsound suggested the coming of an enemy. 

"You see we cannot stir, " Gunson said to me. "We must keep together. If one of us played spy and reconnoitred, the chances are that the enemywould come while we were away. "

"But what does Quong say?" I asked. "He went down the stream lastnight. "

"That there are thirty parties between here and the river, and thatmeans some of them are new-comers, making their way up here before long. To-morrow we shall have to send him to the Fort to beg for food. "

"But there is a store lower down, Quong told me. "

"Yes, and to buy off the people at their exorbitant prices, I shall haveto pay with gold, and for the present I wish to avoid showing that thereis any here. "

The next day dawned, and was passing as the others had passed, for MrGunson was hesitating still about sending Quong for provisions, thatlittle gentleman having announced that there would be "plenty bread, plenty tea, plenty bacon for another day. "

"Mayne, " said Mr Gunson, as the sun was getting low, "I think I shallgo down the stream to-night, and see if those men are there. Perhaps, after all, we are scared about nothing; they may have gone up another ofthe valleys instead of this, and found gold in abundance--who knows?But I must end this suspense some--"

He started, for I was pointing down stream at something moving. 

"Is that a deer?" I whispered; and before he could answer a voicecried--

"Come on, lads, it's more open up here, and it looks a likely spot. "

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. 

GUNSON'S DECISION. 

"Sit fast, " said Gunson, "both of you. Don't make any sign, and leaveme to speak. But mind, if I say `Tent, ' run both of you to the tent, and seize your weapons ready to do what I say. "

I gave him a nod, and sat with beating heart watching the moving figure, which directly after caught sight of us. 

"Hullo!" he said; "some one here?" Then turning, "Look sharp, some ofyou. "

Both Gunson and I had recognised the man as Quong's principal assailant, and I glanced sharply toward the Chinaman, to catch sight of the solesof his shoes as he crept rapidly in amongst the trees, a pretty evidentsign that he too had recognised his enemy. 

"Nice evening, mate, " said the big fellow, advancing, as Gunson sat byme, coolly filling his pipe. "Ah, I just want a light. "

He came closer, looking sharply round, while we could hear the tramplingand breaking of the fir-boughs, as others were evidently close at hand. 

Gunson drew a burning stick from the fire, and offered it to the man, who took it, and said quietly, as he lit his own pipe--

"Camping here for the night, mate?"

"Yes: camping here. "

"Going on in the morning?"

"No; this is my claim. "

The man dropped the burning stick, and stared at Gunson. 

"What?" he said. "Oh no, that won't do. Me and my mates have chosenthis patch, so you'll have to go higher up or lower down; haven't we, lads?" he continued, as one by one the rest of the gang came up. 

"Eh? all right, yes, whatever it is, " said one of them, whom Irecognised as the second of Quong's assailants. 

"There, you see, " continued the first man; "it's all right, so you'llhave to budge. "

"No, " said Gunson, quietly; "this is my claim. I've been here some daysnow, and here I stay. "

"Oh, we'll see about that, " said the fellow, in a bullying tone. "It'sthe place for us, so no nonsense. Been here some days, have you?"

"Yes, some days now, my lad; and the law gives me a prior right. "

"Ah, but there arn't no law up here yet. Look here, " he cried, suddenlyseizing Gunson, and forcing him back. "What's the pay dirt worth? Howmuch gold have you got? How--Why, hallo! it's you, is it? Here, oldlad, " he cried to the other speaker, "it's our wrastling friend. I toldyou we should run up agen each other again, and--why of course--here'sthe boy too. This is quite jolly. "

"Keep your hands off, " said Gunson, shaking himself free, and springingup, an example we followed. "This part of the country's wide enough, sogo your way. I tell you again, this claim is mine. What I make is mybusiness, so go. "

"Hear all this?" said the big fellow, quickly. "Hear this, mates? Wearn't inside a fence now, with a lot o' riflemen ready, so just speakup, some of you. Isn't this the spot we mean to have--isn't this theclaim Tom Dunn come up and picked?"

"Yes, yes, " came in chorus, as the men closed up round us in thegathering gloom; while I felt sick with apprehension, and stood ready tospring away as soon as Mr Gunson gave the order to go, while, fortunately for us, the way was open, being beyond the fire. 

"You hear, mate, " cried the big fellow, fiercely, "so no more words. You and your boys can go, and think yourselves lucky we don't slit yourears. Do you hear?"

"Yes, " said Gunson, smiling. 

"There's plenty of other places, so be off. Where's your traps? Nowthen, cut!"

He took a step forward, and his companions seemed about to rush at us, when Mr Gunson's voice rang out--

"Tent!"

We sprang across the fire, whose thin smoke half hid us as we rushed inamong the trees, and seized our weapons. 

"Scared 'em, " roared the big fellow; and there was a chorus of laughterfrom his companions, who gathered about the fire, kicking it together tomake a blaze, and get lights for their pipes. 

We were in darkness, and they were in full light, the flames flashingup, and giving a strangely picturesque aspect to the group. 

"Soon jobbed that job, " said the big fellow. "How they ran! wonderwhether they got any dust. "

"You ought to have searched 'em, " said the second. "I know they had, orthey wouldn't have run. "

"_Cock_, " whispered Gunson, as there was a momentary pause; and the menall started, and their hands went to their hips for their pistols, asthe ominous clicking of our pieces was heard. 

"Bail up!" roared Gunson, his voice pealing out of the darkness; "youare covered by rifles, and the man who moves dies. "

There was an angry growl, and the men threw up their hands, one of themholding a pistol. 

"Put that iron away, " roared Gunson; and the man slowly replaced it, andthen raised his hands like his fellows. 

"Now go back the way you came, or strike up further, " said Gunson, firmly. "Show your faces here again, and it is at your own risk, for Ishoot at sight. Off!"

There was a low muttering growl at this, and the men walked slowly awayin the direction by which they had come, while we sat listening tillthere was not a sound. 

"Gone, " I said, with the painful beating of my heart calming down. 

"Yes, my lad, gone, " said Gunson; "and we shall have to follow theirexample. It is a horrible shame, but till we have people sent up by thegovernor, those scoundrels take the law in their own hands. "

"But they will not dare to come back. "

"I don't know. But I shall not dare to try and hold the place againstsuch a gang. "

"But you weren't afraid of 'em?" said Esau. 

"Indeed, but I was, " said Gunson, with a bitter laugh, "horribly afraid. I should have fought to the end though, all the same, and so wouldyou. "

"Dunno, " said Esau; "but I was going to try and hit one, for I thoughtit a pity to waste a shot, and I can hit without killing; can't I, MayneGordon?"

"Don't talk about it, " I said, with a shudder. 

"Why not? Wish we could wound all that lot like I wounded you, and thatthey would be as bad for six months. "

"Don't talk, " said Mr Gunson. "We will not stir to-night, and the bestway will be not to show ourselves--only one at a time to make up thefire. No sleep to-night, lads; or if there is, it must be in turns. Here, Quong! What tree has he gone up?"

There was no reply, and we sat listening with the darkness closing inall around, and the silence growing painful. It was a weary watch inthe gloom, though outside the fire lit up the valley, and from time totime I went out and threw on a few sticks, just enough to keep it up. 

I don't know what time it was, probably about midnight, when Mr Gunsonsaid softly. 

"Two will be enough to watch. You, Dean, lie down and take your spelltill you are called. "

There was no reply. 

"Do you hear?"

Still no answer. 

"What!" cried Mr Gunson, "has he forsaken us?"

"No, no, " I whispered; "here he is, and fast asleep. "

Mr Gunson uttered a low, half-contemptuous laugh. 

"Nice fellow to trust with our lives, " he said. "Shall I wake him towatch while we sleep?"

"Don't be hard upon him, " I said. "He was very tired, and it always washis weak point--he would go to sleep anywhere. "

"And your weak point to defend your friends, eh, Mayne? There, I willnot be hard upon him. Talk in whispers, and keep on the _qui vive_; wemust not be surprised. Are you very tired?"

"Not at all now, " I said. "I don't want to go to sleep. "

"Then we'll discuss the position, Mayne. Hist!"

We listened, but the faint crack we heard was evidently the snapping ofa stick in the fire, and Mr Gunson went on. 

"Now, Mayne, " he said, "after years of such toil as few men have livedthrough, I have found wealth. No, no, don't you speak. Let me have therostrum for awhile. "

He had noted that I was about to ask him a question, for it was on mylips to say, "How did you get to know of this place?"

"I am not selfish or mad for wealth, " he continued. "I am working forothers, and I have found what I want. In a few months, or less, I shallbe a rich man again, and you and your friends can take your share in myprosperity. That is, if I can hold my own here till law and order areestablished. If I cannot hold my own, I may never have another chance. In other words, if those scoundrels oust me, long before I can get helpfrom the settlement they will have cleared out what is evidently a richhoard or pocket belonging to old Dame Nature, where the gold has beenswept. Now then, for myself I am ready to dare everything, but I haveyou two boys with me, and I have no right to risk your injury, perhapsyour lives. What do you think I ought to do?"

"Stand your ground, " I said, firmly. "I would. "

I said this, for I had a lively recollection of the cowardice these menhad displayed, both at the Fort and here, as soon as they had beenbrought face to face with the rifles. 

Gunson grasped my hand and pressed it hard. 

"Thank you, my lad, " he said, in a low deep whisper. "I half expectedto hear you say this, but my conscience is hard at work with me as towhether I am justified in tying your fate up with that of such anunlucky adventurer as I am. "

"I am only an adventurer too, " I said; "and it is not such very bad luckto have found all this gold. "

He was silent for a few minutes, as if he were thinking deeply, but atlast he spoke. 

"I've been weighing it all in the balance, Mayne, " he said, "and Godforgive me if I am going wrong, for I cannot help myself. The gold isvery heavy in the scale, and bears down the beam. I cannot, gamblerthough I may be, give up now. Look here, Mayne, my lad, here is mydecision. I am going to try and get a couple of good fellows from downbelow to come in as partners. So as soon as it is light you had betterget back to the Fort, explain your position, and I know Mr Raydon to beso straightforward and just a man, that he will forgive you. "

"There is nothing to forgive, " I said, firmly; "and I'd sooner die thango back now. "

"Nonsense! heroics, boy. "

"It is not, " I said. "Mr Gunson, would two strange men, about whom youknow nothing, be more true to you than Esau Dean and I would?"

"No; I am sure they would not, " he cried eagerly. "Then I shall staywith you, and whatever I do Esau will do. He will never leave me. Besides, he is mad to get gold too. We are only boys, but those men areafraid of the rifles, and even if they mastered us, they would not dareto kill us. "

"No, my lad, they would not, " cried Mr Gunson. "Then you shall stay. "

He turned toward me, and grasped my hand. "And look here, Mayne, I havefor years now been the rough-looking fellow you met in the steerage ofthe ship; but I thank heaven there is still a little of the gentlemanleft, and you shall not find me unworthy of the trust you place in--Ah!"

I started back, for there was the sound of a heavy blow, and Mr Gunsonfell forward upon his face, while two strong hands seized me frombehind, and I was thrown heavily, while some one lay across my chest. 

CHAPTER FORTY SIX. 

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAW. 

"Right behind him, mate. Don't be afraid. Tie his thumbs togethertoo. " I heard these words as I lay there in the darkness, and knew thatour assailants must be securing Gunson, while directly after Esau'sangry expostulations told what was going on with him. 

"Let go, will you! Oh, I say, it hurts. What yer doing of? Here, hi!Mr Gunson, Mayne Gordon, don't be such cowards as to run away and leavea fellow. They're a-killing of me. "

"Hold your row, will you, " cried a gruff voice that was familiar to menow. "There, you won't run away in a hurry. Have you tied that othershaver up?"

"No, " growled the man, who was lying across me. 

"Look sharp then, and let's see what they've got to eat. Done the jobneatly this time. "

"Yes, " said another voice, whose words made me shudder; "bit too well, mate. This chap's a dead 'un. "

"Bah! not he. Crack on the head with a soft bit o' wood won't kill aman. Here, let's see what they've got. Make up that fire a bit. Plaguey dark. "

While this was being said, I felt hands busy about my hands and legs, and then a voice by me said--

"There he is, tight as a bull-calf in a butcher's cart. "

Soon after the fire blazed up vividly, sending its light in amongst thetrees; and I saw the faces of the two big fellows, our old friends, andseveral of the others, who, after making sure of the rifles andrevolvers, hunted out what food there was in Gunson's little tent, andbegan to prepare themselves a meal. 

"Don't seem to be no whiskey, " said the big fellow, who was leader, ashe passed close by me; and there I lay listening, perfectly helpless, and with my heart beating heavily with dread, as I pondered on the man'swords about Gunson. 

I waited till the men were talking round the fire, and then whispered--

"Mr Gunson--Mr Gunson, " but there was no reply, and a chill feeling ofhorror ran through me, and the cold dew gathered on my forehead. 

"Ain't you going to say a word to me, Mayne Gordon?" said Esau, in apiteous voice. 

"Say? What can I say?" I replied. 

"Dunno, but you might say something. They've tied me so tight that theropes cut right down to the bone. "

"So they have me, and it hurts horribly. "

"Can't hurt you so much as it does me. Pretty sort of chap you were tokeep watch, and let them jump on us like that. "

"Pretty sort of fellow you were to go to sleep, " I returned, bitterly. 

"Didn't go to sleep, " grumbled Esau. "Only shut my eyes for a moment. "

"There, don't make paltry excuses, " I said, angrily. 

"Dare say you two was asleep too, " he said, sulkily. "I say, have theykilled poor old Gunson?"

"Don't--don't--don't!" I whispered, piteously; and in spite of the painit gave me, I rolled myself over and struggled along, till at last, after a terrible struggle, I reached Gunson's side. 

"Mr Gunson, " I said; "Mr Gunson, pray, pray speak. "

He uttered a low groan, and it sent a thrill of joy through me. 

"Hurray!" whispered Esau; "he ain't dead. I say, can't we get untiedand drop on to them now when they don't expect it?"

"Impossible, " I said, bitterly, "they've got the rifles too. "

"Oh, I say, " groaned Esau, "ain't it too bad, Mayne Gordon! Just as wewas all going to be rich, and now we shall be cheated out of it all. Only wish I could get my hands undone. "

What he would have done I cannot say, for his hands were tied fast, andwe lay there listening to the talking and coarse laughter of the menabout the fire, and a faint groan now and then from Mr Gunson, till theday began to break; and as the sun lit up the misty valley, and shot itsbright, golden arrows through the trees, the men rose, and two of themtook hold of Mr Gunson's head and heels, and carried him out into theopen. "Dead?" said one of them. 

"Not he. Take a harder crack to kill him, " said the big fellow. "Bringout them two boys and lay 'em here. I'm going to hold a court. "

"Here, mind what you're doing, " cried Esau, as he was lifted. "Youhurt. "

"Hold your row, warmint, " growled one of his hearers; and as Esau kickedout viciously, they threw him down by Gunson just as if he was a sack ofwheat. 

"All right, cowards, " exclaimed Esau, viciously. "I'll serve you outfor this. "

I set my teeth hard, so as not to make a sound, though they hurt mehorribly, and I too was thrown down on the grass near the fire, whilethe big leader seated himself on a stone, took out and filled his pipe, lit it with a burning brand, and then began to smoke, while the menformed a circle round. 

"Now then, young 'un, " the big ruffian said to me, "speak up, and weshan't hurt you, but if you don't tell the whole truth, one of my mateshere will take you into the woods there, and use his knife. "

"And then you'll be hung, " said Esau, sharply. "For cutting off hisears, monkey, " growled the fellow. "Well, they wouldn't do it forcutting off yourn, so we'll try them first. "

"Yah! you daren't, " cried Esau, viciously. "Don't, don't, " I said. "It's of no good. "

"Not a bit, " said the big fellow. "Now then, boy, where's your mate hidhis pile?"

"I don't know, " I said. 

"What! No lies, or--"

He clenched his fist, and held it towards me threateningly. 

"I tell you I don't know, and if I did I wouldn't tell you. "

"We'll soon see about that. Now then, you, " he said, turning to Esau, "where's your mate keep his pile?"

"Dunno, " said Esau, laughing. "Find out. "

"Oh, we can soon do that. Won't take long. Here, you, how much did youget out of the stream every day?"

"Don't know, " I said, "anything about it. "

"Ho! Very good. I say, mates, who's got the sharpest knife?"

"All on us, " said his principal companion--the man who was with himfirst. 

"Well then, we'll have his ears off, and if that don't make him speak, his tongue ain't no use, and we'll have off that. "

"You dare to touch him, " cried Dean, fiercely, "and I'll never rest tillthe police catch you. "

"Thank ye, " said the big ruffian, and one man burst into a roar oflaughter. "There, it's of no use, boys; tell us where he buried hispile, and you shall have a handful apiece. I don't know but what we'lllet you stop in camp and cook for us. Now then, out with it. "

"I told you before, " I said firmly, "I don't know, and if I did I wouldnot tell you. "

"Look here, " said one of the men, "give him a taste o' Indian. That'llmake him speak. "

"What d'yer mean?"

"Pull off his boots, and put his feet close to the fire to warm. "

"Oh!" cried Esau, "I wish my hands were untied. "

"And serve him the same, " said the man who had made the proposal. "It'll be a race between 'em who shall speak first. "

"There, it's all right. Ears off last. But they're going to speak;arn't you, boys?"

We both remained silent. 

"Oh, very well, " said the big fellow; "off with their boots then. "

"Don't you say a word, Esau, " I whispered; "it's only to frighten us. "

"No, it arn't, " said the big ruffian, fiercely, for he must have guessedwhat I said. "It arn't done to frighten you. Off with 'em, lads, andhold their feet close. That'll make 'em speak--or squeak, " he added, with a grin. 

"It will not, you cowardly brute, " I cried, desperately, "for we neitherof us know. "

"And him as does can't speak, " cried Esau, fiercely. "Call yourselvesmen to tie us two lads up, and do this? Yah! you're afraid. "

"Where's he hid his pile, then?" growled the big ruffian. 

"Don't answer him, " I said; "it's of no use. "

"Not a bit, my saucy young whelps. Now I give you one more chance. Hold hard a moment, " he cried to the men who held us. "Now then, where's that there gold?"

"I don't know, " I said, furiously, for the pain I suffered made mereckless; "and I tell you again, if I did know I wouldn't say. "

"I say, mates, " said the big fellow, with mock seriousness, "arn't itawful to hear two boys lie like that? Must teach 'em better, mustn'tus?"

There was a burst of laughter at this, and the men dragged off our bootsand stockings. 

"That's the way, " he said; "now set 'em down close to the fire, and justwarm their soles a bit; just to let 'em know what it's like. "

"Oh, Esau!" I groaned, as I was seized; but he did not hear me, for asthey took hold of him he began to struggle and writhe with all hismight. Then for a few moments I began to think that this was all doneto frighten us, till I heard Esau give a shriek of pain. 

"Now, will you tell us?" cried the big fellow. "Give the other a tastetoo. "

Four men laid hold of me, and they carried me close up to the fire, whose glow I felt upon my face, as I too made a desperate effort toescape. But it was useless, and I was turning faint with horror anddread combined, for in another moment they would have forced my feetclose to the glowing embers, when I uttered a cry of joy, for MrRaydon, rifle in hand, suddenly strode out from among the pines, and Iwas dropped, for every man seized his weapon. 

"Put up your pistols, " cried Mr Raydon, in a voice of thunder, as hecame up to us, his piece in his left hand, while with his right hestruck the man nearest to me a blow full in the eyes which sent himstaggering across the fire, to fall heavily on the other side. 

"Stand fast, mates, " cried the big ruffian, fiercely; "he's only one. It's him from the Fort, and we've got my gentleman now. "

"Stand back, sir!" roared Mr Raydon, "if you value your life. "

"Give up that gun if you value yours, " cried the man, and, bowie-knifein hand, he sprang right at Mr Raydon. 

But at that moment there was the sharp crack of a rifle, the ruffian'slegs gave way beneath him, and he fell forward, sticking his knife deepinto the earth. 

"Fool! I warned you, " said Mr Raydon, hoarsely. "Stand! all of you. You are surrounded and covered by rifles--look!"

He pointed to where a thin film of smoke rose from among the pines, close by where Esau had blazed the tree. 

"It's a lie, mates, " groaned the prostrate ruffian; "there's only two of'em. Don't let him bully you like that. "

"No, mate, " cried his chief companion. "It was a shot from behind. Come on. "

He in turn rushed at Mr Raydon, who merely stepped back as the manraised his hand to strike, when a second shot rang out from the sameplace, and, with a yell of agony, the hand which held a knife dropped, and the blade fell with a jingling sound upon a block of stone. 

"Will you believe me now?" said Mr Raydon. "I tell you there are menall round you, and every one is a marksman who can bring you down. Doyou surrender?"

"No, " cried the big ruffian, through his set teeth, as he draggedhimself up on his hands. "It's the same one fired both shots. Mates, you won't cave in and give up a claim like this?"

"No!" came in chorus. "It's our claim, and we'll fight for it. "

"It is Mr Gunson's claim, " I cried, angrily; "and it was ours before hecame. "

"If any one has a right to the claim, it is I, " said Mr Raydon; "and Igive you warning, my men, if one of you is seen in these parts afterto-day, he shall be hunted down and placed in irons till he can be sentback to the coast for attempted murder and robbery. "

"Don't listen, " cried the big ruffian, hoarsely; and I could see that hewas ghastly pale. "He's nobody. He's trying to scar' you. Stand upand fight for your rights. "

"Mr Raydon, quick!" I shouted. "Take care!"

I was too late, for a revolver-shot rang out, fired by the second man;but it was with his left hand, and I uttered a cry of joy, for it hadmissed. 

"Keep to your places, " cried Mr Raydon; "I am not hurt. Grey andnumber two advance. Stop number two and number three advance, andcollect their weapons. You others cover your men. Grey, bring down thenext who lifts a hand. "

Two of the men from the Fort ran out from the pines, rifle in hand; butat that moment there was a crackling and rustling of branches, and oneby one at least a dozen gold-finders from below came running up, armedwith rifles and revolvers. 

"Ah, " cried the big ruffian, from where he lay; "come on, mates. They're trying to put a stop to the gold-washing, and to rob us of ourclaim. "

"Gag that scoundrel if he speaks again, " cried Mr Raydon, coolly, asthe rough-looking men clustered together, dirt-stained, unkempt, anddrenched with water some of them, and all anxiously handling theirpieces. There was a low angry murmur from the new-comers, and ourassailants shouted--

"Yes; come to rob us of our claim. "

"Silence!" cried Mr Raydon, turning then to the gold-finders. "I amMr Daniel Raydon, chief officer of Fort Elk, the station of theHudson's Bay Company. "

"Ay, that's right, " said one of the new-comers. 

"I stand to all here as the magistrate of this district till theGovernor, her Majesty's representative, sends officers to preserveorder, and protect you and your rights and claims in thisnewly-discovered goldfield. "

"That's right, sir; that's right, sir, " said the same man. "But whenwe've chosen claims you're not to take them away. "

"Hear, hear!" roared the big ruffian, faintly. 

"And shoot him down, " cried another of the fresh coiners; and there wasa loud murmur like a chorus of approval. 

"Of course not, my men, " said Mr Raydon, calmly. 

"Don't listen to him. It's a robbery, " cried one of the big ruffian'sgang. "Fired at us; shot two of our men. "

"Yes; we heard the shots, " said the first gold-finder. 

"And I am glad you have come, " said Mr Raydon. "Now then, you boys. Has either of you seen a man here and those two lads before?"

"Seen the man, " said the first speaker; "not the boys. "

"Well, do you know he was working this claim with a Chinaman?"

"Yes, " said another; "I saw the Chinaman only yesterday morning. "

"Last night the Chinaman came to the Fort to tell me they were attackedby a gang of ruffians, and I brought my men over the mountains to cometo their help. "

"It's all a lie, " said the big fellow, in a faint voice. 

"Ask the boys, my good fellows, " said Mr Raydon. "Ask them where MrGunson is. "

"Lying yonder, " cried Esau, "half dead. They did it. "

"These boys are bound too, you see. Tell them, Mayne Gordon, what theywere about to do when I came to your help. "

"Hold our feet in the fire to make us tell where the gold is hidden. "

"No, no; a bit of a game, " chorussed the gang. 

"Look at my feet, " cried Esau, piteously; "is that a bit of a game?" andhe tried to hold up his bound legs, which the leader of the new-comersraised and examined. 

"It's true enough, " said the chief speaker, indignantly; and a roar ofexecration arose. 

"It is all true, " cried Mr Raydon. "Where is the Chinaman?"

"Allee light--me come along, " cried Quong; and there was a roar oflaughter, for his voice came from high up in a tree. 

"Come down, Quong; there is no danger, " said Mr Raydon. "Some of youcut these poor lads' limbs free. Stop, fool!" he roared, as one of thegang began to sidle off. "Stand, all of you, if you value your lives. Fire on the first scoundrel who tries to escape. I have men planted, and good shots, " he said to the leader of the gold-finders. 

"You carry it with a high hand, governor, " said this man, ratherabruptly. 

"Well, sir, I have come to save these people here. I should have donethe same for you. This is English ground, where every man's life andproperty must be protected by the law. For the time being I representthe law, and I'll have myself obeyed. Now what have you--what have anyof you to say?"

"Three cheers for old England and the law!" cried the man. "I beg yourpardon, sir: you're right, and I'm wrong. What shall we do? Hang thislot?"

"That's not obeying the law, " said Mr Raydon, smiling. "No; two ofthem are wounded. Their leader has his thigh broken; and his companionhis hand smashed, as he tried to stab me. They have got theirpunishment. Disarm the rest. Then four of my men shall go with you tosee these scoundrels well down the valley. If they show their faceshere again they know the risks. "

"Right!" cried the leader; and he snatched the revolver from the nearestman, and his example was so rapidly followed, that in a few minutes theutterly cowed gang was huddled together, unarmed, and guarded by four ofthe Company's people, who had advanced from the wood at a word fromtheir chief. 

"And now what about our claims along this stream?" said the leader ofthe new-comers. 

"I am here to help you maintain your just rights, sir, " said Mr Raydon, quietly. "Now help me to maintain order, and to see to the wounded men. Bring lint and bandages, Grey. "

And as that individual produced the linen from his haversack, Mr Raydonhanded his rifle to one of the gold-finders, and went down on one kneeto examine Mr Gunson's injury, which he carefully washed and bandaged. 

"A terrible cut, " he said, in answer to my inquiring eyes, "andconcussion of the brain. I hope not more serious. Now, my man, " hecontinued, turning to the big ruffian, "you tried to take my life, and Ihave got to try and save yours. "

The fellow made no answer, but winced and groaned with pain as hisshattered limb was set and supported by rough splints. 

"This fellow will have to be carried, " said Mr Raydon, rising; "he willnot walk again for many months. Now, sir, you. "

He bent over the second ruffian and examined his hand, bathed andbandaged it, and then went to the stream to wash his own. 

By this time several more armed men had come up from the lower part ofthe stream, and eagerly asked for particulars, while I heard a greatdeal, and noted nearly everything, as I sat by Mr Gunson, sufferingagonies, for my arms and legs throbbed with the return of thecirculation. 

Mr Raydon had only just finished his task when the chief speaker of thegold-finders came up with half a dozen more. 

"All my mates here, sir, " he said, "from down stream ask me to speak, and say we thank you for what you've done. We want protection, and law, and order, and for every man to make his pile in peace. We see you'vegot half a dozen men with you, and you talk of sending four down theriver with this gang. "

"Yes, " said Mr Raydon. 

"Well, sir, we think we can save you that job. We'll see those chapsoff the premises. "

"No violence, " said Mr Raydon, sternly. 

"Not if they behave themselves, sir, I promise that. For we think, asthere's no knowing who may come next, we should be glad if you'll keepyour men, so that in case of trouble we can appeal to you. "

"Very well, " said Mr Raydon; "let it be so then. "

"Don't trust him, " snarled one of the wounded men; "he'll rob you all ofyour claims. "

"Not he, " said the chief speaker. 

"No, " said Mr Raydon, "and the first step I shall take will be to leavetwo of my men in charge of this claim, which has been taken up by thewounded prospector, Gunson. "

"That's right; that's fair, " came in chorus, and after a little moreconversation the men moved off with the prisoners, the wounded fellowbeing carried on a litter of poles. 

"Edwards, " said Mr Raydon, "you and another had better stay here withthe Chinaman. Gordon, where is the gold?"

"I have not the least idea, sir. "

"Oh, then you, Dean. "

"Don't know a bit, sir, " said Esau, who was nursing his blistered feet. 

"Here, Quong, where has Mr Gunson stored the gold he has found?"

"Me no sabbee, sah. Quong give allee gole Mis Gunson take callee. Nosabbee. Hide allee gole ploply. "

"Cut poles and lash them together, " said Mr Raydon to Grey; "we mustcarry him to the Fort. Gordon, Dean, you had better come and stay tillhe is better. "

I looked up at him doubtingly. 

"Yes, " he said; "it will be best. "

Half an hour after we were on our way back, with Esau limping painfully. Two of the miners volunteered to help carry the litter, so as torelieve the four we had, and the claim was left in charge of the twoothers, for whom, as we came away, Quong was making, as he expressed it, "plenty good flesh tea. "

It was dark night again as we reached the gate of the Fort, and heardthe deep-toned baying of the great dog; and a few minutes later MrsJohn was holding my hands, and as she kissed me there was a tear leftupon my cheek. 

"So glad, so very glad to see you back, Mayne, " said Mr John, warmly. "I hope all the trouble now is at an end. "

I said nothing, only helped to get Mr Gunson in his old quarters, afterEsau had at last extricated himself from his mother's arms. 

"Is it all real, Esau?" I said, after Mr Raydon had gone, telling usnot to be alarmed at Mr Gunson's insensibility, for it might be hoursbefore he came to. 

"I shall come and see him twice in the course of the night, " he said, ashe went out. "You, Esau, you must rest those feet. "

"Yes, sir; all right, " said Esau; and it was then that I said, "Is itall real?"

"If your feet smarted like mine do, you wouldn't ask that, " he replied, sulkily. "I want to know why I wasn't carried back in a litter too?"

"It was impossible, " I said. 

"Wasn't impossible to have given a fellow a pig-a-back. Oh, my feet, myfeet! Oh, yes, it's precious real. "

"I never expected to come back here like this, " I said. 

"Nor I neither, " replied Esau. "I say, you'll keep watch by Mr Gunson, won't you?"

"Yes, of course, " I said. 

"That's right. I'm going to do something for my trotters. "

"What are you going to do?"

"Go off to sleep. "

In a few minutes I was listening to his hard breathing, and askingmyself whether, after the past night, I could do duty in watching thewounded man, when there were footsteps, and two of the men's Indianwives came in. 

"To nurse Mr Gunson, " they said, in fair English, and a short timeafter I too was fast asleep. 

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. 

ALMOST SOLDIERS. 

I awoke that next morning sore, miserable, and seeing everything throughthe very reverse of rose-coloured spectacles. For I was back at theFort, and it now looked a very different place to the home I hadjourneyed so many months to find when I was sanguine and hopeful. 

There appeared to be a dead weight upon me; and as I first opened myeyes, I felt as if the best thing I could do would be to rouse up Esau, and go right away. But as I looked round, my eyes lit upon Mr Gunsonlying insensible in his bed, with Mrs Dean seated patiently by hisside, and I felt ashamed of my thoughts, for I could not go away andleave one who had shown himself so true a friend from our first meeting, and I at once determined, no matter how painful my position might be, tostay by his side, and tend him till he grew strong again. 

I shivered as I thought this, for I could just see his pale face belowhis bandaged head, and the ideas came--suppose he does not recover--never grow strong again? suppose he dies? The weak tears rose to myeyes at the thought, and I lay wistfully gazing at him in the silence ofthat bright morning, for I felt that I should be almost alone out therein that wild, new country. For Mr and Mrs John would certainly bemore and more influenced by Mr Raydon; and as I could not stay at theFort, I should never see them. The old plans of staying with them, andbuilding up a new house somewhere in one of the lovely spots by theriver, were gone, and I told myself that I should soon have to saygood-bye to them. 

There would be Esau, though;--perhaps not: for Mrs Dean would naturallywant to stay where there were women; and as she had become attached toMrs John, the chances were that she would stay at or near the Fort, andthat would influence Esau, who would be forgiven by Mr Raydon, and staytoo, while I should go off into the wilderness all alone. 

Taken altogether, I was about as miserable and full of doleful ideas asa boy of my age could be. Not one bit of blue sky could I see throughthe clouds that shut in my future; and I was growing worse as I laythere with an indistinct fancy that I had heard Mr Raydon's voice inthe night, when a bright ray of sunshine came through the window, andmade a ruddy golden spot on the pine-wood ceiling. 

It was only a ray of light, but it worked wonders, for it changed thecurrent of my thoughts, setting me thinking that the sun was justpeeping over the edge of the mountain lying to the east, and brighteningthe mists that lay in the valleys, and making everything look gloriousas it chased away the shadows from gully and ravine, till it shone fullupon the river, and turned its grey waters into dazzling, rippling, andsplashing silver. 

I don't know how it was, but that sunlight began to drive away the mistsand dark vapours in my mind. I did not feel so miserable, though I waspainfully stiff and sore. The future was bright, my case not sohopeless, and I was just making up my mind that Esau would never forsakeme, and that Mr Gunson would not die, when Mrs Dean looked round. 

"Ah, my dear, " she said; "awake?"

"Yes, " I said, springing up, all dressed as I was. "You have not beenwatching here all night?"

"Oh, no; I only came on at daybreak. He's sleeping very calmly. "

"Has he spoken?"

"Oh dear no, and is not likely to for long enough. Such a pity as itis, poor man!"

"It is a terrible injury, " I said. "Yes, my dear; and how thankful I amit wasn't my poor Esau. What should I have done if it had been he?"

"It would have been terrible, " I said. "Or you, my dear, " she whisperedhurriedly, as if in apology for not naming me before. 

"Oh, that would have been no consequence, " I replied, bitterly. 

"Oh, my dear, " she cried, with the tears in her eyes; "don't--don't talklike that. I know you've been in trouble, but we all have that, andthey say it makes the happiness all the sweeter. "

"Yes, they say so, " I replied gloomily. 

"Ah, it does, my dear. There, as Mr John said to me about you, `itwill all come right in the end. '"

"Here, what's the matter?" said Esau gruffly, still half asleep. "Timeto get up? Hullo, mother! Oh, oh! I recollect now. I was dreamingabout old Quong. I say! Oh, my feet--my feet!"

"There, there, there, my dear; they'll soon be better, " said Mrs Dean, bending over him; and the sight of those two, with Esau's pettishill-humour, quite drove away the rest of my gloom for the time. For asMrs Dean bent over her son, he pushed her away. 

"Don't, mother; I do wish you wouldn't. "

"Wouldn't what, my dear?"

"Talk to me, and pull me about like that. "

"Hush! not so loud, my dear. You'll wake Mr Gunson. "

"Bother Mr Gunson! There you go again. Can't you see I'm growed upnow?"

"Yes, of course, Esau. "

"No you can't, or you wouldn't talk to me like that. You always seem totreat me as if I was two years old; you'll be wanting to rock me tosleep some night. "

"Esau, my dear, how can you?"

"Well, so you will. Pet, pet, pet, every time you get near me. "

"Esau, my darling, " cried Mrs Dean, excitedly. "What are you going todo?"

"Get up. "

"With your feet like that?"

"Well, they'll be just the same if I lie here, and I'm not going to beill. "

"But you will be, dear, if you walk about. "

"Then I shall be ill. I'm not going to lie here for you to feed me witha spoon, and keep on laying your hand on my head. "

"Now, Esau, when did I try to feed you with a spoon?"

"I mean mettyphorically, " grumbled Esau. "You always seem to think I'ma baby. Ah, if you begin to cry, I'll dance about and make my feetworse. "

Mrs Dean wiped her eyes furtively, and Esau put his arm round her andgave her a hearty kiss, which made her beam again. 

"Well, " he said, turning to me with a very grim look, "not much fun ingetting gold, is there? I say, who'd have thought of our coming backagain like this? What 'll Mr Raydon say to us this morning?"

I felt half startled at the idea of meeting him again, but my attentionwas taken up by a low muttering from Mr Gunson, and I went with MrsDean to his side, and stood watching her bathe his head till he sighedgently, and seemed to calm down. 

"Poor old chap!" said Esau; "he got a nasty one, that he did. I say, wonder how much gold him and old teapot had found?"

"Oh, never mind that now. "

"But I do, " said Esau; "and so would he mind if he could think and talk. Wonder where he hid it all? Let's ask Quong, because it oughtn't to belost. "

I made no answer, but stood watching the injured man, while Esaupreferred sitting down and nursing first one foot and then the other, but always obstinately refusing to lot his mother touch them. "I say, "he said, after a pause. "Well. "

"What's old Raydon going to say to us? It was very jolly of him to comeand help us as he did, but he looked pickled thunder at me and you here. He won't let us stay. We shall have to start off again. "

"I suppose so, " I said drearily, with my old troubles coming back; andwe relapsed into silence, till there was a soft light step at the door, and Quong entered and looked sharply at the plain rough bed-place whereMr Gunson lay. 

"Come over see how d'ye do, " he said quickly. "Cap Gunson no go longdie self?"

"No, no, " I cried; "he will get well. "

"Yes; get well, ploper quite well, and go wash gole. Makee fleshblead--flesh tea?"

"No, not yet, " said Mrs Dean, who looked askant at the fresh-comer, andas if she did not approve of him. 

"Allee light. Wait. Good fi' makee blead cakee. "

"I say, Quong, " whispered Esau, "did you two find much gold?"

Quong gave him a quaint laughing look. "You waitee littee bit. Alleesame ask Mas Gunson. You sabbee?"

"But he can't tell us. I say, do you know where he hid what you got?"

"No; no sabbee. Mas Gunson know allee same. You wait. "

Just then I heard a cough in the enclosure, and drew back a littleuneasily as the door opened, and Mr Raydon entered. 

"Good morning, my lads, " he said, gravely and coldly. "Ah, Quong, youhere? Well, nurse, how is your patient?"

"He seems very nicely, sir, and I don't think there is much fever. "

"Does he seem in great pain?"

"Only at times, sir, and then I bathe his temples. "

Quong looked sharply from one to the other, and began to fumble aboutunder his blue cotton blouse till he produced from some hidden pocket atiny thin bottle, less than my little finger, and gave it to Mr Raydon. 

"Velly good, " he said, eagerly. "You sabbee? Touch velly little dlopallee long Cap Gunson head. No makee hurt then. "

"Ah, yes, " said Mr Raydon, taking the bottle. "I have seen thisbefore;" and as Gunson just then uttered an uneasy moan, the cork wastaken out, and a very tiny drop spread with a finger lightly about histemples. 

"Makee seep, " said Quong, smiling. "Velly good. "

The essence certainly produced the required effect, and Quong showed hisyellow teeth. 

"Not muchee, " he said. "Velly lit dlop. Velly ofen? No, no. "

"I understand, " said Mr Raydon, handing back the bottle. 

"No, " said Quong. "No. Keep all along. You sabbee?"

"Very well, I'll keep it, " said Mr Raydon; and just then there was atap at the door. 

"Come in. "

Grey entered. 

"Want me?"

"Bad news, sir, " said Grey, in a sharp whisper. "That man from thelittle valley--Barker he says his name is--"

"Which was Barker?"

"That sensible man you shook hands with. "

"What does he want?"

"Wants to see you, sir. They started that gang down the river with halfa dozen armed miners, and they rose against them in the night. "

"Yes, " said Mr Raydon, excitedly. "Well?"

"They killed two, wounded all the rest, and they are all free again. "

"And their own wounded men?"

"Took them into the woods with them. "

"This is bad news indeed, " said Mr Raydon, beginning to pace the room. 

"He wants to know what's to be done, " said Grey. 

"I must think--I must think, " said Mr Raydon, hastily. "Two men awayguarding that claim. "

"Yes, sir. Weakens us. "

"Yes, " said Mr Raydon; "and we must be weakened more. Two of our menmust go to strengthen them at the claim. There must be four there. "

"Won't draw them away and give up the claim, sir?"

"No, " said Mr Raydon, firmly. "Go back to this Mr Barker, and sayI'll be with him directly. "

"Yes, sir, " said Grey; and he went out with all the quiet precision of asoldier. 

"Bad news--bad news indeed, " said Mr Raydon, half aloud. "More troubleto lay upon your shoulders, Mayne Gordon. All your fault. "

I felt a chill run through me, and I believe a cold hard look must havecome into my face. 

"Well, we must make the best of it. Of course you two lads must stophere. "

"If you wish it, sir, " I said, "we will go directly. "

"I do not wish it, boy, " he replied sternly. "Do you wish to leavethose who have been your friends in the lurch now you have dragged allthis trouble to their door?"

"No, sir, " I said, as I set my teeth hard, determined to be cool, inspite of the injustice with which I felt that I was being treated. 

"No, of course not. You have some stubborn pluck in you--both of you. "

Esau growled in a very low tone, and made his mother look at him in astartled way, as if she had suddenly awakened to the fact that her sonpossessed the nature of a bear's cub. 

Mr Raydon took another turn or two up and down the room. 

"Mrs Dean, " he said, "I can do nothing more for your patient. Nodoctor could; time is the only thing. I'll come back as soon as I can. Meantime my sister will come to you, and you can have either of my men'swives to assist you in nursing. They are Indians, but well trained inthat way. Do your best. "

"Mother always does, " growled Esau. 

Mr Raydon gave him a sharp look, but Esau did not flinch. 

"Look here, you two, " said Mr Raydon, after a pause. "I am going tosend two more of my men away, for the fellows in that gang are not goingto beat me. The law-and-order party must and shall prevail. This willweaken my little garrison, so you two will have to mount rifles, andtake the places of two of my absent men. "

"Yes, sir, " I said, eagerly. "I'll do my best. "

"Thank you. Now, Esau Dean, what do you say?"

"Course I shall do as he does. I'm ready. "

"No, no, Esau, my boy. Your feet, your feet, " cried Mrs Dean. 

"Do be quiet, mother. There you go with the spoon again. Fellow don'tshoot off a rifle with his foot. "

I saw Mr Raydon bite his lips to repress a smile. 

"I had forgotten your burnt feet. Do they feel very bad?"

"Oh, pretty tidy, sir, but I don't mind. I should like to have a pop atone of them as held me to that fire. "

"Naturally, " said Mr Raydon. 

"But I'm afraid I can't do much marching. "

"You will be posted in one of the block-houses. "

"That'll do, " cried Esau. "Come along, Mayne Gordon. "

"You have never used a rifle. "

"Why, Mr Gunson there showed us all about it. Don't you be afraid;I'll try. "

"Oh, Esau!" cried Mrs Dean. 

"And mother shall nurse me when I'm wounded. "

"Oh, my boy--my boy!"

"Silence, sir! Mrs Dean, he is only tormenting you. It is not likelythat he will be hurt, but out here in the wilderness we do sometimeshave to fight to protect the women and children. There, do not beuneasy; I see your son will do you credit. "

Esau gave a gulp, and turned red in the face, while I suffered a twingeof jealousy on finding that the lad, whom I blamed as the cause of allthe trouble, should be spoken to in this way while I was treated with acoldness that, in my sensitive state, seemed to freeze all the betternature within me. 

"A pretty mess this, sir, " said Barker, as we joined him out in theenclosure. "Those stupid donkeys have let loose a nice gang. They'llbe as savage as possible against everybody, and be coming down upon usjust when we don't expect it. "

"But have they arms and ammunition?"

"Plenty, sir. They stripped our men, and if we don't look out they'llstrip us. Why, the little valley will never be safe again while theyare about. "

"No, " said Mr Raydon. "It's a bad look-out, but we must take everyprecaution. You may rely on my helping you, as I promised, and if I amthe unlucky one attacked first, I look for help from you. "

"And you shall have it, sir. I answer for the lads up the valley. Whatdo you propose doing first?"

"Nothing, " said Mr Raydon. 

The man stared at him aghast, and Mr Raydon smiled. 

"But--but hadn't we better get a party together, and hunt them down, sir?"

"An excellent plan, " said Mr Raydon, "but impossible in this wildcountry. They would lead us a terrible dance, weary us out, and perhapstake advantage of our absence to plunder our places. The better waywill be to keep a sharp look-out, and punish them if they attack us. "

"But if they take us by surprise, sir?"

"They must not, " said Mr Raydon, quietly. "My advice to you is, thatyou go back and make arrangements for mutual support, so that all canhurry at once to the place attacked. You will make it one man's duty toact as messenger, and come directly to give warning here, and another togive notice up the valley at Gunson's claim. "

"And the two men there will come and help us? Yes: that's good. "

"There will be four of my men stationed there, " said Mr Raydon. "Thatis a very likely place for the first attack, if they can find their wayover the mountains and through the dense forest. The trouble began bytheir trying to seize that claim. "

"Why not let them go to it again, and attack them when they are settleddown?" said Barker. 

"No, my man, it is not our line to attack; let that come from the enemy. Besides, I particularly wish Mr Gunson's claim to be reserved for himtill he has recovered. So if the enemy find their way there you will goup to my men's help. If there is anything you want from the Fort hereat your camp, you can send up, and I will supply you if I can. "

"Thankye, sir, thankye. That's very neighbourly, " said Barker. "Ithink the more of it because there's a report about that you were deadagainst the claims being taken up. "

I stared at Mr Raydon wonderingly, for his behaviour was inexplicableto me; but I had no time given me for thought. As soon as Barker andthe two men who came up with him had gone, Mr Raydon chose two of hislittle garrison, and sent them, well armed, and with as big loads ofsupplies as they could carry, by the near cut over the mountains, thatis by the track taken when he and his men came to our help. 

Directly after, in a sharp military way, he led us to his littlearmoury, and gave us each a rifle and pistol, with a few words ofinstruction as to where the weapons were to be kept in readiness foruse; and, in addition, what we were to do in the places of the two menwho had gone. 

I was glad of this, for it took up my time, and gave me something elseto think about. It was pleasant too--the duty of having to help in thedefence of the Fort where my friends were gathered. 

"Some day he'll be sorry for it all, " I said to myself; and I wasbrooding over the past again, when Esau uttered a low chuckle, whichmade me turn to him wonderingly. 

"Only think of it, Mayne Gordon, " he said. "What a game!"

"What is a game?"

"You always being so dead on to me about going for a soldier, and herewe are both of us good as soldiers after all. Why, if he'd let ustackle one of those guns, " he continued, pointing to a little cannonmounted in the block-house, "it would be like joining the RyleArtilleree. "

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. 

LOST!

We were not kept in doubt long about the proceedings of the enemy. Iwas in the strangers' quarters next day, talking in a whisper to MrsJohn, while taking her turn at nursing poor Gunson, who still layperfectly insensible, and so still that I gazed at him with feelingsakin to terror, when Mr Raydon came in and walked straight to thebedside. We watched him as he made a short examination, and then inanswer to Mrs John's inquiring look--

"I can do nothing, " he said. "He is no worse. There is no fracture;all this is the result of concussion of the brain, I should say, and wecan only hope that nature is slowly and surely repairing the injury. "

"But a doctor, Daniel?" said Mrs John. 

"My dear sister, how are we to get a surgeon to come up here? It is aterrible journey up from the coast, and I believe I have done and amdoing all that a regular medical man would do. "

"But--"

"Yes, " he said, smiling gravely, "I know you look upon me as being veryignorant, but you forget that I have had a good deal of experience sinceI have been out here. I learned all I could before I came, and I havestudied a good deal from books since. Why, I have attended scores ofcases amongst my own people--sickness, wounds, injuries from wildbeasts, falls and fractures, bites from rattlesnakes, and I might sayhundreds of cases among the Indians, who call me the great medicineman. "

"I know how clever you are, dear, " said Mrs John. 

"Thank you, " he said, kissing her affectionately. "I wish I were; but Iam proud of one achievement. "

"What was that, dear?"

"The prescription by which I cured you. " Then, turning sharply on me, his face grew hard and stern again. 

"Well, Mayne Gordon, " he said, "you have heard the news, of course?"

"I have heard nothing, sir, " I said, eagerly, for it was pleasant tofind him make the slightest advance towards the old friendly feeling. But my hopes were dashed the next moment, as I heard his words, and feltthat they were intended as a reproach. 

"Your friends made a raid on one of the little camps nearest the riverlast night, and carried off all the gold the party had washed. "

"Was any one hurt?" said Mrs John, excitedly. 

"Happily nothing beyond a few blows and bruises, " replied Mr Raydon. "It was a surprise, and the gold-diggers fled for help. When theyreturned in force the gang had gone. Taken to the forest, I suppose. Get back to your duty, Mayne, " he said; and I hurried away to find Esaudeep in conversation with Grey about the last night's attack. 

"Think they'll come up here?" said Esau. 

"Like enough. If they do--"

"Well?" I said, for the man stopped. "If they do?"

"I shall be obliged to fire straight, " he said, slowly. "Men who actlike that become wild beasts, and they must be treated similarly. "

I shuddered slightly, as I thought of his skill with the rifle. 

"I know what you think, " he said, gravely; "that it's horrible to shedblood. So it is; but I've got a wife here, and children, and out in awild place like this, a man has to be his own soldier and policeman, andjudge and jury too. "

"It seems very horrible, " I said. "It is very horrible, my lad, butit's not our doing. If these people will leave us alone, we shall notinterfere with them. "

"Of course not, " said Esau. "Wonder whether I could hit a man. "

"I hope you will not have to try, " said Grey. "It's what the Governorhas been afraid of for years and years. "

I winced again, for it was as if everything I saw or heard tended toaccuse me of destroying the peace of the place. 

"Wonder whether they'll come here to-night, " said Esau. 

"We must be ready for them; but I don't think it's likely, " said Grey. "They got a good deal of plunder last night, and plenty of provisions. I should say that they will do nothing now for a few days. They'll waittill they think we are not on the look-out. "

It proved as Grey said, and for the next few days there was no alarm. Communications had been kept up with the mining camps, and one morning, as I was talking with Mr John about the terribly weak state in whichMr Gunson lay, partaking of the food and medicine administered, but asif still asleep, Mr Raydon came up. 

"Gordon, " he said, "you and Dean have wandered about well, and gone innearly every direction, have you not?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, wondering what was coming. 

"Do you think you could find your way to Gunson's claim?"

"Of course, sir, " I said, smiling. 

"I do not mean by the valley, " he said, testily. "I want some one to goby the short cut over the mountains--the way I came to your relief. "

"I don't know, sir, " I said. "I have never been there, but I will try. "

"Bravo!" said Mr John. "Mayne, you're like Pat with the fiddle. Hesaid he would try if he could play. "

"Are you willing to try?" said Mr Raydon. 

"With Dean, sir?"

"No; alone. I cannot spare two. "

"Yes, " I said, eagerly; "I'll go. "

"I do not see what harm could befall you, " said Mr Raydon, musingly. "The direction is well marked, and the trees are blazed through the bitof forest. Any beasts you came near would skurry off. Yes; I think Iwill let you go. By the way, you may as well take your rifle andpistol. "

"Yes, " I said, feeling quite excited over my mission. "Have youanything for me to take to the men?"

"No; it is only a visit to an outpost, to let them see that they are notforgotten, and to ask them if they have seen the enemy, or wantanything. But perhaps you had better go by the valley; it is surer. "

"I should like to try the near way, sir, " I said. 

He gazed at me thoughtfully for a few moments. 

"Well, " he said, to my great satisfaction, "you shall try it. You oughtto know every trail round. Go and make a hearty meal before you start, and then you need not take any provisions, for you can easily be backbefore dark. Which way shall you go at first?"

"Up through the pines at the back, " I said. 

"No. Go down the valley to where that rounded rock stands up like adome, and climb up at once, keeping to the left. Then go right over theside of the valley, and make straight for the big pine-forest you willsee across the open, striking for the tallest pine at the edge. Thattree is blazed with a white patch cut out by an axe. The trees rightthrough are blazed, and from one you can see the next, and from that thenext, so that you cannot go wrong. "

"I see, " I said; "I see. "

Then he went on and told me what to do when I got through the denseforest--this being a narrow corner which ran out into the open lands, and on the other side went right off into the wilds, where it wasimpenetrable. He roughly sketched out points, buttresses, and ravines, which were to serve me as landmarks to make for; and then I was to go toright or left, as the case might be; and one way and another, he markeddown for me a series of prominences to make for, so as to gain one andthen see another from it, till I reached to where I could look down intoGolden Valley, as I called it now, right above Gunson's claim. 

He made me repeat my instructions, impressing upon me that I was totreat the landmarks he gave me just as I did the blazed trees in theforest, making sure of another's position before I left one, and, satisfied at last, he gave me a nod of the head, and said abruptly--

"Off as soon as you can. "

"I should like to go with you, Mayne, " said Mr John, eagerly. 

"No, no! Nonsense!" cried Mr Raydon. "I cannot spare you, John. Imay want you to shoot down a few hundreds of the enemy. "

Mr John took these words so seriously that I could not help laughing, when he saw them in the right light, came with me to my quarters, watched me make a good meal, and then walked with me to the slopebeneath the dome, where he shook hands and stood to see me climb. 

"Be careful, my boy, " he said, at parting. "It is very steep anddangerous. "

I laughed, and ran up the side feeling like a goat. There was somethingvery delightful in the excursion, after the confinement within theblock-house, and in the glorious sunshine and the bright clear air, Isprang forward, turning from time to time, as I climbed higher, to wavemy hand to him, and look down on Fort and valley, till the inequalitiesof the wild, stony side hid him from my view. 

I felt in high spirits, for this task made me think that Mr Raydon wasbeginning to trust me again; and as I went on I thought about Mrs Johnand her gentle words, as she told me all would come right in the end. Then I began to think about poor Gunson, and wondered whether he wouldsoon be better, as I hoped and prayed that he would. 

This made me feel low-spirited for a while, but the glorious scenearound me chased these gloomy thoughts away, for there before me in thedistance was the great pine towering up above its fellows at the edge ofthe forest. 

"Oh, it's easy enough to find one's way, " I said, and excited by my taskI whistled, sang, and shouted, to have my voice come echoing back. 

"I want Esau over here, " I said aloud, as I shifted the heavy rifle fromone shoulder to the other. "How he would enjoy it!" Then I beganthinking of how attentive Mr Raydon was in his stern, grave way to poorGunson, and it struck me that he must feel a great respect for him, orhe would not be so careful, seeing how he disliked it all, in keepingguard over his gold claim. 

Then I had to think of my task, and climb over some rough ground, till Ireached the first trees, which very soon hid the huge pine, and found itto be not quite at the edge of the forest. But I soon caught sight ofit again, and on reaching it saw the great mark or blaze in its side, and from it the next. From this I could see another, and so found nodifficulty in getting through the solemn groves. 

On the other side, as I stood by the last blazed tree, I had nodifficulty in making out a vast mass of rock, for which I at oncestepped out, and all proved to be so clear, there were so many landmarksin the shape of peculiar stones, falls, and clumps of trees, that I mademy way easily enough, and felt no little pride in being so trusted totramp through these vast solitudes with a pistol in my belt and my rifleover my shoulder. 

"How grand! how grand!" I kept on saying to myself, as I climbed to thetop of some high point and looked around, while at such times a feelingof awe came over me at the silence and loneliness of the scene. 

I found my way at last to the top of a ridge where I could look downinto a green valley, seeing here and there in the distance faint linesof smoke rising over the tops of the trees, and after a hot, ratherdifficult descent through the pines, just as Mr Raydon must have cometo our help that day, I reached the little camp, and was greeted by themen with a cheery shout. 

They had not seen a sign of danger, they said, and as I looked round Isaw no sign of the place having been disturbed. I heard too that thegold-washing was going on very busily below, but no party had gonehigher than they were, Barker having urged upon his fellow-miners thenecessity for keeping well together. 

After a rest and a mug of tea, which they soon had ready for me, two ofthem saw me up to the ridge above the valley, and gave me a hint or twoabout my way, with a warning to be careful; and, full of confidence, Istarted forward on my return journey. 

I soon lost sight of the men and trudged on, keeping a sharp look-out inthe hope that I might see something in the form of game for a shot, anda change in the fare at the Fort, but the utter absence of animals waswonderful, and it was only at rare intervals that I heard the cry of abird, or caught sight of a squirrel. 

I soon found that going back was not so easy, everything looking verydifferent reversed, and consequently I went astray twice, and had totramp back to the spot where I knew I had erred. Once I was brought upshort by a terrible precipice; a second time by a huge wall of rock, going up hundreds of feet, ample proof that I was wrong. 

Returning to the starting-place was best, and each time I soon realisedwhere I had strayed from the right track, and went on afresh. 

But these wanderings took up time, and evening was setting in as Ireached the great patch of wood where the trees were blazed, and underthe shade of these great pines it was twilight at once, and soon after, to my dismay, I found that it was quite dark. Still I knew thedirection in which I ought to go, and pressed on as fast as I could, trusting to get through the forest; and then the four miles or so out inthe open could soon be got over. So I thought, but if you try torealise my position it will be easy to understand how difficult it is tokeep to a certain direction, when one has constantly to turn to right orleft to pass round some big tree. 

Not very difficult, you may say. Trees are not so big as that. Butthey are out there. Just picture to yourself one of our pines startingfrom the ground with a beautiful curve, before growing up straight as anarrow, and so far round that I have seen them, when lying on the groundfelled by the axe, about ten feet up from the roots, where they wouldnot be so big, with the butt where it was cut, ten feet across or thirtyfeet round, while, down at the level of the ground, it would be a longway on to double that thickness. 

To walk round such trees as that, and avoid the great roots, meanstaking a good many steps, and when this is done again and again, in aplace where there is no beaten track, it is very easy to go astray. 

It was so with me in the darkness of that forest, and I began to repentbitterly now of my determination, for I had volunteered to come, feelingpositive of being able to find my way, while the more I tried to see, the more confused I grew; till, hot, panting, and weary, I came to adead stand. 

The silence was terrible, for there was not so much as a whisper in thetops of the pines. The darkness had increased so that I had to feel myway, and in a hopeless state of misery I leaned against a tree, fancyingI heard steps; then the heavy breathing of some huge beast; and at last, asked myself if I was to wander about there till I fell down and died ofexhaustion and want of food. 

CHAPTER FORTY NINE. 

I MAKE A DISCOVERY. 

All this was very cowardly no doubt, but circumstances alter cases, andit is only those who have lost their way in some wild solitude who canrealise the terrible feeling of bewilderment and dread which comes overhim who feels that he is lost where he may never find his way again, perhaps never be found. 

Fortunately these emotions come as a shock, and soon after there is areaction. Hope revives as it did to me, and getting over the firsthorror and excitement, I stood leaning against the tree thinking out myposition. I was lost, that was certain; and if I went on stumblingabout in the dark I might perhaps be going either farther away from mydestination, or perhaps round and round in a great circle. Uponthinking it out coolly there were two courses open: to lie down on a bedof pine-needles till daylight, or to try and get a glimpse of the starsthrough the trees, and guide myself by them. 

"If I stay, " I thought, "I shall frighten Mrs John horribly, and itwill be very cowardly. As to being lost altogether, that's allnonsense; Mr Raydon and his men would soon find me or send Indians tohunt me out. I'm going to find the way back. "

I drew a long breath, closed my eyes, and knelt down there in the utterdarkness for a few minutes, to spring up again confident and refreshedto begin peering up through the trees for the stars. For I wanted tomake out the Great Bear; and I quite laughed as I thought that it wasthe shining one I sought, not a grizzly. If I could see that, I thoughtI could shape my course due south-east. That must lead me out of theforest, when, even in the darkness, the rest was easy. 

It might have been the most cloudy night ever seen, for the blacknessabove me was dense, the branches effectually shutting out every star, and I had to pause and wonder whether there was any other way by which Icould steer my steps. But I could find no way out of my difficulty, andI was beginning to think that I should have to stay where I was and waitfor day. 

But I could not do that. I tried sitting down for a short time, but thedarkness and want of action became too oppressive, and leaping up Ibegan to walk slowly and carefully on, with my free hand extended toguide myself by the trunks of the trees, of whose proximity I was, however, generally made aware by my feet coming in contact with theirroots. 

My progress was very slow, and so silent that I was able to listenintently for a signal, the hope having sprung up in my breast that, asit had grown dark, Mr Raydon might have sent Grey or one of the othermen to meet me, and in all probability they would fire guns to give mean idea of the direction I ought to take. 

I had read of such things, and felt that in all probability this waswhat Mr Raydon would do. But time went on as I slowly crept along fromtree to tree, cautiously picking my way, till I began to feel convincedthat my chance of escaping this night was hopeless, and once more Istood gazing straight before me, till I fancied I saw a gleam of lightclose at hand. It was so strange and misty-looking, that it was as if abit of phosphorus had been rubbed upon the back of a tree. 

As I stared at it, the dim light died out, and all was so black oncemore that for the moment I thought it must have been fancy, but as I wascoming to this conclusion, there it was again, and now fully convincedthat it must be phosphorescent wood, I stepped forward cautiously totouch it, when it went out again. But I stretched out my hand, andleaning forward touched the trunk of a tree which grew luminous oncemore, till as I changed my position there it was out again. I repeatedmy movements, feeling puzzled at its coming and going so strangely, andthen like a flash of mental light the reason came to me, and I turnedsharply round with my heart beating, to look for the gleam of which thismust be the reflection. 

I was quite right, and I was ready to shout for joy, for there, glimmering among the trees, some distance from where I stood, I couldsee that there was the blaze of a small fire, which rose and fell, andflickered, sending flashes of light up among the branches overhead; andI knew at once that it must be the fire in connection with some camp, but whether Indian or English it was impossible to say. But that didnot matter. The Indians all about were peaceable, and very friendly tothe people of the Fort. They knew a few words of English too, so thatwith an intense feeling of relief, thinking that I could at least getfood and shelter, if I could not obtain a guide, I stepped out morefreely, the light growing now, and enabling me to see dangers in my pathin the shape of the thick-growing trees. 

I was not long in finding out as I approached that the party around thefire were not Indians; and as I grew near enough to see the rough, ruddyfaces of a party of men, I thought it would be better to announce mycoming with a shout, lest my sudden appearance should be taken as thatof an enemy. Somehow or other, though, I deferred this till I had mademy way close up, when I heard a voice that sounded familiar say--

"Well, it's 'bout time we started. Be late enough when we get there. Wonder whether any one 'll be on the look-out. "

As I heard these words, a cold perspiration broke out on my cheeks, andI felt as if something were stirring the hair about my forehead, for Ihad just been walking into the lion's den; and if I had had any hopethat my ears were deceiving me, there, plainly enough, in the brightglow cast by the fire, stood the second of the two men we hadencountered first in the steamer. 

It was he plainly enough, and he had one hand in a sling; while, as Ipeered forward round one of the trees, I counted eight men about thefire; and they all seemed to be well armed. 

Where were they going? I asked myself. Along the track by which I hadjust come? They must be, I thought, and bent on seizing Gunson's claim. They would surprise the four men; and there would be blood shed, unlessI could warn the poor fellows first. 

"I'll go back at once, " I thought; and then with a horrible sensation ofdepression, I realised that this was impossible, for I did not know inwhich direction to go. 

I had hardly thought this when I saw the whole party afoot, moving offin the direction away from me, and quickly making up my mind to followthem out of the forest, and as soon as I could make out my whereabouts, to get on somehow in front, and go on ahead, I followed them. It was noeasy task, for I had to get some distance round, away from the fire, andI should have lost them if one of them had not laughed aloud at someremark. This told me of the direction in which they were, and I crepton in dread lest I should get too close and be seen, and again in dreadfor fear I should be left behind. 

To my great satisfaction they kept on talking, as if in not theslightest fear of being overheard, and I followed as near as I dared go, till in a few minutes, to my great delight, I found that we were out inthe open, and I could see the stars. 

"Now, " I thought, "whereabouts are we? If I could only make out thatlarge mass of rock that lay off to the left where I passed through theforest in the morning, I could soon get on before them. Why I must havewalked right back, and--"

I stopped short, quite startled, for to my great astonishment I found, instead of going in the direction leading to Gunson's claim, I had comethrough the forest on the side I had been seeking for. 

"Then they are not going to Golden Valley, " I said to myself; and thenit came to me like a flash of light--they were going to attack the Fort!

Of course; and that was what was meant about any one being on the watch. 

My heart now beat violently, and I began to hasten my steps to get onbefore the party, and warn Mr Raydon of their coming. But at the endof a minute I had to check my pace, and follow more cautiously, as Itried to think where I could get before them; and the more I tried tothink, the more confused and troubled I grew, for, as far as I couldmake out, there was no way but the track which they seemed to know; andto have gone to right or left meant to encounter some place impossibleto climb in the dark, or a precipice down which I might fall. It wasdifficult enough in broad daylight--impossible in the dark; and in spiteof all my thinking, I was at last despairingly compelled to confess thatuntil the open ground was reached in front of the Fort, I could donothing but follow while the enemy led. 

I thought of a dozen plans to warn the defenders of the Fort, so as toput them on the alert, but the only one that seemed possible, was towait till we were all pretty near, and then fire my rifle to give thealarm. 

That I knew meant making the ruffians turn on me, but though the riskwas great, I hoped to dash by them in the darkness, and reach the gate. 

All this time I had been cautiously creeping along behind the gang, forat a word from their leader, the men had suddenly become very silent, and the only sound to be heard was the rattle of a stone kicked to oneside, or a low whisper, evidently an order about the advance. 

A curious feeling of despair was creeping over me, and I felt more andmore convinced that I could not get to the front, so that all I shouldbe able to do would be to wait till they were near the gate, and aboutto scale the palisade, for that was what I felt sure they meant to do, and then fire, let the result be what it might to me. 

My difficulties grew greater every minute, as we advanced, and thestrain upon me heavier than I could bear. In anticipation I saw thescoundrels creeping up to the Fort, cautiously getting over andsilencing whoever was on guard; and then, with a feeling of horror thatwas almost unbearable, I saw in imagination the whole place given up topillage and destruction, at a time too when I knew that there were manybales of valuable furs in the stores. 

My progress at last became like a nightmare, in which I was followingthe attacking party, and unable to do anything to help my friends; sothat when we were within, as a German would say, half an hour of ourdestination, I was in no wise startled or surprised to faintly make outin the darkness the figures of two men who suddenly rose up on eitherside of me; a hand was clapped over my mouth, and I was dragged down, and a knee placed on my chest. 

I divined it all in an instant, and tried to resign myself to my fate, as I saw that, being well on their guard against surprise, two of thegang had fallen back and seen me, with the result I have described, sothat I was absolutely stunned after a feeble struggle, when a voice atmy ear said in a harsh whisper--

"What is the meaning of this treachery, Gordon? Who are those men?"

My hand caught the speaker's, and I uttered a low sob of relief. 

"Mr Raydon--the men--going to attack the Fort. "

"Ah!" he panted. "You hear, Grey?"

"Yes. "

"But why did you not warn us?"

"They were before me. I could not get by, " I whispered. "I was goingto fire to alarm you all. "

I heard Mr Raydon draw a low hissing breath. 

"How did you know this?" he said. 

"Lost my way in the forest, and saw the light of their fire. "

"And the men at the claim?"

"All right, sir. --I heard these wretches say they were coming on. "

"Lost, eh?" said Mr Raydon. 

"Yes, sir. I've been wandering for hours. "

"We were in search of you, and drew back to let these men go by. Youhear his story, Grey?"

"Yes, sir. Quite right. He would lose his way in the dark. Whatorders?"

"His plan will be the best, " said Mr Raydon. "Gordon, finding you insuch company made me suspicious. "

"You always do suspect me, sir, " I said, bitterly. 

"Silence, and come along. Grey, I shall wait till they are close up, and about to make their attempt; then at the word, fire and load again. They will be taken by surprise, and think they are between two parties. The surprise may be sufficient. If not it will alarm those within. "

"And then?"

"Be ready to fire again, or make for the far side. We must get inthere. Forward! I'll lead. "

Mr Raydon went on first and I followed, Grey bringing up the rear. Iwas hurt, for it was evident that Mr Raydon's ideas of my characterwere poor indeed, and that at the slightest thing he was ready tosuspect me of any enormity. But as I paced on quickly behind him I grewmore lenient in my judgment, for I was obliged to own that my positionwas not a satisfactory one. I had not returned as I should have done, and when I was found, it was in company with a gang of men who wereabout to attack and pillage the Fort. 

I had no farther time for thoughts like these. We were gaining rapidlyon the gang now, and in a few minutes' time we could hear footsteps, andthen they had suddenly ceased, and a whispering began, as if the leaderof the party were giving orders. 

Mr Raydon touched me to make out that I was close up, and I felt Greytake his position on the other side, while my heart beat so loudly thatI half thought it might be heard. 

All at once Mr Raydon pressed on my shoulder, and leaned over me towhisper to Grey. 

"They ought to have heard this approach, " he whispered. "This is notkeeping good watch. "

"Dark--very quiet, " said Grey, in what sounded to me like a remonstranttone; and directly after a loud clear voice rang out from theblock-house at the left-hand corner near the gate. 

"Who goes there? Halt, or I fire. "

A low murmur arose in front of us, and Mr Raydon drew a deep breath, asif relieved. Then there was a quick advance, the flash of a rifle, andthe sharp clear report. 

"Only one, " cried a hoarse voice. "Too dark to see. Over with you, boys!"

Bang! Another shot; and then, as I panted with excitement, Mr Raydonwhispered--

"Now, altogether, fire!"

I had raised my piece at his warning, and drew the trigger; but thoughthere was a sharp report on either side of me, my piece did not speak, and suddenly recollecting that I had forgotten to cock it, I lowered itagain. 

"Who's that behind? Who fired there?" cried the hoarse voice of theleader from the darkness ahead. 

It was just as I was ready, and raising my piece, I fired, the buttseeming to give my shoulder a heavy blow; while directly after camethree flashes from the block-house, as many roars, and, like theirechoes, Mr Raydon and Grey fired again, after a rapid reloading. 

This was too much for the attacking party. They were so thoroughlytaken between two fires, that the next thing we heard was the hurriedrush of feet, and I saw very faintly what appeared to be a shadow hurryby me, while a couple more shots from Mr Raydon and Grey completed theenemy's rout. 

"Cease firing, there!" roared Mr Raydon. 

A loud hail came back from the block-house, and a few minutes later wewere being admitted through the well-barred gate, whose fasteningsdropped with a loud clang. Then I walked up to the quarters with MrRaydon, where the next thing I heard was Mr John's voice. 

"Found him?"

"Yes; all right, and the enemy beaten, " said Mr Raydon, cheerily. "Goand tell them inside. "

"No need, " said Mr John; "they have heard. Where are you, Mayne? Ah, that's better. Why, my dear lad, you have scared us terribly. "

"I lost my way, " I said, hastily. 

"But what was the meaning of this firing?"

"The enemy coming in force, " said Mr Raydon. "We have beaten them offthough without bloodshed, and Mayne Gordon here has had another lessonin the dangers of opening up gold-claims to the scum of the earth. "

"That you, Mayne Gordon?" said a familiar voice soon after, as Iapproached our quarters. 

"Yes, " I said. "Not hurt, are you, Esau?"

"Not a bit; nor you neither?"

"Yes, " I said, bitterly; "wounded again. "

"Eh? whereabouts? Here, come on. Mother's got lots of rag. "

"No, no, " I said, laughing sadly. "Not that sort of wound. It was withwords. "

"Go on with you. Frightening a chap like that, " cried Esau. "I thoughtit was real. "

CHAPTER FIFTY. 

OUR PATIENT AWAKES. 

There was no alarm next day, and scouts who were sent out came back toreport that they had tracked the enemy down the river, and then up intothe forest by one of the side streams, the second beyond the GoldenValley. 

"Humph!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, "pleasant that, John. They have takento the lovely wooded vale I had marked down in my own mind for yourfuture home. "

Mr John shrugged his shoulders, and gave his wife and brother-in-law ahalf-sad, half-laughing look. 

"I am not surprised, " he said, "I always was the most unlucky of men. "

"Nothing of the kind, sir, " retorted Mr Raydon. "You have had as muchgood fortune as other men--quite as much as I have. My dear John, " headded more gently, "we men have a bad habit of forgetting the good inour lives, and remembering all the bad. My dear fellow, half yourtroubles have been caused by your want of energy. "

"Yes, " he said, smiling sadly, "I suppose so. I have always been tooready to give up. But, " he added quickly, "I never complain. "

Mr Raydon never looked so pleasant in my eyes before as he smiled athis sister, and then laid his hand on Mr John's shoulder. 

"Never, John, never. You annoy me sometimes by being so easy andyielding. "

"Yes, yes, " said Mr John; "but I'm going to turn over a new leaf, andbe stern and energetic as you are. "

Mrs John crossed to him and took his hand. 

"No, " she said quietly, "you are going to turn over no new leaves, dear. You are best as you always have been. Daniel is wrong; we cannot haveall men of the same mould. "

"Do you hear all this, Mayne Gordon?" said Mr Raydon, laughingly; andbefore I could reply, he said quickly, "Go on now, and take your turn assentry; I want to think out my plans. Don't talk about it to the men, but something must be done. A combination must be made to capture thesemen again, for we shall have no peace or safety till they are clearedaway. "

"What are you thinking of doing?" said Mrs John, taking alarm at hiswords. 

"Trying to end the matter peaceably, and without bloodshed. "

Mrs John uttered a sigh of relief, and I went out wondering what wouldbe done, and thinking that if I had my way, I should collect all theminers, join forces, and then send one party to the head of the littlevale, and attempt to advance with the others from the bottom by theriver, little thinking what difficulties there would be in such a plan. 

As soon as I was outside Mr Raydon's office, I met Grey, who gave me agrim, dry look. 

"Know how many men you shot last night?" he said. 

I looked at him in horror. 

"Don't--don't say--" I faltered. 

"All right!" he replied; "but if you're going to carry a rifle, and youuse it, you must expect to knock some of the enemy over. There, I wasonly joking you, soldier. I don't think anybody was even scratched by aball. If you're going to stop with us, I shall have to make a marksmanof you, so that you can do as I do--give a man a lesson. "

"In shooting?" I said. 

He laughed. 

"Yes, but you don't understand me. I mean give him such a lesson aswill make him behave better. 'Tisn't pleasant, when you have grown coolafter a fight, to think you have dangerously wounded or killed a man;not even if he tried to kill you. I felt that years ago, and Ipractised up, so that I can hit a man with a rifle just where I like--that is nearly always. "

"It was you who fired at those two wretches then?" I said eagerly. 

"Of course it was, and I hit one in the leg, and the other in the hand. Did nearly as well as killing 'em, eh?"

"Yes, " I said, laughing. "I must practise too. "

"You shall, and I hope you'll have no need to use your rifle afterwards, except on bears or deer. Where are you going?"

"Mr Raydon said I was to relieve one of the men. "

"So you shall, but the first one's got an hour yet to be on duty. I'llcall you when you're wanted. How's Mr Gunson?"

"I'm just going to see, " I said; and I went up to the strangers'quarters and looked in, to find Mrs Dean on duty by the bedside, andEsau seated by the fire, cutting out something which he informed me waspart of a trap he had invented to catch squirrels. 

"How is he?" I said in a low voice to Mrs Dean. 

"Very bad, my dear, and so weak. "

"But hasn't he shown any sign of recovering his senses?"

"No, my dear; and it does seem so discouraging. "

"Never mind, mother; you'll cure him. "

"Hist!" I said. 

"Well, I am whispering, ain't I, " said Esau. "He couldn't hear if Ididn't. "

"But he must be kept quiet, Esau, and you have such a big voice. Yourwhispers are as loud as some people's shouts. "

"Hush!" I said, as I heard steps. "Mr Raydon. "

Mrs Dean rose and curtseyed as Mr Raydon entered, followed by Mr andMrs John; and he looked surprised on seeing me there. 

"Not on duty, Gordon?" he said. 

"Mr Grey told me to wait till he was ready for me, sir. "

"Oh!--Well, Mrs Dean, how is your patient?"

"Seems to sleep very calmly and gently, sir. I did think he looked atme sensibly once, but I'm not sure. "

"Poor fellow!" said Mr Raydon gravely, as Mrs Dean left the place, followed by Esau, while I felt as if I should like to follow them; but Istayed, knowing that if I did go, Mr Raydon would think I felt guiltyat being found there, when I was only obeying his officer's orders. SoI remained watching, and waiting to be called. 

Mr Raydon bent over the couch, and laid his hand upon his patient'shead. 

"Nice and cool. He must be mending, and sooner or later I believe hewill recover. It is time, though, that he made some sign of returningconsciousness. Ah, Mayne, my lad, this is the thirst for gold with avengeance. I dreaded it; I have dreaded it for years. Poor fellow! Athorough gentleman at heart, but his desire for wealth was his ruin. "

The words leaped to my lips, but I felt that all Mr Gunson had told meof his former life was in confidence; and beside, Mr Raydon's treatmentdid not encourage mine, so I was silent for a moment or so, gazing sadlyat the thin worn face before me, and wishing that I was a clever doctorand able to cure him, when I started with surprise and pleasure, for MrGunson's eyes opened, and he lay looking fixedly at me for some time inthe midst of a painful silence. 

Then a look of recognition came into his gaze, and he smiled at mefaintly. 

"Time to get up?" he said, in a whisper. "I--"

He looked quickly round then, and his face worked a little. 

"Where am I?--what?" he faltered. "Mayne, where am I? Ah! I remembernow, " he said, faintly. 

Mr Raydon bent over him. 

"Don't try to talk, Gunson. You have been ill, but you are gettingbetter now. "

"Yes, " he said, softly; "I remember. Struck down just now. "

I exchanged glances with Mr Raydon. 

"No, not just now, because I have been lying here. Some one nursingme--yes, " he cried, with more energy, as his eyes rested on Mrs John'ssympathetic face, "you. "

"We have all nursed you, " said Mrs John, quietly. "But do not try totalk. "

"No, " he said, decisively; "but--there is one thing--must say--myclaim--the gold. "

I saw Mr Raydon's face pucker up, and a frown gather on his brow, butit cleared away directly, and he bent down over his patient, and laidhis hand upon his forehead. 

"Gunson, you must be quiet, " he said. "Your claim is quite safe. Ihave men protecting it, and no gold has been found or taken away. "

"Thank heaven!" sighed Gunson; and giving a grateful look round heclosed his eyes, and seemed to go to sleep. 

"Come away now, " whispered Mr Raydon. "You will stay with him?"

Mrs John bowed her head, and softly took the chair by the pillow, whilewe all stole gently out of the room. 

"His first waking thought, John, " said Mr Raydon, bitterly; "gold--gold--gold. There, it is of no use to murmur: I must swallow my petantipathy, I suppose. "

Once more the thought of all Mr Gunson had said to me came as words tomy lips; but though my friend was being wrongly judged, I felt that Icould not speak. 

"Some day he will know all the truth, " I said, "and I must wait. "

Just then Grey came up. 

"Your time, Gordon, " he said, abruptly. Then seeing our excited looks, he glanced towards the strangers' quarters. 

"Not worse, sir?" he said, eagerly. 

"No, Grey; the turn has come--better, " said Mr Raydon. 

Grey took off his fur cap, waved it in the air, and then with asatisfied smile he marched me off. 

"That's what I like to hear; he'll be all right soon now. This placewould set any man up. But I can't understand the gov'nor. He wasalways mad against any one coming about here hunting for gold, and yetsomehow he seems to have quite taken to your friend, who talks aboutnothing else. "

"Yes, " I said; "I can't help thinking that he likes Mr Gunson. "

"Oh, there's no doubt about it, my lad. We shall have him taking togold-hunting himself one of these days. "

"Never, " I said, decisively, as we reached my post. 

"Never's a long day, boy, " said Grey, thoughtfully; "but I think you'reright. "

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. 

ON ACTIVE SERVICE. 

The scouts went out again and again, and though they never saw theenemy, they always brought back reports that they were still in thelittle valley, and trying for gold there. 

Mr Barker had been up to the Fort with some of the principalgold-seekers, and Mr Raydon had been down to the valley, which hadrapidly grown into a busy hive. But days glided by and no plans weremade, while the enemy made not the slightest sign of their presence; andMr Raydon said it was a mystery to him how they obtained provisions. 

Then, as no more attacks were made at the camp, the excitement graduallycooled down, and it was decided to leave the men alone so long as theyremained peaceable, or until such time as the Governor of the colony wasin a position to send up a little force to protect people, and ensurepeace in his increasing settlement. 

The days glided on and Mr Gunson rapidly began to mend, while I spentall the time I could at his side--Mr Raydon quietly letting me see thatI was only a visitor there, the companion of the sick man; and it wasregularly settled that as soon as Mr Gunson was quite well again he wasto return to his claim, and I was to go with him; Esau also having, after quite a verbal battle with his mother, determined to cast in hislot with ours. 

"And I shall be very glad to get away from this life of inaction, "Gunson said to me one day. "They are all wonderfully kind, and I ammost grateful, but I think Raydon will be pleased to see us gone. "

"Yes, " I said; "I shall be glad to go. "

"You mean it, boy?" he said, smiling. 

"Yes; there is nothing I am wanted for, and I feel as if I were anintruder. It was an unlucky day when we found that gold. "

"No, " cried Mr Gunson, with fierce energy; "a most fortunate day. Youforget what it is going to do for me and mine. "

"Yes; I spoke selfishly, " I said, bitterly. 

"Bah! don't look back, boy; look forward, " he cried; and he suddenlybecame silent, and leaned back in his chair, gazing out through the openwindow at the wide prospect of hill, mountain, and dark green forest. "I am looking forward to being out again in those glorious pine-woods, breathing the sweet mountain air. I shall soon be quite strong againthen. "

I thought of my own wound, and how I had seemed to drink in health andstrength as soon as I got out. 

"It would not be a bad life to settle down here, " continued Mr Gunson;"I should enjoy it. A beautiful life, far better than hunting for gold. But what about those scoundrels who made me like this? Is there anyfresh news of them?"

"None, " I said. 

"That's bad. They may be in mischief. Awkward if they come and attackus again when we get back to the claim. Raydon must lend us some of hismen, or else I must join forces with that Barker, though I would farrather keep the place to myself. But we cannot risk another suchattack. You see what a coward weakness has made me. "

"You a coward!" I cried, scornfully. 

"Yes, my lad, " he said, with a smile. "I do not feel a bit like a braveman should. Well, " he cried, with a laugh, "that is strange!"

"What is?" I cried. 

"Look, " he said, pointing out of the window to a group of men coming inat the gate; "the very man I was speaking about--Barker. "

"There's something wrong, " I said, excitedly, as I sprang from my chair. 

"Go and see, " he cried; but I was already at the door, and rushed outjust as Mr Raydon and Mr John came from the office, and Grey from oneof the block-houses. 

"How are you?" said Barker, coming up with a serious look on his facethat told of bad news before he spoke. 

Mr Raydon took the extended hand. 

"Well, " he said, "what is it? That gang again?"

"Yes, " said Barker, rather huskily; "we were in hopes that we had seenthe last of them, but they made an attack last night. We did not knowtill quite late this morning, when a man from the next claim went downto the bar nearest the big river. "

"Yes, go on--quick!" said Mr Raydon. 

"They had been there some time in the night. There was a party of sixworking together, and I suppose they surprised them. "

"Well?"

"Two of the poor fellows are lying dead, sir, and the other four badlywounded. They have swept the place of everything, and got a good dealof gold. "

As this bad news was told I could not look at Mr Raydon, for fear hiseyes should gaze reproachfully into mine. I felt that he did glance atme as if to say--"Your work, Gordon!"

But at that moment the visitor went on speaking--

"I've come up, sir, with my mates, as we agreed to help one another. Weare peaceable people, and we only ask to be let alone; but after lastnight's work it must be war. This can't go on. "

"No, " said Mr Raydon, firmly. 

"We're right away here from any settlement, and there might be no law atall for any help it can give us, so we must be our own judges and jury. "

"No, " said Mr Raydon, firmly; "not that, but we must be our ownsoldiers and police. "

"Then you will act with us, sir? You and your people know the country, and perhaps can lead us to where we can find and surprise them. "

"If you all give me your undertaking that there shall be no unnecessarybloodshed, and that these men shall be merely seized and taken down tothe coast, I will help you to the best of my power. "

"Here's my hand upon it, " cried Barker. "You're more of a soldier thanI am, so tell us what to do, and the sooner it's done the better. "

"Go back then at once, and get all your men together, and I will joinyou with all I can spare from the protection of my place. "

"How long will you be, sir?"

"Half an hour after you get back. But be quiet, and do not let a hintreach the enemy of what is afoot. "

"You may trust us, sir, " said Barker. "Come on back, lads;" and alllooking very stern and serious, the men turned and went steadily off. 

"You'll take me, sir?" said Grey, appealingly. 

"I wish I could, my man, " replied Mr Raydon. "One of us must stay totake charge here, and my place is with the men to guard againstexcesses. "

Grey looked disappointed, but he was soldier-like in his obedience toorders, and without another word he went with us to the block-house, where four men were selected and duly armed. 

All at once Mr Raydon turned, and found me gazing intently at him. 

"Well?" he said. 

"You will let me go too, sir?" I said. 

"No; you are too young to fight. Yes; you shall carry an extra riflefor me, and my surgical case. "

I ran back to where Gunson lay impatiently waiting for news, and toldhim. 

"Yes, " he said, "it is quite right. This must be put down with a stronghand. Oh, if I had only strength to be one of the party! Mayne Gordon, I envy you. "

Ten minutes later I was saying good-bye to Mrs John, who looked paleand horrified at the news she had heard, and began to object to mygoing, till Mr John whispered a few words to her, when she turned uponme a piteous look. 

"I am only going as the doctor's assistant, " I said, lightly, but I feltas excited as if I were about to form one of a forlorn hope. 

"Ready?" said Mr Raydon, coming to the door. "Get to the men, Gordon. Good-bye, sister. "

"But, Daniel!" she said, clinging to him; "is this necessary?"

"Absolutely, " he replied. "John, I look to you to shoulder a rifle, andhelp to defend this place. Good-bye. "

He shook hands hastily to avoid a painful parting, and strode out withme, so that I only had time to wave my hand to Mrs John, who waswatching us as we tramped out of the gate--the five men by me lookingstern and determined enough to be more than a match for the enemy, if itwas a case of fair fighting, though that was too much to expect fromsuch men as these. 

Hardly a word was spoken as we descended the valley, keeping close downto the river-side, till we reached the narrow entrance to the littlegorge, whose stream came bubbling and plashing down into the pool, andwe had not gone above a couple of hundred yards up it, when a sternvoice bade us stand, and we found ourselves face to face with the wholestrength of the mining camp. 

"That's right, sir, " said Barker; "ready for action. Yes? Then what'sit to be?"

"My plan is very simple, " replied Mr Raydon. "I propose going up thevalley with my men to Gunson's claim, where I shall, of course, join thefour stationed there. "

"That's right, " said Barker. "We asked them to come with us, but theyrefused. Well, sir?"

"You and your men will march down to the river, and descend till you areopposite the little vale where these people are hiding. You will findit very beautiful and park-like for the first half mile, but as theglade narrows it grows more dense, till it is filled from side to sidewith magnificent pines. You will spread your men out, to guard againstthe enemy passing you, and this will grow more and more easy as you goslowly on. "

"I understand; and what are you going to do, sir?" said the man. 

"Come over the ridge, and through the forest which separates this valleyfrom that, so as to get to the head of the little stream. Then we shallbegin to descend, and, I hope, drive the scoundrels into your hands. "

Barker gave his rifle-stock a hearty slap. 

"Capital!" he cried. "And you can get over there?"

"I know every part here for miles round, " said Mr Raydon, as I feltquite startled at his plan being exactly the same as the one I hadthought of. "I will set over there somehow. "

"Then we shall have them between two fires, sir, " cried Barker--"good!"

We parted directly after this, it being understood that the miners wereto move slowly, so as to give us ample time to make our arrangements, get round over the mountain-ridge, and go down to meet them so as tohave the enemy safely between us, Mr Raydon being of opinion that thesides of the valley in which they were encamped would be too steep togive them a chance of escape. 

We pressed on past the various little claims, with the place lookinguntidy and desolate, consequent upon the number of camping-places allalong the beautiful stream; and whenever we came upon the more desolateplaces, with the traces of fire and burned trees, I saw Mr Raydon'sbrow knit, and more than once he uttered an angry ejaculation. 

Gunson's claim was neared at last, just as I was beginning to feelexhausted with the difficulties of the climb up the rugged rock-strewntrack, and Mr Raydon was looking more severe than ever, when all atonce, from out of the trees there rang out a sharp "Halt!" and there wasthe clicking of a rifle-lock. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Raydon, brightening up at once at this display ofwatchfulness, which proved to him how trustworthy his men were. Thenstepping to the front he shouted a few words, and the man who had spokencame from his post, which commanded an approach to the claim. 

We were met with an eager welcome, and in spite of the risks they wouldhave to encounter, the four men were overjoyed at hearing of thebusiness in hand, clearly showing that they were tired of theirmonotonous inactive life. 

A brief halt was made, during which our party lay about making a goodmeal; and then, at a word from Mr Raydon, they all sprang up togetherquite in military fashion, while he explained to the four men the plan. 

"We must try and get over here at once, " he said, as he glanced up atthe tremendous wall of rock, piled up quite a thousand feet above ourheads, and dotted with patches of trees, wherever there was soil orcrevice in which a pine could take root. 

"Better place higher up, sir, " said one of the men. "There's a littlebranch of the stream goes off west: I followed it the other day after asheep. I think we could get far enough up the mountain then to crossover and strike the other stream. "

"Right, " said Mr Raydon at once; "that will be better. All ready?Ammunition?"

"Ready! ready!" rang along the little line. 

Mr Raydon nodded. 

"No talking, and go as silently as you can; sound travels in these highparts, and we do not know how high up the scoundrels may be camping. Now, understand once more--single file till we cross over into the othervalley, then spread out as widely as the place will allow, and keep aslevel a line as possible. The object is to drive these men back to themining party, and not one must break through our line now. You lead. Itrust to you to get us well over into that valley. "

The man who had spoken of the branch from the stream stepped to thefront, rifles were shouldered, the word was given, and with Mr Raydonnext to the leader, and I behind him, carrying a spare rifle and thesurgical case, the advance was begun. 

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. 

A NEW ENEMY. 

We had not lost more than a quarter of an hour in this halt; but it wassufficient, as I found when I rose, to have cooled me down and made mefeel fresh and ready for the arduous climb that we now had to make. Ourpath was along by the stream for a time, but more often right in it, forthe valley grew narrower, and was frequently little more than a giganticcrack in the mountain-side; but so beautiful that I often longed to stopand gaze at the overhanging ferns and velvety moss by some foaming fall, where the water came down from above like so much fine misty rain. 

But there was no halting, and we kept on till the leader suddenly turnedinto a gloomy niche on our left, out of which another stream rushed; andhere for some time we had to climb from rock to rock, and often dragourselves on to some shelf by the overhanging roots of trees. Theascent was wonderfully steep, and sometimes so narrow that we were in adim twilight with the sky far away above us, like a jagged line oflight. As for the stream in whose bed we were, it was a succession oftiny falls now, and we were soon dripping from the waist downward. 

But no word was spoken, and the men worked together as if trained bylong service to this kind of travelling. When some awkward rock hadbeen climbed by the leader, he stopped and held down his hand to MrRaydon, who sprang up and offered me the same assistance, while I, taking it as the proper thing to do, held my hand down to the next. 

For full two hours we struggled up this narrow rift before it becameless deep, and the light nearer. Then the climbing was less difficult, and drier, and I could see that we were getting up more on to the openmountain-side, amid the bare rocks and piled-up stones. All at once theleader stopped short, and pointed up to where, quite half a mile away, Icould see about a dozen sheep standing clearly defined against the sky, their heads with the great curled horns plainly visible. Some werefeeding, but two stood above the rest as if on guard. 

Mr Raydon nodded, and the man said--

"I lost sight of my sheep just below where you see those, sir, and Ithink if we keep on along for a mile beyond we shall find the stream wewant running down into the other valley. "

Mr Raydon stood shading his eyes for a few minutes. 

"Yes, " he said, at last. "You are quite right. I can see the mountainI have been on before. Forward!"

The way was less arduous now, and the fresh breeze into which we hadclimbed made it cooler; but still it was laborious enough to make mepant as I followed right in Mr Raydon's steps. Before we had gone onmuch further I saw the sheep take alarm, and go bounding up, diagonally, what looked like a vast wall of rock, and disappear; and when we hadclimbed just below where I had seen them bound, it seemed impossiblethat they could have found footing there. 

Another half-hour's toilsome ascent, for the most part among loosestones, and we stood gazing down into a narrow gully similar to that upwhich we had climbed, and at the bottom I saw a little rushing stream, which Mr Raydon said was the one we sought, and I knew that we had butto follow that to where it joined the big river, after a journey throughthe dense mass of forest with which the valley was filled. 

Here we halted for a few minutes in a stony solitude, where there wasnot the faintest sound to be heard; and then Mr Raydon's deep voicewhispered "Forward!" and we began to descend cautiously, for the waydown to the stream was so perilous that it was only by using thegreatest care that we reached the bottom in safety, and began to followthe torrent downward. 

"No chance for them to escape by us this way, " said Mr Raydon to mewith a grim smile, looking back as we descended the chasm in singlefile, gradually going as it were into twilight, and then almost intodarkness, with perpendicular walls of rock on either hand, and the moistair filled with the echoing roar and rush of water. 

Here Mr Raydon took the lead, the man who had been in advance lettingus both pass him, and then following behind, me. 

"I have been up this stream to this point before, " said Mr Raydon tome. "You never thought to see such places as this, Gordon, " hecontinued, "when you left London. "

"No, " I said eagerly, for it was pleasant to hear him make some advancestowards me; but he said no more, relapsing into complete silence as hestrode on or leaped from rock to rock, till by degrees, and repeatingour morning's experience in the reverse way, we began to find the narrowgorge widen and grow less dark; then we came to places where thesunshine gleamed down, and there were ferns; then lower down to morelight, and where bushes were plentiful, but still with the valley sonarrow that we had to keep in single file. 

At last, the perpendicular walls were further back, the valley grewV-shaped, and patches of dwarf forest grew visible high up. Biggertrees appeared, and soon after the place became park-like, and a manstepped out to right and left, so that in front we were three abreast;and half an hour later we were amongst the thickly-growing pines--a lineof eight men abreast with Mr Raydon in the middle, and I and the otherbehind. 

"Halt!" said Mr Raydon, in a whisper. "Join up. "

The men from right and left drew in, and he said in quite a whisper--

"The forest grows more and more dense here for miles away to the river. I propose now going on for another half-hour, to where there is a suddennarrowing in of the valley to about thirty yards. If we do not meet theenemy before this, I shall halt there, and keep that pass, waiting tillthey are driven up to us. But we may have them upon us at any momentnow. "

"They could not have got by us, sir?" I ventured to say. 

Mr Raydon looked at me, and smiled. 

"Impossible, my lad. Ready? Forward!"

Our advance now was slow, as we had to pass in and out among thethickly-growing trees, and to be careful to keep in line as nearly aswas possible. Every man was eager and excited, and from time to time, as I looked to right and left, I kept catching sight of one of our partypressing forward with rifle ready, and waiting to fire at the firstsight of the enemy, this shot being the appointed signal for all to haltand stand fast, waiting for further orders. 

At last, after what in my excited state seemed to be hours, but whichafterwards proved not to have been one, Mr Raydon said in a whisper--

"There is the gate. "

I stared, but could see nothing till we had gone a few yards further, when I found that two huge shoulders of the mountain had fallen in, andblocked the valley, which was narrowed here, as Mr Raydon said, to asharply-cut passage of about thirty yards wide. Here we halted, andwere disposed so that a dog could not pass through without being seen, and for a full hour we remained in utter silence, watching, till, unableto bear the inaction any longer, Mr Raydon said sharply--

"Forward! Open out! I am afraid there is something wrong below. Theyought to have been up here by this time. "

We tramped on again now, still with the same precautions, but making asmuch speed as we could after our rest, though our pace was slow onaccount of the dense nature of the forest. I cannot tell how long wehad been going downward, but suddenly, just as I was growing weary ofthe whole business, and thinking that the men were after all, perhaps, not here, or that we had come down the wrong valley, my blood rose tofever-heat again, for Mr Raydon whispered--

"Halt!" and the word ran along to right and left. "Be ready, " hewhispered again. And now I heard a faint muttering in front of us, similar to that which we had made in our progress; and at last, awayamong the great tree-trunks dimly seen in the shade, I caught sight of aman, then of another and another, and now Mr Raydon's voice rang outhoarsely--

"Halt, or we fire!"

There was a low murmuring from before us, and a bit of a rush, as of mencollecting 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, youscoundrels. "

"Mr Raydon, " I whispered, excitedly, for I had caught sight of theadvancing 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, andwe all stood face to face. "Then they were not here. Or have youpassed them?"

"I don't think--" began Barker. 

"Why, I told you so, " cried one of the men. "I felt sure I heardsomething out to our left among the trees hours ago. "

"What?" cried Mr Raydon; "did you not open out your men in line?"

"Far as we could, " said Barker, gruffly. "It's so thick down below wecouldn't get along. "

"Man!" cried Mr Raydon, "they've been too sharp for you, and let youpass. Why--oh, good heavens! they must have known of our plans. They'll have stolen out at the mouth of the valley, gone up, and takenthe Fort. "

A dead silence reigned for a few minutes, as Mr Raydon stood thinking. Then suddenly--

"We did not give them credit for being so sharp as they are, " hecontinued. "Here, forward all of you, back to the river. I hope myfears are wrong. "

"Hadn't we better go your way?" said Barker. "The forest is frightfullythick below, and it will take us hours. "

"The way we came will take twice as long, " said Mr Raydon, sternly;"and it is one fearful climb right up into the mountain. We must gothis way. Follow as quickly as possible. There will be no need to keepa look-out now. "

The men mustered up without a word, and with Mr Raydon and Barkerleading, we tramped on as fast as we could, but making very poorprogress during the next hour, for all were growing hot and exhausted, and the labour was really terrible. But they pressed on in silence, while Mr Raydon and Barker talked together rather bitterly about theill success of the expedition. 

We must have been walking about two hours when--

"It will be night before we get to the Fort, " I heard the former say;"and who knows what may have happened there!"

"But your men will make a fight for it, " said Barker. 

"My principal fellow, Grey, will fight to the death, " said Mr Raydon;"but there are not enough to hold the place. It is ruin anddestruction. I ought not to have come. "

"Hush!" I said, excitedly. "What's that?"

Mr Raydon stopped short, and held up his hand, when a low, dull, roaring sound as of a flood of water rushing up the valley was heardincreasing rapidly. 

"Great heavens!" cried Mr Raydon, excitedly; "they have fired theforest down below. "

And as he spoke there was a faint hot puff of air borne toward us, andwith it the unmistakable odour of burning wood. 

A thrill of excitement ran through the men at the above words, and theylooked at one another. The next moment they would have rushed back upthe valley, but Mr Raydon cried sharply--

"No, no, my lads; the fire cannot be right across the valley; let's goon and try and pass it. "

They seemed to be ready to obey the first who gave them orders, and MrRaydon led on again, but in less then ten minutes, during which the hotpuffs of air and the roar had increased rapidly, we were face to facewith the fact that the fire was coming up like some terrible tide, evidently stretching right across from side to side, and already aboveour heads there were clouds of pungent smoke; and the crackle, roar, andhiss of the burning wood was rapidly growing louder. 

"Halt!" roared Mr Raydon. "It is death to go on. Back at once. "

"But the sides, " cried Barker; "can't we all climb up here?"

"The fire would be on us before we were half-way up, even if we couldclimb, man, " said Mr Raydon, "which I doubt. Back at once!"

"Yes; quick! quick!" shouted one of the men. "Look, look!"

It did not need his shouts, for we could see the flames rushing up thehigher trees, which seemed to flash with light, as if they had beenstrewn with powder; the heat was growing unbearable, and already I feltfaint and giddy. 

It was quite time we were in full retreat, for there above our heads wasa pall of black smoke, dotted with flakes of flame, and a horrible panicnow smote the men as they hurried on. 

"Keep close to me, Gordon, " said Mr Raydon, glancing back. "Why, it iscoming on like a hurricane of fire. "

It was too true, for the hot wind rushed up between the towering wallsof the valley as if through a funnel, and before many minutes had passedwe knew that the forest was on fire where we so lately stood, and thatit was rapidly growing into a race between man's endurance and the wildrush of the flames. 

I looked back twice, to feel the hot glow of the fire on my face, and tosee the lurid glare coming on with the black smoke-clouds wreathing upat terrific speed. Then as we tramped on with the roar behind us as ofsome vast furnace, there came explosions like the firing of guns; thecrashes of small arms; and from time to time the fall of some treesounded like thunder. 

The men needed no spurring to get on out of the dense labyrinth oftrees, through which we toiled on hot to suffocation, breathless, and inmortal dread of being overtaken by the fearful enemy roaring in ourrear. For, so rapid was the advance of the fire, that for a certainty aten minutes' halt would have been enough to have brought the line offire up to us. 

"Don't stop to look back, " cried Mr Raydon. "Press on, men; press on. Keep together. "

I thought of the consequences of one of our party losing his way ever solittle, and the men knew it only too well as they kept together in alittle crowd which was constantly being broken up and separated by thetrees round which they threaded their way. 

"Is there much more of this?" said Barker, suddenly appearing close tous. 

"Yes, " replied Mr Raydon; "miles. "

"Shall we do it?" he panted. 

"With God's help, " was Raydon's quiet reply; and I saw Barker set histeeth hard, and throw his gun further over his shoulder as he bent downto his task. 

The narrow gate of the valley at last; and as we filed through theopening I wondered whether it would tend to check the advance of thefire, and began to wonder whether the trees were much thinner on thehigher side. But I felt that they were not, and that it would be longenough before we struggled on to a place where we could be in safety;while what seemed directly after, there was a deafening roar which Iknew to be that of the flames closed up by the narrow way, and leapingafter us now, as if in dread that we should escape. 

"Man down!" shouted a voice; and in the horrible selfishness of theirfear the rest were passing on, but at a word from Mr Raydon four of hismen seized the poor exhausted fellow, each taking an arm or leg, andbearing him on, while a few drops were trickled from a flask between hislips. 

"Man down!" was shouted again; and this time the retreating party seizedthe poor fellow, following the example of our men, and bore him on, while he was submitted to the same treatment. 

Ten minutes after the poor fellows were on their feet again, strugglingon with the support of the arms of two of their fellows. 

A dozen times over I felt that all was over, and that we might as wellaccept our fate. For we could hardly breathe, and now the sparks andflakes of fire and burning twigs came showering down upon us, as if sentforward by the main body of the flame to check us till the advance cameon. 

The latter part of that retreat before our merciless enemy became to meat last like a dream, during which I have some recollection ofstaggering along with my arm in Mr Raydon's, and the people about ustottering and blundering along as if drunk with horror and exhaustion. Every now and then men went down, but they struggled up again, andstaggered on, a crew of wild, bloodshot-eyed creatures, whose lips wereparched, and white with foam; and then something cool was being splashedon my face. 

"Coming round, sir?" said a familiar voice. 

"Yes; he'll be better soon. A terrible experience, Mr Barker. "

"Terrible isn't the word for it, sir. I gave up a dozen times or so, and thought the end had come. Why, it was almost like a horsegalloping. I never saw anything like it. "

"Nor wish to see anything like it again, " said Mr Raydon. 

By this time I was looking round, to find that we were seated by thestream, where the water came bubbling and splashing down, while farbelow us the smoke and flame went up whirling into the sky. 

"Better, my lad?" said Mr Raydon. 

"Yes, only giddy, " I said; and after drinking heartily and washing myface in the fresh, cool water, I was ready to continue our journey. 

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. 

MR. JOHN'S SCRUPLES. 

It was a dreary, toilsome climb up the narrow portion of the valley, andit was quite dark by the time we had reached the spot where we descendedfirst that morning, and consequently our task grew more risky anddifficult; but there was no shrinking, and following in each other'ssteps, we went on over the bare mountain below where the sheep had beenseen, and with no other light than that of the stars, descended into thenarrow gorge which led down into Golden Valley. 

Here we of necessity, on reaching Gunson's claim, made a halt torefresh; but as soon as possible Mr Raydon gave the word "Forward!"again, and the men stepped out better, for this was all well-knownground. 

Five-minute halts were made twice on the way down, so as to obtain foodat a couple of tents. Then it was on again, and the river was reachedat last, and the steady upward trudge commenced for the Fort. 

Mr Raydon did not speak, but I felt that his thoughts must have beenthe same as mine, as I wondered what had taken place, and whether he wasright in his belief that the enemy had gone up to the Fort after firingthe forest. 

All doubt was cleared when we were about half a mile from ourdestination, for there suddenly boomed out on the still night air, toecho and die rumbling away among the mountains, the heavy report of oneof the small cannon of the block-houses, and this sound sent the menonward at double speed, for it meant not only that the Fort wasattacked, but that Grey and those with him were making a brave defence. 

"Steady, steady!" said Mr Raydon, in a low, stern voice. "We must getup there ready for a run in. You are out of breath, my lads. "

The men from the Fort, who were in front, slowed down a little at this, dropping from the double into a sharp, quick walk; but the report of asecond gun, and then the crackle of rifle-firing, started them againinto a steady trot, and I found myself forgetting my weariness, andrunning by Mr Raydon step for step. 

The firing grew sharper as we neared the palisade, which was dimly seenin the starlight, and the flashes of the rifles and the lights we sawgoing here and there added to the excitement of the scene as Mr Raydonsaid aloud--

"They have got in, and are trying to take the west block-house. Toolate! they have taken it, " he cried, as a burst of cheering rose fromwithin the great fence. Then in a quick whisper he bade the men halt, about a dozen yards from the gateway. 

"Mr Barker, " he said, "keep the gate, and come to our help if we wantit. Don't let a man pass. No bloodshed if you can help it--prisoners. Now, Hudson's Bay boys, ready!"

A fresh burst of cheering arose just then, and directly after the loudshriek of a woman, and a voice I knew as Esau's roaring out angry words. 

"Forward!" said Mr Raydon. "Open out into line, and use the butts ofyour rifles. "

I ran with them from the force of example, and carried away by theexcitement, as our men charged rapidly across the enclosure to where, inhappy ignorance of the fact that help was at hand, the gang ofscoundrels were busy binding their prisoners, whom they had just draggedout of the block-house. But the next minute there was a yell of rageand hate, with the sound of heavy blows, pistol-shots, oaths and curses, and then the pattering of feet, and Mr Raydon's voice rang out. 

"Four men your way, " he cried; and directly after there was a repetitionof the blows, shots, and yells, followed by a cheer from the gate. 

For the last of the gang had been beaten down, and as pine-torches werelit, the wounded were separated from the uninjured, and these latterwere placed in rows under a strong guard; while explanations followed, Grey assuring us that the women were safe; that the cry came from MrsDean, who had tried to protect her son; and that we had come just intime, after a desperate struggle, first at the gate, and lastly at theblock-house, which he had defended as vigorously as his limited meanswould allow. But at last, after being wounded twice, and his two mosthelpful men laid low, he had succumbed to a desperate rush. 

Day broke on as wild a looking set as can be imagined; jaded, exhausted, blackened with smoke, our men sat and lay about for the most partunhurt, though several showed traces of the desperate struggle made bythe surprised gang, whose one-handed leader told Mr Raydon with asavage oath that he thought our party had been burned in the forest. 

"Then it was your doing, " said Barker, fiercely. 

"Course it was, " said the ruffian. "Give me a chance, and I'll burnthis place too. "

Barker raised his fist to strike the fellow, but Mr Raydon seized hisarm. 

"Don't do that, " he said; "we shall not give him a chance. "

And so it proved, for that night, when I rose after a long deep sleep, Ifound that a party had started down the valley with the prisoners. 

"You came just in time, Mayne Gordon, " said Mr John to me. "I was sofrightened that it made me desperate too. I'm afraid I hurt one man. "

"You did, sir, " I said laughing. "Grey told me how you swung your rifleround, and struck him down. "

"I did, my boy, I did, " he said. "Don't laugh. I do not feel satisfiedthat I did right. "

"You did it to defend your wife, " said Mr Raydon, who came up; "and Inever felt so proud of you before, John. There, I must go and see myinjured men. "

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. 

WE MAKE A FRESH START. 

The wounded prisoners were not got rid of for quite a fortnight, duringwhich time matters settled down again into the regular routine, one ofmy principal tasks being helping Mr Gunson to take little walks, thenlonger and longer ones, after which we used to go and have a chat withGrey, who made very light of his wounds. 

One day I asked leave of Mr Raydon to go and have a look at the valleywhere we had had so narrow an escape. He gave me leave freely enough;and as Mr Gunson did not care to accompany me, saying he had no tastefor works in charcoal, I asked leave for Esau to come; and in due timewe stood at the mouth of the valley gazing up. 

"'Nuff to make a fellow sit down and cry, " said Esau, as I recalled ourescape. 

"Pitiful!" I said sadly. 

"Ah, that ain't half strong enough, " he said, as we tramped on amongstthe ashes and charred wood, with the tall stumps of the great pinesstanding burned for the most part to sharp points, and looking likelandmarks to show the terrible devastation in the once lovely woodedvale. 

"I only feel as if I could not use words strong enough, " I replied, aswe slowly tramped on, with the charred wood cracking under our feet, andthe only thing that redeemed the burned region being the beautifulstream which rushed and leaped and sparkled, just as it had been wontbefore the fire scorched the whole place into a desert. 

"Why, it'll take hundreds of years for the trees to grow up again, ifthey ever do, for it strikes me the fire's spoiled even the ground. "

"It may, " I said sadly. 

"Well, it's too hot to go on any further, " said Esau. "Let's go back. Ugh! see how black we're getting. I say, look! I can't see a singlegreen thing. Everything's burnt!"

"Yes, " I said; "and this was to have been our home. "

"What!" cried Esau, giving such a start that he raised a little puff ofblack dust. 

"This valley, with its pleasant meadows and the park-like entrance, wasto have been our home. Mr Raydon had chosen it for Mr and Mrs John. "

"Well, " cried Esau; "then it is too bad. It was bad enough before forsuch a glorious place to be burned up; but as it was to have been ours--Oh, I hope they'll transport those fellows for life. "

We tramped back, having seen enough of the desolation to make our heartsache, and stayed for a couple of hours in the lower part catching troutto take back with us before starting homeward, and passing two partiesof gold-diggers from the coast on their way to the Golden Valley. 

They asked us eagerly to direct them, and I showed them the way with acurious feeling of dissatisfaction. 

But that was of little use, for if I had not pointed out the way someone else would, for the news had spread far and wide, and thegold-washing was going on more vigorously every day. Crowds of peoplewere flocking up the valleys, some to gain fortunes, but the greaterpart nothing but ill-health and disappointment. 

The constant accessions of strangers made it the more difficult forGunson's claim to be held; but, in spite of all opposition andcomplaint, this was done, the four men, or others in their place, beingalways kept on guard. 

At last came the day when, in spite of Mr Raydon's advice to staylonger, Gunson declared himself quite strong and well. 

"I am anxious to get back, " he said, "and the more so that I am keepingyour men there. "

"I have not complained, " said Mr Raydon. 

"No; and you puzzle me, " replied Gunson. "I should have thought youwould have tried all you could to keep me back. "

"Why should I? What difference does one make?"

"Then one more or less is of no consequence?" said Gunson, laughing. "Well, I am not going to repeat all I have said before as to beinggrateful. "

"I beg you will not, " said Mr Raydon. "We had our duty to do to a sickman, and we have done it. "

"Nobly, " said Gunson, warmly. 

"And you intend to start?"

"To-morrow morning, eagerly but unwillingly, for I am loth to leave thesociety of the tender friends who have nursed me back to life. "

He looked at Mrs John and then at Mr John, ending by beckoning to meto come out with him into the enclosure, where Mr Raydon joined us, tobegin talking about the stores he meant Gunson to have. 

"But really, I cannot be putting myself under fresh obligations, " saidGunson. 

"Very well then, " said Mr Raydon, rather bitterly; "pay me, and beindependent. " Then facing round and looking at me, and at Esau, who wassome little distance away, he said sharply--

"You will take these two lads to help you, of course?"

"Yes, " said Gunson, as the blood flushed to my temples, "of course. Icould not do without them. " I saw Mr Raydon frown, but no more wassaid, and we spent the rest of the day making preparations for ourstart, Mrs Dean helping, with the tears trickling down her cheeks asshe worked, and bringing forth appeal after appeal from Esau not "to dothat. " Those few hours seemed to run away, so that it was night longbefore I expected it, and at last I went to Mr Raydon's quarters to saygood-bye. 

"There is no need, " said Mr John, sadly. "The morning will do. "

"But we start directly after daylight, " I said. "Yes, I know; but weshall be up to see you off. " I went away to my own quarters sadlydispirited; and my feelings were not brightened by the scene going onbetween Esau and his mother; and I gladly went out into the cool darknight to try and grow composed, when a high-pitched voice saluted me. 

"Allee leady, " it said. "Plenty tea, plenty flou, plenty bacon. Quongvelly glad to go. "

I could not say the same, and I passed a very poor night, gladly risingat Gunson's call, and dressing in the half-darkness, so eager was I toget the painful farewells over and make a start. 

Mr and Mrs John had kept their words, and Mrs Dean was waiting tokiss me and say good-bye, and beg me to take care of Esau. 

"For he is so rash, " she whimpered. "Do keep him out of danger, mydear. "

I promised, and it was understood that we all parted the best offriends, Mr Raydon inviting us all to come over and see them when wechose, and offering to take charge of any gold Gunson might feeldisposed to bring over to the Fort. 

Then we were off, all well laden, and with two of the men and theirIndian wives to carry stores. 

The way chosen was through the forest, and away over the mountain ridge, so as to avoid passing all the little camps; and in due time we reachedthe claim, dismissed the bearers, and once more settled down to ourwork. 

"We must try hard to make up for lost time, my lads, " said Gunson. "Why, Gordon, you don't seem to relish the task. "

"Oh, yes, " I said, "only I feel a little dull at leaving the Fort. "

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. 

MR. RAYDON QUOTES LATIN. 

"Nothing has been touched, " said Mr Gunson, the next morning. "I don'tbelieve Raydon's men have even washed a pan of gold, and my bank isquite safe. "

I looked at him inquiringly. 

"I examined it while you were asleep, Mayne, " he said. 

"Then you have a good deal stored up here?"

"Yes--somewhere, " he said. "I'll show you one of these days. Now then;ready?"

We declared our readiness, and once more we began work, out in thesilence of that beautiful valley, digging, washing, and examining, as wepicked out the soft deadened golden scales, beads, grains, and tinysmooth nuggets. 

We all worked our hardest, Quong being indefatigable, and darting back, after running off to see to the fire, to dig and wash with the best ofus. 

We had very fair success, but nothing dazzling, and the gold we foundwas added to the bank on the fourth day, this bank proving to be aleather bag which Mr Gunson dug up carefully in my presence, while Istared at him, and burst out laughing at his choice of what I thought sosilly and unsafe a place for his findings. 

"Why do you laugh?" he said, quietly. "Do you think I might have had astrong box instead of a leather bag?"

"I should have thought that you would have buried it in someout-of-the-way, deserted corner, " I said. "I could find hundredsabout. "

"Yes, " he said; "and so could other people, my lad. Those are the veryspots they would have searched. I wanted a place where no one wouldlook. "

"And so you hid it here, " I said, wonderingly, for I could not quite seethat he was right, and yet he must have been, for the gold was safe. 

His hiding-place was down in the sand, right in the beaten track peoplewalked over on their way up the valley. 

We worked on busily for a month after Mr Gunson's coming back to hisclaim; and then one day we struck camp and marched back to the Fort, with a small quantity of gold, the fifth that we had taken up. 

"Why, hallo!" cried Mr Raydon as he came in and found us there, withMr and Mrs John, and Gunson looking very serious. 

"Yes, " he said. "It's all over. My luck again. "

"What do you mean?"

"That was a rich little deposit, and we have gleaned the last grain. The other people are doing badly too, and going back. "

"But there must be plenty more, " said Mr Raydon. 

"No; I believe we have pretty well cleared the valley. "

"Then I am delighted, " cried Mr Raydon. "Gunson, I congratulate you. "

"Indeed!" said Gunson, coldly. 

"Yes, for now there will be an end to this grasping, avaricious work, and our pleasant vales will return to the condition that is best. "

"The hope of my life is crushed, man, and I must begin my weary huntagain, " said Gunson, bitterly. 

"No; your new and happier, more manly life is now about to commence. Look here, what gold have you got?"

"You know. "

"Not I. I know that I supplied you with a couple of sheep-skins, whichyou made into bags, and that those bags are in my strong box. What haveyou?"

"After I have fairly apportioned shares to Mayne, to Dean, and to mylittle Chinese friend, I shall have a thousand pounds' worth formyself. "

"Ample, and double what you will require, man, " said Mr Raydon. "Thinkwhere you are, in a country--a virgin country--as beautiful, morebeautiful than dear old England, a place where for almost nothing youmay select land by one of our lovely streams, which, as the writer said, is waiting to be tickled with a hoe, that it may laugh with a harvest. Come: England is too narrow for such a man as you. Take up land, make aranch if you like, or farm as they farm at home; sow your grains of goldin the shape of wheat, and they will come up a hundredfold. Build yourhouse, and send for the mother and sister of whom you spoke to me whenyou were so weak. "

"I spoke!" said Gunson, wonderingly. "Yes; you were half delirious, butyou spoke of a dear mother and sister in England; bring them to shareyour prosperity, for prosperity must come; and it is a life worthliving, after all. "

As he spoke I felt my heart swell with hope; the gloomy feelings ofdisappointment passed away, and I found myself gazing with astonishmentat Mr Gunson, whose morose, disfigured face seemed to brighten up andglow, while his eye flashed again, as when Mr Raydon finished speakinghe leaned forward and grasped his hand. 

"God bless you for those words, " he said; "you have made light shineinto a darkened heart. I will do this thing. Heaven helping me, I willnever seek for a grain of gold again. "

"I shall register your oath, Gunson, " said Mr Raydon, smiling. 

"Do. It will be kept. Yes: I will fetch them over; and, Mrs John, itwill be one of the delights of my new life, to introduce two ladies mostdear to me to one whom they will venerate and love. Mayne, you havenever told them all I said to you?"

"No, " I said; "it would have been a breach of confidence. "

I looked up as I spoke, and saw that Mr Raydon's eyes were fixed uponme searchingly, and his voice sounded harsh again as he said--

"It was a breach of confidence, Mayne Gordon, to tell Mr Gunson here ofthe existence of gold in the little valley. Do you remember yourpromise to me?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, boldly, for I felt that at last the truth must comeout, and I should be cleared; for I would speak now if Mr Gunson didnot. "I remember well. "

"Mayne, " said Gunson; and my heart seemed to leap--"Mayne tell me aboutthe gold up yonder? No, no; it was not he. "

"What!" cried Mr Raydon, excitedly. "It was not Mayne Gordon who toldyou?"

"No; it was that little Chinaman confided to me that he had made a bigfind. The little fellow always had confidence in me. He brought mequite a hundred pounds' worth to take care of for him when I was herelast, and proposed to put himself under my protection and to work for meif I allowed him a tenth. "

"Then it was not Mayne?" cried Mrs John, excitedly. 

"No, madam. I knew friend Raydon would be angry, but I was obliged toaccept the offer, for I felt that some time or other the people wouldcome, and I argued that the sooner it was all cleared out the better forRaydon's peace of mind. You knew it must be discovered. "

"Yes; I always knew that; but I wanted to keep away those who came aslong as possible. "

"They are going already, and you will soon have your vales in peaceagain. "

"Yes, yes, yes, " muttered Mr Raydon, beginning to walk up and down theroom, while I felt in such a whirl of excitement, as I saw Mrs John'sbeautiful, motherly eyes fixed lovingly on mine, and felt Mr Johnsnatch my hand and press it, and then give vent to his delight at theclearing up by slapping me heavily on the shoulder, that I could not seeMr Raydon's puckered brow. What I did see was the bear's head lookingdown at me, showing its grinning teeth as if it were laughing andpleased, and the moose staring at me with its mournful aspect lessmarked. All nonsense this, I know, but there was a feeling of joywithin me that filled me with exultation. 

The silence was almost painful at last, and the tension grew to such anextent that I felt at last that I must run out and tell Esau I hadmisjudged him, as I had been misjudged, when Mr Raydon stopped beforeme and said softly--

"You remember your Latin, Mayne?"

"A little, sir, " I said, wondering at his words. 

"_Humanum est curare_. You know that?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, huskily; "but please don't say any more. "

"I must. I have erred bitterly. I was blind to the truth. Will youforgive me?"

"Mr Raydon!" I cried. 

"My dear boy, " he said, as he grasped my hands; and, to my astonishment, I saw the tears standing in his eyes, while I could not help thinking ashe stood there softened towards me, how like he seemed to his sister;"you do not know how I have suffered, hard, cold man as I have grown inmy long residence in these wilds. "

"But it's all past now, sir, " I said; "and you know the truth. "

"Yes; all past, " said Gunson, warmly. 

"Past; but I shall never forget it, Mayne. My dear sister's letterinterested me deeply in you, and when you came I felt that she had notexaggerated, and you at once made your way with me. Then came thiswretched misunderstanding, blinding me to everything but the fact that Ihad received a wound, one which irritated me more than I can say. "

"Pray, pray say no more, sir, " I cried, excitedly. 

"I must, Mayne. I ought to have known better. "

"I am glad, Dan, " cried Mr John, exultingly. "I have always been sucha weak, easily-led-away man, that my life has been a series of mistakes;and it is a delightful triumph to me to find that my hard-headed, sternbrother-in-law can blunder too. "

"Yes; it will take some of the conceit out of me, " said Mr Raydon, smiling. "There; shake hands, my lad. I read your forgiveness in youreyes. "

"Why, my dear Raydon, " cried Mr Gunson, merrily, "what moles we allare, and how things shape themselves without our help! I find that inmy wild thirst for gold I have been acting as your good genii. "

"How?" said Mr Raydon. 

"By bringing Mayne and you closer together than you would ever have beenwithout this mistake. See what I have done for you too, in clearing thevalley of this horrible gold!" he cried, merrily. 

"But you've ruined the estate I was to have had, " said Mr John. "Mybrother and I went down and had a look at it, and it is one horribleblack desert. "

"Pish, man!" cried Gunson; "may work for the best. "

"What!" cried Mr John; "are you mad?"

"No, sir. Never more sane; for the gold mania has gone. That vale wasgrand with its mighty trees, but it was the work of a generation toclear that forest. Through me, that place was swept clean in a coupleof days. "

"Clean?" said Mr John, dolefully. 

"Yes; and the ground covered with the rich, fertilising ashes of theforest. Raydon, what will that place be in a year?"

"Green again; and in two years, when the black stumps are demolished, far more beautiful and suitable for settlement than it was before. Heis quite right, John; it is a blessing for us in disguise. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Mr John; and Mrs John shook her head sadly. 

"I do not like disguises, " she said; "and I grieve for those lovelypyramidal trees. "

"Trees enough and to spare everywhere, " said Mr Raydon. "Don't beafraid; you shall have a lovely home--eh, Mayne? I think we can managethat. There, Gunson, the sooner the better. Let's have a happysettlement there, and no more gold. "

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. 

THE GOLDEN HARVEST. 

In a year from that time there was not a single gold-digger left in theneighbourhood, for the news of fresh discoveries further north had drawnthem all away, and Nature soon hid the untidy spots they had made inGolden Valley with their camps. Gunson had no hesitation in selectingthe black valley for his farm, where, in a wonderfully short space oftime, patches of green began to appear; while Mrs John, in perfectfaith that the place would soon recover, herself picked out the spot atthe entrance of the burned valley, close by a waterfall, and was morecontented by the fact that several magnificent pines were left standingby the fire, which at starting had not extended so far. Here adelightful little cottage was built almost in Swiss fashion, the menfrom the Fort helping eagerly to prepare a home for one who, by hergentleness, had quickly won a place in their esteem, without countingthe fact that she was their chief officer's sister. 

In a very short time this was surrounded by a garden, in which Mr Johnspent the greater part of his time, planting flowers that his wifeloved, while Esau and I had our shares of the gold invested in landbought by acting under Mr Raydon's advice, ready for our working atsome future time, for then we were busy helping the Dempsters andGunson, making plans and improvements. 

How we all worked! and what delightful days those were, the more so thatin due time there came to our friend's home a sweet-looking, grey-hairedlady with a patient, rather pinched aspect, and a grave, handsome woman, whom I knew at once for Gunson's sister; but I was rather puzzled when Iheard that their names were Mrs and Miss Effingham. 

"My name, Mayne, my lad, " said the prospector, "when I was a gentleman, and now I take it once again. "

Those two ladies looked scared and sad till they saw Mrs John, and thena change seemed to come over them, such as I had seen in Gunson--I meanEffingham--as he listened to Mr Raydon's words. 

In a week Mrs Effingham was ready for me with a smile, and MissEffingham was singing about the place while I helped her plan a gardenfor the alpine flowers we collected. 

Yes: that soon became a happy valley, where there was always some newpleasure of a simple kind--the arrival of boxes of seeds, or packages offruit-trees from England, implements for the farming--endless thingsthat civilisation asks for. 

Then Esau developed into a wonderful carpenter, after instructions fromGrey at the Fort; and from carpentering blossomed into cabinet-making. Every one was busy, and as for Quong, he quite settled down as cook ingeneral, baker, and useful hand, confiding to me that he did not mean togo back to China till he died. 

"This velly nice place, sah. No sabbee more ploper place. Quong vellyhappy, sah. You like cup flesh tea?"

He always offered me that whenever I went near him, and I think hisfeelings were those of every one there. For it was a pleasant sight tosee Mr and Mrs John in their garden, which was half Nature-made whenthey began, and grew in beauty as the years rolled on, though they hadformidable competitors up at the farm. 

"Yes, " said Mr Effingham one day as I stood with him and Mr Raydon inthe big barn--that big barn built of Douglas pine planks, cut down byEsau and me, sawn in our own mill turned by the beautiful stream--a millerected with Mr Raydon's help. "Yes, " he said, as he thrust his handinto a sack, and let the contents trickle back; "that's as good wheat asthey grow in England. You were right, old fellow. Do you hear, Mayne?These are the real golden grains, and the best that man can find. "

THE END.