Esau was quite right; he had a terribly discoloured eye next morning,
and it was the first thing I saw as we both sat up together in the soft
light under the great pine, though I was half asleep still. But I had
started up on hearing a shrill voice close to me say--
"Bleakfass all ready."
"Come and bathe your face, Esau," I said; and I led the way down to the
water's edge to have a good wash, Gunson and Esau following my example,
while when we got back to the fire it was to find that Quong had been
making himself quite at home with our stores. For not only had he cut
up and cooked some bacon, and made the tea, but he had found the
flour-bag; and there, upon a piece of sheet-iron, was a large bread-cake
freshly baked in the embers.
Gunson laughed as he saw these preparations, but he said no more till we
had partaken of a hearty meal. Then the four Indians came up to be
paid, readily taking the dollars promised for the trip, and going back
directly to the boat to land the boxes; but Gunson followed them, and
they agreed to take them to the front of the biggest shanty about half a
mile higher up, waiting till we were ready.
Quong was busy now making his breakfast, and Gunson turned to him.
"Now, my Celestial friend," he said; "we're going to say good-bye to
you. Where are you bound for?"
"Up libber, washee gole."
Gunson started.
"What?" he cried.
"Up libber, washee gole."
"Who told you that there was gold there?"
"Melican man come down, show bit gold to Melican man. Big man you
chuckee chuckee down in boat."
Gunson looked disturbed, but he made no remark then, and at last I said
to him--
"I suppose we shall part company to-day, Mr Gunson?"
"What for? Like your friend there, Esau--tired of me?"
"No," I said; "but we are going on tramp now up to Fort Elk."
"Yes," said Esau, "that's what we're going to do; but I don't quite see
what we're to do with our boxes."
"Leave them in charge, as I shall mine, at this settlement," said
Gunson. "You'll have just to make a bundle in your blanket that you can
carry easily. I shall do the same, and we may as well go on together,
and protect one another as we did last night."
He laughed and looked at Esau, who coloured up. "But we are going to
Fort Elk," I said.
"So am _I_," said Gunson, coolly; and I saw Esau give quite a start, and
look at me with a countenance full of dismay.