"I did not mean to go on there, only up this river for some distance,
and then off here or there toward the sources of one or other of the
streams that run into it from the mountains; but as I have run up
against you two, why we may as well go on together; it will give me a
chance to knock you both on the head, and then come back here, and get
your chests, as well as the money you have in your belts under your
clothes."
I stared at him in a horrified way for a moment, and then, as I seemed
to understand him, I burst out laughing.
"Nonsense!" I said.
"Oh no. That's the idea of me your companion here has taken."
"Never said nothing of the sort," cried Esau, defiantly, and with his
face scarlet.
"Your face says you thought so, my lad."
"Well, a chap can think what he likes, can't he?"
"No, boy," said Gunson, and his one eye seemed to blaze; "not of a man
who has done nothing but kindness for you ever since we met, even if it
was in a rough way."
"How was I to know you didn't mean artful, and it was all a trick?" said
Esau sourly.
"Ah, how indeed?"
"Everybody out here's been trying to get the better of us, and rob us.
I couldn't tell you wasn't one of 'em."
"Why, you ill-conditioned cub!" cried Gunson, angrily, "you make me feel
as if I should like to thrash you till you could not stand."
"Better not try it," grumbled Esau; "you go your way, and let us go
ours. We told you all about ourselves, and where we were going; but
you've done nothing but shut yourself up, and look as if you were after
no good."
"Esau!" I cried angrily; "it isn't fair. Mr Gunson has always been
the best of friends to us, and given us good advice."
"Ah, you always did take his part. I ain't going to make friends with
strangers."
"Mr Gunson isn't a stranger. We've known him nearly six months. If
you don't trust him, I do."
I held out my hand to him as I spoke, and he brought his down in it
heavily, giving me such a grip that I had hard work not to wince.
"Thank you, my lad," he said, cheerily. "Then you're going to pitch me
over?" said Esau, surlily.
"I'm going to kick you if you go on in this stupid, suspicious way.
Don't take any notice of him, Mr Gunson."
"I do not intend to."
"Oh, come, we can't go on like that," cried Esau quickly. "I don't want
to be bad friends. I don't want to think you mean to rob us. I don't
think--I don't--"
Esau stopped short, shuffled about from one leg to the other, faltered
again in his speech as he tried to say something which would not come,
and then in a sharp, short, decisive manner, cried--
"Beg your pardon, Mr Gunson. Couldn't help thinking what I did."
"That will do," said Gunson, holding out his hand, which was eagerly
seized by Esau. "I know you couldn't help it, my lad. Mine is not a
face to invite confidence. I'm an ill-looking dog, and I bite hard
sometimes; but I never bite my friends, and they are very few. Look
here, Mayne Gordon," he continued, after glancing in Quong's direction
to see if he was within hearing, "I am going up this river on such a
mission as needs silence, and you have to keep silence too. First of
all, what do you suppose I am?"