"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 must
be right; and the uncomfortable feeling of being suspected seemed to
increase.
I was thinking about this a good deal, and had made up my mind to ask
Mr Raydon if he thought I could be so dishonourable, when we neared the
Fort, and I was startled back from my musings which were carrying me on
through 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 slowly
towards us, looking very old and careworn, and as if he had gone through
a great deal of trouble since we parted in the autumn.
"Why, my lad," he cried, shaking hands with me warmly, "you look quite
thin 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'm
getting better fast. Tell me about what you have been doing."
Gunson laughed.
"Walking, wading in rivers, washing sand, climbing mountains, exposed to
all sorts of weather, half-starved, half-frozen, and all to get the
tempting 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 thirty
shillings 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 and
kind he had always been to us. But it was impossible, and I darted a
look 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 our
duty to Mr Raydon. I had hardly thought this when I saw the latter
coming towards us.
"Ah, Mr Gunson," he said, with a sharp, keen glance, "you have kept
your 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 very
fortunate?"
"What a question to ask me!" said Gunson; "the most unlucky man that
ever lived! Do I look fortunate?"
"No," said Mr Raydon, smiling; "far from it. There, come up to my
place, and let me hear what you have been doing."
As we approached the strangers' quarters, Quong made his appearance with
his eyes twinkling.
"Plenty flesh tea," he cried. "Plenty new blead."
"Hullo, my Celestial friend," said Gunson, smiling at the eager-looking
little fellow. "Did you see me coming?"
"No. Not see. Gley tell me Mr Gunson come, and make tea dilectly, and
cook bacon."
"Ready to come on with me now, Quong?" said Gunson. "I'm going up the
western part."
Quong stared.
"What! Go away? No. Stop allee long here."
"That's right, my lad. Don't leave good quarters. Been washing for
gold lately?"
"Eh? Washee washee gole? Too much piecy make work. Cook along big
meat. 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 Mr
Raydon, while we kept back until he had finished his meal.
"I say," said Esau, as we walked about the enclosure, "can't little
Quong tell fibseys."
"That's what I was thinking," I replied. "Why, I've met him twice up
the river trying for gold."
"Oh. I've seen him lots of times. He gets away when he has done his
work, looking as innocent as you please, and all the time he's hunting
for gold. I say, you see if Mr Raydon don't keep an eye on us for fear
we should tell old Gunson. My! wouldn't he like to know of our find. I
can't understand how it is that he who knows all about it should be so
unlucky, 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."