I hardly remember how I left Mr Raydon's office, but I do recollect
seeing the bear's head grinning at me, and that of the moose gazing at
me in its weak, sorrowful way. My head felt hot, and I was bitterly
angry; so that when Grey went from us without speaking, after leading us
to the strangers' quarters, it only wanted a few words from Esau to make
me turn upon him fiercely.
"Look here," he said, "this ain't England, and there's no police and
madgistrits 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 mischief
enough 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 told
him."
"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 that
I couldn't hardly bear myself for wanting to tell somebody; and it was a
pity 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 was
except the captain, and of course he wouldn't."
"You are saying that to aggravate me. Esau, once more, do you believe I
told Mr Gunson?"
He looked at me and laughed.
"Why don't you answer?" I cried, angrily. "Do you believe I told Mr
Gunson?"
"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 and
hopeless.
"Don't look like that," cried Esau; "I didn't want to hurt your
feelings. It was quite natural. Mr Gunson was our friend before Mr
Raydon 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 want
gold, other folks do. I do--lots; and I'm going up now to get my
share."
"Then you really believe I told?"
"Why, of course I do. Why, how could you help it? Seems queer to Mr
Raydon, because he has been very kind; but it would have seemed queerer
to poor Mr Gunson. Why, as mother used to say, my heart quite bled for
him when he came back so tired-looking and shabby, after hunting for
months and finding nothing. I'd ha' told him directly if I hadn't
promised you I wouldn't. There, don't be in such a fidge about it; you
couldn'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't
like him much, and he never liked me much; but he often helped me, and
I'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, saying
nothing."
"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 the
gate's open; and though Mr Raydon talked big, he dare not try to stop
us. Come on."
"I tell you nothing should make me stir from here now, till Mr Raydon
knows the truth."
"Yah! What's the good o' keeping on with all that make-believe? He
knows the truth now."