"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 old
Gunson."
"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 hesitation
I suffered from might increase, I said excitedly--
"Now."
"All right then; let's get a little way further from the corner, make
straight 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 paling
and drop down from there. But I say, Esau," I whispered, "how are we to
climb 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. They
will not see us then."
It is impossible to describe the feeling of excitement which came over
me as I followed Esau's example, and letting him lead, began to crawl
pretty quickly across the enclosure. I looked back, and there were the
lights in Mr Raydon's quarters, where my friends were seated, and
wondered what they would think when they heard that I had gone, and what
construction Mr Raydon would place upon my departure, for something
seemed to tell me that we should be found out; and it was not likely
that 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 to
wash 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 a
taking if they find out we are gone?"
"Go on quickly, then," I whispered, "and let's get back before they know
it."
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 a
quick rustling sound, a loud bark, and though we could not see him, I
knew 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 intention
in force, the dog was upon us, barking furiously; but the next minute,
after knocking me right over, he was whining and fawning upon me, and
giving a share of his attentions to Esau.
"Down! Quiet! Get out!" whispered Esau. "Why don't you wipe your
nose?"
"Here, Rough! What is it, lad? Hold him!" came from the direction of
the block-house.
"Oh, it's all up," I whispered, as the dog set up a loud volley of
barking.
"Seize him!" cried the voice, which I knew to be Grey's; but the dog
barked again, as if in remonstrance, and seemed more disposed to play
with 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 bounding
round us, and every now and then uttering one of the volleys of barking
which sounded terribly loud in the utter silence of that dark night.