Part 17 (1/2)
Some unintelligible words followed, he who uttered them being plainly to be seen now on a ledge some fifty feet above the surface of the water.
But his signs were easy to be understood.
”Wants us to give him a lift,” said Dallas. ”Can we stop?”
”Oh, yes, and it would only be civil,” said the Cornishman. ”Just room for one first-cla.s.s pa.s.senger. All right; lend a hand here. I can touch bottom. 'Bout seven foot.”
Poles were thrust down, and the raft was urged across the flowing water till the eddy on the far side was reached, and then, with the fierce roar coming out of a narrow gap in the rocks a few hundred yards lower, the raft was easily thrust into a little cove below the man on the shelf.
”Going down the rapids?” he shouted.
”We are, my lad,” cried their captain. ”Why?”
”Will you give a poor fellow a lift down? I can't get any farther for the rocks.”
”Far as the gold country?”
”Oh, no: I don't ask that. Only to where I can tramp again.”
”Well, we've just room for a little un,” said the Cornishman. ”Much luggage?”
”Only this pack,” was the reply.
”Jump in, then,” said the leader, with a grim smile. ”P'r'aps, though, you'd better come lower.”
The man nodded, slung his pack over his shoulder, and then, turning, began to descend the almost perpendicular face of the rocks, twice over narrowly escaping a bad fall. But at last he reached the foot, waded out a little, and then stepped on board.
”Thankye,” he said; ”you are good Christians. I've been here a fortnight, and couldn't get any farther. I shouldn't have been alive now if I hadn't got a fish or two.”
”You are tramping to the gold region all alone, then?”
”Yes, and I've nearly tramped all the way from Chicago.”
The Cornishman turned and stared.
”I got a lift sometimes on the cattle and freight trains, though, when I could creep on unseen.”
”The gold has a magnetic attraction for you, then?” said Abel.
”I suppose so, but it's my last chance. This is a solitary way, though, isn't it? I've hardly seen a soul. I saw your fire, though, last night, across yonder.”
”Did you see anybody go by on a raft three or four days ago?” cried Dallas eagerly.
”I did. Party of three, and hailed them.”
”What were they like?” cried Abel.
”Roughs; shacks; loafers. One of them had a big red beard.”
Dallas started, and glanced at Abel.