Part 36 (1/2)

I should say that my ankle was so far recovered that I had discarded my crutch and now limped on a cane. We soon had come up with the creek, where it flowed amongst the trees. A path showed the way along the bank, and the eager Norris pushed ahead, urging us to follow. I trotted after, at the best speed my lame ankle would allow, and Ray by my side. We hadn't covered two hundred yards, when another bit of clearing showed ahead.

”Hurry up,” said Norris. ”We'll be there in a second--Hurrah for the gold mine!”

CHAPTER XXVI

DOINGS ON THE LITTLE ISLE AGAIN

”Hurrah!” echoed Ray, with teasing, mock enthusiasm. ”Hurrah!”

But we hadn't taken two more steps forward, now, when there broke out ahead of us the voice of Hawkins again, singing:

_”She died of the fever, no doctor could save her.”_

Smas.h.!.+ went our enthusiasm, and we turned tail and skedaddled back on the path. We pulled up a moment at the edge of the open bit, and we heard:

_”She was a fish monger, and where is the wonder--”_

We hopped across the clearing, and still the song followed:

_”For they all wheeled wheel-barrows through streets wide and narrow,”_

_”Crying--'c.o.c.kles! and mussels! alive, alive, O!'”_

”That blooming idiot!” broke out Norris, when we came to a stand in the brush. ”What business had he coming back so soon!”

”He just couldn't wait to sing us that song,” said Ray. ”'c.o.c.kles! and muscles!' But say--Hurrah for the gold mine!”

”Perhaps the black boy smelled a mouse,” I offered.

We hadn't long to wait till Hawkins came pus.h.i.+ng through the brush.

”I tell you wot, fellahs,” he explained, ”that n.i.g.g.e.r suddent got stubborn, an' wouldn't go no farther. 'Ee was just afraid, I guess, as 'ow the boss 'ud raise _ructions_ if we 'adn't got enough work done when 'ee gets back. This last trip, the boss sure 'as got a big 'urry on; 'ee'd 'ave us workin' night an' day, if 'ee 'ad the light.”

”How much, now, do you suppose he has got out of the diggings?”

questioned Norris.

”Hit's a 'eap more nor I can guess,” answered Hawkins. ”Hit's a 'eap o'

pounds we 'ave got out the two years I 'ave been 'ere. An' now, 'ee's a cartin' of it awye from some 'ole back in the rocks where 'ee's been keepin' it, 'ee don't let the n.i.g.g.e.r nor me go near the plyce. 'Ee says 'ee 'as got a trap there; an' 'ee'll shoot us if we foller 'im anywhere 'ee goes.”

Norris had many queries to put the little c.o.c.kney contortionist, but I soon pressed him to go, lest the black boy should come seeking him. And so he went, having exacted a promise that we would not go away from the region without him. In return, he contracted to play into our hands in circ.u.mventing Duran. ”And Hi'm slick,” he declared. ”He cawn't fool Handy 'Awkins.”

”And now--” began Norris.

”Now we'll get back to our little camp,” I said.

”It's hard to go without a sight of the gold diggings,” said Norris, half in earnest, half playing the youngster.