Part 24 (1/2)

”So do I. I lay thinking about them last night, hoping they wouldn't be attacked by Indians.”

”I don't think an Indian would like to attack my mother again. She ain't a big woman, but she has got a temper when it's roused. Make haste; I want my breakfast.”

I was not long in dressing, and on going down we found Mr Gunson waiting for us, and looking more sour, fierce, and forbidding than ever.

”Come, young sirs,” he said, ”you must learn to see the sun rise regularly out here in the West. Sit down, and let's have breakfast.

I've a lot to do ready for starting to-morrow.”

”I'm sorry I am so late,” I said. ”I could not sleep last night.”

”Why? Let's look at you. Not ill?”

”Oh, no,” I said, beginning on my breakfast to try and overtake Esau.

”No,” he said, ”you're not ill, or you couldn't eat like that. Why couldn't you sleep?”

”I was thinking so much of what you said about the difficulties before us. I never thought of them before.”

”Oh!” he said, looking at me curiously. ”Well, I'm glad of it. But don't worry yourself. The troubles will not come all at once. You can fight them one at a time, and get over them, I dare say.”

”Then you think we shall be able to get up to Fort Elk somehow?”

”If you make up your minds to it, and say you will do it. That's the way. There, make a good breakfast, and then perhaps you can help me a bit. I want to finish buying a few things that one can't get up the country. By the way, you will have to leave those chests of yours up at one of the settlements.”

”Leave our chests?” said Esau, staring.

”Why, you don't expect to be able to carry a great box each on your head, do you, through such a country as you'll have to travel. Never thought of that, I suppose?”

”I'm afraid I did not,” I said.

”Of course you did not. Look here, while I think of it. Have you both got blankets?”

”No,” I said. ”I thought we need not buy them till we built a house.”

”And don't you want to go to sleep till you've built a house? My good lads, a thoroughly well made thick blanket--a dark-coloured one--is a man's best friend out here. It's bed, greatcoat, seat, cus.h.i.+on, carpet-bag, everything. It's even food sometimes.”

”Go on,” cried Esau, laughing. ”You can't eat your blanket.”

”There was a snake at the Zoo once thought differently,” said Gunson, laughing. ”No, you can't eat your blanket, but you can roll yourself up warm in it sometimes when there's no food, and have a good sleep. _Qui dort dine_, the French folk say.”

”But do you mean to say that up there we shan't get anything to eat sometimes?” cried Esau, who looked aghast.

”Yes, often. A man who wants to get on in a new country must not think of eating and drinking. Why, I went three days once with nothing but a drop of water now and then, and a bit of stick to chew, so as to keep my mouth moist.”

I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, and Gunson looked annoyed.

”It's no joke, young fellow,” he said; ”and I'm not romancing.”

”No, no, no,” I panted out; ”not--laughing--at you. Look--look!”