Part 33 (2/2)
He gave a little start, and his face relaxed.
”I?” he said quickly, and he looked as if he were going to take me into his confidence; but just then Esau came on deck to stand looking sh.o.r.eward, and Gunson turned cold and stern directly. ”Don't know for certain,” he replied. ”Morning, my lad,” to Esau, and then walked forward to speak to the skipper.
”There, Esau,” I said eagerly; ”that's something like a country to come to,” for the fresh beauties which were unfolding in the morning sun made me forget all Gunson's suggestions of difficulties.
”Yes, that's something like,” said Esau. ”What makes those big hills look so blue as that?”
”They are mountains, and I suppose it's the morning mist.”
”Mountains!” said Esau, contemptuously, ”not much o' mountains. Why, that one over yonder don't look much bigger than Primrose Hill.”
”Not much,” said Gunson, who was walking back with the skipper. ”Very much like it too, especially the snow on the top. How far is that mountain off?” he added, turning to the skipper.
”Hunard miles,” grunted the person addressed.
”Look here,” whispered Esau, as soon as we were alone, for the skipper and Gunson went below, ”I don't say that he hasn't been very civil to us, and he helped us nicely about getting on here, but I don't like that chap. Do you?”
”I really don't know,” I said with a laugh.
”Well, I do know. He looks at one with that eye of his, as if he was thinking about the money in your belt all the time.”
”He can't be thinking about yours,” I said drily.
”Oh dear! I forgot that,” said Esau. ”But all the same, I don't like a man with one eye.”
”But it isn't his fault, Esau.”
”No, not exactly his fault; but it sets you against him, and he's got so much pump in him.”
”Pump?”
”Yes; always getting out of you everything you are going to do, and who you are, and where you come from.”
”Yes, he does question pretty well.”
”He just does. Very well, then; I want to know who he is, and where he comes from, and what he's going to be up to. Do you know?”
”No, not in the least.”
”Same here. Well, I don't like a man who's so close, and the sooner we both shake hands with him, and say good-bye, the better I shall like it.”
”Well, Esau, I'm beginning to feel like that,” I said, ”myself.”
”That's right, then, and we shan't quarrel over that bit o' business.
Soon be there now, I think, shan't we?”
”To-morrow about this time,” said a familiar voice; and we both started, for Gunson was standing close behind us. ”Didn't you hear me come up?”
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