Part 42 (1/2)
”I sha'n't give them anything,” said Esau sourly. ”One of 'em tried to pull the hair off my head.”
”Nonsense! It must have been to get you into the boat. Here we are.”
He signed to us to go into our room in the shanty, and I felt puzzled at his quiet calm way of speaking now, just as if there had been nothing the matter that morning. But it was not so with Esau. The shock and its accompanying fright had had a peculiar effect upon his temper.
As we entered the room there was the bright fire with the boiling water; and the landlady had been busy for us, and broiled some bacon, the smell of which was very welcome at that time in the morning; but as Esau was about to take his place he looked sharply round.
”Where's my box?” he said. And as he spoke I saw that mine and the others were gone.
”In the canoe,” said Gunson, quietly.
”What's it in the canoe for?” cried Esau. ”Those Indian chaps will run away with it.”
”If they do,” said Gunson, who was busy making the tea, ”they'll take your companion's and mine too.”
”What's the good o' that to me?” cried Esau angrily. ”That won't bring mine back. Here, I want my box.”
”Sit down, and don't be stupid, my lad. You've given us quite enough trouble this morning.”
”But I want my box,” cried Esau. ”There's lots o' things in that I wouldn't lose on no account.”
He moved toward the door, but Gunson set down the kettle and stepped before him.
”Go and sit down,” he said sternly.
”But I want--”
”Sit down!” roared Gunson. ”Your companion here does not make an idiot of himself because his box is in the canoe. Do you think I want to run away with it?”
”No; but those Indians--”
”Are more honest than you are, my lad, or as honest.”
”But who told them to take the boxes?”
”I did. For if you go and nearly drown yourself there is no opportunity for consulting you about matters. You want to go up the river, do you not?”
”Well, I don't know,” cried Esau, whose anger was now comical.
”Then we know for you. As it happens, my first halting-place is at a settlement twelve miles up the river. I wanted my chests taken up there, and I ventured to think it would be doing you lads a good turn to take you and your boxes as well. So I engaged these Indians with their canoe. They will paddle us up there and land us.”
”Oh,” said Esau discontentedly. And I burst out laughing.
”I'm sorry you do not like it, Mr Dean; but if you wish it, I will apologise for the liberties my Indians have taken in saving your life as they came, as well as in taking your chest.”
”Well, I--that is--if I'd--”
”Will you hold your mug this way for some tea, Mr Dean?” said Gunson, with mock politeness.
”Oh!” exclaimed Esau.