Part 46 (1/2)
Esau was quite right; he had a terribly discoloured eye next morning, and it was the first thing I saw as we both sat up together in the soft light under the great pine, though I was half asleep still. But I had started up on hearing a shrill voice close to me say--
”Bleakfa.s.s all ready.”
”Come and bathe your face, Esau,” I said; and I led the way down to the water's edge to have a good wash, Gunson and Esau following my example, while when we got back to the fire it was to find that Quong had been making himself quite at home with our stores. For not only had he cut up and cooked some bacon, and made the tea, but he had found the flour-bag; and there, upon a piece of sheet-iron, was a large bread-cake freshly baked in the embers.
Gunson laughed as he saw these preparations, but he said no more till we had partaken of a hearty meal. Then the four Indians came up to be paid, readily taking the dollars promised for the trip, and going back directly to the boat to land the boxes; but Gunson followed them, and they agreed to take them to the front of the biggest shanty about half a mile higher up, waiting till we were ready.
Quong was busy now making his breakfast, and Gunson turned to him.
”Now, my Celestial friend,” he said; ”we're going to say good-bye to you. Where are you bound for?”
”Up libber, washee gole.”
Gunson started.
”What?” he cried.
”Up libber, washee gole.”
”Who told you that there was gold there?”
”Melican man come down, show bit gold to Melican man. Big man you chuckee chuckee down in boat.”
Gunson looked disturbed, but he made no remark then, and at last I said to him--
”I suppose we shall part company to-day, Mr Gunson?”
”What for? Like your friend there, Esau--tired of me?”
”No,” I said; ”but we are going on tramp now up to Fort Elk.”
”Yes,” said Esau, ”that's what we're going to do; but I don't quite see what we're to do with our boxes.”
”Leave them in charge, as I shall mine, at this settlement,” said Gunson. ”You'll have just to make a bundle in your blanket that you can carry easily. I shall do the same, and we may as well go on together, and protect one another as we did last night.”
He laughed and looked at Esau, who coloured up. ”But we are going to Fort Elk,” I said.
”So am _I_,” said Gunson, coolly; and I saw Esau give quite a start, and look at me with a countenance full of dismay.
Gunson saw it, and went on quietly--
”I did not mean to go on there, only up this river for some distance, and then off here or there toward the sources of one or other of the streams that run into it from the mountains; but as I have run up against you two, why we may as well go on together; it will give me a chance to knock you both on the head, and then come back here, and get your chests, as well as the money you have in your belts under your clothes.”
I stared at him in a horrified way for a moment, and then, as I seemed to understand him, I burst out laughing.
”Nonsense!” I said.
”Oh no. That's the idea of me your companion here has taken.”
”Never said nothing of the sort,” cried Esau, defiantly, and with his face scarlet.