Part 54 (1/2)

”But it may take us a long time to get through, and we don't want to be caught in a place like that at night.”

”Right, Gordon,” said Gunson. ”Dean, you are in the minority. We must either start as soon as we can or wait till morning.”

”That is the best,” said Esau, uneasily. ”I don't want to show no white feathers, but I ask any one--Is that a nice place to tackle after being walking all the morning with a load?”

”No; I grant that,” said Gunson. ”But come along, Gordon, and lot's explore it a little way.”

He led off and I willingly followed him, to descend close to the rus.h.i.+ng waters, and then climb up again, looking in every direction for something in the way of a track, but without avail. On every hand were piled-up rocks, and though we climbed on one after another and stood looking into the gorge, there was nothing to be seen. As far as we could make out the place had never been trodden by the foot of man.

We had penetrated about a hundred yards, and stood upon a flat-topped rock, looking down at the roaring, swis.h.i.+ng water, while before us everything appeared of a dark forbidding grey, in strange contrast to the bright slit of mossy green we could see when we looked back, in the midst of which rose up a column of smoke, and beside it the dark figure of Esau with his hand over his eyes, evidently peering in after us.

”The puzzle is difficult to make out, my lad,” said Gunson. ”It's hard work making your way through a country that has not been thoroughly mapped. Can't get along here, eh?”

”No,” I said, rather despondently, and then I started, for Esau hailed us to come back, and we could see him shouting with his hands to his mouth, evidently in a great state of excitement.

We waited till the echoes of his voice had died away, and then I shouted back, and a curious creeping sensation ran through me at the sound of my voice.

It was impossible to hurry back, for there were too many impediments in the way, but we made all the haste we could, for there was evidently something wrong, though what that might be was invisible to us, as we descended and climbed, and wound our way in and out in places that Gunson confessed were ”ticklish,” as he called it, and where he always paused in his firm, quiet way to offer me his help.

At last we were close to Esau, who was waiting anxiously with the rifle in his hand, ready to thrust it into Gunson's.

”Indians, eh?” said the latter, as we now saw what had been hidden from us by the shape of the valley--a group of half a dozen spear-armed Indians, who drew back a little and stood watching us on seeing the accession made by our crossing to the group by the fire.

Gunson did not hesitate. He took the rifle, and felt whether his revolver was ready to his hand before walking straight up to the group, making signs intended to be friendly. They had their effect, for the men came forward, one of them holding out a freshly-opened salmon as a token of good-will.

That was enough for Quong, who ran forward smiling, whilst Gunson tried the men with such Indian words as he could remember. But it was all in vain. They gave up the great fish to the Chinaman quietly enough, and stood staring at us in a stolid way, till our leader took out his tobacco-pouch and gave each a good pinch. They were friends directly; and now by signs Gunson tried to make them understand that he wanted to go through the canon, and that he would give them a present if they would guide us.

”I can't make them understand, my lad,” he said at last.

”But I think they do understand,” I said. ”Let's shoulder our packs, and see if they will lead the way.”

”Must be going our way,” said Esau, ”because they overtook us.”

”Well, let's try,” said Gunson; and in a couple of minutes we were standing loaded, Gunson pointing up the gorge.

One of the Indians showed his teeth, said a few words to his companions, and they all faced round, and began to lead the way back.

”No, no,” I shouted, and I pointed up the gorge, when the leading Indian smiled and went on again.

”This will not do,” I said to Gunson. ”Stop a few minutes,” he said, thoughtfully.--”Let's see. I think they understand us.”

So we followed them back for a couple of hundred yards or so, when they stopped short, pointed upwards, and began to ascend the side of the valley at a spot where it was too stony for any trace of a track to be seen, but where it was possible to climb up and up, with the way growing more giddy moment by moment, and the exertion so great that we were soon glad to s.h.i.+ft our packs.

This brought the Indians to a stand, and their leader said something which was responded to by four of the men taking our packs and bearing them for us, the chief going first, and the other man taking the spears of those who carried the loads, and walking last.

In a few minutes we were where the smoke of our fire rose up in faint blue wreaths right above our heads, and all doubts of there being a way was at an end, for without the slightest hesitation the Indians went on, their leader evidently quite at home, though as I looked down I could only see rugged stones, without a trace of their having been worn by feet, while above us was the vast wall of rock along whose side we crept like so many ants, and below there was the river foaming and roaring along toward the mouth.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.