Part 71 (1/2)
”No, it ain't: wait a bit,” he said; and carving away at the thick bark, he made four deep incisions at one end so as to form an arrow-head, and eight at the other end for the feathering of the arrow, so that when he had ended there was a rough white arrow on the red bark pointing down the river, and of course in the direction of the Fort.
”There!” he said, triumphantly. ”No brave will think that means gold in the stream, will he?”
I confessed that it was most unlikely, and we started off home.
”Wouldn't old Quong like to know of that?” I said.
”Yes; he'd give something--half of what he found I dare say,” cried Esau; ”but he isn't going to know, nor anybody else, from me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
”ON MY WORD OF HONOUR.”
I felt rather startled when we left the valley, for we came suddenly upon a large party of Indians who seemed very different to the quiet, stolid-looking beings we had been accustomed to see with their skin canoes, or busy fis.h.i.+ng along the side of the river. These were swarthy, fierce-looking fellows, mounted on st.u.r.dy, wiry-looking ponies--steeds which they sat admirably.
It might be thought that they would be as much surprised and startled as we were, but they did not make a sign to indicate that they even saw us, but rode slowly along, well armed, and with their long hair, feathers, and gaily-coloured blankets, giving them a brightly picturesque look.
”They don't mean mischief, do they?” whispered Esau.
”No, they must be friendly Indians,” I said; ”and look, they've got packs on those other horses. I know: they are taking skins up to the Fort.”
This proved to be the case, for the party kept right on in the same track as we were taking, halting a short distance from the gate of the Fort; but, though we were pretty close to them all the time, they never made the slightest sign of being aware of our presence; and when we entered, and I glanced back, I could see that they were already beginning to make their little camp, while others were seeing to the laden horses.
”What!” said Mr Raydon, when I told him of my discovery. ”Gold?”
”Yes; and I think in large quant.i.ties.”
”Are you sure it is gold?” he said. I took out what I had found, and placed the little scales before him. He seized them, and examined them carefully, closing his hand over them afterward, and sitting gazing straight before him for some moments, while a chill of dread ran through me.
”It is not gold,” I thought; and as I gazed at him intently, he looked up. ”Well?” he said.
”You think it is not gold, sir?” I said. ”I am sure it is,” he replied, sadly. ”Tell me whereabouts you found it;” and I described the place.
”Yes,” he said; ”one of our most lovely valleys. Here, are you tired?”
”No.”
”Are you?” he said, turning to Esau, who replied that he was not the least so.
”Stop a moment--to whom have you spoken?”
”Spoken, sir?”
”How many people about the place have you told about the gold?”
”No one, sir.”
”Neither of you?” he said, with a sharp look at Esau.