Part 76 (1/2)

”No, never a word. But I say, it do seem a pity not to get more of it, don't it?”

”I don't know,” I replied. ”I want strength, not gold. How long will it be before Mr and Mrs John get here?”

”Ah, that's what I want to know,” cried Esau. ”I was thinking about that this morning; leastwise I wasn't thinking about them, but about mother. Wonder what she'll say to me when she knows?”

”Knows what?”

”'Bout me shooting you. She will be wild, for she was a deal fonder of you than she was of me.”

”Nonsense, Esau!” I cried. ”Why, she used to talk to me about you for hours.”

”Dessay she did. But, I say, do make haste and get well before the Indians come again. Grey says they'll be here soon with loads of skins that they've shot and trapped in the winter.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the coming of Mr Raydon.

”Ah, Mayne,” he said; ”that's better. You must keep that up every day when it's fine. Fresh air and the scent of our pines form the finest strengthening medicine a sick man can have.”

He stopped chatting to me for some time, and at last I ventured upon the topic which interested both Esau and myself.

”How long do I think it will be before the travellers get across to us?

Hah! that's a poser, my lad. So much depends upon my sister's health, and her ability to travel. Of course they have been resting during the worst time. However, I hope they will not be here till you are thoroughly on your legs again.”

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

”DO I LOOK FORTUNATE?”

As the time glided on I used to be quite in despair.

”I don't get any stronger, Esau,” I used to say, pettishly.

”What? Why, look at you!” he'd cry. ”On'y t'other day you was walking with a stick and a crutch.”

”I was not,” I said, indignantly. ”I never had a crutch.”

”That you did, sir,” he said, with a chuckle; ”and now you've chucked 'em both away and goes alone.”

”But my legs feel so weak, and ache so directly.”

”Tchah! What o' that! Why, only t'other day they used to double up like an old two-foot rule, or a knife with the spring broke. You're coming all right enough. I say, I want to talk to you.”

He gave a sharp look round as we stood beside the stream where it entered the river--the stream up which we had found the gold, and to whose bank we had come to catch trout with rods and lines of our own manufacture, and gra.s.shoppers for bait.

I had been fis.h.i.+ng, but after taking three decent trout, I had lain down wearied out, and now Esau squatted down by me, with his rod across his knees.

”I say,” he whispered, ”what about that gold up yonder?”

”Well, what about it?”

”Don't you never think about it a deal?”