Part 79 (1/2)

That visit seemed to do me good. It was as if I had had a fillip, and during the next few days I felt a return of my old vigour--a feeling which made me restless and eager to be out in the suns.h.i.+ne all day long.

I found myself eating, too, almost ravenously, and my sleep at nights, instead of being broken and feverish, grew to be long and restful. But somehow I did not feel happy, for Mr Raydon, though always pleasant and polite, was less warm, and he looked at me still in a suspicious way that made me feel uncomfortable.

In other respects everything went on as usual, till one day, about a fortnight after Gunson's departure, Mr Raydon said to me at breakfast--

”Do you feel strong enough to go for a week's journey?”

”Oh yes,” I said eagerly, for I was beginning to long for something in the way of change.

”It means walking every step of the way,” he said, smiling at my eagerness.

”Oh, I can walk again well now,” I said. ”Dean and I were climbing up the first west mountain yesterday--that one,” I said, pointing out of the window. ”I don't know how many hours we were, but it was dark when we came back.”

”Well then, we'll try. I shall take Grey to try and lighten our loads a little, but we shall not go very far down the river.”

”You are going down the river?” I said, as I saw Esau p.r.i.c.k up his ears.

”Yes; I have two or three spots in my mind's eye that would be suitable for a home for my sister, and I want to see if they will do. Perhaps you noticed them as you came--places that you would naturally pick out for camping as evening came on.”

”I can remember several at the mouths of little streams, or below falls,” I said excitedly. ”One or two were quite like bits of parks, with great sweeping branched pine-trees growing near.”

”Good memory, Mayne,” he said, smiling. ”Well, I have made my arrangements. Your Chinaman shall go with us to cook, and we will select three or four spots; and afterwards, when these travellers come, we can take them to see the selection, and they can choose which they like.”

”How soon shall you start, sir?” I said.

”This morning. It is a leisure period for me. No Indians are likely to come for some time; and I can leave my people to take care of the place till we return. You feel that you can manage the walking?”

”Oh yes,” I cried. ”I am getting stronger every day.”

”That's right. Dean, my lad, fetch Quong, and let's see what sort of a load of flour, tea, and sugar we can pack up for him. I can easily supply our little camp with meat.”

”Then there will be some hunting and shooting too?” I said, as Esau hurried out to find Quong.

”Oh yes, for the larder,” replied Mr Raydon, speaking more in his old fas.h.i.+on now. ”Come, you are beginning to look quite yourself, my boy.

I was beginning to be afraid I should have nothing but a broken-down invalid to show my sister.”

”I feel more like I did,” I said, with my cheeks flus.h.i.+ng.

”Be thankful then, my boy, for you had a very narrow escape. Let me see; we must not overload ourselves, but I must have powder and bullets, as well as my rifle. A blanket each, of course, and our knives. That will be nearly all we need take, unless you lads bring a line or two and try for some trout.”

He began chatting then about Mr John and his sister, and of how great a change it would be for her from a London life.

”But health is the first consideration,” he said, smiling. ”A palace is little more than an infirmary to a sick person, and out here a snug cottage such as we can soon run up will become a palace to one who recovers health. Isn't Master Dean a long time gone? Oh, here he is.

Well, where is Quong?”

”Can't find him anywhere, sir, nor his bundle neither.”

”What? Absurd! He cannot have gone out. He cooked the breakfast. Did any one see him go?”