Philosopher Jack Part 13

The man submitted. They went out and, locking the door, walked quickly and silently away.

Many and anxious were the thoughts that chased each other through the busy brain of our hero during that dreary midnight walk. Before it was ended, he had almost resolved upon a plan of action, which was further matured while he prepared a can of strong hot coffee for poor Jacob Buckley.

"This is how the matter stands," he said to Captain Samson next morning, during a private conversation, while Buckley and the others were at breakfast in the tent. "I, who am not a teetotaller, and who last night became a gambler, have pledged myself to do what I can to save Jacob Buckley from drink and gaming. To attempt that _here_ would be useless.

Well, we are at our lowest ebb just now. To continue working here is equally useless. I will therefore leave you for a time, take Buckley and Wilkins with me, and go on a prospecting tour into the mountains.

There it will be impossible to drink or gamble; time may cure Buckley, and perhaps we may find gold! Of course," he added, with a sad smile, "if we do, we'll return and let you know."

The captain approved of this plan. Jacob Buckley and Watty Wilkins at once agreed to go, and immediately after Daniel's burial, the prospecters set out. The entire party, including Polly, convoyed them as far as Redman's Gap, where, wishing them good-speed, they parted company. Then the three adventurers pa.s.sed through the Gap, and were soon lost in the wild recesses of the mountain range.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

SUCCESS.

For more than a month did the prospecting party wander among the Californian mountains in quest of gold, but found none--at least not in paying quant.i.ties.

At first the trip was to each of them full of romance, interest and hope. Even Buckley began to cheer up after a few days had pa.s.sed. The craving for drink began to wear off, and grief for his lost brother-- whom he had truly loved--began to abate. The wild scenery through which they pa.s.sed was in itself sufficient to rouse to a high pitch the enthusiasm of such youths as Philosopher Jack and Watty Wilkins, while their comrade, though not so impressionable in regard to the sublime and beautiful, was roused to sympathy by their irresistible ardour. The necessity of hunting, too, in order to obtain food, added excitement of a more stirring kind, and an occasional encounter with a grizzly bear introduced a spice of danger to which none of them objected. Their various washings of the soil and examination of river beds afforded a sufficient quant.i.ty of gold to foster hope, though not to pay expenses.

Thus they progressed through many a scene of loveliness, where the hand of G.o.d had sown broadcast all the forms and hues of grace and beauty which render this world attractive; they also pa.s.sed through many a savage defile and mountain gorge--dark, gloomy, almost repulsive--which served to enhance their enjoyment of the beautiful by contrast.

But as the time pa.s.sed by they became accustomed to the life, and therefore less appreciative. They failed, also, to find gold in larger quant.i.ties, and as the finding of gold was their highest aim, they were proportionally disappointed and downcast. Watty, indeed, kept up his spirits pretty well. He experienced the benefit of the change that had taken place in his soul that time when he was alone with G.o.d in the little boat upon the sea. He prayed in secret for light, and tried to believe that "all things work together for good to them that love G.o.d;"

but his faith was weak, and the old heart of unbelief was still very strong.

As for Philosopher Jack, his spirit was still engaged in rebellious warfare. He growled a good deal at his "luck," and was heartily seconded by Buckley. In addition to this, Jack's spirit was much troubled by his promise to Daniel Buckley on his deathbed. He shrank, with a strength of feeling that surprised himself, from speaking to Jacob about his infirmity, yet he felt the duty lying strong upon him, for he knew well that, if nothing was said, the man would certainly go back to his old habits on returning to the neighbourhood of the store where drink could be obtained.

"Shall I break the ice at once?" thought Jack. "Perhaps it would be well to wait till we know each other better."

"Don't," said the voice of his old laconic friend.

But Jack did wait, and the longer he waited the more disinclined to speak did he become. He held strongly, however, that a right promise once given should never be broken, and, under a feeling of desperation, said to himself one day, "Would it not be much better to end this matter by speaking without further delay?"

"Do," said conscience, approvingly.

And Jack did, then and there, the result being that Jacob Buckley did not take it well, but told him flatly to mind his own business. Jack flushed crimson and clenched his fist; then the absurdity of attempting to knock sobriety into a man struck him, and he laughed as he said--

"Well, Buckley, that is just what I am doing, for it _is_ my business to remonstrate with a comrade when I see him give way to a habit which will result in his destruction if not abandoned."

After this Buckley allowed him to talk a little on the subject, but Jack felt the work to be very distasteful. Eventually he gave it up, consoling himself with the reflection that at all events he had brought the man away on an expedition where nothing stronger than cold water and hot tea was to be had for love or money.

At last the tide turned. On the same day a piece of great good and bad fortune befell our explorers. It happened thus:--

Watty Wilkins roused himself from a golden dream one morning, threw off his blanket looked up at the bush which served him and his comrades as a canopy, and yawned. It was grey dawn. There was that clear sweet light in the sky which gives sure promise of a fine day. Seeing that his companions still slept, he drew from his breast a small Testament, read a few verses, and prayed. This had been his custom ever since his deliverance by the American ship.

Soon after, Jack moved his bulky frame, rolled round, threw out his arms, and yawned. The yawn awakened Buckley, who immediately followed suit--such is the force of example!

"I'll tell you what it is, mates," said the latter, sitting up, "that twist I gave my leg yesterday troubles me a little. I shall remain in camp to-day and smoke."

"Very good," said Jack, rising and putting the kettle on the fire with a view to breakfast. "Watty and I will go up that valley and prospect.

We will expect that you'll eat no more than your share of the provisions during our absence, and that you'll have supper ready for us when we return."

The simple breakfast being disposed of and washed down with cans of hot tea, the two friends shouldered their guns and set off up the gorge or narrow mountain valley, near the mouth of which they had bivouacked.

There was a belt of wood close to their camp; beyond that a small plain, after crossing which they entered a dense thicket, and began a toilsome march up the bed of a little mountain stream. The channel was nearly dry at the time, but the boulders, which were strewn about everywhere, showed that it was sometimes a formidable torrent.

"A likely place for gold," said Watty, with a hopeful look and tune.

"We've tried many such likely places," replied Jack, with a look and tone not quite so hopeful.

For several miles they advanced, washing out a panful of dirt here and there, and finding a little gold-dust as usual. Mid-day arrived, and they sat down to a cold dinner, consisting of a few sc.r.a.ps of meat left from breakfast. Little conversation was indulged in. They were too hungry for that--perhaps too much depressed by hope deferred.

"I'll try the banks higher up," said Jack, rising.

"And I'll try the bed of the stream lower down, just by way of opposition," said Watty.

They separated, and the latter soon found himself among the boulders, where he continued to search--actively at first, but more lazily as time pa.s.sed by. Presently he came to a wild spot where the stream was overhung by bushes. He turned over a small stone. Beneath it was a hole or "pocket". He stooped quickly, and pulled out a nugget of gold about the size of a thimble. He stooped again, and, inserting his hand, pulled at something that would not come. His heart gave a jump and appeared to get into his throat, where it apparently remained, while the blood rushed to his forehead. Another pull, and out came a ma.s.s of solid gold, about the size of his own fist! A cheer rose to his lips, but he checked it. "P'r'aps there's more!" he said. Yes, the greedy little wretch said that! But there was no more in that pocket.

Quickly turning over several more stones, he found more pockets, with nuggets of various sizes in each. In a short time his specimen pouch was pretty well lined with the precious metal.

Meanwhile his friend Jack was equally successful, the chief difference between them being that the latter washed out the earth on the banks above, and found his gold in little grains and specks, but in such quant.i.ties that he felt as if his fortune were already made. Towards evening Watty hallooed and was replied to. As they walked rapidly towards the pre-arranged rendezvous, each hit on the same idea--that of deception!

"Well, what luck?" asked Watty with a careless air that ill concealed the elation of his heart.

"Only a little dust--nothing to speak of--at least not as compared with what some fellows get," said Jack, whose laughing eye gave the lie direct to his melancholy tones. "See here, Watty, this is all I've got."

As he spoke, the hypocrite poured the glittering contents of his pouch into his tin wash-pan.

"Well, _what_ a lucky fellow you are!" said Watty, with mouth expanded.

"Just look here; this is all that I have got."

He opened his bag and displayed the nuggets, with the big one in the midst!

Need we say that these youths found it difficult to express their joy and astonishment? The fact was evident that they had at last discovered unusually rich ground, and they travelled back to the camp to tell their lazy comrade the good news.

It was near sunset when they reached the little plain or open s.p.a.ce at the mouth of the gorge. Here Jack turned aside to cut a stick of peculiar form, which had caught his eye on the way up, and which he meant to keep as a souvenir of their discovery and the spot. Watty sauntered slowly across the plain.

He had just reached the wood on the other side, and turned to wait for his comrade, when he heard two shots in quick succession. There was nothing unusual in this, but when he heard the Philosopher utter a loud cry, he started, c.o.c.ked his gun, and ran a few steps back to meet him.

Next moment Jack burst from the thicket and ran across the plain at a speed that told of imminent danger. From the same thicket there also rushed a large grizzly bear, whose speed was greater than that of Jack, though it did not appear to be so.

All the blood in Watty Wilkins's body seemed to fly back to his heart, and immediately after it rushed to his brain and toes. Prompt action!

no time to think! Life! death! Watty never afterwards could tell clearly what he felt or did on that tremendous occasion, but Jack could tell what he did, for he saw him do it.

Going down on one knee and resting his left arm on the other, in what is known to volunteers as the Hythe position, the little youth calmly levelled his double-barrelled gun. It was charged only with small shot, and he knew that that was useless at long range, therefore he restrained himself and waited.

Jack and the bear ran straight towards him.

"Up, Watty, up a tree," gasped Jack; "it's no use--shot won't hurt him-- quick!"

As he spoke he darted to the nearest tree, seized a large limb, and swung himself up among the branches. The bear pa.s.sed under him, and, observing the kneeling figure in front, charged at once. When it was within three feet of him the youth let fly the contents of both barrels into the grizzly's mouth. So true was his aim that about six inches of the barrel followed the shot as the bear rushed upon it. This saved Watty, who was violently hurled aside by the stock of his own gun, while the bear went head-over-heels, vomiting blood and rage amid smoke and dust and scattered nuggets of gold!