To The West Part 10

"But what does your brother do?" I said eagerly. "Is he an auctioneer's porter?"

"Love and bless your heart, Mr Gordon, sir, no," he cried. "I don't believe there's such a thing over there. He went out in the woods, and got a bit o' land give him, and built hisself a log-house, and made a garden, and got cows, and shoots in the woods."

"Here, hold hard, Ding," cried Esau, excitedly; "that'll do. Goes shooting in the woods?"

"Yes, and gets a deer sometimes, and one winter he killed a bear and two wolves, my lad."

"That's the place," cried Esau. "Hooroar! Come on, Master Gordon, let's go there."

Dingle laughed.

"Hark at him, sir. What a one he is! Why, you don't know even where it is."

"I don't care where it is," cried Esau. "You say you can go there, and get some land, and live in the woods, and make your own house, and shoot bears and wolves--that's just the thing I should like to do."

"Why, you said you wanted to jyne the Ryle Artilleree."

"Yes, but I didn't know of this place then. Where is it? How do you go? You'll come too, won't you?"

"I don't know," I said, slowly, for my imagination was also fired by the idea of living in such a land of liberty as that. In fact, as I spoke, bright pictures of green forests and foaming rivers and boats began to form in my mind. "Yes," I cried, "I think I should like to go."

"Hooroar! Where is it, Ding?"

"Oh, my brother's in Bri'ish Columbia, but it's a long, long way."

"Oh, we don't mind that," cried Esau. "How do you get there?"

"Him and his wife and their boy went eight or nine year ago. Sailed in a ship from the docks, and it took 'em five months."

"Oh!" said Esau, in a disappointed tone. "Five months! Why, I didn't think there was anywhere so far off as that."

"Ah! but there is, and in one letter he told me that a man he knew was once a year going, but he went in a waggon instead of a ship."

"Get out! He's gammoning us," cried Esau. "You can't drive a waggon over the sea."

"Who said you could, Clevershakes?" said Dingle--then turning to me, "He went over to Canady by ship, and then all acrost the prayerees in a waggon--lots o' waggons all together, because o' the Injins."

"Fire-injins?" said Esau, eagerly. "No. Dunno though," said Dingle, grinning; "they did fire at 'em a deal."

"Red Injins!" cried Esau. "Oh, I say, I think I'd rather go that way, because there'd be some fighting."

"What, ain't you had fightin' enough, boy? Want to get at it again?

What yer thinking about, Mr Gordon?"

I started, for my thoughts were far away. "I was thinking about your brother," I said, hastily.

"Ah! but such a life wouldn't do for you, my lad. There's no clean hands out there--leastwise I dessay they're clean sometimes. What I mean is, it's always hard, rough work, and no setting on a stuffed seat and writing on bloo paper. Why, what do you think my brother had for chairs in his house?"

"Boxes," I said.

"No, boxes made tables. Stumps of wood--logs cut off a fir tree--no castors on them, my lad."

"British Columbia?" I said, thoughtfully, as I tried to remember where that country was on the map, and I am afraid getting a very hazy notion as to its position.

"Yes, my lad, Bri'ish Columbia; and if you go out there and mention my name, my brother will be glad enough to see you, I know. There--I must get to work 'fore the guv'nor catches me, or p'r'aps there'll be another fight, and me wanting a fresh place too." So we shook hands, promising to go and see him again, and directly after Esau and I parted, he going south for home, I going north, and feeling a curious sensation of shrinking as I neared Mr John Dempster's home.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

MY FRIENDS' PLANS.

They were both in the little sitting-room, when Maria, who had given me a very indignant look for dragging her down to the gate, announced the visitor and went away, closing the door more loudly than was necessary, and the reception I had was very warm as they both rose from where they had been turning over some letters together.

"Why, Mayne," cried Mr John, "this is an unexpected pleasure," and he made way for Mrs John, who took my hand, smiling in her gentle way, and then turning serious and eager as she exclaimed--

"There is something the matter?"

I nodded, for I could not speak.

"Some trouble with--my cousin?"

"Yes, sir," I said, hoa.r.s.ely; and for a few minutes the words would not come, the incidents of the past twenty-four hours having upset me more than I was aware.

"Don't hurry, my boy, don't hurry; and don't question him, Alexes. Did you walk up?"

"Yes, sir."

"Ah, a nice day for walking. We two ought to have had ours, but some letters--a little business--kept us in. We have had a very long communication from my wife's brother, and it necessitates a great deal of thinking at our time of life."

"I--I have left Mr Dempster, sir," I said.

"Indeed! I am not surprised, Mayne, and--bless me! what is the matter with your ear?"

The words came now, and I told him everything, while before I had half got through my narrative, Mr John was upon his legs tramping excitedly up and down the little room, and uttering angry e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns from time to time.

"You--you are not very angry with me?"

"Angry?" he cried. "I am more than angry that such a thing could have happened, and the princ.i.p.al actor in it have been one who bears the same name as myself. It is cruel--scandalous--disgraceful; and above all, to have exposed you to such an indignity--in custody like a common thief!

But there, you shall not continue in his office."

I could not help giving him rather a droll look.

"Of course, sir," I said, "I am discharged."

"Yes, yes, I had forgotten that," he said, hurriedly. "You must have a better post--one more suited to your abilities. Now, let me see--let me see--what steps ought I to take first? Something in the city, perhaps, or I would rather see you in one of the Government offices."

I looked at him wonderingly, as he sat down at the table now, and taking up a letter, used it to tap on the polished wood.