To The West Part 21

There was a regular excited chorus here, and the men closed in upon us, so that we were quite helpless, and for a moment I felt that we must buy ourselves out of our awkward position. But a glance at Esau showed that he was stubborn and angry as I, and that if called upon he would be ready to fight for it, and make a dash for liberty.

Those were only momentary thoughts, for we were two lads of sixteen or seventeen against a gang of strong men who were holding us now, and our position was hopeless.

Just then our first friend said in a carneying tone--

"There, don't be hard on 'em, mates. They're going to be reasonable.

Now then, are you going to pay those twenty dollars each for your pa.s.sages?"

"No," I said, choking with rage.

"Yew don't mean to go in the _Pauliner_?"

"No, we don't," cried Esau.

"Very well, then, yew must each on yew pay the smart. I paid for yew-- ten dollars each, and tew fur my trouble. That's fair, ain't it, mates?"

"Ay, ay. Make 'em pay three dollars," was chorussed.

"There, yew hear 'em, so out with the spots, and no more nonsents."

"You won't get no money out o' me," cried Esau, fiercely.

"Nor from me," I cried.

"We'll soon see that. Now quick!"

It was broad daylight, but we seemed to be quite alone, and I was being forced back over a man's knee, when I was jerked up again, and the man who was holding me went backwards, while a familiar voice said--

"Hullo, boys; seem to be enjoying yourselves."

"Mr Gunson, help!" I cried, as I recognised our shipboard companion; "these men--"

"I see, my lad, steady. Ah, would you!" For a quick look had pa.s.sed among the men, and they were about to make a rush, when Gimson stepped back and whipped out a revolver.

"Don't come too near, boys," he said. "I'm rather a good shot."

The men stopped short at the sight of the revolver barrel covering first one and then another. But the first man said "Come on!" with quite a snarl, drew a knife, and flung himself at Gunson.

I felt a horrible sensation run through me as I listened for the report; but instead of firing, Gunson struck up with his revolver, and the man went over sidewise, while our friend now fired over the heads of the others of the gang.

This stopped them for the moment, but as they saw that no one fell, they came on again, and one of them seized Gunson before he could fire, or before he attempted to fire, for, as he told me afterwards, he did not want to feel that he had killed a man.

In the struggle which followed I saw the pistol drop from our defender's hand, and one of the men stooped to pick it up, but Esau was too quick for him. Making quite a leap, as if playing leap-frog, he pitched with his hands right on the man's shoulders, sending him over and over, but falling himself, while I picked up the pistol and drew the trigger.

The sharp report made my ears ring, and I stood back now with the weapon presented, expecting some of the others to rush at me. But the two reports had spread the alarm, and a couple of the officials came running up, whilst our a.s.sailants took to flight, giving Gunson an opportunity to rise and shake himself.

"Hurt, my lads?" he said, as he took his pistol. "They were too many for me; I got the worst of it."

"I'm not hurt, sir; are you?" I said.

"Only a bit bruised."

"I am," grumbled Esau. "Feel as if my wrist's out of joint."

By this time a crowd had a.s.sembled, and we were very glad to get away with our protector, after a few words of explanation to the two policemen, who told us we had better mind what company we got into, nodded to one another and laughed, as if it was all a good joke, and then went their way.

"Here, come to my diggings," said Gunson, rather gruffly. "I thought I told you two to mind what you were about, and what sort of customers you would meet with out here."

"Yes," I said; "but--"

"Wait till we get to my place, and we'll sit down and talk there. Some one has been pretty foolish to let two boys like you come wandering round the world by yourselves."

In about ten minutes he stopped at so shabby looking a hotel that I half shrank from entering.

Gunson noticed it.

"Needn't be scared," he said. "Decent people. Germans;" and throwing off my hesitation, I followed him with Esau to his room, where he pointed to a chair and a stool, and seated himself upon a very homely-looking bed, taking out his revolver, and putting in two fresh cartridges.

"Nasty thing to carry," he said, "but it's as good as a big dog. It can bark loudly as well as bite. Barking did this time. Now then," he continued, as he replaced the pistol in his hip pocket, "I suppose you two know that those fellows were regular blackguards, who would have stripped you of every shilling you possessed--by fair means or foul.

How was it you were with them?"

I told him all that Esau would let me say, for he was very anxious to relate the story himself.

"Oh, that was it, was it?" said Gunson. "Glad you were so sensible, but you see what this place is. It will be all right by and by, but at present it's a regular sink for all the ruffians in the States to drain into. Why don't you get out of it?"

"That's what we are trying to do--hard," I said eagerly.

"Why you can't have tried much. There are plenty of ways out. Where do you want to go?"

"To the Fraser River," I said, "and then away north to Fort Elk."

"Ah," he said, looking at us both curiously. "Fraser River, eh? That's where I'm going."

I looked at him distrustfully, and he saw it.

"Quite true, my lad," he said, smiling good-humouredly; "and I sail by a vessel which starts the day after to-morrow. What did those rascals want twenty-five and then twenty dollars a-piece for your pa.s.sage money?

Humph! Well, I think I can do better for you than that."

"If you would give us the name of the agent," I said.

"I'll do better--I'll take you to him, and say you are friends of mine, if you are not ashamed of such a disreputable-looking character."

"I was not ashamed to take your help just now," I said.

"No," he replied drily; "but you had no time then to examine my appearance. Where are you staying, my lads?"

I told him, and he uttered a long low whistle. "Of course I don't know what your friends are, but doesn't the money run away very fast?"

"Fast?" cried Esau; "why, I could live ten times as long on the same money in London."