To The West Part 45

"I don't know yet, boy. One of the Indians, I think. He struck me with a club, but fortunately it was only on the shoulder, and when I leaped up and struck out he went down. I've got him here. Don't come till we can see. He may sting."

The light flashed in under the pine boughs then, and I could see Gunson's back as he knelt down, evidently holding his enemy there by the throat.

"Why, hang it!" he cried, drawing back sharply; "it's Dean."

"Dean!" I cried. "There must be some one else."

"No; only him. He was striking about with--yes, here it is," he continued, picking up a stout piece of pine, one of the branches that had been in the fire till the small twigs were burned off, leaving it as a strong cudgel about two feet long. "He struck me with this, and he was dashing it about among the branches."

"He trampled on me too. I thought it was the Indians," I said.

"Then it's a false alarm, and I'm afraid I've hurt the poor lad a good deal."

But just then Esau sat up, and began rubbing the side of his head.

"Where's my stick?" he said. "Oh, you've got it. Have you driven 'em away?"

"Driven whom away?" I said.

"Injuns. I thought they would. They came at us, and I'd got that stick ready."

"Injun allee seepee," said the Chinaman, waving the pine branch to make it blaze.

"No; they came and attacked us, and I fought 'em till one of 'em knocked me down and held me on the ground."

"Did you see them come?" said Gunson.

"Couldn't see 'em because it was so dark; but I sprang up at them, and did the best I could."

"Quong fuss wake. No Injun came all 'long. Quong been make fire all light fo' bleakfa.s.s."

"I tell you they came," cried Esau, angrily. "Look here at my cheek.

It's cut, and bleeds. That was one of their knives."

"That was my knuckles, my lad," said Gunson, "after you had hit me with this cudgel."

"What?" cried Esau.

"Why, Esau, you were dreaming of Indians, and got up. You stamped on me."

"Oh, come, if you won't believe it's of no use for me to talk," cried Esau, angrily.

"Not a bit, so lie down again and go to sleep."

"Yes; allee go seep," said the little Chinaman. "No Injun. Allee seep."

"Take away that branch, or you'll set this tree on fire," said Gunson.

"Then it's a false alarm. Too much supper, I suppose."

"I wasn't asleep," said Esau, surlily.

"Don't be stubborn," I cried, angrily. "Lie down."

"Here, I ain't your dog, Mr Gordon," said Esau, sourly. "I did all I could to fight for you both."

"Yes, and jumped on your companion, and nearly broke my collar-bone."

"Well, you've cut my cheek. Why, I shall have a black eye to-morrow."

"I think you and I may as well shake hands about that," said Gunson.

"There, good-night."

As he lay down once more, and the fire flashed up consequent upon the little Chinaman throwing back the branch, Esau turned to me.

"I say," he whispered, "was I really dreaming?"

"No doubt about it."

"And walked in my sleep?"

"Yes, and fought in your sleep."

"But it was so real. I could see their grinning teeth and rolling eyes, and every one had got a knife in one hand and a chopper in the other as they sprang at me."

"That proves it, Esau," I said. "How could you see their knives, and eyes, and teeth here in this darkness! Why, you can't see my face, not even your own hands, and yet the fire's brighter than it was before."

"Well, that is rum," cried Esau, as if to himself. "I saw 'em all as plain as could be, and they shouted their war-cry."

"War!--gammon!" said Gunson, crossly. "Lie down, you two fellows, and go to sleep. He was dreaming, Gordon. Don't listen to his c.o.c.k-and-bull nonsense."

"All right," I said. "Good-night."

"Good-night."

"Good-night, Esau."

"Good-night. But dreaming! Well, of all! And they were as plain as could be, and had got feathers in their heads."

"Yes, blue ones," I said, grumpily. "And look here, Esau, if you're going to dance a war-dance on my chest again, please to take off your boots."

Esau chuckled, and the last thing I heard as I dropped asleep again was Esau muttering to himself--

"Asleep!--dreaming! Well, of all!"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

I SEE FOOTPRINTS.