To The West Part 78

"Walking, wading in rivers, washing sand, climbing mountains, exposed to all sorts of weather, half-starved, half-frozen, and all to get the tempting gold."

"No luck then?" said Esau, eagerly.

"Not a bit, my lad."

"What, ain't you found gold at all?"

"Oh, yes, in scores of places, but always where it would cost thirty shillings to earn a pound's worth. Not profitable work, eh?"

Esau glanced at me, and I at Esau, the same thought in both our minds-- that we could, in a couple of hours' walk from where we were, show him-- the wearied-out prospector--an ample supply.

"If I only could tell him," I thought, as I recalled how generous and kind he had always been to us. But it was impossible, and I darted a look at Esau which he understood, for he nodded at me in a curious way, setting me thinking that I must speak to him seriously again about our duty to Mr Raydon. I had hardly thought this when I saw the latter coming towards us.

"Ah, Mr Gunson," he said, with a sharp, keen glance, "you have kept your word, then, and come back."

"Yes, I've come back, and shall be glad of a day or two's rest."

"You are welcome," replied Mr Raydon. "Well, have you been very fortunate?"

"What a question to ask me!" said Gunson; "the most unlucky man that ever lived! Do I look fortunate?"

"No," said Mr Raydon, smiling; "far from it. There, come up to my place, and let me hear what you have been doing."

As we approached the strangers' quarters, Quong made his appearance with his eyes twinkling.

"Plenty flesh tea," he cried. "Plenty new blead."

"Hullo, my Celestial friend," said Gunson, smiling at the eager-looking little fellow. "Did you see me coming?"

"No. Not see. Gley tell me Mr Gunson come, and make tea dilectly, and cook bacon."

"Ready to come on with me now, Quong?" said Gunson. "I'm going up the western part."

Quong stared.

"What! Go away? No. Stop allee long here."

"That's right, my lad. Don't leave good quarters. Been washing for gold lately?"

"Eh? Washee washee gole? Too much piecy make work. Cook along big meat. No go out at all. You likee likee flesh blead, not blead high."

"Indeed, it will be a treat," said Gunson, going into the place with Mr Raydon, while we kept back until he had finished his meal.

"I say," said Esau, as we walked about the enclosure, "can't little Quong tell fibseys."

"That's what I was thinking," I replied. "Why, I've met him twice up the river trying for gold."

"Oh. I've seen him lots of times. He gets away when he has done his work, looking as innocent as you please, and all the time he's hunting for gold. I say, you see if Mr Raydon don't keep an eye on us for fear we should tell old Gunson. My! wouldn't he like to know of our find. I can't understand how it is that he who knows all about it should be so unlucky, and you--"

"We," I said.

"Well, we, then--should be so lucky, and find so much. Dunno, though; it hasn't brought us much luck as yet."

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

QUONG IS MISSING.

It was all done in a quiet, un.o.btrusive way, but it seemed plain to me that Mr Raydon did try to keep us apart, or under his eye, during Gunson's stay.

This was not for long. The man seemed a good deal changed, and as if dissatisfied at being so very unsuccessful; and during his visit the temptation was very strong upon me to give him a hint as to where he might go and find all that he desired. And about this time I found that Esau looked strange, and avoided me a good deal, going about as if he had something on his mind, and I was afraid to ask him what.

"Going to-morrow morning?" said Mr Raydon, as Gunson made the announcement. "That is rather soon."

"Well, yes, it is soon," replied Gunson; "but I may be coming back."

"Yes, of course," said Mr Raydon, giving him a quick look. "You may be coming back."

These seem trifling words, but they made an impression upon me at the time, and I thought about them a good deal afterwards. In fact, I thought of them that night.

It came on very dark, and I was standing just outside our place, when I heard a step, and directly after Gunson came up slowly and thoughtfully.

"Who's that?" he cried sharply.

I spoke, and he took my arm.

"Come and have a stroll out here," he said; and he led me out through the gateway and down toward the river.

It seemed to me as if he were waiting for me to talk to him, for he was very silent; and at last, as I suggested that it was growing late, he turned back toward the Fort, whose gates we had just reached, when I suddenly became aware of a figure standing there.

"Mr Raydon," I said.

"Yes. Been having a walk?"

"Down as far as the river," replied Gunson. "By the way," he continued sharply, "what should you say to my trying your streams about here?"

I saw Mr Raydon start slightly, but his voice sounded quite calm as he replied--

"That you had better follow out your original plans."

"You would not recommend me to try?"

"Decidedly not."

We all went in, and after sitting for a time, Gunson rose to go to rest.

Quong had a famous breakfast ready next morning, of which I too partook; and an hour later we saw Gunson once more on his way, Mr Raydon accompanying us, till with a careless wave of the hand the prospector went off, and we returned to the Fort.