To The West Part 81

"I told him?"

"Well, he coaxed it out of you when he had you all by himself."

"Esau!"

"There, don't shout at me. I don't wonder. I've been sometimes so that I couldn't hardly bear myself for wanting to tell somebody; and it was a pity for all that gold to go begging, and us not get a share."

"Then you believe I told Mr Gunson?"

"Course I do. I didn't; and there was no one else knew where it was except the captain, and of course he wouldn't."

"You are saying that to aggravate me. Esau, once more, do you believe I told Mr Gunson?"

He looked at me and laughed.

"Why don't you answer?" I cried, angrily. "Do you believe I told Mr Gunson?"

"Why, of course I do. What's the good of making a fuss over it with me?

Should ha' thought you might ha' trusted me by this time."

I sank back on one of the benches staring at him, feeling weak and hopeless.

"Don't look like that," cried Esau; "I didn't want to hurt your feelings. It was quite natural. Mr Gunson was our friend before Mr Raydon was; and it was your duty to do him a good turn if you could.

Who's Mr Raydon that he's to have everything his way? If he don't want gold, other folks do. I do--lots; and I'm going up now to get my share."

"Then you really believe I told?"

"Why, of course I do. Why, how could you help it? Seems queer to Mr Raydon, because he has been very kind; but it would have seemed queerer to poor Mr Gunson. Why, as mother used to say, my heart quite bled for him when he came back so tired-looking and shabby, after hunting for months and finding nothing. I'd ha' told him directly if I hadn't promised you I wouldn't. There, don't be in such a fidge about it; you couldn't act square to both of them."

"Then it's of no use for me to keep on saying I did not tell," I said, gloomily.

"Not a bit; and I'm precious glad you did tell the poor fellow. I don't like him much, and he never liked me much; but he often helped me, and I'd help him. Now then, I want to talk about what we're going to do.

What do you say? Do speak. I hate to see you sit mumchance, saying nothing."

"There's nothing to do," I said, sadly, "only wait."

"What, like a prisoner? I'm going up to that place where the gold is, to get mine and mother's share, and you're coming too for yours."

"I'm not," I said, through my set teeth.

"What?"

"I wouldn't stir from here now for all the gold in the world."

"Why, you're talking madness. We come out here to make our fortunes, and there's our fortunes waiting to be made. The door's open and the gate's open; and though Mr Raydon talked big, he dare not try to stop us. Come on."

"I tell you nothing should make me stir from here now, till Mr Raydon knows the truth."

"Yah! What's the good o' keeping on with all that make-believe? He knows the truth now."

I leaped up as if stung.

"That's right. Come on."

My voice was very husky as I said--

"I've told you what I meant to do, and you keep on insulting me."

"Don't talk stuff. What's the good of making all that fuss? You couldn't help telling Mr Gunson, I know that, and I've told you I know it. Of course Mr Raydon don't like it, but he can't help himself. Now then. You're in disgrace here, but you won't be up at the camp; and when his bit of temper's past, Mr Raydon will be sorry for what he said, and ask us to come and look at the piece of land after all."

While he kept on speaking, my temper, which had always remained irritable through my illness, kept on rising, and I stood there trying to fight it down, but in vain, for it was very rapidly getting the mastery. It was as if something hot was rising within me, ready to boil over if it grew a little hotter, and it soon did.

"There, it's all right," cried Esau, catching me by the arm. "Never mind our things; we'll fetch them another time. Let's be off at once."

"Let go of my arm," I said, hoa.r.s.ely.

"Shan't. Don't be stupid. You ain't been yourself since you were hurt, and I'm going to think for you, and do what's right. Come along."

"Let go of my arm!" I said again, in a low menacing tone.

"No, nor I shan't let go of your arm; and you ain't going to frighten me, Mayne Gordon, because I'm ever so much the stronger now, so come along."

"Let--go--of my arm!" I said, in quite a whisper, as Esau hauled me towards the door.

"S-h-a-r-n-'t!" cried Esau. "You're going along with me up to those gold-washings. Come along. It's of no use for you to struggle, I'm too much for you--Oh!"

In my rage at my inability to reason with him, I suddenly doubled my fist and struck him full in the face, and as he uttered a cry of pain, he started back; but it was only for a moment, and then he flew at me angrily, so that the next minute we two sworn friends, who had suffered so much together, were fighting hard, giving and taking blows, now down, now up, and each growing hotter and more vindictive as we fought--Esau with determination, I with despair, for I felt myself growing weaker and weaker, and knew that in a few minutes I should be hopelessly beaten.

But still in my blind fury I kept on, and I was just in the act of delivering a furious blow when I heard voices, and some one uttered a cry of horror.

The struggle was over, for we two started back from our contest, Esau ashamed of his rage, and I feeling utterly crushed; for there before me, as far as I could see them in my half-blinded state, giddy as I was with weakness and blows, stood Mr Raydon, and with him the people I would have given the world then not to have met in such a state--the three travellers, who had ended their long weary journey that unfortunate morning.

Mrs Dean ran to Esau, and flung her arms about his neck, as Mr Raydon said angrily--

"What is the meaning of this?"

No one answered, and for a few moments the silence was to me terrible.

Then Mr Raydon spoke again.

"Come back to the house," he said; and I saw him take his sister's hand, draw it through his arm, and lead her away.

But Mr John, who looked brown and wonderfully changed, hung back, and held out his hand.

"Oh, Mayne," he said, sadly, "I did not expect to come and find you like this. What is the meaning of it all?"

"Don't, mother; do be quiet," cried Esau just then. "He hit me first."

"Oh, but, Esau, my boy, my boy!"

"Well, what's the good o' crying? Don't; you're crying all down my neck. Be quiet. How are you? There. Now do leave off hanging on me.