To The West Part 87

It is impossible to describe the feeling of excitement which came over me as I followed Esau's example, and letting him lead, began to crawl pretty quickly across the enclosure. I looked back, and there were the lights in Mr Raydon's quarters, where my friends were seated, and wondered what they would think when they heard that I had gone, and what construction Mr Raydon would place upon my departure, for something seemed to tell me that we should be found out; and it was not likely that we should be credited with going for so innocent a reason.

"No," I said to myself; "he will think I have gone to join Gunson to wash for gold, and--"

"Don't! I say, mind where you are coming."

For my head had come sharply in contact with my companion.

"What's the matter? Why did you stop?"

"Only to look back at that place where mother is. My! won't she be in a taking if they find out we are gone?"

"Go on quickly, then," I whispered, "and let's get back before they know it."

At that moment there was a loud growl toward one of the block-houses.

"Rough's heard us," whispered Esau. "Come on."

We crept forward, and then I felt a chill of dread, for there was a quick rustling sound, a loud bark, and though we could not see him, I knew that the great dog was coming at us full speed.

My first idea was to get up and run, but before I could put my intention in force, the dog was upon us, barking furiously; but the next minute, after knocking me right over, he was whining and fawning upon me, and giving a share of his attentions to Esau.

"Down! Quiet! Get out!" whispered Esau. "Why don't you wipe your nose?"

"Here, Rough! What is it, lad? Hold him!" came from the direction of the block-house.

"Oh, it's all up," I whispered, as the dog set up a loud volley of barking.

"Seize him!" cried the voice, which I knew to be Grey's; but the dog barked again, as if in remonstrance, and seemed more disposed to play with us than to seize.

"What is it then? What have you got?"

There was another burst of barking.

"Let's go back," whispered Esau.

"No, no, go on. Never mind the dog."

"Let's run for it then," whispered Esau, and catching hold of my hand, he led the way quickly toward the fence, with Rough leaping and bounding round us, and every now and then uttering one of the volleys of barking which sounded terribly loud in the utter silence of that dark night.

We had nearly reached the place, when I heard a familiar voice say--

"What's the matter with that dog?"

"Don't know, sir. Seems to have found something, or he wouldn't go on like that. Here! Hi! Rough, Rough, Rough!"

But the dog would not leave us. We were only friends, and he kept on his excited bark.

"Here, Rough!" cried Mr Raydon, angrily; and at that moment we reached the fence, fortunately for us just by the loophole.

"Over with you first," cried Esau, and I climbed rapidly to the top, threw my legs over, lowered myself to the full extent of my arms, and dropped lightly.

"Come across and see," came just then from the other side; and now while I heard the rustling and scrambling noise made by Esau in climbing, as I stood there listening with my heart beating heavily, the dog began to bark furiously, then to growl. There was a struggling noise, and then Esau's voice came through the crack of the paling.

"He's got hold of me tight. Run, lad, run!"

But I could not run then and leave my companion in the lurch, and I was about to climb back when the worrying, growling sound ceased, and Esau dropped beside me.

"Come on!" he whispered. "This way. He's got half the leg of my trousers."

Catching my hand again we trotted on.

"Jumped at me, and held me so as I shouldn't get over," he whispered.

"Here, this way. We're right, I know."

The dog's barking was furious now, and I whispered to Esau--

"They're opening the gate."

"Hist! Don't take no notice."

For there was a shout from behind.

"Halt, there, or we fire!"

"Go on then," muttered Esau. "Sha'n't halt now. You couldn't hit us if you tried."

"Do you hear? Halt!"

It was Mr Raydon who shouted, but I was desperate now I had gone so far, and we kept up our trot, with Esau acting as guide. His eyes were better than mine in the darkness.

"Fire!" came from behind now, and three flashes of light appeared for an instant, followed by the reports of the rifles.

"Not killed me," muttered Esau, with a chuckle. But I did not laugh, for a thought had struck me.

"Esau," I whispered; "they'll set the dog on our scent, and use him to run us down. There, do you hear?"

For the barking of the dog began once more.

"Can we cross the river?" I said.

"No."

"Then make for the first stream and let's wade along it a little way."

"Never thought of that," muttered Esau. "Here, let's go along by the river."

Five minutes later we were splashing along close to the edge, keeping our feet in the water for a time, with the dog's deep baying behind coming on so slowly that I knew he must be chained and some one holding him back.