"But you saw the men," said Gunson, who was deeply interested.

"Oh yes, I saw 'em. One of 'em was that long-haired chap; and it was him whose hands run so easy into my pockets, and who got off my coat and weskit, and slit up my shirt like this so as to get at the belt I had on with my money in it. He had that in a moment, the beggar! and then if he didn't say my braces were good 'uns and he'd change. They were good 'uns too, real leather, as a saddler—"

"Well?" said Gunson. "What took place then?"

"Nothing; only that long-haired chap grinned at me and kicked me twice. 'Member that policeman as took us up, Mr Gordon?"

"Yes."

"I only wish I could hand that long-haired chap over to him. Strikes me they'd cut his hair very short for him before they let him go."

"But what happened next?"

"Nothing, sir; only they tied my hands behind me, and then put a rope round my ankles, and then one took hold of my head and another of my feet, and they give me a swing, and pitched me on to a heap of them dry leaves like we used to see put round the oranges down in Thames Street."

"Indian corn," said Gunson, shortly.

"Yes; and then they went out, and I heard 'em lock the door, leaving me in the half dark place nearly choked with that hankychy in my mouth."

"Yes; go on, Esau," I said eagerly. And just then the master of the boat spoke—

"Say, youngster, you was in for it. They meant to hit you over the head to-night, and chuck you into the harbour after dark."

"Yes," said Gunson.

"Well, I saved 'em the trouble," said Esau. "Oh, I just was mad about that pipe; and I seemed to think more about them braces than I did about the money, because, you see, being sewed up like in a belt I never saw the money, and I used to see the braces, and think what good ones they was, every day."

"Go on, Esau," I said. "How did you get away?"

"Well, I lay there a bit frightened at first and listened, and all was still; and then I began to wonder what you and Mr Gunson would think about me, and last of all, as I couldn't hardly breathe, and that great rag thing in my mouth half choked me, I turned over on my face, and began pushing and pushing like a pig, running my nose along till I got the hankychy that was tight round my face down over my nose, and then lower and lower over my mouth and chin, till it was loose round my neck."

I glanced round and saw that the man who was forward had crept back, and that the other who held the sheet of the sail, and the master who was steering, were all listening attentively, while the boat rushed swiftly through the water.

"Next job," said Esau, "was to get that choking rag out of my mouth; and hard work it was, for they'd rammed it in tight, and all the time I was trying I was listening too, so as to hear if they were coming. I say, ought one to feel so frightened as I did then?"

"Most people do," said Gunson quietly.

"And 'nuff to make 'em," said the master.

"Well, I kept on working away at it for what seemed to be hours," continued Esau, "but all I could do was to get one end of the rag out between my teeth, and I couldn't work it any further, but lay there with my jaws aching, and feeling as if I hadn't got any hands or feet, because they'd tied 'em so tight.

"It was very horrid, for all the time as I lay there I was expecting them to come back, and I thought that if they did, and found me trying to get the things off, they'd half kill me. And didn't I wish you'd been there to help me, and then was sorry I wished it, for I shouldn't have liked anybody to have been in such a fix.

"I got so faint and dizzy at last that things began to go up and down, and round and round, and for ever so long I lay there thinking I was aboard ship again in the storm, just like when I was off my head at home with the fever I had when I was a little chap. But at last I came to again, and lay on my side wondering how I could get that horrible choking thing out of my mouth, for I couldn't move it even now when I tried again, only hold a great piece between my teeth.

"The place was very dark, only light came in here and there through cracks and holes where the knots had been knocked out of some of the boards; and as I thought I said to myself, if I could get that thing out I might call for help; but directly after I felt that I dared not, for it would p'r'aps bring some of those chaps back.

"All at once, where the light came through a hole, I saw something that made my heart jump, and I wondered I had not seen it before. It was a hook fastened up against one of the joists, with some bits of rope hanging upon it. It was a sharp kind of thing, like the meat-hooks you see nailed up against the sides of a butcher's shop; and I began rolling myself over the rustling leaves, over and over, till I was up against the side, and then it was a long time before I could get up on my knees and look up at the hook.

"But I couldn't reach it, and I had to try and get on to my feet. It took a long time, and I went down twice before I was standing, and even then I went down again; for though I did stand up, I didn't know I had any feet, for all the feeling was gone. Then all at once down I went sidewise, and lay there as miserable as could be, for I couldn't hardly move. But at last I had another try, getting on to my knees, and taking tight hold of the edge of one of the side pieces of wood with my teeth; and somehow or other I got on my feet again and worked myself along, nearly falling over and over again, before I could touch the hook with my chin, and there I stood for fear I should fall, and the hook run into me and hold me."

"What did you want the hook for, boy?" said the master, shifting his rudder a little, and leaning forward with his face full in the moonlight, and looking deeply interested.

"What did I want the hook for?" said Esau, with a little laugh. "I'll tell you directly."

The master nodded, and the others drew a little nearer.

"What I wanted was to hold that end of the great rag in my teeth, and see if I couldn't fix it on the hook; and after a lot of tries I did, and then began to hang back from it gently, to see if I couldn't draw the stuff out of my mouth."

"And could you?" I said eagerly.

"Yes; it began to come slowly more and more, till it was about half out, and then the sick feeling that had come over me again got worse and worse, and the hook and the great dark warehouse place swam round, and I didn't know any more till I opened my eyes as I lay on the leaves, staring at a great wet dirty rag hanging on that hook, and I was able to breathe freely now.

"I felt so much better that I could think more easily; but I was very miserable, for I got thinking about you two, and I knew I must have been there a very long time, and that the schooner was to sail at twelve o'clock, so I felt sure that you would go without me, and think I'd been frightened and wouldn't come."

"That's what I did think," said Gunson; "but Mayne Gordon here stuck up for you all through."

"Thankye, Mr Gordon," said Esau, who was gently chafing his wrists. "That's being a good mate. No, I wouldn't back out. I meant coming when I'd said I would. Well, next thing was to get my hands clear, and that done, of course I could easily do my legs. So I began to get up again, with my feet feeling nowhere; and as I tried, to wonder what I was going to do next, for I couldn't see no way of getting out of a place with no windows in, not even a skylight at the top. But anyhow I meant to have that rope off my hands, and I was thinking then that if the hook could help me get rid of the rag, it might help me to get rid of the tie round my wrists."

"O' course," said the master. "See, lads," he said, turning round to his two companions; "he gets the hook in threw the last knot and hitches the end out. That's easy enough;" and the two men uttered a low growl.

"Oh, is it?" said Esau. "Just you be tied up with your hands behind you for hours, and all pins-and-needles, and numb, and you try behind you to get that hook through the knot in the right place. You wouldn't say it was easy."

"But anyways that was hard, I reckon," said the master.

"Yes, that was hard," said Esau; "but I kep on seeming to tighten it, and the more I tried the worse it was; till all at once, as I strained and reached up behind me, I slipped a little, and the hook was fast somehow, and nearly jerked my arms out of my shoulders as I hung forward now, with my feet giving way, and I couldn't get up again."

"If a fellow had on'y ha' been there with a knife," said the master, shaking his head.

"Yes; but he wasn't," cried Esau; "and there I hung for ever so long, giving myself a bit of a wriggle now and then, but afraid to do much, it hurt so, dragging at my arms, while they were twisted up. I s'pose I must have been 'bout an hour like that, but it seemed a week, and I was beginning to get sick again, when all at once, after a good struggle, I fell forward on to my face in amongst the dry leaves. My wrists and hands were tingling dreadfully, but they did not feel so numb now; and after a bit, as I moved them gently up and down, one over the other, so as to get rid of the pain, I began to find I could move them a little more and a little more, till at last, as I worked away at them in a regular state of 'citement, I pulled one of 'em right out, and sat up comfortable with my hands in my lap."

"Well done, well done," cried the master; and I could not help joining in the murmur of satisfaction uttered by the men.

"And then yew began to look at the rope round your legs," said one of the latter.

"That I just did," said Esau; "but my fingers were so bad it took me hours, as it seemed, before I had those knots undone."

"But yew got 'em off?" said the master. "Oh yes, I got 'em off at last, every knot undone; but when I'd unwound the rope, there I sat, feeling as if it was not a bit of use, for I could not move my feet, nor yet stand. They felt as if they were made of wood."

"Yew should have chafed 'em, stranger," said one of the men.

"Well, of course that's what he did do, mate," said the master, reprovingly; "and yew got 'em to work easy at last, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's what I did do, when they would work. I had to set to and see if I couldn't get away out of that place."

"'Fore them scallywags come back," said the master, drawing a long breath. "That's right."

"There was the door locked fast," continued Esau, "and I knew I couldn't get out that way; so as there was no windows, and the boards were all nailed down tight, the only way seemed to be through the roof."

"I know," said the master, changing the course of the boat. "Yew meant to get up, knock off some shingles, and then let yewrself down with the two ropes tied together."

"Look here," said Esau, ill-humouredly, "you'd better tell the story."

"No, no, stranger; go on, go on," said the master, apologetically. "Go on, go on."

"Well, that's just what I was going to do," said Esau, condescendingly, "only there wasn't any shingles that I saw, but the place was covered over with wooden slates."

"Those are what they call shingles, my lad," said Gunson.

"Oh, very well, I don't care," said Esau, acidly. "All I know is, I joined those two pieces of rope together, tied one end round my waist, and I was just going to climb up the side to the rafters, when I thought to myself I might meet somebody outside, who'd try to stop me; and though I felt that you two would be gone, I didn't want to have taken all my trouble for nothing, and be locked up there again. So I had a bit of a look round, and picked out from some wood in a corner a pretty tidy bit, with a good headache at the end."

The master chuckled.

"And I'd no sooner done that than I heard some one coming."

"Did yew get behind the door?" said the master hoarsely. "Yew said it was dark."

"I do wish you'd let me go on my own way," said Esau, in an ill-used tone.

"Yes, yes, yes; go on, my lad, go on," said the master.

"Why can't you let him bide!" growled the others; and I saw Gunson looking on in an amused way, as he turned from watching the distant schooner, far enough away now.

"My wrists and my ankles ache so I can't hardly bear it," continued Esau; "and when you keep on putting in your spoon it worries me."

"Yes, yes, my lad; I won't do so no more."

"'Tain't as if I was a reg'lar story-teller," grumbled Esau. "I ain't used to this sort o' thing."

"Go on telling us, Esau," I said. "They were only eager to know."

"Well," he continued, "that's what I did do, as it was dark. I got behind the door with that there stick in my hand, just as I heard the key rattling in the lock, and then the door was opened, and the leaves rustled, and I saw just dimly that there long-haired chap's head come in slowly; and he seemed to me to look puzzled, as he stared at the heap of leaves as if he thought I'd crept under 'em and gone to sleep."

At this moment I looked round, to see in the bright moonlight the faces of the master and the two fishermen watching Esau excitedly, as they waited for the end of the scene he described. Gunson's face was in shadow now, but he too was leaning forward, while, in the interest of the recollection of what he had passed through, Esau began to act as well as speak. He raised one hand as if it was still grasping the head-aching stick, and leaned toward the listeners, looking from one to the other as he spoke, and as if the narrative was intended expressly for them and not for us.

"All at once," continued Esau, "he took a step forward toward the heap of leaves, and then another, and then he turned sharply round as if he had heard me move or felt I was close behind him. But when a man tries to jump out of the way, he don't move so quickly as a big stick. I'd got that well up with both hands, and down it came right on his head, and there he was lying just about where him and the rest of 'em had pitched me."

"Ah!" ejaculated the master, and his two companions gave a shout and jumped up.

"Sit down, will yew!" he shouted. "Want to swamp the boat. He arn't done yet."

"Not quite," said Esau. "I felt horrid frightened as soon as I'd done it, for fear I'd given it him too hard, and I turned to run out of the place, but I could hear a lot of men talking, so I took out the key, put it inside, and shut and locked the door. Then I clambered up the side and soon had some of those wooden slates off, to find as I crawled on to the roof that it was quite evening, and whereabouts I was to get down I couldn't tell. I dare not stop though, for fear the others should come to look after their mate, so unfastening the rope from my waist I tied it to a rafter, slid down as far as it would reach, and hung swinging at the end, thinking that it was all no good, for you two would be gone; and then I dropped, and found myself in a yard.

"Some one saw me and shouted," continued Esau, "but I didn't stop to hear what he had to say, for I went over first one fence and then another till I got out into a lane, at the bottom of which was a street; and then I went into one after the other, looking like a fellow begging, till I knew where I was, and got down at last to the hotel."

"And well done too!" cried Gunson, clapping him on the shoulder. "All to get me a new pipe, eh?"

"Yes; and I'll get you another too some day."

"I knew you wouldn't leave me in the lurch, Esau," I whispered; and then I started, for the master brought down his hand with a heavy slap on his knee.

"That was a good 'un," he cried. "There's too many o' them sort in 'Frisco, and it gives the place a bad name. I don't wish that loafer any harm, but I hope you've killed him."

"I hope not," I said, fervently.

"Best thing as could happen to him, my lad," said the man. "You see he's a regular bad 'un now, and he'd go on getting worse and worse, so the kindest thing your mate could do was to finish him off. But he arn't done it. Them sort's as hard as lobsters. Take a deal o' licking to get through the rind."

"Hah!" ejaculated Gunson just then.

"What's matter?"

"She is leaving us behind," said Gunson, as he looked sadly out to sea.

"Now she arn't," said the master; "and I arn't going to let her. Her skipper and me's had many a argyment together 'bout his craft, and he's precious fond o' jeering and fleering at me about my bit of a cutter, and thinks he can sail twiced as fast. I'm going tew show him he can't."

"Do you think you can overtake him then?" I cried eagerly.

"Dunno about overtake, my lad, but I'm going to overhaul him. Here, Zeke, come and lay hold of this here tiller. You keep her full. Elim, you and me's going to get up that forsle. I'm going tew put yew chaps aboard o' that schooner if I sail on for a week."

"Without provisions?" said Gunson, sadly.

"Who says 'thout provisions," retorted the man. "There's a locker forrard and there's a locker aft, for we never know how long we may be getting back when we're out fishing. I say I'm going to put you aboard that there schooner for the dollars as we 'greed on first, and if I don't, why I'm more of a Dutchman than lots o' them as comes from the east to set up business in 'Frisco. There!"



CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

EMULATING THE CORNISHMEN.

Unwittingly we had made friends with the master of the little fishing craft and his men; and as we sat watching them in the moonlight, and looking away at the schooner, which always stood out in the distance faint and misty, as if some thing of shadow instead of real, a spar was got out from where it was lashed below the thwarts, and run out over the bows, a bolt or two holding it in its place, while the stays were made fast to the masthead and the sides of the boat. Then a large red sail was drawn out of the locker forward, bent on, run up, and the boat heeled over more and more.

"Don't capsize us," said Gunson. "Can she bear all that sail?"

"Ay, and more too. If we capsized yew we should capsize ourselves too, and what's more, our missuses at home, and that wouldn't do. We won't capsize yew. Only sit well up to the side, and don't mind a sprinkle of water now and then. I'm going to make the old girl fly."

He chuckled as he saw the difference the fresh spread of canvas had made in the boat's progress, and, taking the tiller now himself, he seemed to send the light craft skimming over the sea, and leaving an ever-widening path of foam glittering in the moonlight behind.

"That's different, my lads, eh?" the master said, with a fresh chuckle. "Yew see yew were only kind o' passengers before—so many dollar passengers; now yew're kind o' friends as we wants to oblige, while we're cutting yonder skipper's comb for him. Say, do yew know what they do in Cornwall in England? I'll tell yew. When they want to make a skipper wild who's precious proud of his craft, they hystes up a bit more sail, runs by him, and then goes aft and holds out a rope's end, and asks him if they shall give him a tow. That's what I'm going to do to the schooner's skipper, so don't you fret no more. You hold tight, and you shall be aboard some time."

"I hope we shall," said Gunson quietly; but I could feel that there was doubt in his tones, and as I looked at the shadowy image away there in the offing, the case seemed very hopeless indeed.

We had been sailing for some time now, but the distance from the city was not very great, the wind not having been favourable. Consequently our course had been a series of tacks to and fro, like the zigzags of a mountain road. Still we had this on our side—the schooner had to shape her course in the same way, and suffer from the constant little succession of calms as we did.

The confident tone of our skipper was encouraging, but we could not feel very sure when we saw from time to time that the schooner was evidently leaving us behind. But we had not calculated on our man's nautical knowledge, for as we got further out he began to manoeuvre so as to make shorter tacks, and at last, when the moon was rising high in the heavens, and we were getting well out from under the influence of the land, the easy way in which the course of the boat could be changed gave us a great advantage, and towards midnight our hopes rose high.

"There," said our skipper, "what do yew say now? That's a little craft to move, ain't she?"

"Move? she flies," said Gunson; "but with this wind, arn't you carrying too much sail?"

"Not enough," said the skipper gruffly. "You let me alone. Only thing that can hurt us is a spar going, and they won't do that. That there mast and bowsprit both came from up where you're going—Vancouver Island. There's some fine sticks of timber up there."

We eased off the way of the boat a little, for water was lapping over the bows, and even he had tacitly agreed that we were heeling over more than was quite safe.

"Swab that drop o' juice up," he growled; and one of the men quietly mopped up the water, of which there was not enough to bale.

"She must see us now," said Gunson, after another long interval, during which we all sat holding on by the gunwale.

"See us? Oh, she sees us plain enough."

"Then why doesn't she heave to?"

"Skipper's too obstint. Perhaps he don't think there's any one aboard, for it's misty to make anything out in the moonlight, even with a glass. P'r'aps he knows the boat again, and won't take no heed because it's me. But you wait a bit; we're going through the water free now, eh, squire?"

"You'll sink her directly," said Esau, who had already grasped the fact that a vessel was always "she."

"Not I. I say, you didn't expect a ride like this t'night, did yew?"

"No," said Esau, whose attention was all taken up with holding on to the side.

"No, not yew. Steady, my lass, steady," he said softly, as the boat made a plunge or two. "Don't kick. Say, youngster, any message for that there chap as you hit?"

"Yes; tell him I'll set the police to work if ever I come back here."

"Right. I'll tell him. I know where to find him."

"Where will that be?" I said, wondering whether he meant the very worst; and I breathed more freely as I heard his answer.

"In the hospital, lad, in the hospital. They'll have to mend the crack in his head, for I dessay your mate here hit as hard as he could."

"I did," said Esau.

And now we sat in silence gazing at the moonlit water, with its wonderful flecks of silvery ripple, then at the misty schooner, and then across at the lights of the city; while I wondered at the fact that one could go on sailing so long, and that the distance looked so small, for a mile at sea seemed to be a mere sham.

"What do yew say now?" said the master an hour later. "Shall we overhaul her?"

"Yes, we must catch her now," said Gunson, excitedly. "Don't overdo it when we are so near success."

"Yew let me alone; yew let me be," he grumbled. "I'm going to putt yew aboard that craft, first, because I think yew all ought to be helped; and second, because I want to show the schooner's skipper that he arn't everybody on these shores."

On we went through the silver water, with the path behind us looking like molten metal, and the wind seeming to hiss by us and rattle in the boat's sails, we went so fast. Every now and then from where I sat I could look down and see that the lee bulwark almost dipped under water, but always when it was within apparently half an inch of the surface the master eased the boat and it rose a little.

The schooner was going on the opposite tack to ours, so that when at last we crossed her we seemed so near that one might have hailed; but in obedience to the master's wish we passed on in silence, so as to let him enjoy the triumph of over-sailing the bigger vessel, and then hailing her after the Cornwall fashion of which he had boasted.

"Now," he said, "we're ahead." And almost at that moment there was a loud crack, the mast went by the thwarts, and the sails lay like the wings of a wounded bird upon the silvery sea.



CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"IT'S THEM."

"Wal," said the master, "reckon that arn't quite such a good stick as I thout it war."

I sat looking despondently at the wreck, for the accident had happened just as I felt sure of our overtaking the schooner, which was rapidly gliding away from us again, when Esau caught hold of my arm.

"I say, arn't going to the bottom, are we?"

"All our trouble for nothing, I'm afraid, my lads," said Gunson.

"What are yew two looking at?" roared the master. "Going to let them two sails drag down under the boat? Haul 'em in, will yew!"

These words startled the two men into action, and they began to loosen the ropes and haul in the sails rapidly, prior to getting the broken mast on board.

"Wal, might ha' been worse," said the master, giving his head a scratch; "but there goes your dollars, mister, for a new stick."

"I'll pay for it," said Gunson, quickly. "Could you rig up the broken spar afresh?"

"Guess I'm going to try."

"Do you think they could hear us on the schooner if we all shouted together?"

"No, I don't, my lad. If I had, I would have opened my mouth to onced. Here, let me come by; them two's going to sleep. I want to fix that stick up again. I won't be able to give the schooner a tow this time. He's beat me, but I'll do it yet."

He set to work getting out the broken stump, which was standing jagged above the thwart, and looked at it thoughtfully.

"Make a nice bit o' firewood for the old woman," he said, as he laid it down forward before beginning to examine the broken end of the mast.

"Guess yew arn't got such a thing as a saw in your pocket, hev you, either on yew?" he continued, with a grim smile. "Not yew! One never has got what one wants in one's pocket. Lend a hand here, Elim, never mind about them stays. Don't shove: them sharp ends 'll go through the bottom. If they do, one of you youngsters 'll hev to putt your leg through the hole to keep the water out. Now, Zeke, never mind the sail. Hyste away."

Between them they raised the broken mast, which was now about three feet shorter, tightened the ropes, and, just as the schooner was coming back on the next tack, to pass us about half a mile away, the master said—

"They ought to see as we're in trouble, but I 'spect they're nearly all asleep. Here, all on yew be ready, and when I cry, hail! open your shoulders, and all together give 'em a good ahoy! Not yet, mind—not till I speak. Lot o' little footy squeaks arn't no good; we must have a big shout. Guess we shan't haul up the sail till we've tried whether they'll lay to."

The schooner came nearer and nearer, with her sails growing so plain that even the ropes that held them glistened white in the moonlight, and looking so beautiful as she glided smoothly onward, that for the moment I forgot our predicament; but I was roused up at last by the master's voice.

"All together!" he said, quietly. "Hail!"

Our voices rose high in a discordant shout.

"Now again," cried the master.

Our voices rose once more, and then another shout broke the stillness of the soft night air; but the schooner glided on, her sails hiding everything, so that we did not see a soul on board save the man at the wheel, whose white face gleamed for a few moments as it emerged from the black shadow cast by the great mainsail.

"They're all asleep," cried the master, fiercely. "Here, lay holt, Zeke. I say, squire, take holt o' the tiller, and keep her straight. Hyste away, Elim, we'll show 'em the rope's end yet."

"Look!" cried Gunson, quickly.

"Eh? Why, they did hear us," cried the master, in a disappointed tone. "Why didn't they hail back? Shan't show him the rope's end arter all."

For the schooner glided slowly round till she was head to wind; and instead of her sails curving out in the moonlight, they were now dark, save where they shivered and flapped to and fro, so that a part of the canvas glistened now and then in the light.

"Ahoy!" came faintly from her decks, for she was a quarter of a mile away; and in a few minutes a boat dropped over the side with a splash, and four men began to row toward us.

"There you are," said the master, grimly; "they'll take you aboard now. Going up the Fraser, arn't you?"

"Yes, I hope so," said Gunson, as he thrust his hand into his pocket, and then handed some money to the old man, who took it with a dissatisfied grunt, and turned it over in his rough hand.

"What's this?" he said roughly; "ten dollars. There, we said five. Take them back." He held out half the money. "No, no: bargain's a bargain. Lay holt."

"But the broken spar?"

"Don't you fret yewrself about that. I'm going to show it to him as sold it to me, and make him take it again. There, good luck to you all. Good-bye, youngsters; and if you find any gold up yonder, bring me back a little bit to make a brooch for my old missus."

Gunson pressed him to keep the money, but he refused angrily.

"Shake hands, all on yew, and good-bye. I meant to put you all aboard, and I've done it, arn't I?"

"Indeed you have," I said; "and we are very grateful."

"That's right, lad," he said, shaking hands warmly; after which the others held out their hands, and to my great satisfaction Gunson said—

"Will you let me give these two a dollar each?"

"Oh, very well," grunted the master. "If yew've got so much money to throw away, yew can dew it."

"Hillo!" came from the fast-nearing boat, "what's the matter?—sinking?"

"No," roared the master. "Sinking indeed! What yer going off and leaving all your passengers behind for?"

"Oh," said a gruff voice, "it's them."

It was the skipper of the schooner who spoke, and a quarter of an hour later we were on board his vessel, waving our caps to the master and his two sturdy fisher-lads, as, with their shortened sails now filling, the boat began to glide rapidly back, while the schooner's head was turned once more for the open sea.

"Thought you warn't coming," said the skipper, gruffly, after seeing that the little boat was swinging safely from the davits.

"Yes, it was a close shave," replied Gunson, who hardly spoke again to us, but went below; and soon after we two were fast asleep, forgetful of all the past troubles of the day.



CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

When I awoke next morning it was blowing hard, and the timbers of the schooner were groaning and creaking so dismally, that when every now and then a wave struck the bows, Esau turned to me and shook his head, "Next big one as comes 'll knock her all to pieces."

We did not care much for our breakfast, for more than one reason, and were glad to get on deck, where we found Gunson talking with the skipper, or I should say Gunson talking, and the old captain rolling an eye, or giving a short nod now and then. Away to our right lay the coast of California, with its pale-coloured bare-looking cliffs appearing anything but attractive; and as we tossed about in the little schooner, I could not help thinking how different it was to the great clipper-ship in which we had sailed round the Horn.

We were soon glad to go below again, and there, as Esau could not get at his chest, which was down in the hold, he was glad to accept the loan of a blue jersey from one of the sailors, so as to set Gunson's jacket at liberty.

It was almost a repetition of our experience in the Albatross for some days, only in this case we could have gone on deck at any time; but there was no temptation to do so, for it meant holding on by the side, and being soaked by the spray which kept on flying aboard.

During those days Esau passed the greater part of his time lying down, and about once an hour he got into the habit of lifting his head, and looking at me fixedly.

"I say," he would begin.

"Yes?"

"Don't think I shall take to sailoring;" and I agreed with him that other lines would be pleasanter.

It was not that we were so very cowardly, for the sailors we spoke to all agreed that it was one of the worst trips they had ever had along the coast; and we afterwards heard that the skipper had been very anxious more than once. But there is always an end to bad weather; and the morning came when I went on deck to find sky and sea of a lovely blue, and away to my right a glorious green land, with swelling hills, forests of pines, and beyond them, dazzlingly white in the bright sunshine, the tops of two snow-capped mountains.

As I leaned aft, gazing at the beautiful land, my spirits began to grow brighter, and I was turning round to go down and fetch Esau to come and see the place, when I found that Gunson had come on deck too, and was looking at me in his peculiar manner which always repelled me.

"Is that British Columbia?" I said, to break an awkward silence, for he stood perfectly silent, fixing me with that one piercing eye.

"No, not yet—that's Yankee-land still. We've got to get into the Straits yet before we can see our country."

"Straits—Gibraltar?" I said thoughtlessly; and then I felt red in the face at my stupidity.

"Not exactly, my lad," he said, laughing. "Why, my geography is better than yours. The straits we go through are those of Juan de Fuca, the old sailor who discovered them. But from what I know of it, the country is very much the same as this. Think it will do for you?"

"It is lovely," I cried, enthusiastically.

"Yes," he said, thoughtfully, and speaking in a quiet soft way that seemed to be very different from his appearance; "a lovely land—a land of promise. I hope your people will all get up yonder safe and sound. It is a long, weary task they have before them."

"Can't be worse than ours has been," I said.

"Well, no, I suppose not; but very trying to those poor women. Look here, my lad," he said, after a pause, "how are you going to manage when you get ashore at Victoria?"

"Start at once for Fort Elk."

"How?"

"Get somebody who knows the way to tell us, and then walk on a few miles every day. It can't be very difficult to find if we keep along the river bank."

"Along the towing-path, eh?"

"Yes, if there is one," I said, eagerly.

"Towing-path! Why, you young innocent," he cried, angrily, "don't you know that it's a fierce wild mountain-torrent, running through canons, and in deep mountain valleys, with vast forests wherever trees can grow, all packed closely together—sometimes so close that you can hardly force your way through?"

"I did not know it was like that," I said; "but we must make the best of it, I suppose. If we can't go twenty miles a day we must go fifteen."

"Or ten, or five, or one," he cried, with a contemptuous laugh. "Why, Mayne, my lad, that last will often be the extent of your journey."

I looked at him in dismay.

"You have no friends then at Victoria—no introductions?"

I shook my head.

"And you do not even seem to know that Victoria is on an island, from which you will have to cross to the mouth of the Fraser."

"I'm afraid I am very ignorant," I said, bitterly; "but I am going to try to learn. I suppose there are villages here and there up the country?"

"Perhaps a few, not many yet; but you will find some settler's place now and then."

"Well, they will be English people," I said, "and they will help us."

"Of course."

"Where are you going?" I asked suddenly.

He gave a little start, and his face relaxed.

"I?" he said quickly, and he looked as if he were going to take me into his confidence; but just then Esau came on deck to stand looking shoreward, and Gunson turned cold and stern directly. "Don't know for certain," he replied. "Morning, my lad," to Esau, and then walked forward to speak to the skipper.

"There, Esau," I said eagerly; "that's something like a country to come to," for the fresh beauties which were unfolding in the morning sun made me forget all Gunson's suggestions of difficulties.

"Yes, that's something like," said Esau. "What makes those big hills look so blue as that?"

"They are mountains, and I suppose it's the morning mist."

"Mountains!" said Esau, contemptuously, "not much o' mountains. Why, that one over yonder don't look much bigger than Primrose Hill."

"Not much," said Gunson, who was walking back with the skipper. "Very much like it too, especially the snow on the top. How far is that mountain off?" he added, turning to the skipper.

"Hunard miles," grunted the person addressed.

"Look here," whispered Esau, as soon as we were alone, for the skipper and Gunson went below, "I don't say that he hasn't been very civil to us, and he helped us nicely about getting on here, but I don't like that chap. Do you?"

"I really don't know," I said with a laugh.

"Well, I do know. He looks at one with that eye of his, as if he was thinking about the money in your belt all the time."

"He can't be thinking about yours," I said drily.

"Oh dear! I forgot that," said Esau. "But all the same, I don't like a man with one eye."

"But it isn't his fault, Esau."

"No, not exactly his fault; but it sets you against him, and he's got so much pump in him."

"Pump?"

"Yes; always getting out of you everything you are going to do, and who you are, and where you come from."

"Yes, he does question pretty well."

"He just does. Very well, then; I want to know who he is, and where he comes from, and what he's going to be up to. Do you know?"

"No, not in the least."

"Same here. Well, I don't like a man who's so close, and the sooner we both shake hands with him, and say good-bye, the better I shall like it."

"Well, Esau, I'm beginning to feel like that," I said, "myself."

"That's right, then, and we shan't quarrel over that bit o' business. Soon be there now, I think, shan't we?"

"To-morrow about this time," said a familiar voice; and we both started, for Gunson was standing close behind us. "Didn't you hear me come up?"

"No," I said hurriedly; and he laughed a little, rather unpleasantly, I thought, and walked forward to stand with his elbows on the bulwark watching the distant shore.

"There!" whispered Esau. "Now would a fellow who was all right and square come and listen to all we said like that? Seems to be always creeping up behind you."

"I don't think he did that purposely."

"Well then, I do. You always take his part, no matter what I say; and it sometimes seems to me as if you were pitching me over, so as to take up with him."

"That's right, Esau," I replied. "That is why we sailed off together, and left you in the lurch."

Esau pressed his lips together, gave his foot a stamp, and then pushed close up to me.

"Here," he said, "punch my head, please. Do. I wish you would. My tongue's always saying something I don't mean."

I did not punch Esau's head, and the little incident was soon forgotten in the interest of the rest of our journey. For we sailed on now in bright sunshine, the uneasy motion of the schooner was at an end, and there was always something fresh to see. Now it was a whale, then a shoal of fish of some kind, and sea-birds floating here and there. Then some mountain peak came into view, with lovely valleys and vast forests of pines—scene after scene of beauty that kept us on deck till it was too dark to see anything, and tempted us on deck again the moment it was light.

By midday we were in the port of Victoria, where the skipper began at once to discharge his cargo, and hence we were not long before our chests were on the rough timber wharf, side by side with those of Gunson, who left us in charge of them while he went away.

"Wish he wouldn't order us about like that," cried Esau, angrily; "let's go away, and let some one else look after his traps."

"We can't now," I said.

"But we don't want him with us any more. I say, I don't think much of this place."

"It's very beautiful," I said, looking away over the sea at beautiful islands, and up at the wooded hills in view.

"But it looks just like being at home in England. I expected all kinds of wonderful things in a foreign country, and not to be sitting down on one's box, with sheds and stacks of timber and wooden houses all about you. We can get that at home."

I was obliged to own that everything did look rather home-like, even to some names we could see over the stores.

"And do you know where the skipper's going as soon as he has unloaded?"

"No," I said.

"Up to some place with a rum name here in this island, to get a load of coals to take back. They only had to call it Newcastle to make it right. What are you looking at over yonder?"

"Those beautiful mountains across the sea, rising up and up in the sunshine. That's British Columbia, I suppose, and it must be up among those mountains that our river runs, and where Fort Elk lies."

"All right, I'm ready. How are we to go?"

"We shall have to find out when some boat sails across I suppose. Let's go and find the captain, and ask him where we ought to go to get a night's lodging."

"Here he comes back," said Esau.

"The skipper?"

"No, Gunson. Now let's say good-bye to him, and part friends."

"There's a little steamer goes across to the settlement at the mouth of the river this afternoon," said Gunson; "so we'll have your chests carried down. Here, you two can get some kind of dinner in that place, where you see the red board up. You go on and get something ready; I'll join you as soon as I've seen your chests on board. The boat starts from close by here."

"No, no," whispered Esau; "we mustn't trust him, because—"

Esau stopped, for he had glanced at Gunson, and found his eye fixed upon him searchingly.

"I said I would see your chests safely on board, my lad," he said sternly. "I suppose you'll trust me, Gordon?"

"Of course I will," I cried, eagerly; for I was ashamed of Esau's suspicions.

"Go on then and order some dinner," he said; and Esau accompanied me unwillingly to the rough kind of tavern.

"It's like madness," Esau kept on saying. "You see if he don't go off with our chests, and then where shall we be?"

"Grumbling because I was so weak as to trust him. Never mind; I'm hungry. Let's have something to eat."

We ordered it, and partook of a thoroughly hearty, English-looking meal; but Gunson did not come, and as soon as Esau had finished, he suggested that we should go and look after him.

"But he said we were to wait for him here."

"Yes, but I'm going to look for my chest," cried Esau. "I don't see any fun in losing that."

"Nonsense! Don't be so suspicious," I said; and we waited on a full hour, with Esau growing more and more fidgety, and by degrees infecting me with his doubts.

All at once we heard from the distance the ringing of a bell, and the Englishman who, as he called it, "ran the place," came up to us.

"Didn't I hear you two say that you were going by the steamer 's afternoon?"

"Yes," I said.

"Well then, look sharp, or you'll lose the boat. She's just off."

I glanced at Esau, and as soon as he had paid we set off at a run, reaching the little steamer just as she was being cast off from the wharf.

"He ain't here," cried Esau, excitedly. "What shall we do—stop?"

"No," I said; "let's go on. We may find our chests on board."

"Yes," he said, sarcastically; "may. Well, we can come back again. Oh, what a set of thieves there are abroad."

We were by this time on deck, and after a quick glance round, I pitched upon a man who seemed to be either skipper or mate.

"Were two chests sent on board here belonging to us?"

"One-eyed man with 'em?" he said, looking at us curiously.

"Yes," I cried eagerly.

"All right. Down below."

"There, Esau," I cried, gripping him by the arm. "What do you deserve now?"

"Punch o' the head, I suppose. Well, hooroar! and I'm glad we've got rid of him at last."

"I don't know," I said. "I should have liked to shake hands first."

"Come, lads, what a while you've been," said Gunson, coming up out of the cabin. "I told that boy to say you were to make haste."

"What boy?" I said.

"The one I sent. Didn't he tell you?"

I shook my head.

"Went to the wrong place, perhaps. Boxes are all right below yonder."

"But how are you going to get ashore?" I said, wonderingly.

"Same as you do."

"But—"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I thought I'd come across with you, and see you well on your way. Esau there wouldn't be comfortable without me. I don't know when I became such friends with any one before as I have with him. Well, did you get a good dinner?"

He fixed Esau with his eye, and I saw the perspiration begin to stand in little drops on my companion's forehead, as he stammered out something about "good-dinner."

"But what about yours?" I said.

"Oh, I was afraid of some muddle being made with our luggage, so I stopped and got something to eat here."

"Our luggage?" I said.

"Oh yes," he replied with a curious laugh. "Mine is below too."



CHAPTER NINETEEN.

GUNSON FIGHTS MY BATTLE.

Gunson left us then, as if on purpose to give us an opportunity to talk about him; and as soon as he was out of hearing, Esau began by wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the back of first one hand, then with the other.

"It's o' no use," he said in a low, hoarse voice; "we shan't get rid o' that chap till he has had his wicked way of us."

I was puzzled by Gunson's acts, but all the same, I could not help laughing at Esau's comically dismal manner.

"Why, what idea have you got in your head now?" I cried.

"Him!" whispered Esau, in a tragic way. "I don't quite see through it all, but I do through some of it. Look here, Mr Gordon, sir, you mark my words, he's one of that gang we met at 'Frisco, only he plays the respectable game. He'd got me into their hands, and had me robbed, and then he was going to rob you, only I turned up just in time to save you."

"Look here, Esau," I said angrily; "if you talk any more nonsense like that I'll kick you."

"All right: kick away," he said—"I won't mind; but I'm not going to see you served as I was without saying a word."

"What you said was ridiculous."

"It was ridiklus for me to be served as I was, p'r'aps, but never mind; you'll see."

"I tell you what you say is absurd."

"Very well, then, you have a say, and tell me what he means by hanging on to us as he does."

"I cannot explain it, of course. How can I tell what Gunson means? All I know is, that it's better to have a man with us who seems to know something about the country."

"Ah, but does he?" said Esau, with a cunning look. "I don't believe he knows anything about it. He's been cramming us full of stories about dangers and stuff to frighten us. You'll see it won't be half so bad as you say. Hullo! what's the matter?"

For at that moment there arose a curious yelling sound which sent a chill through me.

"We've run down a boat," I said excitedly, "and the people are drowning."

I ran toward the bows of the little panting and snorting steamer, where those on board were gathered in a knot, and just then the skipper shouted an order, the clank of the engine ceased, and I caught sight of a curious-looking canoe that had come out from one of the islands which dotted the channel, and had been paddled across our course.

"Is any one drowned?" I said to Gunson excitedly.

"Drowned? no. Only going to take a passenger on board."

By this time I was looking over the side at the occupants of the canoe, which was formed of skins stretched over a framework, and was now being paddled up close alongside. Then one of the men in her caught the rope thrown to him, and held on while a little yellow-complexioned boy, as he seemed to me, dressed in a blue cotton pinafore and trousers, and wearing a flat, black skull-cap, made of rolls of some material joined together, suddenly stood up and threw a small bundle on board, after which he scrambled over the side himself, nodding and smiling to all around. The rope was loosened by the man in the boat, the paddle-wheels began to beat the water again, and I watched the canoe as it rapidly fell astern.

"Well, what do you think of the Indians?" said Gunson, coming to where I stood.

"Were those Indians?"

"Yes; three siwashes and a klootchman, as they call themselves—three men and a woman."

I began to regret that I had not taken more notice of them, and seeing how I leaned over to get another glimpse, Gunson continued—

"Oh, you'll meet plenty more. But you see how civilised they are getting, carrying passengers aboard. I did not expect to find him here."

"Do you know that boy then in the blue blouse?" I said wonderingly.

"Oh yes, I know him. I used to see a good deal of him right away yonder in the south; and now I see that he is getting naturalised here. Come up from 'Frisco, I suppose."

"But you don't mean that you know that particular boy?"

"Oh no. I was speaking of him as a class. He must have an object in coming across here."

Gunson said this in a thoughtful way that I did not understand then; and as he saw that I was watching him curiously, he drew my attention to the mainland, towards which we were gliding.

"There," he said, "you'll soon be able to say goodbye to the sea. It will be canoes and legs for the rest of your journey."

"Legs," I said laughing; "I don't think we could manage a canoe."

"No; but it would be wise to get your boxes as far up the country as you can, and that can only be by means of the Indians and one of their canoes."

"But you would have to pay them."

"Of course."

"And would it be safe to trust them?"

"We shall see, my lad. But patience. They ought to have called this place New England. What a country and a climate for a man who could be content to settle down to a ranch and farm. There," he continued, "I dare say you two want to have a chat. I shall be aft there if you wish to say anything to me."

He was quite right. Esau was waiting to come up and talk, pointing out distant mountains, the islands we were passing, and the appearance of the land we were approaching, a place all mystery and interest to us now.

"I say," he cried, "I've been talking to one of the men aboard here, and he says it will be easy enough to find Fort Elk; that we've only got to keep to the side of the river, and we shall be sure to get there some time."

"Some time?" I said rather dismally. "When is that?"

"Oh, there's no hurry," cried Esau, enthusiastically. "It will be rare good fun going along by the river, and through the woods, with no one to interfere with you, and order you to copy this or write out that. But let's get away from old Gunson as soon as we can."

"You want boy?" said a mild, insinuating voice, and the little fellow in blue stood by us with his head on one side, and his black, currant-like eyes twinkling in his yellow face. The black close cap which he had seemed to wear had disappeared, for it had only been his curled-up pigtail, which now hung down his back nearly to his heels. "You want boy?" he said again.

He was so close to us now that I could see, in spite of his being only about the stature of a lad of thirteen, that he must be a man of thirty at least, and in spite of his quaint aspect, there was something pleasant and good-humoured about his countenance that was attractive.

"Want a boy?" said Esau, rather roughly. "He's got one. Can't you see him? Me!"

The Chinaman nodded and smiled at Esau, as if he admired his fresh-coloured smooth face and curly fair hair. Then showing his teeth a little, he went on—

"Me speak ploper Inglis allee same Melican man. Velly stlong. Washee. Cally big pack allee over countly. Cookee. Velly good cookee. Make nicee blead. Hot fire, plenty tea."

"No," I said, smiling at his earnestness. "We don't want a servant."

"Yes; want boy. Quong. Me Quong, talk ploper Inglis. No talkee pidgin."

"Get out!" cried Esau. "Who ever heard of talking pigeon! You mean a parrot."

"Hey? Pallot. Yes, talkee pallot—pletty polly what o'clock?"

"Yes, that's right!" cried Esau.

"Quong talk ploper Inglis. Allee same Melican man. No talkee pidgin, no talkee pallot. Quong come along cally big pack. Cookee. Washee clean do."

"But we don't want you," I said.

"No wantee Quong? Hey?"

"No."

"Ah."

He nodded as good-humouredly as if we had engaged him to cook and wash for us, and as we stood there leaning over the side of the puffing little steamer, we saw him go from one to another, and amongst them to Gunson. But he was everywhere received with a shake of the head, and at last, apparently in no wise discouraged, he sat down forward on the deck, took his little bundle on his knees, and curled up his tail again.

They were a curious lot of people on board, and I was dividing my time between watching the panorama of hills and mountains that seemed to rise up out of the sea, and trying to make out what the people might be by whom I was surrounded, thinking that one or two must be Englishmen, others Americans, and some people who had settled down in the country to which we were going, when a big, roughly-bearded fellow, who was very loud and noisy in his conversation, suddenly burst into a roar of laughter, and gave his leg a slap, while some of the men about him joined in his mirth.

For some minutes I could not make out what was the object which attracted them, but Esau was quicker, and gave me a nudge with his elbow.

"They're going to play some games," he said; and I grasped directly what it meant, for the big fellow went quietly up behind the little Chinaman, and with a clever twitch unfastened the pin, or whatever it was which held up the coil, and the long tail untwisted and rolled down on the deck amidst a roar of laughter—one which increased as the Chinaman turned to see who had played the trick, but only to find the man standing near with his back toward him, apparently talking thoughtfully.

"You pullee?" said the Chinaman good-humouredly.

"What?" came back in a voice of thunder.

"You pullee tail?"

The man gave him a furious scowl, and uttered a low growl like that of some savage beast, while the little Chinaman slunk toward the bulwark, and began to coil up his queue once more, after which he bent forward over his bundle, his eyes half closed, and evidently thinking so deeply, that he was quite ignorant of what was passing around. Perhaps he was wondering where he would be able to sleep that night, perhaps of how he was to obtain work. At any rate he was too much occupied with his thoughts to notice that the big fellow was slowly edging his way toward him.

"They are going to play some trick, Esau," I said softly. "What a shame it seems."

"Yes; look. That other chap's going to help him."

"But it's too bad."

"Yes; lots of things are too bad; but it ain't our business, and if we interfere we shall get into trouble."

I heard my companion's words, but they did not make any impression on me, for I was too deeply intent upon what was taking place before me. There was the little Chinaman bent forward, blinking and apparently half asleep, and there on either side were the men, evidently about to disturb him in some way or another.

All at once, after exchanging glances with the others, I saw the big fellow place his foot just under the Chinaman, and give him a lift which sent him up against the other man, who roared out angrily.

"Where are you coming to, you yellow-eyed, waggle-headed mandarin?" he cried; and he gave the poor fellow two or three cuffs and a rude push, which sent him staggering against his first disturber, who turned upon him furiously in turn, and cuffed him back to the other.

"Why, it's like playing shuttlecock and battledore," said Esau grimly. "If they served me so I should kick."

But the little Chinaman did not resist in the slightest degree; he only bore the buffeting patiently till such time as he could rescue his bundle, and escape to the other side of the deck, where, as if he were accustomed to such treatment, he shook himself, pulled down his blouse, and, amidst the roars of laughter that had arisen, he placed his bundle on the bulwark, and folding his arms upon it, leaned there gazing out to sea.

"I do hate to see big chaps bullying little ones," said Esau in a whisper, as I stood hoping that the horse-play was at an end, for I shared Esau's dislike to that kind of tyranny; and though the little Celestial was nothing to me whatever, I felt hot and angry at what had been going on, and wondered why Gunson, a strong, a powerful man, had stood there smoking without interfering in the least.

But my hope of the horse-play being at an end was not gratified, for a few minutes after I saw the two men whisper together, and the big fellow took out his knife and tried the edge.

"Hullo!" whispered Esau, "he ain't going to cut his head off, is he?"

I did not answer, though I seemed to divine what was about to take place, and the blood flushed into my cheeks with the annoyance I felt.

My ideas were quite correct, for directly after the second of the two men lounged up quietly behind the Chinaman, and before he was aware of it, he too cleverly undid the tail, but kept hold of it and drew it away tight.

"Hallo!" he shouted, so as to be heard above the roars of laughter which arose, "why what's all this ere?"

The little fellow put up his hands to his head, and bent down, calling out piteously, while the big passenger took a step or two forward with the open knife hidden in his hand. Then clapping his left on the Chinaman's head, he thrust it forward, so that the tail was held out tightly, and in another moment it would have been cut off close to the head, if in my excitement I had not suddenly made a leap forward, planting my hands on the man's chest, and with such good effect consequent upon my weight being entirely unexpected, that he staggered back some yards, and then came down heavily in a sitting position on the deck.

I was as much astonished at the result as he was, and as there was a roar of laughter from all on deck, he sat there staring at me and I at him, till I could find words to say indignantly—

"Let the poor fellow be. It's a shame!"

The next minute the man sprang up, and Quong, as he called himself, cowered behind me, the other having in his astonishment loosened the poor fellow's tail and set him free.

"Why, you young cockerel," roared the big fellow, striding up to me, and bringing his left hand down heavily upon my shoulder. "Not to cut off that yallow scoundrel's tail, arn't I?"

"No," I cried stoutly, though I felt anything but brave; "let him alone."

"Will I? Look here, I'm going to have off that tail; and just to give you a lesson, I'm going to try the edge o' my knife first on one of your ears."

I wrested myself away, but he was as quick as I was, and had me again directly, holding the knife in a threatening way as if he really intended to fulfil his threat.

"Get hold of the knife, Esau," I shouted; but it was not his hand and arm which interposed, for Gunson forced himself between us, thrusting me right away, as he said quietly—

"Let the boy alone."

"Let the boy alone!" cried the big fellow, fiercely. "No, I shan't let the boy alone. What do you mean by interfering? Who are you?"

"Like yourself, man—an Englishman."

"And a precious ugly one too. Here, I don't want to hurt you, so be off and lie down."

He strode on one side, and then made at me, driving me to bay against the bulwark.

"Now then," he cried, with an ugly laugh, which did not conceal his rage, "I've got you again, have I?"

"No," said Gunson quietly, as he took him by the collar and swung him round, so that he staggered away; but he recovered himself and made at my protector. "Keep back! the boy is a friend of mine, and I will not have him touched."

"Friend of yours, is he? Oh, then you want to fight, do you?"

"No," said Gunson, standing firmly before him, "I don't want to fight, neither do you, so go your way, and we'll go ours."

"After a bit, my lad," cried the man, fiercely. "This isn't England, but a country where a man can fight if he likes, so clear the course, some of you, and let's see who's best shot."

He thrust his hand behind him, and pulled a revolver from his hip-pocket, cocking it as he spoke.

"Now then, out with your own," he cried.

But Gunson seized the man's wrist instead, gave it a wrench round, there was a sharp report, and the pistol fell heavily on the deck, and was secured by one of the sailors.

"Give him a hug, mate," cried the man who had joined in the attack upon the Chinaman.

"That's what I'm just going to do, my lad," said the big fellow in hoarse, angry tones. "He's got hold of the wrong pig by the ear this time;" and to my horror he drew back a little, and then suddenly darted his body forward and locked Gunson in his arms.

I had often heard tell of and read accounts about wrestling, but this was the first time I had ever witnessed an encounter in the old English sport, if sport it could be called, where two strong men, one far bigger and heavier than the other, swayed to and fro, heaving, straining, and doing all they could to throw one another.

There was a dead silence on the deck, and passengers, skipper, and sailors all bent forward, eagerly watching the encounter, but not one with such earnestness as I, who fully expected to see Gunson flung heavily. But no: he was raised again and again from the deck, but he always recovered his feet, and twined and swayed here and there in a way that completely baffled his powerful adversary.

All this took a very short time, but as I watched I was able to see that Gunson seemed to grow cooler as the struggle went on, while his opponent became more enraged.

The excitement was now intense, and I felt my heart beat heavily as I momentarily expected to see my defender dashed down insensible, while a feeling of rage at my own helplessness made my position more painful. For it was this: I could do nothing, and no man present made the slightest movement either to help or separate the combatants. Then, too, I felt that it was my fault for behaving as I did, yet I could hardly feel regret for my interference.

And while thoughts like these coursed rapidly through my mind, I too was watching the struggling pair, who swayed here and there, and once struck so violently against the bulwark that I gave a sudden gasp as I expected that they would both go overboard together. But no; they struggled back again to the middle of the deck, Gunson seeming quite helpless, and offering scarcely any resistance, save when his opponent lifted or tried to throw him, when he suddenly became quick as light almost in his effort to recover himself. And all the while an excited murmur went on among those crowded together to see the weaker fall. There was no doubt as to which it would be, and one of my great dreads was lest Gunson should not only be beaten but seriously hurt.

At last the struggle seemed to be coming to an end. The big fellow swung my champion round and round, and lifted him again and again, just as he seemed to please, but could never unloosen the tight grip of Gunson's hands.

"Now, Gully lad," cried the second man, "down with him."

These words seemed to act as a spur to the wrestler, and I saw his face of a deep angry red as he put all his force now into a final effort to crush the active man who clung so tenaciously to him. They had struggled now so far aft that another step would have brought them in contact with the man at the wheel; but Gunson gave himself a wrench, swung round, and as he reversed his position the big Englishman forced him a little backward, bearing right over him as it seemed to me; while the next moment, to my intense astonishment, I saw Gunson now lift the great fellow from the deck and literally throw him over his shoulder, to come down on the planks with quite a crash. There was a curious cry of astonishment from the group of spectators, in the midst of which the second man stepped to his companion's side.

"Get up, my lad," he cried. "Did he play foul?"

But there was no reply. The great fellow lay on the deck as if dead, and when his companion raised his head it went heavily down again.

"Here, I can't stand this," roared the fallen man's companion. "You played foul—you played foul;" and he rushed at Gunson and seized him, the latter only just having time to secure a good grip of the attacking party.

There was a fresh murmur of excitement, followed by a roar, as, apparently without effort, Gunson threw his new opponent upon his back.

"Was that foul?" cried Gunson, as he stood over him; but the man made no answer. He only got up slowly.

"Here, I want to help my mate," he said surlily; and there was a burst of laughter, for the first fall had taken all desire out of him to try another.

By this time the big fellow—Gully—gave signs of returning consciousness, and sat up slowly to look about him, gently stroking his head, and accepting the offer of a couple of hands as he rose to his legs, and suffered himself to be led forward, while I turned my eyes now to where Gunson was putting on his jacket.

"Are you hurt?" I said.

"No; only a bit strained, my lad. It was like wrestling with an elephant. I was obliged to let him have his own way till he grew tired, and then that old Cornish fall was too much for him."

"I'm very sorry," I said humbly. "It was all my fault."

"Yes," he said, laughing. "We ought to go different ways now. I can't spend my time and strength in fighting your battles. There, I am going to see for a bucket of water and a wash."

He went forward with one of the sailors, while as I turned, it was to see the Chinaman looking at me in a curious way. But just then Esau came between us.

"What did he say?" he whispered; "that we were going different ways now?"

"Yes," I replied; "but I don't think he meant it. I hope not. Why, Esau, what should we have done twice without him?"

"Well, he can fight and wrastle," said Esau. "It was quite wonderful to see how he upset those two. And that's what I don't like, because if he's so strong with those two big fellows, and can do just what he likes with them, what chance should we have?"



CHAPTER TWENTY.

A STRANGE HOTEL.

We landed at a rough wharf at the mouth of the wide river, where a few shanties and a plank warehouse stood just in front of a forest of pine-trees, the stumps, five or six feet high, of many that had been cut down to make room for the tiny settlement, still standing up and forming a graceful curve all round from the ground to the place where the marks of the axe still looked white and yellowish red.

Our chests were carried out on to the shaky platform in front of the shanties, one of which was dignified by the title of hotel, and to Esau's great disgust, Gunson's two chests and a long wooden case were set down close to them. Then three men who had been passengers landed, and lastly the little Chinaman, who had hung back for some time, till the steamer was about to start again, sprang quickly on to the wharf, with his luggage hanging to one crooked finger. His movements were quickened by the big fellow Gully, who, as soon as he caught sight of him, made a rush and then leaned over the gangway, uttering a roar like that of some huge beast of prey. This done he shouted to us.

"Wait a bit," he said. "We shall run again one another some day. Then we'll all have another grip—"

"With all my heart," said Gunson, in a loud voice; "but I should have thought you had had enough of my manners and custom's."

We stood waiting till the boat had gone some distance, and then, as the three men who had landed had disappeared, and the Chinaman was seated on a log at a short distance from where we stood, I turned to Gunson.

"Where does the town lie?" I asked.

"What town?" he said, smiling.

"The one at the mouth of the river."

"Oh, there is one over yonder," he said, "but it is not much better than this, and as this was the handiest for you, I thought you had better stop here."

I had often felt low-spirited since leaving England, but that evening, with the last glow of the sun fast dying out over the ocean, the huge wall of enormous trees behind, and the gliding river in front, and nothing but a few roughly-built boarded houses in sight, my spirits seemed to sink far lower than they had ever been before.

I glanced at Esau, and he looked gloomy in the extreme. But I tried to put a good face on the matter, as I said to him—

"One of us had better go and see if these people will give us a night's lodging."

"You may take that for granted," said Gunson. "Take hold of one end of my chest here, and let's get it under cover."

I saw Esau frown, and I knew that as soon as we were alone he would protest against our being ordered about. But I did not hesitate, helping Gunson to get his two chests and packing-case into the house, when he frankly enough came and helped in with ours.

The people did not seem disposed to be very friendly; but rough as the shed-like house was, everything seemed clean, and they were ready to supply us with some cake-like, heavy bread, and a glowing fire composed of pine-roots and great wedge-like chips, evidently the result of cutting down trees.

"Rather rough, Squire Gordon," said Gunson, with a laugh, as he saw me sitting disconsolate and tired on the end of my chest; "but you'll have it worse than this. What do you say to camping out in the forest with no cover but a blanket, and the rain coming down in sheets? you'd think this a palace then."

"I was not complaining," I said, trying to be brisk.

"Not with your lips, my lad, but you looked as if you'd give anything to be back in London."

"Oh, we ain't such cowards as that," said Esau shortly.

At that moment the wife of the settler, who called himself in red letters a hotel-keeper, came toward us with a large tin pot like a saucepan with a loose wire cross handle.

"Here's a kettle," she said, in rather an ill-used tone; "and there's a tub o' water for drinking outside. Got any tea?"

"Yes, thank you," said Gunson, good-humouredly. "We shall do now."

The woman left us, and Gunson turned to me.

"Well, squire," he said, "what have you got in the commissariat department?"

"Some bread and cold ham," I replied.

"Oh, but we must have some hot. I've done better than you," he said, laughing, and taking out of a wallet a piece of raw bacon, which he laid upon the rough board table, and then a tin canister. "Now then, Esau, my lad, let's see you cut that in slices, while I make some tea ready. Gordon, will you go and fill the kettle half full?"

He spoke so briskly and cheerily that I hardly knew the man again, and his words had so good an effect upon me, that I soon had the kettle filled and seated in the midst of the cheery blaze; while Esau was cutting up the bacon, and Gunson was heating and cleaning a bent gridiron, that had been made by binding some pieces of thick wire a little distance apart.

"Now then, Dean," he said, "can you cook that bacon?"

Esau laughed scornfully.

"Do you hear that?" he said, turning to me. "Why, I've cooked bacon and bloaters at home hundreds of times."

"Good!" cried Gunson. "Then you shall cook a bit here. There will not be any bloaters, but as much salmon as you like to grill."

"Salmon?" said Esau, pausing in the act of paring off some bacon rind.

"Yes; salmon. The rivers are so full of them here sometimes, that they crowd one another out on to the shore."

Esau gave him a look, and then went on preparing the bacon, afterwards setting it to frizzle over the clear fire.

"I must rout up some basins," said Gunson, rising. "I don't suppose we shall get any tea-cups and saucers here."

He went out of the rough room, and left us together just as the kettle began to sing, and the bacon to send out an appetising odour.

"Well," said Esau, "that don't smell bad. Seems to make one feel not quite so mizzable to hear a kettle singing again. I did feel bad a bit back."

"Didn't you?"

"Yes: wretched," I replied.

"And all the more," continued Esau, "because old Gunson seems to have taken us into custody like, and orders us to do this and do that."

"But—"

"Now do let me finish," grumbled Esau. "I know what you're going to say, and I'll say it for you. You're allus getting into scrapes, and he's getting you out of 'em."

"And you?" I said, laughing.

"Hah! that's better," cried Esau, pouncing on a piece of bacon and turning it over. "I do like to see you laugh a bit; seems to make things cheery. But I say, when is he going his way and going to let us go ours?"

"How's the bacon getting on?" said Gunson, entering, and the rough board door swung to. "Ah, nice and brown, and the kettle close upon the boil. Know how to make tea, Gordon? Not our way in camp I know. Look here."

He turned out nearly a handful out of the common tin canister, waited till the water in the open kettle was bubbling all over, and then threw in the tea, lifted the kettle off, and stood it down.

"There," he said, "that's camp fashion. The old lady's going to bring us something to drink it out of;" and as he spoke the settler's wife brought in two tin pint mugs and a cracked and chipped basin, which she banged roughly on the table.

Gunson gave me a peculiar look as the sour woman turned away.

"I say, Mrs—I don't know your name."

"Well, what is it now?" said the woman, in a vinegary tone. "I can't spend all my time waiting on you."

"My dear madam, no," said Gunson, in the most gentlemanly way; "I only wanted to say that a cup of good tea in this wilderness is a thing that one may offer a lady, and as that is thoroughly prime China tea that I have brought up from 'Frisco, will you do us the honour of trying a cup?"

The change in the woman's countenance was wonderful. It softened; then there was a smile, and her face looked quite pleasant.

"Well, really, that's very good of you," she said. "I'll go and get myself a cup. A drop of good tea is such a treat out here."

She hurried out of the room, and Gunson laughed.

"Here, Gordon," he said, "get out that sugar you'll find in my bag. We must do it well with company."

I brought forth a tin of sugar and placed it on the table, and Gunson having tidied it a little by throwing the bacon rind away, and spreading the mugs about, we sat listening to the sputtering of the bacon and watching the flickering of the flames, which in the increasing darkness began to gild and tinge the rough boarded walls with red.

Just then the woman came back, with two cups, a saucer, and another tin.

"I thought I'd bring you a cup to dip with," she said, "and a drop of milk. A neighbour of ours ten miles up the river has got two cows, and he brings me a little milk when he comes down to buy stores. He was here this morning, so it's quite fresh."

A few minutes later, and our landlady had finished her cup of tea, which she declared to be "lovely," while upon a second one being dipped she took it up and carried it off, saying she was too busy to stay.

Left alone, we proceeded to discuss our own meal, slices of the cake-like bread forming our plates, and our pocket-knives doing double duty. Great draughts of hot tea washed down the bacon, and scarcely a word was spoken till Esau sighed, and began to wipe and polish his big new knife.

"Feel better, my lad?" said Gunson, smiling.

"Yes," said Esau, speaking rather reluctantly. "I am a bit better now."

"A bit? Why, you are like a new lad. Nothing like a good tea meal out in the wilds, my lad, to put life into one. Why I've known days when we've been ready to break down, or give up, or go back; then we've formed camp, got a bit of fire on the way, boiled the kettle with a pinch of tea in it, and eaten our cold bacon and damper, and been fit to do anything after. So are you two. To-morrow morning you'll be ready to make your start up the river, and this will be like your first lesson in camping out."

"Which way are you going, sir?" said Esau, after a long silence, during which we had been sitting gazing at the fire, but not until there had been a general tidy up of our table.

"Nor'-east," said Gunson, laconically. Then in a very abrupt way, "Now then, you've a hard day's work before you to-morrow, so roll yourselves up in your blankets and go to sleep."

"Where?" I said. "She has not showed us our bedroom."

"No, because this is, as the old song says, 'parlour and kitchen and hall,' with sleeping accommodation included. There are plenty of fine spreading spruces outside, though, if you prefer a bed there."

"Oh no," I said, as I began to realise that our journey now was going to be very rough indeed; and thoroughly appreciating the value of the blanket I had brought, I rolled myself in it, and lay down to think wonderingly of where we should be to-morrow. I knew that I could not go to sleep, but thought it better to obey Gunson in every way while he was with us; and as I lay there, I saw him rise and stand thoughtfully before the fire, while almost directly a sound arose from close by me as if Esau was practising ventriloquism, and wanted to give a good imitation of wood-sawing.

This grew so exasperating at last, that I should have kicked him to wake him up if I had not been prevented by my blanket, which was twisted so tightly round my legs that they would not move.

"I suppose he must be lying on his back," I remember thinking; and directly after, as it seemed to me, when I looked at Gunson, whose figure just before stood out big and black before the glowing fire, he was not there.

I think I considered it rather strange, but I was under the impression directly after that he had lain down too. Then there was a low, dull, humming sound, which I knew came from the river, and then I was looking up at Gunson, who was standing over me, with the fire lighting him on one side, and the broad, warm glow of the rising sun on the other.



CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

OUR MORNING BATH.

"Well, have you had a good night's rest?" cried Gunson, smiling at me.

"Have—have I been asleep?" I said, sitting up.

"Asleep? Yes, for a good eight hours. There, tumble up. Your washhand-basin is waiting for you. Now, Dean," he continued, touching him with his foot, "are you going to lie there all day?"

"Don't—I say, be quiet. I've only just closed my eyes. Why! Eh? If it ain't to-morrow morning!"

He got up and shook himself, and then followed my example of folding up my blanket.

"Can you lads swim?"

"I can," I said; and the words recalled our river at home, and the green bank off which I used to plunge.

"I learned in Lambeth Baths," said Esau.

"Then if I were you I'd go and have a dip; freshen you both up for the day. There's a place under the trees about a hundred yards from the wharf. I've had a swim there this morning."

"Already?" I said.

"Yes, and done some business beside. But look here; keep to the shallows there, and don't venture into the stream, for the current is exceedingly swift."

A swim in the bright morning sunshine sounded so delightful that I made for the door at once.

"Remember about the current, my lads," said Gunson; "and you, Dean, if you keep your eyes open you'll see plenty of salmon."

"That's his way of making fun of me," said Esau, as soon as we were outside. "Somehow he don't like me."

"And you don't like him, Esau?"

"That's about true, Mr Gordon," cried Esau. "But oh my!—only look!"

I needed no telling, for as we stood on the banks of that swift river, with the forest rising behind us, and the sun glorifying everything around, all thoughts of the last night's low spirits, and the trouble we had gone through, were forgotten, and I felt ready to shout for joy.

The axe of the woodman had been at work, but so little that it was hardly noticeable, and, look which way we would, all was lovely, glorious, more beautiful than words can paint.

"Here, I want to shout. I want to lie down and roll. Here, lay hold of my ankles and hold me," cried Esau, "Why? What are you going to do?"

"I feel as if I must stand on my head, or I shall go mad. I do indeed."

"Don't be so stupid."

"But it ain't stupid. It's all so—so—Oh! I can't tell you how beautiful it is."

"Never mind now. We are here, and can go on liking it."

"Yes, I know; but—I say, lookye here. What a tree to climb, with all its branches standing out like steps, and—Why, it must be a hundred feet high."

"It's more than two," I said as I gazed up at the grand green spire of a Douglas pine, tapering gradually up, as if it intended to pierce the bright blue sky.

"Can't be so high as that," said Esau. "But I don't know," he cried. "Look at this stump; why, it must be twenty or thirty feet round. And look at 'em, hundreds and thousands of 'em, all standing as close together as they can. Oh, look! look! look! Can't help it, I must shout. I don't care about the trouble or the work, or the long voyage. I'd go through it all again to come to such a place as this. Oh, I do wish mother was here to see."

I did not give vent to my feelings in the same way, but I felt as much; and all the time, as my heart seemed to swell with joy, there were tears rising to my eyes, and dimming the glorious view of river, mountain, and forest, while I kept on saying to myself, "Thank God for making such a lovely world."

The first excitement over, and the feeling of wonder that we had not seen all this last night passed away, we went on along the clearing to the bank of the river, overlooking the shallows where we were to have our bathe.

The sun was shining down through the opening formed by the stream, and its waters were sparkling and flashing in the light, as we reached the spot Gunson evidently meant, and just then I caught hold of Esau's arm, and stood pointing away toward the middle.

"I see 'em," cried Esau, "just over those shallows. Just like shoals of roach in the Lea or the New River. They must be gudgeon."

"Gudgeon!—nonsense! You forget how big everything is here. They're salmon."

"Go along with you," he cried. "Think I don't know better than that? Well, I am—"

This last was on seeing a bar of silver about three feet long shoot out of the water, describe a curve, and fall with a tremendous splash not half a stone's throw from where we stood.

"Why, it is!" cried Esau, excitedly. "That was a salmon, and I can see 'em now—they are big—hundreds of 'em, and oh! not a bit o' fishing-tackle of any sort, not so much as a line."

"Are you coming to bathe?" I cried, laughing.

"Who's to bathe when there's everything to look at like this? Here, don't let's go any further; let's write to mother and the others to come over here."

"There, I shan't wait for you, Esau," I cried, slipping off my clothes; while he began more slowly, gazing about him all the while.

"Can't help it," he said. "I never thought there could be such places as this. I say, ain't it too beautiful a'most?"

Splash!

That was my answer as I plunged in, only to shout as I rose to the top again, for the water was so cold it sent quite a thrill through me, and the next minute I was swimming about in the full enjoyment of the dip, after having to be content for months with a miserable allowance of water for washing purposes.

"Here I come: look out!" cried Esau; and the next moment he too sprang in, sending the water up sparkling in the morning sunshine. "Oh!" he cried; "oh! ice! Isn't it cold?"

"You'll soon feel warm," I shouted; and a minute later he was up close beside me, swimming easily, and every now and then dipping his head under water like a duck.

"I shan't go away from here," panted Esau. "It's too lovely to leave. I shall build a cottage down by the river side and live there, and then we can fish for salmon. What more does a fellow want?"

"Let's wait a bit, and see what the rest of the country is like. We may find a better place."

"Couldn't," cried Esau. "I say, one don't feel the water so cold now. I don't want a place to be any better than this. It's just right."

"Well, let's swim back now, and dress. I want my breakfast, and I dare say Gunson's ready."

"Bother old Gunson!" puffed Esau. "He's a regular nuisance. Is he going to-day?"

"I can't talk in—the water."

"What?"

"Come on back now."

I had turned, and begun swimming steadily back, for the water hardly flowed here close to the shore; and as I swam I kept on glancing up at the huge trees, which were four or five times the size of any I had ever seen before.

"Don't you want your breakfast, Esau?" I said, after a few minutes' swim, but he did not answer. "Esau, come along." But still there was no answer; and I turned round and looked back, to see that he was still swimming in the other direction, and a long way from me.

"Esau," I roared, "come back!" and I had the satisfaction of seeing him turn, and begin to swim in my direction.

Striking out strongly, I was making for the place where I had left my clothes, when I suddenly heard him hail me.

"Hallo!" I shouted.

"Can't seem to get along here."

I stopped to watch him, and then a cold shudder ran through me, for I could see that though he was swimming with his face toward me, he was slowly gliding away by the trees on the opposite bank.

"He has got into the current," I thought; and I was going to shout a warning, but I had the good sense not to do so, for I felt that it would alarm him, and beginning to swim back, I cried—

"Turn in for the shore."

"Eh?"

"Make for the shore."

"Can't, lad," came back; and the cold chill I had before felt thrilled me; while feeling as if I dared not speak, I swam towards him, in agony all the time, for fear I should get into the current with which he was struggling.

"Don't get much nearer," he shouted, coolly enough, for he had not yet realised his clanger; and making an effort to speak as calmly, I raised my voice and shouted—

"Of course you don't. Turn round and swim the other way, sloping for the bank."

He did not answer, but he had evidently heard my words, for he rose in the water, turned with a bit of a splash, and began to swim in the other direction; while I followed, keeping close in where there was hardly any current.

Then I stopped and uttered a hoarse cry, for I saw him suddenly shoot right out toward the centre of the stream, and begin going down at a rate that was terrible. For I could see that any attempt to fight against the stream would be folly; all he could do was to keep himself afloat, and trust to being swept into some other cross current which might take him shoreward.

I felt willing enough to go to his help, but I could do nothing, and the feeling of impotence began to rob me of such little power as I possessed.

And now I saw that he realised his peril, for he raised one arm above the water and waved it to me, lowering it again directly, and swimming with the side-stroke, so that it seemed to me that he was drowning, for his head was nearly hidden by the water.

"Now, my lads, breakfast," came from the bank, and I saw Gunson appear from among the pines. "Out with you. Where is Dean?"

I rose in the water, and pointed to where the poor fellow was rapidly passing out of eye-shot, being now quite three hundred yards away, and rapidly increasing the distance.

"What madness! He'll be—"

I didn't hear him finish the sentence, but I know what he meant to say; and in despair I swam to the shallows, waded out, and stood shading my eyes and watching Esau, who was still afloat, but rapidly being carried away.

As I reached the bank, I just caught a glimpse of Gunson running along the clearing beyond the little settlement, and my feeling of despair increased, for I knew that at the end of the opening the forest went down to the water's edge, and that any one would have to struggle through the tangle of branches and fallen trees.

"No," I thought; "he will get a boat."

But I could not remember that there was a boat about the place. I had not seen one. As I thought all this in a wild, excitable way, I snatched up some of my clothes, slipped them on partly as I ran; and even then, incongruous as it may sound, I could not help thinking how the wet hindered me. Then running on, I came upon Gunson, with his face cut and bleeding, struggling back from among the trees.