Home > Authors Index > George Manville Fenn > To The West > This page
To The West, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
||
Chapter 12. We Get Into Hot Water |
||
| < Previous |
Table of content |
Next > |
|
________________________________________________
_ CHAPTER TWELVE. WE GET INTO HOT WATER We were on shore next day, and, by the captain's advice, went to a kind of hotel, where they undertook, not very willingly, to accommodate us, the captain having promised to help us in getting a ship for the Fraser River. But though day after day passed, and we went to him again and again, he was always too busy about his cargo being discharged, or seeing other people, to attend to us, and at last we sat one day on some timber on a wharf, talking about our affairs rather despondently. "We seem to be regularly stuck fast, Esau," I said; "and one feels so helpless out in a strange place like this." "Yes," he said; "and the money goes so fast." "Yes," I said, "the money goes so fast. We must get away from here soon." "Couldn't walk up to what-its-name, could we?" "Walk? Nonsense! Many, many hundreds of miles through a wild country, and over mountains and rivers." "Well, I shouldn't mind that, lad. It would all be new." "We shall have plenty of that when we get to British Columbia." "What's all this then?" he said. "Part of the United States--California." "Oh, ah! of course. Seems to me I spent so much time learning to write a good hand, that I don't know half so much of other things as I should." "Plenty of time for learning more, Esau." "Yes, plenty of time. Seem to have more time than we want, and I don't enjoy going about much, though there's plenty to see. One's so unsettled like." "Yes; we want to get to our journey's end." "So this is California, is it? That's where they got so much gold. I say, let's stop here." "Nonsense! We must get to Fort Elk, and see what is to be done there till Mr John comes." "All right, I'm ready for anything. Here's one of the chaps coming who wanted us to let him get us a ship yesterday." For just then a yellow-looking fellow, one of the many idlers who hung about the docks, came slouching along towards us; and as soon as I saw him I whispered a word or two to Esau, and we got up and walked away, with the man still following us at a little distance. "Those chaps smell money is my belief," said Esau. "Yes, and Mr Gunson was right. We mustn't trust any one, but wait till the Captain tells us of some respectable skipper who's going up North and will take us." "That's it. I say, what rum-looking chaps these Chinees are," continued Esau, as a man in blue, with a long pig-tail, passed us and smiled. "Why, he don't know us, does he?" "We don't know him," I replied. We went on past the crowded wharves, where ships were loading and unloading, and then by the grey-tinted wooden buildings, all bright and fresh-looking in the sunshine. Everybody nearly seemed busy and in a hurry except us, and the idle-looking scoundrels who hung about the drinking and gambling saloons, into one or two of which Esau peered curiously as we went by; and then, as if attracted by the shipping, we made our way again down by the wharves in hopes of hearing of a vessel that would take us on. I have known well enough since, that had we been better instructed, all this would have been simple enough; but to us ignorant lads, fresh come from England, it was a terrible problem to solve, one which grew more difficult every day. In those days, when settlers were few, and Vancouver Island just coming into notice, there was no regular steamer, only a speculative trading-vessel now and then. Still there was communication, if we had only known where to apply. We were watching one vessel just setting out on her voyage, and thinking that in an hour or two she would be outside the great opening to the harbour, and abreast of the bare, whitish-looking cliffs which form that part of the Californian coast, when Esau said-- "I wonder whether she's going up to Fraser River. I say, why didn't we find out she was going to sail, and ask?" "You want to go up the Fraser River?" said a voice close behind us. "Guess I never see such chaps as you. Why didn't you say so sooner?" We both faced round at once, and found that the man who had been haunting us for days was close behind us, and had heard every word. "Look here," said Esau, shortly. "There, don't you got rusty, stranger. That's the worst of you Englishers, you think everybody wants tew hurt you." "Come along," I whispered. "Yew just let him alone. He's all right. Now here's yew tew have landed here days, yew may say, outer the _Albytross_, and yew goes to spensife hotel, wasting yew're money, when we've got quite a home for strangers like yew for half what yew pay, and we'll get yew a ship to Fraser, Skimalt, or wheer yew like." As he was speaking three more men sauntered slowly up and stood looking on--men whom I felt sure I had seen with him before, and it made me uneasy, especially as a couple more came out of a low-looking saloon close by, and we were some distance from the better part of the city. "Look here," I said sharply, "do you know of a ship going to sail to the Fraser River, or to Esquimalt?" "Why, of course I do. Here, where's your money? It's twenty-five dollars a-piece. Splendid berths, best of living. Like gentlemen aboard. Hand over, and I'll take you to where they give out the tickets." "Thank you," I said. "I should like to see the ship, and an agent." "But don't I tell yew everything's first chip, and I'll do it for yew as yew're strangers." "Yes, it's very kind of you," I said; "but I won't trouble you." "Trouble? Oh, come, we're not like that here to strangers. Nonsense, lad. Hand over." "We're not going to give twenty-five dollars a piece, I can tell you," put in Esau. "Why, it's next to nothing for a voyage like that. But there, never mind, you two are new-comers, and the skipper's a friend of mine. I'll put you right with him for twenty dollars each. Here, hi! Any of you know the _Pauliner_?" "Know her? yes," said one of the men hard by; and they all came up and surrounded us. "What about her?" "Sails for the Fraser, don't she, to-morrow?" "Yes, of course." "Splendid clipper, ain't she, with cabins and all chip chop?" "Yes," came in chorus. "There, what more do you want? Come along, lads; lucky I met you. Come and have a drink." "No, thank you," I said. "Come, Esau." "Get," said the man with a forced laugh. "What's the good of being strangers. Come and have a drink. I'll pay." "Pay? Ah," said the second man; "and we'll all share in turn. Come on in here." This fellow clapped his hand on my shoulder with a boisterous display of friendliness, while the firstcomer thrust his hand through Esau's arm, and began to lead him toward the saloon. "That will do," I said, trying to be cool, for I began to fear that we were being dragged into some disturbance, and felt that the time had come to be firm. "We are much obliged to you for your friendliness, but we neither of us drink. Be good enough to tell me where the agent of the ship lives, and I'll give you half-a-dollar." "Nonsense! come and have a drink, my lad." "No, thank you," I said. "Come, Esau." "Why, what a fellow you are. Very well, then, hand over the twenty dollars each, if you can't take a friendly drop. I'll get the tickets for you all the same." "No, no," said the other man. "Let's do no business without a drink first; they think we want to make them pay, but I'll stand liquors for the lot." "No, let 'em have their own way," said the first man; "they're not used to our customs. You let 'em alone. I'm going to get 'em passages in the _Paulina_, for twenty dollars each. Come, lads, where's your money?" I glanced quickly to right and left, but we seemed to be away from help, and, strangers as we were, in the lower part of the port, quite at the mercy of these men. Then, having made up my mind what to do, I pressed up to Esau, pushing rather roughly by our first friend. "Now, Esau," I said, "back to the hotel. Straight on," I whispered. "Run!" "I bet you don't," said our first friend; "that trick won't do here, stranger;" and his smooth looks and tones gave place to a scowl and the air of a bully. "Come along, Esau," I said sharply. "No, nor you don't come along neither," said the man, as the others closed round us as if out of curiosity, but so as to effectually bar our retreat. "What's matter?" said one who had not yet spoken. "Matter?" cried our friend. "Why jest this. These here tew have been holding me off and on for three days, wanting me to get 'em a ship to take 'em to Esquimalt. First they wanted to go for ten, then they'd give fifteen." "Fifteen dollars to Skimalt?" cried the new man. "Gammon." "That's so," said our friend. "Last they said they'd give twenty dollars a-piece, and after a deal o' trouble we got 'em berths, and paid half the money down; now they want to back out of it." "Oh, yes," cried the second man; "that won't do here, mates." "It's not true," I said, indignantly. "And now wants to bounce me out of it. Here, yew wouldn't hev that, mates, would yew?" There was a regular excited chorus here, and the men closed in upon us, so that we were quite helpless, and for a moment I felt that we must buy ourselves out of our awkward position. But a glance at Esau showed that he was stubborn and angry as I, and that if called upon he would be ready to fight for it, and make a dash for liberty. Those were only momentary thoughts, for we were two lads of sixteen or seventeen against a gang of strong men who were holding us now, and our position was hopeless. Just then our first friend said in a carneying tone-- "There, don't be hard on 'em, mates. They're going to be reasonable. Now then, are you going to pay those twenty dollars each for your passages?" "No," I said, choking with rage. "Yew don't mean to go in the _Pauliner_?" "No, we don't," cried Esau. "Very well, then, yew must each on yew pay the smart. I paid for yew-- ten dollars each, and tew fur my trouble. That's fair, ain't it, mates?" "Ay, ay. Make 'em pay three dollars," was chorussed. "There, yew hear 'em, so out with the spots, and no more nonsents." "You won't get no money out o' me," cried Esau, fiercely. "Nor from me," I cried. "We'll soon see that. Now quick!" It was broad daylight, but we seemed to be quite alone, and I was being forced back over a man's knee, when I was jerked up again, and the man who was holding me went backwards, while a familiar voice said-- "Hullo, boys; seem to be enjoying yourselves." "Mr Gunson, help!" I cried, as I recognised our shipboard companion; "these men--" "I see, my lad, steady. Ah, would you!" For a quick look had passed among the men, and they were about to make a rush, when Gimson stepped back and whipped out a revolver. "Don't come too near, boys," he said. "I'm rather a good shot." The men stopped short at the sight of the revolver barrel covering first one and then another. But the first man said "Come on!" with quite a snarl, drew a knife, and flung himself at Gunson. I felt a horrible sensation run through me as I listened for the report; but instead of firing, Gunson struck up with his revolver, and the man went over sidewise, while our friend now fired over the heads of the others of the gang. This stopped them for the moment, but as they saw that no one fell, they came on again, and one of them seized Gunson before he could fire, or before he attempted to fire, for, as he told me afterwards, he did not want to feel that he had killed a man. In the struggle which followed I saw the pistol drop from our defender's hand, and one of the men stooped to pick it up, but Esau was too quick for him. Making quite a leap, as if playing leap-frog, he pitched with his hands right on the man's shoulders, sending him over and over, but falling himself, while I picked up the pistol and drew the trigger. The sharp report made my ears ring, and I stood back now with the weapon presented, expecting some of the others to rush at me. But the two reports had spread the alarm, and a couple of the officials came running up, whilst our assailants took to flight, giving Gunson an opportunity to rise and shake himself. "Hurt, my lads?" he said, as he took his pistol. "They were too many for me; I got the worst of it." "I'm not hurt, sir; are you?" I said. "Only a bit bruised." "I am," grumbled Esau. "Feel as if my wrist's out of joint." By this time a crowd had assembled, and we were very glad to get away with our protector, after a few words of explanation to the two policemen, who told us we had better mind what company we got into, nodded to one another and laughed, as if it was all a good joke, and then went their way. "Here, come to my diggings," said Gunson, rather gruffly. "I thought I told you two to mind what you were about, and what sort of customers you would meet with out here." "Yes," I said; "but--" "Wait till we get to my place, and we'll sit down and talk there. Some one has been pretty foolish to let two boys like you come wandering round the world by yourselves." In about ten minutes he stopped at so shabby looking a hotel that I half shrank from entering. Gunson noticed it. "Needn't be scared," he said. "Decent people. Germans;" and throwing off my hesitation, I followed him with Esau to his room, where he pointed to a chair and a stool, and seated himself upon a very homely-looking bed, taking out his revolver, and putting in two fresh cartridges. "Nasty thing to carry," he said, "but it's as good as a big dog. It can bark loudly as well as bite. Barking did this time. Now then," he continued, as he replaced the pistol in his hip pocket, "I suppose you two know that those fellows were regular blackguards, who would have stripped you of every shilling you possessed--by fair means or foul. How was it you were with them?" I told him all that Esau would let me say, for he was very anxious to relate the story himself. "Oh, that was it, was it?" said Gunson. "Glad you were so sensible, but you see what this place is. It will be all right by and by, but at present it's a regular sink for all the ruffians in the States to drain into. Why don't you get out of it?" "That's what we are trying to do--hard," I said eagerly. "Why you can't have tried much. There are plenty of ways out. Where do you want to go?" "To the Fraser River," I said, "and then away north to Fort Elk." "Ah," he said, looking at us both curiously. "Fraser River, eh? That's where I'm going." I looked at him distrustfully, and he saw it. "Quite true, my lad," he said, smiling good-humouredly; "and I sail by a vessel which starts the day after to-morrow. What did those rascals want twenty-five and then twenty dollars a-piece for your passage money? Humph! Well, I think I can do better for you than that." "If you would give us the name of the agent," I said. "I'll do better--I'll take you to him, and say you are friends of mine, if you are not ashamed of such a disreputable-looking character." "I was not ashamed to take your help just now," I said. "No," he replied drily; "but you had no time then to examine my appearance. Where are you staying, my lads?" I told him, and he uttered a long low whistle. "Of course I don't know what your friends are, but doesn't the money run away very fast?" "Fast?" cried Esau; "why, I could live ten times as long on the same money in London." "I dare say you could live twenty times as long, boy; I could. Look here; these people are decent, clean, and honest,--do as you like,-- hadn't you better come here? They'll board you for half the money I'm paying--that is, they would you. I don't know about him--he's such a wolfish-looking fellow." "Why, I don't eat any more than he does!" cried Esau. "Don't think you do, boy, you should say. Well, what do you think of it?" "Dunno," said Esau, rather surlily. "Seems to me as if everybody here wants to rob you. How do I know you don't?" "Ah, to be sure, boy, how do you know? Perhaps I do. Going to plan to get you somewhere all by yourselves, and then shoot you both. I am pretty good with a revolver." "Didn't seem like it just now." "No, it didn't," said Gunson, coolly. "Ah, how like a boy that sounds. Do you know what shooting a man means?" "Killing him if you fire straight," said Esau. "Right; and hurting him, eh?" "Of course." "Well, look here, my lad; the man who shoots another hurts himself far more than he hurts his victim. You don't understand that. Wait till you are as old as I am, and you will. I did not want to kill either of those ruffians. It was not a question of aiming, I had only to hold the pistol down, and it would have hit one of them. Well," he continued, "shall I take you to the captain? and will you bring your things here? or will you go your own way?" I looked at him fixedly, for everything in the man's appearance seemed to say, "Don't trust him," till his one eye lit up, and a smile began to curl his lip. Then my hand went out to him. "Yes," I said, "you are an Englishman, and I'll trust you." He gripped my hand hard, and then turned to Esau. "Well," he said, "what do you say? Think I shall do you a mischief?" "Yah! Not you," said Esau. "I'm not afraid of you. Here, let's get our things from that other place." "Let's have the landlady in first," said Gunson, smiling; and he went to the door and called. A pleasant-looking German woman came, and in the most broken up English I ever heard, said we could come at once, but got into a muddle over terms till Gunson joined in, and spoke to her in German, when the difficulty was at an end. "Nice bright-looking place, and plenty of sunshine," said Gunson, as he led us down to a wharf where a schooner was being laden with barrels, while a red-nosed, copper-complexioned man looked on smoking a cigar. "Here, skipper, two more passengers for you--friends of mine; will you have them?" The captain looked us both over, and then nodded. "How much?" The captain looked at us again, and then said a certain number of dollars for the two--a price which astonished us. "I'll say right for them," said Gunson. "They'll send their chests on board." "There!" said our new friend, as we walked back. "That matter was soon settled. Now go and pay your bills, get your traps, and come on to me." _ |
||