Chapter 14. A Serious Trouble

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_ CHAPTER FOURTEEN. A SERIOUS TROUBLE

Esau took it all coolly enough. I believe he thought hard sometimes, but it was soon over; and to him the most serious things in life seemed to be making a big meal and having a good sleep.

Now for my part I could not help thinking a great deal, and worrying so much about the future that my thoughts would not let me sleep.

My thoughts generally took this form--"Suppose--" And then I used to be supposing: suppose Mrs John were taken much worse and died; suppose the party were attacked by Indians; suppose they never got across all that great stretch of country; suppose Esau and I were lost in the woods, to starve to death, or drowned in the river, and so on, and so on; till toward morning sleep would come, and I began dreaming about that long-haired dark Yankee loafer, who had got hold of me, and was banging my head against the ground, and trying to kill me, till I opened my eyes the next morning and found that it was Esau.

"I say," he cried, grinning, "don't you ever call me a sleepy-headed chap again. Why, I've been shaking you, and doing everything I could to rouse you up."

"Oh," I exclaimed, "I am so glad! I was dreaming."

"As if I didn't know. Why, you were on your back snorting, and puffing, and talking all sorts of nonsense. That's eating 'Merican pie for supper."

"I couldn't go to sleep for hours."

"Yah! that's what mother always said when she was late of a morning, and I had to light the fire. I say, wonder how they are getting on?"

"So do I. I lay thinking about them last night, hoping they wouldn't be attacked by Indians."

"I don't think an Indian would like to attack my mother again. She ain't a big woman, but she has got a temper when it's roused. Make haste; I want my breakfast."

I was not long in dressing, and on going down we found Mr Gunson waiting for us, and looking more sour, fierce, and forbidding than ever.

"Come, young sirs," he said, "you must learn to see the sun rise regularly out here in the West. Sit down, and let's have breakfast. I've a lot to do ready for starting to-morrow."

"I'm sorry I am so late," I said. "I could not sleep last night."

"Why? Let's look at you. Not ill?"

"Oh, no," I said, beginning on my breakfast to try and overtake Esau.

"No," he said, "you're not ill, or you couldn't eat like that. Why couldn't you sleep?"

"I was thinking so much of what you said about the difficulties before us. I never thought of them before."

"Oh!" he said, looking at me curiously. "Well, I'm glad of it. But don't worry yourself. The troubles will not come all at once. You can fight them one at a time, and get over them, I dare say."

"Then you think we shall be able to get up to Fort Elk somehow?"

"If you make up your minds to it, and say you will do it. That's the way. There, make a good breakfast, and then perhaps you can help me a bit. I want to finish buying a few things that one can't get up the country. By the way, you will have to leave those chests of yours up at one of the settlements."

"Leave our chests?" said Esau, staring.

"Why, you don't expect to be able to carry a great box each on your head, do you, through such a country as you'll have to travel. Never thought of that, I suppose?"

"I'm afraid I did not," I said.

"Of course you did not. Look here, while I think of it. Have you both got blankets?"

"No," I said. "I thought we need not buy them till we built a house."

"And don't you want to go to sleep till you've built a house? My good lads, a thoroughly well made thick blanket--a dark-coloured one--is a man's best friend out here. It's bed, greatcoat, seat, cushion, carpet-bag, everything. It's even food sometimes."

"Go on," cried Esau, laughing. "You can't eat your blanket."

"There was a snake at the Zoo once thought differently," said Gunson, laughing. "No, you can't eat your blanket, but you can roll yourself up warm in it sometimes when there's no food, and have a good sleep. _Qui dort dine_, the French folk say."

"But do you mean to say that up there we shan't get anything to eat sometimes?" cried Esau, who looked aghast.

"Yes, often. A man who wants to get on in a new country must not think of eating and drinking. Why, I went three days once with nothing but a drop of water now and then, and a bit of stick to chew, so as to keep my mouth moist."

I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, and Gunson looked annoyed.

"It's no joke, young fellow," he said; "and I'm not romancing."

"No, no, no," I panted out; "not--laughing--at you. Look--look!"

I pointed at Esau, and Mr Gunson's face relaxed into a smile, and then he too laughed heartily at the comical, horror-stricken countenance before us.

"What are you laughing at?" cried Esau. "I say, though, do you mean it? Shall we have to go without sometimes like that?"

"Of course you will."

"I say, Mr Gordon," said Esau, in despondent tones, "hadn't we better go back?"

"Go back?--no!" I cried. "It will not be very pleasant, but we can eat all the more afterwards."

Esau brightened up.

"Yes," he said. "I didn't think of that."

"You neither of you seem to have thought anything about what's before you, my lads."

"Then you think we have done very foolishly in coming?" I said.

"Not I. You have done wisely; and if you make up your minds to take everything as it comes, I have no doubt that you will grow up into well-to-do hearty men. There, now, let's talk business. I'll go with you and see that you are not cheated while you buy yourselves a blanket apiece. Have you knives?"

"Yes," I said; and we each produced one.

"Ah, well, you can keep those in your pockets to pick your teeth with when you do get anything to eat. You must buy yourselves each a good strong case-knife, big enough to chop wood or skin an animal, and to use for your food."

"Anything else, sir?"

"There are other things you'll want, but you can wait till you join your friend up at Fort Elk. I dare say he will be able to supply you out of his store."

"But he does not keep a store," I ventured to observe. "He is the head man over one of the Hudson's Bay Company's depots."

"Exactly. Then he keeps a store. You don't suppose he gives the Indians dollars for the skins they bring in, do you? He keeps a store of blankets and cutlery, and all kinds of useful things for barter with the people. Blankets up yonder are like bank-notes. Well, what are you looking at?"

"I was wishing I knew as much about the place as you do."

"Have patience," he said, laughing, "and I dare say you'll know a good deal more."

We went out soon after breakfast, and I had my first lesson in frontier life in watching Gunson make his purchases after he had helped us make ours; and the rest of the day was occupied in overhauling our chests, and repacking them with things our new friend assured us that we should not want, while he pointed out to us those we did, and showed us how to make a light package of them that we could easily carry.

Twice over that day I caught sight of the man I wanted to avoid, but fortunately he did not see us, and at last night came, and we sat down to our supper with our chests on board the schooner, and nothing to do the next morning but walk on board.

I slept well that night, and we were down in good time, Mr Gunson nodding his approval, and after breakfast he said--

"Look here, my lads, I've seen those roughs hanging about as if they meant mischief. Of course we could get the protection of the law, but that might mean detaining us, and as the schooner sails at noon, we don't want any complications of that sort."

"Of course not," I said.

"So my advice is, that you stop here quietly till nearly the time, and then we'll go on board, though I dare say it will be evening before we really start."

I agreed at once, but Esau looked disappointed.

"Well, what is it?" said Gunson.

"I did want to go back to that store and buy something else before we started."

"Money burning your pocket?"

"No, it aren't that," said Esau, turning a little red.

"Well, you are your own master, my lad. Go and buy what you want, and make haste back."

Esau brightened up, and I rose to go with him.

"No, no; I don't want you to come," said Esau. "You stop with Mr Gunson. I shan't be long."

It struck me that this was rather curious on my companion's part, but I said nothing, only sat and looked out at the lovely bay, while Gunson busied himself with writing a letter.

"There," he said, when he had done; "want to write too?"

I shook my head.

"Better," he said. "Mayn't have another chance to write home for mouths."

"I have no home," I said sadly, "and no one to whom I could write."

He clapped me on the shoulder, and looked down at me searchingly as I thought.

"Never mind, lad; you are going to make a home and friends too. Some day you may have more friends to write to than you want."

I walked away to the window, to stand looking out at the shipping, wondering how long Esau would be, and what the article was that had taken his fancy, till all of a sudden the idea came to me that it must be a revolver.

"Do you know what your young mate has gone to buy?" said Mr Gunson just then, but I avowed my ignorance. "I hope he will not be very long, because we may as well be getting on board and settling down. Our chests are all right. The captain told me that they were right down in the hold, and well above the chance of getting any bilge water upon them."

He went to the window I had just left.

"Looks like fine weather," he said, "with perhaps a little wind. You must try and be a better sailor this time."

The last look round was given, the bill paid, and as we waited, I congratulated myself upon the fact that we were going to escape without another encounter with the loafers, for I felt sure they had been watching for us, so as to pick a quarrel. But the time glided on, and Esau did not return.

Gunson got up and went to the door twice, coming back each time with a very severe look on his countenance, as I saw at a glance, for I avoided his eyes, feeling, as I did, unwilling to meet some angry outburst, and hoping every moment to have an end put to a very unpleasant state of affairs.

Over and over again I started at some impatient movement on the part of Gunson; but he did not speak, contenting himself with walking impatiently up and down like some animal in a cage.

"Have you no idea what Dean has gone to buy?" he said at last.

"Not the least, unless he has fancied that he would like a revolver."

"Absurd!" cried Gunson; and there was another pause, during which I listened to every passing step, hoping against hope that it might be Esau.

My position was growing more and more painful, and at last I could bear it no longer.

"What is it? What are you going to do?" said Gunson, as I suddenly jumped up.

"Look for Esau," I said.

"Sit still, boy. What do you know about the place, and which way will you go?"

I was obliged to say that I didn't know, but I would hunt for him well.

"It is now close upon twelve o'clock," said Gunson, angrily, "and he has been gone nearly three hours. If he is coming back it must be directly, and then, with you gone, we shall miss the boat, and all our belongings will go on up north without us. Hang him, he must be mad!"

"But I would not go far without coming back," I said.

"I think, my lad, you may save yourself the trouble."

"What do you mean? He will be back here directly?"

"No. I'm afraid," said Gunson, bitterly, "that we have been talking too much for him lately."

"Mr Gunson?"

"We have scared him with our account of the troubles, and he has backed out."

"Backed out?" I faltered, quite horrified at the idea of being left alone.

"Yes, and gone into hiding until we have sailed."

"Oh, impossible!"

"No, my lad, quite possible. You saw how startled he was at the idea of a journey through a wild country."

"No, no, I think not," I said.

"I feel nearly sure of it. He had no real reason for going out this morning, and his excuses to get away were as slippery as could be. Depend upon it we shall not see him again--at least, I shall not, for of course you will wait for him."

"If I thought he could play such a mean, deceitful trick I should go without him," I said hotly.

"Indeed? Well then, my lad, you had better come, for it is high time we were off."

I stared at him wildly, for what he had said seemed terribly likely. Esau had been startled on hearing the real difficulties and dangers that we had to go through, and much as he seemed to like me, he might have been overcome by his thoughts, and at the last moment felt that he must turn tail.

"Well?" said Gunson, "what do you say? Will you come? I must be off almost directly."

"Yes," I said, "you must go, but I'm sure Esau is in some trouble. He could not be such a coward as that."

"Then you will not go with me?"

"I would if I could think as you do," I said; "but I'm sure he would not forsake me."

"Human nature, boy."

"It isn't his human nature," I said boldly. "If he had wanted to back out he would have confided in me, and wanted me to go with him till you had sailed."

"I have no time to argue," said Gunson sternly. "What are you going to do?"

"I must try and find my companion."

"But your chests?--they will be taken on to Esquimalt."

"We should have to go up and claim them afterwards."

"You believe, then, that he is staunch?"

"I am sure of it, sir."

"Well, then, good-bye, my lad. I'll speak to the captain about your chests, and have them left with the agents of the ship, but you will have to give up your passage-money. There will be no getting that back."

"I'm afraid not," I said gloomily.

"Yes, they may sail at any time," said Gunson, impatiently. "Better go with me, boy."

"No," I said.

"You are giving up your passage and your chances for the sake of a fellow not worth his salt."

"You don't know him as I do," I replied. "I will not believe it of him."

"Well, if he is not staunch you are, at all events, my lad. Good-bye. If he does come back run down to the wharf at once, the schooner may not have sailed."

"He has got into some trouble, I'm sure," I cried.

"Good-bye."

"Good-bye," I said, holding out my hand; but my lips quivered, for I was horribly disappointed.

"Once more," cried Mr Gunson, as he gripped my hand hard, "I tell you he is playing you false. You had better come."

"No."

"You are not afraid, are you?"

I flung his hand away.

"No," he said, smiling, "not a bit. There, Mayne, my lad, he has thrown you over, but I can't. If you stay, I'll stay too."

"Mr Gunson!" I cried.

"Yes, my lad, and we'll see if he comes back."

"He will if he can, I'm sure," I cried. "Well, we shall see."

"I am sure he has got into some trouble; I am certain of it. Ah, here he is!"

For the door opened at that moment, but it was not Esau, only the landlady, who in broken German-English, told us that a message had arrived from the captain to say we were to go on board.

"Thank you. _Gut_!" said Gunson, laconically. And then, as the woman left the room, he continued, "Well, I'll take your view of it, my lad. We'll say he has got into some trouble and cannot get back."

"Yes; I'm sure of it," I cried. "Very well, then, we must get him out of it. Of course it is no use for us to waste time by going from house to house. I'll go and see the chief man in the police, and see if they can find him for us."

"Yes," I said, eagerly; "come on."

"No, no, you stay. He may, as you say, return, and you must be here to meet him, or he may go off again, and matters be worse."

"He'd go to the schooner then."

"If the schooner had not sailed. You stop, and I hope he will turn up hero."

Anxious as I was to go in search of Esau, I was obliged to obey, and I was directly after left to myself to pass quite a couple of hours before Gunson came back.

"No news yet," he said; "the police are trying what they can do, but if he is in hiding they are not likely to succeed."

"Then he is not in prison?"

"Oh, no; as far as I can hear, nothing has been seen of him."

"I thought he might have got in some trouble, and been arrested. Then those men must be at the bottom of it, Mr Gunson."

"Yes, I thought so, but what could I do? I told one of the chiefs of the police that I was afraid he had been attacked, and the man looked serious, and said 'Very likely.' Then he asked me to describe the men, and I did."

"Well?" I said eagerly.

"He told me that my description was like that of hundreds of scoundrels about the place."

"Let's go and see if we can meet them anywhere about," I said. "They were watching our hotel yesterday where we stayed."

"Yes, I know," said Gunson, thoughtfully. "It hardly seems likely. I don't know, though, there are always men hanging about ports ready to do anything for the sake of a few shillings, all the world over."

I felt a shiver run through me at his words, as my busy brain began to suggest endless horrors that might have befallen poor Esau; and as I followed Gunson out into the road, these thoughts grew and grew till I found myself telling poor little Mrs Dean about the loss of her son, and hearing her reproaches as she told me that it was all my fault, and that if it had not been for me Esau would have stayed at home.

We went along the road, and down to the wharves, and to and fro about the hotel where we had been staying, and there was no sign of either of the men who had assailed us. There were, as the police had said, plenty of a similar class, many of whom resembled them somewhat in appearance; but our search was entirely in vain, while towards evening, as we came out once more where we had a full view of the beautiful bay, I saw something which made me start, and, full of misery and self-reproach, I stopped and looked up at Gunson.

"Yes," he said, frowning heavily, "I see. There she goes, and with a good wind too. Nice clean-sailing little vessel. We ought to have been on board."

For there, a mile now from the shore, with her sails set, and looking half-transparent in the light of the setting sun, was the graceful-looking schooner, which I felt must be ours, heeling over gently, and taking with her our few belongings.

"Pretty good waste of time as well as money, Gordon, my lad," said my strange-looking companion, harshly. "But there, it is of no use to cry over spilt milk. You could not go off and leave your mate in this way, and I, as an Englishman, could not leave a fellow-countryman--I mean boy--in trouble."

I tried to thank him, but suitable words would not come, and he clapped me on the shoulder in a friendly way.

"There," he said, "come back to our friend the Frau. You are faint and hungry, and so am I. She shall give us a good square meal, as they call it out here, and then we shall be rested, and better able to think."

I was faint, certainly, but the idea of eating anything seemed to make me feel heart-sick; but I said nothing, only followed my companion back to the little hotel, feeling as if this was after all only some bad, confused dream. _

Read next: Chapter 15. Where Esau Had Been

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