Chapter 19. Gunson Fights My Battle

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_ 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?" _

Read next: Chapter 20. A Strange Hotel

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