"Sc.u.m of the earth come for the metal whose existence I have kept secret ever since I came here. I fought very hard to keep the gold unknown, but my efforts have been in vain. You see for yourself the result of the discovery;" and then, as I saw his lowering brow and anxious face, he exclaimed--

"Yes, the rich finds are made known, and we do not know the extent of the mischief yet."

He glanced at me again sharply, and I knew I looked very conscious; but it was not on account of the stubborn suspicion he persisted in feeling about me, but because I was excited about Gunson, for I was asking myself what I ought to do with respect to a man who in his rough way had done so much for me, and the answer came at once just as if something had whispered to me--

"Never mind about what people think if your intentions are good and true. Warn the poor fellow before it is too late. Go!"

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

WE MAKE UP OUR MINDS.

Mr John gave me a troubled look, for in his simple earnest way he was hurt at seeing the strained situation, and, as he told me afterwards, there was great excuse for his brother-in-law, as matters did look black against me, sufficient to make Mr Raydon feel that I had acted a very unworthy part.

I stood there alone, and otherwise quite unnoticed for a few minutes, while Mr Raydon gave his people some quick, sharp orders, and then walked into his quarters with Mr John.

"What shall I do?" I thought. "If I go and ask him to let me run and warn Mr Gunson, he will think I want to join him, and that this is only an excuse. I can't go down on my knees and vow and protest again that I kept my word. Some one told Gunson, of course. Could it have been Esau, and is he playing unfairly?"

I did not like to think it of him, and I was just trying to drive the thoughts away, when he came out of the strangers' quarters, where I had seen him go with Mrs Dean.

"Well, it's all over," he said. "I thought we was going to have some rare fun."

"Esau!" I cried, aghast. "What, with men being shot!"

"Yes; why not, if they tried to shoot us? But, I say, they'll come back again; see if they don't, to help themselves to all there is here."

I shook my head.

"No," I said; "they've been too much scared as it is."

"Not they. Of course they run when they saw the rifles. I shouldn't wonder if we have a really big fight like you've read of in books."

"You are talking nonsense," I said. "But look here, Esau. About that gold?"

"Yes," he cried eagerly; "going to have a try for it?"

"No."

"Oh," said Esau, gloomily. "Thought you were coming to your senses. I don't see why other folks should get it all, and us left nowhere."

"Esau!" I said, as I caught him by the sleeve, "you see how I am being suspected of all this. Mr Raydon still thinks I told Mr Gunson."

"Well, so you did, didn't you?" he replied, with a curiously sly look.

"No," I cried, fiercely; "and you know I did not. But did you?"

Esau looked me full in the face for a few moments, before turning his eyes away, and beginning to whistle softly.

"Do you hear what I say?" I cried, angrily. "Course I do," he replied, with a mocking laugh.

"Then tell me--at once--the truth. Did you give Mr Gunson to understand where this gold was?"

"Let's see: you asked me before, didn't you?" said Esau, coolly.

"You know I did."

"Well, then, don't ask no questions, and n.o.body won't tell you no lies."

"Then it was you," I cried; "and it was a mean, cowardly, cruel trick to let me be suspected and treated as I have been here. I have always been fair and open with you."

Esau whistled again in a low soft way, giving me a sidelong glance again, and then taking out his great knife and making a pretence of cutting his nails, for which task the knife was about as suitable as a billhook.

"Are you going to own it?"

No answer.

"Are you going to own to it?" I said, more loudly.

"No, I ain't," he cried, angrily, "and I don't want to be bothered about it no more. Wish I'd gone after the gold myself. I could ha' made mother rich and comfortable all her life. What business had he to interfere and keep it all from us? Meant to have the place to himself, and now somebody else has got it, and serve him right."

I turned away from him angrily, but I was too much worried to be able to do without advice, and I walked back to where he was still chopping at his nails.

"Esau," I said; "you saw that big fellow with the gang?"

"Easy enough to see," he replied, sulkily.

"You saw who it was?"

"Yes. Chap Gunson pitched over that day aboard the steamer."

"Yes. And you remember how he threatened Mr Gunson?"

"Course I do."

"Well, they're going up the little valley to where Mr Gunson is."

"And if old Gunson meets him he'll send him back with a flea in his ear."

"One man against a party of twelve all well armed, Esau?" I whispered.

"I'm afraid about Mr Gunson. Suppose he is up there somewhere alone, and has found a great deal of gold?"

"What!" cried Esau, excitedly, for my words had moved him now.

"I say, suppose he has collected a lot of gold, and those rough fellows know of it?"

"Why, they'd kill him, and take every sc.r.a.p," cried Esau. "Here, let's go and tell Mr Raydon."