tall houses,
and dry, bare country round.

Esau and I were leaning against the bulwarks, gazing at the shore, upon
which we were longing to set foot, when Gunson, who had all through the
voyage been distant and rather surly, came up behind us.

"Well, youngsters," he said, "going ashore?"

"Yes," I said, "as soon as we can get our chests."

"Well, good-bye, and good luck to you. Got any money?"

"A little," I replied, rather distantly, for I did not like the man's
manner.

He saw it, and laughed.

"Oh, I'm not going to beg or borrow," he said roughly. "I was only
going to say put it away safe, and only keep a little out for use."

"Oh, we're not fools," said Esau, shortly.

"Don't tell lies, boy," said the man, giving him an angry look. "Don't
you be too clever, because you'll always find some one cleverer. Look
here," he continued, turning to me, "perhaps you're not quite so clever
as he is. I thought I'd just say a word before I go about the people
here. There's plenty of a good sort, but there's a set hanging about
the wharfs and places that will be on the look-out to treat you two lads
like oranges--suck you dry, and then throw away the skins. Going to
stop here?"

"No," I said; "we are going up country to join some friends."

"Then you get up country and join your friends as soon as you can.
That's all. Good-bye."

He nodded shortly at me, but did not offer to shake hands.

"Good-bye, sharp 'un," he growled at Esau.

"Good-bye," said Esau, defiantly, and then the man turned away.

"Never did like chaps with one eye," said Esau. "Strikes me that he's
pretending to be so innocent, and all the while he's just the sort of
fellow to try and cheat you."

"Oh no," I said; "he's not a pleasant fellow, but I think he's honest."

"I don't," cried Esau. "He took a fancy to that four-bladed knife of
mine on the voyage, and he has been waiting till he was going to leave
the ship. I'm not going to make a row about it, 'cause I might be
wrong; but I had that knife last night, and this morning it's gone."

"And you think he stole it?"

"I shan't say one thing nor I shan't say another. All I know is, that
my knife's gone."

"But hadn't you better have him stopped and searched?"

"What, and if the knife ain't found, have him glaring at me with that
eye of his as if he would eat me? Not I. We're in a strange country,
with 'Mericans, and Indians, and Chinese all about, and we've got to be
caref