ust go fifteen."

"Or ten, or five, or one," he cried, with a contemptuous laugh. "Why,
Mayne, my lad, that last will often be the extent of your journey."

I looked at him in dismay.

"You have no friends then at Victoria--no introductions?"

I shook my head.

"And you do not even seem to know that Victoria is on an island, from
which you will have to cross to the mouth of the Fraser."

"I'm afraid I am very ignorant," I said, bitterly; "but I am going to
try to learn. I suppose there are villages here and there up the
country?"

"Perhaps a few, not many yet; but you will find some settler's place now
and then."

"Well, they will be English people," I said, "and they will help us."

"Of course."

"Where are you going?" I asked suddenly.

He gave a little start, and his face relaxed.

"I?" he said quickly, and he looked as if he were going to take me into
his confidence; but just then Esau came on deck to stand looking
shoreward, and Gunson turned cold and stern directly. "Don't know for
certain," he replied. "Morning, my lad," to Esau, and then walked
forward to speak to the skipper.

"There, Esau," I said eagerly; "that's something like a country to come
to," for the fresh beauties which were unfolding in the morning sun made
me forget all Gunson's suggestions of difficulties.

"Yes, that's something like," said Esau. "What makes those big hills
look so blue as that?"

"They are mountains, and I suppose it's the morning mist."

"Mountains!" said Esau, contemptuously, "not much o' mountains. Why,
that one over yonder don't look much bigger than Primrose Hill."

"Not much," said Gunson, who was walking back with the skipper. "Very
much like it too, especially the snow on the top. How far is that
mountain off?" he added, turning to the skipper.

"Hunard miles," grunted the person addressed.

"Look here," whispered Esau, as soon as we were alone, for the skipper
and Gunson went below, "I don't say that he hasn't been very civil to
us, and he helped us nicely about getting on here, but I don't like that
chap. Do you?"

"I really don't know," I said with a laugh.

"Well, I do know. He looks at one with that eye of his, as if he was
thinking about the money in your belt all the time."

"He can't be thinking about yours," I said drily.

"Oh dear! I forgot that," said Esau. "But all the same, I don't like a
man with one eye."

"But it isn't his fault, Esau."

"No, not exactly his f