ne, for it may mean a regular rush
of people up the river. Now do you see why I have kept my counsel so
long?"

"Yes," I cried.

"Of course," said Esau; "but why didn't you say so before? You might
have trusted us."

"Why didn't you become friendly before, my lad? you might have trusted
me."

Esau looked at him comically, and gave one ear a rub.

"Now then," said Gunson, "shall we travel on together in company?"

"Of course," I cried.

"Then the sooner the better. Your way will suit me as well as any, so
let's make up our packs, leave the boxes in some one's charge here, and
then the word is forward."

Two hours later, under Gunson's directions, we had made a pack each,
consisting principally of provisions, and Gunson in addition had brought
out of his case a rifle and ammunition.

"There, Dean," he said, "you may as well shoulder that, and you may as
well carry this, Gordon," he continued, taking a small revolver with
holster, strap, and cartridge-box. "You are not to use it except in a
case of the most extreme urgency. Strap it on, my lad. It looks
formidable, and the possession of such a weapon will often keep off
danger."

"What Quong cally?" said that gentleman when we were ready.

"Nothing," said Gunson, shortly; "you don't go our way."

"Yes, go allee same way 'long libber. No other way. Quong cally pack."

"Humph!" ejaculated Gunson; "if we don't employ him, he'll follow us, so
one may as well make him useful. We can easily pay him; it will not
mean much. Here, make yourself up a pack."

Quong smiled with pleasure, and taking the blanket Gunson threw him out
of his chest, he had it soon full of stores and necessaries, a bag of
flour being added to his load.

"Want um fizzlum?" said Quong, suddenly.

"Want what?" I said.

"Fizzlum. Bakum powdum make blead."

"Ah, I had forgotten," said Gunson; and he took a small tin from his
box.

An hour later the Indians were paddling slowly back along the river, and
after a friendly good-bye from the settler who had taken charge of our
boxes, we shouldered our packs, and began to trudge up the river-side,
finding it easy going, for we were in quite an open part here, with a
grassy margin for a short distance at the foot of the mountains on one
side. But higher up the rocks began to close in the prospect, there was
the faint roar of tumbling water, and dense black pine forests clothed
the sides of the valley as far as we could see.

Bef