I burst out laughing.

The little fellow jumped up with his yellow forehead all wrinkles and
his eyes flashing and twinkling comically with resentment. But as I
still laughed at him, the creases began to disappear from his face, and
the angry look to depart, till he too smiled up at me.

"You velly funny," he said. "Laugh at me."

"Well, you made me by grumbling for nothing."

"Quong cook well--better allee this? Cookee ploply."

"Yes; everything you have done has been delicious. Here, go on with
your supper."

"Quong cook bleakfast?"

"Yes; I'll ask Mr Raydon to let you. Here, go on."

This pacified the little fellow, and he finished his meal quickly. He
was busy clearing up when Mr Raydon came in, and I saw him glance
sharply at the busy little fellow, whose tail was whisking about in all
directions as he bobbed here and there, just as if he not been walking
all day.

"Had a good supper?" said Mr Raydon. "That's right. Now then come to
my office, and let us have a talk."

I followed him with some trepidation, Esau coming on nervously behind;
and as we went outside, and then along to another building, catching
sight of men and women at different places about the enclosure, our host
went on to where I now saw that Gunson was waiting for us by a wooden
house that had some show of comfort.

"Come in," said our host, and he pointed to roughly-made, strong chairs,
while he seated himself behind a deal desk.

The walls were covered with weapons, and heads and horns of the various
animals that I presumed had fallen to his rifle were nailed up here and
there, the white deal floor being nearly covered with skin rugs. These
various objects of interest kept my eyes busy for a few moments, and
then I was called back to my position by Mr Raydon's voice, as he
addressed Gunson.

"You are quite welcome," he was saying, "and I dare say I could give you
a little shooting if you were disposed to stay."

"No," said Gunson, "I thank you; but I have finished one part of my task
here. I am not going of course to make any secret of my mission. I am
a prospector."

"Yes."

"It was my fortune to come out with these lads, and when I heard that
they were journeying up the river, I determined to get up to the higher
waters by the same route as they did for the sake of helping them."

"Then you would not have come this way, Mr Gunson?" I said.

"No, my lad," he replied, smiling. "I should have struck up one of t