and
looking as if it was hard work not to make a snatch at that cake and
bear it off. But he had been well trained, and sat watching me
patiently, content to catch the pieces thrown to him with a loud snap,
while I partook of what Esau called my "stoo."

It was very good, and "so stlong," as Quong called it, that I felt as if
I ought to feel the strength coming back into my weak arms and legs.

"Dlink um allee up," said Quong; and I persevered and finished the
contents of the basin, which he then took, nodded at me, and then turned
to the dog, who stood now on all fours and barked at him fiercely.

"Hey?" cried Quong. "You say wantee allee bone left?"

There was a peal of furious barks here.

"Allee light. You come 'long. Velly good dog."

Rough uttered another hoarse bay, and went off after the little
Chinaman, looking so big by his side that I could not help thinking of
what the consequences might have been if they had proved enemies instead
of friends.

"Well, Esau," I said, "I'm a long time growing well."

"Oh, I don't know. You're getting on now fast. I say, do you ever
think about that gold now?"

"Oh, yes," I replied, with a shudder; "often."

"Well," he said, in an ill-used tone, "you needn't think of the accident
too. For it was an accident, you know."

"Yes, we've talked about that times enough, all those weary months."

"Yes, it was tiring, and it put a stop to all the hunting and shooting
we might have had. But it's been good as well as bad. You missed lots
of bad weather, and cold, and snow."

"What's the day of the month?" I said.

"Day of the month? I dunno. End of March, they say, and it's going to
be fine weather now."

"Has Mr Raydon ever said anything to you about the gold?"

"No, never a word. But I say, it do seem a pity not to get more of it,
don't it?"

"I don't know," I replied. "I want strength, not gold. How long will
it be before Mr and Mrs John get here?"

"Ah, that's what I want to know," cried Esau. "I was thinking about
that this morning; leastwise I wasn't thinking about them, but about
mother. Wonder what she'll say to me when she knows?"

"Knows what?"

"'Bout me shooting you. She will be wild, for she was a deal fonder of
you than she was of me."

"Nonsense, Esau!" I cried. "Why, she used to talk to me about you for
hours."

"Dessay she did. But, I say, do make haste and get well before the
Indians come again. Grey says they'll be here