at Mr Raydon did try to keep us apart, or under his eye, during
Gunson's stay.

This was not for long. The man seemed a good deal changed, and as if
dissatisfied at being so very unsuccessful; and during his visit the
temptation was very strong upon me to give him a hint as to where he
might go and find all that he desired. And about this time I found that
Esau looked strange, and avoided me a good deal, going about as if he
had something on his mind, and I was afraid to ask him what.

"Going to-morrow morning?" said Mr Raydon, as Gunson made the
announcement. "That is rather soon."

"Well, yes, it is soon," replied Gunson; "but I may be coming back."

"Yes, of course," said Mr Raydon, giving him a quick look. "You may be
coming back."

These seem trifling words, but they made an impression upon me at the
time, and I thought about them a good deal afterwards. In fact, I
thought of them that night.

It came on very dark, and I was standing just outside our place, when I
heard a step, and directly after Gunson came up slowly and thoughtfully.

"Who's that?" he cried sharply.

I spoke, and he took my arm.

"Come and have a stroll out here," he said; and he led me out through
the gateway and down toward the river.

It seemed to me as if he were waiting for me to talk to him, for he was
very silent; and at last, as I suggested that it was growing late, he
turned back toward the Fort, whose gates we had just reached, when I
suddenly became aware of a figure standing there.

"Mr Raydon," I said.

"Yes. Been having a walk?"

"Down as far as the river," replied Gunson. "By the way," he continued
sharply, "what should you say to my trying your streams about here?"

I saw Mr Raydon start slightly, but his voice sounded quite calm as he
replied--

"That you had better follow out your original plans."

"You would not recommend me to try?"

"Decidedly not."

We all went in, and after sitting for a time, Gunson rose to go to rest.

Quong had a famous breakfast ready next morning, of which I too partook;
and an hour later we saw Gunson once more on his way, Mr Raydon
accompanying us, till with a careless wave of the hand the prospector
went off, and we returned to the Fort.

That visit seemed to do me good. It was as if I had had a fillip, and
during the next few days I felt a return of my old vigour--a feeling
which made me restless and eager to be out in the sunshine all day long.
I found myself eati