eaking more in his old
fashion now. "Come, you are beginning to look quite yourself, my boy.
I was beginning to be afraid I should have nothing but a broken-down
invalid to show my sister."

"I feel more like I did," I said, with my cheeks flushing.

"Be thankful then, my boy, for you had a very narrow escape. Let me
see; we must not overload ourselves, but I must have powder and bullets,
as well as my rifle. A blanket each, of course, and our knives. That
will be nearly all we need take, unless you lads bring a line or two and
try for some trout."

He began chatting then about Mr John and his sister, and of how great a
change it would be for her from a London life.

"But health is the first consideration," he said, smiling. "A palace is
little more than an infirmary to a sick person, and out here a snug
cottage such as we can soon run up will become a palace to one who
recovers health. Isn't Master Dean a long time gone? Oh, here he is.
Well, where is Quong?"

"Can't find him anywhere, sir, nor his bundle neither."

"What? Absurd! He cannot have gone out. He cooked the breakfast. Did
any one see him go?"

"I asked several of the men and women, sir, and they had not seen him."

"Asleep somewhere perhaps, as he feels that his work is done. Here, we
must find him, or he will throw my arrangements all wrong, and we shall
have to wait till another day. It's a pity I did not speak last night,
but I was not sure then."

"I'll soon find him," I said.

"Yes, do, my lad, while I see to the rifle and ammunition."

"Come along, Esau," I said; and he followed me as I hurried out.

"Well, where are you going?" grumbled Esau. "I suppose you are very
clever, but I should like to know how you are going to find him!"

"But you have not searched everywhere."

"I've searched everywhere that he was likely to be," replied Esau.

I stopped short, thinking as to which direction we had better take.

"Here, I know where he is," cried Esau excitedly.

"Yes? Where?"

"Gone up one of the streams to try for gold on the sly. You see if he
don't find out our bit one of these days."

"Perhaps he has gone for that," I said thoughtfully.

"I feel sure of it. He has been away lots of times for a bit, and I
shouldn't wonder if he is getting that little physic-bottle of his
pretty full."

"He had better not let Mr Raydon know of it. He'd be in a towering
rage," I said. "Here, let's hunt him out, and put a stop t