o it."

"All right," said Esau. "Here we are then. Which way shall we go?--
east, west, north, or south, or half-way between any two of 'em. I'm
willing; don't make no difference to me."

I stood and stared at him, for now I saw first how absurd my proposal
was, and how unlikely we were to find Quong if we had really gone off on
such a mission. Esau grinned.

"I say, 'tain't so easy, is it?"

I made no reply, but stood thinking, and trying to find a solution to
the difficulty.

"Seems to me," said Esau, "that about the best way of finding this
little gentleman is to go and sit down by his fire till he comes, for he
goes off so quietly, and he may be anywhere now."

"Let's look round again," I said, "and if we cannot find him we had
better go and tell Mr Raydon."

It was humiliating, but the only thing to do; and after asking at every
cottage in the enclosure without effect, I turned to go back to Mr
Raydon's quarters, just as we saw the man Grey going in that direction.

"Why, he might know," I said, hurrying my pace so that we entered almost
at the same time, but too late to question him.

"Well," said Mr Raydon, "have you found him?"

"No," I replied; and then turning quickly to Grey, who had not yet
spoken--"Have you seen anything of Quong?"

"Yes; he is at the west valley, I met him going there."

"The west valley?" said Mr Raydon, starting and looking excitedly at
the speaker. "What was he doing there?"

"Gone to join Mr Gunson and a party of men I suppose," said Grey,
slowly.

"Mr Gunson? Back?" I said wonderingly, but with a chill of dread
spreading through me as I spoke. "What is he doing there?"

"Busy with the others. They have set up camp, and are washing for
gold."

I glanced at Mr Raydon, whose eyes were fixed on me, and I saw a
furious look of anger gathering in his face, while Esau backed slowly
toward the door.

"This is your doing, sir. Here, you--stop! don't sneak away like that,
and leave your companion in the lurch."

"Wasn't going to sneak away," said Esau, surlily. "Go away then, you
miserable coward. Well, Mayne Gordon, I hope you are satisfied. Is
this your gratitude?"

I fully expected these words, but I was not prepared to answer him, and
in the rush of his indignant accusation my defence was swept down, and I
could only stammer out--

"You are mistaken, sir."

"No," he cried, "I am not mistaken. I told you when you made that
unlucky discovery I wished