To The West Part 82

I want to go and have a wash."

"Oh, Mr Gordon," cried the poor little woman, as Esau ungraciously shook himself free, "how could you hit Esau first--and you such friends?"

"Because he was trying to make me out a blackguard," I cried.

"Well, I couldn't help it," cried Esau; "I thought it was true."

"But you'll shake hands with me, my dear, after I've come all these hundreds and thousands of miles--shake hands and say you're sorry you hit Esau first."

"Oh, do be quiet, mother," cried Esau angrily. "What's the good o'

making such a fuss? We fell out and had a bit of a fight, and it's all over, and I'm very sorry, and if he'll shake hands, there's mine."

"Not till you tell me you don't believe I did that," I cried fiercely.

"Well, there then, I don't believe you told him. I can't now you've knocked it all out of me. But I should have won."

"If I had not been so weak from my wound, you would not have won," I cried.

"Well, no," said Esau thoughtfully, as we shook hands, "for you do hit precious hard. There, mother, will that do?"

"Oh yes, my dear," cried Mrs Dean, clinging to my hands now; "and may I kiss you, my dear?"

I bent down and kissed the little woman, whose face was full of sympathy for me.

"And you've been dangerously ill and nearly dead, Mr Raydon told us.

Well, that excuses everything. Esau's temper was horrible after he had been ill with measles. You remember, my dear?"

"I don't," said Esau, on being thus appealed to. "I know you were always cross with me, and wouldn't let me go out."

"Ah well, ah well," said Mr John Dempster, "never mind about that now.

Mayne, my dear boy, do wash your face, and let's have a long talk. I am sorry my dear wife saw you like this, for she has been talking so much about you. I am very sorry."

"Sorry, sir!" I cried pa.s.sionately; "it is horrible."

"Yes, it is unfortunate, but an accident," he said smilingly, as he laid his hand upon my shoulder. "You have not fought much since I saw you last?"

"Fought? No," I said, unable to keep back a smile at his question.

"Ah! you laugh, but I have one memory of your prowess in that way.

There, remove those marks."

"That's better," he said, a few minutes later. "Now I want to know all about your adventures."

"And I about yours, sir," I said eagerly, for we were alone, Esau having pa.s.sed out of the strangers' quarters with his mother. "Tell me about Mrs John. Is she better?"

"Ah, you did not see," he said, with a smile that was quite womanly lighting up his face. "For a time she frightened me, but once we were at sea she began to mend, and for months now the change has been wonderful."

"I am glad," I cried.

"Yes, wonderful," he continued. "My brother Raydon was right; but had I known, enthusiastic as I am, what a terribly long, slow, tedious journey it was across those vast plains, I should never have dared to venture."

"But she has borne it well?"

"Borne it! My dear boy, she is no longer the same. The delightful air, the freedom from all restraint, the grandeur of the scenery we have come through, everything has seemed to be giving her back her lost strength, and it is a new life she is beginning to live."

"I am thankful," I said.

"But tell me, Mayne," he said; "there is some coolness between you and my brother. He did not tell me what it was. Have you not been happy with him?"

"Yes," I said, "till now."

And then I told him everything, from the discovery of the gold to the moment of his arrival. He stood looking thoughtful for a few moments, and then said--

"And young Dean believes it too?"

"Yes," I said; "and that caused the struggle that you saw."

"Of course--of course. I see."

"But, Mr John, indeed, indeed I kept my word. I did not--I would not tell a soul; and I have carefully avoided going to the place."

He stood with his brows knit in silence, looking straight away.

"You do not believe me?" I said, piteously.

"Believe you? Why not?" he said, rousing himself from his musing. "Of course I believe you, Mayne, and so will my brother. He ought not to have doubted you. Ah, here he comes back."

I felt a curious shrinking as I saw Mr Raydon coming across the enclosure; and as he entered there was the stern severe look in his countenance which he put on when he was angry.

"I came to fetch you back, John," he said quietly. Then turning to me, "May I know the cause of the disgraceful scene that was taking place a little while ago?"

"Yes," cried Mr John, inst.i.tuting himself as my champion directly. "It seems that you have had unjust suspicions of my young friend Mayne, and that his companion shared them. Mayne could not turn and thrash you, but he could young Dean, and he did."

Mr Raydon looked at me sharply.

"You may take his word for it," continued Mr John, "as I do. There has been a mistake."

"You have not altered a bit, John," said Mr Raydon drily. "Come."

"Yes, I'll go back with you, for there is so much to say. Come, Mayne."

I saw Mr Raydon raise his brows a little, and that was enough.

"Not now, Mr John," I said.

"But my wife, she wants to see you."

"Yes, sir, and I want to see her; but not now."