Real Gold: A Story of Adventure

  CHAPTER THREE.

  PREPARING TO START.

  "Well, did you ask him?" cried Cyril eagerly, as Perry went out into theparched garden, the boy pouncing out upon him from behind a patch ofdry-looking shrubs.

  "Yes, I asked him, and then your father came in."

  "Yes," said Cyril eagerly, "I saw him, and kept in hiding, because Ithought it best to leave it for you to do. Well, what did your fathersay?"

  "He as good as said no."

  "Yes, at first," cried Cyril. "I knew he would. But he came round."

  "And then your father came in."

  "Yes?"

  "And my father made me ask him what he had to say about it."

  "Yes? Do go on, old chap. You are so slow."

  "The captain was quite angry, and wouldn't listen to the idea for amoment."

  "That was because he had made his plans for you to stay with me. But hecame round, didn't he?"

  "No," said Perry sadly. "He was firm as a rock, and they are both deadagainst it. I should have liked for you to come, Cil."

  There was a dead silence; and as Perry looked at his companion, he sawthat his brow was full of deep lines, and that the boy's face lookedhard and set, the eyes fixed, and the lips tightened together into quitea hard crease.

  Perry looked at him for a few moments, feeling pained to see the way inwhich the lad took his disappointment.

  "I'm so sorry, Cil," he said at last.

  Cyril did not seem to have heard him, and after a pause Perry spokeagain.

  "Perhaps your father will give way before we go."

  "What?"

  Perry started, the word sounded so sharp and harsh.

  "I say perhaps he'll give way before we go."

  "No, he won't. He never does. Father says a thing, and means it."

  "It's very disappointing," said Perry, "but it's of no use to fret."

  Cyril laughed bitterly.

  "You're going," he said sharply. "It can't disappoint you."

  "Yes, it can. I am disappointed. I don't care about going so much nowwithout you."

  "Then stop here with me," cried Cyril sharply.

  "I can't," was the reply. "You wouldn't give up going if you were me.Don't let's think any more about it now, but go and do something."

  Cyril made no reply, but walked straight away out of the garden and thendown towards the harbour, while Perry watched him for a few minutessadly, and then followed slowly, missed sight of him, and after quite along search found him sitting on the edge of his wharf, where the sunbeat down most fiercely, and staring straight out to sea. "Cil!" saidPerry, after going close up, but without exciting the slightest noticeof his presence.

  There was no reply.

  "Cil--don't be sulky with me."

  "Not sulky," came with quite a snap.

  "Well, angry then. It isn't my fault. I wish you could come."

  "Didn't say it was your fault."

  "Then why do you take it like that?"

  Cyril turned upon him quite fiercely.

  "What's the good of talking?" he cried. "You can't understand. You gosailing about with your father and seeing things everywhere. I never goeven into the forest. It's horrible always shut up here withbook-keeping and classics. I wish sometimes I was only one of theIndians, like that one yonder."

  Perry felt disposed to say, which one? for there was a second Indianclose by; but wishing to brighten his companion, and turn the current ofhis thoughts, he merely said:

  "Well, I shouldn't wish to be a she Indian."

  "Those are not shes--they're both men," said Cyril sharply.

  Perry looked at the pair incredulously, for they certainly had a mostfeminine aspect, being broad of figure and face, plump-cheeked, and withthick long hair cut square across the forehead and allowed to hang downbehind. Their eyes were dreamy-looking and oblique, their facesperfectly devoid of hair, and to add to their womanish look, they wore aloose kind of cotton garment, which hung down from their shouldersnearly to their ankles.

  "I say, what are they doing?" said Perry, as he stared at the pair.

  "Taking snuff. That's their way. They carry some in a little bag, andwhen they want to take any, they put the powder in that littlesiphon-like pipe, and hold it to their nose, and another one blows itup. That one sitting down's the guide father is getting for you.--Here,hi!"

  The Indians looked round, nodded, finished the snuff-taking business,and then came deliberately toward the boys.

  "They're Antis," said Cyril, as Perry watched the two sleepy-lookingIndians curiously, and noted that they were both about his own height.

  The men came close up, and stood there smiling, waiting to be spoken to;and as Perry had hoped, their presence took Cyril out of himself for thetime.

  "Been to see my father?" said Cyril in a mongrel kind of Spanish.

  One of the Indians nodded.

  "And his father too?"

  The man replied that he was going now. So Cyril interpreted the fewwords.

  "That's the worst of them; and it's so hard to make them understandexactly what you mean. He didn't know what I meant, and had not been--What say?" For the Indian had muttered something which he repeated.

  "Wants to know if I'm going too," said Cyril bitterly; and he shook hishead at the Indian, when both smiled and looked pleased.

  Cyril gave his teeth a grind. "You beggars," he cried in English,"looking glad because I'm disappointed.--And I've given that first chapmany a good tuck out, and lots of tobacco dust for snuff, and paid himno end of times for birds he has shot with his blowpipe, besides buyingbutterflies and eggs he has brought down out of the mountains. Allright, though; I'll serve them out.--I say," cried the boy, and acomplete change came over him, "can you speak Spanish?"

  "I? No, not a word."

  "That's a pity. You'll have to learn a few words, so as to be able totalk to these chaps. But you'll soon pick them up--some Indian, someSpanish, and some half-and-half. Wait a moment; I want to talk to thischap about--about your going."

  He began to speak to the man in a low voice, and then grew more and moreeager, while the Indian began by smiling and looking amused, but,directly after, shook his head, and seemed to be refusing somethingwhich Cyril was asking. Then Perry saw the lad put his hand in hispocket and give the Indian a good two-bladed pocket-knife, whosekeenness he demonstrated to the great interest of the Indian, who triedit on one of the heavy posts by the wharf, and then transferred it tohis pocket with a smile of satisfaction, nodding his head now toeverything Cyril said.

  Their conversation lasted for some time, and Perry began to growimpatient after he had satisfied his scrutiny of the two Indians'appearance, and wondered why they should disfigure themselves bypainting horizontal lines from their noses across their cheeks.

  "There," cried Cyril, speaking rather excitedly, "it's all right now.He says he'll take great care of you, and wait upon you as if you werehis father, and always find the best places for sleeping, and mind youdon't tumble down into any of the great gaps. But, I say, Perry, oldchap, you do wish I was going, don't you?"

  "Of course I do."

  "Ah, well, I suppose I must give in and make the best of it, mustn't I?"

  "I'm afraid so."

  "And you can't write to me and tell me how you are getting on. Thereare no post-offices up there."

  "No, I suppose not."

  "You suppose not!" cried Cyril, laughing, and looking as if his bitterfit had quite passed away.

  "Why, you're going where you'll hardly see a soul, unless you meet aparty coming down from the mines, or bringing bales of bark. There, I'mnot going to look grumpy any more, but I did feel savage for a bit."

  "That's right. Let's make the best of it while we're together, and dosome more fishing, or have a mule ride or two."

  "No," said Cyril decisively, "that's all over now. Father told me thismorning that I should have to work and help you make all yourpreparations, for there would be no end to do.
Come along. They'regoing up to see your father now."

  The two Indians were both moving off, and the boys followed to thehouse, where they were witnesses to the meeting, Captain Norton havingfollowed shortly, and acting as interpreter between the parties.

  "It is rather awkward," he said, "but I daresay you will soon pick upenough of their jargon to make them understand."

  "Oh yes," said the colonel. "I could gather the man's meaning from theSpanish words he used."

  "Then you will soon manage. Of course, if you had been a Spaniard, itwould have been easy enough."

  "I shall not worry about that part of the business," said the colonel,"so long as the man is willing, and will do his best. But we shall wanttwo others to attend to the mules."

  "He understands that. He is going to bring another trustworthy fellow.He proposed doing so himself."

  "And they can manage the mules?"

  "Oh yes, you may trust them. This man, Diego, as we call him, has beenin the habit of coming down from the mountains for years to trade andsell. I consider that I was very lucky in getting him for you. Whenwill you start, shall I tell him?"

  "On the sixth day from now."

  "That is soon, is it not?"

  "No; that ought to be time enough to get our mule-packs ready, and asufficiency of stores. I have everything else."

  "Don't hurry," said Captain Norton. "You are very welcome here, and Ishall regret your going."

  "I know that," said the colonel warmly, "but I am eager to begin, andshall be restless till I start."

  The captain nodded, and said a few words to the Indians, who replied,and then took their departure, it being fully understood that they wouldbe there, ready, on the sixth morning.

  "Ha!" exclaimed the colonel, "that is satisfactory.--Now then, Perry, myboy, call up John Manning to unpack the luggage, and we'll make ourselection of what we mean to take. Captain Norton will keep in storefor us all that we decide to leave, and he will help us with hisexperience in making our selection.--And you will help too, Cyril, willyou not?"

  "Of course, sir."

  "Thanks. Sorry I can't take you, my lad, but your father is right."

  Those next five days passed almost like magic. Six highly-bred muleswere selected by Captain Norton's help, and furnished with packages andhide ropes, besides more for riding purposes.

  "But we shan't be able to manage so many, sir," said John Manning, alithe, dry-looking man of about forty, who had been the colonel'sservant when he was in the army, and had stayed with him ever since, toPerry's great disgust; for the lad declared that he was the mostdisagreeable fellow under the sun, since he was always grumbling.

  It was quite true, for he found fault with everything to the two boys;though silent, as if he were still in the ranks, in the presence of thecolonel. But he quite won Cyril's heart in one of his grumbles, andalways after, during their preparations, the boy declared that he wascapital fun, and that he liked him.

  "There, young gentlemen," said John, "that's as much toggery as I canget in the colonel's soft portmanter, and you'll have to make shift,Master Perry, if you want any more flannels and things."

  "Oh, there'll be enough, John," said Perry. "A fellow don't wantcollars and cuffs up in the mountains."

  "But there ain't enough, sir. The man must ha' been a hijot as madethat portmanter. If it had been six inches longer, it would have heldever so much more."

  "Why, of course it would," said Cyril contemptuously.

  "It ain't my business," continued the man; "I'm only a servant. Butwhat ought to ha' been done was to have had Mr Cyril here with us, andfilled a portmanter up with his things. Then they'd ha' balanced quiteeasy on the mule's back."

  "Yes, that's what ought to have been done," said Cyril excitedly.

  "I wish you'd hold your tongue, John," cried Perry angrily.

  "All right, sir. Cut it out, if you like. We're in savage lands, andthere's no magistrates to stop it, for all I know. But there, sir,that's all I can do as I see."

  "How are you getting on?" cried the colonel, joining them. "All packednow?"

  "Yes, sir," said John Manning, drawing himself up stiffly.

  "Did you oil the rifles and pistols?"

  "Oh yes, sir; I went all over the armoury. Everything's in perfectorder."

  "And the cartridges?"

  "Some in every package, sir; so that you can always get a few."

  "That's right."

  By this time the captain had had an abundance of the most portable anduseful provisions packed, simplicity having been especially studied; andon the evening of that fifth day, it was felt that nothing more could bedone.

  "I can think of nothing else to help you, Campion," said Captain Norton.

  "No, you have done wonders for me. There's only one thing I wish."

  "What is it?"

  "That you were coming too."

  "Colonel Campion!" cried Mrs Norton, as the boys exchanged glances.

  "I beg your pardon, madam," said the colonel. "I will not be soselfish. No, I do not wish that.--Come, boys, make the most of yourlast hours together. Shall you be up to see us off in the morning,Cyril?"

  "Of course," said the boy with a sigh.

  "To be sure," said the captain; "and we'll ride a few miles with you--eh, Cil?"

  "No, thank you father, I'd rather not," said the lad dolefully. "I'llbid them good-bye here.--Coming out, Perry?"

  "Yes," said the latter.

  "Don't be long, my lad," said the colonel. "I want you to get to bed ingood time. You must be up by four."

  "Breakfast will be ready by then," said Mrs Norton.

  "All right, father," said Perry, and the two lads went out into the softmoonlight, to be accosted directly by John Manning.

  "I was looking for you, Master Perry, sir," he said. "I've beena-making of my will, and want you to see me sign it, and witness it."

  "You want to sign your will?" cried Perry, laughing.

  "Yes, sir; this here's going to be my last journey, I'm afraid, for oneo' them mules has marked me down. He means to kick me over the firstpressy pass we comes to."

  "Don't let him," cried Cyril. "If he's going to, shove him overinstead."

  John Manning stared.

  "Thankye, sir, I will. Now, do you know, I never thought o' that."

  "Come along, Cil," said Perry, laying his hand upon his companion'sshoulder, and they strolled along to where they could look over thesparkling lights of the town, away across the glittering ocean, with itsbroad path of silver, and then back up to the huge mountain, whose icytop flashed in the brilliant moonbeams, while every here and there thedeep ravines marked the sides with an intense black.

  They neither of them spoke, both feeling too sad at heart, but stoodthere, rapt in thought about the coming morrow, till they wereinterrupted by the coming of John Manning.

  "Colonel says it's lights out, young gentlemen," he said respectfully."There's allers something wrong in this world.--You ought to ha' beenwith us, Master Cyril, sir, in this forlorn-hope job. But, I suppose,we must make the best of it."

  "Yes," said Cyril bitterly. "I suppose we must."

  A quarter of an hour later the lads were in their bedrooms, listening tothe hum of the mosquitoes, and feeling weary, but restless in the heat.Cyril felt as if he could not sleep for thinking of the coming day, butall the same, he went off soundly in spite of his depressing thoughts,and woke up with a start, to find that his father was standing by hisbedside.

  "Half-past three, my lad," he cried. "Up with you, and act like a man.Show our visitors that you can be unselfish, and let's start themhappily upon their expedition."

  Cyril tried to say, "Yes, father," cheerfully, but not a word wouldcome.

  "Sulky?" said Captain Norton rather sternly. "I'm sorry that you turnlike that. I'll talk to you this evening, Cyril, my boy."

  The boy drew his breath hard, but he said no word, only began hurriedlyto dress, as his father left the room.
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