Mrs John, eh?"

"Hush! Here he comes back." For there was a firm heavy step that was
like a march, and the door was thrown open.

"Ah, my lads, all in the dark? I had forgotten the light."

He struck a match, and lit a large oil-lamp, and sent a bright pleasant
glow through the place, which, from looking weird and strange, now had a
warm and home-like aspect.

"You'll like to get to bed soon. Pretty tired, I expect. I am too. We
are early people here. Early to bed and early to rise; you know the
rest of the proverb. You'll sleep in the strangers' place tonight;
to-morrow we'll see what we can do. Mine is a bachelor home, but we
have women here. Some of my men have wives, but they are Indian.
Rather a wild place to bring my sister to--eh, Mayne?"

Then without giving me time to speak--

"Come along," he said. "I told Mr Gunson that I would fetch you."

We followed him out, and I wanted to thank him; but I could not then,
and he seemed to know it, for he kept on chatting to us as we went along
one side of the enclosed square, pointing out how clear the sky was, and
how full of promise for the next day. Then, as we reached the long low
building where we had had our meal, he threw open the door, and stood
back for us to enter.

"Good-night, Mayne," he said.

"Good-night, sir," I replied, rather huskily, and I clung to his hand a
little as he held it out.

"Good-night, Dean," he continued, and turning sharply off he sauntered
away back towards his quarters.

"Might ha' shook hands with me too," said Esau, sullenly. "Didn't
offend him too much, did I?"

"No, no, don't say any more about it," I whispered.

Then we entered, to find Gunson seated on a rough stool by the fire
smoking his pipe, or pretending to, for I saw no smoke, and the red glow
from the embers lit up his face strangely.

"Ah, boys," he said, starting up from his musings; "there you are.
Well, you have dropped into snug quarters. Bed-time, isn't it?"

"I suppose so," I said sadly. "Hallo! Not cheery that!"

"Are you still thinking of going, Mr Gunson?" I said.

"Yes; at sunrise to-morrow morning, so if you want to see me off, you
must take down your shutters early."

"I am sorry."

"I am glad," he cried--"that you are sorry. Been a pleasant trip up, my
lad, and I dare say we shall meet again some day. We will, if I can
manage it."

"I say, where's old Quong?" said Esau, suddenly. "Asleep this hour, in
the corner th