“Absurd!” cried Gunson; and there was another pause, during which I listened to every passing step, hoping against hope that it might be Esau.
My position was growing more and more painful, and at last I could bear it no longer.
“What is it? What are you going to do?” said Gunson, as I suddenly jumped up.
“Look for Esau,” I said.
“Sit still, boy. What do you know about the place, and which way will you go?”
I was obliged to say that I didn’t know, but I would hunt for him well.
“It is now close upon twelve o’clock,” said Gunson, angrily, “and he has been gone nearly three hours. If he is coming back it must be directly, and then, with you gone, we shall miss the boat, and all our belongings will go on up north without us. Hang him, he must be mad!”
“But I would not go far without coming back,” I said.
“I think, my lad, you may save yourself the trouble.”
“What do you mean? He will be back here directly?”