“Indeed? Well then, my lad, you had better come, for it is high time we were off.”
I stared at him wildly, for what he had said seemed terribly likely. Esau had been startled on hearing the real difficulties and dangers that we had to go through, and much as he seemed to like me, he might have been overcome by his thoughts, and at the last moment felt that he must turn tail.
“Well?” said Gunson, “what do you say? Will you come? I must be off almost directly.”
“Yes,” I said, “you must go, but I’m sure Esau is in some trouble. He could not be such a coward as that.”
“Then you will not go with me?”
“I would if I could think as you do,” I said; “but I’m sure he would not forsake me.”
“Human nature, boy.”
“It isn’t his human nature,” I said boldly. “If he had wanted to back out he would have confided in me, and wanted me to go with him till you had sailed.”
“I have no time to argue,” said Gunson sternly. “What are you going to do?”
“I must try and find my companion.”