“No sir,” I said. “We thank you for what you have done, but we shall start back directly, and sleep where we made our camp in the middle of the day.”
“Don’t be hasty, my lad,” said our host. “It’s wise sometimes to sleep on a determination.”
“It can’t be here, sir,” I said bitterly, “so goodbye, and thank you. Come, Esau, we can get on for a couple of hours before it is quite dark.”
“All right,” said Esau, sturdily; “and we can find our way back if we didn’t know it coming.”
“Well, perhaps you are right,” said Mr Raydon; “but of course you understand that you are going back alone. Mr Gunson will be on his way into the mountains, and I dare say that China boy will follow him.”
“I suppose he will, sir,” I said. “Better sleep on it, my lad.”
“No, sir,” I said, firmly. “I would rather not.”
“Too proud to accept the hospitality of the man who has told you such home-truths?”
“Yes, sir; but more so to stay where I feel that we are not welcome.”
“But you are welcome, my lads, as visitors. Is not your friend and leader very unreasonable, young man?” he continued, turning suddenly to Esau; and I listened eagerly in dread, lest he should be won over to ask for shelter for the night.