“That he will help us with different things till we can manage alone; and that before many years are gone we can make ourselves quite a good home.”
“Oh!” ejaculated Esau. “But then that will take a long time, and you won’t be able to work much, and I don’t think Mr John Dempster will, not being strong, and all the time there’s enough gold up—”
“Will you hold your tongue?” I cried, angrily. “Do you want me to hit you?”
“If you like,” he said, grinning. “Don’t think you could hurt me much.”
“You coward!” I cried. “Wait till I get strong again.”
“I shall be precious glad,” said Esau, “for I’d a deal rather you gave me one or two cracks than kept on saying the things you do sometimes. My! how you have given it me ever since you have been ill! It has made you raspy.”
I winced a little at this, for I felt that I had been horribly irritable.
“I can’t help thinking about the gold, but I won’t say gold no more as long as I live.”
I could not help laughing at this earnest delivery, and Esau showed his teeth.
“There, I don’t care,” he said. “I’m happy enough here if you’ll get well. But I do wish old Gunson knew about it.”