“Good memory, Mayne,” he said, smiling. “Well, I have made my arrangements. Your Chinaman shall go with us to cook, and we will select three or four spots; and afterwards, when these travellers come, we can take them to see the selection, and they can choose which they like.”
“How soon shall you start, sir?” I said.
“This morning. It is a leisure period for me. No Indians are likely to come for some time; and I can leave my people to take care of the place till we return. You feel that you can manage the walking?”
“Oh yes,” I cried. “I am getting stronger every day.”
“That’s right. Dean, my lad, fetch Quong, and let’s see what sort of a load of flour, tea, and sugar we can pack up for him. I can easily supply our little camp with meat.”
“Then there will be some hunting and shooting too?” I said, as Esau hurried out to find Quong.
“Oh yes, for the larder,” replied Mr Raydon, speaking more in his old fashion now. “Come, you are beginning to look quite yourself, my boy. I was beginning to be afraid I should have nothing but a broken-down invalid to show my sister.”
“I feel more like I did,” I said, with my cheeks flushing.
“Be thankful then, my boy, for you had a very narrow escape. Let me see; we must not overload ourselves, but I must have powder and bullets, as well as my rifle. A blanket each, of course, and our knives. That will be nearly all we need take, unless you lads bring a line or two and try for some trout.”
He began chatting then about Mr John and his sister, and of how great a change it would be for her from a London life.