“Esau!”
“There, don’t shout at me. I don’t wonder. I’ve been sometimes so that I couldn’t hardly bear myself for wanting to tell somebody; and it was a pity for all that gold to go begging, and us not get a share.”
“Then you believe I told Mr Gunson?”
“Course I do. I didn’t; and there was no one else knew where it was except the captain, and of course he wouldn’t.”
“You are saying that to aggravate me. Esau, once more, do you believe I told Mr Gunson?”
He looked at me and laughed.
“Why don’t you answer?” I cried, angrily. “Do you believe I told Mr Gunson?”
“Why, of course I do. What’s the good of making a fuss over it with me? Should ha’ thought you might ha’ trusted me by this time.”
I sank back on one of the benches staring at him, feeling weak and hopeless.
“Don’t look like that,” cried Esau; “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. It was quite natural. Mr Gunson was our friend before Mr Raydon was; and it was your duty to do him a good turn if you could. Who’s Mr Raydon that he’s to have everything his way? If he don’t want gold, other folks do. I do—lots; and I’m going up now to get my share.”