“And you can’t write to me and tell me how you are getting on. There are no post-offices up there.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“You suppose not!” cried Cyril, laughing, and looking as if his bitter fit had quite passed away.
“Why, you’re going where you’ll hardly see a soul, unless you meet a party coming down from the mines, or bringing bales of bark. There, I’m not going to look grumpy any more, but I did feel savage for a bit.”
“That’s right. Let’s make the best of it while we’re together, and do some more fishing, or have a mule ride or two.”
“No,” said Cyril decisively, “that’s all over now. Father told me this morning that I should have to work and help you make all your preparations, for there would be no end to do. Come along. They’re going up to see your father now.”
The two Indians were both moving off, and the boys followed to the house, where they were witnesses to the meeting, Captain Norton having followed shortly, and acting as interpreter between the parties.
“It is rather awkward,” he said, “but I daresay you will soon pick up enough of their jargon to make them understand.”
“Oh yes,” said the colonel. “I could gather the man’s meaning from the Spanish words he used.”
“Then you will soon manage. Of course, if you had been a Spaniard, it would have been easy enough.”
“I shall not worry about that part of the business,” said the colonel, “so long as the man is willing, and will do his best. But we shall want two others to attend to the mules.”
“He understands that. He is going to bring another trustworthy fellow. He proposed doing so himself.”
“And they can manage the mules?”
“Oh yes, you may trust them. This man, Diego, as we call him, has been in the habit of coming down from the mountains for years to trade and sell. I consider that I was very lucky in getting him for you. When will you start, shall I tell him?”
“On the sixth day from now.”
“That is soon, is it not?”
“No; that ought to be time enough to get our mule-packs ready, and a sufficiency of stores. I have everything else.”
“Don’t hurry,” said Captain Norton. “You are very welcome here, and I shall regret your going.”
“I know that,” said the colonel warmly, “but I am eager to begin, and shall be restless till I start.”
The captain nodded, and said a few words to the Indians, who replied, and then took their departure, it being fully understood that they would be there, ready, on the sixth morning.
“Ha!” exclaimed the colonel, “that is satisfactory. – Now then, Perry, my boy, call up John Manning to unpack the luggage, and we’ll make our selection of what we mean to take. Captain Norton will keep in store for us all that we decide to leave, and he will help us with his experience in making our selection. – And you will help too, Cyril, will you not?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Thanks. Sorry I can’t take you, my lad, but your father is right.”
Those next five days passed almost like magic. Six highly-bred mules were selected by Captain Norton’s help, and furnished with packages and hide ropes, besides more for riding purposes.
“But we shan’t be able to manage so many, sir,” said John Manning, a lithe, dry-looking man of about forty, who had been the colonel’s servant when he was in the army, and had stayed with him ever since, to Perry’s great disgust; for the lad declared that he was the most disagreeable fellow under the sun, since he was always grumbling.
It was quite true, for he found fault with everything to the two boys; though silent, as if he were still in the ranks, in the presence of the colonel. But he quite won Cyril’s heart in one of his grumbles, and always after, during their preparations, the boy declared that he was capital fun, and that he liked him.
“There, young gentlemen,” said John, “that’s as much toggery as I can get in the colonel’s soft portmanter, and you’ll have to make shift, Master Perry, if you want any more flannels and things.”
“Oh, there’ll be enough, John,” said Perry. “A fellow don’t want collars and cuffs up in the mountains.”
“But there ain’t enough, sir. The man must ha’ been a hijot as made that portmanter. If it had been six inches longer, it would have held ever so much more.”
“Why, of course it would,” said Cyril contemptuously.
“It ain’t my business,” continued the man; “I’m only a servant. But what ought to ha’ been done was to have had Mr Cyril here with us, and filled a portmanter up with his things. Then they’d ha’ balanced quite easy on the mule’s back.”
“Yes, that’s what ought to have been done,” said Cyril excitedly.
“I wish you’d hold your tongue, John,” cried Perry angrily.
“All right, sir. Cut it out, if you like. We’re in savage lands, and there’s no magistrates to stop it, for all I know. But there, sir, that’s all I can do as I see.”
“How are you getting on?” cried the colonel, joining them. “All packed now?”
“Yes, sir,” said John Manning, drawing himself up stiffly.
“Did you oil the rifles and pistols?”
“Oh yes, sir; I went all over the armoury. Everything’s in perfect order.”
“And the cartridges?”
“Some in every package, sir; so that you can always get a few.”
“That’s right.”
By this time the captain had had an abundance of the most portable and useful provisions packed, simplicity having been especially studied; and on the evening of that fifth day, it was felt that nothing more could be done.
“I can think of nothing else to help you, Campion,” said Captain Norton.
“No, you have done wonders for me. There’s only one thing I wish.”
“What is it?”
“That you were coming too.”
“Colonel Campion!” cried Mrs Norton, as the boys exchanged glances.
“I beg your pardon, madam,” said the colonel. “I will not be so selfish. No, I do not wish that. – Come, boys, make the most of your last hours together. Shall you be up to see us off in the morning, Cyril?”
“Of course,” said the boy with a sigh.
“To be sure,” said the captain; “and we’ll ride a few miles with you – eh, Cil?”
“No, thank you father, I’d rather not,” said the lad dolefully. “I’ll bid them good-bye here. – Coming out, Perry?”
“Yes,” said the latter.
“Don’t be long, my lad,” said the colonel. “I want you to get to bed in good time. You must be up by four.”
“Breakfast will be ready by then,” said Mrs Norton.
“All right, father,” said Perry, and the two lads went out into the soft moonlight, to be accosted directly by John Manning.
“I was looking for you, Master Perry, sir,” he said. “I’ve been a-making of my will, and want you to see me sign it, and witness it.”
“You want to sign your will?” cried Perry, laughing.
“Yes, sir; this here’s going to be my last journey, I’m afraid, for one o’ them mules has marked me down. He means to kick me over the first pressy pass we comes to.”
“Don’t