"I believe He did," was the reluctant a.s.sent. "But that was a long time ago. Things are different now."
"Only outwardly, remember. The heart is the same in all ages; you can"t change that. If it is evil and full of vileness, it is bound to hate the good. Surely you know that."
"Then you really are one of them missionary chaps?" and the old man eyed Reynolds curiously.
"No, I am not," was the emphatic reply.
"But ye quote Scripter like a parson, though. I thought mebbe ye was."
"Is it necessary to be a parson to know something about the Bible?
Isn"t this a Christian land? Why shouldn"t I know something about the greatest Book in the world? My mother taught it to me when I was a child, and I learned a great deal about it when I went to Sunday school. I did not value it so much then, but when over in France, with death on all sides, much of it came back to me, and I honestly confess it was a great comfort."
"An" so ye was over thar, young man? Wall, that"s sartinly interestin". Fer how long?"
"Nearly four years. I enlisted at the beginning of the war."
"An" come through all right?"
"Look," and Reynolds bared his left arm, showing a great scar. "I have several more on my body, some worse than that."
"Ye don"t tell! My, I"m glad I"ve met ye. Got some medals, I s"pose."
Reynolds made no reply, as he already felt ashamed of himself for having told this much. It was not his nature to speak about himself, especially to a stranger, and he was determined to say nothing about the medals he had received for conspicuous bravery, and which he carried in his breast pocket.
"Do you smoke?" he suddenly asked.
"Yes; an old hand at it. Good fer the nerves."
"Well, suppose we go and have a smoke now. I am just in the mood for one myself."
Together they made their way to the smoking-room, which was situated well aft. It was partly filled with men, smoking, chatting, and playing cards. The air was dense with various brands of tobacco, making it impossible to see clearly across the room. No one paid any heed to the two as they entered, sat down in one corner of the room, filled and lighted their pipes. Reynolds noted that his companion became suddenly silent, and seemed to be deeply interested in four men playing cards at a small table a short distance from where they were sitting.
"Do you play?" Reynolds asked, thinking that the old man might be fond of cards.
"No," was the brief and absent-minded reply.
Reynolds said no more, but watched the four men. His attention was chiefly centered upon one who was facing him, and who was doing most of the talking. He was a young man, with a dark moustache and black curly hair. He played with keen interest and in a lofty dominating manner.
Reynolds did not like his appearance, and the more he studied him the stronger became his repugnance. It was not only the low brutal face that compelled this feeling, but the coa.r.s.e language that reeked from his lips. This so disgusted Reynolds that he was about to leave the room, when in an instant a commotion took place among the players.
They sprang to their feet, and a miniature babel ensued.
"You"re cheating."
"I"m not."
"You"re a liar."
These were some of the terms hurled forth in sharp rasping sentences, and it seemed as if blood must surely be shed ere the confusion ended.
As the word "liar" rang out, a sudden silence followed, and at once hands rested upon b.u.t.ts of revolvers concealed in four hip-pockets.
But before they were drawn a peculiar noise broke the stillness, which caused Reynolds to start, for the sound came from the old prospector"s lips.
"Me-o-o-o-ow. Me-o-o-o-ow. Bow-wow-wow. Bow-wow-wow."
So unexpected was this interruption that all in the room stared in amazement, and even the four angry men turned to see whence the sound came. So perfect was the imitation, and so humorous the expression upon the face of the old man, that the onlookers burst into a hearty laugh, which caused the four inflamed players to shuffle uneasily, and to look sheepishly at one another. Then their mouths expanded into a grin, and the storm was over.
The curly-haired man at once left his place and strode over to where the prospector was sitting.
"Frontier Samson!" he exclaimed, gripping him firmly by the hand. "Is it really you?"
"Sure, it"s me, all right, Curly. Who else did ye think it was; me ghost?"
"Not when I heard that cat-call, an" the bow-wow."
"Heard "em before, eh? Guess this isn"t the first sc.r.a.pe I"ve got ye out of, is it?"
"Should say not. But where in h---- did ye drop from, Sam? I didn"t know ye were on board."
"Oh, I"m jist on a visit from the outside. An" it"s mighty lucky that I"m here, or else I don"t know what "ud have happened. Better leave cards alone, Curly, if ye can"t play without fightin". They make people act like a bunch of kids."
"It was those d---- fools" fault, though, Sam."
"Thar, now, don"t make excuses an" blame others, Curly. That"s jist what kids allus do. An" cut out them unholy words. There might be a parson around."
Curly flung himself down upon a seat, and lighted a cigarette. He cast a furtive glance at Reynolds, thinking that perhaps he might be the "parson."
"What have ye been doin", Curly?" the old man asked. "An" why was ye driftin" out under that fog-bank? Ye nearly got left, let me tell ye that."
"I know we did, and I thought that d----, excuse me, Sam," he apologized, as he again glanced toward Reynolds. "I mean, I thought that the fog-bank would never lift. We"ve been doing some of the islands for several months."
"Strike anything?"
"Nothing, an" nearly starved in the bargain. If it hadn"t been fer an Indian mission, we wouldn"t be alive now."
"Then missionaries are of some use after all, Curly. You was allus hard on "em, if I remember right."
"Umph! They"re all right when one"s starving. If they"d only leave the Gospel dope out, it wouldn"t be so bad."
"Got a dose of it, eh?"
"Should say I did. Morning, noon an" night I had to go to church with the Indians. I"ve had enough to last me the rest of me life. Say, weren"t we glad to get away!"
"Goin" north agin? I thought ye was through, up thar?"
"So did I. But we heard of the new strike at Big Draw, an" decided to try our luck once more."
"Think ye"ll hit it this time?"
"I hope so. But it isn"t altogether the gold that"s taking me back.
There"s something more attractive."