Chinaman's Gold by Lou Armstrong

Author:Lou Armstrong [Lou Armstrong]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780709099970
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Leo and Charlie stood in the middle of the dirty track that was Snakebend’s main street and watched the back of the stagecoach bounce and rattle on its way to Hope Town.

‘Think we’ll find her waiting in San Diego?’ Charlie asked.

Leo shook his head.

‘She’d never break her word.’

‘Our stagecoach leaves in an hour. How many days to San Diego?’

‘I don’t want to think about it! Man, I hate the way those coaches bounce.’

‘I agree. Worse way to travel than piebald horse.’

‘Charlie! I’ll make a horseman of you yet! You want to throw away that ticket and buy a new horse?’

‘Wouldn’t mind! But I guess we got to get a move on.’

‘I guess so,’ Leo agreed. ‘Stagecoach is quickest.’

But by the time they staggered off the stagecoach in San Diego he felt as if he’d rather have his toenails pulled out than go anywhere in a stagecoach ever again. And they were still three days’ travel from the goldfields. Charlie said he’d buy the new tickets.

‘I’ll get them, Charlie. You stand out too much.’

‘You think people are still looking for us?’

‘They wouldn’t be looking for me and a Mexican. How about I cut off your pigtail and buy you some Mexican gear?’

Charlie clutched his pigtail. Teasing Charlie cheered up Leo slightly, but the next leg of the journey turned out to be the worst. The road was so cut up it was nothing but ruts. The places they stopped served the worst food on the planet. And as for the so-called hotel they were told to sleep in. …

Just after dusk on the third day they rolled, rattled and bounced into the shanty town that had sprung up around the goldfields. Thanks to the money from Charlie’s nuggets they could afford to stay in the best hotel. Two tin baths were set side by side by the fire and then filled up to the brim with pitchers of hot water.

‘This is the life,’ Leo mused. ‘Cold water does me at home, but this is grand.’

Charlie worked up a fine lather and then sponged his face with it.

‘I know what I’ll do when I go home. I’ll buy a railway and make lots of money.’

‘Aren’t there enough railways already?’

‘Stagecoach and train going to the same place. Which one you take?’

Leo’s bones were still aching from the trip.

‘No contest! You’ll make a fortune.’

They turned into wonderfully comfortable twin beds with white sheets. Leo slept dream-lessly and he woke early feeling refreshed. Charlie was up and making plans. He turned over his precious map to show Leo a list of tools and equipment written on the other side. Charlie turned his back, fumbled under his blue suit, and then handed Leo a roll of money and the list.

‘Somebody maybe looking for us. Best you go alone.’

The prices the storekeepers were charging were more than Leo could stomach at first but, after asking around all morning, he realized that he couldn’t buy cheaper.

‘Used to be way more expensive,’ said the man who sold him a mule.

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