in the cave； when Laputa had broken down the bridge； and had spoken his dying words … that he was the last king in Africa； and that without him the rising was at an end。 Then I told of his leap into the river； and a great sigh went up from the ranks about Me。
'You see me here；' I said； 'by the grace of God。 I found a way up the fall and the cliffs which no man has ever travelled before or will travel again。 Your king is dead。 He was a great king； as I who stand here bear witness； and you will never more see his like。 His last words were that the Rising was over。 Respect that word； my brothers。 We come to you not in war but in peace； to offer a free pardon； and the redress of your wrongs。 If you fight you fight with the certainty of failure； and against the wish of the heir of John。 I have come here at the risk of my life to tell you his commands。 His spirit approves my mission。 Think well before you defy the mandate of the Snake； and risk the vengeance of the Terrible Ones。'
After that I knew that we had won。 The chiefs talked among themselves in low whispers； casting strange looks at me。 Then the greatest of them advanced and laid his rifle at my feet。
'We believe the word of a brave man；' he said。 'We accept the mandate of the Snake。'
Arcoll now took command。 He arranged for the disarmament bit by bit； companies of men being marched off from Inanda's Kraal to stations on the plateau where their arms were collected by our troops； and food provided for them。 For the full history I refer the reader to Mr Upton's work。 It took many days； and taxed all our resources； but by the end of a week we had the whole of Laputa's army in separate stations； under guard； disarmed； and awaiting repatriation。
Then Arcoll went south to the war which was to rage around the Swaziland and Zululand borders for many months； while to Aitken and myself was entrusted the work of settlement。 We had inadequate troops at our command； and but for our prestige and the weight of Laputa's dead hand there might any moment have been a tragedy。 The task took months； for many of the levies came from the far north； and the job of feeding troops on a long journey was difficult enough in the winter season when the energies of the country were occupied with the fighting in the south。 Yet it was an experience for which I shall ever be grateful； for it turned me from a rash boy into a serious man。 I knew then the meaning of the white man's duty。 He has to take all risks； recking nothing of his life or his fortunes； and well content to find his reward in the fulfilment of his task。 That is the difference between white and black； the gift of responsibility； the power of being in a little way a king； and so long as we know this and practise it； we will rule not in Africa alone but wherever there are dark men who live only for the day and their own bellies。 Moreover； the work made me pitiful and kindly。 I learned much of the untold grievances of the natives； and saw something of their strange； twisted reasoning。 Before we had got Laputa's army back to their kraals； with food enough to tide them over the spring sowing； Aitken and I had got sounder policy in our heads than you will find in the towns； where men sit in offices and see the world through a mist of papers。
By this time peace was at hand； and I went back to Inanda's Kraal to look for Colin's grave。 It was not a difficult quest； for on the sward in front of the merula tree they had buried him。 I found a mason in the Iron Kranz village； and from the excellent red stone of the neighbourhood was hewn a square slab with an inscription。 It ran thus： 'Here lies buried the dog Colin； who was killed in defending D。 Crawfurd； his master。 To him it was mainly due that the Kaffir Rising failed。' I leave those who have read my tale to see the justice of the words。
CHAPTER XXIII MY UNCLE'S GIFT IS MANY TIMES MULTIPLIED
We got at the treasure by blowing open the turnstile。 It was easy enough to trace the spot in the rock where it stood； but the most patient search did not reveal its secret。 Accordingly we had recourse to dynamite； and soon laid bare the stone steps； and ascended to the gallery。 The chasm was bridged with planks； and Arcoll and I crossed alone。 The cave was as I had left it。 The bloodstains on the floor had grown dark with time； but the ashes of the sacramental fire were still there to remind me of the drama I had borne a part in。 When I looked at the way I had escaped my brain grew dizzy at the thought of it。 I do not think that all the gold on earth would have driven me a second time to that awful escalade。 As for Arcoll； he could not see its possibility at all。
'Only a madman could have done it；' he said； blinking his eyes at the green linn。 'Indeed； Davie； I think for about four days you were as mad as they make。 It was a fortunate thing； for your madness saved the country。'
With some labour we got the treasure down to the path； and took it under a strong guard to Pietersdorp。 The Government were busy with the settling up after the war； and it took many weeks to have our business disposed of。 At first things looked badly for me。 The Attorney…General set up a claim to the whole as spoils of war； since； he argued； it was the war…chest of the enemy we had conquered。 I do not know how the matter would have gone on legal grounds； though I was advised by my lawyers that the claim was a bad one。 But the part I had played in the whole business； more especially in the visit to Inanda's Kraal； had made me a kind of popular hero； and the Government thought better of their first attitude。 Besides； Arcoll had great influence； and the whole story of my doings； which was told privately by him to some of the members of the Government； disposed them to be generous。 Accordingly they agreed to treat the contents of the cave as ordinary treasure trove； of which； by the law； one half went to the discoverer and one half to the Crown。
This was well enough so far as the gold was concerned； but another difficulty arose about the diamonds； for a large part of these had obviously been stolen by labourers from the mines； and the mining people laid claim to them as stolen goods。 I was advised not to dispute this claim； and consequently we had a great sorting…out of the stones in the presence of the experts of the different mines。 In the end it turned out that identification was not an easy matter； for the experts quarrelled furiously among themselves。 A compromise was at last come to； and a division made； and then the diamond companies behaved very handsomely； voting me a substantial sum in recognition of my services in recovering their property。 What with this and with my half share of the gold and my share of the unclaimed stones； I found that I had a very considerable fortune。 The whole of my stones I sold to De Beers； for if I had placed them on the open market I should have upset the delicate equipoise of diamond values。 When I came finally to cast up my accounts； I found that I had secured a fortune of a trifle over a quarter of a million pounds。
The wealth did not dazzle so much as it solemnized me。 I had no impulse to spend any part of it in a riot of folly。 It had come to me like fairy gold out of the void； it had been bought with men's blood； almost with my own。 I wanted to get away to a quiet place and think； for of late my life had been too crowded with drama； and there comes a satiety of action as well as of idleness。 Above all things I wanted to get home。 They gave me a great send…off； and sang songs； and good fellows shook my hand till it ached。 The papers were full of me； and there was a banquet and speeches。 But I could not relish this glory as I ought； for I was like a boy thrown violently out of his bearings。 Not till I was in the train nearing Cape Town did I recover my equanimity。 The burden of the past seemed to slip from me suddenly as on the morning when I had climbed the linn。 I saw my life all lying before me； and already I had won success。 I thought of my return to my own country； my first sight of the grey shores of Fife； my visit to Kirkcaple； my meeting with my mother。 I was a rich man now who could choose his career； and my mother need never again want for comfort。 My money seemed pleasant to me； for if men won theirs by brains or industry； I had won mine by sterner methods； for I had staked against it my life。 I sat alone in the railway carriage and cried with pure thankfulness。 These were comforting tears； for they brought me back to my old common… place self。
My last memory of Africa is my meeting with Tam Dyke。 I caught sight of him in the streets of Cape Town； and running after him； clapped him on the shoulder。 He stared at me as if he had seen a ghost。
'Is it yourself； Davie？' he cried。 'I never looked to see you again in this world。 I do nothing but read about you in the papers。 What for did ye not send for me？ Here have I been knocking about inside a ship and you have been getting famous。 They tell me you're a millionaire； too。'
I had Tam to dinner at my hotel； and later； sitting smoking on the terrace and watching the flying…ants among the aloes； I told him the better part of the story I have here written down。
'Man； Davie；' he said at the end； 'you've had a tremendous time。 Here are you not eighteen months away from home； and you're going back with a fortune。 What will you do with it？' I told him that I proposed； to begin with； to finish my education at Edinburgh College。 At this he roared with laughter。
'That's a dull ending； anyway。 It's me that should have the money； for I'm full of imagination。 You were aye a prosaic body； Davie。'
'Maybe I am；' I said； 'but I am very sure of one thing。 If I hadn't been a prosaic body； I wouldn't be sitting here to…night。'
Two years later Aitken found the diamond pipe； which he had always believed lay in the mountains。 Some of the stones in the cave； being unlike any ordinary African diamonds； confirmed his suspicions and set him on the track。 A Kaffir tribe to the north…east of the Rooirand had known of it； but they had never worked it； but only collected the overspill。 The closing down of one of the chief existing mines had created