voice； and with the indirectness of a truly feminine nature； 〃I
have plenty of writing…paper in the house； and the post goes south
to…morrow； such as 'tis。〃
Christopher struggled with his misery； and trembled。
He was silent a long time。 Then he said； 〃No。 It is her interest
that I should be dead。〃
〃Well； but； sirtake a thought。〃
〃Not a word more； I implore you。 I am the most miserable man that
ever breathed。〃 As he spoke； two bitter tears forced their way。
Phoebe cast a look of pity on him； and said no more； but she shook
her head。 Her plain common sense revolted。
However； it did not follow he would be in the same mind next week：
so she was in excellent spirits at her protege's recovery； and very
proud of her cure； and celebrated the event with a roaring supper；
including an English ham； and a bottle of port wine； and； ten to
one； that was English too。
Dick Dale looked a little incredulous； but he did not spare the ham
any the more for that。
After supper； in a pause of conversation； Staines turned to Dick；
and said； rather abruptly； 〃Suppose that dam of yours were to burst
and empty its contents； would it not be a great misfortune to you？〃
〃Misfortune； sir！ Don't talk of it。 Why； it would ruin us； beast
and body。〃
〃Well； it will burst； if it is not looked to。〃
〃Dale's Kloof dam burst！ the biggest and strongest for a hundred
miles round。〃
〃You deceive yourself。 It is not scientifically built； to begin；
and there is a cause at work that will infallibly burst it； if not
looked to in time。〃
〃And what is that； sir？〃
〃The dam is full of crabs。〃
〃So 'tis； but what of them？〃
〃I detected two of them that had perforated the dyke from the wet
side to the dry； and water was trickling through the channel they
had made。 Now； for me to catch two that had come right through；
there must be a great many at work honeycombing your dyke； those
channels； once made； will be enlarged by the permeating water； and
a mere cupful of water forced into a dyke by the great pressure of
a heavy column has an expansive power quite out of proportion to
the quantity forced in。 Colossal dykes have been burst in this way
with disastrous effects。 Indeed； it is only a question of time；
and I would not guarantee your dyke twelve hours。 It is full； too；
with the heavy rains。〃
〃Here's a go！〃 said Dick； turning pale。 〃Well； if it is to burst；
it must。〃
〃Why so？ You can make it safe in a few hours。 You have got a
clumsy contrivance for letting off the excess of water： let us go
and relieve the dam at once of two feet of water。 That will make
it safe for a day or two； and to…morrow we will puddle it afresh；
and demolish those busy excavators。〃
He spoke with such authority and earnestness； that they all got up
from table； a horn was blown that soon brought the Hottentots； and
they all proceeded to the dam。 With infinite difficulty they
opened the waste sluice； lowered the water two feet； and so
drenched the arid soil that in forty…eight hours flowers unknown
sprang up。
Next morning； under the doctor's orders； all the black men and boys
were diving with lumps of stiff clay and puddling the endangered
wall with a thick wall of it。 This took all the people the whole
day。
Next day the clay wall was carried two feet higher； and then the
doctor made them work on the other side and buttress the dyke with
supports so enormous as seemed extravagant to Dick and Phoebe； but；
after all； it was as well to be on the safe side； they thought： and
soon they were sure of it； for the whole work was hardly finished
when the news came in that the dyke of a neighboring Boer； ten
miles off； had exploded like a cannon； and emptied itself in five
minutes； drowning the farm…yard and floating the furniture； but
leaving them all to perish of drought； and indeed the Boer's cart
came every day； with empty barrels； for some time； to beg water of
the Dales。 Ucatella pondered all this； and said her doctor child
was wise。
This brief excitement over； Staines went back to his own gloomy
thoughts； and they scarcely saw him； except at supper…time。
One evening he surprised them all by asking if they would add to
all their kindness by lending him a horse； and a spade； and a few
pounds to go to the diamond fields。
Dick Dale looked at his sister。 She said； 〃We had rather lend them
you to go home with； sir； if you must leave us； but； dear heart； I
was half in hopesDick and I were talking it over only yesterday
that you would go partners like with us； ever since you saved the
dam。〃
〃I have too little to offer for that； Mrs。 Falcon； and； besides； I
am driven into a corner。 I must make money quickly； or not at all：
the diamonds are only three hundred miles off： for heaven's sake；
let me try my luck。〃
They tried to dissuade him； and told him not one in fifty did any
good at it。
〃Ay； but I shall；〃 said he。 〃Great bad luck is followed by great
good luck； and I feel my turn is come。 Not that I rely on luck。
An accident directed my attention to the diamond a few years ago；
and I read a number of prime works upon the subject that told me of
things not known to the miners。 It is clear； from the Cape
journals； that they are looking for diamonds in the river only。
Now； I am sure that is a mistake。 Diamonds； like gold； have their
matrix； and it is comparatively few gems that get washed into the
river。 I am confident that I shall find the volcanic matrix； and
perhaps make my fortune in a week or two。〃
When the dialogue took this turn； Reginald Falcon's cheek began to
flush； and his eyes to glitter。
Christopher continued： 〃You who have befriended me so will not turn
back； I am sure； when I have such a chance before me； and as for
the small sum of money I shall require； I will repay you some day；
even if〃
〃La； sir； don't talk so。 If you put it that way； why； the best
horse we have； and fifty pounds in good English gold； they are at
your service to…morrow。〃
〃And pick and spade to boot；〃 said Dick； 〃and a double rifle； for
there are lions； and Lord knows what； between this and the Vaal
river。〃
〃God bless you both！〃 said Christopher。 〃I will start to…morrow。〃
〃And I'll go with you；〃 said Reginald Falcon。
CHAPTER XX。
〃Heaven forbid！〃 said Phoebe。 〃No； my dear； no more diamonds for
us。 We never had but one； and it brought us trouble。〃
〃Nonsense； Phoebe；〃 replied Falcon； 〃it was not the diamond's
fault。 You know I have often wanted to go there； but you objected。
You said you were afraid some evil would befall me。 But now
Solomon himself is going to the mines； let us have no more of that
nonsense。 We will take our rifles and our pistols。〃
〃Therethererifles and pistols；〃 cried Phoebe； 〃that shows。〃
〃And we will be there in a week； stay a month； and home with our
pockets full of diamonds。〃
〃And find me dead of a broken heart。〃
〃Broken fiddlestick！ We have been parted longer than that； and yet
here we are all right。〃
〃Ay； but the pitcher that goes too often to the well gets broke at
last。 No； Reginald； now I have tasted three years' happiness and
peace of mind； I cannot go through what I used in England。 Oh；
doctor！ have you the heart to part man and wife； that have never
been a day from each other all these years？〃
〃Mrs。 Falcon； I would not do it for all the diamonds in Brazil。
No； Mr。 Falcon； I need hardly say how charmed I should be to have
your company： but that is a pleasure I shall certainly deny myself；
after what your good wife has said。 I owe her too much to cause
her a single pang。〃
〃Doctor；〃 said the charming Reginald； 〃you are a gentleman and side
with the lady。 Quite right。 It adds to my esteem； if possible。
Make your mind easy； I will go alone。 I am not a farmer。 I am
dead sick of this monotonous life； and； since I am compelled to
speak my mind； a little ashamed； as a gentleman； of living on my
wife and her brother； and doing nothing for myself。 So I shall go
to the Vaal river； and see a little life； here there's nothing but
vegetationand not much of that。 Not a word more； Phoebe； if you
please。 I am a good； easy； affectionate husband； but I am a man；
and not a child to be tied to a woman's apron…strings； however much
I may love and respect her。〃
Dick put in his word： 〃Since you are so independent； you can WALK
to the Vaal river。 I can't spare a couple of horses。〃
This hit the sybarite hard； and he cast a bitter glance of hatred
at his brother…in…law； and fell into a moody silence。
But when he got Phoebe to himself； he descanted on her selfishness；
Dick's rudeness； and his own wounded dignity； till he made her
quite anxious he should have his own way。 She came to Staines；
with red eyes； and said； 〃Tell me； doctor； will there be any women
up thereto take care of you？〃
〃Not a petticoat in the place； I believe。 It is a very rough life；
and how Falcon could think of leaving you and sweet little Tommy；
and this life of health； and peace； and comfort〃
〃Yet YOU do leave us； sir。〃
〃I am the most unfortunate man upon the earth； Falcon is one of the
happiest。 Would I leave wife and child to go there？ Ah me！ I am
dead to those I love。 This is my one chance of seeing my darling
again for many a long year perhaps。 Oh； I must not speak of HER
it unmans me。 My good； kind friend； I'll tell you what to do。
When we are all at supper； let a horse be saddled and left in the
yard for me。 I'll bid you all good…night； and I'll put fifty miles
between us before morning。 Even then HE need not be told I am
gone； he will not follow me。〃
〃You are very good； sir；〃 said Phoebe； 〃but no。 Too much has been
said。 I can't have him humbled by my brother； nor any one。 He
says I am selfish。 Perhaps I am； though I never was called so。 I
can't bear he should think me selfish。 He WILL go； and so let us
have no ill blood about it。 Since he is to go； of course I'd much
liever he should go with you than by himself。 You are sure there
are no women up thereto take care ofyouboth？ You must be
purse…bearer； sir； and look to every penny。 He is too generous
when he has got money to spend。〃
In short； Reginald had played so upon her heart； that she no