Squat would be king of the village。〃
Squat's eyes began to roll。
〃And shall I give the skin； and the glory that is my due； to an
ill…natured fellow； who refuses me his paltry diamond for a good
horselook at himand for the rifle that kills lions like
rabbitsbehold it； and a hundred pounds in good gold and Dutch
notessee； and for the lion's skin； and glory； and honor； and a
rich wife； and to be king of Africa？ Never！〃
The Hottentot's hands and toes began to work convulsively。 〃Good
master； Squat ask pardon。 Squat was blind。 Squat will give the
diamond； the great diamond of Africa； for the lion's skin； and the
king rifle； and the little horse； and the gold； and Dutch notes
every one of them。 Dat make just two hundred pounds。〃
〃More like four hundred；〃 cried Staines very loud。 〃And how do I
know it is a diamond？ These large stones are the most deceitful。
Show it me； this instant；〃 said he imperiously。
〃Iss； master；〃 said the crushed Hottentot； with the voice of a
mouse； and put the stone into his hand with a child…like faith that
almost melted Staines； but he saw he must be firm。 〃Where did you
find it？〃 he bawled。
〃Master；〃 said poor Squat； in deprecating tones； 〃my little master
at the farm wanted plaster。 He send to Bulteel's pan； dere was
large lumps。 Squat say to miners； 'May we take de large lumps？
Dey say； 'Yes； take de cursed lumps we no can break。' We took de
cursed lumps。 We ride 'em in de cart to farm twenty milses。 I
beat 'em with my hammer。 Dey is very hard。 More dey break my
heart dan I break their cursed heads。 One day I use strong words；
like white man； and I hit one large lump too hard； he break； and
out come de white clear stone。 Iss； him diamond。 Long time we
know him in our kraal； because he hard。 Long time before ever
white man know him； tousand years ago； we find him； and he make us
lilly hole in big stone for make wheat dust。 Him a diamond； blank
my eyes！〃
This was intended as a solemn form of asseveration adapted to the
white man's habits。
Yes； reader； he told the truth； and strange to say； the miners knew
the largest stones were in these great lumps of carbonate； but then
the lumps were so cruelly hard； they lost all patience with them；
and so； finding it was no use to break some of them； and not all；
they rejected them all； with curses； and thus this great stone was
carted away as rubbish from the mine； and found； like a toad in a
hole； by Squat。
〃Well；〃 said Christopher； 〃after all； you are an honest fellow； and
I think I will buy it； but first you must show me out of this wood；
I am not going to be eaten alive in it for want of the king of
rifles。〃
Squat assented eagerly； and they started at once。 They passed the
skeleton of the eland； its very bones were polished； and its head
carried into the wood； and looking back they saw vultures busy on
the lion。 They soon cleared the wood。
Squat handed Staines the diamondwhen it touched his hand； as his
own； a bolt of ice seemed to run down his back； and hot water to
follow itand the money； horse； rifle； and skin were made over to
Squat。
〃Shake hands over it； Squat；〃 said Staines； 〃you are hard； but you
are honest。〃
〃Iss； master； I a good much hard and honest；〃 said Squat。
〃Good…by； old fellow。〃
〃Good…by； master。〃
And Squat strutted away； with the halter in his hand； horse
following him； rifle under his arm； and the lion's skin over his
shoulders； and the tail trailing； a figure sublime in his own eyes；
ridiculous in creation's。 So vanity triumphed； even in the wilds
of Africa。
Staines hurried forward on foot； loading his revolver as he went；
for the very vicinity of the wood alarmed him now that he had
parted with his trusty rifle。
That night he lay down on the open veldt； in his jackal's skin；
with no weapon but his revolver； and woke with a start a dozen
times。 Just before daybreak he scanned the stars carefully； and
noting exactly where the sun rose； made a rough guess at his
course； and followed it till the sun was too hot； then he crept
under a ragged bush； hung up his jackal's skin； and sweated there；
parched with thirst； and gnawed with hunger。 When it was cooler；
he crept on； and found water； but no food。 He was in torture； and
began to be frightened； for he was in a desert。 He found an
ostrich egg and ate it ravenously。
Next day； hunger took a new form； faintness。 He could not walk for
it； his jackal's skin oppressed him； he lay down exhausted。 A
horror seized his dejected soul。 The diamond！ It would be his
death。 No man must so long for any earthly thing as he had for
this glittering traitor。 〃Oh！ my good horse！ my trusty rifle！〃 he
cried。 〃For what have I thrown you away？ For starvation。 Misers
have been found stretched over their gold； and some day my skeleton
will be found； and nothing to tell the base death I died of and
deserved； nothing but the cursed diamond。 Ay； fiend； glare in my
eyes； do！〃 He felt delirium creeping over him； and at that a new
terror froze him。 His reason； that he had lost once； was he to
lose it again？ He prayed； he wept； he dozed； and forgot all。 When
he woke again； a cool air was fanning his cheeks； it revived him a
little； it became almost a breeze。
And this breeze； as it happened； carried on its wings the curse of
Africa。 There loomed in the north…west a cloud of singular
density； that seemed to expand in size as it drew nearer； yet to be
still more solid； and darken the air。 It seemed a dust…storm。
Staines took out his handkerchief； prepared to wrap his face in it；
not to be stifled。
But soon there was a whirring and a whizzing； and hundreds of
locusts flew over his head； they were followed by thousands； the
swiftest of the mighty host。 They thickened and thickened； till
the air looked solid； and even that glaring sun was blackened by
the rushing mass。 Birds of all sorts whirled above； and swooped
among them。 They peppered Staines all over like shot。 They stuck
in his beard； and all over him； they clogged the bushes； carpeted
the ground； while the darkened air sang as with the whirl of
machinery。 Every bird in the air； and beast of the field；
granivorous or carnivorous； was gorged with them； and to these
animals was added man； for Staines； being famished； and remembering
the vrow Bulteel； lighted a fire； and roasted a handful or two on a
flat stone； they were delicious。 The fire once lighted； they
cooked themselves； for they kept flying into it。 Three hours；
without interruption； did they darken nature； and； before the
column ceased； all the beasts of the field came after； gorging them
so recklessly； that Staines could have shot an antelope dead with
his pistol within a yard of him。
But to tell the horrible truth； the cooked locusts were so nice
that he preferred to gorge on them along with the other animals。
He roasted another lot； for future use； and marched on with a good
heart。
But now he got on some rough； scrubby ground； and damaged his
shoes； and tore his trousers。
This lasted a terrible distance； but at the end of it came the
usual arid ground； and at last he came upon the track of wheels and
hoofs。 He struck it at an acute angle； and that showed him he had
made a good line。 He limped along it a little way； slowly； being
footsore。
By and by； looking back； he saw a lot of rough fellows swaggering
along behind him。 Then he was alarmed； terribly alarmed； for his
diamond； he tore a strip of his handkerchief； and tied the stone
cunningly under his armpit as he hobbled on。
The men came up with him。
〃Hallo； mate！ Come from the diggings？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What luck？〃
〃Very good。〃
〃Haw！ haw！ What！ found a fifty…carat？ Show it us。〃
〃We found five big stones； my mate and me。 He is gone to Cape Town
to sell them。 I had no luck when he had left me； so I have cut it；
going to turn farmer。 Can you tell me how far it is to Dale's
Kloof？〃
No； they could not tell him that。 They swung on； and； to Staines；
their backs were a cordial； as we say in Scotland。
However； his travels were near an end。 Next morning he saw Dale's
Kloof in the distance； and as soon as the heat moderated； he pushed
on； with one shoe and tattered trousers； and half an hour before
sunset he hobbled up to the place。
It was all bustle。 Travellers at the door； their wagons and carts
under a long shed。
Ucatella was the first to see him coming； and came and fawned on
him with delight。 Her eyes glistened； her teeth gleamed。 She
patted both his cheeks； and then his shoulders； and even his knees；
and then flew in…doors crying； 〃My doctor child is come home！〃
This amused three travellers； and brought out Dick； with a hearty
welcome。
〃But Lordsake； sir； why have you come afoot； and a rough road too？
Look at your shoes。 Hallo！ What is come of the horse？〃
〃I exchanged him for a diamond。〃
〃The deuce you did！ And the rifle？〃
〃Exchanged that for the same diamond。〃
〃It ought to be a big 'un。〃
〃It is。〃
Dick made a wry face。 〃Well； sir； you know best。 You are welcome；
on horse or afoot。 You are just in time； Phoebe and me are just
sitting down to dinner。〃
He took him into a little room they had built for their own
privacy； for they liked to be quiet now and then； being country
bred； and Phoebe was putting their dinner on the table； when
Staines limped in。
She gave a joyful cry； and turned red all over。 〃Oh； doctor！〃
Then his travel…torn appearance struck her。 〃But； dear heart！ what
a figure！ Where's Reginald？ Oh； he's not far off； I know。〃
And she flung open the window； and almost flew through it in a
moment； to look for her husband。
〃Reginald？〃 said Staines。 Then turning to Dick Dale； 〃Why； he is
hereisn't he？〃
〃No； sir： not without he is just come with you。〃
〃With me？no。 You know we parted at the diggings。 Come； Mr。
Dale； he may not be here now； but he has been here。 He must have
been here。〃
Phoebe； who had not lost a word； turned round； with all her high
color gone； and her cheeks getting paler and paler。 〃Oh； Dick！
what is this？〃
〃I don't understand it；〃 said Dick。 〃Whatever made you think he
was here； sir？〃
〃Why； I tell you he left me t