a simpleton-第47章

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food　about。　　They　were　herded　by　a　Kafir　infant　of　about　six；
black；　glossy；　fat；　and　clean；　being　in　the　water　six　times　a　day。

Sometimes　one　of　the　older　birds　would　show　an　inclination　to　stray
out　of　the　pan。　　Then　the　infant　rolled　after　her；　and　tapped　her
ankles　with　a　wand。　　She　instantly　came　back；　but　without　any　loss
of　dignity；　for　she　strutted　with　her　nose　in　the　air；　affecting
completely　to　ignore　the　inferior　little　animal；　that　was
nevertheless　controlling　her　movements。　　〃There's　a　farce；〃　said
Phoebe。　　〃But　you　would　not　believe　the　money　they　cost　me；　nor　the
money　they　bring　me　in。　　Grain　will　not　sell　here　for　a　quarter　its
value：　and　we　can't　afford　to　send　it　to　Cape　Town；　twenty　days　and
back；　but　finery；　that　sells　everywhere。　　I　gather　sixty　pounds　the
year　off　those　poor　fowls'　backsclear　profit。〃

She　showed　him　the　granary；　and　told　him　there　wasn't　such　another
in　Africa。　　This　farm　had　belonged　to　one　of　the　old　Dutch
settlers；　and　that　breed　had　been　going　down　this　many　a　year。
〃You　see；　sir；　Dick　and　I　being　English；　and　not　downright　in　want
of　money；　we　can't　bring　ourselves　to　sell　grain　to　the　middlemen
for　nothing；　so　we　store　it；　hoping　for　better　times；　that　maybe
will　never　come。　　Now　I'll　show　you　how　the　dam　is　made。〃

They　inspected　the　dam　all　round。　　〃This　is　our　best　friend　of
all；〃　said　she。　　〃Without　this　the　sun　would　turn　us　all　to
tinder；crops；　flowers；　beasts；　and　folk。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；〃　said　Staines。　　〃Then　it　is　a　pity　you　have　not　built
it　more　scientifically。　　I　must　have　a　look　at　this。〃

〃Ay　do；　sir；　and　advise　us　if　you　see　anything　wrong。　　But　hark！　it
is　milking　time。　　Come　and　see　that。〃　　So　she　led　the　way　to　some
sheds；　and　there　they　found　several　cows　being　milked；　each　by　a
little　calf　and　a　little　Hottentot　at　the　same　time；　and　both
fighting　and　jostling　each　other　for　the　udder。　　Now　and　then　a
young　cow；　unused　to　incongruous　twins；　would　kick　impatiently　at
both　animals　and　scatter　them。

〃That　is　their　way；〃　said　Phoebe：　〃they　have　got　it　into　their
silly　Hottentot　heads　as　kye　won't　yield　their　milk　if　the　calf　is
taken　away；　and　it　is　no　use　arguing　with　'em；　they　will　have　their
own　way；　but　they　are　very　trusty　and　honest；　poor　things。　　We　soon
found　that　out。　　When　we　came　here　first　it　was　in　a　hired　wagon；
and　Hottentot　drivers：　so　when　we　came　to　settle　I　made　ready　for　a
bit　of　a　wrangle。　　But　my　maid　Sophy；　that　is　nurse　now；　and　a
great　despiser　of　heathens；　she　says；　'Don't　you　trouble；　them
nasty　ignorant　blacks　never　charges　more　than　their　due。'　　'I
forgive　'em；'　says　I；　'I　wish　all　white　folk　was　as　nice。'
However；　I　did　give　them　a　trifle　over；　for　luck：　and　then　they　got
together　and　chattered　something　near　the　door；　hand　in　hand。　　'La；
Sophy；'　says　I；　'what　is　up　now？'　　Says　she；　'They　are　blessing　of
us。　　Things　is　come　to　a　pretty　pass；　for　ignorant　Muslinmen
heathen　to　be　blessing　Christian　folk。'　　'Well；'　says　I；　'it　won't
hurt　us　any。'　　'I　don't　know；'　says　she。　　'I　don't　want　the　devil
prayed　over　me。'　　So　she　cocked　that　long　nose　of　hers　and　followed
it　in　a　doors。〃

By　this　time　they　were　near　the　house；　and　Phoebe　was　obliged　to
come　to　her　postscript；　for　the　sake　of　which；　believe　me；　she　had
uttered　every　syllable　of　this　varied　chat。　　〃Well；　sir；〃　said　she；
affecting　to　proceed　without　any　considerable　change　of　topic；　〃and
how　do　you　find　yourself？　　Have　you　discovered　the　past？〃

〃I　have；　madam。　　I　remember　every　leading　incident　of　my　life。〃

〃And　has　it　made　you　happier？〃　said　Phoebe　softly。

〃No；〃　said　Christopher　gravely。　　〃Memory　has　brought　me　misery。〃

〃I　feared　as　much；　for　you　have　lost　your　fine　color；　and　your　eyes
are　hollow；　and　lines　on　your　poor　brow　that　were　not　there　before。
Are　you　not　sorry　you　have　discovered　the　past？〃

〃No；　Mrs。　Falcon。　　Give　me　the　sovereign　gift　of　reason；　with　all
the　torture　it　can　inflict。　　I　thank　God　for　returning　memory；　even
with　the　misery　it　brings。〃

Phoebe　was　silent　a　long　time：　then　she　said　in　a　low；　gentle
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