a simpleton-第49章

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horses　flagged；　so　they　thought　it　best　to　stop　and　light　a　fire
and　stand　upon　their　guard。

They　did　so；　and　Falcon　sat　with　his　rifle　cocked；　while　Staines
boiled　coffee；　and　they　drank　it；　and　after　two　hours'　halt；　pushed
on；　and　at　last　the　bushes　got　more　scattered；　and　they　were　on　the
dreary　plain　again。　　Falcon　drew　the　rein；　with　a　sigh　of　relief；
and　they　walked　their　horses　side　by　side。

〃Well；　what　has　become　of　the　lions？〃　said　Falcon　jauntily。　　He
turned　in　his　saddle；　and　saw　a　large　animal　stealing　behind　them
with　its　belly　to　the　very　earth；　and　eyes　hot　coals；　he　uttered　an
eldrich　screech；　fired　both　barrels；　with　no　more　aim　than　a　baby；
and　spurred　away；　yelling　like　a　demon。　　The　animal　fled　another
way；　in　equal　trepidation　at　those　tongues　of　flame　and　loud
reports；　and　Christopher's　horse　reared　and　plunged；　and　deposited
him　promptly　on　the　sward；　but　he　held　the　bridle；　mounted　again；
and　rode　after　his　companion。　　A　stern　chase　is　a　long　chase；　and
for　that　or　some　other　reason　he　could　never　catch　him　again　till
sunrise。　　Being　caught；　he　ignored　the　lioness；　with　cool　hauteur：
he　said　he　had　ridden　on　to　find　comfortable　quarters：　and　craved
thanks。

This　was　literally　the　only　incident　worth　recording　that　the
companions　met　with　in　three　hundred　miles。

On　the　sixth　day　out；　towards　afternoon；　they　found　by　inquiring
they　were　near　the　diamond　washings；　and　the　short　route　was
pointed　out　by　an　exceptionally　civil　Boer。

But　Christopher's　eye　had　lighted　upon　a　sort　of　chain　of　knolls；
or　little　round　hills；　devoid　of　vegetation；　and　he　told　Falcon　he
would　like　to　inspect　these；　before　going　farther。

〃Oh；〃　said　the　Boer；　〃they　are　not　on　my　farm；　thank　goodness！　they
are　on　my　cousin　Bulteel's；〃　and　he　pointed　to　a　large　white　house
about　four　miles　distant；　and　quite　off　the　road。　　Nevertheless；
Staines　insisted　on　going　to　it。　　But　first　they　made　up　to　one　of
these　knolls；　and　examined　it；　it　was　about　thirty　feet　high；　and
not　a　vestige　of　herbage　on　it；　the　surface　was　composed　of　sand
and　of　lumps　of　gray　limestone　very　hard；　diversified　with　lots　of
quartz；　mica；　and　other　old　formations。

Staines　got　to　the　top　of　it　with　some　difficulty；　and　examined　the
surface　all　over。　　He　came　down　again；　and　said；　〃All　these　little
hills　mark　hot　volcanic　actionwhy；　they　are　like　boiling　earth…
bubbleswhich　is　the　very　thing；　under　certain　conditions；　to　turn
carbonate　of　lime　into　diamonds。　　Now　here　is　plenty　of　limestone
unnaturally　hard；　and　being　in　a　diamond　country；　I　can　fancy　no
place　more　likely　to　be　the　matrix　than　these　earth…bubbles。　　Let
us　tether　the　horses；　and　use　our　shovels。〃

They　did　so；　and　found　one　or　two　common　crystals；　and　some　jasper；
and　a　piece　of　chalcedony　all　in　little　bubbles；　but　no　diamond。
Falcon　said　it　was　wasting　time。

Just　then　the　proprietor；　a　gigantic；　pasty　colonist；　came　up；　with
his　pipe；　and　stood　calmly　looking　on。　　Staines　came　down；　and　made
a　sort　of　apology。　　Bulteel　smiled　quietly；　and　asked　what　harm
they　could　do　him；　raking　that　rubbish。　　〃Rake　it　all　avay；　mine
vriends；〃　said　he：　〃ve　shall　thank　you　moch。〃

He　then　invited　them　languidly　to　his　house。　　They　went　with　him；
and　as　he　volunteered　no　more　remarks；　they　questioned　him；　and
learned　his　father　had　been　a　Hollander；　and　so　had　his　vrow's。
This　accounted　for　the　size　and　comparative　cleanliness　of　his
place。　　It　was　stuccoed　with　the　lime　of　the　country　outside；　and
was　four　times　as　large　as　the　miserable　farmhouses　of　the
degenerate　Boers。　　For　all　this；　the　street　door　opened　on　the
principal　room；　and　that　room　was　kitchen　and　parlor；　only　very
large　and　wholesome。　　〃But；　Lord；〃　as　poor　dear　Pepys　used　to　blurt
out〃to　see　how　some　folk　understand　cleanliness！〃　　The　floor　was
made　of　powdered　ants'　nests；　and　smeared　with　fresh　cow…dung　every
day。　　Yet　these　people　were　the　cleanest　Boers　in　the　colony。

The　vrow　met　them；　with　a　snow…white　collar　and　cuffs　of　Hamburgh
linen；　and　the　brats　had　pasty　faces　round　as　pumpkins；　but　shone
with　soap。　　The　vrow　was　also　pasty…faced；　but　gentle；　and　welcomed
them　with　a　smile；　languid；　but　unequivocal。

The　Hottentots　took　their　horses；　as　a　matter　of　course。　　Their
guns　were　put　in　a　corner。　　A　clean　cloth　was　spread；　and　they　saw
they　were　to　sup　and　sleep　there；　though　the　words　of　invitation
were　never　spoken。

At　supper；　sun…dried　flesh；　cabbage；　and　a　savory　dish　the
travellers　returned　to　with　gusto。　　Staines　asked　what　it　was：　the
vrow　told　himlocusts。　　They　had　stripped　her　garden；　and　filled
her　very　rooms；　and　fallen　in　heaps　under　her　walls；　so　she　had
pressed　them；　by　the　million；　into　cakes；　had　salted　them　lightly；
and　stored　them；　and　they　were　excellent；　baked。

After　supper；　the　accomplished　Reginald；　observing　a　wire　guitar；
tuned　it　with　some　difficulty；　and　so　twanged　it；　and　sang　ditties
to　it；　that　the　flabby　giant's　pasty　face　wore　a　look　of　dreamy
content　over　his　everlasting　pipe；　and　in　the　morning；　after　a
silent　breakfast；　he　said；　〃Mine　vriends；　stay　here　a　year　or　two；
and　rake　in　mine　rubbish。　　Ven　you　are　tired；　here　are　springbok
and　antelopes；　and　you　can　shoot　mit　your　rifles；　and　ve　vil　cook
them；　and　you　shall　zing　us　zongs　of　Vaderland。〃

They　thanked　him　heartily；　and　said　they　would　stay　a　few　days；　at
all　events。

The　placid　Boer　went　a…farming；　and　the　pair　shouldered　their　pick
and　shovel；　and　worked　on　their　heap　all　day；　and　found　a　number　of
pretty　stones；　but　no　diamond。

〃Come；〃　said　Falcon；　〃we　must　go　to　the　river；〃　and　Staines
acquiesced。　　〃I　bow　to　experience；〃　said　he。

At　the　threshold　they　found　two　of　the　little　Bulteels；　playing
with　pieces　of　quartz；　crystal；　etc。；　on　the　door…stone。　　One　of
these　stones　caught　Staines's　eye　directly。　　It　sparkled　in　a
different　way　from　the　others：　he　examined　it：　it　was　the　size　of　a
white　haricot　bean；　and　one　side　of　it　polished　by　friction。　　He
looked　at　it；　and　looked；　and　saw　that　it　refracted　the　light。　　He
felt　convinced　it　was　a　diamond。

〃Give　the　boy　a　penny　for　it；〃　said　the　ingenious　Falcon；　on
receiving　the　information。

〃Oh！〃　said　Staines。　　〃Take　advantage　of　a　child？〃

He　borrowed　it　of　the　boy；　and　laid　it　on　the　table；　after　supper。
〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃this　is　what　we　were　raking　in　your　kopjes　for；
and　could　not　find　it。　　It　belongs　to　little　Hans。　　Will　you　sell
it　us？　　We　are　not　experts；　but　we　think　it　may　be　a　diamond。　　We
will　risk　ten　pounds　on　it。〃

〃Ten　pounds！〃　said　the　farmer。　　〃Nay；　we　rob　not　travellers；　mine
vriend。〃

〃But　if　it　is　a　diamond；　it　is　worth　a　hundred。　　See　how　it　gains
fire　in　the　dusk。〃

In　short；　they　forced　the　ten　pounds　on　him；　and　next　day　went　to
work　on　another　kopje。

But　the　simple　farmer's　conscience　smote　him。　　It　was　a　slack　time；
so　he　sent　four　Hotteatots；　with　shovels；　to　help　these　friendly
maniacs。　　These　worked　away　gayly；　and　the　white　men　set　up　a
sorting　table；　and　sorted　the　stuff；　and　hammered　the　nodules；　and
at　last　found　a　little　stone　as　big　as　a　pea　that　refracted　the
light。　　Staines　showed　this　to　the　Hottentots；　and　their　quick　eyes
discovered　two　more　that　day；　only　smaller。

Next　day；　nothing　but　a　splinter　or　two。

Then　Staines　determined　to　dig　deeper；　contrary　to　the　general
impression。　　He　gave　his　reason：　〃Diamonds　don't　fall　from　the　sky。
They　work　up　from　the　ground；　and　clearly　the　heat　must　be　greater
farther　down。〃

Acting　on　this；　they　tried　the　next　strata；　but　found　it　entirely
barren。　　After　that；　however；　they　came　to　a　fresh　layer　of
carbonate；　and　here；　Falcon　hammering　a　large　lump　of　conglomerate；
out　leaped；　all　of　a　sudden；　a　diamond　big　as　a　nut；　that　ran　along
the　earth；　gleaming　like　a　star。　　It　had　polished　angles　and
natural　facets；　and　even　a　novice；　with　an　eye　in　his　head；　could
see　it　was　a　diamond　of　the　purest　water。　　Staines　and　Falcon
shouted　with　delight；　and　made　the　blacks　a　present　on　the　spot。

They　showed　the　prize；　at　night；　and　begged　the　farmer　to　take　to
digging。　　There　was　ten　times　more　money　beneath　his　soil　than　on
it。

Not　he。　　He　was　a　farmer：　did　not　believe　in　diamonds。　　Two　days
afterwards；　another　great　find。　　Seven　small　diamonds。

Next　day；　a　stone　as　large　as　a　cob…nut；　and　with　strange　and
beautiful　streaks。　　They　carried　it　home　to　dinner；　and　set　it　on
the　table；　and　told　the　family　it　was　worth　a　thousand　pounds。
Bulteel　scarcely　looked　at　it；　but　the　vrow　trembled　and　all　the
young　folk　glowered　at　it。

In　the　middle　of　dinner；　it　exploded　like　a　cracker；　and　went
literally　into　diamond…dust。

〃Dere　goes　von　tousand　pounds；〃　said　Bulteel；　without　moving　a
muscle。

Falcon　swore。　　But　Staines　showed　fortitude。　　〃It　was　laminated；〃
said　he；　〃and　exposure　to　the　air　was　fatal。〃

Owing　to　the　invaluable　assistance　of　the　Hottentots；　they　had　in
less　than　a　month　collected　four　large　stones　of　pure　water；　and　a
wineglassful　of　small　stones；　when；　one　fine　day；　going　to　work
calmly　after　breakfast；　they　found　some　tents　pitched；　and　at　least
a　score　of　dirty　diggers；　bearded　like　the　pard；　at　work　on　the
ground。　　Staines　sent　Falcon　back　to　tell　Bulteel；　and　suggest　that
he　should　at　once　order　them　off；　or；　better　still；　make　terms　with
them。　　The　phlegmatic　Boer　did　neither。

In　twenty…four　hours　it　was　too　late。　　The　place　was　rushed。　　In
other　words；　diggers　swarmed　to　the　spot；　with　no　idea　of　law　but
digger's　law。

A　thousand　tents　rose　like　mushrooms；　and　poor　Bulteel　stood
smoking；　and　staring　amazed；　at　his　own　door；　and　saw　a　veritable
procession　of　wagons；　Cape　carts；　and　powdered　travellers　file　past
him　to　take　possession　of　his　hillocks。　　Him；　the　proprietor；　they
simply　ignored；　they　had　a　committee　who　were　to　deal　with　all
obstructions；　landlords　and　tenants　included。　　They　themselves
measured　out　Bulteel's　farm　into　thirty…foot　claims；　and　went　to
work　with　shovel　and　pick。　　They　held　Staines's　claim　sacredthat
was　diggers'　law；　but　they　confined　it　strictly　to　thirty　feet
square。

Had　the　friends　resisted；　their　brains　would　have　been　knocked　out。
However；　they　gained　this；　that　dealers　poured　in；　and　the　market
not　being　yet　glutted；　the　price　was　good。　　Staines　sold　a　few　of
the　small　stones　for　two　hundred　pounds。　　He　showed　one　of　the
larger　stones。　　The　dealer's　eye　glittered；　but　he　offered　only
three　hundred　pounds；　and　this　was　so　wide　of　the　ascending　scale；
on　which　a　stone　of　that　importance　is　priced；　that　Staines
reserved　it　for　sale　at　Cape　Town。

Nevertheless；　he　afterwards　doubted　whether　he　had　not　better　have
taken　it；　for　the　multitude　of　diggers　turned　out　such　a　prodigious
number　of　diamonds　at　Bulteel's　pan；　that　a　sort　of　panic　fell　on
the　market。

These　dry　diggings　were　a　revelation　to　the　world。　　Men　began　to
think　the　diamond　perhaps　was　a　commoner　stone　than　any　one　had
dreamed　it　to　be。

As　to　the　discovery　of　stones；　Staines　and　Falcon　lost　nothing　by
being　confined　to　a　thirty…foot　claim。　　Compelled　to　dig　deeper；
they　got　into　a　rich　strata；　where　they　found　garnets　by　the　pint；
and　some　small　diamonds；　and　at　last；　one　lucky　day；　their　largest
diamond