a simpleton-第55章

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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　to　come　here。〃

〃Left　you；　sir！〃　faltered　Phoebe。　　〃Why；　when？where？〃

〃At　the　diggingsever　so　long　ago。〃

〃Blank　him！　that　is　just　like　him；　the　uneasy　fool！〃　roared　Dick。

〃No；　Mr。　Dale；　you　should　not　say　that；　he　left　me；　with　my
consent；　to　come　to　Mrs。　Falcon　here；　and　consult　her　about
disposing　of　our　diamonds。〃

〃Diamonds！diamonds！〃　cried　Phoebe。　　〃Oh；　they　make　me　tremble。
How　COULD　you　let　him　go　alone！　　You　didn't　let　HIM　go　on　foot；　I
hope？〃

〃Oh；　no；　Mrs。　Falcon；　he　had　his　horse；　and　his　rifle；　and　money　to
spend　on　the　road。〃

〃How　long　ago　did　he　leave　you；　sir？〃

〃II　am　sorry　to　say　it　was　five　weeks　ago。〃

〃Five　weeks！　and　not　come　yet。　　Ah！　the　wild　beasts！the　diggers！
the　murderers！　　He　is　dead！〃

〃God　forbid！〃　faltered　Staines；　but　his　own　blood　began　to　run
cold。

〃He　is　dead。　　He　has　died　between　this　and　the　dreadful　diamonds。
I　shall　never　see　my　darling　again：　he　is　dead。　　He　is　dead。〃

She　rushed　out　of　the　room；　and　out　of　the　house；　throwing　her　arms
above　her　head　in　despair；　and　uttering　those　words　of　agony　again
and　again　in　every　variety　of　anguish。

At　such　horrible　moments　women　always　swoonif　we　are　to　believe
the　dramatists。　　I　doubt　if　there　is　one　grain　of　truth　in　this。
Women　seldom　swoon　at　all；　unless　their　bodies　are　unhealthy；　or
weakened　by　the　reaction　that　follows　so　terrible　a　shock　as　this。
At　all　events；　Phoebe；　at　first；　was　strong　and　wild　as　a　lion；　and
went　to　and　fro　outside　the　house；　unconscious　of　her　body's
motion；　frenzied　with　agony；　and　but　one　word　on　her　lips；　〃He　is
dead！he　is　dead！〃

Dick　followed　her；　crying　like　a　child；　but　master　of　himself；　he
got　his　people　about　her；　and　half　carried　her　in　again；　then　shut
the　door　in　all　their　faces。

He　got　the　poor　creature　to　sit　down；　and　she　began　to　rock　and
moan；　with　her　apron　over　her　head；　and　her　brown　hair　loose　about
her。

〃Why　should　he　be　dead？〃　said　Dick。　　〃Don't　give　a　man　up　like
that；　Phoebe。　　Doctor；　tell　us　more　about　it。　　Oh；　man；　how　could
you　let　him　out　of　your　sight？　　You　knew　how　fond　the　poor　creature
was　of　him。〃

〃But　that　was　it；　Mr。　Dale；〃　said　Staines。　　〃I　knew　his　wife　must
pine　for　him；　and　we　had　found　six　large　diamonds；　and　a　handful　of
small　ones；　but　the　market　was　glutted；　and　to　get　a　better　price；
he　wanted　to　go　straight　to　Cape　Town。　　But　I　said；　'No；　go　and
show　them　to　your　wife；　and　see　whether　she　will　go　to　Cape　Town。'〃

Phoebe　began　to　listen；　as　was　evident　by　her　moaning　more　softly。

〃Might　he　not　have　gone　straight　to　Cape　Town？〃　Staines　hazarded
this　timidly。

〃Why　should　he　do　that；　sir？　　Dale's　Kloof　is　on　the　road。〃

〃Only　on　one　road。　　Mr。　Dale；　he　was　well　armed；　with　rifle　and
revolver；　and　I　cautioned　him　not　to　show　a　diamond　on　the　road。
Who　would　molest　him？　　Diamonds　don't　show；　like　gold。　　Who　was　to
know　he　had　three　thousand　pounds　hidden　under　his　armpits；　and　in
two　barrels　of　his　revolver？〃

〃Three　thousand　pounds！〃　cried　Dale。　　〃You　trusted　HIM　with　three
thousand　pounds？〃

〃Certainly。　　They　were　worth　about　three　thousand　pounds　in　Cape
Town；　and　half　as　much　again　in〃

Phoebe　started　up　in　a　moment。　　〃Thank　God！〃　she　cried。　　〃There's
hope　for　me。　　Oh；　Dick；　he　is　not　dead：　HE　HAS　ONLY　DESERTED　ME。〃

And　with　these　strange　and　pitiable　words；　she　fell　to　sobbing　as
if　her　great　heart　would　burst　at　last。


CHAPTER　XXIV。


There　came　a　reaction；　and　Phoebe　was　prostrated　with　grief　and
alarm。　　Her　brother　never　doubted　now　that　Reginald　had　run　to　Cape
Town　for　a　lark。　　But　Phoebe；　though　she　thought　so　too；　could　not
be　sure；　and　so　the　double　agony　of　bereavement　and　desertion
tortured　her　by　turns；　and　almost　together。　　For　the　first　time
these　many　years；　she　was　so　crushed　she　could　not　go　about　her
business；　but　lay　on　a　little　sofa　in　her　own　room；　and　had　the
blinds　down；　for　her　head　ached　so　she　could　not　bear　the　light。

She　conceived　a　bitter　resentment　against　Staines；　and　told　Dick
never　to　let　him　into　her　sight；　if　he　did　not　want　to　be　her
death。

In　vain　Dick　made　excuses　for　him：　she　would　hear　none。　　For　once
she　was　as　unreasonable　as　any　other　living　woman：　she　could　see
nothing　but　that　she　had　been　happy；　after　years　of　misery；　and
should　be　happy　now　if　this　man　had　never　entered　her　house。　　〃Ah；
Collie！〃　she　cried；　〃you　were　wiser　than　I　was。　　You　as　good　as
told　me　he　would　make　me　smart　for　lodging　and　curing　him。　　And　I
was　SO　happy！〃

Dale　communicated　this　as　delicately　as　he　could　to　Staines。
Christopher　was　deeply　grieved　and　wounded。　　He　thought　it　unjust；
but　he　knew　it　was　natural：　he　said；　humbly；　〃I　feel　guilty　myself；
Mr。　Dale；　and　yet；　unless　I　had　possessed　omniscience；　what　could　I
do？　　I　thought　of　her　in　allpoor　thing！　poor　thing！〃

The　tears　were　in　his　eyes；　and　Dick　Dale　went　away　scratching　his
head　and　thinking　it　over。　　The　more　he　thought；　the　less　he　was
inclined　to　condemn　him。

Staines　himself　was　much　troubled　in　mind；　and　lived　on　thorns。　　He
wanted　to　be　off　to　England；　grudged　eve