a simpleton-第72章
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makes my hair stand on end； though I dare say they mean no harm。
Your bedroom is always ready； sir。 I never will let it to any of
them； hoping now to see you every day。 You that know everything；
can guess how I long to see you both home。 My very good fortune
seems not to taste like good fortune； without those I love and
esteem to share it。 I shall count how many days this letter will
take to reach you； and then I shall pray for your safety harder
than ever； till the blessed hour comes when I see my husband； and
my good friend； never to part again； I hope； in this world。
I am sir； your dutiful servant and friend；
PHOEBE DALE。
P。S。 There is regular travelling to and from Cape Town； and a post
now to Pniel； but I thought it surest to send by one that knows
you。
Staines read this letter with great satisfaction。 He remembered
his two hundred pounds； but his gold and jewels puzzled him。 Still
it was good news； and pleased him not a little。 Phoebe's good
fortune gratified him too； and her offer of a partnership；
especially in the purchase of diamonds from returning diggers。 He
saw a large fortune to be made； and wearied and disgusted with
recent ill…luck； blear…eyed and almost blinded with sorting in the
blazing sun； he resolved to go at once to Dale's Kloof。 Should
Mrs。 Falcon be gone to England with the diamonds； he would stay
there； and Rosa should come out to him； or he would go and fetch
her。
He went home； and washed himself； and told Bulteel he had had good
news； and should leave the diggings at once。 He gave him up the
claim； and told him to sell it by auction。 It was worth two
hundred pounds still。 The good people sympathized with him； and he
started within an hour。 He left his pickaxe and shovel； and took
only his double rifle； an admirable one； some ammunition； including
conical bullets and projectile shells given him by Falcon； a bag
full of carbuncles and garnets he had collected for Ucatella； a few
small diamonds； and one hundred pounds；all that remained to him；
since he had been paying wages and other things for months； and had
given Falcon twenty for his journey。
He rode away and soon put twenty miles between him and the
diggings。
He came to a little store that bought diamonds and sold groceries
and tobacco。 He haltered his horse to a hook； and went in。 He
offered a small diamond for sale。 The master was out； and the
assistant said there was a glut of these small stones； he did not
care to give money for it。
〃Well； give me three dozen cigars。〃
While they were chaffering； in walked a Hottentot； and said； 〃Will
you buy this？〃 and laid a clear； glittering stone on the counter；
as large as a walnut。
〃Yes；〃 said the young man。 〃How much？〃
〃Two hundred pounds。〃
〃Two hundred pounds！ Let us look at it；〃 he examined it； and said
he thought it was a diamond； but these large stones were so
deceitful； he dared not give two hundred pounds。 〃Come again in an
hour；〃 said he； 〃then the master will be in。〃
〃No；〃 said the Hottentot quietly； and walked out。
Staines； who had been literally perspiring at the sight of this
stone； mounted his horse and followed the man。 When he came up to
him； he asked leave to examine the gem。 The Hottentot quietly
assented。
Staines looked at it all over。 It had a rough side and a polished
side； and the latter was of amazing softness and lustre。 It made
him tremble。 He said； 〃Look here； I have only one hundred pounds
in my pocket。〃
The Hottentot shook his head。
〃But if you will go back with me to Bulteel's farm； I'll borrow the
other hundred。〃
The Hottentot declined； and told him he could get four hundred
pounds for it by going back to Pniel。 〃But；〃 said he； 〃my face is
turned so； and when Squat turn his face so； he going home。 Not can
bear go the other way then；〃 and he held out his hand for the
diamond。
Staines gave it him； and was in despair at seeing such a prize so
near； yet leaving him。
He made one more effort。 〃Well； but；〃 said he； 〃how far are you
going this way？〃
〃Ten days。〃
〃Why； so am I。 Come with me to Dale's Kloof； and I will give the
other hundred。 See； I am in earnest； for here is one hundred； at
all events。〃
Staines made this proposal； trembling with excitement。 To his
surprise and joy； the Hottentot assented； though with an air of
indifference； and on these terms they became fellow…travellers； and
Staines gave him a cigar。 They went on side by side； and halted
for the night forty miles from Bulteel's farm。
They slept in a Boer's out…house； and the vrow was civil； and lent
Staines a jackal's skin。 In the morning he bought it for a
diamond； a carbuncle； and a score of garnets； for a horrible
thought had occurred to him； if they stopped at any place where
miners were； somebody might buy the great diamond over his head。
This fear； and others； grew on him； and with all his philosophy he
went on thorns； and was the slave of the diamond。
He resolved to keep his Hottentot all to himself if possible。 He
shot a springbok that crossed the road； and they roasted a portion
of the animal； and the Hottentot carried some on with him。
Seeing he admired the rifle； Staines offered it him for the odd
hundred pounds； but though Squat's eye glittered a moment； he
declined。
Finding that they met too many diggers and carts； Staines asked his
Hottentot was there no nearer way to reach that star； pointing to
one he knew was just over Dale's Kloof。
Oh； yes； he knew a nearer way； where there were trees； and shade；
and grass； and many beasts to shoot。
〃Let us take that way；〃 said Staines。
The Hottentot； ductile as wax； except about the price of the
diamond； assented calmly； and next day they diverged； and got into
forest scenery； and their eyes were soothed with green glades here
and there； wherever the clumps of trees sheltered the grass from
the panting sun。 Animals abounded； and were tame。 Staines； an
excellent marksman； shot the Hottentot his supper without any
trouble。
Sleeping in the wood； with not a creature near but Squat； a sombre
thought struck Staines。 Suppose this Hottentot should assassinate
him for his money； who would ever know？ The thought was horrible；
and he awoke with a start ten times that night。 The Hottentot
slept like a stone； and never feared for his own life and precious
booty。 Staines was compelled to own to himself he had less faith
in human goodness than the savage had。 He said to himself； 〃He is
my superior。 He is the master of this dreadful diamond； and I am
its slave。〃
Next day they went on till noon； and then they halted at a really
delightful spot； a silver kloof ran along a bottom； and there was a
little clump of three acacia…trees that lowered their long tresses；
pining for the stream； and sometimes getting a cool grateful kiss
from it when the water was high。
They halted the horse； bathed in the stream； and lay luxurious
under the acacias。 All was delicious languor and enjoyment of
life。
The Hottentot made a fire； and burnt the remains of a little sort
of kangaroo Staines had shot him the evening before； but it did not
suffice his maw； and looking about him； he saw three elands
leisurely feeding about three hundred yards off。 They were
cropping the rich herbage close to the shelter of a wood。
The Hottentot suggested that this was an excellent opportunity。 He
would borrow Staines's rifle； steal into the wood； crawl on his
belly close up to them； and send a bullet through one。
Staines did not relish the proposal。 He had seen the savage's eye
repeatedly gloat on the rifle； and was not without hopes he might
even yet relent； and give the great diamond for the hundred pounds
and this rifle； and he was so demoralized by the diamond； and
filled with suspicion； that he feared the savage； if he once had
the rifle in his possession； might levant； and be seen no more； in
which case he； Staines； still the slave of the diamond； might hang
himself on the nearest tree； and so secure his Rosa the insurance
money； at all events。 In short； he had really diamond on the
brain。
He hem'd and haw'd a little at Squat's proposal； and then got out
of i
