a simpleton-第48章

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last。　　No；　Reginald；　now　I　have　tasted　three　years'　happiness　and
peace　of　mind；　I　cannot　go　through　what　I　used　in　England。　　Oh；
doctor！　have　you　the　heart　to　part　man　and　wife；　that　have　never
been　a　day　from　each　other　all　these　years？〃

〃Mrs。　Falcon；　I　would　not　do　it　for　all　the　diamonds　in　Brazil。
No；　Mr。　Falcon；　I　need　hardly　say　how　charmed　I　should　be　to　have
your　company：　but　that　is　a　pleasure　I　shall　certainly　deny　myself；
after　what　your　good　wife　has　said。　　I　owe　her　too　much　to　cause
her　a　single　pang。〃

〃Doctor；〃　said　the　charming　Reginald；　〃you　are　a　gentleman　and　side
with　the　lady。　　Quite　right。　　It　adds　to　my　esteem；　if　possible。
Make　your　mind　easy；　I　will　go　alone。　　I　am　not　a　farmer。　　I　am
dead　sick　of　this　monotonous　life；　and；　since　I　am　compelled　to
speak　my　mind；　a　little　ashamed；　as　a　gentleman；　of　living　on　my
wife　and　her　brother；　and　doing　nothing　for　myself。　　So　I　shall　go
to　the　Vaal　river；　and　see　a　little　life；　here　there's　nothing　but
vegetationand　not　much　of　that。　　Not　a　word　more；　Phoebe；　if　you
please。　　I　am　a　good；　easy；　affectionate　husband；　but　I　am　a　man；
and　not　a　child　to　be　tied　to　a　woman's　apron…strings；　however　much
I　may　love　and　respect　her。〃

Dick　put　in　his　word：　〃Since　you　are　so　independent；　you　can　WALK
to　the　Vaal　river。　　I　can't　spare　a　couple　of　horses。〃

This　hit　the　sybarite　hard；　and　he　cast　a　bitter　glance　of　hatred
at　his　brother…in…law；　and　fell　into　a　moody　silence。

But　when　he　got　Phoebe　to　himself；　he　descanted　on　her　selfishness；
Dick's　rudeness；　and　his　own　wounded　dignity；　till　he　made　her
quite　anxious　he　should　have　his　own　way。　　She　came　to　Staines；
with　red　eyes；　and　said；　〃Tell　me；　doctor；　will　there　be　any　women
up　thereto　take　care　of　you？〃

〃Not　a　petticoat　in　the　place；　I　believe。　　It　is　a　very　rough　life；
and　how　Falcon　could　think　of　leaving　you　and　sweet　little　Tommy；
and　this　life　of　health；　and　peace；　and　comfort〃

〃Yet　YOU　do　leave　us；　sir。〃

〃I　am　the　most　unfortunate　man　upon　the　earth；　Falcon　is　one　of　the
happiest。　　Would　I　leave　wife　and　child　to　go　there？　　Ah　me！　I　am
dead　to　those　I　love。　　This　is　my　one　chance　of　seeing　my　darling
again　for　many　a　long　year　perhaps。　　Oh；　I　must　not　speak　of　HER
it　unmans　me。　　My　good；　kind　friend；　I'll　tell　you　what　to　do。
When　we　are　all　at　supper；　let　a　horse　be　saddled　and　left　in　the
yard　for　me。　　I'll　bid　you　all　good…night；　and　I'll　put　fifty　miles
between　us　before　morning。　　Even　then　HE　need　not　be　told　I　am
gone；　he　will　not　follow　me。〃

〃You　are　very　good；　sir；〃　said　Phoebe；　〃but　no。　　Too　much　has　been
said。　　I　can't　have　him　humbled　by　my　brother；　nor　any　one。　　He
says　I　am　selfish。　　Perhaps　I　am；　though　I　never　was　called　so。　　I
can't　bear　he　should　think　me　selfish。　　He　WILL　go；　and　so　let　us
have　no　ill　blood　about　it。　　Since　he　is　to　go；　of　course　I'd　much
liever　he　should　go　with　you　than　by　himself。　　You　are　sure　there
are　no　women　up　thereto　take　care　ofyouboth？　　You　must　be
purse…bearer；　sir；　and　look　to　every　penny。　　He　is　too　generous
when　he　has　got　money　to　spend。〃

In　short；　Reginald　had　played　so　upon　her　heart；　that　she　now　urged
the　joint　expedition；　only　she　asked　a　delay　of　a　day　or　two　to
equip　them；　and　steel　herself　to　the　separation。

Staines　did　not　share　those　vague　fears　that　overpowered　the　wife；
whose　bitter　experiences　were　unknown　to　him；　but　he　felt
uncomfortable　at　her　conditionfor　now　she　was　often　in　tearsand
he　said　all　he　could　to　comfort　her；　and　he　also　advised　her　how　to
profit　by　these　terrible　diamonds；　in　her　way。　　He　pointed　out　to
her　that　her　farm　lay　right　in　the　road　to　the　diamonds；　yet　the
traffic　all　shunned　her；　passing　twenty　miles　to　the　westward。
Said　he；　〃You　should　profit　by　all　your　resources。　　You　have　wood；
a　great　rarity　in　Africa；　order　a　portable　forge；　run　up　a　building
where　miners　can　sleep；　another　where　they　can　feed；　the　grain　you
have　so　wisely　refused　to　sell；　grind　it　into　flour。〃

〃Dear　heart！　why；　there's　neither　wind　nor　water　to　turn　a　mill。〃

〃But　there　are　oxen。　　I'll　show　you　how　to　make　an　ox…mill。　　Send
your　Cape　cart　into　Cape　Town　for　iron　lathes；　for　coffee　and　tea；
and　groceries　by　the　hundredweight。　　The　moment　you　are　readyfor
success　depends　on　the　order　in　which　we　actthen　prepare　great
boards；　and　plant　them　twenty　miles　south。　　Write　or　paint　on　them；
very　large；　'The　nearest　way　to　the　Diamond　Mines；　through　Dale's
Kloof；　where　is　excellent　accommodation　for　man　and　beast。　　Tea；
coffee；　home…made　bread；　fresh　butter；　etc。；　etc。'　　Do　this；　and
you　will　soon　leave　off　decrying　diamonds。　　This　is　the　sure　way　to
coin　them。　　I　myself　take　the　doubtful　way；　but　I　can't　help　it。　　I
am　a　dead　man；　and　swift　good　fortune　will　give　me　life。　　You　can
afford　to　go　the　slower　road　and　the　surer。〃

Then　he　drew　her　a　model　of　an　ox…mill；　and　of　a　miner's　dormitory；
the　partitions　six　feet　six　apart；　so　that　these　very　partitions
formed　the　bedstead；　the　bed…sacking　being　hooked　to　the　uprights。
He　drew　his　model　for　twenty　bedrooms。

The　portable　forge　and　the　ox…mill　pleased　Dick　Dale　most；　but　the
partitioned　bedsteads　charmed　Phoebe。　　She　said；〃　Oh；　doctor；　how
can　one　man's　head　hold　so　many　things？　　If　there's　a　man　on　earth
I　can　trust　my　husband　with；　'tis　you。　　But　if　things　go　cross　up
there；　promise　me　you　will　come　back　at　once　and　cast　in　your　lot
with　us。　　We　have　got　money　and　stock；　and　you　have　got　headpiece；
we　might　do　very　well　together。　　Indeed；　indeed　we　might。　　Promise
me。　　Oh；　do；　please；　promise　me！〃

〃I　promise　you。〃

And　on　this　understanding；　Staines　and　Falcon　were　equipped　with
rifles；　pickaxe；　shovels；　waterproofs；　and　full　saddle…bags；　and
started；　with　many　shakings　of　the　hand；　and　many　tears　from
Phoebe；　for　the　diamond　washings。


CHAPTER　XXI。


Phoebe's　tears　at　parting　made　Staines　feel　uncomfortable；　and　he
said　so。

〃Pooh；　pooh！〃　said　Falcon；　〃crying　for　nothing　does　a　woman　good。〃

Christopher　stared　at　him。

Falcon's　spirits　rose　as　they　proceeded。　　He　was　like　a　boy　let
loose　from　school。　　His　fluency　and　charm　of　manner　served；
however；　to　cheer　a　singularly　dreary　journey。

The　travellers　soon　entered　on　a　vast　and　forbidding　region；　that
wearied　the　eye；　at　their　feet　a　dull；　rusty　carpet　of　dried　grass
and　wild　camomile；　with　pale…red　sand　peeping　through　the　burnt　and
scanty　herbage。　　On　the　low　mounds；　that　looked　like　heaps　of
sifted　ashes；　struggled　now　and　then　into　sickliness　a　ragged；
twisted　shrub。　　There　were　flowers　too；　but　so　sparse；　that　they
sparkled　vainly　in　the　colorless　waste；　which　stretched　to　the
horizon。　　The　farmhouses　were　twenty　miles　apart；　and　nine　out　of
ten　of　them　were　new　ones　built　by　the　Boers　since　they　degenerated
into　white　savages：　mere　huts；　with　domed　kitchens　behind　them。　　In
the　dwelling…house　the　whole　family　pigged　together；　with　raw　flesh
drying　on　the　rafters；　stinking　skins　in　a　corner；　parasitical
vermin　of　all　sorts　blackening　the　floor；　and　particularly　a　small；
biting；　and　odoriferous　tortoise；　compared　with　which　the　insect　a
London　washerwoman　brings　into　your　house　in　her　basket；　is　a
stroke　with　a　featherand　all　this　without　the　excuse　of　penury；
for　many　of　these　were　shepherd　kings；　sheared　four　thousand
fleeces　a　year；　and　owned　a　hundred　horses　and　horned　cattle。

These　Boers　are　compelled；　by　unwritten　law；　to　receive　travellers
and　water　their　cattle；　but　our　travellers；　after　one　or　two
experiences；　ceased　to　trouble　them；　for；　added　to　the　dirt；　the
men　were　sullen；　the　women　moody；　silent；　brainless；　the　whole
reception　churlish。　　Staines　detected　in　them　an　uneasy
consciousness　that　they　had　descended；　in　more　ways　than　one；　from
a　civilized　race；　and　the　superior　bearing　of　a　European　seemed　to
remind　them　what　they　had　been；　and　might　have　been；　and　were　not；
so；　after　an　attempt　or　two；　our　adventurers　avoided　the　Boers；　and
tried　the　Kafirs。　　They　found　the　savages　socially　superior；　though
their　moral　character　does　not　rank　high。

The　Kafir　cabins　they　entered　were　caves；　lighted　only　by　the　door；
but　deliciously　cool；　and　quite　clean；　the　floors　of　puddled　clay
or　ants'　nests；　and　very　clean。　　On　entering　these　cool　retreats；
the　flies　that　had　tormented　them　shirked　the　cool　grot；　and　buzzed
off　to　the　nearest　farm　to　batten　on　congenial　foulness。　　On　the
fat；　round；　glossy　babies；　not　a　speck　of　dirt；　whereas　the　little
Boers　were　cakes　thereof。　　The　Kafir　would　meet　them　at　the　door；
his　clean　black　face　all　smiles　and　welcome。　　The　women　and　grown
girls　would　fling　a　spotless　handkerchief　over　their　shoulders　in　a
moment；　and　display　their　snowy　teeth；　in　unaffected　joy　at　sight
of　an　Englishman。

At　one　of　these　huts；　one　evening；　they　met　with　something　St。　Paul
ranks　above　cleanliness　even；　viz。；　Christianity。　　A　neighboring
lion　had　just　eaten　a　Hottentot　faute　de　mieux；　and　these　good
Kafirs　wanted　the　Europeans　not　to　go　on　at　night　and　be　eaten　for
dessert。　　But　they　could　not　speak　a　word　of　English；　and
pantomimic　expression　exists　in　theory　alone。　　In　vain　the　women
held　our　travellers　by　the　coat…tails；　and　pointed　to　a　distant
wood。　　In　vain　Kafir　pere　went　on　all…fours　and　growled　sore。　　But
at　last　a　savage　youth　ran　to　the　kitchenfor　they　never　cook　in
the　houseand　came　back　with　a　brand；　and　sketched；　on　the　wall　of
the　hut；　a　lion　with　a　mane　down　to　the　ground；　and　a　saucer　eye；
not　loving。　　The　creature's　paw　rested　on　a　hat　and　coat　and
another　fragment　or　two　of　a　European。　　The　rest　was　fore…
shortened；　or　else　eaten。

The　picture　completed；　the　females　looked；　approved；　and　raised　a
dismal　howl。

〃A　lion　on　the　road；〃　said　Christopher　gravely。

Then　the　undaunted　Falcon　seized　the　charcoal；　and　drew　an
Englishman　in　a　theatrical　attitude；　left　foot　well　forward；　firing
a　gun；　and　a　lion　rolling　head　over　heels　like　a　buck　rabbit；　and
blood　squirting　out　of　a　hole　in　his　perforated　carcass。

The　savages　saw；　and　exulted。　　They　were　so　off　their　guard　as　to
confound　representation　with　fact；　they　danced　round　the　white
warrior；　and　launched　him　to　victory。

〃Aha！〃　said　Falcon；　〃I　took　the　shine　out　of　their　lion；　didn't　I？〃

〃You　did：　and　once　there　was　a　sculptor　who　showed　a　lion　his
marble　group；　a　man　trampling　a　lion；　extracting　his　tongue；　and　so
on；　but　report　says　it　DID　NOT　CONVINCE　THE　LION。〃

〃Why；　no；　a　lion　is　not　an　ass。　　But；　for　your　comfort；　there　ARE
no　lions　in　this　part　of　the　world。　　They　are　myths。　　There　were
lions　in　Africa。　　But　now　they　are　all　at　the　Zoo。　　And　I　wish　I
was　there　too。〃

〃In　what　characterof　a　discontented　animalwith　every　blessing？
They　would　not　take　you　in；　too　common　in　England。　　Hallo！　this　is
something　new。　　What　lots　of　bushes！　　We　should　not　have　much
chance　with　a　lion　here。〃

〃There　ARE　no　lions：　it　is　not　the　Zoo；〃　said　Falcon；　but　he
spurred　on　faster。

The　country；　however；　did　not　change　its　feature；　bushes　and　little
acacias　prevailed；　and　presently　dark　forms　began　to　glide　across
at　intervals。

The　travellers　held　their　breath；　and　pushed　on；　but　at　last　their
horses　flagged；　so　they　thought　it　best　to　stop　and　ligh