a simpleton-第52章

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gallery　folk　and　the　stalls　worked　cheek　by　jowl。　　Here　a　gentleman
with　an　affected　lisp；　and　close　by　an　honest　fellow；　who　could　not
deliver　a　sentence　without　an　oath；　or　some　still　more　horrible
expletive　that　meant　nothing　at　all　in　reality；　but　served　to　make
respectable　flesh　creep：　interspersed　with　these；　Hottentots；
Kafirs；　and　wild　blue　blacks　gayly　clad　in　an　ostrich　feather；　a
scarlet　ribbon；　and　a　Tower　musket　sold　them　by　some　good　Christian
for　a　modern　rifle。

On　one　side　of　Staines　were　two　swells；　who　lay　on　their　backs　and
talked　opera　half　the　day；　but　seldom　condescended　to　work　without
finding　a　diamond　of　some　sort。

After　a　week's　deplorable　luck；　his　Kafir　boy　struck　work　on
account　of　a　sore　in　his　leg；　the　sore　was　due　to　a　very　common
cause；　the　burning　sand　had　got　into　a　scratch；　and　festered。
Staines；　out　of　humanity；　examined　the　sore；　and　proceeding　to
clean　it；　before　bandaging；　out　popped　a　diamond　worth　forty
pounds；　even　in　the　depreciated　market。　　Staines　quietly　pocketed
it；　and　bandaged　the　leg。　　This　made　him　suspect　his　blacks　had
been　cheating　him　on　a　large　scale；　and　he　borrowed　Hans　Bulteel　to
watch　them；　giving　him　a　third；　with　which　Master　Hans　was　mightily
pleased。　　But　they　could　only　find　small　diamonds；　and　by　this　time
prodigious　slices　of　luck　were　reported　on　every　side。　　Kafirs　and
Boers　that　would　not　dig；　but　traversed　large　tracts　of　ground　when
the　sun　was　shining；　stumbled　over　diamonds。　　One　Boer　pointed　to　a
wagon　and　eight　oxen；　and　said　that　one　lucky　glance　on　the　sand
had　given　him　that　lot：　but　day　after　day　Staines　returned　home；
covered　with　dust；　and　almost　blinded；　yet　with　little　or　nothing
to　show　for　it。

One　evening；　complaining　of　his　change　of　luck；　Bulteel　quietly
proposed　to　him　migration。　　〃I　am　going；〃　said　he　resignedly：　〃and
you　can　come　with　me。〃

〃You　leave　your　farm；　sir？　　Why；　they　pay　you　ten　shillings　a
claim；　and　that　must　make　a　large　return；　the　pan　is　fifteen
acres。〃

〃Yes；　mine　vriend；〃　said　the　poor　Hollander；　〃they　pay；　but　deir
money　it　cost　too　dear。　　Vere　is　mine　peace？　　Dis　farm　is　six
tousand　acres。　　If　de　cursed　diamonds　was　farther　off；　den　it　vas
vell。　　But　dey　are　too　near。　　Once　I　could　smoke　in　peace；　and
zleep。　　Now　diamonds　is　come；　and　zleep　and　peace　is　fled。　　Dere　is
four　tousand　tents；　and　to　each　tent　a　dawg；　dat　dawg　bark　at　four
tousand　other　dawgs　all　night；　and　dey　bark　at　him　and　at　each
oder。　　Den　de　masters　of　de　dawgs　dey　get　angry；　and　fire　four
tousand　pistole　at　de　four　tousand　dawgs；　and　make　my　bed　shake　wid
the　trembling　of　mine　vrow。　　My　vamily　is　with　diamonds　infected。
Dey　vill　not　vork。　　Dey　takes　long　valks；　and　always　looks　on　de
ground。　　Mine　childre　shall　be　hump…backed；　round…shouldered；
looking　down　for　diamonds。　　Dey　shall　forget　Gott。　　He　is　on　high：
dere　eyes　are　always　on　de　earth。　　De　diggers　found　a　diamond　in
mine　plaster　of　mine　wall　of　mine　house。　　Dat　plaster　vas
limestone；　it　come　from　dose　kopjes　de　good　Gott　made　in　His　anger
against　man　for　his　vickedness。　　I　zay　so。　　Dey　not　believe　me。
Dey　tink　dem　abominable　stones　grow　in　mine　house；　and　break　out　in
mine　plaster　like　de　measle：　dey　vaunt　to　dig　in　mine　wall；　in　mine
garden；　in　mine　floor。　　One　day　dey　shall　dig　in　mine　body。　　I　vill
go。　　Better　I　love　peace　dan　money。　　Here　is　English　company　make
me　offer　for　mine　varm。　　Dey　forgive　de　diamonds。〃

〃You　have　not　accepted　it？〃　cried　Staines　in　alarm。

〃No；　but　I　vill。　　I　have　said　I　shall　tink　of　it。　　Dat　is　my　vay。
So　I　say　yah。〃

〃An　English　company？　　They　will　cheat　you　without　mercy。　　No；　they
shall　not；　though；　for　I　will　have　a　hand　in　the　bargain。〃

He　set　to　work　directly；　added　up　the　value　of　the　claims；　at　ten
shillings　per　month；　and　amazed　the　poor　Hollander　by　his　statement
of　the　value　of　those　fifteen　acres；　capitalized。

And　to　close　this　part　of　the　subject；　the　obnoxious　diamonds
obtained　him　three　times　as　much　as　his　father　had　given　for　the
whole　six　thousand　acres。

The　company　got　a　great　bargain；　but　Bulteel　received　what　for　him
was　a　large　capital；　and　settling　far　to　the　south；　this　lineal
descendant　of　le　philosophe　sans　savoir　carried　his　godliness；　his
cleanliness；　and　his　love　of　peace；　out　of　the　turmoil；　and　was
happier　than　ever；　since　now　he　could　compare　his　placid　existence
with　one　year　of　noise　and　clamor。

But　long　before　this；　events　more　pertinent　to　my　story　had
occurred。

One　day；　a　Hottentot　came　into　Bulteel's　farm　and　went　out　among
the　diggers；　till　be　found　Staines。　　The　Hottentot　was　one　employed
at　Dale's　Kloof；　and　knew　him。　　He　brought　Staines　a　letter。

Staines　opened　the　letter；　and　another　letter　fell　out；　it　was
directed　to　〃Reginald　Falcon；　Esq。〃

〃Why；〃　thought　Staines；　〃what　a　time　this　letter　must　have　been　on
the　road！　　So　much　for　private　messengers。〃

The　letter　ran　thus：


DEAR　SIR；This　leaves　us　all　well　at　Dale's　Kloof；　as　I　hope　it
shall　find　you　and　my　dear　husband　at　the　diggings。　　Sir；　I　am
happy　to　say　I　have　good　news　for　you。　　When　you　got　well　by　God's
mercy；　I　wrote　to　the　doctor　at　the　hospital　and　told　him　so。　　I
wrote　unbeknown　to　you；　because　I　had　promised　him。　　Well；　sir；　he
has　written　back　to　say　you　have　two　hundred　pounds　in　money；　and　a
great　many　valuable　things；　such　as　gold　and　jewels。　　They　are　all
at　the　old　bank　in　Cape　Town；　and　the　cashier　has　seen　you；　and
will　deliver　them　on　demand。　　So　that　is　the　first　of　my　good　news；
because　it　is　good　news　to　you。　　But；　dear　sir；　I　think　you　will　be
pleased　to　hear　that　Dick　and　I　are　thriving　wonderfully；　thanks　to
your　good　advice。　　The　wooden　house　it　is　built；　and　a　great　oven。
But；　sir；　the　traffic　came　almost　before　we　were　ready；　and　the
miners　that　call　here；　coming　and　going；　every　day；　you　would　not
believe；　likewise　wagons　and　carts。　　It　is　all　bustle；　morn　till
night；　and　dear　Reginald　will　never　be　dull　here　now；　I　hope　you
will　be　so　kind　as　tell　him　so；　for　I　do　long　to　see　you　both　home
again。

Sir；　we　are　making　our　fortunes。　　The　grain　we　could　not　sell　at　a
fair　price；　we　sell　as　bread；　and　higher　than　in　England　ever　so
much。　　Tea　and　coffee　the　same；　and　the　poor　things　praise　us；　too；
for　being　so　moderate。　　So；　sir；　Dick　bids　me　say　that　we　owe　this
to　you；　and　if　so　be　you　are　minded　to　share；　why　nothing　would
please　us　better。　　Head…piece　is　always　worth　money　in　these　parts；
and　if　it　hurts　your　pride　to　be　our　partner　without　money；　why　you
can　throw　in　what　you　have　at　the　Cape；　though　we　don't　ask　that。
And；　besides；　we　are　offered　diamonds　a　bargain　every　day；　but　are
afraid　to　deal；　for　want　of　experience；　but　if　you　were　in　it　with
us；　you　must　know　them　well　by　this　time；　and　we　might　turn　many　a
good　pound　that　way。　　Dear　sir；　I　hope　you　will　not　be　offended；
but　I　think　this　is　the　only　way　we　have；　Dick　and　I；　to　show　our
respect　and　good…will。

Dear　sir；　digging　is　hard　work；　and　not　fit　for　you　and　Reginald；
that　are　gentlemen；　amongst　a　lot　of　rough　fellows；　that　their　talk
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　giv