第21章

Inshort，theyforcedthetenpoundsonhim，andnextdaywenttoworkonanotherkopje。

Butthesimplefarmer\'sconsciencesmotehim。Itwasaslacktime；

sohesentfourHotteatots，withshovels，tohelpthesefriendlymaniacs。Theseworkedawaygayly，andthewhitemensetupasortingtable，andsortedthestuff，andhammeredthenodules，andatlastfoundalittlestoneasbigasapeathatrefractedthelight。StainesshowedthistotheHottentots，andtheirquickeyesdiscoveredtwomorethatday，onlysmaller。

Nextday，nothingbutasplinterortwo。

ThenStainesdeterminedtodigdeeper，contrarytothegeneralimpression。Hegavehisreason:"Diamondsdon\'tfallfromthesky。

Theyworkupfromtheground；andclearlytheheatmustbegreaterfartherdown。"

Actingonthis，theytriedthenextstrata，butfounditentirelybarren。Afterthat，however，theycametoafreshlayerofcarbonate，andhere，Falconhammeringalargelumpofconglomerate，outleaped，allofasudden，adiamondbigasanut，thatranalongtheearth，gleaminglikeastar。Ithadpolishedanglesandnaturalfacets，andevenanovice，withaneyeinhishead，couldseeitwasadiamondofthepurestwater。StainesandFalconshoutedwithdelight，andmadetheblacksapresentonthespot。

Theyshowedtheprize，atnight，andbeggedthefarmertotaketodigging。Therewastentimesmoremoneybeneathhissoilthanonit。

Nothe。Hewasafarmer:didnotbelieveindiamonds。Twodaysafterwards，anothergreatfind。Sevensmalldiamonds。

Nextday，astoneaslargeasacob-nut，andwithstrangeandbeautifulstreaks。Theycarriedithometodinner，andsetitonthetable，andtoldthefamilyitwasworthathousandpounds。

Bulteelscarcelylookedatit；butthevrowtrembledandalltheyoungfolkgloweredatit。

Inthemiddleofdinner，itexplodedlikeacracker，andwentliterallyintodiamond-dust。

"Deregoesvontousandpounds，"saidBulteel，withoutmovingamuscle。

Falconswore。ButStainesshowedfortitude。"Itwaslaminated，"

saidhe，"andexposuretotheairwasfatal。"

OwingtotheinvaluableassistanceoftheHottentots，theyhadinlessthanamonthcollectedfourlargestonesofpurewater，andawineglassfulofsmallstones，when，onefineday，goingtoworkcalmlyafterbreakfast，theyfoundsometentspitched，andatleastascoreofdirtydiggers，beardedlikethepard，atworkontheground。StainessentFalconbacktotellBulteel，andsuggestthatheshouldatonceorderthemoff，or，betterstill，maketermswiththem。ThephlegmaticBoerdidneither。

Intwenty-fourhoursitwastoolate。Theplacewasrushed。Inotherwords，diggersswarmedtothespot，withnoideaoflawbutdigger\'slaw。

Athousandtentsroselikemushrooms；andpoorBulteelstoodsmoking，andstaringamazed，athisowndoor，andsawaveritableprocessionofwagons，Capecarts，andpowderedtravellersfilepasthimtotakepossessionofhishillocks。Him，theproprietor，theysimplyignored；theyhadacommitteewhoweretodealwithallobstructions，landlordsandtenantsincluded。TheythemselvesmeasuredoutBulteel\'sfarmintothirty-footclaims，andwenttoworkwithshovelandpick。TheyheldStaines\'sclaimsacred——thatwasdiggers\'law；buttheyconfineditstrictlytothirtyfeetsquare。

Hadthefriendsresisted，theirbrainswouldhavebeenknockedout。

However，theygainedthis，thatdealerspouredin，andthemarketnotbeingyetglutted，thepricewasgood。Stainessoldafewofthesmallstonesfortwohundredpounds。Heshowedoneofthelargerstones。Thedealer\'seyeglittered，butheofferedonlythreehundredpounds，andthiswassowideoftheascendingscale，onwhichastoneofthatimportanceispriced，thatStainesreserveditforsaleatCapeTown。

Nevertheless，heafterwardsdoubtedwhetherhehadnotbetterhavetakenit；forthemultitudeofdiggersturnedoutsuchaprodigiousnumberofdiamondsatBulteel\'span，thatasortofpanicfellonthemarket。

Thesedrydiggingswerearevelationtotheworld。Menbegantothinkthediamondperhapswasacommonerstonethananyonehaddreamedittobe。

Astothediscoveryofstones，StainesandFalconlostnothingbybeingconfinedtoathirty-footclaim。Compelledtodigdeeper，theygotintoarichstrata，wheretheyfoundgarnetsbythepint，andsomesmalldiamonds，andatlast，oneluckyday，theirlargestdiamond。Itweighedthirty-sevencarats，andwasarichyellow。

Now，whenadiamondiscloudedoroffcolor，itisterriblydepreciated；butadiamondwithapositivecoloriscalledafancystone，andrankswiththepureststones。

"IwishIhadthisinCapeTown，"saidStaines。

"Why，I\'lltakeittoCapeTown，ifyoulike，"saidthechangeableFalcon。

"Youwill?"saidChristopher，surprised。

"Whynot?I\'mnotmuchofadigger。Icanserveourinterestbetterbyselling。IcouldgetathousandpoundsforthisatCapeTown。"

"Wewilltalkofthatquietly，"saidChristopher。

Now，thefactis，Falcon，asadigger，wasnotworthapin。Hecouldnotsort。Hiseyeswouldnotbeartheblindingglareofatropicalsunuponlimeanddazzlingbitsofmica，quartz，crystal，whitetopaz，etc。，inthemidstofwhichthetrueglintoftheroyalstonehadtobecaughtinamoment。Hecouldnotsort，andhehadnotthehearttodig。Theonlywaytomakehimearnhishalfwastoturnhimintothetravellingandsellingpartner。

Christopherwastoogeneroustotellhimthis；butheactedonit，andsaidhethoughthiswasanexcellentproposal；indeed，hehadbettertakeallthediamondstheyhadgottoDale\'sKlooffirst，andshowthemtohiswife，forherconsolation:"Andperhaps，"saidhe，"inamatterofthisimportance，shewillgotoCapeTownwithyou，andtrythemarketthere。"

"Allright，"saidFalcon。

Hesatandbroodedoverthematteralongtime，andsaid，"Whymaketwobitesofacherry?TheywillonlygiveushalfthevalueatCapeTown；whynotgobythesteamertoEngland，beforetheLondonmarketisglutted，andalltheworldfindsoutthatdiamondsareascommonasdirt?"

"GotoEngland!What!withoutyourwife?I\'llneverbeapartytothat。Mepartmanandwife!Ifyouknewmyownstory"——

"Why，whowantsyou?"saidReginald。"Youdon\'tunderstand。

PhoebeisdyingtovisitEnglandagain；butshehasgotnoexcuse。

Ifyouliketogiveherone，shewillbemuchobligedtoyou，Icantellyou。"

"Oh，thatisaverydifferentmatter。IfMrs。Falconcanleaveherfarm——"

"Oh，thatbruteofabrotherofhersisaveryhonestfellow，forthatmatter。Shecantrustthefarmtohim。Besides，itisonlyamonth\'svoyagebythemailsteamer。"

ThissuggestionofFalcon\'ssetChristopher\'sheartbounding，andhiseyesglistening。Butherestrainedhimself，andsaid，"Thistakesmebysurprise；letmesmokeapipeoverit。"

Henotonlydidthat，buthelayawakeallnight。

Thefactisthatforsometimepast，Christopherhadfeltsharptwingesofconscience，anddeepmisgivingsastothecoursehehadpursuedinleavinghiswifeasingledayinthedark。Completeconvalescencehadclearedhismoralsentiments，andperhaps，afterall，thediscoveryofthediamondshadco-operated；sincenowtheinsurancemoneywasnolongernecessarytokeephiswifefromstarving。

"Ah!"saidhe；"faithisagreatquality；andhowIhavelackedit!"

Todohimjustice，heknewhiswife\'sexcitablenature，andwasnotwithoutfearsofsomedisaster，shouldthenewsbecommunicatedtoherunskilfully。

ButthisproposalofFalcon\'smadethewayclearer。Mrs。Falcon，thoughnotalady，hadallalady\'sdelicacy，andallawoman\'stactandtenderness。HeknewnooneintheworldmorefittobetrustedwiththedelicatetaskofbreakingtohisRosathatthegrave，foronce，wasbaffled，andherhusbandlived。HenowbecamequiteanxiousforFalcon\'sdeparture，andardentlyhopedthatworthyhadnotdeceivedhimselfastoMrs。Falcon\'sdesiretovisitEngland。

Inshort，itwassettledthatFalconshouldstartforDale\'sKloof，takingwithhimthediamonds，believedtobeworthaltogetherthreethousandpoundsatCapeTown，andnearlyasmuchagaininEngland，andalonglettertoMrs。Falcon，inwhichStainesrevealedhistruestory，toldherwheretofindhiswife，orhearofher，viz。，atKentVilla，Gravesend，andsketchedanoutlineofinstructionsastotheway，andcunningdegrees，bywhichthejoyfulnewsshouldbebrokentoher。WiththishesentalonglettertobegiventoRosaherself，butnottillsheshouldknowall:andinthisletterheenclosedtherubyringshehadgivenhim。Thatringhadneverlefthisfinger，byseaorland，insicknessorhealth。

ThelettertoRosawassealed。Thetwolettersmadequiteapacket；for，inthelettertohisbelovedRosa，hetoldhereverythingthathadbefallenhim。Itwasaromance，andapictureoflove；alettertoliftalovingwomantoheaven，andalmostreconcilehertoallherbereavedhearthadsuffered。

Thisletter，writtenwithmanytearsfromtheheartthathadsosuffered，andwasnowsoftenedbygoodfortuneandboundingwithjoy，StainesentrustedtoFalcon，togetherwiththeotherdiamonds，andwithmanywarmshakingsofthehand，startedhimonhisway。

"Butmind，Falcon，"saidChristopher，"IshallexpectananswerfromMrs。Falconintwentydaysatfarthest。IdonotfeelsosureasyoudothatshewantstogotoEngland；and，ifnot，ImustwritetoUnclePhilip。Givemeyoursolemnpromise，oldfellow，ananswerintwentydays——ifyouhavetosendaKafironhorseback。"

"Igiveyoumyhonor，"saidFalconsuperbly。

"SendittomeatBulteel\'sFarm。"

"Allright。\'Dr。Christie，Bulteel\'sFarm。\'"

"Well——no。WhyshouldIconcealmyrealnameanylongerfromsuchfriendsasyouandyourwife?ChristieisshortforChristopher——

thatISmyChristianname；butmysurnameisStaines。Writeto\'Dr。Staines。\'"

"Dr。Staines!"

"Yes。Didyoueverhearofme?"

Falconworeastrangelook。"IalmostthinkIhave。DownatGravesend，orsomewhere。"

"Thatiscurious。Yes，ImarriedmyRosathere；poorthing!Godblessher；Godcomforther。Shethinksmedead。"

Hisvoicetrembled，hegraspedFalcon\'scoldhandtillthelatterwincedagain，andsotheyparted，andFalconrodeoffmuttering，"Dr。Staines!sothenYOUareDr。Staines。"

CHAPTERXXII。

RosaStaineshadyouthonherside，anditisanoldsayingthatyouthwillnotbedenied。Youthstruggledwithdeathforher，andwonthebattle。

Butshecameoutofthatterriblefightweakasachild。Thesweetpaleface，thewidow\'scap，thesuitofdeepblack——itwaslongerethesecamedownfromthesickroom。Andwhentheydid，oh，thedeadblank!Theweary，listlesslife!Thedaysspentinsighs，andtears，anddesolation。Solitude!solitude!Herhusbandwasgone，andastrangewomanplayedthemothertoherchildbeforehereyes。

UnclePhilipwasdevotedlykindtoher，andsowasherfather；buttheycoulddonothingforher。

Monthsrolledon，andskinnedthewoundover。Monthscouldnotheal。Herboybecamedeareranddearer，anditwasfromhimcamethefirstrealdropsofcomfort，howeverfeeble。

Sheusedtoreadherlostone\'sdiaryeveryday，andworship，indeepsorrow，themindshehadscarcelyrespecteduntilitwastoolate。Shesearchedinhisdiarytofindhiswill，andoftenshemournedthath