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and is the only real evil in the world； but bodily pain。〃
Then came a struggle； that lasted a whole week； and knitted his
brows； and took the color from his cheek； but it ended in the
triumph of love and hate； over conscience and common sense。 His
Rosa should not be poor； and he would cheat some of those
contemptible creatures called men； who had done him nothing but
injustice； and at last had sacrificed his life like a rat's。
When the struggle was over； and the fatal resolution taken； then he
became calmer； less solitary； and more sociable。
Phoebe； who was secretly watching him with a woman's eye； observed
this change in him； and； with benevolent intentions； invited him
one day to ride round the farm with her。 He consented readily。
She showed him the fields devoted to maize and wheat； and then the
sheepfolds。 Tim's sheep were apparently deserted； but he was
discovered swinging head downwards from the branch of a camel…
thorn； and seeing him； it did strike one that if he had had a tail
he would have been swinging by that。 Phoebe called to him： he
never answered； but set off running to her； and landed himself
under her nose in a wheel somersault。
〃I hope you are watching them； Tim；〃 said his mistress。
〃Iss； missy； always washing 'em。〃
〃Why； there's one straying towards the wood now。〃
〃He not go far；〃 said Tim coolly。 The young monkey stole off a
little way； then fell flat； and uttered the cry of a jackal； with
startling precision。 Back went the sheep to his comrades post
haste； and Tim effected a somersault and a chuckle。
〃You are a clever boy；〃 said Phoebe。 〃So that is how you manage
them。〃
〃Dat one way； missy；〃 said Tim； not caring to reveal all his
resources at once。
Then Phoebe rode on； and showed Christopher the ostrich pan。 It
was a large basin； a form the soil often takes in these parts； and
in it strutted several full…grown ostriches and their young； bred
on the premises。 There was a little dam of water； and plenty of
food about。 They were herded by a Kafir infant of about six；
black； glossy； fat； and clean； being in the water six times a day。
Sometimes one of the older birds would show an inclination to stray
out of the pan。 Then the infant rolled after her； and tapped her
ankles with a wand。 She instantly came back； but without any loss
of dignity； for she strutted with her nose in the air； affecting
completely to ignore the inferior little animal； that was
nevertheless controlling her movements。 〃There's a farce；〃 said
Phoebe。 〃But you would not believe the money they cost me； nor the
money they bring me in。 Grain will not sell here for a quarter its
value： and we can't afford to send it to Cape Town； twenty days and
back； but finery； that sells everywhere。 I gather sixty pounds the
year off those poor fowls' backsclear profit。〃
She showed him the granary； and told him there wasn't such another
in Africa。 This farm had belonged to one of the old Dutch
settlers； and that breed had been going down this many a year。
〃You see； sir； Dick and I being English； and not downright in want
of money； we can't bring ourselves to sell grain to the middlemen
for nothing； so we store it； hoping for better times； that maybe
will never come。 Now I'll show you how the dam is made。〃
They inspected the dam all round。 〃This is our best friend of
all；〃 said she。 〃Without this the sun would turn us all to
tinder；crops； flowers； beasts； and folk。〃
〃Oh； indeed；〃 said Staines。 〃Then it is a pity you have not built
it more scientifically。 I must have a look at this。〃
〃Ay do； sir； and advise us if you see anything wrong。 But hark！ it
is milking time。 Come and see that。〃 So she led the way to some
sheds； and there they found several cows being milked； each by a
little calf and a little Hottentot at the same time； and both
fighting and jostling each other for the udder。 Now and then a
young cow； unused to incongruous twins； would kick impatiently at
both animals and scatter them。
〃That is their way；〃 said Phoebe： 〃they have got it into their
silly Hottentot heads as kye won't yield their milk if the calf is
taken away； and it is no use arguing with 'em； they will have their
own way； but they are very trusty and honest； poor things。 We soon
found that out。 When we came here first it was in a hired wagon；
and Hottentot drivers： so when we came to settle I made ready for a
bit of a wrangle。 But my maid Sophy； that is nurse now； and a
great despiser of heathens； she says； 'Don't you trouble； them
nasty ignorant blacks never charges more than their due。' 'I
forgive 'em；' says I； 'I wish all white folk was as nice。'
However； I did give them a trifle over； for luck： and then they got
together and chattered something near the door； hand in hand。 'La；
Sophy；' says I； 'what is up now？' Says she； 'They are blessing of
us。 Things is come to a pretty pass； for ignorant Muslinmen
heathen to be blessing Christian folk。' 'Well；' says I； 'it won't
hurt us any。' 'I don't know；' says she。 'I don't want the devil
prayed over me。' So she cocked that long nose of hers and followed
it in a doors。〃
By this time they were near the house； and Phoebe was obliged to
come to her postscript； for the sake of which； believe me； she had
uttered every syllable of this varied chat。 〃Well； sir；〃 said she；
affecting to proceed without any considerable change of topic； 〃and
how do you find yourself？ Have you discovered the past？〃
〃I have； madam。 I remember every leading incident of my life。〃
〃And has it made you happier？〃 said Phoebe softly。
〃No；〃 said Christopher gravely。 〃Memory has brought me misery。〃
〃I feared as much； for you have lost your fine color； and your eyes
are hollow； and lines on your poor brow that were not there before。
Are you not sorry you have discovered the past？〃
〃No； Mrs。 Falcon。 Give me the sovereign gift of reason； with all
the torture it can inflict。 I thank God for returning memory； even
with the misery it brings。〃
Phoebe was silent a long time： then she said in a low； gentle
voice； and with the indirectness of a truly feminine nature； 〃I
have plenty of writing…paper in the house； and the post goes south
to…morrow； such as 'tis。〃
Christopher struggled with his misery； and trembled。
He was silent a long time。 Then he said； 〃No。 It is her interest
that I should be dead。〃
〃Well； but； sirtake a thought。〃
〃Not a word more； I implore you。 I am the most miserable man that
ever breathed。〃 As he spoke； two bitter tears forced their way。
Phoebe cast a look of pity on him； and said no more； but she shook
her head。 Her plain common sense revolted。
However； it did not follow he would be in the same mind next week：
so she was in excellent spirits at her protege's recovery； and very
proud of her cure； and celebrated the event with a roaring supper；
including an English ham； and a bottle of port wine； and； ten to
one； that was English too。
Dick Dale looked a little incredulous； but he did not spare the ham
any the more for that。
After supper； in a pause of conversation； Staines turned to Dick；
and said； rather abruptly； 〃Suppose that dam of yours were to burst
and empty its contents； would it not be a great misfortune to you？〃
〃Misfortune； sir！ Don't talk of it。 Why； it would ruin us； beast
and body。〃
〃Well； it will burst； if it is not looked to。〃
〃Dale's Kloof dam burst！ the biggest and strongest for a hundred
miles round。〃
〃You deceive yourself。 It is not scientifically built； to begin；
and there is a cause at work that will infallibly burst it； if not
looked to in time。〃
〃And what is that； sir？〃
〃The dam is full of crabs。〃
〃So 'tis； but what of them？〃
〃I detected two of them that had perforated the dyke from the wet
side to the dry； and water was trickling through the channel they
had made。 Now； for me to catch two that had come right through；
there must be a great many at work honeycombing your dyke； those
channels； once made； will be enlarged by the permeating water； and
a mere cupful of water forced into a dyke by the great pressure of
a heavy column has an expansive power quite out of proportion to
the quantity forced in。 Colossal dykes have been burst in this way
with disastrous effects。 Indeed； it is only a question of time；
and I would not guarantee your dyke twelve hours。 It is full； too；
with the heavy rains。〃
〃Here's a go！〃 said Dick； turning pale。 〃Well； if it is to burst；
it must。〃
〃Why so？ You can make it safe in a few hours。 You have got a
clumsy contrivance for letting off the excess of water： let us go
and relieve the dam at once of two feet of water。 That will make
it safe for a day or two； and to…morrow we will puddle it afresh；
and demolish those busy excavators。〃
He spoke with such authority and earnestness； that they all got up
from table； a horn was blown that soon brought the Hottentots； and
they all proceeded to the dam。 With infinite difficulty they
opened the waste sluice； lowered the water two feet； and so
drenched the arid soil that in forty…eight hours flowers unknown
sprang up。
Next morning； under the doctor's orders； all the black men and boys
were diving