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sprang up。
Next morning； under the doctor's orders； all the black men and boys
were diving with lumps of stiff clay and puddling the endangered
wall with a thick wall of it。 This took all the people the whole
day。
Next day the clay wall was carried two feet higher； and then the
doctor made them work on the other side and buttress the dyke with
supports so enormous as seemed extravagant to Dick and Phoebe； but；
after all； it was as well to be on the safe side； they thought： and
soon they were sure of it； for the whole work was hardly finished
when the news came in that the dyke of a neighboring Boer； ten
miles off； had exploded like a cannon； and emptied itself in five
minutes； drowning the farm…yard and floating the furniture； but
leaving them all to perish of drought； and indeed the Boer's cart
came every day； with empty barrels； for some time； to beg water of
the Dales。 Ucatella pondered all this； and said her doctor child
was wise。
This brief excitement over； Staines went back to his own gloomy
thoughts； and they scarcely saw him； except at supper…time。
One evening he surprised them all by asking if they would add to
all their kindness by lending him a horse； and a spade； and a few
pounds to go to the diamond fields。
Dick Dale looked at his sister。 She said； 〃We had rather lend them
you to go home with； sir； if you must leave us； but； dear heart； I
was half in hopesDick and I were talking it over only yesterday
that you would go partners like with us； ever since you saved the
dam。〃
〃I have too little to offer for that； Mrs。 Falcon； and； besides； I
am driven into a corner。 I must make money quickly； or not at all：
the diamonds are only three hundred miles off： for heaven's sake；
let me try my luck。〃
They tried to dissuade him； and told him not one in fifty did any
good at it。
〃Ay； but I shall；〃 said he。 〃Great bad luck is followed by great
good luck； and I feel my turn is come。 Not that I rely on luck。
An accident directed my attention to the diamond a few years ago；
and I read a number of prime works upon the subject that told me of
things not known to the miners。 It is clear； from the Cape
journals； that they are looking for diamonds in the river only。
Now； I am sure that is a mistake。 Diamonds； like gold； have their
matrix； and it is comparatively few gems that get washed into the
river。 I am confident that I shall find the volcanic matrix； and
perhaps make my fortune in a week or two。〃
When the dialogue took this turn； Reginald Falcon's cheek began to
flush； and his eyes to glitter。
Christopher continued： 〃You who have befriended me so will not turn
back； I am sure； when I have such a chance before me； and as for
the small sum of money I shall require； I will repay you some day；
even if〃
〃La； sir； don't talk so。 If you put it that way； why； the best
horse we have； and fifty pounds in good English gold； they are at
your service to…morrow。〃
〃And pick and spade to boot；〃 said Dick； 〃and a double rifle； for
there are lions； and Lord knows what； between this and the Vaal
river。〃
〃God bless you both！〃 said Christopher。 〃I will start to…morrow。〃
〃And I'll go with you；〃 said Reginald Falcon。
CHAPTER XX。
〃Heaven forbid！〃 said Phoebe。 〃No； my dear； no more diamonds for
us。 We never had but one； and it brought us trouble。〃
〃Nonsense； Phoebe；〃 replied Falcon； 〃it was not the diamond's
fault。 You know I have often wanted to go there； but you objected。
You said you were afraid some evil would befall me。 But now
Solomon himself is going to the mines； let us have no more of that
nonsense。 We will take our rifles and our pistols。〃
〃Therethererifles and pistols；〃 cried Phoebe； 〃that shows。〃
〃And we will be there in a week； stay a month； and home with our
pockets full of diamonds。〃
〃And find me dead of a broken heart。〃
〃Broken fiddlestick！ We have been parted longer than that； and yet
here we are all right。〃
〃Ay； but the pitcher that goes too often to the well gets broke at
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。