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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 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 husb