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terror froze him。 His reason； that he had lost once； was he to
lose it again？ He prayed； he wept； he dozed； and forgot all。 When
he woke again； a cool air was fanning his cheeks； it revived him a
little； it became almost a breeze。
And this breeze； as it happened； carried on its wings the curse of
Africa。 There loomed in the north…west a cloud of singular
density； that seemed to expand in size as it drew nearer； yet to be
still more solid； and darken the air。 It seemed a dust…storm。
Staines took out his handkerchief； prepared to wrap his face in it；
not to be stifled。
But soon there was a whirring and a whizzing； and hundreds of
locusts flew over his head； they were followed by thousands； the
swiftest of the mighty host。 They thickened and thickened； till
the air looked solid； and even that glaring sun was blackened by
the rushing mass。 Birds of all sorts whirled above； and swooped
among them。 They peppered Staines all over like shot。 They stuck
in his beard； and all over him； they clogged the bushes； carpeted
the ground； while the darkened air sang as with the whirl of
machinery。 Every bird in the air； and beast of the field；
granivorous or carnivorous； was gorged with them； and to these
animals was added man； for Staines； being famished； and remembering
the vrow Bulteel； lighted a fire； and roasted a handful or two on a
flat stone； they were delicious。 The fire once lighted； they
cooked themselves； for they kept flying into it。 Three hours；
without interruption； did they darken nature； and； before the
column ceased； all the beasts of the field came after； gorging them
so recklessly； that Staines could have shot an antelope dead with
his pistol within a yard of him。
But to tell the horrible truth； the cooked locusts were so nice
that he preferred to gorge on them along with the other animals。
He roasted another lot； for future use； and marched on with a good
heart。
But now he got on some rough； scrubby ground； and damaged his
shoes； and tore his trousers。
This lasted a terrible distance； but at the end of it came the
usual arid ground； and at last he came upon the track of wheels and
hoofs。 He struck it at an acute angle； and that showed him he had
made a good line。 He limped along it a little way； slowly； being
footsore。
By and by； looking back； he saw a lot of rough fellows swaggering
along behind him。 Then he was alarmed； terribly alarmed； for his
diamond； he tore a strip of his handkerchief； and tied the stone
cunningly under his armpit as he hobbled on。
The men came up with him。
〃Hallo； mate！ Come from the diggings？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What luck？〃
〃Very good。〃
〃Haw！ haw！ What！ found a fifty…carat？ Show it us。〃
〃We found five big stones； my mate and me。 He is gone to Cape Town
to sell them。 I had no luck when he had left me； so I have cut it；
going to turn farmer。 Can you tell me how far it is to Dale's
Kloof？〃
No； they could not tell him that。 They swung on； and； to Staines；
their backs were a cordial； as we say in Scotland。
However； his travels were near an end。 Next morning he saw Dale's
Kloof in the distance； and as soon as the heat moderated； he pushed
on； with one shoe and tattered trousers； and half an hour before
sunset he hobbled up to the place。
It was all bustle。 Travellers at the door； their wagons and carts
under a long shed。
Ucatella was the first to see him coming； and came and fawned on
him with delight。 Her eyes glistened； her teeth gleamed。 She
patted both his cheeks； and then his shoulders； and even his knees；
and then flew in…doors crying； 〃My doctor child is come home！〃
This amused three travellers； and brought out Dick； with a hearty
welcome。
〃But Lordsake； sir； why have you come afoot； and a rough road too？
Look at your shoes。 Hallo！ What is come of the horse？〃
〃I exchanged him for a diamond。〃
〃The deuce you did！ And the rifle？〃
〃Exchanged that for the same diamond。〃
〃It ought to be a big 'un。〃
〃It is。〃
Dick made a wry face。 〃Well； sir； you know best。 You are welcome；
on horse or afoot。 You are just in time； Phoebe and me are just
sitting down to dinner。〃
He took him into a little room they had built for their own
privacy； for they liked to be quiet now and then； being country
bred； and Phoebe was putting their dinner on the table； when
Staines limped in。
She gave a joyful cry； and turned red all over。 〃Oh； doctor！〃
Then his travel…torn appearance struck her。 〃But； dear heart！ what
a figure！ Where's Reginald？ Oh； he's not far off； I know。〃
And she flung open the window； and almost flew through it in a
moment； to look for her husband。
〃Reginald？〃 said Staines。 Then turning to Dick Dale； 〃Why； he is
hereisn't he？〃
〃No； sir： not without he is just come with you。〃
〃With me？no。 You know we parted at the diggings。 Come； Mr。
Dale； he may not be here now； but he has been here。 He must have
been here。〃
Phoebe； who had not lost a word； turned round； with all her high
color gone； and her cheeks getting paler and paler。 〃Oh； Dick！
what is this？〃
〃I don't understand it；〃 said Dick。 〃Whatever made you think he
was here； sir？〃
〃Why； I tell you he left me to come here。〃
〃Left you； sir！〃 faltered Phoebe。 〃Why； when？where？〃
〃At the diggingsever so long ago。〃
〃Blank him！ that is just like him； the uneasy fool！〃 roared Dick。
〃No； Mr。 Dale； you should not say that； he left me； with my
consent； to come to Mrs。 Falcon here； and consult her about
disposing of our diamonds。〃
〃Diamonds！diamonds！〃 cried Phoebe。 〃Oh； they make me tremble。
How COULD you let him go alone！ You didn't let HIM go on foot； I
hope？〃
〃Oh； no； Mrs。 Falcon； he had his horse； and his rifle； and money to
spend on the road。〃
〃How long ago did he leave you； sir？〃
〃II am sorry to say it was five weeks ago。〃
〃Five weeks！ and not come yet。 Ah！ the wild beasts！the diggers！
the murderers！ He is dead！〃
〃God forbid！〃 faltered Staines； but his own blood began to run
cold。
〃He is dead。 He has died between this and the dreadful diamonds。
I shall never see my darling again： he is dead。 He is dead。〃
She rushed out of the room； and out of the house； throwing her arms
above her head in despair； and uttering those words of agony again
and again in every variety of anguish。
At such horrible moments women always swoonif we are to believe
the dramatists。 I doubt if there is one grain of truth in this。
Women seldom swoon at all； unless their bodies are unhealthy； or
weakened by the reaction that follows so terrible a shock as this。
At all events； Phoebe； at first； was strong and wild as a lion； and
went to and fro outside the house； unconscious of her body's
motion； frenzied with agony； and but one word on her lips； 〃He is
dead！he is dead！〃
Dick followed her； crying like a child； but master of himself； he
got his people about her； and half carried her in again； then shut
the door in all their faces。
He got the poor creature to sit down； and she began to rock and
moan； with her apron over her head； and her brown hair loose about
her。
〃Why should he be dead？〃 said Dick。 〃Don't give a man up like
that； Phoebe。 Do