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since ivory is too heavy for my messengers to carry； and I have no
waggon。 Farewell。'〃
〃We have heard you；〃 said Meyer； when Mr。 Clifford had finished
translating； 〃and we wish to ask you a question。 What do you mean when
you say that the Spirit of the white woman has been seen？〃
〃I mean what I say； white man；〃 answered Tamas。 〃She was seen by all
three of us； standing upon the pinnacle at the dawn； also my father
saw and spoke with her alone in his sleep at night。 This is the third
time in my father's day that she has appeared thus； and always before
some great event。〃
〃What was she like？〃 asked Meyer。
〃Like？ Oh！ like the lady who sits yonder。 Yes； quite the same； or so
it seemed to us。 But who knows？ We have seen no other white women； and
we were not very near。 Let the lady come and stand side by side with
the Spirit； so that we can examine them both； and we shall be able to
answer better。 Do you accept the offer of the Molimo？〃
〃We will tell you to…morrow morning；〃 replied Meyer。 〃A hundred rifles
are many to find； and will cost much money。 Meanwhile； for you there
is food and a sleeping…place。〃
The three men seemed disappointed at his answer； which they evidently
believed to be preliminary to a refusal。 For a moment or two they
consulted together； then Tamas put his hand into a pouch and drew from
it something wrapped in dry leaves； which he undid； revealing a quaint
and beautiful necklace； fashioned of twisted gold links； wherein were
set white stones； that they had no difficulty in recognising as uncut
diamonds of considerable value。 From this necklace also hung a
crucifix moulded in gold。
〃We offer this gift；〃 he said； 〃on behalf of Mambo； my father； to the
lady yonder； to whom the karosses and the rough gold are of no use。
The chain has a story。 When the Portuguese lady hurled herself into
the river she wore it about her neck。 As she fell into the river she
struck against a little point of rock which tore the chain away from
hersee where it is broken and mended with gold wire。 It remained
upon the point of rock； and my forefather took it thence。 It is a gift
to the lady if she will promise to wear it。〃
〃Accept it；〃 muttered Mr。 Clifford； when he had finished translating
this； 〃or you will give offence。〃
So Benita said： 〃I thank the Molimo； and accept his gift。〃
Then Tamas rose； and； advancing； cast the ancient； tragic thing over
her head。 As it fell upon her shoulders； Benita knew that it was a
chain of destiny drawing her she knew not where； this ornament that
had last been worn by that woman； bereaved and unhappy as herself； who
could find no refuge from her sorrow except in death。 Had she felt it
torn from her breast； she wondered； as she； the living Benita of
to…day； felt it fall upon her own？
The three envoys rose； bowed； and went； leaving them alone。 Jacob
Meyer lifted his head as though to address her； then changed his mind
and was silent。 Both the men waited for her to speak； but she would
not； and in the end it was her father who spoke first。
〃What do you say； Benita？〃 he asked anxiously。
〃I？ I have nothing to say； except that I have heard a very curious
story。 This priest's message is to you and Mr。 Meyer； father； and must
be answered by you。 What have I to do with it？〃
〃A great deal； I think； my dear； or so those men seemed to believe。 At
any rate； I cannot go up there without you； and I will not take you
there against your wish； for it is a long way off； and a queer
business。 The question is； will you go？〃
She thought a space； while the two men watched her anxiously。
〃Yes；〃 she answered at length； in a quiet voice。 〃I will go if you
wish to go； not because I want to find treasure； but because the story
and the country where it happened interest me。 Indeed； I don't believe
much in the treasure。 Even if they are superstitious and afraid to
look for it themselves； I doubt whether they would allow you to look
if they thought it could be found。 To me the journey does not seem a
good business speculation； also there are risks。〃
〃We think it good enough；〃 broke in Meyer decidedly。 〃And one does not
expect to get millions without trouble。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said her father； 〃but she is rightthere are risks； great
risksfever； wild beasts； savages； and others that one cannot
foresee。 Have I a right to expose her to them？ Ought we not to go
alone？〃
〃It would be useless；〃 answered Meyer。 〃Those messengers have seen
your daughter； and mixed her up with their superstitious story of a
ghost； of which I； who know that there are no such things； believe
nothing。 Without her now we shall certainly fail。〃
〃As for the risks； father；〃 said Benita； 〃personally I take no account
of them； for I am sure that what is to happen will happen； and if I
knew that I was to die upon the Zambesi； it would make no difference
to me who do not care。 But as it chances； I thinkI cannot tell you
whythat you and Mr。 Meyer are in more danger than I am。 It is for
you to consider whether you will take the risks。〃
Mr。 Clifford smiled。 〃I am old；〃 he said； 〃that is my answer。〃
〃And I am accustomed to such things；〃 said Meyer； with a shrug of his
shoulders。 〃Who would not run a little danger for the sake of such a
glorious chance？ Wealth； wealth； more wealth than we can dream of； and
with it； powerpower to avenge； to reward； to buy position； and
pleasure； and all beautiful things which are the heritage of the very
rich alone；〃 and he spread out his hands and looked upwards； as though
in adoration of this golden god。
〃Except such trifles as health and happiness；〃 commented Benita； not
without sarcasm； for this man and his material desires disgusted her
somewhat； especially when she contrasted him with another man who was
lost to her； though it was true that /his/ past had been idle and
unproductive enough。 Yet they interested her also； for Benita had
never met anyone like Mr。 Meyer； so talented； so eager； and so
soulless。
〃Then I understand it is settled？〃 she said。
Mr。 Clifford hesitated； but Meyer answered at once：
〃Yes； settled as far as anything can be。〃
She waited a moment for her father to speak； but he said nothing； his
chance had gone by。
〃Very well。 Now we shall not need to trouble ourselves with further
doubts or argument。 We are going to Bambatse on the Zambesi； a distant
place； to look for buried gold； and I hope； Mr。 Meyer； that if you
find it； the results will come up to your expectations； and bring you
all sorts of good luck。 Good…night； father dear； good…night。〃
〃My daughter thinks it will bring us ill…luck；〃 said Mr。 Clifford；
when the door had closed behind her。 〃That is her way of saying so。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Meyer gloomily； 〃she thinks that； and she is one of
those who have vision。 Well； she may be wrong。 Also； the question is；
shall we seize our opportunity and its dangers； or remain here and
breed