a simpleton-第58部分

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since　he　had　been　paying　wages　and　other　things　for　months；　and　had
given　Falcon　twenty　for　his　journey。

He　rode　away　and　soon　put　twenty　miles　between　him　and　the
diggings。

He　came　to　a　little　store　that　bought　diamonds　and　sold　groceries
and　tobacco。　　He　haltered　his　horse　to　a　hook；　and　went　in。　　He
offered　a　small　diamond　for　sale。　　The　master　was　out；　and　the
assistant　said　there　was　a　glut　of　these　small　stones；　he　did　not
care　to　give　money　for　it。

〃Well；　give　me　three　dozen　cigars。〃

While　they　were　chaffering；　in　walked　a　Hottentot；　and　said；　〃Will
you　buy　this？〃　and　laid　a　clear；　glittering　stone　on　the　counter；
as　large　as　a　walnut。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃How　much？〃

〃Two　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Two　hundred　pounds！　　Let　us　look　at　it；〃　he　examined　it；　and　said
he　thought　it　was　a　diamond；　but　these　large　stones　were　so
deceitful；　he　dared　not　give　two　hundred　pounds。　　〃Come　again　in　an
hour；〃　said　he；　〃then　the　master　will　be　in。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　Hottentot　quietly；　and　walked　out。

Staines；　who　had　been　literally　perspiring　at　the　sight　of　this
stone；　mounted　his　horse　and　followed　the　man。　　When　he　came　up　to
him；　he　asked　leave　to　examine　the　gem。　　The　Hottentot　quietly
assented。

Staines　looked　at　it　all　over。　　It　had　a　rough　side　and　a　polished
side；　and　the　latter　was　of　amazing　softness　and　lustre。　　It　made
him　tremble。　　He　said；　〃Look　here；　I　have　only　one　hundred　pounds
in　my　pocket。〃

The　Hottentot　shook　his　head。

〃But　if　you　will　go　back　with　me　to　Bulteel's　farm；　I'll　borrow　the
other　hundred。〃

The　Hottentot　declined；　and　told　him　he　could　get　four　hundred
pounds　for　it　by　going　back　to　Pniel。　　〃But；〃　said　he；　〃my　face　is
turned　so；　and　when　Squat　turn　his　face　so；　he　going　home。　　Not　can
bear　go　the　other　way　then；〃　and　he　held　out　his　hand　for　the
diamond。

Staines　gave　it　him；　and　was　in　despair　at　seeing　such　a　prize　so
near；　yet　leaving　him。

He　made　one　more　effort。　　〃Well；　but；〃　said　he；　〃how　far　are　you
going　this　way？〃

〃Ten　days。〃

〃Why；　so　am　I。　　Come　with　me　to　Dale's　Kloof；　and　I　will　give　the
other　hundred。　　See；　I　am　in　earnest；　for　here　is　one　hundred；　at
all　events。〃

Staines　made　this　proposal；　trembling　with　excitement。　　To　his
surprise　and　joy；　the　Hottentot　assented；　though　with　an　air　of
indifference；　and　on　these　terms　they　became　fellow…travellers；　and
Staines　gave　him　a　cigar。　　They　went　on　side　by　side；　and　halted
for　the　night　forty　miles　from　Bulteel's　farm。

They　slept　in　a　Boer's　out…house；　and　the　vrow　was　civil；　and　lent
Staines　a　jackal's　skin。　　In　the　morning　he　bought　it　for　a
diamond；　a　carbuncle；　and　a　score　of　garnets；　for　a　horrible
thought　had　occurred　to　him；　if　they　stopped　at　any　place　where
miners　were；　somebody　might　buy　the　great　diamond　over　his　head。
This　fear；　and　others；　grew　on　him；　and　with　all　his　philosophy　he
went　on　thorns；　and　was　the　slave　of　the　diamond。

He　resolved　to　keep　his　Hottentot　all　to　himself　if　possible。　　He
shot　a　springbok　that　crossed　the　road；　and　they　roasted　a　portion
of　the　animal；　and　the　Hottentot　carried　some　on　with　him。

Seeing　he　admired　the　rifle；　Staines　offered　it　him　for　the　odd
hundred　pounds；　but　though　Squat's　eye　glittered　a　moment；　he
declined。

Finding　that　they　met　too　many　diggers　and　carts；　Staines　asked　his
Hottentot　was　there　no　nearer　way　to　reach　that　star；　pointing　to
one　he　knew　was　just　over　Dale's　Kloof。

Oh；　yes；　he　knew　a　nearer　way；　where　there　were　trees；　and　shade；
and　grass；　and　many　beasts　to　shoot。

〃Let　us　take　that　way；〃　said　Staines。

The　Hottentot；　ductile　as　wax；　except　about　the　price　of　the
diamond；　assented　calmly；　and　next　day　they　diverged；　and　got　into
forest　scenery；　and　their　eyes　were　soothed　with　green　glades　here
and　there；　wherever　the　clumps　of　trees　sheltered　the　grass　from
the　panting　sun。　　Animals　abounded；　and　were　tame。　　Staines；　an
excellent　marksman；　shot　the　Hottentot　his　supper　without　any
trouble。

Sleeping　in　the　wood；　with　not　a　creature　near　but　Squat；　a　sombre
thought　struck　Staines。　　Suppose　this　Hottentot　should　assassinate
him　for　his　money；　who　would　ever　know？　　The　thought　was　horrible；
and　he　awoke　with　a　start　ten　times　that　night。　　The　Hottentot
slept　like　a　stone；　and　never　feared　for　his　own　life　and　precious
booty。　　Staines　was　compelled　to　own　to　himself　he　had　less　faith
in　human　goodness　than　the　savage　had。　　He　said　to　himself；　〃He　is
my　superior。　　He　is　the　master　of　this　dreadful　diamond；　and　I　am
its　slave。〃

Next　day　they　went　on　till　noon；　and　then　they　halted　at　a　really
delightful　spot；　a　silver　kloof　ran　along　a　bottom；　and　there　was　a
little　clump　of　three　acacia…trees　that　lowered　their　long　tresses；
pining　for　the　stream；　and　sometimes　getting　a　cool　grateful　kiss
from　it　when　the　water　was　high。

They　halted　the　horse；　bathed　in　the　stream；　and　lay　luxurious
under　the　acacias。　　All　was　delicious　languor　and　enjoyment　of
life。

The　Hottentot　made　a　fire；　and　burnt　the　remains　of　a　little　sort
of　kangaroo　Staines　had　shot　him　the　evening　before；　but　it　did　not
suffice　his　maw；　and　looking　about　him；　he　saw　three　elands
leisurely　feeding　about　three　hundred　yards　off。　　They　were
cropping　the　rich　herbage　close　to　the　shelter　of　a　wood。

The　Hottentot　suggested　that　this　was　an　excellent　opportunity。　　He
would　borrow　Staines's　rifle；　steal　into　the　wood；　crawl　on　his
belly　close　up　to　them；　and　send　a　bullet　through　one。

Staines　did　not　relish　the　proposal。　　He　had　seen　the　savage's　eye
repeatedly　gloat　on　the　rifle；　and　was　not　without　hopes　he　might
even　yet　relent；　and　give　the　great　diamond　for　the　hundred　pounds
and　this　rifle；　and　he　was　so　demoralized　by　the　diamond；　and
filled　with　suspicion；　that　he　feared　the　savage；　if　he　once　had
the　rifle　in　his　possession；　might　levant；　and　be　seen　no　more；　in
which　case　he；　Staines；　still　the　slave　of　the　diamond；　might　hang
himself　on　the　nearest　tree；　and　so　secure　his　Rosa　the　insurance
money；　at　all　events。　　In　short；　he　had　really　diamond　on　the
brain。

He　hem'd　and　haw'd　a　little　at　Squat's　proposal；　and　then　got　out
of　it　by　saying；　〃That　is　not　necessary。　　I　can　shoot　it　from
here。〃

〃It　is　too　far；〃　objected　Blacky。

〃Too　far！　　This　is　an　Enfield　rifle。　　I　could　kill　the　poor　beast
at　three　times　that　distance。〃

Blacky　was　amazed。　　〃An　Enfield　rifle；〃　said　he；　in　the　soft
musical　murmur　of　his　tribe；　which　is　the　one　charm　of　the　poor
Hottentot；　〃and　shoot　three　times　SO　far。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Christopher。　　Then；　seeing　his　companion's　hesitation；
he　conceived　a　hope。　　〃If　I　kill　that　eland　from　here；　will　you
give　me　the　diamond　for　my　horse　and　the　wonderful　rifle？no
Hottentot　has　such　a　rifle。〃

Squat　became　cold　directly。　　〃The　price　of　the　diamond　is　two
hundred　pounds。〃

Staines　groaned　with　disappointment；　and　thought　to　himself　with
rage；　〃Anybody　but　me　would　club　the　rifle；　give　the　obstinate
black　brute　a　stunner；　and　take　the　diamondGod　forgive　me！〃

Says　the　Hottentot　cunningly；　〃I　can't　think　so　far　as　white　man。
Let　me　see　the　eland　dead；　and　then　I　shall　know　how　far　the　rifle
shoot。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Staines。　　But　he　felt　sure　the　savage　only　wanted
his　meal；　and　would　never　part　with　the　diamond；　except　for　the　odd
money。

However；　he　loaded　his　left　barrel　with　one　of　the　explosive
projectiles　Falcon　had　given　him；　it　was　a　little　fulminating　shell
with　a　steel　point。　　It　was　with　this　barrel　he　had　shot　the　murcat
overnight；　and　he　had　found　he　shot　better　with　this　barrel　than
the　other。　　He　loaded　his　left　barrel　then；　saw　the　powder　well　up；
capped　it　and　cut　away　a　strip　of　the　acacia　with　his　knife　to　see
clear；　and　lying　down　in　volunteer　fashion；　elbow　on　ground；　drew
his　bead　steadily　on　an　eland　who　presented　him　her　broadside；　her
back　being　turned　to　the　wood。　　The　sun　shone　on　her　soft　coat；　and
never　was　a　fairer　mark；　the　sportsman's　deadly　eye　being　in　the
cool　shade；　the　animal　in　the　sun。

He　aimed　long　and　steadily。　　But　just　as　he　was　about　to　pull　the
trigger；　Mind　interposed；　and　he　lowered　the　deadly　weapon。　　〃Poor
creature！〃　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　take　her　lifefor　what？　for　a
single　meal。　　She　is　as　big　as　a　pony；　and　I　am　to　lay　her　carcass
on　the　plain；　that　we　may　eat　two　pounds　of　it。　　This　is　how　the
weasel　kills　the　rabbit；　sucks　an　ounce　of　blood　for　his　food；　and
wastes　the　rest。　　So　the　demoralized　sheep…dog　tears　out　the　poor
creature's　kidneys；　and　wastes　the　rest。　　Man；　armed　by　science
with　such　powers　of　slaying；　should　be　less　egotistical　than
weasels　and　perverted　sheep…dogs。　　I　will　not　kill　her。　　I　will　not
lay　that　beautiful　body　of　hers　low；　and　glaze　those　tender；　loving
eyes　that　never　gleamed　with　hate　or　rage　at　man；　and　fix　those
innocent　jaws　that　never　bit　the　life　out　of　anything；　not　even　of
the　grass　she　feeds　on；　and　does　it　more　good　than　harm。　　Feed　on；
poor　innocent。　　And　you　be　blanked；　you　and　your　diamond；　that　I
begin　to　wish　I　had　never　seen；　for　it　would　corrupt　an　angel。〃

Squat　understood　one　word　in　ten；　but　he　managed　to　reply。　　〃This
is　nonsense…talk；〃　said　he；　gravely。　　〃The　life　is　no　bigger　in
that　than　in　the　murcat　you　shot　last　shoot。〃

〃No　more　it　is；〃　said　Staines。　　〃I　am　a　fool。　　It　is　come　to　this；
then；　Kafirs　teach　us　theology；　and　Hottentots　morality。　　I　bow　to
my　intellectual　superior。　　I'll　shoot　the　eland。〃　　He　raised　his
rifle　again。

〃No；　no；　no；　no；　no；　no；〃　murmured　the　Hottentot；　in　a　sweet　voice
scarcely　audible；　yet　so　keen　in　its　entreaty；　that　Staines　turned
hastily　round　to　look　at　him。　　His　face　was　ashy；　his　teeth
chattering；　his　limbs　shaking。　　Before　Staines　could　ask　him　what
was　the　matter；　he　pointed　through　an　aperture　of　the　acacias　into
the　wood　hard　by　the　elands。　　Staines　looked；　and　saw　what　seemed
to　him　like　a　very　long　dog；　or　some　such　animal；　crawling　from
tree　to　tree。　　He　did　not　at　all　share　the　terror　of　his　companion；
nor　understand　it。　　But　a　terrible　explanation　followed。　　This
creature；　having　got　to　the　skirt　of　the　wood；　expanded；　by　some
strange　magic；　to　an　incredible　size；　and　sprang　into　the　open；
with　a　growl；　a　mighty　lion；　he