The Hazlehurst signal., 1883-12-06
CAPE DIAMONDS.
A Detective story.


With four other masculine FELLOWSHIP
fcrers-onc of whom was u small spec
taclcd. Notwithstanding MANNED
Grard and myself were the suffering
inmates of nondcscript vehicle of the
stagc-wagon pattern, drawn by six
small Cape horses. on route from the
Blocmiontcin diamond fields ot South
Africa for Wellington, thence by rail TO
Cape Town.
Two-thirlS of the truly terrible Jour
ncy had already been accomplished, yet
there were still some two hundred and
ifty miles of travel over sun-bcat plain
aud arid desert before W., with the mcr-
curry ut lO2 degrees, in such shade
alone ~ our tilted conveyance afforded
for, in truth, there was no other.
Our ewes were blurred and blinded
by the ccascleSS glare of the sun, whose
rays beat down ON the sandy desert
from the uncloudcd sky. which was rs
brass before Us. Our bodies were sore
and bruised by the unccaSing jar and
Jolt of our rudcly-hung vehicle. We
were parchcd with thirst. which the
lukewarm water along the route utterly
failed To Stake; and though continually
drowSy could neither sleep by day nor
by night. because of the intense heat,
the Sand-llics. Swcllcd and burning feet,
and intense nervousness cngcndcred by
the foregoing. with the other discom-
forts aud Sullcrings incidental to y
stage Journey of some hundreds of miles
through South Africa.
The most of uS knew each other by
sight. through having met from day tn
day for some months, in and about the
mining field which we had left. But |
will venture 10 state that six more SUR
", unSocial fcllow-paSscngors than our
dusty. unShorn selves were perhaps
ncvcr-ltcrally-thrown together.
IL Ned and myself were perhaps n
little more pronounced in general dis
agrccablcncss than the others. we con-
sidercd. indeed. that We had ample
provocation therefor. For thirteen
months we had been toiling and pcrspir-
i'm, taking our several turns in the
dump or in our twen,y-fOur foot
mining claim. rs the case might be. In
nearly. If not quite, a year of unrcmit-
ting toll. We had barely succeeded in
washing out small ">toncs" Uhc iu-
variable term for diamonds in South
Africa with which to pay our running
expenses; and then one stroke of the
pick uncarthcd ru>c-diamond of such
size and purity that for full sixty min
utcS our good fortune was the talk OF
Blocm'On,cin.
Well. that night. after our frugal sup
per, Ned. without speaking, extended
the precious gem toward me in his open
palm, u we sat ut our rude table, in
our canvas-coyered cabin. l do not
answer for the scope of my partners
vision, OF course. But in the uncut bril-
liant. rs IN the magician's stones. my
solf saw but one object-a sweet, visit
ful face framed in wreath OF dark
hair. within the depths of whose soft
eyes was look as of patient waiting
for the return of him who had gone To
seek his fortune in the far-away dia-
mond fields.
"Homc?' was Ncds interrogativc
query, raising his own eyes. which had
bent upon the gem, with n sort of far
away look, TO meet my own suddenly
upturncd gaze.
"Homc.' / echoed, with joyous EN-
phasiS.
But hardly had the word escaped my
lips when u tall form dashed through
the door, and. upseting the candle by
sudden blow, seized the diamond from
NedS still outstretchcd hand. and was
oil in the darkneSs-thc whole event
having taken place in far less time than
I ha o. 20, talls,..
OF course we gave the alarm rs
quickly rs we could regain our scat
tered ideas; but. though half tho male
population Of Bloemiontein turned out,
II was to no purpose.
The robbcr and his booty had disap-
pcared. without the slightest clew.
so it was that being ia local parlancc
''down on our luck" Ned and myself,
disguised and discouraged. had sold our
claim TO couple of newcomers for
about f300, and with those composing
our present stage-coach party, had
taken passage. as have said. for We'll
lington, intending 10 return home. even
though with heavy hearts and light
pockets.
DN'Au't hAAN oAhoAis ol'NAkSANu
who had represented himself rs n sort
of colporteur for religious society at
Cape Town, our fellow-passcngers conf
posed two diamond brokers, together
with young and very boastiul fellow.
who called himself Macarthur. The lat
ter had been very successful, and it was
with feelings of envy we heard him re-
late the result of two weeks work in
deserted claim. where. rs he informed
us with many profane assevcrations. he
had struck ''pocket," from which he
had taken stones, whose value no de-
clared was ut least $4,000.
These he carried in belt about his
waist, together with n considerable sum
of money from the sale of his claim, rs
he said. while girded to either hip was !
a heavy revolver, rs safeguard against
possible attack from road agents.
After a wretched supper in small,
barrcn-looking station in the Hoogboom
Bottom, the Journey was resumed with