The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-02
ADVENTURES :,
OF A DIAMOND.

A slave. poor and naked, was toilingY
| In the mines at. POrtreal in India, just
as many thousands Of others were toll
ing beside him, scraping up the pebbly
soil, washing the mud, carefully look
ing for diamonds. Everybody wassl0ok-
ing for diamonds, except those VINO
were looking after the slaves. All the
large diamonds belonged to the Mogul,
but he never got them; all the lesser
stones belonged to the Emir, who got
very few of them; and none at all be-
longed to the slaves, who only stole
them. To steal a diamond was the
highest of crimes in Goleonda and was
often punished by death. And yet the
slaves were continually stealing them.
The slave of whom we speak was toll
ing, washing, looking and remembering
how many had escaped with diamonds;
he began to consider what-he should do
In case he found one. There would not
be the least use in swallowing it.
1T have itr' he said, slapping his lean
leg. 'T have thought of a new way of
hiding diamondw
That night, when all was still, he got
sharp flint and made great cash i'm
the firm muscle of the calf of his leg,
and then carefully bandaged it up with
some green leaves and an old cotton
rag.
ssWhat's the matter with your leg?"
said the overseer in the morning.
AOb, mosfsexcellent master! my un-
worthiness slipped and fell against a
sharp rock in the nighttime. See! the
blood of your faithful slave flows from
the wound"
He raised a corner of his bandage,
and sure enough several drops Of blood
trickled down.
s'Umphw said the oyerseer, "I'm not
going to Let you off your work on ac-
count of that scratch"
"My faithfulness will work to the
death for you, oh, noble MASTER" said
the slave.
And so he hobbled off to the diamond
washing. By-and-by he found some
diamonds, but they were small, and moi
worth risking his Life for, therefore the
slave handed them in to the overseer
who also passed them on, as they were
smaller than what he usually appro
priated to himself. But wonderful
piece of good fortune befen the cleve
slave One day as he washed his mut
he noticed a large lump that did no
wash down. He took it between hi
thumb and finger to crack the lump ant
10! 1t would would not crack.
The slaves heart gave great leap o
Joy. His fingers had felt the greasy
slippery texture of a diamond, and ha'
touched the sharp cutting edges o
crystaIlization. A diamond as big as
hens egg! In a moment it was unde
the bandage of his leg, In another
was showed bodily into the wound i
SELF
1t does not make sore in your lie
any better to shove big diamond int
1t. Next morning he was very bad an
his leg was infamed. -
'What are you trying to sham fori
said the overseer. 81 know what's til
matter with you'll You've been swallow
ing diamonds. I won't cut off yor
head this time, but you had better loo
out, and If it ever happens again
He left him with dark look and in
few minutes returned with somethir
In bowl. 1t was stiff emetic.
'Now, then, swallow this, and "
will be relieved of your pain," said Il
overseer.
sMy faithfulness will swallow an
thing your nobleness gives sme, but ]
diamonds will come" said the slave.
He was dreadfully sick but no di
monds came, as there were none sw.
lowed. The overseer said he wou
give him another dose the next ds
but he took no notice Of the sore in t
slaves leg.
The next day brought the mediciI
but no diamonds.
$50 die like dog in the jungb
said the oyerseer angrily. 81 do
know what is the matter with you"
The slave kissed the ground whs
the great oyerseer. stood and crawl
away, very lame indeed. By and
that lame slave, pretty nearly w
turned up at Madras. His leg got W
when he took the diamond out Of
wound. He had the largest diamond
the world to sell, and when he
done so he thought he would be "
great man, and have slaves of his oy
and even an elephant, too. He wo'
do lust as he liked for the rest of
life. He came across ship captain
whom he showed the diamond.
sI sometimes buy stones like ths
said the captain airily. He was nea
choking with surprise at the bea
and the enormous size of the g
"Come down to my ship and we ,
see IL we cannot come to barga1
The captain was seafaring man
land. but when at sea he was sol
thing more like pirate, as the sl
found out when he went down to
ship.
The captain was waiting for d
not with bag of money, however,
uudua..elub. The slave was killed
a overheard to feed the shal
Frat was the end OF him and
ss of wealth and happin
~ wanted to sell his