The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-09-03
ADVENTURES
OF A DIAMOND.

IN the mines at Portreal, In India. lust
as many thousands OF others were toll
Ing beside him. scraping up the pebbly
soil, washing the mud. carefully look
Ing for diamonds. Everybody was look
Ing for diamonds, except those who
were looking after the slaves. AN 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 Golconda 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 II.
Il have itv' he said, slapping his lean
leg. Il have thought Of new way of
hiding diamondr'
That night, when all was still, he got
sharp flint and made a great cash in
the firm muscle of the calf of his leg.
and then carefully bandaged 1t up with
some green leaves and an old cotton
rag.
whats the matter with your leg ~
said the overseer In the morning.
"Oh, most excellent master my un-
worthlness slipped and fell against a
sharp rock in the nighttime. Seel the
blood of your faithful slave flows from
the wound
lie raised corner of his bandage.
and sure enough several drops OF blood
triclSled down.
"umphv' said the overseer, I'm not
going to let you Off your work on ac-
count Of that scratch"
my faithfulness win 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 not
worth rlsking 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 befell the clever
slave. One day as he washed his mud
he noticed a large lump that did not
wash down. lie took II between his
thumb and finger to'crack the lump and
To- II would would not crack.
The slaves heart gave a great lean of
JOY. His fingers had felt the greasy.
slippery texture Of a diamond. and had
touched the sharp cutting edges of
capitalization. diamond as big as a
hens egg In moment II was under
the bandage OF his leg, in another II
was showed bodily into the wound IL
self.
IL does not make sore In your leg
any better to shove big diamond into
It, Next morning he was very bad and
his leg was inhamed.
what are you trying to sham forY'
said the overseer. Il know what's the
matter with youl You've been swallow
Ing diamonds. | won't cut Off your
head this time, but you had better look
out. and II 1t ever happens agaln-r'
He left him with dark look and I'm a
few minutes returned with something
In a bowl. II was a stiff emetic.
Now, then. swallow this, and you
win be relieved OF your pain" said the
overseer.
MY faithfulness VIII swallow any
thing your nobleness gives me, but no
diamonds VIII come" said the slave.
He was dreadfully sick but no dla-
monds came, as there were none swal.
lowed The overseer said he would
give him another dose the next day.
but he took no notice of the sore In the
slaves leg.
The next day brought the medicine,
but no diamonds.
go, die like n dog In the jungle. -
said the overseer angrily. Il don't
know what Is the matter with YOU"
The slave kissed the ground where
the great overseer stood and crawled
away, very lame indeed. BY and by
that lame slave, pretty nearly well
turned up at Madras. His leg got well
when he took the diamond out OF the
wound. He had the largest diamond In
the world TO sell, ant when he hid