The Opelousas courier., 1900-07-21
The Diamond.
A SOUTH AFRICAN EPISODE.

Ned Cummings went into Cape
Town in an Indian steamerin the first
year of the diamond excitement. He
had never had as good a chance to get
rich easily, and he was not going to
let the chance slip by. So, one fine
morning, with a knapsack slung over
his shoulder, a good American revolver
strapped to his hip, and q Hottentot
as a guide, he tramped away toward
the Vaal river.
Ned, swinging along under that
southern sky, caught up with two
men tramping in the same direc-
tion.
"Shipmates ahoy!" roared Ned in
his ~jolliest sea voice, which he could
raise above the sound of the tempest.
"Whither bound?"
For the mines, and be blowed to
you," growled one of the men.
Bet you a plug of navy you cut
adrift from your ship without asking
leave of the old man."
Whats that to you, you lubber?"
was the reply of the man, a sulky,
darkbrowned fellow evidently q sailor.
but far from a pleasant-looking one.
my name is Matt Fralick,n said
the man. II deserted from the bark
Assumption, bound to Ceylon. This
mar is . Lascar, named Joe, who cut
away with me. Now, who are you?"
Ned Cummings, able seaman; left
the steamer Rajah at Cape Town,
because / wanted to make q
strike for these new diamond fields:
for Jon see I've mined in Californy.
Peru and Australy, and I don't want
it said there's any new places, whether
gold or diamonds, that I amt had d
hand in"
Days passed. and they were yet
upon the way, holding a course by the
skillful guidance of the Hottentot,
who knew the way well.
They came down into the camp
amid the barking Of dogs. but scarcely
noticed by the miners, who expected
10 see new men come into the fields
day after day. Ned was an active
man, and before night he had learned
oil the rules of the camp, and had
marked off q claim for himself and his
two companions. His Hottentot
looked on in supreme disgust as he
saw his friend mark out the ground
and fall to work. -
THAT'S 30 foolish, he said touch
ing Ned ON the shoulder. ssYou come
hunt?"
FNed showed him q small diamond.
n{fE larger than a olnmon shot. which
has beca giyon him in Cape Town.
hBnad1 uttered q snort Of disgust.
"You come hunt" he insisted.
But Ned refused, and Kanadu left
Che camp, and the men washed on
under the burning sun. There was
not much work in Matt Fralick or the
Lascar, and the burden fell ON Ned,s
shoulders.
Lets quit without any hard words
Matt, The said. 81 want q mar with
me that can take q fair share of the
work. and You and the Lascar are lust
about equal, yon see. TIL strike a
new claim, OF buy you ont.
They chose to go out, thinking he
could do nothing alone; but Ned had
made his plans, and after the two left
him. he hired q half breed Hottentot
to sort. From that time he did bet
Ter, and found several stones Of fair
Yalne. Two weeks of this work and
the two came back and wanted to Join
him again, offering to let their united
labor go against his. But Ned would
not do it.
A month later Kanadu sauntered
Lazily into the camp looking for Ned.
he grinned widely as he saw the sai-
lor at work.
Find him, master?" lie asked.
Some of 'em," said Ned. How
are you, old chap?''
Me WE'LL" replied Kanadu, grim
ming again. Me always well. Spose
you let me see what you tintl.n
Ned produced the bag and showed
The diamonds and kaaadu gave
snort Of disdain.