The Winslow mail., 1924-02-01
CHAPTER llI--Continued.


-
"I like chicken, / eat chicken" he
acknowledged. But am certainly not
what might be termed remarkably at
tached 10 chicken"
They passed between the rows of
little cottages, crossed the dry river
course, which was unspanned by any
bridge and saw the diamond fields in
front of them. The appearance of the
district was striking. Beneath the red
sand, which had been piled up into
long ridges, the bases propped up with
boarding, were bright patches of vel
Iowish clay. the diamond-bearing
stratum, and under this, it was hoped.
would be found the famous blue ground
indicative of the volcanic tunnels in
which diamonds are formed of carbon
under terrific pressure.
No blue ground had yet been struck !;
It's existence was, however, almost a
certainty, since the yellow clay is mere
ly the blue ground decomposed. The
yellow patches extended on either side
as far as the eye could reach. All
along this depression in the ridge build
ings were under construction. Here
and there, where more substantial
progress had been made, pits yawned,
bridged by plank roads, and endless
windlasses, from which buckets were
lowered to bring up the diamond-bear-
ing soil, stood ranged in disorderly
array. The ropes from these wind
lasses, extending into the pits in every
direction, gave their sides the appear
ance Of cliffs covered with huge spider
webs
On claims more recently taken up
men were hard at work with picks, or
washing the clay in cradles. Nobody
paid the least attention to the way
farers.
Wintons companion led him along
the road that ran the length of the
claims Here and there were to be
seen native gangs herded within She
barbed wire tangles of their com
pounds. At length the desert reap
pearei. Sam stopped.
'This is the Big Malopo, SIR" he said
Winton looked in front of him. He
saw a small shack, patch of yellow
ground and many coils of barbed wire
that had not yet been set up. There
was nothing more.
THE De Witt diamond was picked
mp right here, sir" said Sam.
"How far does the claim extend?"
asked Winton what are those men
doing there? Are they the Big Malopo
men?"
"No, sir. That is another claim. The
claims are not extensive, sir. The Big
Malopo is large one. 1t measures
two hundred feet by seventy-five You
will find Mr. Burns, the watchman, in
that building, sir, If you wish to see
him. But he will not answer questions.
He is a misanthropical man, sir. You
are interested in the Big Malopo, sir?'
Eyes. | own it," answered WintOn.
"At least, four-fifths of it. l am Win
ton Garrett"
Before the words had slipped from
his mouth he regretted the raShnesS of
his self-betrayal. But the effect upon
the negro was extraordinary. He
stared and gaped. edged away, and
then broke into quick run: and never
stopped as long as he was within
sight.
Winton stood looking after him in as
tonishment until he had disappeared in
the distance; then, after a moment of
hesitation, he stepped up to the shack
and tapped at the door.
An elderly man appeared instantly.
lie had a white beard and shock of
white hair. He was in his shirt sleeves,
and he carried a shotgun in his hands.
From his appearance Winton inferred
that he would not be chary of using it.
Another of 'eml" he cried angrily,
leveling the gun. You make tracks be-
fore get mya eye in, young feller
There amt nothing to see."
81 came to see Mr.. De Witt" said
Winton.
He's gone out of town and won't
be back till tomorrow afternoon, and
If you want job there amt nothing
'I believe you are the watchmanT
Winton asked. whats your name?'
my names Ned Burns" shouted the
old man whats yours?'
- names Garrett, and l hold 8