Part 4 (1/2)

While I was taking off ue which I took to be Sisutu, and not wishi+ng to go to the trouble of putting theon to find out what it was This o I think, with a touch of Hottentot in him He was an excellent driver, indeed I do not think I have ever seen a better, and by noEuropeans he rejoiced in the naenerally addressed to troublesos and means ”Get out” To tell the truth, had I been his , and generally did not altogether trust him Ansob, however, was fond of hi adventure in Matabeleland, I think it was at the shooting of that very dark-coloured lion whose skin had been theus acquainted nearly two years before Indeed he said that on this occasion Footsack had saved his life, though froather I do not think this was quite the case Also thetrips with sportsh to make himself understood, and therefore was useful

He went as I bade hi back presently, told me that a party of Basutos, about thirty in nu from Kimberley, where they had been at work in the mines, under the leadershi+p of a bastard naht, as they were afraid to go on to ”Tampel” in the dark

At first I could not make out what ”Tampel” was, as it did not sound like a native name Then I re called the Temple, of which, of course, Tampel was a corruption; also that he said he and his partner were labour agents

”Why are they afraid?” I asked

”Because, Baas, they say that they h a wood in a swamp, which they think is haunted by spooks, and they hosts

”What spooks?” I asked

”Don't know, Baas They say spook of some one who has been killed”

”Rubbish,” I replied ”Tell theo and catch the spook; we don't want a lot of noisy felloling chanties here all night”

Then it was that Ansob broke in in his hu voice

”How can you be so hard-hearted, Quatermain? After the supernatural terror which, as I told you, I experienced in that very place, I wouldn't condeh it in this darkness Let the poor devils stay; I daresay they are tired”

So I gave in, and presently saw their fires beginning to burn through the end canvas of the wagon which was unlaced because the night was hot Also later on I woke up, about , one of which I reflected sleepily, sounded very like that of Footsack

Waking very early, as ismist perceived Footsack in converse with a particularly villainous-looking person I at once concluded this must be Karl, evidently a bastard compounded of about fifteen parts of various native bloods to one of white, who, to add to his attractions, was deeply scarred with s squint It see that looked suspiciously like a bottle of squareface gin wrapped up in dried grass, and that the man handed back to Footsack some small object which he put in his mouth

Noondered to myself, what is there of value that one who does not eat sweets would stoay in his mouth Gold coin perhaps, or a quid of tobacco, or a stone Gold was too in, tobacco was too little, but how about the stone? What stone? Who wanted stones? Then suddenly I remembered that these people were said to co, principally because the h I could see the men's faces, I could not clearly see the articles which they passed to each other about two feet lohere it still lay very thickly, and to bring any accusation against a native which he can prove to be false is apt to destroy authority So I held ue and waited my chance It did not come at once, for before I was dressed those Basutos had departed together with their leader Karl, for now that the sun was up they no longer feared the haunted bush

It ca between the thorns upon a level and easy track which enabled the driver Footsack to sit upon the ”voorkisse” or driving box of the wagon, leaving the lad who is called the voorlooper to lead the oxen Ansob was riding parallel to the wagon in the hope of killing soh a very poor shot with a rifle he was good with a shot-gun) I, who did not care for this s by the side of Footsack who, I noted, sns of dissipation Suddenly I said to hiave you thisin payment for the bottle of your master's drink”

It was a bon at a venture, but the effect of the shot was re baround, while he collapsed in his seat like a man who has received a bullet in his stoasped, ”Baas, how did you know?”

”I knew,” I replied grandly, ”in the sa Show me the diamond”

”Baas,” he said, ”it was not the Baas Ansob's gin, it was sorim's Rest”

”I have counted the bottles in the case and know very hose gin it was,” I replied a of the sort ”Show me the diamond”

Footsack fumbled about his person, his hair, his waistcoat pockets and even his moocha, and ultimately from somewhere produced a stone which he handed to me I looked at it, and froed it to be a diamond worth 200, or possibly more After careful exa,

”This is the price of your s to him as much as it does to anybody Now if you want to keep out of trouble, tell me-whence came it into the hands of thatall over, ”how do I know? He and the rest have been working at the mines; I suppose he found it there”

”Indeed! And did he find others of the same sort?”

”I think so, Baas At least he said that he had been buying bottles of gin with such stones all the way down froreat drunkard, Baas, as I am sure, who have known hi my eyes fixed on him

”What else did he say?”