"At night when the moon was full N'buqu took us to the black water-pit
lying deep and dark at the foot of the rocky hill. Ten fathoms deep was
it and full to the brim with icy water. Many times had we drank from
it, for though all around the land lay parched in the torrid heat the
black water-pit was always full to the brim. . . .

"But what magic was this? Here was no water, but a yawning shaft gaped
black and dismal where the pool had been. The shipmen shrank back in
dismay. 'Here is magic!' they muttered fearfully, crossing themselves.
N'buqu laughed. He also had learnt something of our tongue, and
understood. 'No magic is here,' said he, ''tis but a spring from yonder
hill that fills this pool, and it needs but to turn the stream aside
and the water will all drain away. Later I will show!'

"From a fire-stick he had brought he lit a torch of dry wood. By its
glare we saw that a hide ladder dangled from an overhanging rock into
the deep pit. Down it N'buqu led the way, followed by us all in turn
the shipmen with many muttered prayers and misgivings. . . . Slimy and
dank was the fearsome place, but the bottom was firm and rocky, and
from it there branched a cavern wide enough for us all to walk abreast.
Gently it led upward . . . and then we stood in a broader cavern, where
the light from the torch in every direction flashed back from a myriad
dazzling points: ceiling, walls, every rock protuberance, even the very
floor gleamed and scintillated till the whole place blazed as though on
fire. N'buqu thrust the torch into Alvaro's hand. 'Look!' he cried, and
smote with a spear he carried at the wall of the cavern. At the light
blow a handful of the flashing points fell to the floor. We picked them
up. They were the 'bright stones' of the Spanisher they were diamonds!
Here was wealth beyond conception wealth beside which the fabled
Golconda would be as nought, wealth untold for us all. But on the floor
among the flashing gems there lay many white bones the bones of dead
men. . . . Wealth, vast wealth for us all, and yet we quarreled there
as to the division of the stones, and as to how we were to get them
away. 'Get all we can at once and flee this very night!' urged the
shipmen. 'And die of thirst in the desert places!' said Alvaro for it
was the season of drought! 'Stay only until we can fill our water-
skins,' they counseled. But Alvaro and myself we were wiser.

"N'buqu his must be the plan. He knew the best paths ba