uppose it wasn't to be, so what's the
use of grumbling?'

"After this philosophical expression of his feelings he was silent for a
while. Once more I wiped the blood from his lips, and once more he
spoke.

"'Senor Moreas,' he said, 'you're the only friend I've had these many
years past. You wouldn't take what I offered you here, but I can give
you some information now that will make it up to you a dozen times over.
You may think I am not quite right in my head, but, right or not right,
I know of the whereabouts of a place in this country where the finest
diamonds in all Brazil are to be found.'

"From what he told me I gathered that he had learnt about the place from
an old Indian woman for whom he had in his turn done a kindness. Twice
he had made attempts to reach the place, but on each occasion he had
been unsuccessful. That it existed, however, he was quite convinced.
With his dying breath he gave me full particulars, informing me in what
direction I was to proceed, and how I should recognise the place when I
did come upon it. Then, having told me where to find several small bags
of stones in the hut, and which, I might add, I afterwards sold for
upwards of two thousand pounds in English money, he breathed his last in
my arms. As soon as I was sure that he was dead, I made a final
examination of the hut, took what I thought would be of service to me,
and then returned to the village.

"A fortnight later I was on my way to Europe, and when I met you on
board the _Diamintina_, I had found a market for the stones the old
fellow had given me. They proved to be more valuable than I had
supposed, and when I was convinced of this, I was anxious, as you may
believe, not to let the grass grow under my feet before I set out in
search of the place of which he had spoken to me. Circumstances,
however, combined to prevent my doing so at once. A year went by, and
still the opportunity did not arrive. If the truth must be told, the
money I had brought from England I had lost at cards, and until I could
find more, I knew it was impossible for me to embark upon such a costly
expedition. What was more, I discovered that I was being shadowed by
three men who were, to all intents and purposes, participators in my
secret. How they obtained their knowledge, unless they had got it from
the old man some time before, when he was drunk and talkative, I cannot
say; but that they knew I had it, and that they did not intend to let me
escap