and
never dreamed of danger. I didn't know what the matter with me was, in
fact, till the red spots began to appear.

"Of course the trappers were badly scared, especially after one of them
caught the disease and died. I can't tell you how sorry I was for that
death. I suppose I wasn't to blame, but I felt somehow responsible.

"The Indian cleared out, and I couldn't blame him. But I couldn't
afford to let the third man go. I was over the worst of it by that
time, but I was as weak as a kitten, and could hardly feed myself. If
he'd deserted me I should have died. I offered him any sum of money if
he would stick to me, and told him that I'd shoot him if I saw any sign
of his making off.

"I couldn't have aimed straight enough to hit him at a yard just then,
and I suppose he knew it. Anyhow, he disappeared one morning before I
was awake. He didn't take much with him except his gun and ammunition.

"I was gaining strength fast, and I was able to stagger about a little.
I could get water, and there was some grub in the shack. I knew that I
must get out at once, lest snow should come. I stayed four days; then
I took what grub I could carry, my rifle and a dozen cartridges, and
started. I left all my specimens, notebooks and everything, for I
didn't dare to carry an ounce more than I could help."

"But the diamonds? They didn't weigh many ounces," interrupted Maurice.

"I struck for the Abitibi," went on Horace, paying no attention to the
question, "and I was so weak that I couldn't make much speed. I had
been out five days, and my grub was pretty nearly gone, when I stumbled
into the lumbermen. They treated me like real Samaritans, took me in
and fed me, and I've been there convalescing ever since. Day before
yesterday I started back here to get my things. I had to travel
slowly, for I'm not overstrong yet, and I was hurrying on to get to the
cabin to-night when you pounced on me."

"If you had only taken the diamonds with you!" Fred lamented.

"I did," said Horace. He looked at the boys with a smile, and then
went on:--

"Those stones, my boy, that you saw in the cabin aren't diamonds. They
are quartz crystals and rather curious garnets, worth a few dollars at
the most. Here are the diamonds!"

He took a small leather pouch from an inner pocket; the boys jumped up
in excitement to look. From the pouch he took a small paper package,
unfolded it, and revealed nine small lumps, which ranged in s