for heaven's sake, let me try
my luck."

They tried to dissuade him, and told him not one in fifty did any good
at it.

"Ay, but I shall," said he. "Great bad luck is followed by great good
luck, and I feel my turn is come. Not that I rely on luck. An accident
directed my attention to the diamond a few years ago, and I read a
number of prime works upon the subject that told me of things not
known to the miners. It is clear, from the Cape journals, that they
are looking for diamonds in the river only. Now, I am sure that is a
mistake. Diamonds, like gold, have their matrix, and it is comparatively
few gems that get washed into the river. I am confident that I shall
find the volcanic matrix, and perhaps make my fortune in a week or two."

When the dialogue took this turn, Reginald Falcon's cheek began to
flush, and his eyes to glitter.

Christopher continued: "You who have befriended me so will not turn
back, I am sure, when I have such a chance before me; and as for the
small sum of money I shall require, I will repay you some day, even
if"--

"La, sir, don't talk so. If you put it that way, why, the best horse we
have, and fifty pounds in good English gold, they are at your service
to-morrow."

"And pick and spade to boot," said Dick, "and a double rifle, for there
are lions, and Lord knows what, between this and the Vaal river."

"God bless you both!" said Christopher. "I will start to-morrow."

"And I'll go with you," said Reginald Falcon.

CHAPTER XX.

"Heaven forbid!" said Phoebe. "No, my dear, no more diamonds for us. We
never had but one, and it brought us trouble."

"Nonsense, Phoebe," replied Falcon; "it was not the diamond's fault.
You know I have often wanted to go there, but you objected. You said you
were afraid some evil would befall me. But now Solomon himself is going
to the mines, let us have no more of that nonsense. We will take our
rifles and our pistols."

"There--there--rifles and pistols," cried Phoebe; "that shows."

"And we will be there in a week; stay a month, and home with our pockets
full of diamonds."

"And find me dead of a broken heart."

"Broken fiddlestick! We have been parted longer than that, and yet here
we are all right."

"Ay, but the pitcher that goes too often to the well gets broke at last.
No, Reginald, now I have tasted three years' happiness and peace of
mind, I cannot go through what I used in England. Oh, doctor! have you
the heart to part man a