Cape Town, and a post now
to Pniel, but I thought it surest to send by one that knows you.

Staines read this letter with great satisfaction. He remembered his two
hundred pounds, but his gold and jewels puzzled him. Still it was good
news, and pleased him not a little. Phoebe's good fortune gratified
him too, and her offer of a partnership, especially in the purchase of
diamonds from returning diggers. He saw a large fortune to be made;
and wearied and disgusted with recent ill-luck, blear-eyed and almost
blinded with sorting in the blazing sun, he resolved to go at once to
Dale's Kloof. Should Mrs. Falcon be gone to England with the diamonds,
he would stay there, and Rosa should come out to him, or he would go and
fetch her.

He went home, and washed himself, and told Bulteel he had had good news,
and should leave the diggings at once. He gave him up the claim, and
told him to sell it by auction. It was worth two hundred pounds still.
The good people sympathized with him, and he started within an hour.
He left his pickaxe and shovel, and took only his double rifle, an
admirable one, some ammunition, including conical bullets and projectile
shells given him by Falcon, a bag full of carbuncles and garnets he
had collected for Ucatella, a few small diamonds, and one hundred
pounds,--all that remained to him, since he had been paying wages and
other things for months, and had given Falcon twenty for his journey.

He rode away and soon put twenty miles between him and the diggings.

He came to a little store that bought diamonds and sold groceries and
tobacco. He haltered his horse to a hook, and went in. He offered a
small diamond for sale. The master was out, and the assistant said there
was a glut of these small stones, he did not care to give money for it.

"Well, give me three dozen cigars."

While they were chaffering, in walked a Hottentot, and said, "Will you
buy this?" and laid a clear, glittering stone on the counter, as large
as a walnut.

"Yes," said the young man. "How much?"

"Two hundred pounds."

"Two hundred pounds! Let us look at it;" he examined it, and said he
thought it was a diamond, but these large stones were so deceitful, he
dared not give two hundred pounds. "Come again in an hour," said he,
"then the master will be in."

"No," said the Hottentot quietly, and walked out.

Staines, who had been literally perspiring at the sight of this stone,
mounted his horse and followed the man. W