could see a mass of shadows
outlined by the carbides, all following the leadership of a small,
excited man, Sam Herbenfelder, still seeking his diamond.

The big pump from the Argonaut tunnel was aboard the truck, which was
followed by two other auto vehicles, each loaded with gasoline engines
and smaller pumps. A hundred men were in the crowd, all equipped with
ropes and buckets. Sam Herbenfelder's pleas had been heard. The
search was about to begin for the body of Harry and the diamond that
circled one finger. And Fairchild hastened to do his part.

Until far into the night they worked and strained to put the big pump
into position; while crews of men, four and five in a group, bailed
water as fast as possible, that the aggregate might be lessened to the
greatest possible extent before the pumps, with their hoses, were
attached. Then the gasoline engines began to snort, great lengths of
tubing were let down into the shaft, and spurting water started down
the mountain side as the task of unwatering the shaft began.

But it was a slow job. Morning found the distance to the water
lengthened by twenty or thirty feet, and the bucket brigades nearly at
the end of their ropes. Men trudged down the hills to breakfast,
sending others in their places. Fairchild stayed on to meet Mother
Howard and assuage her nervousness as best he could, dividing his time
between her and the task before him. Noon found more water than ever
tumbling down the hills--the smaller pumps were working now in unison
with the larger one--for Sam Herbenfelder had not missed a single
possible outlet of aid in his campaign; every man in Ohadi with an
obligation to pay, with back interest due, or with a bill yet
unaccounted for was on his staff, to say nothing of those who had
volunteered simply to still the tearful remonstrances of the
hand-wringing, diamond-less, little jeweler. Afternoon--and most of
Ohadi was there. Fairchild could distinguish the form of Anita
Richmond in the hundreds of women and men clustered about the opening
of the tunnel, and for once she was not in the company of Maurice
Rodaine. He hurried to her and she smiled at his approach.

"Have they found anything yet?"

"Nothing--so far. Except that there is plenty of water in the shaft.
I 'm trying not to believe it."

"I hope it is n't true." Her voice was low and serious. "Father was
talking to me--about you. And we hoped you two would succeed--this
time."

E