with him certain matters which Grosvenor felt it would be
highly desirable for him to possess as monarch of a people of such great
potential possibilities as the Izreelites, both remembered that the
journey from Bethalia to the nearest confines of civilisation was a long
and arduous one, bristling with perils of every imaginable kind, and who
could say that it would be accomplished in safety, or, if accomplished,
could be repeated? For life is too full of chances for a man to make
plans for the future, with any certainty that he will be able to carry
them out. Therefore, when these two adventurous sons of the most
adventurous nation on earth finally clasped hands and said their last
words of farewell, though those words were entirely cheery and
optimistic, the voices which spoke them were a little husky with
feeling, and the firm, strong hand-grip was lingering, and relaxed with
much reluctance.

Dick's ride from the palace through the town to the point of embarkation
for the mainland was one long, unbroken ovation; for there had now been
time for the people to recognise, and also to appreciate, the many fine
qualities of the young Englishman's character; realisation of the
enormous debt which they owed to him and to his friend, their new king,
had come to them, and they were as unfeignedly sorry to witness his
departure from among them as a naturally unemotional people could well
be.

As he stepped into the swift-sailing cutter which was to convey him
across to the mainland, where the wagon, already inspanned, was awaiting
him, a letter was handed to him by one of two men who had just carefully
deposited in the boat a well-filled leather portmanteau bearing
Grosvenor's initials. The letter ran thus:

"Dear old Chap,--

"The portmanteau which accompanies this note contains Myra's and my
own parting gift to you, in the shape of the finest diamonds which a
gang of twenty men have been able to extract from the newly discovered
mine during the last month. They are quite valueless to us, it is
true, but in the dear old country to which you are bound they ought,
even apart from the rubies which you are taking back, to make you one
of the most wealthy men in the world. May God grant you health and
long life to enjoy that wealth, and to employ it--as we know you
will--in ameliorating the lot of those who are worse off than
yourself! We confidently look forward to your return to Izreel in the
c