stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第3节
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I looked along。 There beyond the farther sight was the ruddy；
scintillating speck； apparently at the end of the stick itself； so accurately
had it been adjusted。
〃And now； my boy；〃 said Tom； 〃let's have some supper and a sleep。
There's nothing more to be done to…night； but we'll need all our wits and
strength to…morrow。 Get some sticks and kindle a fire here； and then we'll
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be able to keep an eye on our signal…post； and see that nothing happens to
it during the night。〃
Well； sir； we kindled a fire； and had supper with the Sasassa demon's
eye rolling and glowing in front of us the whole night through。 Not always
in the same place； though； for after supper； when I glanced along the sights
to have another look at it； it was nowhere to be seen。 The information did
not； however； seem to disturb Tom in any way。 He merely remarked； 〃It's
the moon； not the thing； that has shifted；〃 and coiling himself up； went to
sleep。
By early dawn we were both up； and gazing along our pointer at the
cliff； but we could make out nothing save the one dead； monotonous； slaty
surface； rougher perhaps at the part we were examining than elsewhere；
but otherwise presenting nothing remarkable。
〃Now for your idea； Jack！〃 said Tom Donahue； unwinding a long thin
cord from round his waist。 〃You fasten it； and guide me while I take the
other end。〃 So saying； he walked off to the base of the cliff； holding one
end of the cord； while I drew the other taut； and wound it round the middle
of the horizontal stick； passing it through the sight at the end。 By this
means I could direct Tom to the right or left； until we had our string
stretching from the point of attachment； through the sight； and on to the
rock； which it struck about eight feet from the ground。 Tom drew a chalk
circle of about three feet diameter round the spot； and then called to me to
come and join him。 〃We've managed this business together； Jack；〃 he said；
〃and we'll find what we are to find； together。〃 The circle he had drawn
embraced a part of the rock smoother than the rest； save that about the
centre there were a few rough protuberances or knobs。 One of these Tom
pointed to with a cry of delight。 It was a roughish； brownish mass about
the size of a man's closed fist； and looking like a bit of dirty glass let into
the wall of the cliff。 〃That's it！〃 he cried〃that's it！〃
〃That's what？〃
〃Why； man； /a diamond/； and such a one as there isn't a monarch in
Europe but would envy Tom Donahue the possession of。 Up with your
crowbar； and we'll soon exorcise the demon of Sasassa Valley！〃
I was so astounded that for a moment I stood speechless with surprise；
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gazing at the treasure which had so unexpectedly fallen into our hands。
〃Here； hand me the crowbar；〃 said Tom。 〃Now； by using this little
round knob which projects from the cliff here as a fulcrum； we may be
able to lever it off。 Yes； there it goes。 I never thought it could have come
so easily。 Now； Jack； the sooner we get back to our hut and then down to
Cape Town； the better。〃
We wrapped up our treasure； and made our way across the hills toward
home。 On the way； Tom told me how； while a law student in the Middle
Temple； he had come upon a dusty pamphlet in the library； by one Jans
van Hounym； which told of an experience very similar to ours； which had
befallen that worthy Dutchman in the latter part of the seventeenth century；
and which resulted in the discovery of a luminous diamond。 This tale it
was which had come into Tom's head as he listened to honest Dick
Wharton's ghost…story； while the means which he had adopted to verify his
supposition sprang from his own fertile Irish brain。
〃We'll take it down to Cape Town；〃 continued Tom； 〃and if we can't
dispose of it with advantage there； it will be worth our while to ship for
London with it。 Let us go along to Madison's first； though； he knows
something of these things； and can perhaps give us some idea of what we
may consider a fair price for our treasure。〃
We turned off from the track accordingly； before reaching our hut； and
kept along the narrow path leading to Madison's farm。 He was at lunch
when we entered； and in a minute we were seated at each side of him；
enjoying South African hospitality。
〃Well；〃 he said； after the servants were gone； 〃what's in the wind now？
I see you have something to say to me。 What is it？〃
Tom produced his packet； and solemnly untied the handkerchiefs
which enveloped it。 〃There！〃 he said； putting his crystal on the table；
〃what would you say was a fair price for that？〃
Madison took it up and examined it critically。 〃Well；〃 he said； laying it
down again； 〃in its crude state about twelve shillings per ton。〃
〃Twelve shillings！〃 cried Tom； starting to his feet。 〃Don't you see what
it is？〃
〃Rock…salt！〃
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〃Rock…salt be dd！ a diamond。〃
〃Taste it！〃 said Madison。
Tom put it to his lips； dashed it down with a dreadful exclamation； and
rushed out of the room。
I felt sad and disappointed enough myself； but presently； remembering
what Tom had said about the pistol； I； too left the house； and made for the
hut； leaving Madison open…mouthed with astonishment。 When I got in； I
found Tom lying in his bunk with his face to the wall； too dispirited
apparently to answer my consolations。 Anathematising Dick and Madison；
the Sasassa demon； and everything else； I strolled out of the hut； and
refreshed myself with a pipe after our wearisome adventure。 I was about
fifty yards from the hut； when I heard issuing from it the sound which of
all others I least expected to hear。 Had it been a groan or an oath； I should
have taken it as a matter of course； but the sound which caused me to stop
and take the pipe out of my mouth was a hearty roar of laughter！ Next
moment Tom himself emerged from the door； his whole face radiant with
delight。 〃Game for another ten…mile walk； old fellow？〃
〃What！ for another lump of rock…salt； at twelve shillings a ton？〃
〃 'No more of that； Hal； an you love me；' 〃 grinned Tom。 〃Now look
here； Jack。 What blessed fools we are to be so floored by a trifle！ Just sit
on this stump for five minutes； and I'll make it as clear as daylight。 You've
seen many a lump of rock…salt stuck in a crag； and so have I； though we
did make such a mull of this one。 Now； Jack； did any of the pieces you
have ever seen shine in the darkness brighter than any fire…fly？〃
〃Well； I can't say they ever did。〃
〃I'd venture to prophesy that if we waited until night； which we won't
do； we would see that light still glimmering among the rocks。 Therefore；
Jack； when we took away this worthless salt； we took the wrong crystal。 It
is no very strange thing in these hills that a piece of rock…salt should be
lying within a foot of a diamond。 It caught our eyes； and we were excited；
and so we made fools of ourselves； and /left the real stone behind/。
Depend upon it； Jack； the Sasassa gem is lying within that magic circle of
chalk upon the face of yonder cliff。 Come； old fellow； light your pipe and
stow your revolver； and we'll be off before that fellow Madison has time to
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put two and two together。〃
I don't know that I was very sanguine this time。 I had begun； in fact； to
look upon the diamond as a most unmitigated nuisance。 However； rather
than throw a damper on Tom's expectations； I announced myself eager to
start。 What a walk it was！ Tom was always a good mountaineer； but his
excitement seemed to lend him wings that day； while I scrambled along
after him as best I could。
When we got within half a mile he broke into the 〃double；〃 and never
pulled up until he reached the round white circle upon the cliff。 Poor old
Tom！ when I came up； his mood had changed； and he was standing with
his hands
