第18章

Helightedhislamp，examinedthebelt，unrippedit，andpouredoutthecontentsonhistable。

Theyweredazzling。Agreatmanylargepiecesofamethyst，andsomeofwhitetopazandrockcrystal；alargenumberofsmallerstones，carbuncles，chrysolites，andnotafewemeralds。Doddlookedatthemwithpleasure，sparklinginthelamplight。

"Whatalot!"saidhe。"Iwonderwhattheyareworth!"Hesentforthefirstmate，who，heknew，didalittleprivatebusinessinpreciousstones。"Masterton，"saidhe，"obligemebycountingthesestoneswithme，andvaluingthem。"

Mr。Mastertonstared，andhismouthwatered。However，henamedthevariousstonesandvaluedthem。Hesaidtherewasonestone，alargeemerald，withoutaflaw，thatwasworthaheavysumbyitself；andthepearls，veryfine:andlookingatthegreatnumber，theymustbeworthathousandpounds。

CaptainDoddthenenteredthewholebusinesscarefullyintheship"slog:thelivingmanhedescribedthus:"Aboutfivefeetsixinheight，andaboutfiftyyearsofage。"Thenhedescribedthenotesandthestonesveryexactly，andmadeMasterton，thevaluer，signthelog。

Stainestookagooddealofegg-flipthatnight，andnextdayatesolidfood；buttheyquestionedhiminvain；hisreasonwasentirelyinabeyance:hehadbecomeaneater，andnothingelse。

Whenevertheygavehimfood，heshowedasortoffawninganimalgratitude。Othersentimenthehadnone，nordidwordsenterhismindanymorethanabird"s。Andsinceitisnotpleasanttodwellonthewreckofafineunderstanding，IwillonlysaythattheylandedhimatCapeTown，outofbodilydanger，butweak，andhismind，toallappearance，ahopelessblank。

Theyburiedtheskeleton，——readtheserviceoftheEnglishChurchoveraMalabarheathen。

DoddtookStainestothehospital，andlefttwentypoundswiththegovernorofittocurehim。ButhedepositedStaines"smoneyandjewelswithafriendlybanker，andbeggedthattheprincipalcashiermightseetheman，andbeabletorecognizehim，shouldheapplyforhisown。

Thecashiercameandexaminedhim，andalsotherubyringonhisfinger——apartinggiftfromRosa——andremarkedthiswasanewwayofdoingbusiness。

"Why，itistheonlyone，sir，"saidDodd。"Howcanwegiveyouhissignature?Heisnotinhisrightmind。"

"Norneverwillbe。"

"Don"tsaythat，sir。Letushopeforthebest，poorfellow。"

Havingmadetheseprovisions，theworthycaptainweighedanchor，withawarmheartandagoodconscience。Yettheimageofthemanhehadsavedpursuedhim，andheresolvedtolookafterhimnexttimeheshouldcoalatCapeTown，homewardbound。

Stainesrecoveredhisstrengthinabouttwomonths；buthismindreturnedinfragments，andveryslowly。Foralong，longtimeherememberednothingthathadprecededhisgreatcalamity。Hismindstartedafresh，aidedonlybycertainfixedhabits；forinstance，hecouldreadandwrite:but，strangeasitmayappear，hehadnoideawhohewas；andwhenhismemoryclearedalittleonthathead，hethoughthissurnamewasChristie，buthewasnotsure。

Nevertheless，thepresidingphysiciandiscoveredinhimacertainprogressofintelligence，whichgavehimgreathopes。Inthefifthmonth，havingshownamarkedinterestintheothersickpatients，coupledwithadispositiontobecarefulandattentive，theymadehimanurse，orratherasub-nurseunderthespecialordersofaresponsiblenurse。Ireallybelieveitwasdoneatfirsttoavoidthealternativeofsendinghimadrift，ortransferringhimtotheinsanewardofthehospital。Inthiscongenialpursuitheshowedsuchwatchfulnessandskill，thatbyandbytheyfoundtheyhadgotatreasure。Twomonthsafterthathebegantotalkaboutmedicine，andastonishedthemstillmore。Hebecamethepuzzleoftheestablishment。Thedoctorandsurgeonwouldconversewithhim，andtryandleadhimtohispastlife；butwhenitcametothat，heusedtoputhishandstohisheadwithafaceofgreatdistress，anditwasclearsomeimpassablebarrierlaybetweenhisgrowingintelligenceandthepasteventsofhislife。Indeed，ononeoccasion，hesaidtohiskindfriendthedoctor，"Thepast!——ablackwall!ablackwall!"

Tenmonthsafterhisadmissionhewaspromotedtobeanattendant，withasalary。

Heputbyeveryshillingofit；forhesaid，"Avoicefromthedarkpasttellsmemoneyiseverythinginthisworld。"

Adiscussionwasheldbytheauthoritiesastowhetherheshouldbeinformedhehadmoneyandjewelsatthebankornot。

Uponthewhole，itwasthoughtadvisabletopostponethisinformation，lestheshouldthrowitaway；buttheytoldhimhehadbeenpickedupatsea，andbothmoneyandjewelsfoundonhim；theywereinsafehands，onlythepersonwasawayforthetime。Still，hewasnottolookuponhimselfaseitherfriendlessormoneyless。

Atthiscommunicationheshowedanalmostchildishdelight，thatconfirmedthedoctorinhisopinionhewasactingprudently，andfortherealbenefitofanamiableandafflictedperson，notyettobetrustedwithmoneyandjewels。

CHAPTERXVII。

Inhisqualityofattendantonthesick，Stainessometimesconductedaweakbutconvalescentpatientintotheopenair；andhewasalwayspleasedtodothis，fortheairoftheCapecarrieshealthandvigoronitswings。Hehadseenitsfinerecreativeproperties，andhedivined，somehow，thatthemindsofconvalescentsoughttobeamused，andsoheoftenbeggedthedoctortolethimtakeaconvalescentabroad。Soonerthannot，hewoulddrawthepatientseveralmilesinaBathchair。Heratherlikedthis；forhewasaHercules，andhadnoegotismorfalsepridewherethesickwereconcerned。

Now，theseopen-airwalksexertedabeneficialinfluenceonhisowndarkenedmind。Itisonethingtostrugglefromideatoidea；itisanotherwhenmaterialobjectsminglewiththeretrospect；theyseemtosupplystepping-stonesinthegradualresuscitationofmemoryandreason。

Theshipsgoingoutofportweresuchasteppingstonetohim，andavagueconsciousnesscamebacktohimofhavingbeeninaship。

Unfortunately，alongwiththisreminiscencecameadesiretogoinoneagain；andthissoweddiscontentinhismind，andthemorethatmindenlarged，themorehebegantodislikethehospitalanditsconfinement。Thefeelinggrew，andbadefairtodisqualifyhimforhishumbleoffice。Theauthoritiescouldnotfailtohearofthis，andtheyhadalittlediscussionaboutpartingwithhim；buttheyhesitatedtoturnhimadrift，andtheystilldoubtedtheproprietyoftrustinghimwithmoneyandjewels。

Whilematterswereinthisstatearemarkableeventoccurred。Hedrewasickpatientdowntothequayonemorning，andwatchedthebusinessoftheportwiththekeenestinterest。Ashipatanchorwasunloading，andagreatheavyboatwasstickingtohersidelikeablackleech。Presentlythisboatcameaway，andmovedsluggishlytowardstheshore，ratherbyhelpofthetidethanofthetwomenwhowentthroughtheformofpropellingherwithtwomonstroussweeps，whileathirdsteeredher。ShecontainedEnglishgoods:

agriculturalimplements，somecases，fourhorses，andabuxomyoungwomanwithathoroughEnglishface。Thewomanseemedalittleexcited，andasshenearedthelanding-place，shecalledoutinjocundtonestoayoungmanontheshore，"Itisallright，Dick；

theyarebeauties，"andshepattedthebeastsaspeopledowhoarefondofthem。

Shesteppedlightlyashore，andthencametheslowerworkoflandingherimports。Shebustledabout，likeahenoverherbrood，andwasn"talwaystalking，butputinherwordeverynowandthen，nevercrossly，andalwaystothepoint。

Staineslistenedtoher，andexaminedherwithasortofpuzzledlook；butshetooknonoticeofhim；herwholesoulwasinthecattle。

Theygotthethingsonboardwellenough；butthehorseswerefrightenedatthegangway，andjibbed。Thenamanwasfordrivingthem，andpokedoneoftheminthequarter；hesnortedandreareddirectly。

"Manalive!"criedtheyoungwoman，"thatisnottheway。Theyaredocileenough，butfrightened。Encourage"em，andlet"emlookatit。Give"emtime。Morehastelessspeed，withtimorouscattle。"

"Thatisaverypleasantvoice，"saidpoorStaines，rathermoredictatoriallythanbecamethepresentstateofhisintellect。Headdedsoftly，"atruewoman"svoice；"thengloomily，"avoiceofthepast——thedark，darkpast。"

Atthisspeechintrudingitselfupontheshortsentencesofbusiness，therewasaroaroflaughter，andPhoebeFalconturnedsharplyroundtolookatthespeaker。Shestaredathim；shecried"Oh!"andclaspedherhands，andcoloredallover。"Why，sure，"

saidshe，"Ican"tbemistook。Thoseeyes——"tisyou，doctor，isn"tit?"

"Doctor?"saidStaines，withapuzzledlook。"Yes；Ithinktheycalledmedoctoronce。I"manattendantinthehospitalnow。"

"Dick!"criedPhoebe，innolittleagitation。"Comeherethisminute。"

"What，aforeIgetthehorsesashore?"

"Ay，beforeyoudoanotherthing，orsayanotherword。Comehere，now。"Sohecame，andshetoldhimtotakeagoodlookattheman。

"Now，"saidshe，"whoisthat?"

"BlestifIknow，"saidhe。

"What，notknowthemanwhosavedyourownlife!Oh，Dick，whatareyoureyesworth?"

Thisdiscoursebroughtthefewpersonswithinhearingintoonebandofexcitedstarers。

Dicktookagoodlook，andsaid，"I"mblestifIdon"t，though；itisthedoctorthatcutmythroat。"

Thisstrangestatementdrewforthquiteashoutofejaculations。

"Oh，betterbreathethroughaslitthannotatall，"saidDick。

"Savedmylifewiththatcut，hedid，didn"the，Pheeb?"

"Thathedid，Dick。Dearheart，IhardlyknowwhetherIaminmysensesornot，seeinghima-lookingsoblank。Youtryhim。"

Dickcameforward。"Sureyourememberme，sir。DickDale。Youcutmythroat，andsavedmylife。"

"Cutyourthroat!why，thatwouldkillyou。"

"Notthewayyoudoneit。Well，sir，youain"tthemanyouwas，thatisclear；butyouwasagoodfriendtome，andthere"smyhand。"

"Thankyou，Dick，"saidStaines，andtookhishand。"Idon"trememberYOU。Perhapsyouareoneofthepast。Thepastisdeadwalltome——adarkdeadwall，"andheputhishandstohisheadwithalookofdistress。

Everybodytherenowsuspectedthetruth，andsomepointedmysteriouslytotheirownheads。

Phoebewhisperedaninquirytothesickperson。

Hesaidalittlepettishly，"AllIknowis，heisthekindestattendantintheward，andveryattentive。"

"Oh，then，heisinthepublichospital。"

"Ofcourseheis。"

Theinvalid，withtheselfishnessofhisclass，thenbeggedStainestotakehimoutofallthisbustledowntothebeach。Stainescompliedatonce，withtheutmostmeekness，andsaid，"Good-by，oldfriends；forgivemefornotrememberingyou。Itismygreatafflictionthatthepastisgonefromme——gone，gone。"Andhewentsadlyaway，drawinghissickchargelikeapatientmule。

PhoebeFalconlookedafterhim，andbegantocry。

"Nay，nay，Phoebe，"saidDick；"don"tyetakeonaboutit。"

"Iwonderatyou，"sobbedPhoebe。"Goodpeople，I"mfonderofmybrotherthanheisofhimself，itseems；forIcan"ttakeitsoeasy。Well，theworldisfulloftrouble。Letusdowhatweareherefor。ButIshallprayforthepoorsouleverynight，thathismindmaybegivenbacktohim。"

Sothenshebustled，andgaveherselftogettingthecattleonshore，andthethingsputonboardherwagon。

Butwhenthiswasdone，shesaidtoherbrother，"Dick，Ididnotthinkanythingonearthcouldtakemyheartoffthecattleandthethingswehavegotfromhome；butIcan"tleavethiswithoutgoingtothehospitalaboutourpoordeardoctor:anditislateformakingastart，anyway——andyoumustn"tforgetthenewspapersforReginald——heissofondofthem——andyoumustcontrivetohaveonesentoutregularafterthis，andI"llgotothehospital。"

Shewent，andsawtheheaddoctor，andtoldhimhehadgotanattendantthereshehadknowninEnglandinaverydifferentcondition，andshehadcometoseeiftherewasanythingshecoulddoforhim——forshefeltverygratefultohim，andgrievedtoseehimso。

Thedoctorwaspleasedandsurprised，andputseveralquestions。

ThenshegavehimaclearstatementofwhathehaddoneforDickinEngland。

"Well，"saidthedoctor，"Ibelieveitisthesameman；for，nowyoutellmethis——yes，oneofthenursestoldmeheknewmoreaboutmedicinethanshedid。Hisname，ifyouplease。"

"Hisname，sir?"

"Yes，hisname。Ofcourseyouknowhisname。IsitChristie?"

"Doctor，"saidPhoebe，blushing，"Idon"tknowwhatyouwillthinkofme，butIdon"tknowhisname。Lawsforgiveme，Ineverhadthesensetoaskit。"

Ashadeofsuspicioncrossedthedoctor"sface。

Phoebesawit，andcoloredtothetemples。"Oh，sir，"shecriedpiteously，"don"tgofortothinkIhavetoldyoualie!whyshouldI?andindeedIamnotofthatsort，norDickneither。Sir，I"llbringhimtoyou，andhewillsaythesame。Well，wewereallinterrorandconfusion，andImethimaccidentallyinthestreet。Hewasonlyacustomertillthen，andpaidreadymoney，sothatishowIneverknewhisname，butifIhadn"tbeenthegreatestfoolinEngland，Ishouldhaveaskedhiswife。"

"What!hehasawife?"

"Ay，sir，theloveliestladyyoueverclappedeyeson，andheisalmostashandsome；haseyesinhisheadlikejewels；"twasbythemIknewhimonthequay，andIthinkheknewmyvoiceagain，saidasgoodashehadhearditinpasttimes。"

"Didhe?Thenwehavegothim，"criedthedoctorenergetically。

"La，Sir。"

"Yes；ifheknowsyourvoice，youwillbeableintimetoleadhismemoryback；atleast，Ithinkso。DoyouliveinCapeTown?"

"Dearheart，no。Iliveatmyownfarm，ahundredandeightymilesfromthis。"

"Whatapity!"

"Why，sir?"

"Well——hum!"

"Oh，ifyouthinkIcoulddothepoordoctorgoodbyhavinghimwithme，youhaveonlytosaytheword，andouthegoeswithDickandmeto-morrowmorning。Weshouldhavestartedforhometo-

night，butforthis。"

"Areyouinearnest，madam?"saidthedoctor，openinghiseyes。

"Wouldyoureallyencumberyourselfwithapersonwhosereasonisinsuspense，andmayneverreturn?"

"Butthatisnothisfault，sir。Why，ifadoghadsavedmybrother"slife，I"dtakeithome，andkeepitallitsdays；andthisisaman，andaworthyman。Oh，sir，whenIsawhimbroughtdownso，andhisbeautifuleyescloudedlike，myverybosomyearnedoverthepoorsoul；akindactdoneindearoldEngland，whocanseethemanintroublehere，andnotrepayit——ay，ifitcostone"sblood。Butindeedheisstrongandhealthy，andhandsarealwaysscarceourway，andtheoddsarehewillearnhismeatonewayort"other；andifhedoesn"t，why，allthebetterforme；Ishallhavethepleasureofservinghimfornoughtthatonceservedmeforneithermoneynorreward。"

"Youareagoodwoman，"saidthedoctorwarmly。

"There"sbetter，andthere"sworse，"saidPhoebequietly，andevenalittlecoldly。

"Moreofthelatter，"saidthedoctordryly。"Well，Mrs——?"

"Falcon，sir。"

"Weshallhandhimovertoyourcare:butfirst——justforform——ifyouareamarriedwoman，weshouldliketoseeDickhere:heisyourhusband，Ipresume。"

Ploebelaughedmerrily。"Dickismybrother；andhecan"tbesparedtocomehere。Dick!he"dsayblackwaswhiteifItoldhimto。"

"Thenletusseeyourhusbandaboutit——justforform。"

"Myhusbandisatthefarm。Icouldnotventuresofaraway，andnotleavehimincharge。"Ifshehadsaid，"Iwillnotbringhimintotemptation，"thatwouldhavebeennearerthetruth。"Letthatflystickonthewall，sir。WhatIdo，myhusbandwillapprove。"

"Iseehowitis。Youruletheroost。"

Phoebedidnotreplypoint-blanktothat；shemerelysaid，"Allmychickensarehappy，greatandsmall，"andanexpressionoflofty，womanly，innocentprideilluminatedherfaceandmadeitsuperbforamoment。

Inshort，itwassettledthatStainesshouldaccompanyhernextmorningtoDale"sKloofFarm，ifhechose。Oninquiry，itappearedthathehadjustreturnedtothehospitalwithhispatient。Hewassentfor，andPhoebeaskedhimsweetlyifhewouldgowithhertoherhouse，onehundredandeightymilesaway，andshewouldbekindtohim。

"Onthewater?"

"Nay，byland；but"tisafinecountry，andyouwillseebeautifuldeerandthingsrunningacrosstheplains，and"——

"ShallIfindthepastagain，thepastagain?"

"Ay，poorsoul，thatweshall，Godwilling。YouandI，wewillhuntittogether。"

Helookedather，andgaveherhishand。"Iwillgowithyou。

Yourfacebelongstothepast，sodoesyourvoice。"

Hetheninquired，ratherabruptly，hadsheanychildren。Shesmiled。

"Ay，thatIhave，theloveliestlittleboyyoueversaw。Whenyouareasyouusedtobe，youwillbehisdoctor，won"tyou?"

"Yes，Iwillnursehim，andyouwillhelpmefindthepast。"

PhoebethenbeggedStainestobereadytostartatsixinthemorning。SheandDickwouldtakehimupontheirway。

Whileshewastalkingtohimthedoctorslippedout，andtotellthetruthhewenttoconsultwithanotherauthority，whetherheshouldtakethisopportunityoftellingStainesthathehadmoneyandjewelsatthebank:hehimselfwashalfinclinedtodoso；buttheother，whohadnotseenPhoebe"sface，advisedhimtodonothingofthekind。"Theyarealwaysshortofmoney，thesecolonialfarmers，"saidhe；"shewouldgeteveryshillingoutofhim。"

"Mostwould；butthisissuchanhonestface。"

"Well，butsheisamother，yousay。"

"Yes。"

"Well，whatmothercouldbejusttoalunatic，withherownsweetangelbabestoprovidefor?"

"Thatistrue，"saidDr。"Maternalloveisapttomodifytheconscience。"

"WhatIwoulddo，——Iwouldtakeheraddress，andmakeherpromisetowriteifhegetswell，andifhedoesgetwellthenwritetoHIM，andtellhimallaboutit。"

Dr——actedonthisshrewdadvice，andorderedabundletobemadeupforthetravelleroutofthehospitalstores:itcontainedanicelightsummersuitandtwochangesoflinen。

CHAPTERXVIII。

Nextmorning，StainesandDickDalewalkedthroughthestreetsofCapeTownsidebyside。Dickfelttheuneasinessofasaneman，notfamiliarwiththementallyafflicted，whosuddenlyfindshimselfalonewithone。Insanityturnsmenoftenestintosheepandhares；butitdoesnowandthenmakethemwolvesandtigers；andthathassaddledtheinsaneingeneralwithacharacterforferocity。YoungDale，then，castmanyasuspiciousglanceathiscomrade，ashetookhimalong。Theseglanceswerereassuring:

Christopher"sfacehadnolongerthemobility，theexpressivechanges，thatmarkthesuperiormind；hiscountenancewasmonotonous:buttheoneexpressionwasengaging；therewasasweet，patient，lamb-likelook:thegloriouseyealittletroubledandperplexed，butwonderfullymild。DickDalelookedandlooked，andhisuneasinessvanished。Andthemorehelooked，themoredidacertainwondercreepoverhim，andmakehimscarcebelievethethingheknew；viz。，thatalearneddoctorhadsavedhimfromthejawsofdeathbyrareknowledge，sagacity，courage，andskillcombined:andthatmightymanofwisdomwasbroughtdowntothislamb，andwouldgonorth，south，east，orwest，withsweetandperfectsubmission，evenashe，DickDale，shouldappoint。WiththesereflectionshonestDickfelthiseyesgetalittlemisty，and，tousethosewordsofScripture，whichnothingcansurpassorequal，hisbowelsyearnedovertheman。

AsforChristopher，helookedstraightforward，andsaidnotawordtilltheyclearedthetown；butwhenhesawthevastfloweryvale，andthefar-offviolethills，likeScotlandglorified，heturnedtoDickwithanineffableexpressionofsweetnessandgoodfellowship，andsaid，"Oh，beautiful!We"llhuntthepasttogether。"

"We——will——SO，"saidDick，withasturdyandindeedalmostasternresolution。

Now，thishesaid，notthathecaredforthepast，norintendedtowastethepresentbygoinguponitspredecessor"strail；buthehadcometoaresolution——fullthreeminutesago——tohumorhiscompaniontothetopofhisbent，andsay"Yes"withhypocriticalvigortoeverythingnotdirectlyandimmediatelydestructivetohimandhis。

Thenextmomenttheyturnedacornerandcameupontherestoftheirparty，hithertohiddenbytheapricothedgeandaturningintheroad。Ablue-blackKafir，withtwoyellowHottentotdrivers，manandboy，washarnessing，inthemostprimitivemode，fourhorsesontothesixoxenattachedtothewagon；andthehorseswereflatteningtheirears，andotherwiseresentingtheincongruity。Meantimeafourthfigure，acolossalyoungKafirwoman，lookedonsuperiorwithfoldedarms，likeasableJunolookingdownwiththatabsolutecomposureuponthestrugglesofmanandotheranimals，whichLucretiusandhismasterEpicurusassignedtotheDivinenature。Withoutjesting，thegrandeur，majesty，andreposeofthisfigurewereunsurpassableinnature，andsuchashavevanishedfromsculpturetwothousandyearsandmore。

DickDalejoinedthegroupimmediately，andsoonarrangedthematter。Meantime，Phoebedescendedfromthewagon，andwelcomedChristopherverykindly，andaskedhimifhewouldliketositbesideher，ortowalk。

Heglancedintothewagon；itwascoveredandcurtained，anddarkasacupboard。"Ithink，"saidhe，timidly，"Ishallseemoreofthepastouthere。"

"Soyouwill，poorsoul，"saidPhoebekindly，"andbetterforyourhealth:butyoumustnotgofarfromthewagon，forI"mafidget；

andIhavegotthecareofyounow，youknow，forwantofabetter。

Come，Ucatella；youmustridewithme，andhelpmesortthethings；

theyareallhiggledy-piggledy。"Sothosetwogotintothewagonthroughthebackcurtains。ThentheKafirdriverflourishedhiskambok，orlongwhip，intheair，andmadeitcracklikeapistol，andthehorsesreared，andtheoxenstartedandslowlyboredinbetweenthem，fortheywhinnied，andkicked，andspreadoutlikeafanallovertheroad；butaflickortwofromtheterriblekamboksoonsentthembleedingandtremblingandrubbingshoulders，andtheoxen，mildlybutpersistentlygoringtheirrecalcitratinghaunches，theintelligentanimalswentahead，andrevengedthemselvesbybreakingtheharness。ButthatgoesforlittleinCapetravel。

Thebodyofthewagonwaslongandlowandverystout。Thetiltstrongandtight-made。Theroofinside，andmostofthesides，linedwithgreenbaize。Curtainsofthesametothelittlewindowandtheback。Therewasasortofholdliterallybuiltfullofpurchases；asmallfireproofsafe；hugeblocksofsalt；saws，axes，pickaxes，adzes，flails，toolsinnumerable，balesofwoolandlinenstuff，hams，andtwohundredemptysacksstrewnoverall。Inlargepigeon-holesfixedtothesideswerelightgoods，groceries，collars，glaringcottonhandkerchiefsforPhoebe"saboriginaldomestics，sincenoteveryyeardidshegotoCapeTown，atwentydays"journeybywagon:thingsdangledfromtheveryroof；butnohardgoodsthere，ifyouplease，tobatterone"sheadinaspill。

Outsidewerelatticedgrooveswithtent，tent-poles，andrifles。

Greatpiecesofcork，andbagsofhayandcorn，hungdanglingfrommightyhooks——thelattertofeedthecattle，shouldtheybecompelledtocampoutonsomesterilespotontheVeldt，andmethinkstoactasbuffers，shouldthewholeconcernrolldownanullahorlittleprecipice，noveryuncommonincidentintheblessedregiontheymustpasstoreachDale"sKloof。

Harnessmended；freshstart。TheHottentotsandKafirvociferatedandyelled，andmadetheunearthlyrowofadozenwildbeastswrangling:thehorsesdrewthebullocks，theythewagon；itcrawledandcreaked，anditsappendageswobbledfinely。

Slowlytheycreakedandwobbledpastapricothedgesanddetachedhousesandhuts，andgotintoanopencountrywithoutatree，buthereandthereastuntedcamel-thorn。

Thesoilwasarid，andgrewlittlefoodformanorbeast；yet，byasingularfreakofnature，itputforthabundantlythingsthathereathomewefindithardertoraisethanhomelygrassandoats；thegroundwasthicklycladwithflowersofdelightfulhues；pyramidsofsnoworrose-colorborderedthetrack；yellowandcrimsonstarsbejewelledtheground，andathousandbulbousplantsburstintoallimaginablecolors，andspreadarainbowcarpettothefootoftheviolethills；andallthisglowed，andgleamed，andglitteredinasunshiningwithincrediblebrightnessandpurityoflight，but，somehow，withoutgivingaheadacheormakingtheairsultry。

Christopherfelltogatheringflowers，andinterrogatingthepastbymeansofthem；forhehadstudiedbotany:thepastgavehimbacksomepitiablyvagueideas。Hesighed。"Nevermind，"saidhetoDick，andtappedhisforehead:"itishere:itisonlylockedup。"

"Allright，"saidDick；"nothingislostwhenyouknowwhere"tis。"

"Thisisabeautifulcountry，"suggestedChristopher。"Itisallflowers。Itislikethegardenof——thegardenof——lockedup。"

"Itisde——light——ful，"repliedtheself-compelledoptimiststurdily。Butherenaturegaveway；hewasobligedtorelievehisagriculturalbilebygettingintothecartandcomplainingtohissister。""Twilltakeusallourtimetocurehim。Hehavebeenbepraisingthisheresoil，whichitisonlyfittocleanthewomen"skettles。"Twouldn"tfeedthreelarkstoanacre，Iknow；

no，NORHALFSOMANY。"

"Poorsoul!mayhaptheflowershavetookhiseye。Sithereabit，Dick。Iwanttotalktoyouaboutamanythings。"

Whilethesetwowereconversing，Ucatella，whowasveryfondofPhoebe，butabhorredwagons，steppedoutandstalkedbytheside，likeanostrich，acamelopard，oraTaglioni；nordidtheeffortwithwhichshesubduedherstridetothepaceoftheprocessionappear:itwasthepoetryofwalking。Christopheradmireditamoment；butthenobleexpansetemptedhim，andhestrodeforthlikeagiant，hislungsinflatinginthegloriousair，andsoonleftthewagonfarbehind。

Theconsequencewasthatwhentheycametoahalt，andDickandPhoebegotouttoreleaseandwaterthecattle，therewasChristopher"sfigureretiringintospace。

"HancremaegretulitPhoebe，"asmyoldfriendLivywouldsay。

"Ohdear!ohdear!ifhestrayssofarfromus，hewillbeeatenupatnightfallbyjackals，orlions，orsomething。Oneofyoumustgoafterhim。"

"Mego，missy，"saidUcatellazealously，pleasedwithanexcuseforstretchinghermagnificentlimbs。

"Ay，butmayhaphewillnotcomebackwithYOU:willhe，Dick?"

"Thathewill，likealamb。"Dickwantedtolookafterthecattle。

"Yuke，mygirl，"saidPhoebe，"listen。Hehasbeenagoodfriendofoursintrouble；andnowheisnotquiterightHERE。Sobeverykindtohim，butbesureandbringhimback，orkeephimtillwecome。"

"Mebringhimbackalive，certainsure，"saidUcatella，smilingfromeartoear。Shestartedwithasuddenglide，likeaboattakingthewater，andappearedalmosttosaunteraway，soeasywasthemotion；butwhenyoulookedatthegroundshewascovering，thestride，orglide，orwhateveritwas，wasamazing。

"Sheseem"dinwalkingtodevourtheway。"

Christopherwalkedfast，butnothinglikethis；andashestoppedattimestobotanizeandgazeattheviolethills，andinterrogatethepast，shecameupwithhimaboutfivemilesfromthehalting-

place。

Shelaidherhandquietlyonhisshoulder，andsaid，withabroadgenialsmile，andamusicalchuckle，"Ucatellacomeforyou。Missywanttospeakyou。"

"Oh!verywell；"andheturnedbackwithher，directly；butshetookhimbythehandtomakesure；andtheymarchedbackpeaceably，insilence，andhandinhand。Buthelookedandlookedather，andatlasthestoppeddeadshort，andsaid，alittlearrogantly，"Come，IknowYOU。YOUarenotlockedup；"andheinspectedherpoint-blank。Shestoodlikeanantiquestatue，andfacedtheexamination。"Youare"thenoblesavage，""saidhe，havingconcludedhisinspection。

"Nay，"saidshe。"Ibethehousemaid。"

"Thehousemaid?"

"Iss，thehousemaid，Ucatella。Socomeon。"Andshedrewhimalong，soreperplexed。

Theymetthecavalcadeamilefromthehalting-place，andPhoebeapologizedalittletoChristopher。"Ihopeyou"llexcuseme，sir，"saidshe，"butIamjustforalltheworldlikeahenwithherchickens；ifbutonestrays，I"mallinafluttertillIgethimback。"

"Madam，"saidChristopher，"Iamveryunhappyatthewaythingsarelockedup。Pleasetellmetruly，isthis"thehousemaid，"or"thenoblesavage"?"

"Well，sheisboth，ifyougotothat，andthebestcreatureeverbreathed。"

"ThensheIS"thenoblesavage"?"

"Ay，sotheycallher，becausesheisblack。"

"Then，thankHeaven，"saidChristopher，"thepastisnotalllockedup。"

Thatafternoontheystoppedataninn。ButDicksleptinthecart。

Atthreeinthemorningtheytooktheroadagain，andcreakedalongsupernaturallyloudunderapurplefirmamentstuddedwithhugestars，allbrightasmoons，thatlitthewayquiteclear，andshowedblackthingsinnumerableflittingtoandfro；thesemadePhoebeshudder，butwerenodoubtharmless；stillDickcarriedhisdoublerifle，andarevolverinhisbelt。