Next day the clay wall was carried two feet higher, and then the doctor made them work on the other side and buttress the dyke with supports so enormous as seemed extravagant to Dick and Phoebe; but, after all, it was as well to be on the safe side, they thought:  and soon they were sure of it, for the whole work was hardly finished when the news came in that the dyke of a neighboring Boer, ten miles off, had exploded like a cannon, and emptied itself in five minutes, drowning the farm-yard and floating the furniture, but leaving them all to perish of drought; and indeed the Boer’s cart came every day, with empty barrels, for some time, to beg water of the Dales.  Ucatella pondered all this, and said her doctor child was wise.

This brief excitement over, Staines went back to his own gloomy thoughts, and they scarcely saw him, except at supper-time.

One evening he surprised them all by asking if they would add to all their kindness by lending him a horse, and a spade, and a few pounds to go to the diamond fields.

Dick Dale looked at his sister.  She said, “We had rather lend them you to go home with, sir, if you must leave us; but, dear heart, I was half in hopes—­Dick and I were talking it over only yesterday—­that you would go partners like with us; ever since you saved the dam.”

“I have too little to offer for that, Mrs. Falcon; and, besides, I am driven into a corner.  I must make money quickly, or not at all:  the diamonds are only three hundred miles off:  for heaven’s sake, let me try my luck.”

They tried to dissuade him, and told him not one in fifty did any good at it.

“Ay, but I shall,” said he.  “Great bad luck is followed by great good luck, and I feel my turn is come.  Not that I rely on luck.  An accident directed my attention to the diamond a few years ago, and I read a number of prime works upon the subject that told me of things not known to the miners.  It is clear, from the Cape journals, that they are looking for diamonds in the river only.  Now, I am sure that is a mistake.  Diamonds, like gold, have their matrix, and it is comparatively few gems that get washed into the river.  I am confident that I shall find the volcanic matrix, and perhaps make my fortune in a week or two.”

When the dialogue took this turn, Reginald Falcon’s cheek began to flush, and his eyes to glitter.

Christopher continued:  “You who have befriended me so will not turn back, I am sure, when I have such a chance before me; and as for the small sum of money I shall require, I will repay you some day, even if”—­

“La, sir, don’t talk so.  If you put it that way, why, the best horse we have, and fifty pounds in good English gold, they are at your service to-morrow.”

“And pick and spade to boot,” said Dick, “and a double rifle, for there are lions, and Lord knows what, between this and the Vaal river.”

“God bless you both!” said Christopher.  “I will start to-morrow.”