Across the Cameroons Part 33

Braid made a motion of his hand towards his son.

"Jim," said he--and smiled.

There followed a silence, during which there came a sharp knock upon the door, John Braid went to the door and opened it, and there entered Mr.

Langton, followed by Harry.

The Judge held out his hand to Jim.

"I've come to ask your pardon," said he. "We did you a great injury.

Harry has told me the whole story. He has told me of how he found you in London, and of the terrible act you were about to commit when he saved you at the eleventh hour."

Jim had forgotten that fearful moment on the Hungerford Bridge. He now lowered his face to conceal his shame.

"I had forgotten that," he murmured in an undertone, as if to himself.

"Do not think I blame you, my poor boy," said Mr. Langton. "I blame only myself for having driven you to such a pa.s.s. You have not yet told me that you forgive me, and I have come here chiefly for that."

Jim stammered out a few half-coherent words, implying more by the tones of his voice than by anything else that everything was forgotten.

"And you have heard," Mr. Langton added, "that you are to be head-keeper here?"

"If you please, sir," said Jim, "I think my father can carry on till after the war. I was thinking I should enlist."

Mr. Langton again held out his hand, which young Braid took.

"I was expecting that," said he. "I promise to keep the place open for you, and to do all I can to help."

A few moments afterwards, Mr. Langton and his nephew went out. Before a roaring fire in the Judge's study they seated themselves in comfortable arm-chairs, and the Judge drew the Sunstone from his pocket.

"I shall give it to the British Museum," said he. "I have no wish to keep it any longer. I cannot look at it without realizing the terrible tragedies that this small piece of jade has brought about."

He was silent a while, playing with the Sunstone in his hand.

"Your Arab," said he very quietly, "the Sheikh Bayram, done to death; wretched, misguided Hardenberg buried alive in that dark and lonely vault; and all the miles you traversed, all the adventures you pa.s.sed through, and the hardships you endured! It's not worth it!" said he, with a sigh. "Let the treasure lie where it is."

For all his words, the subject seemed to fascinate him; for, after a pause, he went back to it again.

"By my calculations," said he, "this stone is from six to eight thousand years old. I have known it for not quite ten years, and during that time it has brought about the death of, at least, five men. If it could only speak," said he, "of what tragedies could it tell--tragedies of the ancient world, of the long-forgotten past?"

With another sigh he got to his feet and stirred the fire into a blaze.

"And now," said he, "though you have already served your country better than anyone else will ever know, we can see what can be done in the way of getting you a commission. In regard to a regiment, have you any particular choice?"

"Yes," said Harry at once, for he had already arranged the matter to his satisfaction; "the Wess.e.x Fusiliers."