An I.D.B. in South Africa Part 7

She had not perceived the diamond in Donald's hand, for she had been picking her way to the entrance of the tunnel, and had approached it with her eyes cast down, until her companion came to a standstill.

She understood the meaning of that look later. How often a cloud pa.s.ses over us surcharged with power, to which we are indifferent, until it is revealed to us by some lightning flash of memory.

The Kafir had immediately taken hold of his car, and wheeled it into an inner chamber, but not before Dainty had noted that he was a Fingo boy, who often came to the house on errands for Donald. The beads, earrings, and ornaments with which the natives adorn themselves, and also the style of wearing the hair, distinguish one tribe of Kafirs from another; and these peculiarities were well known to Dainty.

As Miss Darcy joined them, they returned to the shaft, entered the elevator, and soon arrived at the Company's office.

The day's "wash-up" of the diamonds was next seen, and the a.s.sorting of them on the "sorting" table (which is very agreeable work to those who are looking for a prize--and find it, but a little tedious if the labours result in failure) was gone through, and some fine brilliants found.

It was about five o'clock in the afternoon on their return home that they strolled through the diamond market, a street of one-story houses built of corrugated iron, with the interiors very simply finished. They visited the offices of several diamond buyers, representing Parisian, English, Viennese, and Holland houses in this branch of trade. They were of all nations, those of Jewish origin predominating, and the visitors were received with the utmost courtesy.

The contents of their safes, stored with precious stones awaiting the departure of the English mail, packets of gems containing from ten to one hundred carats weight, were freely exhibited; and Kate almost wished that she too might enter the fascinating trade of buying and selling diamonds.

Proceeding on their way to the hotel, they pa.s.sed through the market square which was strewn with the merchandise of the country. It was difficult to say whether the mine they had recently left was even as interesting as the exhibit of wealth lying before them, brought from a great distance in the interior; that delightful unknown country, with its lions, leopards, ivory, and impregnable strongholds of savage chiefs and adventurous traders.

The life of this latter cla.s.s is as interesting to contemplate as are the fruits of their labour and skill. They go into the strange country where the 'Tse fly stings their horses to death, and where they must fight the still more deadly fevers. If they survive and manage to crawl out yellow and wan, the fervid life still holds out its charms for them, and they return to it again with the same eagerness; the voice of adventure drowns the admonitory tones of ease and safety.

On the corner of the market square, sat a Coolie woman, about thirty years of age, of diminutive form. In her native costume of many bright-hued silk handkerchiefs draped around her limbs, neck, and head, with the gold ring hanging from the nose, the earrings surrounding the entire outer edge of the ear, bracelets, anklets, and armlets, she presented a perfect type of this semi-barbaric country.

Sitting there beside her basket of oranges and melons, she fitted like a mosaic into the strange scene before them.

A little farther on was a trader's wagon, about fourteen feet long, and four and a half feet wide, piled high with skins of the leopard, silver jackal, tiger, hyena, and rare black fox. These skins, or karosses, as they are called, were as soft to the touch as a velvet robe, and had none of that hard thickness which characterise the cured skins of our wild animals. The natives are experts in the curing of these skins, and deliver them to the traders sewed together as neatly as a Parisian kid-glove, with thread made from the sinews of wild animals.

As they strolled along, the next objects which attracted their attention were the large-sized oxen with their enormously long and graceful horns.

These animals are the especial pride of the Boer farmer, who cares more for his span of sixteen handsomely-matched oxen than for any other object, animate or inanimate, on his farm. The particular cattle which attracted their notice were beautifully spotted black and white, with hides shining like satin. As Kate approached one of them, and reached out her hand, she could not touch the line of his back-bone, even when standing on tip-toe.

They stood there, huge creatures, with their horns towering in the air.

They would have made a fortune for the brush of a Bonheur.

It can hardly excite wonder that such animals gain so much affection.

The trader's wagon to which they were yoked was loaded with ivory tusks, valuable furs, ostrich feathers, and other rich and singular merchandise. One feather, a yard long and half a yard wide from tip to tip, pa.s.sed into Kate's possession. It was a plume no less beautiful than rare.

"These feathers," said Kate, regarding the gift with admiration, "do not look like the flossy, saucy, flirty things which appear on ladies' hats, strewing coquettish shadows over the face. They resemble those ugly awkward trailing bits of vanity which weep from their hats after a heavy rain, when they have neglected to carry that everyday English article of dress, an umbrella! They are as ugly as the bird from which they are plucked, until some unconscionable merchant brings the tempting merchandise to town, and places it in the hands of the milliner. Then the great play of 'My Milliner's Bill' is enacted, husbands and fathers are ruined by its representation, while the women, pretty pieces of vanity, get free tickets to the show."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A MORNING RIDE.

One bright summer's morning in the latter part of November, as Dr Fox was on his way to visit a patient living in Dutoits Pan, he turned his horses' heads into the street where lived Miss Kate Darcy.

As he neared the house of his countrywoman, in whom he had recently come to take a deep interest, she appeared descending the steps of the verandah which surrounded the house. He spoke to his horses, and they increased their speed, reaching the curbstone as Miss Darcy opened the gate.

"Good-morning, Miss Darcy," said he, "out for a walk? Would that I were also walking!"

Kate looked up brightly and smiled. "Good-morning," said she, "would that I were also riding!"

Dr Fox's eyes held a gleam of pleasure, and springing lightly from the carriage, said, "I shall admit of no retreat after that. I am going to Dutoits Pan, and you must go with me."

Kate readily entered the carriage, the doctor seated himself by her side, and the horses sped away.

"Is there not a sort of indefinable recognition of approach and presence, by which we may sometimes become aware of the proximity of people before seeing them?" began the doctor. "I was thinking of you as I rode along, and here you are!"

Kate did not say that she had also thought of the doctor that morning.

She only replied:

"Yes, I think there is often something of that sort. And recognition goes farther, too. We may often see a man's invisible soul, paradoxically speaking, against his will, and without desire. There is something, too, about a person that radiates, as it were, and unconsciously to himself and others affects those with whom he comes in contact. I suppose it affects sometimes from afar, as I did you this morning."

Dr Fox looked at Kate curiously.

"You are a novelty in this part of the world," he said. "I suppose no other woman this side an ocean voyage could talk like that."

"That may be true," said Kate, unaffectedly. "Women about here are not thinkers along certain lines. But I have a belief that moral and spiritual atmosphere has an extent and influence of which we little dream."

There was silence for a moment. Then, with a quick transition, Kate again spoke:

"Isn't this glorious? I am never happier than when I am behind fine horses, riding over a good road."

"I think, then, I see the way to giving you happiness," said the doctor, "and at the same time getting a good deal for myself. You seem like a bit of my native land again."

"Of the earth, earthy?" queried Kate.

"How can you!" cried the doctor, "but you are the first American woman I have seen in two years, and you are tremendously Yankee."

"Pray, what is tremendously Yankee?" asked Kate.

"Oh, delightfully individual! that is a trait of our countrymen--yours and mine. One sees it in you when you cross the floor, or do any other everyday thing. You could not conceal your nationality."

"We do not try to conceal what we take pride in. I am proud of being an American. Dear old America, I have not seen it in five years."

"So long? What have you been doing?"

"I have had a career," said Kate, quietly.

"Tell me about your career," said the doctor. "I have lived here two years, as you know. When you have tarried so long, you will want to know, as deeply as you can, the first congenial spirit that comes to Africa and finds you."

"What, two long years in Africa! Nothing could induce me to stay in such a land so long."

"The improbable, even the seemingly impossible things, often come to pa.s.s, Miss Darcy. Now, please, are you going to tell me about your career?"

"It won't be long."

"What--your career?"

"No--the story of it. There was a good deal of career. While I was living it, it seemed as if there would never be any end to it, and I often wished for any other life but that. It came to an end only a few months ago. It seems like a dream of centuries."

"You must have been very young when you began, for you--"