"Well,"said Captain Good,"I have been round the world twice,and put in at most ports,but may I be hung if I ever heard a yarn like that out of a story-book,or in it either,for the matter of that.""It's a queer story,Mr.Quatermain,"said Sir Henry."I suppose you are not hoaxing us?It is,I how,sometimes thought allowable to take a greenhorn in.""If you think that,Sir Henry,"I said,much put out,and pocketing my paper,for I do not like to be thought one of those silly fellows who consider it witty to tell lies,and who are forever boasting to new-comers of extraordinary hunting adventures which never happened,"why there is an end of the matter,"and I rose to go.
Sir Henry laid his large hand upon my shoulder."Sit down,Mr.
Quatermain,"he said,"I beg your pardon;I see very well you do not wish to deceive us,but the story sounded so extraordinary that I could hardly believe it.""You shall see the original map and writing when we reach Durban,"I said,somewhat mollified;for really,when I came to consider,the matter,it was scarcely wonderful that he should doubt my good faith."But I have not told you about your brother.I knew the man Jim who was with him.He was a Bechuana by birth,a good hunter,and,for a native,a very clever man.The morning Mr.Neville was starting,I saw Jim standing by my wagon and cutting up tobacco on the disselboom.
"'Jim,'said I,`where are you off to this trip?Is it elephants?'
"'No,Baas,'he answered,`we are after something worth more than ivory.'
"'And what might that be?'I said;for I was curious.`Is it gold?'
"'No,Baas,something worth more than gold,'and he grinned.
"I did not ask any more questions,for I did not like to lower my dignity by seeming curious,but I was puzzled.Presently Jim finished cutting his tobacco.
"'Baas,'said he.
"I took no notice.
"'Baas,'said he again.
"'Eh,boy,what is it?'said I.
"'Baas,we are going after diamonds.'
"'Diamonds!why,then,you are going in the wrong direction;you should head for the Fields.'
"'Baas,have you ever heard of Suliman's Berg?'(Solomon's Mountains.)"'Have you ever heard of the diamonds there?'
"'I have heard a foolish story,Jim.'
"'It is no story,Baas.I once knew a woman who came from there,and got to Natal with her child.She told me;she is dead now.'
"'Your master will feed the assvogels (vultures),Jim,if he tries to reach Suliman's country;and so will you,if they can get any pickings off your worthless old carcass,'said I.
"He grinned.`Mayhap,Baas.Man must die;I'd rather like to try a new country myself;the elephants are getting worked out about here.'
"'Ah!my boy,'I said,`you wait till the "pale old man"(death)gets a grip of your yellow throat,and then we'll hear what sort of a tune you sing.'
"Half an hour after that I saw Neville's wagon move off.Presently Jim came running back.`Good-bye,Baas,'he said.`I didn't like to start without bidding you good-bye,for I dare say you are right,and we shall never come back again.'
"'Is your master really going to Suliman's Berg,Jim,or are you lying?'
"'No,'says he;`he is going.He told me he was bound to make his fortune somehow,or try to;so he might as well try the diamonds.'
"'Oh!'said I;`wait a bit,Jim;will you take a note to your master,Jim,and promise not to give it to him until you reach Inyati?'
(which was some hundred miles off).
"'Yes,'said he.
"So I took a scrap of paper and wrote on it,`Let him who comes climb the snow of Sheba's left breast,till he comes to the nipple,on the north side of which is Solomon's great road.'
"'Now,Jim,'I said,`when you give this to your master,tell him he had better follow the advice implicitly.You are not to give it to him now,because I don't want him back asking me questions which I won't answer.Now be off,you idle fellow,the wagon is nearly out of sight.'
"Jim took the note and went,and that is all I know about your brother,Sir Henry;but I am much afraid -""Mr.Quatermain,"said Sir Henry,"I am going to look for my brother;I am going to trace him to Suliman's Mountains,and over them,if necessary,until I find him,or until I know that he is dead.Will you come with me?"I am,as I think I have said,a cautious man,indeed a timid one,and I shrank from such an idea.It seemed to me that to start on such a journey would be to go to certain death,and,putting other things aside,as I had a son to support,I could not afford to die just then.
"No,thank you,Sir Henry,I think I had rather not,"I answered.
"I am too old for wild-goose chases of that sort,and we should only end up like my poor friend Silvestre.I have a son dependent on me,so cannot afford to risk my life."Both Sir Henry and Captain Good looked very disappointed.
"Mr.Quatermain,"said the former,"I am well off,and I am bent upon this business You may put the remuneration for your services at whatever figure you like,in reason,and it shall be paid over to you before we start.Moreover,I will,before we start,arrange that in the event of anything happening to us or to you,your son shall be suitably provided for.You will see from this how necessary I think your presence.Also,if by any chance we should reach this place,and find diamonds,they shall belong to you and Good equally.I do not want them.But of course the chance is as good as nothing,though the same thing would apply to any ivory we might get.You may pretty well make your own terms with me,Mr.Quatermain;of course I shall pay all expenses."
"Sir Henry,"said I,"this is the most liberal offer I ever had,and one not to be sneezed at by a poor hunter and trader.But the job is the biggest I ever came across,and I must take time to think it over.
I will give you my answer before we get to Durban.""Very good,"answered Sir Henry,and then I said good-night and turned in,and dreamed about poor,long-dead Silvestre and the diamonds.