Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 230: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AN .AFRICAN SECRET. ‘Had you heard of the mine then?” > “Yes, by tradition. 1 had come up- on some very vague reports of the ex- istence of diamond fields far north of those in the Transvaal, and I was hunt- ing for them. I believed I was on the _ right track when I came to the Marotse kingdom, and I was convinced of it _ after I had met the Arabs. : “They were very suspicious of me at first, and but for the fear of alienating the king altogether, and thus bringing on themselves unnecessary trouble, they would have had me executed. A kind of compromise was effected by which I was allowed to remain, with re- strictions upon my movements and au- thority, and with the understanding that any other white man who came should be put to death immediately. “ T accepted the situation, partly be- cause I had to, for otherwise I should have been killed, and partly because I was confident that in time I could over- reach the Arabs and learn where the mine was. “ At one time I taxed Dirik with my belief in the mine, and drew from him admissions that more than satisfied me that I was right. I tried to get him to take me into the scheme, but there I failed.” “But, Mr. Murdock,” said Brad- shaw, “how could you have hoped to profit single handed if you had discov- ered the location of the mine?” “T can’t answer that question in de- tail. When you left America could you have told precisely what you would do in Africa? Of course you couldn't. Circumstances were your guide, just as they have been mine, just as they would have been had I been able at any time to find the mine, just as they are now that I have found a way to find it.” CHAPTER VIII. PANS ADVENTURE. THE strain upon Bradshaw’s nerves Was not a little relieved by Murdock’s 221 frankness. After getting well started upon his narration, he had shown few symptoms of that frantic nervousness that marked the first part of the con- versation, though ever and again his eyes glowed with that low cunning that suggested things he might have told had he been so inclined. There was enough in what he did tell to occupy Bradshaw’s thoughts, and he gave little concern to what might have happened that was not set forth in the narrative. What might happen now was more to the point. “What is going to be the result? ” he asked, “‘ of this return of the diamond diggers? ” “ Nothing, I hope, until Dirik’s part- ners get back. Long before that has happened we can have gained the mine, dug a lot of diamonds, and intrenched it to resist attack.” “I see. But what makes you so confident nothing will happen mean- time?” | “I have advised Bangwe to that effect.” . “And you did that to enable us to gain time? ” : “ Certainly, Elmer.” ‘“ Doesn’t it strike you that the Ma- rotses have any right to what lies in their country? ” Murdock stared in evidently genuine amazement. “ Is it quite fair,” Bradshaw persist- ed, “ after enjoying the hospitality and confidence of a king, to desert and trick him as you suggest doing? ”’ “Man alive!” exclaimed Murdock, then, “I never heard such questions raised in Africa. Rights of the sav- ages? Why, Elmer, to begin with, I took up with these people for the sake of getting at the diamonds, and it is pretty late to raise these fine distinc- tions which don’t hold on this conti- nent, any way. Then, as for the dia- monds, the Marotses don’t care for them. They have no use for them, no idea of their value. It’s a thousand to one that the men whe work?:d nader CO