ve!" cried Sellon again. "That's just about enough to choke one
off the whole thing. A fellow doesn't mind a fair and square fight,
even against long odds. But when it comes to poisoned arrows, certain
death coming at you in the shape of a dirty little bit of stick, that
otherwise couldn't hurt a cat--faugh! I suppose these little devils
sneak up behind, and let you have it before you so much as know they're
there?"

"Generally; yes. Well, you know, every prize worth winning involves a
proportionate amount of risk. And there may be some about this
business, it's only fair to warn you, though, on the other hand, there
may not."

"All serene, old chap. I'll chance it."

"Right," said Renshaw. "Now, my plan is this. It's of no use sticking
on here. I can do no good at present, or I'm afraid for some time to
come. I propose that we go and look up some friends of mine who live
down Kafirland way. They've a lovely place in the Umtirara Mountains--a
perfect paradise after this inferno. We'll go and have a good time--
it'll set me on my legs again, and enable you to see an entirely
different part of the country. Afterwards, we'll come back here, and
start on our search."

"That's not half a bad plan of yours, Fanning. But, see here! old chap.
These friends of yours don't know me. Isn't it slightly calm my
rolling in upon them unasked?"

"Pooh! not at all. Chris Selwood's the best fellow in the world--
except, perhaps, his wife, I was going to say. We were boys together.
If we were brothers, I couldn't be more at home anywhere than at his
place--and any friend of mine will be as welcome as a heavy rain would
have been here a month ago."

"That's a good note, anyhow. But--to come back for a minute to the
`Valley of the Eye'--what are we going to find when we get there? You
didn't happen to mention just now."

"There are only two things to be picked up in this country--and plenty
of both, if only one knew exactly where to look for them--gold and
`stones.' And we shan't find gold."

"Diamonds! By Jove! Millionaires indeed--if we only find enough of
them. Well, I don't mind telling you, Fanning, that I stand uncommonly
in need of something realisable--and plenty of it. At present there
exists a powerful reason for that necessity. And, I say, Fanning, I
believe the same thing holds good as regards yourself."

"Do you?"

"Yes, when fellows get a bit off their chump, they are apt to talk. Eh,
yo