Cape Town, who came to the
sufferer's assistance. But he died in great agony shortly after her
arrival.

CHAPTER VI

Big gambling--Von Schlichmann--Norman Garstin--The painter of St.
Michael's Mount--Start for the gold fields--"I am going to be hanged"
Plentifulness of game--Snakes in an anthill--Nazareth--Game in the High
Veld--Narrow escape from frost-bite--A shooting match--Lydenburg--Painful
tramping--"Artful Joe"--Penalty for suicide--Pilgrim's Rest--Experiences of
"a new chum"--Tent-making--Explorations--The Great Plateau--Prospect of the
Low Country--Elands.

I was told the following tale on good authority. Three men held a claim
jointly in the "New Rush" mine. They worked it for about six months,
and found a considerable number of diamonds. The weather grew hot and
the camp unhealthy; many were dying of fever. Duststorms raged, and the
flies became almost intolerable. All three wanted to get away; they
longed for the coast and the cool sea-breezes. One of the partners
proposed that two of them should go away on a visit and the third stay
behind to keep the claim going, the question as to who should stay
being settled by lot. Another proposed, as an amendment, that they
should toss "odd man out" who was to own the claim; then each could
please himself. No sooner said than done. Three coins spun into the
air, and two third portions of a claim, worth even then about 2,000,
were lost and won within the space of ten seconds.

As might be imagined, gambling was very rife. I well remember one night
looking on, awe-struck at the magnitude of the stakes, at a game of
loo. The play took place at an eating-house called "The Gridiron," the
proprietor of which was an ex-cavalry man named Richardson. The
building was of the usual eating-house type; it had a wooden frame
covered with canvas. At right angles to a central passage were tables
with benches at each side, the tables being cut off from each other by
partitions.

At the game in question there were four players: Richardson (the
proprietor), H. B. Webb (a noted diamond dealer), his partner Joe
Posno, and the celebrated Ikey Sonnenberg. Some idea of the magnitude
of the stakes may be formed when it is stated that at one time 1,700
was in the pool.

A man I knew fairly well was Von Schlichmann. He had been secretary to
Count Arnim when that unfortunate nobleman was German Ambassador to
France. When Arnim fell, the possibilities of the diplomatic career,
for w