d."

"Yes, but I was picked up by a party who came in the nick of time. They
were going by across journey to the diamond-fields."

"Ah! you went there?"

"Yes, I went there," said the young man drowsily, and speaking in a
restful manner and with many pauses. "Rough life, and for six months--
no good. Then luck turned. I went on. At last found--self rich man.
Rather absurd, doctor--handful of stones--stones, crystals--handful in a
leather bag. Soon nothing. I often laughed. Seemed so much trash, but
the right thing. Very large some of them, and I worked on--digging--and
picking. Knew I was a wealthy man."

"You were very fortunate, then?"

"Yes," was the drowsy reply. "Then began the curse of it. Couldn't
keep it--secret. Found out that it was dangerous. Ought to have
banked, but they were--were so hard to get. 'Fraid of everybody.
Felt--felt should be murdered. Nearly drove--drove me wild. Made
secret--secret plans--escape--get home--old England. To bring--to
bring--bag of diamonds--leather bag--worth a deal--bring home myself.
Followed--followed me. Three men--part of gang out there--gamble and
cheat men--at play. Always--always--on my track--hunted--at bay--sea--
always watching--like tigers--Ah!"

He sprang up from his drowsy muttering state, in which he had been
incoherently piercing together his imaginary or real adventures, and
gazed wildly round.

"Who's that?"

"It is only I--Doctor Chartley. Lie down again."

"I thought they'd come, and I--I was telling them. Bag of diamonds.
No. Nonsense! All rubbish! Poor man. Going home. 'Nough to pay his
passage. All nonsense. No diamonds; no nothing."

He had sunk back once more, and went on muttering as he dropped asleep.

The doctor sat watching him, and then rose and tapped the fire together,
picking up a few fresh pieces of coal to augment the blaze, which seemed
to send some of the fog out of the room.

"Wild dissipation--gambling with Nature for treasure," said the doctor
softly. "Imagination, poor wretch!"

The doctor bent down over his patient, who was now sleeping deeply, but
had tossed the ulster aside, so that it was gliding down.

"Curious, this wild delirium," said the doctor, rearranging the
improvised cover. "I often wonder that I have not made it a study and--
Good heavens!"

He started back from the couch, and stood staring at his patient for a
few minutes before advancing again, and laying his hand upon hi