. "I wish I could discover what it is. The
fellow is a thorough-paced thief as well as a would-be murderer. And I'm
not going to trust him as far as I can see him."

For some days after the conversation just recorded, they continued their
work as if the subject of their return to civilisation had never been
mentioned. Max noticed, however, that his companion did not show as good
results as before, the stones were small, milky, and very poor in
quality. He spoke to him on the subject.

"The place seems to have suddenly panned out," the other replied
angrily. "Above the bend there is not even an indication of the
_formacao diamante_. I am beginning to think that for the future it is
only on the flat we shall discover them."

Yet even this disastrous intelligence did not prevent him from returning
next day to work at the same place. From a vantage spot on the side of
the hill to which Max had climbed for the purpose, he could see him
busily engaged there, digging and washing as if for dear life. This set
Max thinking. Moreas, he knew, would not waste his time, every second of
which he valued like so much gold, on unprofitable labour. Then an idea
occurred to him, and he determined to act upon it. He had noticed that,
every afternoon, a considerable interval elapsed between the time that
Moreas had ceased work and his appearance at the camp. What did he do
during the time? Max determined to find out. Accordingly, that
afternoon, a quarter of an hour or so before the usual time for
returning to their camp, he set off along the side of the hill, keeping
under cover of the rocks. At last he was near enough to be able to see
Moreas in the river-bed, working away with his usual persistence. Five
minutes later the other put down his tools and began making his way in
an opposite direction to the camp. From the stealthy way in in which he
walked, and the manner in which he constantly looked behind him, it was
plain that he was afraid of being followed. But, as Max asked himself,
if his motives were honest, what should he have to fear?

At last he reached what was evidently his destination, a peculiar
cluster of rocks some three-quarters of a mile from the camp. A moment
later he had disappeared from view, not to reappear for something like a
quarter of an hour. When he did so he looked anxiously about him as
before, and then, as soon as he had satisfied himself that his
proceedings had not been overlooked, started back for the r