"I only know that I don't think
he has any." And, as it happened, the most rigid examination failed to
discover any of the gems. But, all the same, the culprit was set aside
for punishment, two of the watchers present at the examination declaring
that they had seen him put his hand to his mouth and swallow something.

The next man, upon being summoned to the stool, came up boldly and
displayed a child-like eagerness to prove his innocence, opening his
mouth widely and passing his fore-fingers round between gums and cheeks,
thrusting his little fingers into his ears, and then bending down and
going through the motion of one washing his head.

But he did not wash any gems out of his shock of little nubbly curls.

"No got no dymons, boss," he cried. "Me go now, boss?"

"No," said the chief searcher sharply. "Clap that foot of yours upon
the stool."

The black stared at him hard and shook his head.

"Do you hear?" cried the searcher. "Clap that right foot upon the
stool."

The black stared at him vacantly, shook his head again, and turned to
the second searcher, who translated the order into the man's own tongue.

At this the black smiled and nodded. Then, turning to the chief
searcher, he placed his bare left foot upon the stool.

"No, no: the other," cried the stern official, pointing to the right
foot, and the order was emphasised by his assistant.

Once more the black looked intelligent, placed both his feet upon the
ground, changed them several times by shuffling them about, and once
more placed his left foot upon the stool.

Anson chuckled with delight, and turned to West.

But this act on the part of the black was too much for the chief
searcher's composure.

"Up with the black scoundrel's foot!" he roared, and his assistant
seized the black's ankle, and gave it such a vigorous hoist that the
man's equilibrium was upset, so that, though the foot was planted firmly
on the stool, he fell over backwards, leaving his support upon the
stool, where it was probed by the searchers, who were not at all
surprised to find a large stone hidden between the little and the next
toe.

"There's a blackguard!" cried Anson excitedly, turning to his
companions. "He ought to be well flogged, and no mistake. Well, I
never!"

The last words were uttered in disgust at the man's behaviour, for he
burst into a hearty laugh as if thoroughly enjoying the discovery,
professing at the same time to be utterly astonishe