202 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



like the Kimberley ' pipe,' — as diggers call it — the 

 diamondiferous earth had been shot upwards 

 funnel-wise from below, and that ages of floods and 

 rain-washing had cleansed and left bare the gravel 

 and stones I had seen upon the surface. 



" From the search we had had, I made no doubt 

 that a fortnight's careful hunting in this valley would 

 make me a millionaire, or something very like it. At 

 length I was satisfied, and as the westering sun was 

 fast stooping to his couch, with a light heart and 

 elastic step I turned with Klaas to depart. The 

 excitement of the 'find' had quite banished the 

 remembrance of that awful tunnel passage so recently 

 encountered. 



" ' We'll go back now, Klaas,' said I, ' sleep in 

 your grandfather's kraal, and get to the waggon first 

 thing in the morning ; then I shall arrange to 

 return and camp a fortnight in Paarl Kloof, leaving 

 the waggon at the pool. In that time we shall be 

 able to pick up diamonds enough to enrich ourselves, 

 and all belonging to us, for generations. I don't 

 mind, then, who discovers the valley ; they can make 

 another Kimberley of it if they choose for aught I 

 care.' 



" At half-past five we again entered the tunnel. 

 It was a nasty business when one thought of it again, 

 but it would soon be over. As it flashed across my 

 brain, I thought at the moment that two such 

 journeys a day for six or seven days would be quite 

 as much as even the greediest diamond lover could 

 stomach. As before, Klaas went first, and for half 

 the distance all went well. Suddenly, as we came 

 to a sandy part of the tunnel, there was a scuffle in 

 front, a fierce exclamation in Bushman language, 



