"Heaven bless you, doctor!" cried the young man, hysterically pressing his hand after draining the glass. "I feel in sanctuary here. Ah," he sighed, as he sank back, "to be at rest once more, and safe! Doctor, you must guard over me and what I have here." "Oh, yes," said the doctor, sitting down after replenishing the fire. "Did you have a rough passage back?" "I don't know--I know nothing but that those fiends were after me to get it, and I knew that they would kill me if they could only get a chance. A heated hare sees nothing but the hounds." "No, of course not," said the doctor, speaking softly to keep his patient's attention, but watching him intently the while, to see the effect of his medicine. "Let's see, you have been away four years." "Yes, four years," said Mark, speaking more calmly now. "Lost every penny, farming, doctor. No good." "I am sorry to hear that." "Then I tried--wagon-driving, and made a respectable living--doing regular carter's work till I had a team and wagon of my own; but I went one bad time--right across the desert, and found myself at last--seated on the last bullock of my team of twenty--by the wreck of my wagon-- doctor dying--for want of water." "Ah! that was bad." "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.