"And yet, he seems to be getting some kind of power over
me. He follows me about with his eyes, prying into my mind, and I feel
that he is beginning to be able to read it. I can bear no more. Father,
father, for God's sake, take me away from this hateful hill and its gold
and its dead, and let us get out into the veld again together."
"I should be glad enough, dearest," he answered. "I have had plenty of
this wildgoose chase, which I was so mad as to be led into by the love
of wealth. Indeed, I am beginning to believe that if it goes on much
longer I shall leave my bones here."
"And if such a dreadful thing as that were to happen, what would become
of me, alone with Jacob Meyer?" she asked quietly. "I might even be
driven to the same fate as that poor girl two hundred years ago," and
she pointed to the cone of rock behind her.
"For Heaven's sake, don't talk like that!" he broke in.
"Why not? One must face things, and it would be better than Jacob Meyer;
for who would protect me here?"
Mr. Clifford walked up and down for a few minutes, while his daughter
watched him anxiously.
"I can see no plan," he said, stopping opposite her. "We cannot take the
waggon even if there are enough oxen left to draw it, for it is his
as much as mine, and I am sure that he will never leave this treasure
unless he is driven away.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181