Page:Knaves of Diamonds.pdf/133

 pebbles were diamonds of all sizes and colours, and in his two hands there he probably held a 'hundred thousand pounds' worth. He flung them away with a cry that it would not have done anyone much good to hear. What were all the diamonds in the world worth in comparison to half a pint of water?

He thrust his hands into the hole again. This time he uttered a very different cry, for now the stones at the bottom were wet. He grubbed them up and threw them out, now with frantic energy—thousands and thousands of pounds' worth of them. The mule put her nose among them, and seemed to draw the moisture off them with her breath. That was all the good they were just then.

After a few more minutes of hard work a little water—real liquid water!—collected at the bottom of the hole. He tried to thrust his head into it so that he could get his lips to the water, but it was too small, so he made