human
By the way, Selwood, there is one thing I want to tell you about now we are together, said Maurice, after a pause.
gpt
You and the others were asking about Fanning just now. The fact is, he is not with me, but I couldn't say so without entering into further explanations, which would certainly have alarmed the ladies. We found our `Valley of the Eye' all right, and a deuce of a job it was. Pheugh! I wouldn't go on that jaunt again for twice the loot. The `Eye' is a genuine concern, I can tell you--a splendid stone--Fanning has got it. Well, we spent the day picking up a few other stones, and just as we were clearing out we were attacked by a lot of Bushmen or Korannas, or whatever they were, and had to run. By Jove! it was touch and go. They pressed us hard until dark, and then we had to separate--to throw them off the scent, don't you see? We agreed to meet at his place--that is, if we were to meet anywhere again in this world. Well, I had an awful time of it in those infernal mountains, dodging the niggers. I couldn't show my nose in the daytime, and didn't know the country well enough to make much headway at night, and I nearly starved. It took me more than a week before I could fetch the river, and get through to Fanning's place, and when I got there he hadn't turned up. But I found a letter which had been sent by special messenger, requiring me at Cape Town, sharp, about some infernal but important law business, and I'm on my way there now. I left a note for Fanning, telling him what to do with my share of the swag when it came to dividing, for we hadn't had time to attend to that then, and except a few small stones he has it all on him. It'll be something good, I guess. I dare say he's turned up at home again long before this. He was just laughing in his sleeve at the idea of a few niggers like that thinking to run him to earth. And he seems to know that awful country like ABC. I never saw such a fellow.
human
That's bad news, Sellon, right bad news, said the other, shaking his head.
gpt
Renshaw has been all his life at that sort of thing, so we must hope he'll turn up all right. But--the pitcher that goes too often to the pump, you know.
human
Well, I need hardly say I devoutly hope he will, for if not I shall be the loser to a very large extent, as all the swag is with him. But I somehow feel certain we shall hear from him almost directly.