“No, lad; you must not see her until you have recovered.”
“Then, you must take her, and I will at once see Sirayo about your departure. By the way, he has our share of one part of the treasure already found, and it will be sufficient to pay your way to Cape Town and to take her passage.”
He related what had occurred in the underground chamber.
“You will come also, of course, keeping near by day, and sharing our camp by night?”
“You have forgotten the Golden Rock. I will remain here.”
“Impossible! I could not leave you behind.”
“I will stay.”
“But what must I tell her?”
“Tell her that, as we came for the Golden Rock, it would be folly for the whole of us to return at the very time when the natives are friendly, and that I have remained behind in the interests of the party.”
“She will want to hear that from your own lips.”