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The songs were to the diggers new； and yet not new。 There was nothing of
the music…hall type about them； they were nearly all old…fashioned ditties。
She sang to them of 〃Barbara Allen〃 and 〃Sally in our Alley〃； she gave
them 〃Cheer； Boys； Cheer；〃 and called for a chorus； she sang 〃The
Message；〃 〃The Arrow and the Song〃； and she brought back memories of
other days when Africa was to them a mere geographical expressionof
days when that something had not happened which had sent them away
from home。
Sunday came； the fifth day after her arrival； and it differed from the
usual Sabbath of Big Stone Hole。 Sunday had been observed before by the
biggest drinking bout of the week； and a summary settlement of the
previous six days' disputes。 Now； to the huge surprise of the Kaffirs； and to
the still greater surprise of themselves； these diamond…diggers sang hymns
at intervals during the day； and refrained from indulging in the orthodox
carouse till after Miss Musgrave had retired for the night。 It was a
wonderful change。
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During the next week a fall of earth took place in Tommy Dartmoor's
claim。 Two Kaffirs were killed； and when the proprietor himself was
extricated from the debris of blue clay which held him down； he was
found to have a broken arm； besides other serious injuries。
〃Don't let on to her；〃 he managed to gasp out to his rescuers； wishing
to spare Miss Musgrave's nerves a shock。
But she saw the men bearing him to his hut； joined them； and insisted
on being installed as sole nurse forthwith。
Twenty other men would willingly have broken an arm for such a
reward； and the recklessness displayed during the next few days was
something awful。 But she saw that too；little escaped those big blue eyes；…
… and； ascribing it to drink； gave a pretty strong lecture on the bibulous
habits of Big Stone Hole； at her next concert。
There was an earnest meeting in the American Bar that night； at which
the following motion was put and carried unanimously： 〃On and after this
date； any drunken man is liable to be shot at sight； unless his friends can
prove that he has dug over three carats of diamonds during the day。〃 And
then； like other reformers； they went on to more sweeping measures：
〃Only knife…fighting to take place in the camp。 All disputes with pistols；
unless of a very pressing nature； to be settled out of earshot of Dan's
house。〃 There were even some hints of appointing a closing…time for the
saloon〃it would make the place so much more like home。〃 But the
promoter eventually withdrew his suggestion； as it was justly felt that such
a motion would interfere with the liberty of the subject too much。 But a
storm of cheers burst forth when it was proposed to transfer the diamond…
safe from Werstein's keeping to a corner of the new goddess's shrine。
Even Satan； the cat； joined in the general adoration； and； more
favoured than the rest； enjoyed at times a chaste salute from Miss
Musgrave's ripe…red lips。
Never； in so short a space of time； had a community been more
changed for the better than was that of Big Stone Hole。 Never had
woman's humanising influence made itself more clearly felt。 The azure
cloud of blasphemy that hung over the workings and the rest of the camp
was replaced again by the normal dust。 Each man tried to beautify the
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inside of his shanty to the best of his means and ideas； for there was no
knowing when the only 〃she〃 would take it into her pretty； capricious head
to pay a call。 In this latter line the Scholar had a decided pull。 Education
had taught him taste； necessity； handiness； and by aid of the two he
transformed his rude dwelling into something approaching the rooms in
which he used to dawdle away the happy hours； time ago。 It was partly
drawing…room； partly curiosity…shop。 Cups； saucers； and spoons appeared
as if by magicians' call； and one blazing afternoon the news flashed round
the diamond…pits that Miss Musgrave was 〃taking afternoon tea with the
Scholar。〃 But when the Scholar saw the dismay his simple act had spread
around him； he dissipated it with a kindly laugh and a few reassuring
words。
〃Don't mind me； boys。 I was only doing the civil in a purely platonic
manner。 Miss Musgrave is nothing to me； nor am I anything to her。
Heaven forbid！ I'm too hard a bargain for any girl。 If any one of you
marries her I'll act as his best man if he asks me to； and wish him every
felicity without a thought of regret。〃
〃Bully for the Scholar！〃 yelled the delighted crowd； and Miss
Musgrave's smiles were more sought after than ever。
So things went on day after day； week after week； till Miss Musgrave
became little short of an autocratic empress。 But still she showed no signs
of taking unto herself a consort； she kept all men at a cousinly distance；
and those who felt intimate enough to address her as 〃Miss Mary〃
accounted themselves uncommonly fortunate。 Thus the little machine of
state worked perfectly harmoniously； and Big Stone Hole was as steady
and prosperous a settlement as need be。
Had these diggers refreshed their minds by looking back for historical
parallels； they might have been prepared in some degree for Miss
Musgrave's exit from among them； but as none of them indulged in such
retrospections the manner of it took the camp somewhat by surprise。
It was first discovered in this wise。 Work was over for the day。 The
Kaffirs had been searched and had returned to their kraal。 Pipes were
being lit after the evening meal； and a picturesque assembly was grouping
itself in an expectant semicircle on the sun…baked turf in front of Miss
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Musgrave's dwelling。 She was usually outside to welcome the first comers；
and her absence naturally formed the staple topic of conversation。 Digger
after digger a