Contains：
　　THEMYSTERYOFSASASSAVALLEY，A。ConanDoyleLONGODDS，H。RiderHaggardKINGBEMBA’SPOINT，J。LandersGHAMBA，W。C。ScullyMARYMUSGRAVE，AnonymousGREGORIO，PercyHemingwayTHEMYSTERYOFSASASSAVALLEY
　　BY
　　A。CONANDOYLE
　　DoIknowwhyTomDonahueiscalled"LuckyTom"？Yes，Ido；andthatismorethanoneintenofthosewhocallhimsocansay。Ihaveknockedaboutadealinmytime，andseensomestrangesights，butnonestrangerthanthewayinwhichTomgainedthatsobriquet，andhisfortunewithit。ForIwaswithhimatthetime。Tellit？Oh，certainly；butitisalongishstoryandaverystrangeone；sofillupyourglassagain，andlightanothercigar，whileItrytoreelitoff。Yes，averystrangeone；beatssomefairystoriesIhaveheard；
　　butit’strue，sir，everywordofit。TherearemenaliveatCapeColonynowwho’llrememberitandconfirmwhatIsay。ManyatimehasthetalebeentoldroundthefireinBoers’cabinsfromOrangestatetoGriqualand；yes，andoutinthebushandatthediamond-fieldstoo。
　　I’mroughishnow，sir；butIwasenteredattheMiddleTempleonce，andstudiedforthebar。Tom——worseluck！——wasoneofmyfellow-
　　students；andawildishtimewehadofit，untilatlastourfinancesranshort，andwewerecompelledtogiveupourso-calledstudies，andlookaboutforsomepartoftheworldwheretwoyoungfellowswithstrongarmsandsoundconstitutionsmightmaketheirmark。InthosedaysthetideofemigrationhadscarcelybeguntosetintowardAfrica，andsowethoughtourbestchancewouldbedownatCapeColony。Well，——tomakealongstoryshort，——wesetsail，andweredepositedinCapeTownwithlessthanfivepoundsinourpockets；andthereweparted。Weeachtriedourhandsatmanythings，andhadupsanddowns；butwhen，attheendofthreeyears，chanceledeachofusup-countryandwemetagain，wewere，Iregrettosay，inalmostasbadaplightaswhenwestarted。
　　Well，thiswasnotmuchofacommencement；andverydisheartenedwewere，sodisheartenedthatTomspokeofgoingbacktoEnglandandgettingaclerkship。Foryouseewedidn’tknowthatwehadplayedoutalloursmallcards，andthatthetrumpsweregoingtoturnup。No；wethoughtour"hands"werebadallthrough。Itwasaverylonelypartofthecountrythatwewerein，inhabitedbyafewscatteredfarms，whosehouseswerestockadedandfencedintodefendthemagainsttheKaffirs。TomDonahueandIhadalittlehutrightoutinthebush；butwewereknowntopossessnothing，andtobehandywithourrevolvers，sowehadlittletofear。Therewewaited，doingoddjobs，andhopingthatsomethingwouldturnup。Well，afterwehadbeenthereaboutamonthsomethingdidturnupuponacertainnight，somethingwhichwasthemakingofbothofus；andit’saboutthatnight，sir，thatI’mgoingtotellyou。Irememberitwell。Thewindwashowlingpastourcabin，andtherainthreatenedtoburstinourrudewindow。Wehadagreatwoodfirecracklingandsputteringonthehearth，bywhichIwassittingmendingawhip，whileTomwaslyinginhisbunkgroaningdisconsolatelyatthechancewhichhadledhimtosuchaplace。
　　"Cheerup，Tom——cheerup，"saidI。"Nomaneverknowswhatmaybeawaitinghim。"
　　"Illluck，illluck，Jack，"heanswered。"Ialwayswasanunluckydog。
　　HerehaveIbeenthreeyearsinthisabominablecountry；andIseeladsfreshfromEnglandjinglingthemoneyintheirpockets，whileI
　　amaspooraswhenIlanded。Ah，Jack，ifyouwanttokeepyourheadabovewater，oldfriend，youmusttryyourfortuneawayfromme。"
　　"Nonsense，Tom；you’redowninyourluckto-night。Buthark！Here’ssomeonecomingoutside。DickWharton，bythetread；he’llrouseyou，ifanymancan。"
　　EvenasIspokethedoorwasflungopen，andhonestDickWharton，withthewaterpouringfromhim，steppedin，hisheartyredfaceloomingthroughthehazelikeaharvest-moon。Heshookhimself，andaftergreetingussatdownbythefiretowarmhimself。
　　"Whereaway，Dick，onsuchanightasthis？"saidI。"You’llfindtherheumatismaworsefoethantheKaffirs，unlessyoukeepmoreregularhours。"
　　Dickwaslookingunusuallyserious，almostfrightened，onewouldsay，ifonedidnotknowtheman。"Hadtogo，"hereplied——"hadtogo。OneofMadison’scattlewasseenstrayingdownSasassaValley，andofcoursenoneofourblackswouldgodown/that/valleyatnight；andifwehadwaitedtillmorning，thebrutewouldhavebeeninKaffirland。"
　　"Whywouldn’ttheygodownSasassaValleyatnight？"askedTom。
　　"Kaffirs，Isuppose，"saidI。
　　"Ghosts，"saidDick。
　　Webothlaughed。
　　"Isupposetheydidn’tgivesuchamatter-of-factfellowasyouasightoftheircharms？"saidTom，fromthebunk。
　　"Yes，"saidDick，seriously，"yes；Isawwhattheniggerstalkabout；
　　andIpromiseyou，lads，Idon’twantevertoseeitagain。"
　　Tomsatupinhisbed。"Nonsense，Dick；you’rejoking，man！Come，tellusallaboutit；thelegendfirst，andyourownexperienceafterward。
　　Passhimoverthebottle，Jack。"
　　"Well，astothelegend，"beganDick。"ItseemsthattheniggershavehadithandeddowntothemthatSasassaValleyishauntedbyafrightfulfiend。Huntersandwandererspassingdownthedefilehaveseenitsglowingeyesundertheshadowsofthecliff；andthestorygoesthatwhoeverhaschancedtoencounterthatbalefulglarehashadhisafter-lifeblightedbythemalignantpowerofthiscreature。
　　Whetherthatbetrueornot，"continuedDick，ruefully，"Imayhaveanopportunityofjudgingformyself。"
　　"Goon，Dick——goon，"criedTom。"Let’shearaboutwhatyousaw。"
　　"Well，Iwasgropingdownthevalley，lookingforthatcowofMadison’s，andIhad，Isuppose，gothalf-waydown，whereablackcraggycliffjutsintotheravineontheright，whenIhaltedtohaveapullatmyflask。IhadmyeyefixedatthetimeupontheprojectingcliffIhavementioned，andnoticednothingunusualaboutit。Ithenputupmyflaskandtookasteportwoforward，wheninamomentthereburst，apparentlyfromthebaseoftherock，abouteightfeetfromthegroundandahundredyardsfromme，astrange，luridglare，flickeringandoscillating，graduallydyingawayandthenreappearingagain。No，no；I’veseenmanyaglow-wormandfirefly——nothingofthatsort。
　　Thereitwas，burningaway，andIsupposeIgazedatit，tremblingineverylimb，forfullytenminutes。ThenItookastepforward，wheninstantlyitvanished，vanishedlikeacandleblownout。Isteppedbackagain；butitwassometimebeforeIcouldfindtheexactspotandpositionfromwhichitwasvisible。Atlast，thereitwas，theweirdreddishlight，flickeringawayasbefore。ThenIscrewedupmycourage，andmadefortherock；butthegroundwassouneventhatitwasimpossibletosteerstraight；andthoughIwalkedalongthewholebaseofthecliff，Icouldseenothing。ThenImadetracksforhome；
　　andIcantellyou，boys，that，untilyouremarkedit，Ineverknewitwasraining，thewholewayalong。Buthollo！what’sthematterwithTom？"
　　Whatindeed？Tomwasnowsittingwithhislegsoverthesideofthebunk，andhiswholefacebetrayingexcitementsointenseastobealmostpainful。"Thefiendwouldhavetwoeyes。Howmanylightsdidyousee，Dick？Speakout！"
　　"Onlyone。"
　　"Hurrah！"criedTom，"that’sbetter。"Whereuponhekickedtheblanketsintothemiddleoftheroom，andbeganpacingupanddownwithlongfeverishstrides。SuddenlyhestoppedoppositeDick，andlaidhishanduponhisshoulder。"Isay，Dick，couldwegettoSasassaValleybeforesunrise？"
　　"Scarcely，"saidDick。
　　"Well，lookhere；weareoldfriends，DickWharton，youandI。Nowdon’tyoutellanyothermanwhatyouhavetoldus，foraweek。You’llpromisethat，won’tyou？"
　　IcouldseebythelookonDick’sfaceasheacquiescedthatheconsideredpoorTomtobemad；andindeedIwasmyselfcompletelymystifiedbyhisconduct。Ihad，however，seensomanyproofsofmyfriend’sgoodsenseandquicknessofapprehensionthatIthoughtitquitepossiblethatWharton’sstoryhadhadameaninginhiseyeswhichIwastooobtusetotakein。
　　AllnightTomDonahuewasgreatlyexcited，andwhenWhartonlefthebeggedhimtorememberhispromise，andalsoelicitedfromhimadescriptionoftheexactspotatwhichhehadseentheapparition，aswellasthehouratwhichitappeared。Afterhisdeparture，whichmusthavebeenaboutfourinthemorning，IturnedintomybunkandwatchedTomsittingbythefiresplicingtwostickstogether，untilIfellasleep。IsupposeImusthavesleptabouttwohours；butwhenIawokeTomwasstillsittingworkingawayinalmostthesameposition。HehadfixedtheonestickacrossthetopoftheothersoastoformaroughT，andwasnowbusyinfittingasmallerstickintotheanglebetweenthem，bymanipulatingwhich，thecrossonecouldbeeithercockedupordepressedtoanyextent。Hehadcutnotches，too，intheperpendicularstick，sothat，bytheaidofthesmallprop，thecrossonecouldbekeptinanypositionforanindefinitetime。
　　"Lookhere，Jack！"hecried，whenhesawthatIwasawake。"Comeandgivemeyouropinion。SupposeIputthiscross-stickpointingstraightatathing，andarrangedthissmallonesoastokeepitso，andleftit，IcouldfindthatthingagainifIwantedit——don’tyouthinkI
　　could，Jack——don’tyouthinkso？"hecontinued，nervously，clutchingmebythearm。
　　"Well，"Ianswered，"itwoulddependonhowfaroffthethingwas，andhowaccuratelyitwaspointed。Ifitwereanydistance，I’dcutsightsonyourcross-stick；thenastringtiedtotheendofit，andheldinaplumb-lineforward，wouldlendyouprettynearwhatyouwanted。Butsurely，Tom，youdon’tintendtolocalisetheghostinthatway？"
　　"You’llseeto-night，oldfriend——you’llseeto-night。I’llcarrythistotheSasassaValley。YougettheloanofMadison’scrowbar，andcomewithme；butmindyoutellnomanwhereyouaregoing，orwhatyouwantitfor。"
　　AlldayTomwaswalkingupanddowntheroom，orworkinghardattheapparatus。Hiseyeswereglistening，hischeekshectic，andhehadallthesymptomsofhighfever。"HeavengrantthatDick’sdiagnosisbenotcorrect！"Ithought，asIreturnedwiththecrowbar；andyet，aseveningdrewnear，Ifoundmyselfimperceptiblysharingtheexcitement。
　　Aboutsixo’clockTomsprangtohisfeetandseizedhissticks。"Icanstanditnolonger，Jack，"hecried；"upwithyourcrowbar，andheyforSasassaValley！To-night’swork，mylad，willeithermakeusormarus！Takeyoursix-shooter，incasewemeettheKaffirs。Idaren’ttakemine，Jack，"hecontinued，puttinghishandsuponmyshoulders——
　　"Idaren’ttakemine；forifmyillluckstickstometo-night，I
　　don’tknowwhatImightnotdowithit。"
　　Well，havingfilledourpocketswithprovisions，wesetout，and，aswetookourwearisomewaytowardtheSasassaValley，Ifrequentlyattemptedtoelicitfrommycompanionsomeclueastohisintentions。
　　Buthisonlyanswerwas："Letushurryon，Jack。WhoknowshowmanyhaveheardofWharton’sadventurebythistime！Letushurryon，orwemaynotbefirstinthefield！"
　　Well，sir，westruggledonthroughthehillsforamatteroftenmiles；tillatlast，afterdescendingacrag，wesawopeningoutinfrontofusaravinesosombreanddarkthatitmighthavebeenthegateofHadesitself；cliffsmanyhundredfeetshutinoneverysidethegloomyboulder-studdedpassagewhichledthroughthehaunteddefileintoKaffirland。Themoon，risingabovethecrags，threwintostrongrelieftherough，irregularpinnaclesofrockbywhichtheyweretopped，whileallbelowwasdarkasErebus。
　　"TheSasassaValley？"saidI。
　　"Yes，"saidTom。
　　Ilookedathim。Hewascalmnow；theflushandfeverishnesshadpassedaway；hisactionsweredeliberateandslow。Yettherewasacertainrigidityinhisfaceandglitterinhiseyewhichshowedthatacrisishadcome。
　　Weenteredthepass，stumblingalongamidthegreatboulders。SuddenlyIheardashort，quickexclamationfromTom。"That’sthecrag！"hecried，pointingtoagreatmassloomingbeforeusinthedarkness。
　　"Now，Jack，foranyfavouruseyoureyes！We’reaboutahundredyardsfromthatcliff，Itakeit；soyoumoveslowlytowardonesideandI’lldothesametowardtheother。Whenyouseeanything，stopandcallout。Don’ttakemorethantwelveinchesinastep，andkeepyoureyefixedonthecliffabouteightfeetfromtheground。Areyouready？"
　　"Yes。"IwasevenmoreexcitedthanTombythistime。WhathisintentionorobjectwasIcouldnotconjecture，beyondthathewantedtoexaminebydaylightthepartoftheclifffromwhichthelightcame。Yettheinfluenceoftheromanticsituationandmycompanion’ssuppressedexcitementwassogreatthatIcouldfeelthebloodcoursingthroughmyveinsandcountthepulsesthrobbingatmytemples。
　　"Start！"criedTom；andwemovedoff，hetotheright，Itotheleft，eachwithoureyesfixedintentlyonthebaseofthecrag。Ihadmovedperhapstwentyfeet，wheninamomentitburstuponme。Throughthegrowingdarknessthereshoneasmall，ruddy，glowingpoint，thelightfromwhichwanedandincreased，flickeredandoscillated，eachchangeproducingamoreweirdeffectthanthelast。TheoldKaffirsuperstitioncameintomymind，andIfeltacoldshudderpassoverme。InmyexcitementIsteppedapacebackward，wheninstantlythelightwentout，leavingutterdarknessinitsplace；butwhenI
　　advancedagain，therewastheruddyglareglowingfromthebaseofthecliff。"Tom，Tom！"Icried。
　　"Ay，ay！"Iheardhimexclaim，ashehurriedovertowardme。
　　"Thereitis——there，upagainstthecliff！"
　　Tomwasatmyelbow。"Iseenothing，"saidhe。
　　"Why，there，there，man，infrontofyou！"IsteppedtotherightasI
　　spoke，whenthelightinstantlyvanishedfrommyeyes。
　　ButfromTom’sejaculationsofdelightitwasclearthatfrommyformerpositionitwasvisibletohimalso。"Jack，"hecried，asheturnedandwrungmyhand——"Jack，youandIcannevercomplainofourluckagain。Nowheapupafewstoneswherewearestanding。That’sright。Nowwemustfixmysign-postfirmlyinatthetop。There！Itwouldtakeastrongwindtoblowthatdown；andweonlyneedittoholdouttillmorning。OJack，myboy，tothinkthatonlyyesterdayweweretalkingofbecomingclerks，andyousayingthatnomanknewwhatwasawaitinghim，too！ByJove，Jack，itwouldmakeagoodstory！"
　　Bythistimewehadfirmlyfixedtheperpendicularstickinbetweenthetwolargestones；andTombentdownandpeeredalongthehorizontalone。Forfullyaquarterofanhourhewasalternatelyraisinganddepressingit，untilatlast，withasighofsatisfaction，hefixedthepropintotheangle，andstoodup。"Lookalong，Jack，"hesaid。"YouhaveasstraightaneyetotakeasightasanymanIknowof。"
　　Ilookedalong。Therebeyondthefarthersightwastheruddy，scintillatingspeck，apparentlyattheendofthestickitself，soaccuratelyhaditbeenadjusted。
　　"Andnow，myboy，"saidTom，"let’shavesomesupperandasleep。
　　There’snothingmoretobedoneto-night；butwe’llneedallourwitsandstrengthto-morrow。Getsomesticksandkindleafirehere，andthenwe’llbeabletokeepaneyeonoursignal-post，andseethatnothinghappenstoitduringthenight。"
　　Well，sir，wekindledafire，andhadsupperwiththeSasassademon’seyerollingandglowinginfrontofusthewholenightthrough。Notalwaysinthesameplace，though；foraftersupper，whenIglancedalongthesightstohaveanotherlookatit，itwasnowheretobeseen。Theinformationdidnot，however，seemtodisturbTominanyway。Hemerelyremarked，"It’sthemoon，notthething，thathasshifted；"andcoilinghimselfup，wenttosleep。
　　Byearlydawnwewerebothup，andgazingalongourpointeratthecliff；butwecouldmakeoutnothingsavetheonedead，monotonous，slatysurface，rougherperhapsatthepartwewereexaminingthanelsewhere，butotherwisepresentingnothingremarkable。
　　"Nowforyouridea，Jack！"saidTomDonahue，unwindingalongthincordfromroundhiswaist。"Youfastenit，andguidemewhileItaketheotherend。"Sosaying，hewalkedofftothebaseofthecliff，holdingoneendofthecord，whileIdrewtheothertaut，andwounditroundthemiddleofthehorizontalstick，passingitthroughthesightattheend。BythismeansIcoulddirectTomtotherightorleft，untilwehadourstringstretchingfromthepointofattachment，throughthesight，andontotherock，whichitstruckabouteightfeetfromtheground。Tomdrewachalkcircleofaboutthreefeetdiameterroundthespot，andthencalledtometocomeandjoinhim。
　　"We’vemanagedthisbusinesstogether，Jack，"hesaid，"andwe’llfindwhatwearetofind，together。"Thecirclehehaddrawnembracedapartoftherocksmootherthantherest，savethataboutthecentretherewereafewroughprotuberancesorknobs。OneoftheseTompointedtowithacryofdelight。Itwasaroughish，brownishmassaboutthesizeofaman’sclosedfist，andlookinglikeabitofdirtyglassletintothewallofthecliff。"That’sit！"hecried——"that’sit！"
　　"That’swhat？"
　　"Why，man，/adiamond/，andsuchaoneasthereisn’tamonarchinEuropebutwouldenvyTomDonahuethepossessionof。Upwithyourcrowbar，andwe’llsoonexorcisethedemonofSasassaValley！"
　　IwassoastoundedthatforamomentIstoodspeechlesswithsurprise，gazingatthetreasurewhichhadsounexpectedlyfallenintoourhands。
　　"Here，handmethecrowbar，"saidTom。"Now，byusingthislittleroundknobwhichprojectsfromthecliffhereasafulcrum，wemaybeabletoleveritoff。Yes；thereitgoes。Ineverthoughtitcouldhavecomesoeasily。Now，Jack，thesoonerwegetbacktoourhutandthendowntoCapeTown，thebetter。"
　　Wewrappedupourtreasure，andmadeourwayacrossthehillstowardhome。Ontheway，Tomtoldmehow，whilealawstudentintheMiddleTemple，hehadcomeuponadustypamphletinthelibrary，byoneJansvanHounym，whichtoldofanexperienceverysimilartoours，whichhadbefallenthatworthyDutchmaninthelatterpartoftheseventeenthcentury，andwhichresultedinthediscoveryofaluminousdiamond。ThistaleitwaswhichhadcomeintoTom’sheadashelistenedtohonestDickWharton’sghost-story，whilethemeanswhichhehadadoptedtoverifyhissuppositionsprangfromhisownfertileIrishbrain。
　　"We’lltakeitdowntoCapeTown，"continuedTom，"andifwecan’tdisposeofitwithadvantagethere，itwillbeworthourwhiletoshipforLondonwithit。LetusgoalongtoMadison’sfirst，though；heknowssomethingofthesethings，andcanperhapsgiveussomeideaofwhatwemayconsiderafairpriceforourtreasure。"
　　Weturnedofffromthetrackaccordingly，beforereachingourhut，andkeptalongthenarrowpathleadingtoMadison’sfarm。Hewasatlunchwhenweentered；andinaminutewewereseatedateachsideofhim，enjoyingSouthAfricanhospitality。
　　"Well，"hesaid，aftertheservantsweregone，"what’sinthewindnow？Iseeyouhavesomethingtosaytome。Whatisit？"
　　Tomproducedhispacket，andsolemnlyuntiedthehandkerchiefswhichenvelopedit。"There！"hesaid，puttinghiscrystalonthetable；
　　"whatwouldyousaywasafairpriceforthat？"
　　Madisontookitupandexamineditcritically。"Well，"hesaid，layingitdownagain，"initscrudestateabouttwelveshillingsperton。"
　　"Twelveshillings！"criedTom，startingtohisfeet。"Don’tyouseewhatitis？"
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