TO save Foulata, Quartermain (after a glance at his almanack) interrupted with a bold prediction of an imminent lunar eclipse. It duly arrived, and Umbopa further weakened Gagool’s spell over the people by revealing himself as Ignosi, whom Twala cheated of his rightful crown when just a boy. Pandemonium ensued, until at last Sir Henry slew the usurper in single combat.

King Ignosi now frightened Gagool into leading Quartermain’s party to a secret underground chamber, where they found Solomon’s legendary diamonds. As they gloated, Foulata spotted Gagool shutting the great stone door behind them, and sacrificed her own life to see Gagool crushed in the mechanism. Even so, the others remained entombed, until a faint stirring of air led them to an underground river, and escape.

Ignosi was heartbroken when his friends left for England. They took with them the errant George, whom they discovered living in a mountain hut, but barely a handful of diamonds. Somehow, they had lost their taste for them.