From
the depths of Africa and the society of Boers and Kaffirs to an enchanted
palace! This must be the bridal chamber of the establishment. I believe
they have made a mistake and think me the King of the Pearl and Opal
Islands. I wish dear old Jordan could see this. I wish, O God, I wish my
Grace, my queen, could see this, that I might first crown her with
flowers, and then fall down and worship her!"

She could bear the tension no longer. Pushing the doors back quickly, she
stood pale, but radiant, for an instant, before the astonished man; then
stretching out her divine arms, said, "O, my darling!"

CHAPTER XXI.

SHIPPING A QUARTZ MILL.

That evening Major H. met Sedgwick in the office, and, with a twinkle of
the eye, asked him if he was really anxious to take cheaper apartments.

The young man smiled and said he rather thought, as he would probably
only remain two or three months, it would not be worthwhile to change.

Next morning Sedgwick ordered a forty-stamp gold quartz mill complete,
with two rock-breakers, the batteries to be of five-stamp each and low
mortars, with a single pan for cleaning up--a free gold quartz mill.
Instead of one heavy engine, he ordered two, each of forty-horse power
to work on the same shaft, to be supplied by six thirty-horse-power
boilers to be set in two batteries. He ordered also one six-inch and one
four-inch steam pump, with the necessary boilers, and besides, a donkey
hoisting engine, good for an eight-hundred hoist. The order included
all the needed attachments, belting, retorts, duplicates of all parts
subject to breakage or wear, a forge, and shoes and dies enough to last
two years.

He stipulated, too, that the wood-work of the battery should be gotten
out, exactly framed and marked, and that all the pulleys, bolts, etc.,
should be included.

In two days the specifications were gotten ready, and the contract
signed, which included a clause that the whole should be ready in sixty
days, or less, from that date.

Then Sedgwick wrote fully to Jordan, giving him the account of what he
had done, and sending him a draft of the ground plan of the mill, and
full details as to the grading, hoping he would receive the letter and
have the rocks hauled, the battery blocks gotten out, and the grading
done.

This work under way, the exultant man devoted all his time to Grace,
except that every day, when in the city, he would make a run two or three
times to the foundry