of France, then speeded on
to Marseilles, caught the Imperial steamer, sailed over the same route as
before to Port Said, and there embarked on exactly the same steamer that
he and Jordan sailed for Port Natal in seven months before.

He was twenty days from London to Port Natal. Jordan was at D'Umber
waiting his coming, and the joy of the meeting was immeasurable. When
they became calm, Jordan said: "It war a good while, old friend, but I
knowed as how y'd cum."

CHAPTER XXIV.

DEALING IN MINING SHARES.

The presence of Sedgwick in London greatly excited and alarmed Jenvie,
Hamlin and Stetson. That mysterious American had returned, and all
confidently expected each day to be served with a notice of with a suit
or a warrant of arrest. But finally it leaked out that he had bought a
home in Ohio and ordered a house built, sending the plans from London,
and as day after day passed and no sign was given, they gained courage,
and when Sedgwick once more left England, as they supposed for America,
they grew jubilant again. The firm was now Jenvie, Hamlin & Stetson.
Their business was prospering, and they all realized that the way to make
money was to have money to use, and the prestige which the command of
large means gives.

About a week after Sedgwick's departure they were seated in their private
office one morning congratulating themselves, when the former owner of
'The Wedge of Gold' was announced.

"We cannot afford to snub the origin of our fortune," said Jenvie; "show
him in." This man's name was Emanuel. He was a Portugese. On this morning
he presented a seedy and dissipated appearance, as though he had been
enjoying his fortune too rapidly.

Once ushered in, he did not waste any time, but explained that he had
very little money left, and had called to see, in case the gentlemen did
not intend to develop 'The Wedge of Gold,' on what terms they would
transfer back to him the mine, or any interest they might possess, and
give him a chance to go over to Hamburg and try to work the capitalists
of that city to buy a mine down among their second cousins in Boerland.

"How much could you afford to give for the property?" asked Hamlin.

"I sell him for L2,000. I would, for one speculation, buy him back if you
could sell, and would give L1,000."

"But you always said it was a good mine," said Jenvie.

"Of course," he answered, "an excellent mine, but on ze best of ze mines
there vos always one selling and