n, the money paid, and the contract to deliver the
30,000 shares in three months was signed by Jenvie, Hamlin & Co. Then
each, unknown to the other, sold 10,000 shares more short.

The fact was wired to Sedgwick at once. He showed Grace the dispatch and
said: "My enchantress, that will leave your mother's husband and Rose's
mother's husband bankrupt if we wish it; what shall we do?"

"How will it do so?" asked Grace.

"In three months that stock will be worth L5 per share," said Sedgwick.
"See what it will require to produce 60,000 shares to fulfill their
contract."

"What did they obtain from Jack?" asked Grace.

"Almost L90,000," said Sedgwick.

"Well," said Grace, "I know very little of business, but it seems to me
if they would make that good with the year's interest, it would be about
right, inasmuch as it is a family matter."

"You little bunch of wisdom and justice!" said Sedgwick. "To make them do
just that thing was what I started to Africa for."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

CONVALESCENT.

The "Pallas" had been in port twenty days before Jordan began to sit
up, a few minutes at a time. He was still very weak, but his face was
transfigured by an almost divine light. It was reflected radiance from
the eyes of Margaret Hazleton.

The doctor had thrown away his medicine, telling Jordan that all he
needed was good nursing and as much food as his stomach could assimilate.

It was a happy little company. Jordan and Mrs. Hazleton, Sedgwick and his
wife, the doctor and Captain McGregor--for the ship had been left with
the first officer, and the captain had turned nurse to relieve Sedgwick.

A week later Jordan could sit up most of the day, and Captain McGregor
had begun to absent himself two or three hours every afternoon. About
this time Browning's dispatch was received.

Sedgwick was needed in London. What was best to do?

He prepared a statement of the mine, signed it and got Jordan to sign it,
and he shipped the bullion to a well-known Paris banking house.

Nothing held him back except Jordan's illness. He was growing anxious,
and his wife, who watched his every mood, quickly discovered it. So soon
as she did, she went to him, put an arm around one of his, and said.

"What is it, love? What is it that is troubling you?"

He explained that he ought to be in London, but Jordan was yet too weak
to travel, and he could not leave him--not for twenty mines.

Grace thought the matter over for two or thre