them for six months ahead, and left L1,000 in a local bank
to pay them, with instructions to the foreman to send him a report and
sample by every steamer.

The first mine was sold on his report, and besides his commission of
L300, the happy man who had sold the mine called at his house one day
when Browning was out, and left an envelope directed to him. The envelope
contained a check for L3,000, and a note saying that the writer thought
he was entitled to one-tenth of the proceeds of the sale, and that
Browning must accept the money, for the writer intended that day to
leave England. Browning turned the money over to Rose as her fee "as
an expert."

A month later a steamer from Georgetown (British Guiana) brought news
that the Browning mine was developing superbly, and still a month later
the foreman estimated that he had five thousand tons of ore in sight
which would average as well as the samples sent. Browning had the samples
assayed, and they averaged L5 6s. in gold per ton.

He had a friend named Campbell, who was a broker: Campbell dropped in
upon him as he was looking over the assays, and he told him all about the
mine.

"What will you give me to sell that property for you, Browning?" asked
Campbell.

"Not a penny," said Browning, "but I will give you a bond on it for four
months for an even L100,000, and you may make as much above that as your
conscience will allow; you may, by Jove."

"Will you make me a report and map?" asked Campbell.

"I will write you a report, and make you a rough sketch," said Browning,
"but my drawing lessons were neglected when I was young, and I am not a
very reliable or finished map-maker."

The conversation closed with an agreement, and the bond and report were
in due time finished.

CHAPTER XXV.

A WEDGE OF GOLD INDEED.

Sedgwick and Jordan waited at Port Natal for the coming of the "Pallas."
Sedgwick explained what the ship would bring, and told Jordan about Grace
being in San Francisco to receive him, and how while the mill was being
built, he and his wife had raced around the country.

Jordan was delighted. "I told yo' she war a game girl," he said. "Think
of her traveling six thousand mile to jine ther man who hed run away from
her at ther meetin' house do'! But I'm mighty glad she did, all the same.
It confirms my estermation of ther lady."

Then he explained that he put on eight-hour shifts to run the tunnel, two
English miners on each shift to handle