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bride。 A cutting from a society paper which Scroope enclosed dwelt at
length upon the splendid appearance of the bridegroom and the sweet
loveliness of the bride。 Also it described her dress in language which
was Greek to me。 One sentence； however； interested me intensely。
It ran： 〃The bride occasioned some comment by wearing only one
ornament； although the Ragnall family diamonds； which have not seen
the light for many years； are known to be some of the finest in the
country。 It was a necklace of what appeared to be large but rather
roughly polished rubies； to which hung a small effigy of an Egyptian
god also fashioned from a ruby。 It must be added that although of an
unusual nature on such an occasion this jewel suited her dark beauty
well。 Lady Ragnall's selection of it； however； from the many she
possesses was the cause of much speculation。 When asked by a friend
why she had chosen it； she is reported to have said that it was to
bring her good fortune。〃
Now why did she wear the barbaric marriage gift of Har？t and Mar？t in
preference to all the other gems at her disposal； I wondered。 The
thing was so strange as to be almost uncanny。
The second piece of information concerning this pair reached me
through the medium of an old /Times/ newspaper which I received over a
year later。 It was to the effect that a son and heir had been born to
Lord Ragnall and that both mother and child were doing well。
So there's the end to a very curious little story； thought I to
myself。
Well； during those two years many things befell me。 First of all； in
company with my old friend Sir Stephen Somers； I made the expedition
to Pongoland in search of the wonderful orchid which he desired to add
to his collection。 I have already written of that journey and our
extraordinary adventures； and need therefore allude to it no more
here； except to say that during the course of it I was sorely tempted
to travel to the territory north of the lake in which the Pongos
dwelt。 Much did I desire to see whether Messrs。 Har？t and Mar？t would
in truth appear to conduct me to the land where the wonderful elephant
which was supposed to be animated by an evil spirit was waiting to be
killed by my rifle。 However； I resisted the impulse； as indeed our
circumstances obliged me to do。 In the end we returned safely to
Durban； and here I came to the conclusion that never again would I
risk my life on such mad expeditions。
Owing to circumstances which I have detailed elsewhere I was now in
possession of a considerable sum of cash； and this I determined to lay
out in such a fashion as to make me independent of hunting and trading
in the wilder regions of Africa。 As usual when money is forthcoming；
an opportunity soon presented itself in the shape of a gold mine which
had been discovered on the borders of Zululand； one of the first that
was ever found in those districts。 A Jew trader named Jacob brought it
to my notice and offered me a half share if I would put up the capital
necessary to work the mine。 I made a journey of inspection and
convinced myself that it was indeed a wonderful proposition。 I need
not enter into the particulars nor； to tell the truth； have I any
desire to do so； for the subject is still painful to me； further than
to say that this Jew and some friends of his panned out visible gold
before my eyes and then revealed to me the magnificent quartz reef
from which； as they demonstrated； it had been washed in the bygone
ages of the world。 The news of our discovery spread like wildfire； and
as； whatever else I might be； everyone knew that I was honest； in the
end a small company was formed with Allan Quatermain； Esq。； as the
chairman of the Bona Fide Gold Mine； Limited。
Oh！ that company！ Often to this day I dream of it when I have
indigestion。
Our capital was small； ￡10；000； of which the Jew； who was well named
Jacob； and his friends； took half （for nothing of course） as the
purchase price of their rights。 I thought the proportion large and
said so； especially after I had ascertained that these rights had cost
them exactly three dozen of square…face gin； a broken…down wagon； four
cows past the bearing age and ￡5 in cash。 However； when it was pointed
out to me that by their peculiar knowledge and genius they had located
and provided the value of a property of enormous potential worth；
moreover that this sum was to be paid to them in scrip which would
only be realizable when success was assured and not in money； after a
night of anxious consideration I gave way。
Personally； before I consented to accept the chairmanship； which
carried with it a salary of ￡100 a year （which I never got）； I bought
and paid for in cash； shares to the value of ￡1；000 sterling。 I
remember that Jacob and his friends seemed surprised at this act of
mine； as they had offered to give me five hundred of their shares for
nothing 〃in consideration of the guarantee of my name。〃 These I
refused； saying that I would not ask others to invest in a venture in
which I had no actual money stake； whereon they accepted my decision；
not without enthusiasm。 In the end the balance of ￡4；000 was
subscribed and we got to work。 Work is a good name for it so far as I
was concerned； for never in all my days have I gone through so
harrowing a time。
We began by washing a certain patch of gravel and obtained results
which seemed really astonishing。 So remarkable were they that on
publication the shares rose to 10s。 premium。 Jacob and Co。 took
advantage of this opportunity to sell quite half of their bonus
holding to eager applicants； explaining to me that they did so not for
personal profit； which they scorned； but 〃to broaden the basis of the
undertaking by admitting fresh blood。〃
It was shortly after this boom that the gravel surrounding the rich
patch became very gravelly indeed； and it was determined that we
should buy a small battery and begin to crush the quartz from which
the gold was supposed to flow in a Pactolian stream。 We negotiated for
that battery through a Cape Town firm of engineersbut why follow the
melancholy business in all its details？ The shares began to decrease
in value。 They shrank to their original price of ￡1； then to 15s。；
then to 10s。 Jacob； he was managing director； explained to me that it
was necessary to 〃support the market；〃 as he was already doing to an
enormous extent； and that I as chairman ought to take a 〃lead in this
good work〃 in order to show my faith in the concern。
I took a lead to the extent of another ￡500； which was all that I
could afford。 I admit that it was a shock to such trust in human
nature as remained to me when I discovered subsequently that the 1；000
shares which I bought for my ￡500 had really been the property of
Jacob； although they appeared to be sold to me in various other names。
The crisis came at last； for before that battery was delivered our
available funds were exhausted；