At last he happened to meet a Frenchman, newly arrived in Johannesburg, who wanted to acquire some mining property there with the view of forming a company.

Our hero immediately offered his own.

The Frenchman responded to the appeal, but expressed the desire to go down himself into the shaft to examine the property and get some ore in order to test it before the purchase was completed.

The condition was agreed to with eagerness, and a few days later the victim and his executioner proceeded together to the mine.

The Frenchman went down whilst Mr.X---- remained above.