It was the greatest "bear" raid in the annals of the Stock Exchange, so graybeards said; and what peculiarly marked it for the admiration of mankind was that it had had the least success.

In three days, with five hundred and sixty-one thousand shares sold, the stock had fallen only eleven points.

The raid was over and the "bears" had growlingly retreated thirty minutes before the close on Friday.

Within ten minutes after the last offer to sell, and when it was plain the "bears" had quit the field, under a cross-fire of bids that fell as briskly thick as hail, Northern Consolidated was bid up thirteen points.
It had stood forty-one at Tuesday's close; it was forty-three when, "bears" routed, the market was over Friday afternoon.

And thus disastrously fared the osprey pool.
"We're ruined, gentlemen," coolly remarked the old gray buccaneer when, with the exception of Senator Hanway, the members of the pool gathered themselves together Friday evening.