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 engineers--but why follow the melancholy business in all its details?
The shares began to decrease in value.

They shrank to their original price of L1, 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 L500, which was all that I could afford.