That day's work cost the African firm more than five and thirty thousand pounds.
Other mishaps had occurred to weaken the firm, apart from their trade with the coast.

The senior partner had engaged in speculation without the knowledge of his son, and the result had been disastrous.

One of the Cornish tin mines in which he had sunk a large amount of money, and which had hitherto yielded him a handsome return, became suddenly exhausted, and the shares went down to zero.

No firm could stand against such a run of bad luck, and the African trading company reeled before it.

John Girdlestone had not said a word yet of all this to his son.