Harry’s vindication7 from the old charge of theft seemed assured. It was the other, graver charge that paralyzed all our activities. For, as things stood, he could not come out in the open to prove his case.
The one thing we came back to, again and again, was the identity of the “Colonel.” Was he, or was he not, Guy Pagett?
“I should say he was but for one thing,” said Harry. “It seems pretty much of a certainty that it was Pagett who murdered Anita Grünberg at Marlow—and that certainly lends colour to the supposition that he is actually the ‘Colonel,’ since Anita’s business was not of the nature to be discussed with a subordinate. No—the only thing that militates against that theory is the attempt to put you out of the way on the night of your arrival here. You saw Pagett left behind at Cape8 Town—by no possible means could he have arrived here before the following Wednesday. He is unlikely to have any emissaries in this part of the world, and all his plans were laid to deal with you in Cape Town. He might, of course, have cabled instructions to some lieutenant9 of his in Johannesburg, who could have joined the Rhodesian train at Mafeking, but his instructions would have had to be particularly definite to allow of that note being written.”
We sat silent for a moment, then Harry went on slowly: “You say that Mrs. Blair was asleep when you left the hotel and that you heard Sir Eustace dictating10 to Miss Pettigrew? Where was Colonel Race?”
“I could not find him anywhere.”
“Had he any reason to believe that—you and I might be friendly with each other?”
“He might have had,” I answered thoughtfully, remembering our conversation on the way back from the Matoppos. “He’s a very powerful personality,” I continued, “but not at all my idea of the ‘Colonel.’ And, anyway, such an idea would be absurd. He’s in the Secret Service.”
“How do we know that he is? It’s the easiest thing in the world to throw out a hint of that kind. No one contradicts it, and the rumour11 spreads until every one believes it as gospel truth. It provides an excuse for all sorts of doubtful doings. Anne, do you like Race?”
“I do—and I don’t. He repels12 me and at the same time fascinates me; but I know one thing, I’m always a little afraid of him.”
“He was in South Africa, you know, at the time of the Kimberley robbery,” said Harry slowly.
“But it was he who told Suzanne all about the ‘Colonel’ and how he had been in Paris trying to get on his track.”
“Camouflage—of a particularly clever kind.”
“But where does Pagett come in? Is he in Race’s pay?”
“Perhaps,” said Harry slowly, “he doesn’t come in at all.”
“What?”
“Think back, Anne. Did you ever hear Pagett’s own account of that night on the Kilmorden?”
“Yes—through Sir Eustace.”
I repeated it. Harry listened closely.
“He saw a man coming from the direction of Sir Eustace’s cabin and followed him up on deck. Is that what he says? Now, who had the cabin opposite to Sir Eustace? Colonel Race. Supposing Colonel Race crept up on deck, and, foiled in his attack on you, fled round the deck and met Pagett just coming through the saloon door. He knocks him down and springs inside, closing the door. We dash round and find Pagett lying there. How’s that?”
“You forget that he declares positively14 it was you who knocked him down.”
“Well, suppose that just as he regains15 consciousness he sees me disappearing in the distance? Wouldn’t he take it for granted that I was his assailant? Especially as he thought all along it was I he was following?”
“It’s possible, yes,” I said slowly. “But it alters all our ideas. And there are other things.”
“Most of them are open to explanation. The man who followed you in Cape Town spoke16 to Pagett, and Pagett looked at his watch. The man might have merely asked him the time.”
“It was just a coincidence, you mean?”
“Not exactly. There’s a method in all this, connecting Pagett with the affair. Why was the Mill House chosen for the murder? Was it because Pagett had been in Kimberley when the diamonds were stolen? Would he have been made the scapegoat17 if I had not appeared so providentially upon the scene?”
“It looks like it, but, if so, we’ve got to find out what he was doing in Marlow. If he’s got a reasonable explanation of that, we’re on the right tack13.”
He got up.
“It’s past midnight. Turn in, Anne, and get some sleep. Just before dawn I’ll take you over in the boat. You must catch the train at Livingstone. I’ve got a friend there who will keep you hidden away until the train starts. You go to Bulawayo and catch the Beira train there. I can find out from my friend in Livingstone what’s going on at the hotel and where your friends are now.”
“Beira,” I said meditatively19.
“Yes, Anne, it’s Beira for you. This is man’s work. Leave it to me.”
We had had a momentary20 respite21 from emotion whilst we talked the situation out, but it was on us again now. We did not even look at each other.
“Very well,” I said, and passed into the hut.
I lay down on the skin-covered couch, but I didn’t sleep, and outside I could hear Harry Rayburn pacing up and down, up and down through the long dark hours. At last he called me:
“Come, Anne, it’s time to go.”
I got up and came out obediently. It was still quite dark, but I knew that dawn was not far off.
“We’ll take the canoe, not the motor-boat——” Harry began, when suddenly he stopped dead and held up his hand.
“Hush! What’s that?”
I listened, but could hear nothing. His ears were sharper than mine, however, the ears of a man who has lived long in the wilderness22. Presently I heard it too—the faint splash of paddles in the water coming from the direction of the right bank of the river and rapidly approaching our little landing-stage.
We strained our eyes in the darkness, and could make out a dark blur23 on the surface of the water. It was a boat. Then there was a momentary spurt24 of flame. Some one had struck a match. By its light I recognized one figure, the red-bearded Dutchman of the villa25 at Muizenberg. The others were natives.
“Quick—back to the hut.”
Harry swept me back with him. He took down a couple of rifles and a revolver from the wall.
“Can you load a rifle?”
“I never have. Show me how.”
I grasped his instructions well enough. We closed the door and Harry stood by the window which overlooked the landing-stage. The boat was just about to run alongside it.
“Who’s that?” called out Harry in a ringing voice.
Any doubt we might have had as to our visitors’ intentions was swiftly resolved. A hail of bullets splattered round us. Fortunately neither of us was hit. Harry raised the rifle. It spat26 murderously, and again and again. I heard two groans27 and a splash.
“That’s given ’em something to think about,” he muttered grimly, as he reached for the second rifle. “Stand well back, Anne, for God’s sake. And load quickly.”
More bullets. One just grazed Harry’s cheek. His answering fire was more deadly than theirs. I had the rifle reloaded when he turned for it. He caught me close with his left arm and kissed me once savagely28 before he turned to the window again. Suddenly he uttered a shout.
“They’re going—had enough of it. They’re a good mark out there on the water, and they can’t see how many of us there are. They’re routed for the moment—but they’ll come back. We’ll have to get ready for them.” He flung down the rifle and turned to me.
“Anne! You beauty! You wonder! You little queen! As brave as a lion. Black-haired witch!”
He caught me in his arms. He kissed my hair, my eyes, my mouth.
“And now to business,” he said, suddenly releasing me. “Get out those tins of paraffin.”
I did as I was told. He was busy inside the hut. Presently I saw him on the roof of the hut, crawling along with something in his arms. He rejoined me in a minute or two.
“Go down to the boat. We’ll have to carry it across the island to the other side.”
He picked up the paraffin as I disappeared.
“They’re coming back,” I called softly. I had seen the blur moving out from the opposite shore.
He ran down to me.
“Just in time. Why—where the hell’s the boat?” Both had been cut adrift. Harry whistled softly. “We’re in a tight place, honey. Mind?”
“Not with you.”
“Ah, but dying together’s not much fun. We’ll do better than that. See—they’ve got two boat-loads this time. Going to land at two different points. Now for my little scenic29 effect.”
Almost as he spoke a long flame shot up from the hut. Its light illuminated30 two crouching31 figures huddled32 together on the roof.
“My old clothes—stuffed with rags—but they won’t tumble to it for some time. Come, Anne, we’ve got to try desperate means.”
Hand in hand, we raced across the island. Only a narrow channel of water divided it from the shore on that side.
“We’ve got to swim for it. Can you swim at all, Anne? Not that it matters. I can get you across. It’s the wrong side for a boat——too many rocks, but the right side for swimming, and the right side for Livingstone.”
“I can swim a little—farther than that. What’s the danger, Harry?” For I had seen the grim look on his face. “Sharks?”
“No, you little goose. Sharks live in the sea. But you’re sharp, Anne. Crocs, that’s the trouble.”
“Crocodiles?”
“Yes, don’t think of them—or say your prayers, whichever you feel inclined.”
We plunged33 in. My prayers must have been efficacious, for we reached the shore without adventure, and drew ourselves up wet and dripping on the bank.
“Now for Livingstone. It’s rough going, I’m afraid, and wet clothes won’t make it any better. But it’s got to be done.”
That walk was a nightmare. My wet skirts flapped round my legs, and my stockings were soon torn off by the thorns. Finally I stopped, utterly34 exhausted35. Harry came back to me.
“Hold up, honey. I’ll carry you for a bit.”
That was the way I came into Livingstone, slung36 across his shoulder like a sack of coals. How he did it for all that way, I don’t know. The first faint light of dawn was just breaking. Harry’s friend was a young man of twenty odd who kept a store of native curios. His name was Ned—perhaps he had another, but I never heard it. He didn’t seem in the least surprised to see Harry walk in, dripping wet, holding an equally dripping female by the hand. Men are very wonderful.
He gave us food to eat, and hot coffee, and got our clothes dried for us whilst we rolled ourselves in Manchester blankets of gaudy37 hue38. In the tiny back room of the hut we were safe from observation whilst he departed to make judicious39 inquiries40 as to what had become of Sir Eustace’s party, and whether any of them were still at the hotel.
It was then that I informed Harry that nothing would induce me to go to Beira. I never meant to, anyway, but now all reason for such proceedings41 had vanished. The point of the plan had been that my enemies believed me dead. Now that they knew I wasn’t dead, my going to Beira would do no good whatever. They could easily follow me there and murder me quietly. I should have no one to protect me. It was finally arranged that I should join Suzanne, wherever she was, and devote all my energies to taking care of myself. On no account was I to seek adventures or endeavour to checkmate the “Colonel.”
I was to remain quietly with her and await instructions from Harry. The diamonds were to be deposited in the Bank at Kimberley under the name of Parker.
“There’s one thing,” I said thoughtfully, “we ought to have a code of some kind. We don’t want to be hoodwinked again by messages purporting42 to come from one to the other.”
“That’s easy enough. Any message that comes genuinely from me will have the word ‘and’ crossed out in it.”
“Without trade-mark, none genuine,” I murmured. “What about wires?”
“Any wires from me will be signed ‘Andy.’”
“Train will be in before long, Harry,” said Ned, putting his head in and withdrawing it immediately.
I stood up.
Harry came close to me.
“Yes,” I said, pleasurably excited.
“I shall carry you away and beat you black and blue!”
“What a delightful45 husband I have chosen,” I said satirically. “And doesn’t he change his mind overnight!”
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1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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dictating
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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repels
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| v.击退( repel的第三人称单数 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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regains
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| 复得( regain的第三人称单数 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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scapegoat
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| n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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scenic
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| adj.自然景色的，景色优美的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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purporting
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| v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的现在分词 ) | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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45
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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