diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/67378-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/67378-0.txt | 8037 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 8037 deletions
diff --git a/old/67378-0.txt b/old/67378-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fdcbf10..0000000 --- a/old/67378-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8037 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of John Solomon--Supercargo, by Henry Bedford-Jones - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: John Solomon--Supercargo - -Author: Henry Bedford-Jones - -Release Date: February 11, 2022 [eBook #67378] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Al Haines - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN -SOLOMON--SUPERCARGO *** - - - - - - - - _John Solomon--Supercargo_ - - _By ALLAN HAWKWOOD_ - (Henry Bedford-Jones) - - - _Author of - "Solomon's Quest" "The Seal of Solomon," etc._ - - - _London: HURST & BLACKETT, LTD., - PATERNOSTER HOUSE, E.C._ - - _1925_ - - - - - Contents - - CHAPTER - - I. The Cattle-Wharf at Deptford - II. John Solomon - III. The Road to Melindi - IV. Who Murdered Hans Schlak? - V. The Adventure Begins - VI. The Lady Professor - VII. Hammer Starts Something - VIII. In the Open - IX. Hammer Begins to See - X. At Melindi - XI. Solomon Prepares for Action - XII. Under Suspicion - XIII. Accused and Accuser - XIV. Off At Last - XV. Dr. Krausz Proves Obstinate - XVI. The Place of Skulls - XVII. The Pit of Adders - XVIII. "Thahabu!" - XIX. The "Daphne" Again - - - - -John Solomon--Supercargo - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE CATTLE-WHARF AT DEPTFORD - -Frederick L. C. Harcourt, Viscount Ratcliff, was extremely natty in -his flannels, buckskins, and yachting cap, and consequently he -aroused tremendous excitement, plainly being nothing more or less -than a "toff" of the first water. - -As he strode along the cattle-wharf at Deptford, he looked as much -out of place as would a royal highness if suddenly dropped among the -habitués of Sally Tucker's pub. - -Nevertheless, because of the Royal Yacht Club insignia on his cap, -and also because his face was very brown and square-chinned and his -shoulders rather broader than most, his "sunfish" prodding the -long-horns down the gangs kept their comments strictly to themselves. - -Harcourt, who was strolling along in a rather aimless fashion, nodded -quietly to the astonished S.P.C.A. inspector, replied to the latter's -flurried greeting that it certainly was a fine day, and passed on. -His dark-blue eyes settled on an ancient and dishonorable well-deck -cargo tank of some three thousand tons, from which the last batch of -cattle were being driven into the wharf pens. - -As he passed down beneath her counter, on the edge of the wharf, his -sauntering ceased rather abruptly. From somewhere came a -well-directed stream of blue, evil-smelling, pipe smoke, which shot -down with the wind squarely athwart his face. - -Harcourt looked up to see a man, obviously a "sunfish" or cattle-boat -hand, leaning lazily upon the rail above him and grinning amiably at -the intruder. - -Foul beyond the ordinary foulness of the bullock waiter was the man, -his clothes a mere mass of tattered rags, and dirt; but there was a -twinkle in his grey eyes, and his face and neck were brown and rough -and muscled. His tousle of black hair was crowned by a battered felt -hat, whose brim flapped at weird angles about his ears; but from brow -to chin his face was aquiline, sharp, while, as he addressed the -other, white teeth flashed on his pipe-stem. - -"Slumming, pardner?" - -Harcourt smiled, his cheeks rosy through their bronze, and something -of the cool insolence that had rested in the grey eyes above him died -away before his look. - -"Perhaps. Come down here, my man. I'd like a word with you, don't -you know." - -The sunfish did not move, but sent a slow stream of smoke down the -wind, his eyes narrowing slightly. - -"I'm not your man," came the calm retort. "Also, I'm quite satisfied -where I am. If you want a word with me you are at liberty to trot up -here; but I'd advise you to take that white coat off first. I'm -liable to muss it up if you get me too excited." - -The Englishman stared for a moment, evidently surprised at the voice -and accent of the sunfish, which held quite as much authority as did -his own and which betrayed culture despite the challenging veneer of -insolence. - -Meanwhile, the scattered sunfish and cowpunchers took note of their -visitor's stoppage and, as the last of the cattle were shoved into -their pen, a little crowd collected about the gang, scenting trouble -with unmingled joy. Seeing that one of their comrades had taken the -burden upon his own shoulders, they encouraged him distantly. - -"Don't youse take any lip off'n him, pal!" - -"Tell the bleedin', bloody toff 'is pants is tore, 'Ammer!" - -"Ain't his little feet pretty----" - -The murmuring died away with startling abruptness, for one of the -cow-punchers shouted over from the pen, with callous indifference to -the feelings of the visitor; - -"Shut up, you stiffs! That's his lordship what laid out the Brighton -Blighter last night. I seen him do it!" - -Amid the ensuing silence Harcourt flushed darkly and walked to the -gangway, the men drawing back suddenly from his mild look. - -Up above watched the sunfish, his grey eyes wide, for all the docks -had heard the story--how the famous Brighton Blighter had encountered -some toff or other in Oxford Street the previous night, and how, -after some passing reference to lords and ladies, the heavy-weight -champion had been knocked out cold within a minute. - -So this mild-eyed, wide-shouldered yachtsman was the man, then! The -sunfish quietly laid aside his pipe and stood waiting; if his -invitation had been accepted in the spirit in which it had been -issued, he was like to have his work cut out for him. Harcourt, -however, displayed no bellicose intention, but halted a few feet away. - -"Well, now that I am here, I presume you'll grant me a few moments?" - -The sunfish grinned as the blue eyes twinkled into his. - -"I can spare you five minutes, my lord. I thought that perhaps you -desired a sparring partner!" - -"Oh, I say now!" Harcourt flushed again and was plainly ill at ease. -"Just forget all that bally rot, can't you? It's too beastly----" - -"Listen!" - -The sunfish held up a hand, and from the wharf below a confused -murmur drifted up from the gathering crowd. - -"That's 'im, a talkin' to 'Ammer!" - -"Aw, what youse givin' us? He didn't knock out your blamed white -hope!" - -"Stow that, ye flatfoot! Billy here seen it, an' that's the guy, all -right!" - -The sunfish grinned again at the uneasy yachtsman. "Don't be -bashful, your lordship--true greatness cannot be hidden under -flannels, even at Deptford, you see. Sorry to receive you in these -duds, but my valet hasn't come down to the dock as yet." - -A flicker of something that was not amusement flared out in the blue -eyes, but it passed quickly with a chuckle. - -"All right, my friend--you're the man I'm looking for! But, upon my -word, I hardly expected such good luck." - -"It's all yours so far," came the dry retort. "Only, if you're -looking for a thug, you'll find plenty down there in the crowd." His -grey eyes rested shrewdly, but laughingly, on the other. - -"No, thanks very much." An appraising glance and a nod accompanied -the words. "You'll do. Your name is Hammer I take it. American?" - -"Stars and stripes, you bet. As to Hammer, that's not my name, but -it's handle enough for this craft. 'Ammer, 'ammer, 'ammer on the -'ard 'ighway, you know--only my cognomen is a title of distinction -gained by the honest use of fists. Yours, if you have one, was -probably gained through the chance of birth. I will say, though, -that you're very decent-looking, for a Britisher." - -"Oh, thanks very much!" The visitor seemed anything but angry, to -the visible disappointment of the watching gangway; still, he very -plainly was bewildered by the cultured tones of the sunfish. "Are -you--er--looking for work?" - -"Well, that depends on the work," returned Hammer easily, paying no -heed to the outraged ship's officers, who were looking on aghast. -"No yachting, thanks. Too hard to look pleasant all the time. -Besides, I can't keep straight." - -The other's eyes met his, unsurprised, questioning, and beneath that -level gaze Hammer only kept up his truculent air with an effort. -This Englishman was very likeable. - -"How so, Mr. Hammer?" - -"Oh, general cussedness and particular booze. Better browse along -and hunt up another victim, your lordship! I like your looks, but I -don't like my own--in comparison." - -This rather impulsive admission had no effect on Harcourt beyond -sending a stubborn glint into his blue eyes. Deliberately pausing to -light a cigarette, he extended his case to the other; Hammer refused, -replacing his pipe in his mouth, but this time he carefully sent the -smoke downward. - -"No, I'm rather keen on you, Hammer. I've been--er--browsing along, -as you say, all of the morning without any success, and it's getting -tiresome. As matter of fact, I came out to look for a man with a -second officer's ticket, a man who could use his fists and who was -willing to take a chance with me. - -"Now, however, I've changed my mind. I'm not quite sure yet as to -what offer I'll make you, but come up to my address in the city when -you're through here--to-night, if you can. Here's my card and a -tenner to act as retainer." - -The astonished Hammer mechanically shoved the Bank of England note -into some recess of his ragged shirt, then perused the card. He -looked up with hesitation in his eyes. - -"Mind, Harcourt, I've warned you that I'm no good----" - -"Nonsense! If I was after a sober, respectable seaman, do you think -I'd have come here looking for one? When can I expect to see you?" - -"Oh, have it your own way, then!" Hammer shrugged his shoulders, -resignedly. "I'll meet you say, at Prince's for dinner. Centre -table, far end." - -"Eh?" Harcourt's eyes opened. "You--er--but Prince's, don't you -know----" - -"----Doesn't go with these duds, you mean?" Hammer chuckled as he -finished the other's hesitating sentence. "Never mind--you should -worry, Harcourt! Much obliged for the tenner, just the same; all you -have to do is to show up and see what you find. Seven-thirty suit -you?" - -"Very well, thanks," murmured Harcourt, and so the colloquy ended--in -amused and rather interested toleration on the part of the sunfish, -and in bewildered doubt on that of the Englishman. - -At seven-thirty that evening Harcourt received another shock, and -this time a greater one. For after he stepped into the big -dining-room at Prince's and beckoned the stately head-waiter, that -individual arrived with the calm information that Mr. Hammer was -waiting. - -"Er--you know Mr. Hammer, Bucks?" - -"Quite well, sir," responded Bucks, and Harcourt followed in subdued -amazement. - -He was led to a table, from which a man in evening dress sprang to -meet him, hand extended. For a moment the sorely-doubting Englishman -did not recognize the sunfish, until he took in the hard grey eyes, -the tanned features, the keen incisive lines of the face. - -Then he recovered himself and went through the form of greeting -stiffly; but Hammer had no intention of letting him off so easily. - -"It was rather a low-down trick, wasn't it?" grinned the American -cheerfully. "However, we'll have an explanation all around. Poor -chap, your face was a picture this morning when I announced that we'd -dine here!" - -"I must apologize, of course, my dear chap," returned Harcourt -ruefully; then, unable to resist the infectious humour of the other, -he broke into a laugh and the incident was closed. - -In truth, Cyrus Hammer was well calculated to draw a second glance, -for not only did his evening clothes fit him impeccably, but he wore -them with ease and grace which made him to the full as _distingué_ as -his aristocratic companion. - -His mouth was hard, and there were lines in his face which has no -place in the face of a man of twenty-eight who had lived his life -well; but these were in great part redeemed by an abundance of -unfailing good humour, which hid, mask-like, the hard-fisted quality -of the man underneath. - -Harcourt wasted no time, and no sooner was the dinner fairly begun -than he plunged headlong into the subject under discussion. - -"Hammer, I have a little surprise for you myself, perhaps. I told -you this morning that I had changed my plans pending your acceptance -of my offer to you, so there is no use in beating about the bush. - -"Until a month ago I had considered myself fairly well fixed for -life; then came that flurry in Wall Street which wrecked two of your -big institutions. - -"I woke up one morning to find myself almost a beggar, as all my -funds were invested in American securities and they had slipped down -and out with a crash. My word, it was a blow! I had a few hundreds -left; no more." - -Hammer displayed none of the surprise he felt at this astounding -revelation, but merely nodded; and after a moment, the other -continued: - -"Practically all that I saved out of the crash was my yacht, the -_Daphne_. All my family have been sailors, don't you know, and if I -hadn't been, sent down from the 'Mill'--Woolwich--years ago, I'd have -been in the navy to-day. In fact, one of my proudest possessions is -a Board of Trade certificate as Master. - -"Well, I'd about made up my mind to sell the craft and try my luck in -your bally country, when along comes an offer to charter the yacht. -That gave me the idea. I say, Hammer, why couldn't I take this party -out to East Africa, where they wish to go, then--er--browse around -the ocean, acting as my own captain? Couldn't a chap make a decent -living at that, eh?" - -"Ought to," chuckled Hammer, making no secret of his interest by this -time. "If you're willing to take a bit of risk once in a while, I -fancy you could pick up some easy coin, and have a good time as well. -But why should this party want to charter a yacht to reach East -Africa with?" - -"Oh, it's that big Dresden archaeological chap, Dr. Sigurd -Krausz--he's sending out an expedition to dig up some beastly thing -or other, and wants the _Daphne_ for his own use, the field force -going separately. I've not the slightest idea what he's after, but -he's willing to pay well, and seems to be doing the thing on his own -hook instead of working for any museum. - -"But let's get down to business, Hammer. I've been thinking this -over, and since I am frankly down and out, as you Americans would -say, I've no notion of depending on myself alone. I'm a pretty good -character-reader, Hammer, and I liked you at first sight or I -wouldn't make this offer. Other things being equal, how would you -like to take a junior partnership in the _Daphne_?" - -Hammer looked at him silently, wondering if the man meant what he -said. But the other was plainly in earnest, and, moreover, Hammer -thought that he had seldom met a man to whom he was so attracted. -That the liking was mutual there seemed to be no doubt; but would it -last? - -"I don't know," he returned slowly. "I'm no sailor, for one -thing--I'm a cattle-boat hand, and nothing else. I can't see where -I'd be any good." - -"No matter," declared Harcourt impatiently. "You could soon pick up -navigation; for that matter, there are plenty of men in command of -craft without proper license. However, I'm not figuring on you as a -sailor. I can do that, but I don't know a bally thing about -business. You could handle the business end of everything and -gradually work into handling the ship; she'd be my property, of -course, but we'd share even on what we made." - -"Go slow now," and Hammer laughed quietly while the waiter hovered -about them. Then, when they were once more alone, he went on: -"Better let me spin you my yarn first, then see how far you'd be -willing to trust me." - -Hammer's real name was Cyrus Murray, and until three years before -this time he had been engaged in a profitable brokerage business in -New York City. Alone in the world, he had made his own way, and in -the course of its making he had contracted a hasty and ill-advised -marriage with a girl who was in no way fitted to be his wife. - -It was a sordid little tragedy, by no means uncommon in American life -of to-day; but, unfortunately for Murray, his wife had been the first -to discover that it was a tragedy. - -He glossed over this portion of the tale in its telling, merely -stating that he had allowed her to obtain a divorce, and had turned -over to her the greater part of his worldly goods; but he had been -hard hit by the entire affair. - -Impulsively, he had thrown his business overboard, and one night, in -reckless desperation, he sought shelter from his thoughts by shipping -aboard a cattle-boat. Curiously enough, before he reached Liverpool -he had found that in spite of the terribly rough life, in spite of -the almost daily battles for existence into which his very appearance -and manner flung him, the hard physical labour and the tortured -weariness of his body was a relief to his mind. Then the liquor. - -So for three years he had been traversing the Atlantic, working hard, -fighting hard, drinking hard; his ambition was destroying; he took -savage zest in bullying the thugs and degenerates who were his -companions in misfortune, and he had thought himself fairly content -at the level to which he had sunk. - -Upon each arrival in England he made a practise of going to London -and living like a gentleman for a week or two--for he had still some -money left--until the life became unbearable to him, and back he -would go to his cattle-boats and human cattle. - -"There's the whole thing," he concluded with a bitter smile. "A fool -paying for his folly, that's all. Still want me?" - -"Yes," came the quiet answer. "I think we're well mated, Hammer; -but, to make sure, suppose we make this a trial cruise together. -You'll never find any ambition aboard a bally cattle-boat, that's -sure, and you might better go to hell decently, if you're bound to go. - -"However, you're a real man, and I like you. My offer stands; only, -don't you know, I want your word that you won't drink while you're -with me. I mean--er--well, drinking in a beastly fashion----" - -"I get you, old man," chuckled Hammer quickly. "Suppose we put it -that I can drink as much as you do, but no more, eh? All right, -then--but I've really no great inclination for drink in itself. You -have my word of honour, such as it is--and here's a toast in coffee -to the _Daphne_ and the daffy Dutchman!" - -"Done!" cried Harcourt in undisguised delight, but as he raised his -cup Bucks approached with a whispered word and a card. Harcourt -frowned, glancing at the latter. - -"'John Solomon'--who the devil is John Solomon? Who is he, Bucks?" - -"A rather queer _person_, sir," replied the head-waiter sagely. "I -might let him wait in a private room, sir!" - -"All right, do so. We'll be out in a moment--confounded nuisance! -How did the fellow come to look me up here? By Jove, Hammer, the -unmitigated insolence of some----" - -"Cool off," laughed the American. "Here, have another cigarette -before we go, and we can investigate your friend after we finish. -Funny name, John Solomon!" - - - - -CHAPTER II - -JOHN SOLOMON - -Since Hammer had an inveterate dislike of fat men in general, and -blue-eyed fat men in particular--born out of his experience with a -fat and demented Swede cook on his first cattle-boat trip--it was not -to be wondered at that he eyed John Solomon with no great favour in -his heart. For John Solomon was fat and blue-eyed. - -"Pudgy" would be a better word than the flat and misleading "fat". -Pudgy embraces the face that a man is not merely fat, but that he is -filled to a comfortable completeness, as it were; that he is not too -fat to move about, but just enough so to be dignified on occasion; -and that his expression is cheerful above all else. - -Save for this last item, the description fitted John Solomon to a -dot, for while his face was cheerful enough, it was as totally devoid -of expression as a face can be--and still remain a face. - -He was a short, little man, not more than five feet six, very -decently dressed in blue serge, and he sat quite contentedly filling -a short clay pipe from a whittled plug as Hammer and Harcourt entered -the private room. - -When he glanced up and rose to meet them, the first thing Hammer -noticed was that healthy-looking yet expressionless face, from which -gazed out two eyes of pale blue and of great size. - -As he came to learn later, Nature had endowed John Solomon with -absolutely stolid features, but in compensation had given him eyes -which could be rendered unusually intelligent at times. - -"You are John Solomon?" questioned Harcourt curtly. "What is your -business with me, and how did you know I was here?" - -"Beggin' your pardon, sir," and the pale-blue eyes met the darker -ones of Harcourt without shrinking. "I 'ave a pal down at Deptford -who 'appens to 'ear what you and Mr. 'Ammer said this morning. 'E -knowed I was werry anxious for a ship, and 'e comes to me with it." - -"Oh, you want a ship, then?" returned Harcourt. "And therefore you -interrupt a gentleman at dinner in a fashionable restaurant----" - -"I didn't mean no 'arm, sir," broke in Solomon, without cringing, -however. "You see, sir, I 'adn't no means o' knowing where to find -you otherwise. I say that if so be as a man wants work, it don't -matter 'ow 'e gets it, so 'e gets it, and I trust as 'ow you'd look -at it the same way, Mr. Harcourt, sir." - -"And quite right you are, John Solomon," exclaimed Hammer, amused -despite himself, and beginning to think that this pudgy little man -had some brains. Since Harcourt was not quite sure whether to be -angry or not, the American's laugh saved the situation for the -moment. "You're got plenty of nerve, my friend, but you must want -work pretty badly to go after it so strong. What's your -line--seaman?" - -"No, sir," and the wide blue eyes rested in child-like faith on -Hammer's face. "I'm a bit 'eavy for that there, sir, though I've -A.B. papers. No sir, though I can do a bit o' navigation at a pinch, -I'd feel more at 'ome like wi' figures. I writes a good 'and, sir, -and I knows 'ow to 'andle port off'cers and such. If so be as you -could use a supercargo, sir?" - -Hammer turned to the Englishman, who was still eyeing Solomon -doubtfully. - -"How are we fixed for officers, anyway, Harcourt? I've got a grudge -against fat men as a rule, but hanged if I don't admire this chap's -nerve! A man who'll butt into a place like this to get a job must -have something in him." - -Harcourt rubbed his chin reflectively. "Well, the yacht has been -laid up for six months and didn't have any crew, so Krausz agreed to -place a dozen of his own men aboard her under a mate, if I'd find a -chief officer and an engine-room crew. - -"So far as standing watches is concerned, you can rank as first mate, -unofficially, and I've already arranged for my old chief engineer to -pick up his own men. - -"A supercargo isn't absolutely essential, but Krausz is going to take -a lot of stuff out to do his excavating with, as well as packing -cases and all that bally impedimenta--my word, Hammer, I don't just -know what to say!" - -"Beggin' your pardon, sir," put in Solomon, as the other paused, "but -I can take care o' port papers and such werry well, and 'ave A1 -references. A supercargo ain't no use unless 'e's a lot o' use, I -says, sir, and I goes on that princ'ple. What's more, Mr. 'Ammer, I -knows a man as can fix you up wi' first off'cer's papers for a matter -o' two pun and no questions asked." - -The twinkle in the blue eyes drew an answering chuckle from the -American, even Harcourt relaxing sufficiently to smile slightly. - -"You seem to have your uses, certainly," said the Englishman dryly. -"By the way, Hammer, where are you stopping?" - -"I've stopped," grinned the American cheerfully. "My war-bag's -aboard the ship still, but there's nothing in it worth carrying off. -I have my pipe here, and no other clothes worthy the name. - -"Then you'd better go home with me to-night," returned the other. -"We'll do the opera first, if you like. To-morrow, you can take up -your quarters aboard the _Daphne_, and we can talk over money matters -at leisure. - -"Now, John Solomon, you seem to have a fairly good idea of my -business already, so I'll simply say that my yacht, the _Daphne_, is -anchored at the Royal Thames docks and that you can go aboard -whenever you please. As supercargo, you will join the officers' -mess, of course, but I'll be aboard to-morrow and will fix things up -with you, and you can sign articles then. And--er--about those bally -papers--er--you had better get them." - -"Yes, sir, I'll 'ave them to-morrow, sir," and John Solomon touched -his forehead respectfully; but Hammer imagined that he caught -something very like a wink from one of those wide blue eyes. - -"Thank you werry much, Mr. Harcourt, and you, Mr. 'Ammer, and I'll be -aboard bright and early, since it's the early worm what sees the bird -first, as the Good Book says." - -"Very good," rejoined Harcourt briefly, and so John Solomon passed -forth from all the glory of Prince's, with his little black clay pipe -wagging defiantly at the liveried doormen, and the place thereof knew -him no more. - -Although he had accepted the proffered partnership glibly enough, -Hammer was by no means sure that he would stick to it, for various -reasons. Chief among these was the fact that he had a profound -distrust of himself; since he had deliberately thrown himself to the -dogs, in a way, he had come to have a deep-rooted conviction that he -was no good, that his better qualities mere surface outcroppings, and -that a man such as Harcourt would like him less the better he knew -him. - -Still, he frankly liked Harcourt, and the idea of free-lancing about -the ocean appealed strongly to him. But he had so long been -battering down the better side of his own nature, the shock of his -past trouble had so deeply bitten into his soul, that he could not -look forward to the future with anything approaching hope. - -His very promise to abstain from drink had been made solely because -that was the only way in which he could accept Harcourt's offer, and -not from any desire to regain his lost state. - -"No," he told himself that night, alone in his room at Harcourt's -apartments, "I guess I'm a wastrel, pure and simple. I've nothing to -go ahead for, and I've got a devil of a lot to forget; if I can only -get up enough interest in the yacht and in the places we visit and -the work we do, then there's a chance that I can break even and stay -decent for a while. And, Lord knows, it's about time!" - -In which conclusion he was undeniably correct, much more so than in -his foregoing premises. For Hammer was not nearly so unlikeable as -he imagined; in the effort to cast his old life and his youthful -mistakes far behind him he had plunged into the swiftest maelstrom he -could find, as better men than he have done and will do, but he had -managed to keep his head above water--much to his own surprise. - -The good-humoured manner, which was at first an assumption to hide -the hurts beneath, had finally become reality, and perhaps Harcourt -had shrewdly reckoned on the fact that mental trouble is very likely -to lessen and vanish beneath the light of friendship. - -Harcourt himself was little bothered over his own financial crash. -Accustomed to thinking little of money or its value, he did not -trouble greatly about making his living now that his plans for the -immediate future were settled. He was twenty-six, two years younger -than the American, but he had taken the _Daphne_ far around the seven -seas, and in some ways was a good deal older than Hammer. - -The following day, having procured other clothes than his dress-suit, -Hammer went aboard the _Daphne_. She was a small but luxuriously -furnished steam-yacht of a thousand tons burden, and having been -already overhauled for the benefit of Dr. Krausz, was ready for sea, -save for stores and crew; also, the archaeologist's "impedimenta", as -Harcourt had termed it, had not yet come aboard. Hammer was -delighted with her, and with Harcourt and John Solomon, put in a busy -day. - -Harcourt was well satisfied with his supercargo, for Solomon took -charge of the purchasing of the stores, and not only procured them of -excellent quality, but at an astonishingly low price. - -He proved to have a thorough acquaintance with his duties, and also -with the duties of the other officers, and promised to be on the -whole an exceedingly useful man. - -Nothing was seen of Dr. Sigurd Krausz during the next two days, but -Hammer learned that the point of the expedition was a small bay near -Melindi, on the East African coast, and that another part of the -expedition was being sent ahead to make the preliminary excavations. - -On the third morning Harcourt sent the American to Krausz's hotel to -inform the professor that the yacht was ready for her lading and -passengers, and now, for the first time, as a result of that sending, -Cyrus Hammer found himself awakening to the fact that he had been -suddenly transplanted into a group of peculiar individuals, from the -aristocratic but "busted" viscount and the pudgy John Solomon to the -unscientific-appearing scientist, and that there was a screw loose -somewhere. - -This was the manner of it. Being now in possession of his -firstmate's certificate--"and no questions asked"--Hammer sent in his -name and was admitted to the presence of the already-famous -archaeologist. For Sigurd Krausz was not after the pattern Hammer -had anticipated. - -He was a rather thick-set man, clad only in pyjamas, and was at work -over a desk full of papers. These he abandoned to greet Hammer, -pulling the latter aside to the window as if to keep him away from -the desk. - -Then, through his host's _négligé_ attire, Hammer saw that Krausz was -a mass of muscles; his hand-grip was like iron, and his large head -was set well back between his shoulders in a fashion which made him -greet the world with out-flung jaw. - -There was nothing very remarkable about the man's face, which was -Saxon rather than Teutonic, save for the heavy-lidded eyes. The -features were regular, of massive mould, and the ridge denoting the -thinker overhung the eyes; but--and this Hammer did not observe at -once---the right temple was crossed by a nervous muscle, which -throbbed like a ribbon underneath the skin. - -On the whole, Hammer liked the scientist, deciding that while his -face could be cruel upon occasion, it was the face of a strong man. - -"I am very glad to see you, Mr. Hammer," exclaimed Krausz cordially, -on learning the American's errand. He seemed in no hurry to return -to his papers, but pressed Hammer into a chair and questioned him -closely about the yacht, puffing the while at a long black panetela. - -Thanks to his recent labours, Hammer survived the examination in good -shape, and his personality seemed to make some impression on the -German. - -"I like you, yess, friend Hammer," remarked the latter, handing him -one of the thin panetelas. "Also, I like Mr. Harcourt, and trust we -will get on well together. You are American, yess? I like -Americans, but not the British, for sailors. That iss why I am -putting some of my own men aboard, for they will also serve as -helpers in the work. You are interested in archaeology, yess?" - -"Not in general," returned Hammer frankly. "However, I didn't know -there was anything to be dug up on the east coast of Africa." - -"Oh, plenty, plenty!" puffed the other, and after a long puff -continued: "It iss some relics of Portuguese rule in Mombasa which I -hope to find--relics more important ass ethnological and historic -things than for their intrinsic value." - -"By the way, I'd like to know just how many are in your party, -doctor. Our steward wants to get the cabins in shape." - -"My party? _Nein_, there will be but myself and my secretary going -out. Professor Helmuth my assistant, leaves to-day for Mombasa to -get things started, and coming back we will perhaps crowd the ship, -yess. - -"My second mate, Hans Schlak, will bring the men aboard to-morrow; if -our necessary permits, and so on, arrive from the British Colonial -Office, we will leave the day after. They should be here already. -That iss satisfactory?" - -"Perfectly--" began Hammer, when a third voice interrupted -apologetically. - -"In half an hour the _Mombasa_ sails, Herr Doctor!" - -Krausz turned with an exclamation. Shuffling out from a shadowed -corner of the room, Hammer saw a black-clad, small, flat-chested man, -with deep-set, furtive eyes, high brow, and retreating chin; the chin -did not express weakness altogether, for it was rather the fox chin, -which denotes cunning and ability. The doctor waved a hand. - -"Mr. Hammer, my secretary, Adolf Jenson. Very good, Adolf; better -take a taxi and deliver the papers in person. Remember, Professor -Sara L. Helmuth, stateroom 12 B." - -With this he turned to the desk and picked up a small black rubber -wallet, which Jenson took with something very like a cringe, -departing with an inaudible murmur of words. - -Somewhat disgusted with the man, Hammer followed him, once more -gripping the firm hand of Krausz and taking with him the remembrance -of cordial words and an effusive smile from the big scientist. - -The American stopped in the hotel entrance to light the doctor's -cigar, and, as he glanced over his cupped hands, he saw something -that astonished him. For there, just at the curb, and beckoning -frantically to the nearest taxi, was no less a person than his -supercargo, honest John Solomon! - -Hammer stared in disbelief of his own eyes, since Solomon was at that -moment supposed to be laying in a supply of extra cabin stores on the -other side of the city. - -But there was no mistake; even as the taxi drew up Solomon turned and -waved his cap at some unseen individual farther up the street, then -scrambled headfirst into the machine, his hurried words floating back -to Hammer: - -"P. and O. docks--the _Mombasa_! And 'urry or no tip!" - -The taxi darted away, Hammer staring after it dazedly. What on earth -could this mean? Why was this fat little Cockney supercargo of his -chasing in a taxi-cab after a P. and O. liner due to sail in half an -hour? Could it have any connection with the errand of the secretary, -Adolf Jenson? - -A flood of questions darted through Hammer's brain on the instant, -and, giving way to the impulse, he sprang to the taxi which had drawn -up to the curb in place of that taken by Solomon. Whatever the -supercargo's purpose might be, Hammer determined to get down to the -dock before the liner sailed and see what was going on, if possible. -It might be a wild-goose chase, but on the other hand---- - -"P. and O. docks--I want to see the _Mombasa_ go out, and she leaves -in twenty minutes. Do it on the jump!" - -The chauffeur grinned, and slammed the door. A moment later they -were driving through the streets at a good speed, the American still -pondering this surprising action of his harmless-looking little -supercargo. - -And Solomon had actually been talking of tips, when only a couple of -days before he had dared much in order to capture a job! The whole -affair was perplexing in the extreme. - -"I never did like fat men, anyhow," reflected Hammer grimly. "That -chap seemed to know a whole lot the first night we met, and I'll bet -that he isn't the fool he looks by a long shot. But whatever got him -mixed up with this Krausz business--if he is mixed up in it? I may -be barking up the wrong tree, of course, and everything may be all -right, so I'd better go slow if I catch him." - -The conviction grew upon him during the remainder of his ride that he -would have done much better to have waited, and to have questioned -Solomon upon returning to the yacht. - -The man might have friends leaving on the liner--but Hammer forgot -his vague reasonings when the taxi drew up suddenly and he found the -entrance to the docks of the Peninsula and Oriental just ahead. - -The chauffeur had done his work well, for the journey had taken just -fifteen minutes. Hammer found the dock gates open and pushed his way -through the crowd; as he did so he passed the black-clad figure of -Adolf Jenson. - -But the meek little secretary did not look up, vanishing toward the -gates; and the American glanced around for John Solomon in vain. - -There was no trace of him in the crowd, and the ship had already been -cleared of visitors. The waiting tenders had their lines out, and as -Hammer gazed up the gang-plank was just being taken in. - -The whistle crashed out, drowning the tinkle of bells, and at the -same instant Hammer saw an officer walk hastily to the open gangway, -accompanied by a small pudgy man, dressed in blue. - -They stood talking together for an instant, then shook hands; the -siren shrilled forth, and wharf-lines were cast off, and John Solomon -leaped ashore with amazing agility, and was lost in the crowd. - -Standing watching in sore perplexity, Hammer recalled the name of the -scientist's assistant--"Professor Sara L. Helmuth". He turned and -pushed back to his waiting taxicab, execrating his useless trip, for -he was now convinced that it had been useless. - -"I seem fated to get mixed up with people I don't like," he smiled to -himself, as he was being driven back to the city, the Royal Thames -docks being up-river. "First it's a blue-eyed fat man, and then it's -a woman relic-hunter, to say nothing of that swine of a secretary. -Sara L. Helmuth--gosh, what a name! I never did know a woman named -Sara that was worth a darn for looks." - -With which conclusion he paid off his chauffeur and walked the -remainder of the distance in an irritable humour enough. This humour -was by no means lessened when he saw John Solomon standing at the -gangway, checking off some stores that were coming aboard, while a -number of heavily-loaded wagons stood waiting by the foredeck, where -a steam winch was getting into action and stevedores were bustling -about. - -"What's all this?" he demanded bluntly. "I thought you were in the -city." - -"No, sir," returned Solomon, not looking up. "I did take a bit of a -run up, sir; but them 'ere wagons were a bringing of our lading, so I -'urried back. Werry fine day, sir." - -Hammer grunted. "Tell the steward that there will only be two -passengers. Dr. Krausz and his secretary. The crew will be aboard -to-night or in the morning." - -"Werry good, sir." - -Solomon went calmly on with his lists while the extra cabin stores -were brought up the gangway. Suddenly, as one of the trucks stopped -for checking off, a case of tinned goods joggled over, and Solomon -leaned forward, catching it before it fell. - -The action flung his short blue coat up around his waist, and Hammer -caught a glimpse of a black rubber wallet protruding from the man's -hip-pocket. He recognized it instantly; it was the same wallet which -Krausz had sent aboard the _Mombasa_ an hour previously! - -The American leaned quickly forward and snatched the wallet away. -Solomon, having replaced the case, straightened up and whirled, and -Hammer met his wide blue stare with a smile. - -"You nearly lost this," he said coolly. "Nothing very valuable, I -hope?" - -Solomon's eyes widened a trifle. - -"Lud, no, sir! Nothing more wallyble than my 'baccy, sir. If so be -as a man likes 'baccy I says, then it's place ain't in a dirty -pocket, but in a neat like pouch, says I. Werry kind o' you to save -it for me, sir." - -Ignoring the outstretched hand, Hammer opened the wallet, determined -to test the truth of Solomon's explanation. He was convinced that -this same black rubber pouch had contained the papers sent by Krausz -to Professor Sara L. Helmuth, and that Solomon had, in some way, -obtained them from the latter, or else from the meek secretary. - -But his growing anger evaporated suddenly when the opened wallet -showed nothing more than a vile-smelling flat plug of very black, -molasses-impregnated tobacco. - -"Yes, a good pouch, that," he said quietly, closing it up and handing -it back to its owner, his face inscrutable. "Is Mr. Harcourt about?" - -"In the saloon cabin, sir," and, nodding, the American went on board. - -He looked back once and saw Solomon mopping his brow; for some reason -the action seemed significant of relief on the part of the -supercargo, and Hammer frowned. - -"Confound it, I'd like to know a few things!" he muttered savagely. -"I'll have a run-in with that fellow yet! Wish I hadn't stood up for -him the other night at Prince's; I should have let Harcourt kick him -out, and a good job." - -And the events which were to follow kept the regret keen in his mind. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE ROAD TO MELINDI - -"Well, the beggar was jabbering Arabic with those three men behind -the ventilator this morning, and his actions don't look good to me, -Harcourt. Oh, you can laugh, and be hanged to you! I tell you that -John Solomon has more brains than his position warrants, and that----" - -"Oh, nonsense, old chap! Don't be so beastly suspicious; Solomon -told me at Port Said that he knew a smattering of Arabic, and he's -been tremendously handy. I say, look at those hills, eh?" - -Hammer relapsed into sulky silence, and presently Harcourt left the -bridge to him and sought his cabin, while the American remained -staring moodily at the purplish-blue Jeb el Geneffeh hills to the -south-west, for the _Daphne_ was passing through the Bitter Lakes, -midway of the Suez Canal. - -Until reaching Port Said, the cruise had been perfect in every way, -and his half-realized suspicions of John Solomon had completely -fallen into abeyance. - -As Harcourt said, the man had proved to be very useful, indeed; he -seemed to have a perfect knowledge of port regulations everywhere; he -attended to customs and _pratique_ expeditiously, and almost made -himself indispensable at mess, with his unfailing good humour and -occasional fragments of home-made philosophy. - -In fact, he seemed to have taken a liking to Hammer, and the American -had begun to reciprocate it--until Port Said. - -Here, barely an hour before they left for Suez, word was brought -aboard that three of the German crew were in the hands of the -Sudanese police. Dr. Krausz, who, with his secretary, had not left -his cabin a dozen times during the cruise, went ashore with Harcourt -in furious excitement, but returned considerably subdued. - -It seemed that the three men had fallen foul of some French and Arabs -in the native quarter, that a row had arisen, and one of the French -had been stabbed. - -Consequently, there was nothing to be done save to place the matter -in the hands of the German Consul and go on, since Krausz did not -wish to be detained pending the case. - -As another of the crew was down with eye-trouble and ought to be left -behind in hospital John Solomon had offered to pick up three or four -natives who could make themselves generally useful, and after some -hesitation, Krausz accepted, and the supercargo had promptly got his -four Arabs aboard. - -When, the next morning, Hammer had found Solomon talking Arabic with -three of them in shelter of a ventilator, he had at once laid the -affair of the black wallet before Harcourt, all his suspicions -aroused. - -But the Englishman laughed him down, and even Hammer had to admit -that there was nothing very terrible about the pudgy little man. So -while the _Daphne_ pursued her course through the sandy wastes to -Port Ibrahim and Suez, Cyrus Hammer gradually threw off his almost -groundless suspicions and took on his usual good-humoured manner once -more. - -Hans Schlak, the second mate, was a big blond German--a Viking in -appearance, slow and stolid, but thoroughly efficient in every way. - -The men, too, were smart and well-behaved, responding so well to -Harcourt's discipline that Hammer was not surprised to find that most -of them had served in the German navy. - -Beyond discharging her pilot and sending some letters ashore for the -doctor, the _Daphne_ made no stop at Port Ibrahim, and by next -morning she was well on her way out of the gulf and down the Red Sea. - -They were holding in somewhat to the Arabian coast, and Hammer, in -charge of the bridge, was seated in the chart-house going over a -lesson in navigation, when a figure darkened the doorway and John -Solomon entered. - -"Beggin' your pardon, Mr. 'Ammer, sir, but would you 'ave the -kindness to let me take a bit of a look through the glass?" - -"Well, I don't know that it would do any great harm," replied Hammer -cheerfully. "Help yourself, Solomon. Want to get a last look at -Asia, eh?" - -"Yes, sir," came the sober answer, as Solomon procured a pair of -binoculars. "You see, sir, I was down this 'ere way a few months -ago. Werry interesting place, Mr. 'Ammer, and when so be as you -finds an interesting place, I says----" - -The rest was lost as Solomon directed a fixed gaze from the port -doorway toward the distant coast, and he did not change his attitude -for five minutes. Hammer watched him with some interest, until at -length the other lowered the glasses with a sigh. - -"Lud, what a bare coast she is, sir! If I might make so bold, sir, -what be we a going to do after we reach Mombasa?" - -"Why," smiled Hammer, "we're bound for a little harbour up the coast -called Melindi. We'll have to leave the yacht at Kilindini harbour, -after the trip up, and go to and from Melindi by launch, I suppose." - -"Aye, sir; it's a werry bad place indeed, Melindi. And may I ask, -sir, if so be as we're a-going to stay with the yacht or go with Dr. -Krausz?" - -"Not decided yet, Solomon, to my knowledge. Why, do you want to go -along with the relic-hunters?" - -"No, sir, though I'm werry interested in strange things. Beggin' -your pardon, sir, Dr. Krausz is all werry well in his way, but 'is -way ain't to me notion." - -"So you don't like him? That's queer!" Hammer pulled out his pipe, -and, accepting this as tacit permission, Solomon began to whittle at -a plug which he had been holding ready. - -The wide blue eyes came up and met his squarely, with just the -suspicion of a frown hovering at their edges. Hammer decided that -his supercargo might yet inveigle some expression into his face if he -kept on in this way. - -"No, sir; me 'umble opinion is that Dutchmen ain't to be trusted, not -so far away from 'ome; and I've 'ad some experience. Do you think, -sir, as 'ow Mr. Harcourt would give me a discharge at Mombasa? O' -course, I signed on for the voyage, sir, but I 'ave me reasons for -wantin' to be stopping off at Mombasa, so I comes to you all square -and above-board. If you want a thing, why, ask for it ship-shape, as -the Good Book says, sir. That's what I 'old to." - -"Right," nodded Hammer. He was no little surprised at the request; -but as it would have been easy enough to slip the yacht at Mombasa, -the fact that Solomon asked for his discharge so long beforehand -showed a desire on his part to play fair--and also to draw his pay on -being discharged. - -"I'll speak to the captain about it, Solomon, and I think it'll be -all right. But we'll be sorry to lose you, for you've certainly been -a great help to us." - -"I'm sorry to be leaving you, sir," and the blue eyes opened a trifle -wider. "Thank you werry much, Mr. 'Ammer." - -This was to be a day of surprises for Cyrus Hammer, however. The day -was cruelly hot, even the breeze created by the yacht's motion being -stifling, and by noon Hammer, as well as Schlak and the others -aboard, had stripped to pyjamas. - -Very little had been seen of Dr. Krausz and Adolf Jenson; most of -their meals had been served in their large cabin; and from the -quantities of mail sent out at each port of call, it had been evident -that the scientist was hard at work. - -That afternoon, however, while Hammer was splitting a bottle of beer -with Harcourt in the comparative coolness of the latter's cabin, the -steward appeared. He was a quiet little Englishman, who had formerly -acted as Harcourt's valet in more prosperous days, and had chosen to -remain with his master. - -"Mr. Harcourt," he said, hesitantly, "I'd like to ask you about -something, sir." - -"Very well, Roberts. What's on your mind, my man?" - -"Why, sir"--and the steward twisted his cap nervously--"it's Dr. -Krausz, sir. I'm--I'm afraid as he's going it a bit strong, Mr. -Harcourt." - -"Eh? What do you mean?" - -"Why, him and that--that yeller-faced swine Jenson"--and Roberts spat -out the words with a sudden viciousness that was astounding--"I've -been a-taking them champagne, sir, all morning, and a half-hour ago -Dr. Krausz he sent for a bottle o' brandy, sir. I thought, maybe, as -how you might drop a word to him, sir. It's a mortal bad climate, -you know, sir, for such goings-on." - -Harcourt stared at the American, surprise plain in his eyes. - -"My word!" he ejaculated. "I'd positively no idea that he was a -tippler, 'pon my word! Has this been going on long, Roberts?" - -"Off and on, sir, since we left Gibraltar. But not so heavy as this, -Mr. Harcourt." - -"Very good. You did quite right in telling me, but mention it to no -one else, understand. You may go." - -Left alone, the two looked at each other for a moment until Hammer -chuckled. - -"So our worthy doctor has fallen off the wagon, eh? Well, it's his -funeral, cap'n, not ours. Better drop him a hint?" - -"Eh? By Jove, no! I want no bally German telling me to keep my -place! He knows what he's doing, Hammer, and I'm no nursemaid, so -we'll let him drink himself to death if he likes. I'd much sooner -see that fellow Jenson go overboard in a sack, for the doctor's quite -a decent sort, don't you know." - -"He might be worse," nodded Hammer. "Well, I'll be off and get a bit -of sleep under the after-awning by the electric fan." - -Here he managed to obtain a modicum of relief from the heat, and -dropped off to sleep without troubling himself over the alcoholism of -Dr. Sigurd Krausz. - -How long he was asleep he had no idea, until he was aroused by an -excited voice, which resolved itself into that of the doctor in -question. Half-clad, dishevelled, and with furiously-flushed -features, the archaeologist was disclaiming wildly in German to Hans -Schlak, whose watch it was. - -The two were standing by the starboard rail, and as Hammer raised -himself on his hands the second mate cast a helpless glance at him. -The American caught the look, and did not hesitate to break into the -scientist's flow of words. - -"Who's up on the bridge, Schlak?" he asked curtly. "You'd better get -back before the captain----" - -"_Was ist_?" Krausz lurched about with a black frown, and Schlak -seized the chance to get away. At the same instant Roberts appeared, -bearing a whisky and soda. He hesitated at sight of Hammer. - -"Throw that stuff overboard, Roberts," commanded the later, rising. -With a look of vast relief the steward obeyed. Krausz glared at -them, and the American saw the peculiar ribbon of muscle beating -furiously under the skin of his brow. - -"How dare you!" burst forth the scientist. "Pig of an American, you -do not your place know----" - -He was swinging his fists wildly in the air, and by sheer accident -managed to catch the tray of Roberts with a blow that sent it -clattering to the deck. Hammer, angry, took a step forward and -caught the German's wrists in a hard grip. - -"Get command of yourself, doctor," he said quietly. "You're making a -disgraceful scene here." - -For an instant the other glared at him with bloodshot, maddened eyes -which, despite his light-brown hair, were of the deepest black. -Then. Hammer caught a ripple of the man's huge muscles, and he was -flung violently back with a curse. - -"Iss it not mine ship?" stormed the angry German. "Pig! Dog! I -will show you----" - -He rushed forward. Hammer, seeing that he had to deal with a sheer -madman, wasted no more words but struck with all his weight behind -the blow. His fist took Krausz full in the stomach. and with a -single groan the big man shivered and collapsed in a heap. - -"Roberts," and Hammer turned to the wild-eyed steward, "send two of -the Germans here to carry the doctor to his cabin. Then see to it -that I am called at four bells and not disturbed before then." - -Poor Roberts fled hastily, and Hammer composed himself to sleep -again. He would have thought little of the incident, nor did he -expect that Krausz would remember it; but that evening the doctor -appeared at mess--a very rare thing. His first act was to go up to -the American with hand outstretched. - -"My dear Mr. Hammer," he said, sincerity in his tone. "I deeply -regret what took place thiss afternoon, and apologize to you for it. -I----" - -"Don't say any more, doctor," laughed Hammer, with an amused glance -at the wondering Harcourt, who knew nothing of the occurrence. "It's -really not worth bothering about, I assure you, and if anyone needs -to be forgiven it is I." - -"Not at all," beamed the other, but the muscle over his temple was -beating hard. "By the way, you found no papers on the deck, yess?" - -"I didn't notice any," returned the surprised American. "Why, did -you lose something?" - -"A paper, yess. Adolf believed me to have had it when I left the -cabin. But no matter, my friend. We----" - -"Hold on there!" cried Hammer quickly. "If you lost something, we'll -look into it. Roberts! Was anyone else on the after-deck?" - -"I saw no one, Mr. Hammer," returned the steward. "I called the two -men, as you ordered." - -Hammer frowned, but Krausz waved a hand and insisted that nothing -mattered; and so the dinner proceeded, with a brief but frank -explanation on the part of the scientist to Harcourt and John -Solomon, Schlak still being on the bridge. - -Hammer was about to relieve him when Krausz asked him to wait, as he -wished to explain the purpose of his expedition. - -This proved to be of little interest to the American, however. The -doctor had discovered, some time before, a number of old manuscripts -dealing with the Portuguese occupation of the Mombasa coast. - -According to these, there was a place not far from Melindi where a -fort had been established, and where, afterward, a number of vessels -had been wrecked on their way from Goa to Lisbon. - -The cargoes had been saved, but before they could be transferred to -Mombasa an irruption of natives had destroyed the fort. It was -believed that a great portion of valuable relics, with gifts from the -Indian viceroy to the king of Portugal, and other such things, had -been buried somewhere within the fort and had never been located. - -These formed the object of the party's work; for if found they would -be of great value to historians, more especially as there were many -papers of interest supposed to be buried with the more intrinsically -valuable articles. - -The subject did not appeal particularly to Hammer; but Harcourt -displayed keen interest, while John Solomon stared at Krausz with his -blue eyes growing wider and wider. - -"And you mean as 'ow to say that there 'ere loot is still there, -doctor?" he broke forth at last. Krausz smiled blandly. - -"Such is my hope, Mr. Solomon." - -"Lud! The ways o' Prowidence are mysterious, as the Good Book says. -To think o' loot a-laying buried for all this time waiting for you to -dig it up! Once upon a time I worked for a relic-'unter, like you, -sir. A fine, upstanding man 'e was, too. But I says, when there's -summat dead, let it lie. It ain't proper to dig up the past, as the -old gent said when 'e led 'is third to the altar." - -"So you used to work for an archaeologist, yess?" and for the first -time the doctor seemed to find John Solomon worthy of attention. -"Where wass that?" - -"A main long time back, sir--up in Palestine it was," and Solomon -sighed reflectively. - -Hammer, who was studying Krausz, suddenly saw the muscle in his brow -begin to throb. He felt himself beginning to dislike that muscle -vaguely. - -"'Is name was---dang it! I've been and forgot--no, I 'aven't -neither! 'Is name was 'Elmuth!" he concluded triumphantly. - -"Helmuth!" The word broke from Krausz and found echo in Hammer's -mind. The heavy-lidded black eyes of the German were bent suddenly -on Solomon. "The Herr Professor George Helmuth, yess, of the -University of California?" - -"That's 'im, sir!" Solomon's eyes sparkled. "American 'e was." - -"H-m!" For some reason the doctor's face darkened. "Hiss daughter -she iss my assistant, Mr. Solomon. She wass assistant curator at the -Dresden Library. Well, my friends, I bid you good evening." - -Hammer also departed to the bridge, pondering over the coincidence -brought out by Solomon's words; and when Harcourt joined him for a -smoke they chuckled over it together. The captain had already -decided to let Solomon go at Mombasa, as there would be little need -of his services for a time. - -"Funny thing, that," remarked the Englishman. "Fancy a woman doing -such work out here in Africa!" - -"Oh, shucks!" laughed Hammer carelessly. "The kind of woman who goes -in for that work--well, you know. Spectacles and Bibles and a blue -_pagari_* on her sun-helmet." - - -* This is the correct spelling of the word, which is bastardized into -puggaree or pugree, and other forms. The "Standard" will probably -give pugaree, or some such spelling--_Author_. - - -So the matter passed, and for the time he forgot it. Indeed, Hammer -was busier than he had been for many a day. Besides lessons in -navigation from Harcourt, he was learning a smattering of Arabic from -Solomon, and already could swear fluently at the four Arab sailors, -who took a cheerful delight in adding to his vocabulary. - -Also, he was rather surprised to find that he and Harcourt were -drawing closer together with every day; that he was keenly interested -in his new environment, and was looking forward to newer seas and -lands with unalloyed anticipation. - -In fact, he was beginning to see the falsity of his old attitude -toward life, while the taste of authority was sweet to him. Already -the past had faded out in his mind, save for occasional twinges of -bitterness, at which times he plunged into his work and was -astonished at the ease with which the mood passed. - -So the days flew by until the _Daphne_ had rounded Cape Guardafui and -the last leg of the journey was begun, down the east coast of Africa. -They were still three days out from Mombasa when Hammer, who had the -second dog watch, went to Schlak's cabin on being relieved by -Harcourt. - -He wanted to ask the second officer about some detail of the chart; -and since it was nearly dark, and he made no noise in his pumps, his -approach must have been unheard. - -As the door was slightly ajar, Hammer merely pushed it open with a -word and stepped in. He heard one sharply-drawn breath, and in the -gloom found himself facing Adolf Jenson, whose face was absolutely -livid. - -An instant, as he switched on the light, the American saw the body of -Hans Schlak lying on the floor at his feet, a knife-shaft between the -shoulders. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -WHO MURDERED HANS SCHLAK? - -"My God! Don't look at me like that, sir--I didn't do it!" - -Trembling in every limb, the secretary shrank back against the berth, -staring up at Hammer with horrified eyes. - -The American, to whom Jenson was repulsive, made no attempt to lay a -finger on the man, but stood looking at him with sternly questioning -eyes; palsied with fear, the fellow babbled out protestations of his -innocence until suddenly Hammer waved him silent. - -"That's enough from you. How long have you been here?" - -"I just came in, Mr. Hammer. I can prove it by Dr. Krausz; I've been -with him until just now----" - -Hammer leaned over and touched Schlak. The second mate was dead, and -had been dead for some time, since the body was set fast in the rigor -mortis. For a moment he looked down, frowning, then swept the cabin -with his gaze. - -Evidently here had been a struggle, and a desperate one. A chair was -broken and overturned, clothes and papers were strewn about the -floor, and the clenched fists of the body showed that death had not -found Hans Schlak unawares. - -In one hand Hammer saw a fragment of paper, and after a moment's work -got it away intact; it was a torn corner of a letter, probably, for a -few words in German could be made out written in pencil. - -Contrary to his own will and even against his first supposition, the -American was forced to the conclusion that the cringing secretary was -innocent. True, he had the man standing over the body, but Schlak -had been dead for an hour at least--in all probability he had -returned from the dining-saloon to find his fate awaiting him. - -Therefore, someone must have been in his room during his absence at -mess. Who? Not Jenson, for Jenson had been at the table with them; -and Hammer mentally accounted for every member of the officers' mess -that evening, except John Solomon. - -An instant later he remembered that he himself had sent the -supercargo off to make up some accounts which Harcourt desired to -see, and that Solomon had returned a few moments after Schlak had -left the table. - -Therefore, it would seem that the pudgy supercargo was cleared; and -at the thought of the little man killing the viking Hans Schlak, -Hammer smiled grimly. - -"So you didn't do it, eh?" he said sternly, thinking to make the -secretary cringe for a moment. Hammer had a thorough dislike and -contempt for the man, and made no secret of it. "I find you standing -over this body, and you claim innocence! Do you think that will -stand when you get up before the German Consul at Mombasa?" - -For a moment Jenson broke out anew with his frenzied babbling, -weaving his hands in and out, his face ghastly with terror; then he -caught the American's contemptuous smile and shivered into silence. -Hammer was satisfied, but he was to pay dearly for that short moment -of play with Adolf Jenson's nerves. - -"Oh, you're cleared all right, Jenson! Now go down and send Captain -Harcourt here, and Dr. Krausz with him. Tell no one else what has -happened." - -With which Hammer went forward and investigated among the crew. But -one and all could account for themselves and proved good alibis, even -to the Arabs; so he returned in disgust to the bridge and relieved -Harcourt temporarily. - -In ten minutes the captain returned with Krausz, all three men -entering the chart-house gravely enough. - -Hammer told his story, exculpating Jenson fully, and produced the -torn scrap of paper taken from Schlak's hand. Dr. Krausz, who had -taken the news with astonishing equanimity, examined the paper and -uttered a cry of surprise. - -"It iss the paper I lost that day when I was drank! Mein Gott, -gentlemen, but thiss iss queer! It iss a copy of one of those -Portuguese 'relations', concerning the place to which we going are." - -"So?" Harcourt inspected the end of his cigar. "Then whoever took -it from you that day must have been in the cabin with Schlak, and the -row probably started over that paper, by Jove!" He looked up with -sudden excitement. "Is anyone else after this treasure, Dr. Krausz?" - -The big German blinked in surprise. - -"_Hein_! It would be of no interest to others, but to archaeologists, -yess. No one knows but myself. There iss not any chance of sich a -thing, I am sure." - -"Well, here's the knife. It ought to be recognized." - -Harcourt laid the weapon on the table--a plain, horn-hafted -sheath-knife, with no scratch on the haft to proclaim ownership. - -As Hammer had not revealed the cause of his visit to the forecastle, -it was decided to call in each man on board the ship, from stewards -to stokers, and see if the weapon would be recognized. - -"It's a cinch that the murderer is on the ship," declared Hammer -confidently. "If that knife belongs to any of the men it'll probably -be recognized." - -"By the way," exclaimed Harcourt, "we ought to have Solomon up here. -I believe that chap has some brains, and he can help us out with the -Arabs. Can you handle their bally talk at all, Hammer?" - -"Fairly well, but not for rapid-fire work. Yes, better have John -come up, and then start in with the men. I'd better get the articles -and see that we get hold of every man aboard, hadn't I?" - -The captain nodded, and Hammer went below. He went first to his own -cabin, where he dug to the bottom of a ditty-bag full of soiled linen -and fished out an old-style revolver of small size but heavy calibre. - -"Not that I want to shoot her any," he grinned to himself, "but she -feels comforting with murderers aboard! Guess I'd have to have a man -within a yard of me to hit him with this mule of a gun, anyhow." - -Visiting Harcourt's cabin, he procured the ship's papers, sent -Roberts to ask John Solomon to step to the chart-house and to follow -himself, and returned. At anyrate, he thought grimly, this cruise -bade fair to beat cattle-boats as far as excitement was concerned. - -He found the others as he had left them, Harcourt smoking and Krausz -staring glumly at the knife, which lay on the table before them. A -moment later the supercargo arrived, puffing after his climb, and at -Harcourt's invitation dropped into the fourth deck-chair. - -"Do you know that knife, Mr. Solomon?" - -"Why, cap'n, I can't say that I do--no, sir; I never laid eyes on it -afore, not as I knows of. I--why, dang it! There's blood----" - -"Yes," cut in Harcourt grimly. "Mr. Schlak was murdered this -evening. Oh, hello, Roberts! Tell the men to come up here one by -one--come in here first. Ever see this knife before?" - -Roberts approached the table and replied in the negative, after which -Harcourt waved him away. John Solomon said no more, but stared from -one to the other of the three, silent with the horror of the thing. - -Taking pity on him, Hammer explained the affair, and had barely -finished when the men began to come in, wondering greatly at the time -and place of the summons. - -One by one they passed through, each denying any knowledge of the -knife, and Hammer pricked off the names. The four Arabs had not yet -appeared when Adolf Jenson came to seek his master on some trivial -errand and stopped, pale-faced and with a virulent glance at the -American, as he noted what was going on. - -Solomon's eyes turned to him, remaining in a fixed stare; and after a -moment the secretary evidently became uneasy, for he passed out into -the night again after returning a brief negative to Harcourt's formal -question. - -There were only five men left--the four Arabs and the German -boatswain, Hugo Baumgardner. Two of the Arabs, the only ones who -knew English, came through, and after them the boatswain. Then for -the first time things began to look interesting. - -"Yes, sir," replied Baumgardner slowly, scratching his mop of black -hair reflectively and speaking excellent English, "it seems to me -I've seen that knife before; there's a funny twist to the handle if -you notice, sir." - -An electric-charged silence settled down, while Baumgardner scratched -his head and stared at the table. From outside came a murmur of -voices from the waiting men; then very quietly John Solomon rose and -stepped to the door. - -No one except Hammer paid any attention to the movement, and the -American, after noting that Solomon was saying something to some -person out of sight, centred his thoughts on the stalwart boatswain. - -"Well, tell us where you saw it," spoke up Krausz encouragingly, as -Solomon resumed his chair. Baumgardner frowned heavily, then his -face cleared. - -"Why, sir, it was the day after we left Malta--I remember that Mr. -Solomon was breaking out a case of champagne and I was helping him -with it. Yes, that's it. I asked him for a knife--I'd left mine in -my bunk--and he passed me that one to cut away the straw around the -case. Just let me hold it a minute." Harcourt passed over the knife -and the German folded his great hand around it, nodding. "Yes, I -could swear to it, Mr. Harcourt. I hope there's nothing wrong, sir?" - -"Nothing, Baumgardner. You have seen the knife at no other time, I -suppose?" - -"No, sir. I only remembered it because it had that little hitch at -the end of the handle, but it's the same one." - -"Very well. That will do." - -No one said anything for a moment. Hammer's eyes went to Solomon, -and he surprised a peculiar look in the other's face--a peculiar look -which he could not fathom. It was as if John Solomon's faith in -human nature had suddenly received a shock, and if it was acting, -then it was cleverly done. - -A second later the third Arab entered, replied to Harcourt's -question, which Solomon translated with a curt negative, and passed -on. The fourth Arab, however, glanced at the knife, and before a -word had been uttered his eyes lit up. Harcourt caught the gleam and -checked Solomon. - -"Wait a moment, Mr. Solomon. Hammer, I think you'd better ask him, -to avoid any suspicion against Solomon's question; not that we -suspect you, Solomon, but under the circumstances it might be better." - -"Quite so, sir," rejoined the supercargo humbly. "I'm werry sorry, -o' course, sir." - -Hammer put the question in faltering Arabic, and the man nodded at -once. - -"Yes, _effendi_, I have seen the knife. Has it a small nick near the -end of the blade?" - -The American translated and Harcourt picked up the weapon. - -"Correct. Ask him where he saw it." - -Then Hammer received a surprise. - -"I saw it two days ago, _effendi_--no, it was four days ago, two days -after _effendi_ was drunk and you hit him very hard. I was cleaning -the brasswork. I saw the little black man come near me, and there -was a bad place in the brass. I asked him if he had a knife, for I -had none, and he lent me this one. I remember the nick in the blade, -for Allah willed that it scratch my thumb." - -Startled, Hammer made the man repeat his statement to make sure there -was no mistake and that he had understood correctly; then he -translated for the others. He saw Krausz dart a single flaming -glance at Solomon, which the latter seemed not to note, and then -Harcourt spoke up: - -"Ask him who he means by the little black man." - -The Arab could not say, except that he would know the man again; but -Hammer felt no doubt in his own mind that Jenson was indicated, and -summoned the latter. Upon his arrival the Arab identified him at -once. - -"That is the man, _effendi_. If he says that the knife is not his, -then he is a----" - -The Arab's opinion of Jenson coincided more or less with that of -Hammer, but the American cut short the Hood of expletives and ordered -the man to stand aside. - -"Gentlemen," said Harcourt gravely, "this situation would be -laughable were it not so deuced serious. One man states that Mr. -Solomon had the knife when he left Malta; Solomon denies having ever -seen it before; another man states that Mr. Jenson had it since that -time. You will have noted that the Arab recognized the blade by its -slight nick, of which he could have had no previous knowledge. In my -opinion neither witness is to be doubted." - -Not until then did the unhappy secretary realize what had transpired, -or why he had been sent for. Comprehending the drift of things at -Harcourt's words, transfixed by his master's gloomy eye, poor Jenson -shrank back, trembling, an agony of fear in his livid features. - -"I--I never had it!" he cried in a strangled voice. "Heir -Doctor--gentlemen--I swear before God and the Virgin--I never had the -thing, never saw it----" - -"Don't cry before you're hurt, Jenson," said Harcourt coldly. "Then -you deny having had the knife in your possession, eh?" - -"Yes! My God, yes!" With a sudden snarl that brought out his -rat-like teeth he whirled on Hammer, "It's you who framed this thing -up--you always hated me; you accused me of doing it in the first -place----" - -"Shut up!" The heavy voice of Krausz silenced his frenzied words. -"Captain Harcourt, you are in command here; but if you please I would -like a word to say, yess?" - -"Certainly, doctor." - -"Then I can witness that thiss man, Adolf Jenson, wass with me from -the time I went to my cabin after mess until five minutes before I -wass called up here. Also, I left the dining-saloon before Schlak -did. If poor Schlak wass killed after then thiss must surely absolve -Jenson." - -"It would certainly seem to, by Jove!" exclaimed Harcourt, frankly -puzzled. "Mr. Solomon, kindly explain to us why you denied all -knowledge of the knife when we first asked you about it. Do you -stick to that denial?" - -"No, sir," and the wide blue eyes, which had rested on Jenson with a -wondering look, shifted to Harcourt. "You see, sir, I don't carry -weapons, not as a rule. Everything in its place, I says, and a -supercargo 'e don't rightly 'ave no use for knives. When so be as I -wants a knife I gets one from the steward, or borries one anywhere. -It may be werry well be as the bos'n says----" - -"Then why did you deny it in the first place?" shot out Harcourt -sternly. - -Solomon hesitated, his eyes shifting from face to face appealingly. - -"Well, sir, I suspicioned as summat was wrong. I don't 'old to -gettin' shipmates into 'ot water, sir, beggin' your pardon, and I -says to myself, 'John Solomon, tell a lie,' just like that, sir. -'Tell a lie,' I says, 'and don't be a-gettin' of a poor shipmate into -'ot water. Do as you would be done by,' I says----" - -"Confound it," exclaimed Harcourt, "tell me who you borrowed that -knife from or I'll put you in irons!" - -"Well, sir," sighed the supercargo, "I must say as I remembers it -werry well, and werry sorry I am to 'ave to say it, Mr. Jenson; but -you----" - -"You lie!" screamed Jenson terribly, flinging himself forward. With -unexpected agility Dr. Krausz leaped up and gripped him. "You lie! -You lie! You lie!" Over and over the words were shrieked out until -a torrent of German from the scientist quieted the livid-faced -secretary. - -It was a scene that lingered long in the mind of Hammer--stolid, -pudgy Solomon sitting quietly with something like sadness in his -eyes, while Jenson, an agony of dumb horror in his face, panted in -the grip of the Teuton, Harcourt watching with a troubled frown, and -the Arab standing back in silence. - -"Ordinarily that would be good evidence enough," stated Harcourt -finally. "However, it is only your word against Jenson's, Solomon, -with the preponderance of evidence in your favour. - -"Still, Jenson has an excellent alibi. Where were you while you were -absent from the dining-saloon?" - -"In me own cabin, sir," came the prompt answer. "Fixing up them -accounts, sir." - -"Anyone see you there?" - -"Not as I knows on sir." - -"Then your bally alibi's smashed and we're worse tangled up than -ever!" - -Silence once more settled over the chart-house. For the life of him -Hammer could not solve the puzzle, and in desperation he suggested -that the remainder of the crew be sent for. - -Since two of the forecastle mess had recognized the weapon there was -a chance that some of the engine-room crew might have seen it and so -might corroborate either the Arab or Baumgardner. - -Harcourt accordingly summoned every man on board but with no result. -Each and all positively denied ever having seen the knife, and -finally the Arab was dismissed with the rest, Baumgardner being -advanced to acting second mate with orders to prepare the body of -Schlak for burial the next morning. - -"I'm bally well stumped, gentlemen," announced Harcourt wearily. -Jenson was now standing beside his master, one of Krausz's big hands -resting on his arm. "What's your opinion, Hammer?" - -The American hesitated. Plainly the secretary believed him to have -framed up the charge, and it was next to impossible to believe that -the fellow had really murdered the giant mate. Besides, the alibi -was heavily in the man's favour. - -"From the evidence of the Arab and John Solomon," he said slowly, "it -would seem that Jenson is guilty. But the body was stiff, remember, -and there had been a struggle, to say nothing of the alibi. On the -other hand, Solomon cannot prove where he was at the time. I would -suggest entering on the log that Schlak was murdered by persons -unknown, and then put the matter up to the German Consul who would -probably have jurisdiction at Mombasa." - -"No," corrected Harcourt. "Extra territorial rights have been -withdrawn in British East Africa. The government would have -jurisdiction. What is your opinion, doctor?" - -"I would leave it to you, captain. I say it iss for you to settle." - -"And _I_ say," exclaimed Harcourt with sudden harshness, "that no man -is to be murdered in my ship without someone swinging for it, by the -Lord Harry! We'll get into Kilindini, and never a man goes ashore -until this has been ferreted out. John Solomon, and you, Adolf -Jenson, mind that!" - -So the matter ended for the present, after affidavits and statements -had been drawn up and signed by all concerned. But, as he paced the -bridge that night, Cyrus Hammer thrashed the matter over and over in -his mind. The strands were twisted a little bit too much to his -manner of thinking. - -Solomon's absence in his own cabin was bad, for there was nothing to -prove that he had been there, save his own word. This, however, was -balanced by the fact that the knife seemed to belong to Jenson, whose -flat denial of this evidence looked very bad also. Yet his alibi was -unimpeachable. - -What with Baumgardner testifying against Solomon, and the latter -against Jenson, the thing was badly tangled. Yet the evidence was in -favour of the secretary clearly. He would hardly have stolen the -paper from Krausz, over which the struggle would seem to have been -waged, and he could account for his movements. - -Despite the ownership of the knife, there would seem to be a much -better case against John Solomon, except for the testimony of the -Arab--and at this the American paused. _What had the supercargo said -there at the door of the chart-house_? - -For a long moment Hammer stood staring out at the sea, startled by -this thought which had winged its way into his brain. Was it -possible that in that moment Solomon had given the Arab his cue? - -But why? He had not desired to testify against Jenson at first, -beyond doubt. Hammer's mind flashed back again--Jenson also had left -the chart-house shortly before Baumgardner's recognition of the blade. - -Was it possible that Jenson had instructed the boatswain what to say, -that Solomon had read his purpose and blocked the move by the counter -testimony of his Arab? - -"By Godfrey," thought the American, "that's expecting too much -altogether of Solomon's wits. Besides, Baumgardner doesn't look as -if he'd lie in order to save that little shrimp of a secretary. -Well, I guess it's up to the authorities at Mombasa, and here's -hoping they can find more sense in the whole affair than I can." - -With which he patted the side-pocket of his coat reassuringly and -devoted himself to keeping a sharper lookout than usual. - -The next morning Schlak was buried, and the _Daphne_ went once more -upon her way with the mystery still unsettled, until in due time she -rounded into Kilindini, the southern harbour of Mombasa, and her -anchors crashed down into the waters of the port. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE ADVENTURE BEGINS - -Now, it is not to be expected that when a man has been living for -three years among "stiffs" and "sunfish", with only occasional lapses -into decency, he can suddenly turn around and rank as a gentleman and -a scholar for ever after, with never a fall from grace. - -It would be very nice to chronicle such a miracle in the life of -Cyrus Hammer, and would, no doubt, afford great pleasure to the -average reader; but it would afford great disgust to the average -student of human nature, such as John Solomon. - -"Regeneration is all werry well," as that peculiar individual said, -"but it ain't to be 'ad with a 'op, skip, and jump, I says. 'Umans -is 'umans, and nature ain't to be denied, as the parson remarked when -'e smashed the constable in the eye. If so be as a man's a saint, -why, 'is place ain't 'ere on earth, says I." - -Accordingly, in the due course of events, Hammer and the rest were -entertained at the Mombasa Club, where Harcourt found numerous old -friends now "in the service". - -These, with the American Consul, were so cordial to Hammer that he -and Harcourt spent one glorious evening around a punch-bowl at the -club, and about midnight Hammer was lost in the shuffle. At 3 A.M. -he was located by a native policeman, who patiently extricated him -from the embraces of a half-caste Portuguese and two sailors from an -oiler in port. - -The extrication was a matter of time and trouble, Hammer vowing that -he was not being shanghaied and had no intention of being so; and -before the question was settled the half-caste had a broken head, two -constables were _hors de combat_, and half Mombasa was watching the -riot in unholy glee--for Hammer managed to hold the cathedral steps -against all comers until taken from behind. - -Undoubtedly, it was a highly disgraceful scene, and Hammer was duly -contrite when his fine had been paid and he was returned to the -yacht. Harcourt made no mention of the occurrence thereafter, and -the American savagely determined not only to stay away from the club -but to get out of Mombasa altogether. - -Wherefore it was not long until he was given charge of the -"impedimenta" belonging to Dr. Krausz, and found himself steaming up -the coast aboard the government packet _Juba_ with half a dozen of -the crew. - -Krausz himself had gone on to Melindi as soon as the investigation -into the death of Schlak was finished. And it was quickly finished, -for the authorities, after hearing the evidence, directed that the -finding of the _Daphne's_ log be confirmed, there being no direct -evidence against either Solomon or Jenson. - -Whereupon the former had at once drawn his pay and disappeared, and -the latter had gone to Melindi with his master in the yacht's launch. -Harcourt remained in charge of the yacht for the present. - -The trip up-coast was fairly uneventful, and at Melindi he found -Jenson waiting with the launch in which to take the men on. He -himself was given a native guide, and was forced to get the boxes -unshipped two miles from shore, swung into surf boats, landed, and -then loaded onto a gang of Kiswahili porters to be taken overland. -From the Kiswahili guide Hammer extracted the information that their -destination was two days' march north from Melindi, and, perforce, he -resigned himself to the situation, roundly cursing Jenson for leaving -him in the lurch. - -An English cotton-planter whom he met on the wharfs came to the -rescue, however, took charge of his boxes and porters, and set off -with him for the first few miles--for all of which Hammer was -intensely grateful. - -He was like a child in a strange house, at first; but by the time the -planter stopped off at his own place the American had got into the -swing of things. The planter sent him down a couple of boys for -personal attendants, and after Hammer had attended to one insolent -porter he had no further trouble whatever. - -They were headed for a small ruined fort, dating from the Portuguese -occupation, which lay sixteen miles up the coast from Melindi. Owing -to the difficulties of the march and the roundabout track they were -compelled to follow, it was not until the evening of the second day -that the guide declared the fort to be near at hand. - -It had formerly been built at the head of a small bay, but, owing to -changes in the conformation of the coast, the sea had left it a -half-mile away and the bay had vanished. - -As the little safari broke from a thicket of brush and trees Hammer -saw the ruins on a small eminence from which the trees had been -cleared. - -At one side were two large tents, with the smaller tents and brush -huts of the native workmen scattered down the hillside. There seemed -to be no one in sight, however, and Hammer sent the guide on to stir -up Dr. Krausz or his assistants. - -He was in an ill-humour, and made no secret of it. On that two days' -march he had been tortured by insects, irritated by his porters, and -plagued by the remembrance of what had occurred at Mombasa; he -decided that he thoroughly hated East Africa, and longed to be once -more out at sea on the bridge of the _Daphne_. - -"By Godfrey," he ejaculated, staring at the silent camp ahead, "when -I get out of this devilish country I'll stay out! The ocean is good -enough for me, and no mistake. I wonder what's happened to this -place, anyhow? Where are all those Dutchmen?" - -The guide had run ahead to the two large tents, where a few other -natives appeared, talking to him. Above, the cleared hilltop showed -long lines of ruined stone-walls three or four feet in height, -crowned by one or two spreading mimosa-trees which had evidently been -too large for removal. - -It was a naked-looking place, with the deep jungle behind and around -and running down toward the shore where the sunset gleam was striking -the ocean and the eastern skies to flame, and Hammer wondered where -water came from for camp use--a thought born of his late experiences. - -This was answered by the sight of two or three Kiswahili coming from -the ruins with kettles, and the American realized that the fort must -have been built around a spring or well. - -The porters slowly wound up the hill, singing happily enough, and -half a dozen natives crowded around the guide as he returned to meet -them. All were capering and dancing like children, but Hammer was in -no mood to handle them gently. - -"Well," he snapped, "where are the sahibs?" - -"They are not here, sar," returned the guide. "Here is one man from -them," and he pointed to a grinning fellow who stepped out boldly. - -"I am Potbelly, sar; very good mission-boy," he announced -complacently. "Missy Professor she say she not see you, not well in -the stomach. The Herr Doctor, he went off this morning, sar, with -all men hereabouts, in order to engage native help from nigger -village inside of the coast. He will be back very immediately, sar, -and Missy Professor say you take tent----" - -"You're blamed right, I'll take his tent," ejaculated Hammer angrily, -"and you see that these boys are attended to after the stuff is -piled--savvy?" - -Potbelly savvied and guided Hammer to one of the two large tents. -Here he found comparative comfort, his two personal boys making a -bath ready; but his reception was vexing in the extreme. - -The Missy Professor, of course, was Professor Sara L. Helmuth. She -probably had the other tent, with her own attendants, and of course -Krausz would never have gone off and left her alone unless she was -perfectly safe here. The doctor was losing no time, evidently, since -he was already off engaging workmen and getting things under way. - -The chop-box which the planter had sent with his boys had been used -up, and as there was no sign of eatables about the doctor's tent, -Hammer changed into some of the German's clothes and went forth to -investigate in a vile temper. - -His proficiency in Arabic, of a sort, had vastly increased since -leaving Melindi, and, finding that the natives were gathered about -the boxes which he had brought outside Professor Helmuth's tent, he -strode into the midst and demanded dinner. - -Now, whether it was that the American over-estimated the intelligence -of the Kiswahili and Arab half-castes, or whether the absence of -Potbelly in his mistress's tent left the other boys helpless, nothing -ensued save a violent jabbering, in which every native tried to talk -at once, the whole gradually rising to a shrill outburst of angry -shouts, and Hammer's temper gave way. - -Relying on the safety of his Arabic the American made himself heard -above the uproar, lashing about with a convenient bullock-whip hide -and pouring out a raging flood of invective and expletive. - -Before the face of his anger the Kiswahili melted away in terror, and -long ere his rage was exhausted he found himself standing alone, -glaring around vainly for someone on whom to finish his vocabulary. - -A moment later Potbelly appeared jauntily from Professor Helmuth's -tent, bearing a slip of paper. With a watchful eye on the whip he -handed it to Hammer and skipped out of reach, vanishing with a final -grin. The American opened the paper, and was dumbfounded. He read: - - - - DEAR SIR: - - I would thank you to remember that there is a lady within - hearing. If common decency will not restrain your language, I - shall be compelled to take other measures which will have that - effect. SARA L. HELMUTH. - - -"Good Lord!" gasped Hammer in dismay. "I never had any idea--why, -she must know Arabic! Oh, darn it all, anyway--I wish I was out of -this confounded place! Mixed up with blue-eyed fat men and -short-haired women and Dutchmen--good _night_!" - -The Kiswahili had vanished. Potbelly had vanished. Even the -daylight had almost vanished, and without a word Hammer flung down -the whip, tore the note into pieces and threw it to the breeze, then -turned to the tent of the "lady professor", as he mentally termed her. - -"Very sorry, Professor Helmuth." He raised his voice, but without -especial civility in his tone. "I apologize, of course. I didn't -know you understood Arabic. I'll trouble you no more." - -As no answer came he returned to the other tent, and in desperation -seated himself on a camp-stool. With his pipe alight, he faced the -fast-gathering shadows outside, and a few moments later was startled -by a wild outburst of yells. - -Knowing nothing of the country, when the yells grew closer and more -threatening the American leaped to the conclusion that the natives -were on the war-path, and he leaped up. - -Almost at his side stood a heavy, double-barrelled shotgun, and, -making sure that this was loaded, he stepped to the front of the tent -to investigate. No one seemed to be in sight, for darkness was -almost on the camp; but, seeing a light in the other tent, he walked -toward it with the idea of defending the lady professor. - -The place was an inferno, what with the shrill yells and occasional -shots; and from the noise, Hammer concluded that the camp must be -surrounded by hundreds of men. - -Suddenly a dark figure loomed up in the dusk a few feet away, and -instantly he brought up his weapon. - -"Hold on!" he shouted angrily. "Who the devil are you?" - -For answer he felt the barrel of the gun gripped and flung up, and -found himself looking into the wrong end of a revolver. Then---- - -"_Mein Gott_! It iss Mr. Hammer!" - -"Krausz--good Lord, I nearly plugged you. man! What's going on -here, an attack?" - -The other stared at him a moment, their faces close. Hammer was -quick to observe a startled suspicion in the Teuton's heavy features, -and the revolver did not go down. - -"What are you doing with that gun?" demanded Krausz threateningly. - -"Holding it," was the American's laconic response. Then, at a fresh -outburst of yells: "You aren't going to stand here and be murdered, I -hope?" - -"Murdered? _Hein_?" For an instant the other was puzzled, then his -teeth flashed in a sudden laugh as he understood. - -"Oh, you thought it wass an attack, yess? And so you got out the -gun--ho-ho! Come to my tent---- Pardon, me, but I must laugh, for -it iss but my home-coming, Mr. Hammer. Have you dined?" - -"I haven't anything. I'm stiff and sore and grouchy, and all I want -is to get out of this blasted country as quick as I can." - -The doctor laughed again, and they returned to the tent together. -Before Krausz had finished his bath the camp had undergone a -transformation in Hammer's eyes. Fires had been built, around which -masses of natives were grouped; there was a smell of roasting meat in -the air, and brush huts were being quickly put up by the dozen. - -Jenson received a sound berating for not having attended to Hammer's -wants in better fashion at Melindi, and by the time they sat down to -mess with the secretary and Baumgardner, the American was feeling -more like himself. - -Still, he reflected, if the country was as peaceable and quiet as the -scientist declared it to be, that revolver had flashed out with -marvellous promptitude. - -Professor Helmuth had been on the ground nearly two weeks, and had -made things ready generally against the doctor's arrival, with the -assistance of a few mission-boys. - -The Kiswahili, it seemed, had refused to leave their fields to work -for a woman, even at the urging of the district commissioner; but -Krausz had easily procured two hundred of them, who would dig -trenches and bring in food supplies for the whole camp. - -Now that he was here, he confidently predicted that things would go -forward with a rush; but whether it was the champagne, served -abundantly with dinner, or whether the remembrance of that flourished -revolver still stuck in Hammer's crop, he did not exactly like the -way in which the archaeologist referred to his assistant. - -He learned that the lady professor kept strictly to herself after -working hours, even to taking her meals apart; and this did not raise -her in the American's estimation. - -In her position, he considered, she should frankly accept such things -and not be so stuck on conventions. None the less, when he expressed -himself in such wise f Dr. Krausz took it as a huge joke and poked -Jenson familiarly in the ribs, upon which another bottle of champagne -was opened. - -Hammer, who had absorbed his full share in his bitterness of spirit, -suddenly felt out of humour with the Teutonic attitude of mind toward -women in general. Spectacles or no spectacles, if the lady hailed -from California then she ought to have more sense, and probably these -Germans had handled her coarsely. So he leaned over the table and -said as much with the innate earnestness of his convictions. - -"_Nein_," returned the doctor good-humouredly; "I am not German, but -Saxon, yess! So you think she wass not asked rightly, Mr. Hammer? -Perhaps if you asked her then she might come, no?" - -"By Godfrey, if she's American I'd take a gamble on it!" blurted out -Hammer, and wagged a long forefinger under the nose of Krausz. "I'll -bet you that I could get her over quick enough! I'll bet a million -dollars I could do it!" - -"So?" The archaeologist turned and leered heavily at the others. -"You hear, gentlemen? Then it iss a bet--a bet of one million -dollars, yess! The _fräulein_, she does not like to eat with you, -Jenson, _hein_!" - -Jenson babbled something, Baumgardner boomed out a stolid assent, and -Hammer had a sudden conviction that if he took another glass of -champagne he was going to be very very drunk indeed, whereupon he -removed his shoes and climbed inside the doctor's mosquito shelter. - -In the morning he realized that that extra glass would have been -entirely superfluous, to judge from his head. It was after nine, but -he had a tub and a cup of coffee and felt considerably improved, and, -finding from the boys that everyone was at work on the hill, he -donned his new sun-helmet and started for the ruins above. - -Each of the German sailors had charge of a gang of fifteen or twenty -natives, and trenches were being laid out between the lines of the -old walls, under the supervision of Krausz, who sat beneath a -grass-thatched shelter at a table with Jenson. The doctor greeted -him with a cordial grin, though for some reason--probably the -heat--the ribbon of muscle in his temple was throbbing noticeably. - -"And the _fräulein_--she will dine with us this evening?" - -"Huh?" - -Hammer stared, astonished, until the wager was brought slowly to his -recollection. Then he looked around in some dismay, but the lady -professor had not left her tent and the doctor failed to assign any -reason thereto. - -"Then I guess she won't leave for me," and Hammer ruefully related -the incident of the note he had received the evening before, at which -the doctor laughed uproariously, and even Jenson cracked a sly smile. -Krausz explained that Professor Helmuth was an expert in Semitic -languages, and also that the bet was off. - -"Your beastly champagne did it," said Hammer irritably. - -"But listen!" Earnestness swept into the doctor's heavy black eyes -and his hand went to the American's arm. "If you will do it, yess, I -will pay one hundred dollars----" - -"You'll--_what_?" Hammer stared at him a moment, then flung off the -hand as he turned away. "Been hitting up the booze again this -morning, have you? I'll thank you to get that launch ready for me to -get back to Melindi in. As for your she-professor, I'll have her -over to dine this evening just to show you what a blooming fool you -are, doctor. Then I'll start back in the launch after dark. I've -had enough of this place." - -How his remarks were received he did not see, for he strode downhill -without once looking back. But the scientist's offer to pay him for -getting Professor Helmuth to dine with them was both disgusting and -illuminating. - -It filled him with distaste for everything German--or Saxon--with -particular emphasis upon Krausz' ribbon of muscle; and it also made -him wonder why the she-professor was refusing to honour the general -mess with her company. Did she carry primness to such a limit? - -"I'll fix her," he said, and upon reaching his tent sent a boy for -Potbelly. When that individual appeared, Hammer gave him his name, -stated that he was an American, and said to tell Professor Helmuth -that he intended to call on her in ten minutes. - -Potbelly's grin vanished and he looked ugly instantly, whereat Hammer -took him by the shoulder and assisted him from the tent with a kick. - -He watched Potbelly disappear inside the other large tent, then sat -down and smoked his pipe. - -When the ten minutes were up he promptly knocked the ashes out of his -pipe, began to whistle and started for the other tent. - -Potbelly looked out, vanished again, and the next minute the -tent-flap was pushed aside and Hammer obtained his first view of -Professor Sara L. Helmuth--and he was undoubtedly the most astonished -man in the whole of British East Africa at that instant. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE LADY PROFESSOR - -The American's dreams of spectacles and blue _pagaris_ was swept -away, for standing facing him with expectant eyes was--a girl or a -woman, Hammer could not tell which. - -There was some mistake, of course; self-possessed, cool, deliberate -in word and look as she was, this slender, brown-haired, brown-eyed -girl could not be the austere mistress of Semitic tongues---- - -"I beg your pardon," he found himself stammering weakly. "I didn't -mean that message for you; I wanted to see Miss Helmuth, the -scientific person who doesn't like my Arabic cuss-words." - -A trace of red crept through her cheeks, but her eyes held his with -no response to the whimsical laugh of him. - -"I am Miss Helmuth," she said coldly enough, not moving that he might -enter the tent, and appraising him keenly as she spoke. - -Hammer stared at her in open disbelief, but not for long. Something -in the curve of the dark eyebrows and the set of the girlish mouth, -something in the poise of the small head, gave a hint of resolution -and firmness--and Hammer took the hint. - -"Ah," and he bowed with his fine smile, "I trust you will pardon my -surprise. I was looking for a spectacled, gaunt lady of uncertain -age, and never expected to find----" - -"I am not interested in your expectations, Mr. Hammer," her reply -came coldly. "What is your business with me?" - -Again Hammer was taken all aback and could not quite readjust himself. - -"Why--er----" It struck him that she would think that he was -attempting to flirt with her, and the thought sent him floundering -deeper. "You see, Miss--Professor, I mean--Professor Helmuth, I'm -first officer of the _Daphne_, and---- Oh, blame it all! Honest, -Miss Helmuth, get that look off your face or I'll run!" - -A flicker of amusement came into her brown eyes, then it passed, and -her look hardened strangely. Hammer could almost have imagined that -she had been crying not so very long ago. - -"Really, Mr. Hammer, I think that would be the best thing you could -do. I have no desire to have any dealings with you whatever. Kindly -state your business and go." - -"Well, that's flat enough, anyhow." Hammer's eyes flashed for a -second. "But I must say that such downright discourtesy doesn't go -with your looks, professor, though anything might be expected of this -outfit. - -"Still, as an American, you ought logically to be a little more human -and a little less priggish. If we were on Fifth Avenue I wouldn't -blame you, but here in Africa I should think you'd have more sense." - -She gazed at him, her eyes widening, as if this direct attack -startled and surprised her. Hammer was instantly contrite. - -"Well, I apologize again, professor. You certainly riled me up for a -minute, and I'm sorry I expressed myself so bluntly. I guess Krausz -wasn't to blame so much as I thought he was, if you handled him like -that. You see, I came over to ask you if you wouldn't show up at----" - -"So you dare to carry out that bet made in a drinking bout with that -man Krausz and his associates?" Poor Hammer's jaw dropped as she -straightened up, anger in every feature, and fairly flung the words -at him. - -"Haven't I been put to enough shame without having my name bandied -about over the wine and cigars? For a moment you nearly deluded me -into thinking you a man of another kind, Mr. Hammer." - -"Eh? Say, professor, I don't think I'm wise to all this business by -a long shot! Look here---- No, don't fire up yet for a minute---- -Tell me how you knew about that affair? It's true, of course----" - -There was scorn in her eyes as the American stopped, embarrassed. - -"If you want to know, I heard of it through one of my boys, who got -it from your own boys. Now, Mr. Hammer, you know the penalty -attached to entering this tent. If you dare to attempt it, either -you or your associates, I shall carry out my threat to the letter. -You may carry back that report. Good day." - -With that she turned inside, but before she could lower the flap -Hammer sprang forward. His mind was in a swirl, and he only realized -the one great fact that this woman had a very wrong idea of him and -of his intentions. Catching the flap from the outside, he paused as -she whirled on him indignantly. - -"Just a minute, Miss Helmuth! Look here! I'm not an associate of -Dr. Krausz, in the first place, and in the next I don't intend to -carry back any report. But I do want to square myself with you, -honest, and I think you might give me a chance." - -He found himself, for the second time within twenty-four hours, -looking squarely into the muzzle of a revolver which she had plucked -from the table behind her. - -"You step inside this tent, Mr. Hammer, and I fire." - -"But, confound it!" he cried, astounded, "I haven't done----" - -"Let go that flap and get out of here!" - -Helplessly, Hammer stared into her brown eyes and read determination -there. He made one more attempt, however. - -"Please listen to reason, professor! I'm not trying to put anything -over on you; all I want is to get out of this accursed place and to -make you look at the thing straight before I go. I didn't know I'd -got in so bad----" - -"Let go that flap or I'll have my boys force you out of here bodily!" - -The brown eyes were blazing with fury, but Hammer thought that never -had he seen a woman look so beautiful, so capable of taking care of -herself, so thoroughly efficient. - -Realizing that she was in no mood to be argued with, however, he -obeyed her command; and as he turned on his heel a single word broke -from him with uncontrolled emphasis: - -"Damn!" - -The grinning face of Potbelly peered at him from a corner of the -tent, and he strode back to the other canvas with his ears burning. -It would have been a bad moment for any who had interfered with him -just then, and perhaps the cunning Kiswahili recognized the fact, for -they kept well out of his way. - -The humiliation of the interview was maddening to him; and when he -called the boys who had been loaned him by the planter and found that -they had slipped home early that morning, he was in savage humour. - -For a moment he determined to return to the tent of Professor Helmuth -and dare her to carry out her threat, but second thought decided him -against it. - -She had been in earnest beyond any doubt--but why? From the very -face of her, she had too much good hard sense to be the prig Krausz -had painted her; and why should she be willing to carry out so -desperate a threat? - -At this he recalled her words: "You know the penalty attached to -entering this tent." Why had this girl set such a penalty? That she -had done so, publicly, was evident from her words, nor did she bear -Dr. Sigurd Krausz any great love; yet she was his assistant; she had -come out from Dresden in charge of the preliminary work; she must -have known him well before she started; and, above all, Krausz was an -eminent man in his line of work. - -Yet Hammer knew only too well how a man, once away from his natural -environment, may do things he never would have dreamed of doing -otherwise. Could it be that Dr. Krausz, or others of the party, had -insulted the girl? - -"By Godfrey! That name Sara isn't so bad after all, come to think of -it," and Hammer rose, frowning. "I guess I'll go up and see that -chap. If he's been cutting any didoes around here I'll show him a -few things. I wish Harcourt was here; I'm blessed if I know what to -make of it all!" - -He passed the she-professor's tent and strode up the hill; for if -there was to be trouble with the doctor, he wanted to have it over -with at once. - -And as he went he patted the side-pocket of his coat, where his -old-style revolver still reposed; he remembered the way Krausz had -whipped out his weapon the evening before, and the thought was hardly -reassuring. - -He found the doctor as he had left him, and under the direction of -the Germans the natives were beginning to make the dirt fly. Krausz -looked up, his heavy eyes narrowing slightly at sight of the -American's face; then he smiled cordially. - -"Well, Mr. Hammer? And how did you find the _fräulein_!" - -"A darned sight worse than I expected," returned Hammer frankly. -"See here, doctor: I'd like to know why she won't let a man enter her -tent under pain of firing at him, and why she's holding a grudge -against you?" - -The ribbon of muscle began to beat under the skin of the other's -brow, though Krausz's expression never changed. Jenson apparently, -paid no attention. - -"Pouf!" The big Saxon spread his hands with a Continental shrug. -"My dear fellow, it iss her fancy. What can you expect? She hass -never been here in Africa before, and she iss nervous. Ass to -dissliking me, why should she? Wass I not her father's friend before -he died?" - -"How the devil do I know? It's a cinch she hasn't any love for you, -doctor; and I'd like to know why that girl has to barricade herself -in her tent, that's all. What's more, she isn't the sort to be -nervous." - -Hammer looked down at the other, hands on his hips, his brown face -determined. He realized that he was beginning to dislike the sight -hissing accent of his employer, no less than that curious muscle in -the forehead, and the aggressive note in his voice was thinly veiled. - -Krausz seemed surprised at the change in his first officer, and once -more his eyes narrowed; but this time they were menacing--so menacing -that Hammer felt uneasy. - -"Are you her guardian, Mr. Hammer?" - -"No; but I'm an American, and I used to be a gentleman." - -"Then you will please not interfere in a family affair, my friend. I -am her guardian, the executor of her father's estate----" - -"Now, see here, doctor. I'm not hunting trouble, understand; but I'm -fairly competent to handle any that comes my way. To know Semitic -languages and be curator in a big Dresden library takes time and -work; besides, I can tell from that girl's face that she's of age. -You're not her guardian any more than I am, if you want it straight." - -"My dear sir, you missunderstand! Yess, she iss twenty-three years -of age, but I wass her guardian, ass she will tell you. I wass her -father's best friend, and in my arms he died, yess. It wass I who -got her that library position. Ah, come!" Krausz rose quickly and -patted Hammer on the shoulder, smilingly. "You and I, we are too big -men, yess, to be losing good humour over a little girl! _Lieber -Gott_! Iss she not to me like a daughter, no? Come down to -luncheon, my friend, and over a bottle will we forget all thiss----" - -"No more bottles, I guess," said Hammer decidedly. None the less, -the scientist's words had their effect. "However, I don't want to -butt in, doctor, and I'm sorry I made a mistake. I go back to-night, -I suppose?" - -"Yess; Baumgardner shall take you in the launch." - -So the matter was closed. The American still felt a trifle uneasy; -but Dr. Krausz' words had placed the affair in a new light before -him, and he forced himself to the belief that he had interfered in -some petty quarrel where he had no concern. Krausz had succeeded in -spiking his guns. - -With Jenson and Baumgardner, they sat down to a very enjoyable lunch -in the doctor's tent; for Krausz seemed to have brought no end of -chop-boxes from Mombasa, and the natives had fetched in plenty of -fruit, vegetables, and fresh meat. - -Even Jenson seemed to attain some semblance of life, almost growing -enthusiastic over the work that had been begun; and the American -found Krausz cordial and entertaining as he had rarely been before. -He had an unfailing supply of his long black panatelas; and while all -four of them were sitting smoking and chatting over their coffee, -there came a sudden interruption. - -"_Hodi_!" - -All turned. There, standing unconcernedly in the doorway, was a -native streaked with sweat, his eyes roving from face to face, a -heavy fold of skin hanging in the slit lobe of one ear. Several of -the camp-boys stood behind him uncertainly. Once more he repeated -the Kiswahili greeting. - -"_Hodi_!" - -"_Karibu_," grunted Krausz; and then in English: "Who are you? What -is it?" - -"_Bwana_ Hammer?" came the laconic query. - -"That's me!" exclaimed the American. "What do you want?" - -The Kiswahili looked him over for a second, then nodded as if to -himself and drew the skin from his ear-lobe. From it he took a small -packet and handed it to the American, after which, not deigning to -say another word, he turned and stalked away. - -"Well, that's a funny proposition!" exclaimed Hammer, staring at the -heavy little object in his hand. The others said nothing, but Krausz -smoked furiously as he watched. Out of sheer decency Hammer felt -that he mast open the thing before them, and proceeded to do so, -wondering greatly what it was and why the bearer had not been more -loquacious. - -Unwrapping a heavy fold of tissue-paper, he caught a little silver -ring that leaped out into his hand. It was a cheap thing enough, and -he remembered having seen just such things sold to tourists at Port -Said, with "Arabic initials engraved while you wait." - -Sure enough, looking closer at it, he perceived a thin tracery on the -signet side; but his slight knowledge of Arabic did not extend to -reading the language, and he passed it over to the doctor with a -surprised laugh. - -"Can you read Arabic, doctor?" - -"_Nein_. Wass there no writing?" - -"Not a scrap," said Hammer. "Let's get that boy back here." - -The messenger was sent for, but he proved to have left camp without -waiting to so much as be fed--a thing unusual, to provoke comment -from the other natives. - -"Well"--and Dr. Krausz shrugged his shoulders as he rose--"there iss -some misstake, or the letter hass been lost. It iss but a trifle. -We must get back to work, my friends, for the afternoon iss getting -on." - -The others rose with a sigh, and they went off together, Hammer -stretching out luxuriously on a cot and wondering afresh where this -mysterious little ring could have come from, and what the engraving -meant. It was irritating, from its very littleness, while the -strange conduct of the messenger refused to be explained away. - -If the thing had come from Harcourt it would have had some word with -it. In any case, what reason would Harcourt have for sending such a -thing? - -It had probably come from Melindi, however, and Hammer had not the -faintest idea of who could have sent it from there. - -The odd part of it was that the worth of the ring itself must be far -below the cost of the messenger's services, nor was there any -apparent reason for the ending of it. - -"By Godfrey," thought Hammer suddenly, "I'll send it over to Miss -Helmuth!" - -Clapping his hands, he sent a boy for Potbelly. Since the Lady -Professor was an adept at Arabic to the extent of understanding -certain expressions which would hardly bear adequate translation, -Hammer saw no reason why she could not decipher the engraving for him. - -After he had sent the boy he hesitated, remembering the humiliation -he had already passed through; but a moment later Potbelly appeared -at the entrance of the tent. - -"Come here," said Hammer curtly, holding out the ring. "You see -this? Take it to Professor Helmuth. Ask her to tell what this -means---- Why, what the devil's the matter with you?" - -Potbelly's grin had faded suddenly; rather, it had been frozen into a -ghastly semblance of mirth, and he looked from the ring to Hammer -with absolute terror. - -"You savvy him, _Bwana_?" he whimpered. "You savvy _Bwana_ John?" - -"What Master John?" repeated the American suspiciously, then grinned. -"John Jones or John Solomon?" - -To his intense amazement, Potbelly merely whimpered again, then -turned, speaking over his shoulder as he went through the door. - -"You come, _Bwana_. I think mebbeso Missy Professor she see you." - -"Well, I'll be darned!" murmured Hammer, and followed like a man in a -dream. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING - -The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly. -The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after -a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror. What -was there about that ring to create such an impression? Certainly it -looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything -unduly curious about it. - -From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he -waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost. -Then came a softer, deeper voice, which he recognized as that of the -lady in question. He grinned to himself as he remembered her cool -determination of that morning. - -"I guess Potbelly's having his troubles about now," he thought. "By -Godfrey, I'll have to get to the bottom of this mystery some way! -And the only way to do it, I guess, is to have a frank explanation -with Professor Sara L. Helmuth--bless her brown eyes! I wonder why I -never liked that name Sara before now!" - -Hammer was still cogitating this all-important point when he saw -Potbelly's black visage appear from the tent-flap, and the boy -beckoned hastily. The American, holding the ring in his hand, -stepped to the tent door. - -Sara L. Helmuth, professor and mistress of Semitic languages, was -sitting at the table inside, a revolver ready to her hand. - -Simply and coolly dressed in white, with her rippling brown hair -coiled loosely on her head, she offered an extremely attractive -picture to Cyrus Hammer, is spite of the circles of weariness and -trouble about her eyes. - -He had always felt a weakness for women who were self-reliant without -becoming, as he had phrased it, "short-haired", and that she was such -a woman had been evident from the first. Moreover, the doctor had -said that she was just twenty-three. - -She did not rise, but stood looking at him for a moment, and Hammer -felt that to her the situation was, for some reason, very grave. -Instinctively he sympathized with her, and under the thought his face -lost its harder outlines, though it retained to the full all its -rugged, healthy strength. Then she waved her hand toward a -camp-stool just inside the door. - -"Sit down, Mr. Hammer. Make sure the boys are watching, Potbelly." - -The mission-boy disappeared. Hammer felt unaccountably at a loss, as -though all his assurance were ebbing away beneath her steady gaze, -and waited for her to speak. - -"Potbelly tells me, Mr. Hammer, that you have come from Mr. Solomon. -If that was true, why did you not speak of it this morning?" - -"Eh?" he stammered, utterly bewildered. "Mr. Solomon? You mean John -Solomon?" - -"Who else would I mean?" - -"Why--Miss Helmuth, I--you can search me! I haven't come from John -Solomon, not that I know of. What's got into that fellow of yours, -anyway? Now please don't look like that"--for she had suddenly -stiffened in her chair, her eyes cold--"but I can't make head or tale -of this thing, professor. That's straight! - -"I didn't tell Potbelly that I wanted to see you, and I didn't send -him to you with that message. I wanted him to ask you if you could -read the seal engraving on this ring, for it looks like Arabic. He -jumped off on his own hook and told me to come along." - -There was unbelief in the brown eyes that gazed searchingly into his, -but the American's whole attitude betrayed the sincerity behind his -words. Slowly the girl relaxed in her chair, and held out her hand. - -"Let me see the ring." - -He gave it to her in silence. She bent over it a moment, then rose -with lithe grace and took an enlarging glass from an open suitcase -near by. - -She stood by the light of the open flap, scrutinising it closely, -while Hammer's eyes wandered over her slender figure and jerked back -quickly to her face, almost guiltily: for Cyrus Hammer was like most -highly-strung, clean, hard-living men in that he idealized women in -general, and his own women friends in particular. - -That, indeed, had contributed largely to his utter demoralization -after the disillusion that had come upon him three years before. - -"Where did you get this ring, Mr. Hammer?" - -He started, for his thoughts had been far away. She returned to her -seat, having seemingly lost her fear for a moment, and he told her -how the ring had been brought to him an hour before, and how the -messenger had straightway departed without a word of explanation. -While he spoke her eyes searched his face keenly, and at the end she -nodded. - -"I suppose your story is true, Mr. Hammer; though it sounds rather -odd, I must admit that there is truth in your face. That is exactly -what I cannot understand." - -"You can't? Why not, please? You must have a pretty bad opinion of -people!" - -"Well, perhaps I have some reason for it, Mr. Hammer. But--well, no -matter. Where is Mr. Solomon? Have you seen him?" - -"Not since he left the yacht," and Hammer told what he knew of John -Solomon. It occurred to him that this was a chance to heal the -breach, and accordingly he dilated upon Dr. Sigurd Krausz as a -side-issue, putting in as good a word for the scientist as he could. -He did not see that suspicion was darkening in the girl's brown eyes -as he proceeded, nor did he note that her hand had closed once more -upon the revolver, until she held out the ring and interrupted -bluntly. - -"That is enough, thank you. This ring, as you probably know, bears -the Arabic name of Suleiman, or Solomon. There is no use saying any -more in favour of Dr. Krausz, Mr. Hammer. Your story is rather -improbable, to say the least." - -"Why, what do you mean?" He was once more startled by her sudden -change of front, comprehending that she had resumed her hostile -attitude. "I wish you would tell me if I can be of any help to you, -Miss Helmuth! I put it up to the doctor flat, and he told me to keep -out of a family row, but----" - -"Now, listen, please," she broke in again, her voice cold--almost -desperate, he thought vaguely. - -"Your story is not convincing, Mr. Hammer, and I am frankly afraid -that you think me a good deal of a simpleton. That ring may have -come from John Solomon and it may not, but under the circumstances I -prefer to take no chances. - -"I never met Mr. Solomon, and I never met you; I am practically -helpless here, except for my four mission boys, and while you and the -doctor may pull the wool over their eyes, I intend to take care of -myself. - -"When you can produce Mr. Solomon to vouch for you, then things will -be different. Until then, I must decline to have any further -communication with you." - -Poor Hammer stared at her, wondering which of them was crazy. A -moment before she had seemed perfectly amenable to reason, but his -references to Krausz seemed to have flicked her on the raw and turned -her against him again. - -"But, Miss Helmuth, can't you see that I am trying to help you? Good -Heavens, girl, I'm not any great friend of the doctor! Things here -look pretty badly for me, and I'm only anxious to help you if I can. -Why are you helpless here? I can't very well go after Krausz with a -shotgun without knowing why!" - -"I think you know why, Mr. Hammer, and I don't believe there is any -use in discussing the matter further. There is only one man I can -trust, and if you have been telling the truth I will be glad to -apologize. - -"But you are either a great fool or you are very ignorant of -conditions, and if you came from Mr. Solomon I do not think you would -be in either category. - -"I can only conclude that you are, as you yourself admitted, in the -pay of Dr. Krausz. If Mr. Solomon comes, as I have prayed he will -come then he may be able to vouch for you. If not--well, I shall not -give up without a fight, that's all." - -She rose in dismissal, but Hammer refused to budge. - -"Give up what, Miss Helmuth? I'm sorry you don't believe me, but I -don't know what the row is about." - -The brown eyes gazed at him steadily, almost contemptuously. - -"How did Dr. Krausz know that I had appealed to Mr. Solomon for aid?" - -"He didn't, that I know of," retorted the American, losing patience. -"What on earth is all this talk about that little fat man, anyway? -You say you've never met him, then you say that he's the only man you -can trust and to bring him along to vouch for me. If I do, who's -going to vouch for him, I'd like to know?" - -Her eyes dilated slowly, and Hammer was under the impression that his -words had had some effect. He was soon undeceived, however. - -"Oh, is he a little fat man with big blue eyes?" and there was -amazement in her voice. - -"He is," returned Hammer ungraciously. "Also, he's in the employ of -Dr. Krausz as supercargo--same as me, if you please. Also, I think -he's the biggest liar unhung. I can't quite see the connection -between you and him, professor." - -"Then--he was the man who came on the _Mombasa_----" she began as if -speaking to herself, stopping abruptly and gazing at Hammer as if he -had surprised her into revealing some secret. He paid slight -attention to her words, for he was trying to find the clue which so -persistently eluded his efforts. - -Certainly his own statements were a good deal more lucid than hers, -and were not so conflicting by half. Yet she seemed to think that he -and Krausz were leagued against her in some way and that the ring was -some kind of a trick. - -She claimed never to have met Solomon, yet described him and seemed -to trust him implicitly! Small wonder that the American groaned to -himself in despair. - -Sara Helmuth was still standing, however, and now she looked down at -him with angry eyes; but Hammer thought that seldom had he seen so -magnificent a girl even though her mind might be a trifle unbalanced. - -"You seem to be insensible to my invitation to depart, Mr. Hammer," -and there was cold rage in her voice; "and since you have been clever -enough to worm most of the secret out of me, I'll tell you the rest -in order to get rid of you. - -"Mr. Solomon came aboard the _Mombasa_ at London, stating that he was -a messenger from John Solomon and proving it quite efficiently. -Naturally I did not recognize him, but I turned over to him the -papers, and received them in duplicate when I reached Mombasa from -the hands of Potbelly. - -"They must have been cabled out, but in any case Potbelly has shown -himself worthy of trust, except in this one instance of your -fraudulent ring. That is all I know, and you can take it back to -your master and share the knowledge with him. Now will you go?" - -Hammer began to see light for the first time since the conversation -began. John Solomon's hurried trip aboard the _Mombasa_ was -explained, it seemed; also the conflicting statements of Miss Helmuth -began to straighten themselves out. - -And yet the thing sounded so incredible! John Solomon, a fat little -cockney supercargo, in league with this girl he had only seen once---- - -"I'll go," he said helplessly, "but I'm going to have this thing out -with Krausz and see what screw is loose, Miss Helmuth. I still can't -understand your connection with that little rat Solomon--but I'll go." - -So he went, without a word more from her, back to the other tent, -where he filled his pipe and tried to get the affair into more lucid -shape within his own mind. The effort was vain, however. - -The one thing that stood out above all others was that Potbelly's -recognition of the ring had been in vain, that Sara Helmuth had -absolutely no confidence in it, and had a very lively suspicion that -he and Krausz were attempting to trick her. - -But what about? It was no longer a question of this woman being a -prig--Hammer saw deeper than that, at least. There was something -underlying it all that vitally affected her. - -This much he knew: Krausz had sent her certain papers in a black -wallet from the hotel in London, and she had given those papers to -Solomon five minutes later, doubtless without reading them. Then -Solomon had lied to him about the black wallet, and he had done it -artistically, too. The American began to consider Solomon seriously. - -"I'll bet a dollar I was right about Schlak's murder," he thought -suddenly. "John Solomon put that Arab up to testifying as he did, -and whether Jenson worked the same game with Baumgardner--say, I'll -run a bluff on that big Dutchman!" - -As the idea occurred to him he looked up and saw Baumgardner himself -approaching the tent, evidently having been sent for something by the -scientist. - -Hammer laid down his pipe and waited until the other came up to the -entrance, when he quickly brought out his revolver and covered the -surprised German. - -"Sit down, Baumgardner," and he made his voice as cold and menacing -as possible. "I've a word to say to you, my man." - -Anger flitted over the other's heavy countenance, but Hammer was in -no mood to be trifled with and showed it plainly. The boatswain sat -down. - -"Now bear in mind that you're under my authority, bos'n, and not -under that of the doctor. No, shut your head! I've got you to -rights, Baumgardner. Thought you were pretty smooth, didn't you, -when you pulled off that play aboard the yacht? But I'm on to you, -and you go back before the German Consul, you and Jenson, and before -the British authorities. - -"I'm going to open up the case of Schlak's death with a vengeance, -and you'll get about two years breaking stone on the Mombasa roads -for perjury, you and Jenson. How does that strike you, my man?" - -It struck, plain enough, and struck heavily. Baumgardner, who was a -big, black-haired type like the doctor, stared at first in blank -amazement, but when Hammer finished, his jaw had dropped and dismay -sat in his eyes. The American, at heart terribly doubtful as to the -outcome of his bluff, pressed the advantage instantly. - -"Now, look here, Baumgardner. You're a good seaman, and I'd sooner -put Jenson over the road than you. Besides, Mr. Solomon and his Arab -friend are going the same way, so there'll be company, and to spare. -Now tell me exactly what Jenson said to you outside the chart-house -that night." - -Baumgardner, whose heavy wits failed to come up to the scratch, -blinked. - -"Why, Mr. Hammer," he responded humbly, "he just fixed up the story -with me, that was all, and said he'd stand by me. How did you know -about it, sir?" - -"None of your business," snapped Hammer, unutterably relieved. "So -it was a frame-up, eh? And Solomon never had the knife to your -knowledge?" - -"No, sir. It belonged to Mr. Schlak." - -"Good Lord! Is that so?" - -"Yes, sir. The sheath was hanging on his wall, but Mr. Jenson said -to say nothing about it. The hands didn't know because they'd never -been in his cabin and he generally carried another." - -"Then we'll land Solomon--but why did he admit having had it?" - -The other only stared dully at him, his face pale. The American had -almost forgotten about Sara Helmuth in the light of this amazing -revelation which his bluff had forced out of a clear sky. - -He thought swiftly. Solomon must have admitted having had the knife -in order to give better colour to the Arab's testimony, and the -cleverness of it appalled Hammer, who had scarcely expected such -astuteness from the fat supercargo. - -Now, however, he determined to carry out the affair to the limit. He -would take Baumgardner and Jenson back to Mombasa, get hold of -Solomon and the Arab, which could easily be done, and set the whole -group breaking stone with the possible exception of the boatswain, -who had been a mere tool in Jenson's hands. - -Moreover, the pallid-faced secretary was turning out to be a -dangerous character. The American's dislike of him was being well -verified, and he would have to keep a good watch on the viperish -little black-clad man on the trip to Melindi, where the district -commissioner could take him in charge. - -But while he was turning the matter over in his mind, Baumgardner, -perhaps suspecting that the American had bluffed the truth out of -him, was regaining his lost self-control, and now spoke out with -startling boldness. - -"You'll have to see Dr. Krausz, Mr. Hammer, before taking us back. -I'm working for him----" - -"You shut your head!" Hammer shoved the revolver back into his -pocket, for he much preferred to use his fists, and his face, -dangerously alight, shot forward almost into the German's. - -"Don't give me any of your lip or I'll show you who you're working -for, you pie-faced Dutchman! Now stay where you are while I fetch -Jenson, and we'll be off for Melindi in ten minutes. You leave this -affair to me and I'll pull you out of it; but start any monkey-work -and I'll make it hot for you. Don't forget that." - -Baumgardner was thoroughly subdued and showed no sign of giving -further trouble. So Hammer, determining to get off in the launch -before the afternoon grew old, called one of the boys who was in -sight. - -"You talk English? Good. Break out two chop-boxes and put them -aboard the launch--where is she, Baumgardner?" - -"Anchored a quarter-mile off shore, sir. The boat's on the beach. -It's too shallow to run her in closer, sir." - -"Very good. Boy, what's your name?" - -"Mohammed Bari, sar." - -"Then get a couple of boys down to the boat with the boxes and stay -here. Be ready to lead me down there. That's all. How far is the -shore from here, bos'n?" - -"Straight down, sir, about three hundred yards. But we come by a -path, sir, which goes down to the boat. It's a matter of a -half-mile." - -"All right. You stay where you are." - -So, having no more fears that the boatswain would prove -insubordinate, Hammer rummaged around in the effects of Dr. Krausz -until he found a length of very serviceable wire-twisted cord which -would make a good substitute for handcuffs. He was going to take no -chances with Adolf Jenson. A moment later he started for the hill. -With one of the sailors to accompany them and fetch back the launch -from Melindi, he could take care of Jenson. He found Krausz and the -secretary at their table beneath the sun-shelter, and perhaps -something in his eye warned the latter, for Jenson started to his -feet as Hammer came up. - -"You're coming back to Mombasa with me, Jenson," said the American, -reaching forward and dragging the fellow out bodily by the collar. -"Stick out your hands, you little beast!" - -"_Was ist?_" The doctor's voice was very gentle, but Hammer felt a -little rim of steel touching his neck. "Let that man go please, -yess?" - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -IN THE OPEN - -Cyrus Hammer had never felt a revolver-muzzle against the back of his -neck before, and the touch was decidedly unpleasant. It sent a -peculiar cold chill quivering down the length of his spine, and there -was an odd note in the doctor's voice which sent the same kind of a -chill through his brain. - -In no sense was the American a coward, but he had seen enough of life -to have grasped an extremely difficult accomplishment--that of -knowing when a man is in cold earnest, from the mere tone of his -voice. - -Dr. Krausz was just at present in earnest, and therefore Hammer -loosened his grip on Jenson and tossed his length of cord on the -table; there had swiftly leaped into his mind a premonition that he -had overlooked the most difficult part of the proposition--by name, -Dr. Sigurd Krausz. - -"Now will you please explain, Mr. Hammer." - -So Hammer explained, and the manner of his explanation was not -calculated to soothe the doctor's feelings or those of Jenson, who -had shrunk back beside his protector. The American was angry, and -three years on cattle-boats give an angry man a vocabulary which is -little short of being extraordinary. - -When he made an end, Jenson, with his rat-like snarl, was clinging to -the scientist like a frightened child, while Krausz, his revolver put -aside, was looking at Hammer with an ominous glint in his black eyes. -Over his temple that peculiar strip of muscle was pounding furiously -with every throb of blood. - -"So, Baumgardner hass confessed, no?" The doctor's voice was fairly -athrill with hostility, though the words came calmly enough. "And on -the word of a drunken sailor you would deprive me of my helper when I -need him most?" - -Hammer flushed. "Your assistant is in her tent down there, doctor," -he said significantly. "And, by the way, I had a talk with her this -afternoon. No, I'm not doing this on the word of any drunken sailor, -doctor, but that fellow Jenson is going over the road, and you may as -well make up your mind to it. Either he or John Solomon knows who -killed Hans Schlak, and I'm going to find out." - -There was no mistaking the rage that flashed out into the heavy eyes, -but it was directed against Jenson, as if the name of the murdered -mate had aroused a slumbering ferocity within the big Saxon. - -"So!" he spoke slowly, looking down at Jenson with terrible quiet, -only that ribbon of muscle betraying his emotion. "So? And whoever -killed Hans Schlak, it wass he who took that paper from me when I -wass drunk, yess. I do know Adolf Jenson. I did not suspect that it -wass you or that it wass Mr. Solomon, but if it was you, Adolf, you -shall be very sorry, yess!" - -Until now poor Jenson had trembled in silence, but he looked up and -caught the full gaze of Krausz, and it was as if something in the -heavy powerful face had blasted the last remnants of courage within -him. He buried his face with a muffled scream. - -"I didn't! I lied because Mr. Hammer and Solomon were friends--they -both hated me--don't look at me like that, Herr Doctor! Before God, -I didn't take the paper!" - -It struck Hammer as odd that the taking of that paper seemed more -important to Jenson than the murder of Schlak. However, he had to -ascertain what the attitude of the archaeologist was to be. - -"See here, doctor, I want to do the square thing, but you can't stand -up for this man. He's perjured himself in court and he's got to -explain it. Of course, I can't scrap you and your men--for these -Germans will stand by you--but what I can and will do is to go back -to Melindi and send the district commissioner up here for Jenson. If -you persist in sticking up for him you'll get into hot water, that's -all." - -Krausz looked at him calmly. - -"Do not get excited, Mr. Hammer! I am not sticking up for anyone; -but Adolf cannot go back to Mombasa, just yet. Later, perhaps----" - -Jenson pulled away from him suddenly, looking up with his viperish -snarl. - -"If you let them take me, Herr Doctor, I'll tell----" - -With brutal force the Saxon's hand struck down, caught Jenson square -in the mouth, and knocked him under the table, where he lay -whimpering. Hammer was startled at the change in the face of the -man; its glossed-over brutality was standing out in full relief, its -heavy eyes were filled with rage, its finely-chiselled mouth was -convulsed with untrammelled passion. - -"Pig! Dog! Be quiet!" bellowed the doctor threateningly, then -turned to the American. "As for you, Mr. Hammer, of what did you -talk with the _fräulein_?" - -"Eh? The professor? Why, we--say, I can't see where that's any of -your business, doctor. You'd better attend to the matter in hand and -quit using your fists on that poor devil. Now, speak up, for I don't -intend to hang around these diggings all afternoon. Are you going to -hand Jenson over to me, or not?" - -"My friend, I do not like your tone. Remember that I am your -employer, yess. When I ask you a question I expect it to answered -be." - -The two men glared at each other across the table, beneath which lay -the prostrate figure of Jenson. From behind them came an occasional -guttural exclamation from one of the seamen-overseers, and the ring -of pick or shovel on stone; if the scene beneath the grass-thatch was -observed, it passed unnoticed. - -And beyond was the jungle and forest, deep, silent, tropical; behind, -the tents and brush huts, the jungle again, and then the blue sea. - -It may have been that a breath of bracing salt air drifted in from -the sea at his back, but Hammer felt unaccountably stubborn on a -sudden. He closed his fists, and was aware of the silver ring -setting a bit tightly around his little finger. - -"I feel the same way about it, exactly," was his dry response, and -there was danger in his level grey eyes. "I asked you what you were -going to do about Jenson, doctor, and I'm waiting for my answer." - -He saw the burly hand tighten on the revolver, and the ribbon of -muscle deepened with the flush that swept across the face of Krausz -at his words; he saw the figure under the table change its position -slightly; he saw one of the German seamen painstakingly explain to a -group of natives how to handle their picks properly; but all the -while he was gazing steadily into the black eyes of the scientist, -waiting for the latter's decision. - -Then the affair was taken out of his hands. - -For, being trained thus to see many things while looking only at one -thing, the American caught a glint of something bright beneath the -table. - -With his nerves on edge as they were, he shied at the thing as a -horse shies at a newspaper, and well it was for him that he did so. - -Barely had he shifted his position when a splash of red ripped out in -the shadow of the table, something sang viciously an inch from his -ear and whined up through the grass thatch, and he realized that -Adolf Jenson had made answer for himself. - -Hammer never attempted to excuse what happened next, though he was -never very sorry over it. Comprehending in a flash that Jenson had -fired at him, and that Dr. Krausz stood waiting, revolver in hand, he -tackled the more dangerous opponent first, even without provocation. - -The scientist's face was dawning with surprise, for he had evidently -not been expecting Jenson's move, when Hammer's fist caught him -squarely in the chin. - -Hammer had no time to waste blows, and Krausz went down without a -word. Almost in the same movement the American jerked up the table -with his knee, exposing Jenson, and stamped hard on the wrist which -was pulling up the revolver once more. - -Jenson screamed once, and then again as Hammer's kick took him in the -stomach and doubled him up gasping. Already, however, Krausz was -struggling to his feet, and the American jumped for him, raging. - -Even in his anger he could not strike a man who was down, though he -had not hesitated to put the treacherous Jenson out of commission. -He caught the doctor's revolver hand in both his own, wrestled away -the weapon with a savage twist that brought a grunt from the Saxon, -then picked up the automatic dropped by Jenson and sprang back. - -The six seamen were coming on the double-quick, drawn by the shots -and Jenson's screams, and the American knew that he had his work cut -out for him. - -"Down with you, Krausz," he cried, his voice high. The doctor, -raising himself on one elbow, cursed, but obeyed, while Jenson -writhed in the dust and whimpered. Across their bodies Hammer -levelled the two revolvers and waited. - -"Well?" he said more calmly as three of the seamen came up together. -"You, Schmidt, and Klaus, pick up that rope there and tie Mr. -Jenson's hands behind his back. Behind his back, remember, and do it -so that I can see the knots. The rest of you stay where you are." - -Krausz raised his voice in a storm of furious curses, but the six -seamen were used to taking orders from Hammer, and after a look into -the two revolvers they obeyed him promptly if sullenly. - -"Stop that silly cursing, doctor," commanded the American, now sure -of himself. The cursing stopped, though the doctor's face was not a -pleasant sight, what with his fury and a trickle of blood from a cut -lip. - -By this time the two sailors had jerked Jenson to his feet and were -trying his hands as Hammer had directed, the other four men standing -back and staring from the doctor to the American in stupefied wonder. -Already, however, Hammer was making his plans as how to get away. - -If he took Jenson and Baumgardner and started for the beach the -doctor and his six men would be after him instantly. The natives did -not count; Hammer had learned enough from the doctor to know that -there was nothing to fear from these Kiswahili. Then there was -Baumgardner to be considered---- - -"You want help, sar?" - -Hammer glanced hurriedly over his shoulder at the gentle voice. -There, to his infinite amazement, he beheld the grinning features of -Potbelly; also the submission of Dr. Krausz was explained, since -Potbelly held him under the muzzle of his own shotgun, and appeared -to be enjoying himself immensely. - -The American remembered suddenly that he could not take to his heels -and leave Sara Helmuth in the lurch, though he had forgotten all -about her. And that he would be leaving her in the lurch he had no -doubt whatever. - -"Did Professor Helmuth send you up here?" he asked crisply. Potbelly -grinned. - -"No, sar. I hear _bang-bang_, take gun belonging to _Bwana Doctor_, -come quick." - -There seemed to be no doubt of his antagonism to the Saxon, so Hammer -accepted the fact without trying to explain it. - -"All right. You stay here. If the _Bwana_ Doctor or his men try to -follow me, shoot. Get that?" - -"_Jambo, Bwana_," came the assured answer. - -"Come over here, Jenson--move lively, you hound, or I'll come and -kick you over!" - -Hammer's grim voice fetched the cowering secretary, whose arms were -fast bound behind him. Throwing away the automatic, which he did not -understand, the American put the doctor's revolver into his vacant -coat-pocket and grabbed Jenson by the shoulder, accelerating his -progress as he turned. - -Beneath, he could see Mohammed Bari and Baumgardner standing, -watching, beside the tent. He was not ready for them, however, but -paused outside Professor Helmuth's canvas, drawing out one of his -revolvers in order to keep the boatswain safely lined up. - -"Miss Helmuth!" he called. "Get out here, quick!" - -A second later the tent-flap was pulled aside and he saw the girl -standing, her revolver in her hand. Her eyes widened in amazement at -sight of him standing over the figure of Jenson. - -"Get what necessities you must take, and do it in a hurry, please. -Potbelly's holding the doctor up there with the shotgun, and we'll -have to make tracks for the launch. Don't stop to argue, but for -Heaven's sake get a move on if you want to skip out of here!" - -He caught one muttered exclamation of something that sounded very -much like "Thank God!" and she vanished. It was curious, thought -Hammer, that while she had twice repulsed him that same day, with -varied degrees of suspicion, she now did as he commanded without a -word of protest. - -Perhaps Potbelly had something to do with it, or else the sight of -Jenson in bonds had influenced her to believe him sincere at last. - -He eyed Baumgardner grimly, and, deciding to make the big boatswain -of some use, ordered him to take charge of Jenson. - -"If he gets away, one of you will stop a bullet," he concluded. "You -go first and lead the way, Mohammed Bari." - -The Kiswahili grinned, nodding cheerfully and seeming in no wise -affected by the display of revolvers by these white men, to whose -vagaries he was accustomed. Looking up at the hill, the American -could see the tableau beneath the grass-thatch very clearly. - -Potbelly stood with the shotgun at his shoulder, covering Krausz, who -still lay on the ground, his heavy curses carrying down to the tents, -and behind him stood the six seamen in a bunch. - -"I guess that nigger's competent," chuckled Hammer to himself. -"Wonder what he knows about my friend John Solomon?" - -His wonder vanished before the necessity for action, as Professor -Helmuth appeared at the entrance to her tent, a small wicker suitcase -in her hand. Hammer took it as she reached his side, and motioned -her to fall in ahead of him. - -"Go ahead, Mohammed," he said. "You next, bos'n, with Jenson--no, -you go with Mohammed, professor; I want to keep an eye on these two -beauties. I guess Potbelly can take care of his own getaway." - -The girl made no protest, but joined the native, and all five left -the camp and the staring Kiswahili behind. A last backward glance -showed Hammer that Potbelly was slowly retreating down the hill, and -then the jungle had closed in about him and all behind was lost to -sight, with only the green tangle on every hand and the backs of -Baumgardner and Jenson in front, while through the shadow-haunted, -sun-creeping mass of foliage came to him occasional glints of the -white dress of Professor Helmuth. - -Cyrus Hammer felt quite pleased with himself for once. He had -bearded the lion in his den and had got clean off with the -bone--meaning Jenson. As to Sara Helmuth, that was another matter -and not one with which Hammer was not now greatly concerned. If she -had been in trouble, she was out of it, and enough said. - -But Jenson was going over the road, the American told himself grimly. -To tell the truth, he was angry, more because the pallid little -secretary had played with him than because he had committed perjury, -and he was now intent on reopening the case of Schlak. Either Jenson -or Solomon could tell who had killed the second mate, and why there -had been a double perjury afterward. - -As they tramped along, stumbling over vines and creepers, with the -jungle wall dark and impenetrable on either hand, Hammer caught the -two men ahead talking, and warned them against it with such savage -intensity in his voice that they obeyed. - -The American was perfectly well aware of the dangerous quality of the -secretary by this time, and was surprised that Dr. Krausz had stood -up for the man so boldly, even to defying the law. - -For that matter, Krausz was apt to prove extremely dangerous himself, -now that his open antagonism must have been aroused. - -Hammer chuckled at the delight which had been so evident in the face -of Potbelly. - -The fellow had the quality, rare in natives, of acting on his own -initiative, and the American hoped that he would get away in safety -from the German party. - -Undoubtedly he owed Potbelly's help to the little silver ring, -however--and that was a mark in John Solomon's favour. - -But had Solomon really sent him the ring, and why? It seemed a -senseless thing for a supercargo--ah! If Potbelly had recognized it, -what connection had he with John Solomon, and where was the link -between Solomon and Sara Helmuth? - -"It's too blamed deep for me," concluded Hammer, eyeing Baumgardner's -broad back and the narrow cringing shoulders of the secretary. "Best -thing I can do is to see Harcourt and soak this devil Jenson before -the doctor gets back to fire me--which same he won't get a chance to -do if I know it!" - -It had been his original plan to bring one of the German sailors who -could take back the launch from Melindi, for the convenience of Dr. -Krausz. This did not matter greatly to Hammer now, however, so he -concluded that when they reached Melindi they could find out about -the Protectorate despatch-boat _Juba_, the only ship which made the -place. - -If she was about due they could wait for her, and if not they could -easily run the sixty-five miles down to Mombasa--which, however, -would be longer by coast, for the launch was a small one, and Hammer -would not chance a squall very far from shore. - -After an excessively long fifteen minutes the American, who was -half-fearful of treachery on the part of Mohammed Bari, the guide, -saw the welcome gleam of water ahead, and they stepped out from the -trees to the sand, almost without warning, for the jungle ended as -suddenly as it began. - -Below them lay the surf-boat, with the two boys indolently lying -under the thwarts, and Mohammed Bari was already stirring them to -action with his foot and tongue. A white speck out beyond the lines -of heavy ground-swell surf showed the launch at anchor. - -Hammer marched his captive Jenson and his semicaptive Baumgardner -down to the boat without heeding Sara Helmuth, who was watching -anxiously. Dropping the suitcase to the sand, which was alive with -sand-fleas, he addressed the boatswain sternly. - -"Now, Baumgardner, if Jenson has been putting any treachery into your -head you forget it quick. Get up in the bow of that boat when she -goes out, and then get into the bow of the launch and take care of -Jenson. If his bonds are loosened or if you try any tricks, I'll -give you a bullet first, so mind that. All ready, Miss Helmuth?" - -She assented silently, and he helped her into the stern-sheets of the -boat, the boys waiting to run it out. Ordering the two to return -after they made the launch and Mohammed Bari to remain with him, he -sent the two Germans into the bow, then lent a hand at running out -the boat. - -A moment later he flung himself in over the stern, the dripping boys -took an oar each, and they headed through the slow swells of breaking -surf for the launch. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -HAMMER BEGINS TO SEE - -Not until reaching the launch did Jenson, who was almost beside -himself with terror, seem to realize that Dr. Krausz had been -powerless to save him from Hammer. - -As Baumgardner tried to put him over the side he broke away, and -flung himself face downward across the fore thwarts of the boat with -whimpering, inarticulate cries. - -The American caught Baumgardner's helpless gaze and ordered Mohammed -to hold the two craft together while he attended to Jenson. - -At this juncture, however, Sara Helmuth developed resources of her -own. Motioning to Hammer to hold on, she calmly took a revolver from -his coat-pocket, rose, and went forward. - -"Get into the launch, Baumgardner," she said coldly, and the man -obeyed. Jenson looked up at her, then fell to grovelling at her feet. - -"Don't shoot!" he shrieked, a mad agony of fear in his voice. "I'll -tell it all, _fräulein_--it was I who told the Herr Doctor about -the----" - -"Be silent!" she said scornfully, and his whimperings died away. -"Get into that launch unless you want to be thrown in." - -To the surprise of Hammer, the secretary clambered into the launch -without a word more, and she followed him. When the chop-boxes had -been put aboard and Mohammed Bari had followed them, Hammer went over -the side also and curtly ordered the two boys to row back to the -shore. - -"Do you understand this engine, Miss Helmuth?" he asked meekly. -Since this girl from California had shown herself adept at so many -other things, it was more than possible that she could take care of -the launch engine, so that he was not surprised when she nodded, -handed back the revolver, and stooped over the fly-wheel. - -An adjustment of oil and gasoline pins, and with the first crank the -engine went off into a steady splutter that rose to a roar beneath -her hand. - -Hammer made room for her in the stern-sheets and took the -tiller-ropes himself, for the launch steered from a wheel at the bow, -with another amidships, but he could easily steer by the ropes from -the stern. - -"Baumgardner, get up that anchor. Help him, Mohammed." - -The boat rocked as the little anchor was torn loose and then swung -away. By the time the boatswain had got the anchor in-board the -launch was standing down the coast: looking back, Hammer could see -nothing save jungle, over which the sun was lowering redly, for the -afternoon was hard upon its close. - -"Well, it's good-bye to the doctor and his ruins," he said cheerfully -to the girl at his side. To his amazement, he saw a mist in her -eyes; then she turned and looked at him, her hand extended. - -"I ask your pardon, Mr. Hammer." - -The touch of her cool hand thrilled him, but before he could speak -she went on, her voice low. - -"I am sorry that I misjudged you so terribly, but under the -circumstances I was unable to trust anyone. Then, when I heard the -shots and came came out to see you with Adolf tied up, I knew that -Potbelly had been right after all, and----" - -"And so you came," he finished gravely as she paused. "I do not -understand, Miss Helmuth, as I told you before, but I am just as glad -as you are to leave that place behind." - -"I'm--I'm not glad," she faltered, looking away from him, and he -could see that her eyelids were closing and unclosing rapidly, as if -to quench tears that welled forth. "It was my father's dream--I----" - -He leaned forward to throw off the motor, but she recognized his -intention and checked his hand swiftly. - -"No, no--you misunderstand, Mr. Hammer! Please, let me think a -moment! I'll try to tell you----" - -"No, please don't tell me anything that distresses you, Miss Helmuth. -I am very sorry that circumstances brought us together in the way -they did, but everything's coming all right now, so don't worry. -This boat isn't very fast, but we ought to pick up the Melindi light -an hour after dark at furthest." - -"What do you intend to do with Adolf Jenson, Mr. Hammer?" She turned -and faced him, and now her brown eyes seemed very determined once -more with the passing of her momentary weakness. - -So Hammer told her the story of how Hans Schlak had died unavenged, -and of necessity began at the beginning with John Solomon's arrival -at "Prince's" in search of a job. - -She listened with grave intentness, only smiling once, when he told -about that hurried trip to the departing _Mombasa_ at London, then -sitting and watching his face. Hammer himself could give but a -divided interest to the story, since he had to tell it and watch the -coast at the same time, until it occurred to him to order Baumgardner -to handle the yacht from the wheel forward. - -He also ordered Mohammed to break out the chop-boxes and dish up as -good a meal for all as their contents would afford. Then, leaning -back, he filled his pipe and finished his story. - -"Certainly, smoke all you want to," she smiled at his inquiring look. -"Have you always been a sailor, Mr. Hammer?" - -"Eh? Well, not exactly," he returned, flushing, and hesitated for a -bare second. "I've been working on cattle-boats for three years -past." - -"Well, isn't that being a sailor?" she laughed back. Hammer looked -sharply at her, and found that she meant the words. Evidently she -knew nothing of cattle-boats. - -"Not exactly, Miss Helmuth. It means that one associates with thugs -and the lowest sort of men, and in general stands for ostracism among -decent people." - -"Then why did you tell me that?" - -"Because you asked me." - -Hammer felt, indeed, as though she had drawn the truth from him -bodily, and the earnestness of his tone perhaps startled her, for she -looked out toward the east, where the after-glow was striking the -skies to crimson; and when finally she spoke it was with entire -abandonment of the subject, much to the American's relief. - -"Mr. Hammer, I wish I had trusted you in the first place. Do you -know, I do think that Mr. Solomon sent you that ring for the very -purpose of making me trust you? No, wait a minute, please! I -haven't anyone else to depend on, and if I told you my story I think -it would help me a great deal. You see, I've been rather wrought up -for the past few days--in fact, ever since Dr. Krausz arrived." - -Hammer nodded quietly. "I'll respect the confidence, of course, Miss -Helmuth. And if I can be of any assistance, you may command me." - -She seemed not to have heard the words, for she was gazing off toward -the darkening coastline, lost in thought. He watched her firm, -well-poised features for a moment while he lit his pipe, and as the -match hissed in the water alongside, she turned decisively to him. - -Hammer stopped her, telling Mohammed to get out the launch's lights -and set them in their sockets, then settled back and listened without -comment. - -"You'll pardon me for going into my own history, Mr. Hammer, but it's -necessary here. My father was an archaeologist connected with the -University of California, though he was usually afield, and as I -accompanied him ever since my mother's death, ten years ago, you can -see how I come to recognize your Arabic expressions yesterday." - -Hammer grinned to himself, for there was a suspicion of dry humour in -the girl's voice, and he knew that he was forgiven. - -"Last year my father and Dr. Krausz were together in Greece, while I -was preparing to take up work at Dresden Library. Mr. Hammer, what -happened on that trip has never been discovered. I received a very -hasty letter from my father, dated at Lisbon on his return to -Germany, and this was followed by the news of his death. Dr. Krausz -brought his body home, for we were living in Dresden, temporarily. - -"In his letter my father had merely said that he was not well but had -made a great discovery, and if anything happened to him I should -write to Mr. John Solomon, a friend of his at Port Said, to whom he -had already written in full. At the time I thought nothing of it, -though I believe that he had some presentiment of his death; nor did -I distrust Dr. Krausz when----" - -"Good gracious, girl!" snapped out Hammer, startled. "You don't mean -to say that Krausz was responsible for your----" - -"No, no! Wait, please!" She laid a hand on his arm, withdrawing it -instantly. "You see, father's death was a dreadful shock to me, and -then I had to straighten up all his affairs besides going on with my -work at the library. So I forgot all about father's discovery and -writing this Mr. Solomon. There was no mention of such a man in his -papers which Dr. Krausz turned over to me--after keeping some of -them, as I now know." - -"Then Krausz is not your guardian, as he told me?" broke in the -American. In response to the girl's surprised glance he told her of -the doctor's words. - -"No; that was all a lie, Mr. Hammer. Of course, I never suspected -that anything was wrong, for I used to see a good deal of him in -Dresden, where he stayed to work on a book. Well, about three months -ago he came to me offering me this position of assistant to him. I -was naturally quite flattered, for he is really a big man in the -world of science, Mr. Hammer, and of course I accepted. He told me -only that he had found out about this place, and, as usual, I waited -to be taken into his confidence when the time came. - -"Well, while I was clearing things up at home I found father's -letter, and it occurred to me that since I had to pass through Port -Said I might as well write to this Mr. Solomon and ask him about -father's discovery. I did so, and in return received a long cable -telling me to say nothing to Dr. Krausz, but to trust implicitly in -whoever showed me the letter I had written Mr. Solomon. - -"I waited for the messenger, but none came until that day in London -when the steamer was leaving. Then a fat little man with queer blue -eyes rushed up, showed me the letter, and demanded the papers which -the doctor had just sent me. Since the purser had directed him to me -and there was no time to waste, I obeyed, although the papers -contained directions as to what I was to do in the preliminary work. -Fortunately, he cabled me their contents at Mombasa." - -"The thing sounds incredible, Miss Helmuth," said Hammer, as she -paused, "but I rather think that there is more in it than we know. -Solomon certainly must be more than a mere supercargo--and say, he -sure handed Krausz a hot one!" - -Whereupon he told her about Solomon's mention of having worked for a -Professor Helmuth in Palestine. She smiled sadly. - -"I haven't finished yet, Mr. Hammer. It--oh! What's that? It's -just like a lighthouse!" - -Hammer turned to see a tiny dot of light against the coast to the -south-west, and nodded. - -"The Melindi light--stationary white light, Miss Helmuth. We're -miles away yet." - -"Well, I got here and got the work started after a fashion. I -thought it was awfully queer that Mr. Solomon had acted the way he -did, but father spoke very warmly of him in his last letter, and -father had some queer friends all over the world. Things went on -very well until Dr. Krausz and Jenson came the other day. The first -evening the doctor drank a good deal of champagne, and he said some -things that startled me, in connection with the expedition. - -"Then, the second day, I went to his tent while he was on the hill, -in order to get some quinine. As I passed his table I saw a sheet of -paper on the floor and stooped to pick it up; you can imagine the -shock it gave me to see my father's handwriting! Then I saw that it -was something about this place--Fort St. Thomas, it was called--and -the paper proved to be part of a transcription father had made from -some old document, telling about the things buried here. - -"That made me suspect Dr. Krausz of having stolen the papers from my -father. Perhaps you can guess, Mr. Hammer, that with archaeologists -especially, a 'find' such as this would be a terribly big thing; it -would mean not only money, but a great deal more. And with certain -scientists, just as with actors, it is almost a monomania to 'have a -big name'; besides, the passion for discovering such things gets a -tremendous hold on one, all by itself. - -"I was so angry that I went right up to the ruins and asked the -doctor about it. He had been drinking again, and instead of getting -angry he only laughed at me, telling me to prove it if I could--and -he frightened me, Mr. Hammer. I'm not very timid, but I think any -woman is afraid of a drunken man." - -Hammer winced imperceptibly. - -"I tried to get away with my boys, but he prevented me--not openly, -but so I understood that I could not go. Therefore I managed to get -one of my mission boys off with a note, but he was found and brought -back by a party of Kiswahili, and the only thing I could do was to -barricade myself in my tent." - -"Which you did very effectually," laughed Hammer. Inwardly, he was -cursing Dr. Krausz with all his soul. "Tell me, where did you get -that boy Potbelly? He seems to know a lot about Solomon." - -Potbelly, it appeared, had met her when she first landed, displaying -letters of recommendation from John Solomon and others, upon which -she had promptly engaged him. Since then he had proven invaluable to -her, though he had said nothing of Solomon until he rushed into her -tent that afternoon, saying that Hammer had come from that individual. - -In the American's mind there was no doubt that Krausz had been -carried away by the craze of his science, and he expressed himself -forcibly on the subject. It occurred to him, however, that -possession was nine points of the law, and they had no evidence on -which to prosecute Krausz for anything. On the other hand, if he set -to work to gather in John Solomon for the perjury committed on the -yacht and in court, he would be removing the girl's only mainstay. - -Solomon had clearly been playing a smooth game, for some undefined -purpose. Supposing that Professor Helmuth had really written him -from Lisbon, upon receiving the letter from Sara Helmuth telling of -Dr. Krausz's expedition and asking details of her father's discovery, -he might have leaped to the conclusion that Krausz was crooked. - -Then he had come to England for the purpose of finding this out? -That was the question troubling Hammer. It Solomon had joined the -yacht merely to play Sara Helmuth's hand for her, which seemed like -incredible chivalry in such a man, there would be a bad complication -if Solomon were arrested for perjury. - -In fact, that would be the best thing in the world for Dr. Krausz, -for whoever and whatever this Solomon was, he was certainly taking -care of everything in a remarkably shrewd manner. - -Potbelly had plainly been stationed at Mombasa to attach himself to -the girl and protect her. The mere use by Solomon of the cables in -so reckless a manner showed that the man must have money behind him. - -Sara Helmuth went on to say that all of Dr. Krausz's men had been -with him for years, from the giant Hans Schlak to Adolf Jenson. It -was clear to Hammer that Krausz had received as much of a shock as -had anyone upon Schlak's death, and he had afterward threatened -Jenson darkly, there and up on the hill. - -But if the fellow knew who had killed Schlak, why did he not tell--or -had he told the truth when he said that he had tried to fasten the -crime on Solomon because he was Hammer's friend? - -Suddenly the American remembered Jenson's cry, stopped by a brutal -blow from the doctor. "If you let them take me, Herr Doctor, I'll -tell--" what? The secretary had started to say the same thing as he -grovelled at Sara Helmuth's feet, and as he recalled this Hammer -sprang up. - -"Jenson! Come aft here, and move spry unless you want me to come -after you." - -The secretary, his hands still bound, had been stretched out on one -of the side-cushions near Baumgardner, and at Hammer's words he got -up and shambled aft. - -The American was growing less anxious with every moment to push the -investigation into Schlak's death; at any rate before he and Miss -Helmuth had had some kind of an explanation with John Solomon. Once -Jenson was turned over for perjury, Solomon, the Arab, and -Baumgardner would of necessity be gathered into the same net, while -the legal complications might be unending. And Cyrus Hammer had both -the sailor's and the broker's fear of lawyers. - -"Look here, my man," he addressed Jenson with curt asperity, the -pallid, almost corpse-like features of the man standing out in the -starlight clearly. Hammer noted absently that over the shoulder of -Jenson the Southern Cross hung low above the horizon's rim. - -"Miss Helmuth and I know some things, and we want to know more, -especially about your master's dealings with Professor Helmuth in -Lisbon. You know, and you can tell us. If you do, I promise you -that you'll not go up before the court for perjury, though we may -hold you for a few days aboard the yacht. If you refuse, then you'll -take your medicine for perjury and for your murderous attack on me. -Choose." - -Jenson chose, and quickly. He sank down in the bottom of the boat -awkwardly, because of his bound arms, and the terror in his face was -so great that the girl turned away from him, unable to watch longer. - -"I'll tell, Mr. Hammer, if--if you'll let me go." - -"I promise, Jenson," said Hammer quietly. "But mind you don't lie, -for we know enough to test the truth of your story." - -"I'll tell the truth, Mr. Hammer, so help me! Professor Helmuth was -sick, and we knew that he had found something big in one of the -libraries. I was nursing him, and when he got worse I went through -his papers one night, then took them to the Herr Doctor who kept them. - -"Professor Helmuth died, and we tried to get hold of the original -papers at the library, but there had been an outbreak of Royalists -and everything was closed or in disorder. So we came to Dresden and, -later, made up the expedition. That's all, sir!" - -"And enough." Hammer turned to Sara Helmuth. "Anything you would -like to ask him, Miss Helmuth?" - -"No," she shuddered, looking away. "Get him out of my sight." - -Jenson needed no urging to remove himself, and for a space the two in -the stern remained silent, while the motor sent its staccato exhaust -humming over the sea. The Melindi light was very close now, and -Hammer headed for the river, since the launch was small enough to get -into the mouth of the Sabaki and make the dock. - -"Thank you, Mr. Hammer," the girl spoke in a low voice as she turned -to him. "So it was that man who brought about father's betrayal! I -think that he will suffer punishment for that, one day." - -The American gave little heed to her words at the time, but he was to -remember them later, when he and Sara Helmuth and Adolf Jenson were -facing the end of things together. - -Jenson's soul seemed to Hammer as colourless as his face. He lay -amidships, over a thwart beyond the motor, in silence: odd, thought -the American, that while the man was a creature of lies and theft and -treachery yet he was the veriest coward withal. - -Baumgardner, who was smoking a pipe, had also come amidships to the -wheel there, while Mohammed Bari was sitting forward, just beyond -Jenson, chewing betel and humming some monotonous native air to -himself. - -The American overlooked one significant fact, namely, that -Baumgardner, as well as the other Germans of the crew, had been with -Krausz for several years, and since the Melindi fight was now so -close he apprehended no further trouble. - -He was joying in the fact that the girl's confidence had drawn them a -bit closer together, mentally; and by that curious sixth sense which -comes to men at such moments he felt that she also realized this, and -that it was not unwelcome to her. - -He frankly was drawn by Sara Helmuth. The way in which she had faced -the problem presented by Dr. Krausz, her absolute independence of -thought and action, and the very manner in which she bore -herself--all these attracted the American greatly, and he smiled as -he recollected his mental picture of this Professor Sara L. Helmuth. - -Sara wasn't such a bad name alter all, he reflected, then remembered -how the doctor had spoken of his assistant and frowned. Dr. Krausz -certainly had something coming to him, and if he only got the chance -he was going to see that it came. - -However, that could wait. First was the problem of John Solomon, -while he and Harcourt would have to look into Schlak's death between -them. - -Mohammed Bari shifted his position and hung over the side, lazily -squirting betel juice outboard, and as they were now opposite the -Melindi light, and a half-mile out, Hammer directed Baumgardner to -head straight in for the river mouth. - -The launch swung about, ceased her rolling as she rose on the first -surf-crest, and on a sudden the engine gave one deep-throated, -convulsive gasp and died into silence. - -"The oil--turn the oil-cocks off!" exclaimed Sara Helmuth sharply, as -Hammer rose. "I thought I had turned them off, but----" - -"All right, I'll fix it in a minute." - -Hammer went to the engine, beside Baumgardner, and leaned over; with -the action he received a heavy shove that sent him head first against -the second cylinder. His head striking the oil-cup, he felt the -thing snap off, the jagged glass and metal ripping the skin of his -brow above his left eye: for a second he was half-stunned, but fought -blindly to regain his balance, thinking that the launch had struck a -reef. Then he was caught from behind and half-lifted back toward the -rail, a hand closing on his throat. - -As he came erect, gripping desperately at the air, he saw the form of -Jenson at one side, hands unbound. A flash of red split the -starlight into blackness, and Jenson, with a strange clucking noise, -dove head first over the side. - -Baumgardner, who was trying to fling the American over the rail, -stumbled on a thwart, and they both came down in a heap. - -Over the port bow lay Mohammed Bari, very still and silent, a black -thread of betel juice trickling from his mouth and something blacker -running from between his shoulder-blades where a knife-haft gleamed. -Jenson had acted swiftly. - -Thrashing about in the launch's bottom, Hammer wrenched around and -clutched the boatswain with his left hand, forcing him back against -the rail. But his throat was dry, his breath was shut off, and the -figure of Sara Helmuth standing in the stern, revolver in hand, was -lost in a swirl of blackness. - -Vaguely, Hammer felt the fingers of his right hand close on something -hard beneath him, and with a last effort he brought the object up and -struck the German with all his strength. - -Hit squarely on the temple by the heavy wrench, Baumgardner groaned -softly and fell back with loosened fingers, toppling slowly over the -rail until a surf-crest picked him up gently and smothered him from -sight. - -Hammer lay motionless at the girl's feet, a black-red smear over brow -and eyes, while she stood as if paralysed; and over the bow one of -Mohammed Bari's hands flopped crazily to the lift of the surf. - -And so the launch drifted slowly toward the river-mouth and beach, -with no man to guide her. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -AT MELINDI - -"Dang it, I've a 'ole bloomin' 'ospital on me 'ands, what with Mr. -'Ammer as 'e is and Mr. Harcourt on 'is beam ends! And worse luck, -it comes just when--ah, all ready, miss? And what'll it be this -time?" - -"Whatever you say," rejoined the voice of Sara Helmuth, grave and -self-contained. "Is there any change in Mr. Harcourt?" - -"No, miss. 'E's crying fretful like--or at least 'e was. Seems like -a woman's step and tongue quiets 'im a bit, miss: werry unusual, o' -course, but when so be as a man's off 'is 'ead, I says----" - -"Darn you, Jenson! Stop your bally grinning! He stabbed me, I tell -you----" - -Harcourt's shrill cry pierced through the low-toned voices and sent -cold sweat starting on Cyrus Hammer's brow as he stared up into -darkness. - -Where was he? What was this terror that had seized on Harcourt? For -answer the soft murmur of Sara Helmuth's soothing voice came to him, -followed by the wheeze of a harmonica. - -"All right, miss, I've got me instrument in ship-shape order, so to -speak. Let's give 'em that 'ere lullaby you was a-singing of last -night, miss--them Irish things fair brings the music out o' me, -though bein' born and bred in Wapping I ain't got much use for the -Irish in general. But let 'er go, miss; I'll come in somewheres." - -Silence for a moment; then the girl's voice rose--a soft, deep-toned -contralto, with Solomon "coming in somewheres" with his harmonica in -a monotone accompaniment which did well enough, however, and must -have satisfied him amazingly. Hammer's eyes glistened as the words -came sweetly to him, for the words and air brought many things back -to him, things that he thought long forgotten---- - - "Out on the sea where the sad winds wail - (Sad and low, sad and low!) - Watch for the flash of thy father's sail - Dipping from sight in the sunset glow! - He comes no more till the dim stars die - And the day gleams, red in the eastern sky; - Baby of mine-- - Oh, baby of mine, hush, hush thy cry, - For the deep sea-moan holds grief of its own-- - Grieve not my heart with thine! - - "Out on the sea where the slow gulls wheel - (Sad and slow, sad and slow!) - Watch how the writhing night-mists steal. - Veiling the infinite ocean's wo! - Father will come when the nets are drawn - With a kiss for thee, as the night is gone; - Baby of mine-- - Oh, baby of mine, in the rosy dawn - He will come to me, with a kiss for thee, - On the crest of the tossing brine! - - -"Dang it--'e's asleep--excuse me, miss, while I see to Mr. 'Ammer." - -Solomon's voice was husky and jerky, and the American, who felt much -the same way himself, saw a flood of light spread through his -darkness for a moment. A step sounded, and Solomon dropped into a -creaking chair beside Hammer. - -"Dang it," came a mutter, "I didn't 'ave the 'eart to tell 'er, bless -'er sweet face! 'E's done for, 'e is, and 'ere I be, tied up wi' the -missus and the two on 'em while that danged pasty-faced scoundrel's -been and got clean off. But wait, me friend! Them as stabs in the -dark shall perish in the dark, as the Good Book says; but when I gets -me 'ands on 'im--Lud! So you've been and woke up, Mr. 'Ammer?" - -The American, wondering what sort of nightmare he was passing -through, had raised his hand and felt a thick bandage around his -head, and the movement had startled Solomon from his soliloquy. - -Despite the bandage and his bewilderment, Hammer felt very well, and -announced that fact as he tried to sit up. Solomon's hand repressed -him. - -"Down wi' you, if you please, sir! It's still a-workin' in you, but -to-morrow morning you'll be fit to--Lud help us all! If 'e don't -last----" - -"If who doesn't last?" queried Hammer, lying back among his pillows. -"Who is it that's done for?" - -"You've 'ad a sleeping potion, Mr. 'Ammer," came Solomon's reply, a -curious note in the man's voice. "It's been and give you bad dreams, -sir, so just drink this, and in the morning----" - -Obediently, Hammer swallowed a few drops from the spoon that Solomon -held to his mouth, and still wondering what the conversation had been -all about, slipped off into slumber before he could speak his -thoughts. - -He woke to find it broad daylight. He was lying on a -mosquito-curtained cot beside an open window, and gained a glimpse of -green trees and white-boiled cotton-fields before he turned his head -to inspect his quarters. For a space the wonder of the thing gripped -him, keeping him from recalling what had last taken place. - -He had gone to sleep in an open launch off the Sabaki River, and he -had wakened in a room that might have housed a prince. Save for his -cot and a small stand of plain ebony beside it that held medicines, -there was no furniture in the room but rugs--rugs on walls and floor, -and ceiling, even. Though knowing nothing of such things, the -American sensed the fact that they were such rugs as he had never -seen before. - -Opposite him was a royal Ispahan prayer-rug of solid fawn and blue -silk, with unbroken lines of Arabic worked in solid gold thread, and -the cypress, the tree of life, rising over all in white. - -On another wall beside the one door hung a rug of pale-blues and -yellows, bearing the five-clawed dragon of the imperial family of -China; it could have come from no place save the imperial palace, so -much Hammer knew. - -These were but two of the many which struck his eye in that first -moment, and utterly bewildered, he sat up, feeling slightly dizzy but -perfectly sound, save for a slight pain in his head. As he sat, a -voice came to him; at first he took it for Harcourt's, then -recognized his error. - -"I have notified the authorities, Mr. Solomon, as you wished, and -have no doubt that all will be right as far as you are concerned. -No, I am sorry that there is no hope whatever; this bally fever has -complicated the thing, don't you know, and I am frank to say that I -can do nothing. He'll be conscious for an hour or so before----" - -The voice died away, and Hammer sat staring dumbly at the Ming -dragon, for now he recalled that wild dream he had had. What was -going on here, anyway? Where was he? - -Suddenly conscious of hunger and a feverish thirst, he seized a glass -of water from the ebony stand and drained it. As he set it down the -door opened, and into the room came John Solomon, holding open the -door for Sara Helmuth, pale-faced but steady-eyed as ever. - -He could do nothing but stare at them blankly, Solomon, his pudgy -face very pale, heaped up a large rug for the girl at the head of the -bed; and as she sat down she looked up at Hammer with a smile, but it -was a smile that struck a cold fear to his heart. - -"What's the matter?" he asked hoarsely. "For Heaven's sake talk!" - -"You tell him, Mr. Solomon," and there was a catch in the girl's -voice. Solomon nodded and sank down on a rug with his legs crossed: -Hammer noted absent-mindedly that he wore dingy carpet-slippers and -held his empty clay-pipe in one hand. - -"Mr. 'Ammer, sir," the supercargo cleared his throat, "let me say -first as 'ow you're all right, or will be after a bit, though you've -been off your 'ead for a matter o' three days. You're in my own -'ouse, sir, and werry safe you are, if I do say it as shouldn't. -It's a werry crooked story, sir--dang it, Mr. 'Ammer, don't -interrupt!" - -For a wonder the last words were so irritably shot out that Hammer -sank back, listening, his questions stilled. So he heard what had -chanced, with a slowly-gathering horror in his heart, and a great -grief filling his soul, for the words of John Solomon bit into him -ineffaceably. - -When the launch had drifted in toward the shore, Harcourt had just -been bringing up the _Daphne_ to Melindi, and had picked up the -launch with her searchlight. Harcourt himself had contracted a -slight touch of fever, but had insisted on bringing the senseless -Hammer and Miss Helmuth aboard personally, and the off-shore breeze -had not aided his fever to any extent. - -Alarmed at the story told by the girl, and the condition of Hammer, -who had remained unconscious that night, Harcourt had gone ashore -early the next morning intent on getting a doctor. - -He had barely left his boat when a figure had started out from the -crowd of natives about him with a shriek, and the next thing anyone -knew was that Harcourt was lying in a pool of blood, stabbed in the -side. - -Solomon had appeared on the spot, and being known, it seemed, to the -native constabulary, had assumed charge of Harcourt. Getting the -story of Hammer and Miss Helmuth from the four German sailors who had -rowed the captain ashore, he had sent for them as well, installing -all three at his cotton plantation a mile outside the town. - -Here an English physician had come to attend them from the _Juba_, -then in port, and had remained until a few moments before. Hammer -had been given a sleeping-draught the day previous, his own slight -fever had vanished altogether, and he was perfectly well: but -Harcourt was dying. - -From his delirium Solomon and the girl had gathered that his attacker -had been Jenson--probably rendered insane by fear at sight of -Harcourt. At this juncture the American disregarded Solomon and -broke in with a single curt question, his face grim. - -"Where is Jenson?" - -"No one knows, Mr. Hammer," answered the girl gently, placing her -hand on his wrist for a moment. "Wait, please! It was not found out -who had stabbed Captain Harcourt until we found it out from his -ravings. Then Mr. Solomon said not to tell the authorities anything -about it." - -Hammer looked at the supercargo, a flame of grief and fury in his -hard, grey eyes, his face tense. - -"Explain this, Solomon, or by Godfrey----" - -"Mr. 'Ammer," and for a brief instant the American was all but awed -by the look in the wide blue eyes, "I liked you, and I liked Mr. -Harcourt, more than I like most men. If so be as you're bound to do -it, then report the thing; but I says, wait. Just like that, Mr. -'Ammer--wait. I 'as me own ways of doing a thing up ship-shape, and -I'm older than you be, Mr. 'Ammer, havin' learned a mortal lot in me -day. I knows the authorities, Mr. 'Ammer, and I knows John Solomon, -and I gives you me Bible oath that this 'ere Jenson answers to us for -what 'e's been and done." - -The eyes of the two men gripped and held for a long moment. Hammer, -struck to the heart by the news of Harcourt as he was, a furious -madness for revenge tearing at his brain, yet felt a curious impulse -to obey this John Solomon. - -All the obsequiousness of the latter had vanished, and in its place -had come a quiet assurance, a steadiness, that could not but impress -the American. More than this, even, did the next words of Sara -Helmuth restrain him. - -"Please, Mr. Hammer, don't be hasty in this affair. Believe me, I -know a good deal more than I did that night in the launch, and when -you know it, too, I think that you will agree fully with me. Beside, -Mr. Harcourt is--is--the doctor said that he would not live more than -a few hours longer." - -Not until that moment did Hammer fully realize how dear his friend -had become to him. It was to him an incredibly dreadful thing that -after all he had passed through, after finding Harcourt, after coming -to like and to be liked--that the gods had now snatched this gift -from him, just when he was coming to most depend on the other man. - -"My God!" he said under his breath, and dropped his head into his -hands. "Harcourt dying!" - -It was horrible; a thing almost beyond his comprehension. But, so -deep down in his soul that even he did not realize it, was fear--fear -that he would go back to what Harcourt had dragged him from--fear -that the old terrible bitterness would sweep back over him and -smother him. Suddenly he looked up, his face drawn and grey. - -"You--last night you were singing!" he cried hoarsely, and his eyes -shot accusation into the brown pitying gaze of Sara Helmuth. "What -do you mean? Are you playing with me----" - -"Be quiet!" Solomon's voice rang harsh and stern. "'Ow dare you, -Mr. 'Ammer! I says this 'ere lady is an angel--why, dang it, sir, -she 'asn't slept for two blessed nights, what o' watching wi' you and -'im! Yes, she was a singing, Mr. 'Ammer, 'cause Mr. Harcourt 'e -thought she was 'is mother, 'e did, and wouldn't go----" - -"Oh, stop it, stop it!" Hammer groaned, waving his hand in -desperation. "I'm sorry, Miss Helmuth--I understand now. Take me to -Harcourt, please." - -He gained his feet, careless of the fact that he was dressed only in -a suit of pyjamas. Sara Helmuth looked after him, her eyes brimming, -but did not move; Solomon led him out into a wide hallway and across -into another room. - -Harcourt was lying in a cot, wasted, pale to ghastliness, dark -circles under his eyes, but none the less with his mouth wearing its -same good-humoured lines. By his side was a chair, and into this -Hammer dropped, gazing down at the sleeping face of the man who had -been his friend. - -How long he sat there he did not know. He was vaguely aware that -Solomon had gone away on tiptoe, but before his mind's eye were -passing scenes, pictures of Harcourt as he had known him from day to -day, now sharp and clear-cut, now dim and ill-remembered. - -And three days had wrought this change! Three days, death in their -wake, had transformed the broad-shouldered, clean-minded Englishman -into this wasted semblance of himself. - -"Good God," muttered Hammer, licking his dry lips. "It's horrible!" - -As he breathed the words to himself, leaning over the bed, the dark -eyelids flickered and opened, and Harcourt's blue eyes met his--at -first with blank unrecognition, then with surprised delight. -Harcourt smiled faintly, and his voice came clear but weak. - -"Hello, old chap! You're--by Jove, where's that Jenson?" - -The blue eyes had suddenly flashed out with anger as Harcourt -remembered. The American, with more tenderness than he had ever -thought to show any man, put out a hand to the cold brow of his -friend. - -"Quiet, old man; we'll take care of all that." - -For the life of him he could not repress the message that leaped from -his own eyes to those of the other. Harcourt looked up steadily; he -had read the message aright, but the clear blue eyes never faltered. - -"So bad as all that, old chap?" - -Hammer nodded, his mouth quivering as he bit at his lips; then the -words burst forth brokenly. - -"God knows I wish--he'd taken--me instead, Harcourt!" - -The other put out a weak hand to his, still smiling. - -"I say, old chap, don't be so bally broken up! How long?" - -Before Hammer replied a step sounded, and he looked up to see Solomon. - -"What-o!" exclaimed that individual cheerily. "Inwalid woke up? -We'll----" - -Solomon's voice died away, and into his wide blue eyes crept a look -of utmost sympathy and kindness as he saw that Harcourt knew. - -"How long can I count on, Solomon?" - -"It's 'ard to say, sir. An hour, the doctor said----" - -"All right. I want to make a will, don't you know. I say, Hammer, -brace up! 'Pon my word, I'm having a splendid time, old chap; I've -always wanted to have a look in on the stage and see how things were -run." - -"I'm a notary public, sir, if so be as you wants to----" suggested -Solomon. - -"Very well. Hammer, you don't mind leaving us alone for a bit?" - -The American, choking, rose and left the room, returning to his own. -Miss Helmuth had vanished, and he stood over his cot, looking out the -window, and fighting back his emotion with grim intensity. It seemed -untold ages before his door opened and he turned to face the master -of the house. - -"'E's all through, Mr. 'Ammer, and wants you. Werry weak 'e is, sir." - -Hammer strode back hurriedly and dropped beside Harcourt. - -"Hammer, old chap," and Harcourt's voice was faint. "I'm not afraid -to meet the Stage Manager; but, Christian or not, I do wish that -you'd get Jenson for me, will you? Not that I object particularly, -don't you know, but I do object to being hurried in such a bally -indecent way." - -"I'll get him," muttered Harcourt, meeting the clear blue eyes. - -"I'll get him, Harcourt, and I'll get his master with him, by -Godfrey!" - -"Werry good, sir!" echoed the voice of Solomon behind. - -Harcourt's gaze shifted and the trace of a smile crept into his -colourless cheeks. - -"Tell me, Solomon, do you know who killed that bally second mate?" - -"I did, sir." - -Hammer heard the words dully, but they did not pierce to his brain, -nor would he have heeded them if they had done so. Harcourt's -vitality was ebbing fast, and their hands came together for the last -time. - -"Well, old chap," and his voice was little more than a whisper, "no -bally preaching, you know--but take care of yourself. And I wish -you'd take me cut to sea for the last scene, if you don't mind. -Beastly country to rot in, this. What's the time, John?" - -"Four bells, sir, afternoon watch." - -"Thanks very much." - -Silence ensured, while Hammer's grey eyes fastened hungrily on the -face of his friend, and Harcourt gazed up, still smiling faintly. - -Then the blue eyes closed, but the hand that the American held still -pressed his feebly. After a moment Harcourt looked up again, a tinge -of colour in his cheeks, and spoke in his old voice. - -"Don't forget--Jenson. Good luck, old chap!" - -And there were but two men in the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -JOHN SOLOMON PREPARES FOR ACTION - -"Solomon, I wish you'd tell me about that Schlak business, just to -get it off my mind." - -"Yes, sir; just a moment. Miss 'Elmuth, can you bring to mind the -date o' that 'ere scrimmage up at the camp?" - -Hammer stared, for the supercargo--supercargo no longer--seemed to -think more about getting his notes down in that little red morocco -notebook than he did about the death of Schlak. Presently, however, -Solomon closed and carefully placed a rubber band about the notebook, -shoving it into his pocket. - -"I likes to keep my accounts all ship-shape, sir and missus, and I -must say as 'ow I'm getting a mortal big account over against the -name o' Krausz. Why, Mr. 'Ammer, 'ere's the facts o' the case. - -"You may remember as 'ow, that night, I was gone from mess for a bit? -Well, I'd slipped up to Mr. Schlak's cabin to see if I could find -something I was after--papers connected wi' the expedition, they was. - -"I 'ad the paper I'd taken from the doctor's pocket, and was -comparing of it with some others I found when, lo and behold, in pops -Mr. Schlak! - -"'E never says a word, 'e don't, but just goes for me. Lud, but it -did give me a turn for a moment, sir! Forchnit it was me 'and fell -on 'is knife, where it 'ung on the wall, after 'e'd knocked me back -and took me by the throat. No, I 'ad to do it, miss; it was 'is life -or mine, and no mistake." - -It was four days after the sea funeral of Harcourt. The latter, by -the terms of his hasty but authentic will, had left to Hammer all his -property, consisting of the _Daphne_. - -At first the American had flatly refused to accept the yacht, until -the practical, hard-headed common sense of John Solomon won him -around; and when he put the case up to Sara Helmuth she had promptly -decided that he should accept. - -He did so, was duly constituted as lawful owner, and there being no -objections to the first mate's papers, obtained for him by Solomon, -took command of the yacht until her arrival in England once again. -She was at anchor off the river, Hammer and Sara Helmuth remaining -with Solomon until they had agreed upon some plan. - -Hammer began to feel that it was time for action. No word had -drifted in from the ruins of Fort St. Thomas during the week that had -intervened, and Hammer's grief had settled into a determined thirst -for vengeance. - -Solomon was at one with him in this, but had exercised a restraining -influence to which Hammer had yielded with good grace. He had begun -to find out things about John Solomon. - -The man seemed to have no lack of money, and it was apparent that he -was neither supercargo nor cotton-planter. The very character of his -visitors precluded that, while it but vexed Hammer the more. - -On one occasion it was a Kiswahili chieftain from up-coast; on -another a party of dirty but stately Arabs from a dhow in port; on -another a bearded, khaki-clad officer of police from somewhere -up-country. These visitors were received in private and departed as -they came, without meeting Hammer or Miss Helmuth. - -On this, the fourth day after the sea-burial, all three were sitting -in a large living-room on the ground floor of the house. Like the -other rooms it held many rugs, together with native weapons and two -of the ancient Shishkhana rifles from Damascus, of which Solomon was -inordinately proud. - -He had been seated over a little desk in the corner, busily writing -in his red notebook, and when at last the impatient American had got -the story of Schlak's death out of him he squatted down on some -cushions beside Sara Helmuth, who, with her quiet common sense which -embarrassed Hammer at times, was darning socks for the two men. - -"About Jenson now," he continued, whittling at his tobacco plug--"it -don't pay to be in a 'urry, Mr. 'Ammer. I 'ave men out 'unting for -Potbelly----" - -"But, confound it, Solomon, why can't I go up there and----" - -"Now, Mr. 'Ammer, don't take on so! First off, we 'as t' get this -'ere business straightened out all ship-shape and proper, so to -speak; and the East ain't the West, Mr. 'Ammer. - -"If so be as you wanted a certain book, you'd say, 'Get the book I -gave you last night,' which is all werry well in its place, I says; -but if you was talking Hindi you'd say, 'What book was by me given to -you yesterday at night, that book fetchin' to me, come.' - -"Now, Mr. 'Ammer, that's just a sample, like. The East ain't the -West, I says, and a werry good job that it ain't. Besides, there's -the missus to think on, sir." - -Hammer glanced at Sara Helmuth, who smiled at him, noticing that his -face was older than it had been a week before--that it was graver, -finer drawn. - -"Perhaps it's time for an understanding, Mr. Hammer. I haven't seen -much of you the last two or three days, you know, but Mr. Solomon -and----" - -"Make it John, miss, if you don't mind," broke in Solomon pleadingly. -"It's John with me friends, if I may make so bold as to place you in -that 'ere category." - -"All right, then," laughed the girl. "John and I have had an -understanding, Mr. Hammer----" - -"Make it Cyrus, miss," interrupted the American, his eyes narrowing -in a slight smile as he met her gaze. "Or cut off the mister and -make it plain Hammer, both of you." - -"Hammer it is!" exclaimed the girl, though John shook his head -solemnly. "So, of course, I'll reciprocate with plain Sara. And now -let me finish. The whole story that Dr. Krausz told you, Hammer, was -untrue." - -"What? You don't mean about the treasure stuff----" - -"Yes, for he changed that to suit himself. Now, here's the real -story. My father found a number of old papers in Lisbon giving the -whole thing, and wrote it to Solomon, intending to join him later and -go shares on it. In 1696 Fort Jesus, or Mombasa, was besieged by the -Arabs. - -"That siege lasted for thirty-three months, for the Portuguese sent -over help from Goa, but in the meantime all the other Portuguese -settlements were being destroyed. - -"Our own Fort St. Thomas was able to hold out until Fort Jesus had -fallen, when the Arab fleet came up and put everyone in the fort to -the sword. We don't know who escaped, but, at anyrate, father found -the papers telling about the treasure. It seems that the Viceroy of -Goa had sent some alleged relics of St. Thomas, who was supposed to -have died in India, you know, back to the King of Portugal; and with -them he had sent a lot of valuable papers and documents, as well as -such things as gold and jewels--there has to be a treasure, of course. - -"Well, that ship put into the bay which used to be at St. Thomas; she -was driven ashore, and the garrison only had time to transfer her -cargo to the fort before they were attacked. So far as anyone knows -to the contrary, Hammer, it's there yet." - -"I guess not." The American shook his head. "Krausz has it by now; -you can lay on that--Sara." - -His brief hesitation before her name was answered by a slight flush -as she laughed quickly up at him. - -"No, he hasn't! At least, not the papers, the best part of all. -They were hidden away separately, and not even father knew it, There -was one paper he could not translate, for it was written in cipher, -so he sent it direct to John. That paper told about the hiding-place -of the papers and the relics, and Krausz never heard of it." - -Hammer glanced at Solomon, beginning to grow interested in this -treasure-hunt in spite of himself. - -"What kind of a chap are you, John? By Godfrey, I'm thinking that -you must be some kind of wizard!" - -"Well, Mr. 'Ammer, so the Arabs do say. You see, sir, I've 'ad a bit -o' luck wi' the rosary predictions--'El Rame!', the Arabs call -it--and I'm free to admit, sir and miss, that it ain't far removed -from rank sorcery to a Christian's way o' thinking. But I've learned -a mortal lot in me time, Mr. 'Ammer, and 'ave 'andled some main -ticklish jobs. - -"You might not think it, sir, but I've a fondness for these 'ere -rugs, and I've got some as couldn't be bought, sir--sent to me by -different 'ands. But put not your trust in Hajjis and Sayyids as the -Good Book says: no, sir, I 'olds to me own game and plays it me own -way. Just so with this 'ere Jenson; and when Potbelly gets back, -why, we go after 'im and 'is master and the loot, all in one pile." - -"Potbelly?" queried Hammer. "Is he a man of yours?" - -"One of a few, sir, and not so black as 'e's painted. A Hazrami, 'e -is; them Hazramaut men wanders all over, sir--reg'lar soldiers o' -fortune, like. The Hindus say: 'If you meet a viper and a Hazrami, -spare the viper'. But this 'ere man Potbelly, which ain't 'is proper -name, is main useful. Lud, what I've seen that man do! A actor, 'e -is, sir." - -Hammer learned that nothing had been heard of Potbelly, but men were -looking for him. He also learned that Solomon had, in reality, been -the _deus ex machina_ during the entire cruise of the yacht, and that -he had managed the affair at Port Said, thus detaining three of the -Germans and replacing them with his own men in case of trouble. As -he had advised dismissing the remaining Germans at once, they had -been summarily discharged and sent to Mombasa. - -Thither, Hammer decided to follow them. Roberts, the steward, had -already been sent home with his master's personal effects, and the -sooner the yacht was in the shelter of Kilindini harbour the better. - -As Solomon wished to get two Afghan friends of his up from Mombasa, -Hammer concluded to take down the yacht in the morning; for it was -beginning of November, and the south-west monsoon was threatening the -insecure anchorage of Melindi. - -"What day is this?" he asked suddenly. - -"The 14th day o' the month Zil Ka'adah," rejoined Solomon, with a -twinkle in his eye. "Year o' the Hegira, 1331. In other words, sir, -it's Thursday." - -"Then I'll be back on the _Juba_ Sunday night," reflected Hammer. -"What are your plans?" - -Solomon's plans were quite well-defined, once he stated them. He -intended to go up-coast to old Fort St. Thomas by launch, sending a -party of Arabs around by land; the natives would be easily sent away, -leaving Krausz with six Germans and Jenson. - -The last-named would be either given up or taken by force, and Krausz -could get back to Melindi and Mombasa as best he might, while with -their men Solomon and Hammer dug up the ruins. - -Sara Helmuth insisted that she be of the party also, and since there -was no great danger to be apprehended, Solomon consented. - -He bade Hammer keep the little silver ring, saying that most of the -natives knew the emblem and that it might prove of help to him at -some future time. - -Frankly mystified, Hammer questioned the man directly as to who and -what he was; but Solomon merely laughed and waved a hand complacently. - -"Easy, sir--easy! A man as asks too much gets less'n 'e asks, I -says; it ain't in 'uman nature to be answerin' of questions, I says, -but Lud, there's few men as understands 'uman nature, Mr. 'Ammer! -Ship's stores, me line is, Mr. 'Ammer, and I 'as me little shop in -Port Said all neat and ship-shape like, where I'll be mortal glad to -receive ye on 'appier occasions, sir and miss." - -Hammer gave up questioning his ex-supercargo. Sara Helmuth proved to -know no more than did he himself, but he had talked much with her of -other things, striving to gain something of her poise and perfect -self-confidence. For the American was in deadly fear of himself. - -With each day the old bitterness had been surging back into his -heart, driving him to action no matter what it might be. Harcourt's -death had been a sore stroke to him, and yet--even more than he could -comprehend--the presence and friendship of Sara Helmuth had upborne -him and kept him from the brooding which had proven his undoing in -time past. - -He listened without interest as Solomon questioned the girl about the -old fort and her preliminary work in getting it cleared of brush and -trees. As she replied to his queries, Hammer saw a frown slowly -gathering on Solomon's pudgy face; then the little man pulled out his -clay pipe and tobacco and began to whittle thoughtfully. - -"All werry good, miss," he declared finally, "but I'm mortal sorry as -'ow you 'ad all that work for nothing." - -"What do you mean?" she asked quickly. - -"Well, I thought as 'ow I'd say nothing about it till the proper -time, miss; but this 'ere's the proper time, I says. You see, that -there place you was a-workin' on wasn't the fort at all, miss; it was -just the ruins of the old store-house and slave barracoon, at what -used to be the water's edge. The fort itself is a matter o' two -hundred yards back in the jungle, miss." - -While Hammer and the girl stared at him, almost in incredulity, he -went on to explain, with one of his quiet chuckles. He had visited -the ruins four years previously on an inspection with the district -commissioner from Melindi, and so was aware of there being two sets -of ruins. - -Those of the fort proper were well overgrown by the jungle, but were -in much better preservation than those on the hill, which had been -levelled long since by the elements. - -Bearing this in mind, he had instructed Potbelly to meet the party of -Miss Helmuth and to lead her to the lesser ruins, saying nothing -about those of the fort proper. - -This Potbelly had done, and in consequence Dr. Krausz was spending -time and money in digging up ancient slave barracoons, knowing -nothing of the real fort so close to him. - -Hammer could not understand this until Solomon explained the density -of the jungle near the place, which was uncrossed by any native -tracks. - -"But if he got the location from the papers left by your father," -argued the American, "surely he would know better, Sara. He's a man -of experience----" - -"Not in Africa," broke in Solomon, chuckling. "Not in Africa 'e -ain't! Them places was all alike, sir--just a square with a roof -over it, like. The fort's just three o' them there squares with a -wall around and other buildin's in between. No, sir; in them papers -you mentions, 'e found where to dig, prowiding 'e got the right -place. So 'e's a-digging of his bloomin' 'ead off, and much good may -it do 'im, I says. When so be as we gets ready to dig, why, them -Arabs o' mine will 'ave it all ready cleared for us. It's so mortal -thick in there, sir, that two parties could live for a year on end, -ten yards apart, and never know it--just like that, sir." - -In the end Hammer was forced to admit the logic of Solomon's -reasoning, though when he learned that the Arabs were probably on the -spot by this time he refused to believe that they would not be -discovered at work. - -The Afghans he was to pick up at Mombasa had been despatched to Goa -by Solomon in the endeavour to learn something definite about the old -fort; but whether they had done so or not Solomon did not know. - -Nor could the American understand the other's choice of men. Why he -should send Afghans on such an errand, why he should trust Potbelly -and make use of him as he did, why he should seemingly put so much -trust in natives and so little trust in white men, drew a series of -questions from Hammer which forced Solomon to explain. - -"White men is all werry well in their place, sir, but Africa ain't -their place. Me men know me, Mr. 'Ammer, and 'as faith in me. White -men can't 'elp from talking too much, sir; but it ain't in the nature -of brown men to talk. - -"Work a brown man all square and aboveboard, I says, and 'e'll curse -ye for a bloody fool; but work 'im underhand, like what e's been used -to for the last thousand years, and 'e'll fair go through fire and -water for ye. What 'e loves is the game, sir--same as me. It ain't -the money as I'm after, though I do say as money 'as its uses." - -Which was all Hammer ever extracted from John Solomon on the matter -of colour. - -That night, after a long talk with Sara Helmuth, the American went -out to the _Daphne_. He had not been able to nerve himself to the -deed before this, but now installed himself in Harcourt's cabin and -arranged with the chief engineer to sign on a crew at Mombasa as fast -as the men could be picked up. - -He was without money, practically, and doubted very much whether he -would be able to make the yacht pay in future--for this, however, he -made no plans; his first duty was to get hold of Jenson, and what -came after that did not trouble him greatly. - -At Mombasa he found the two Afghans without trouble. Both were -heavily-bearded, stalwart men, of keen intelligence, and cousins; -Akhbar Khan and Yar Hussein were alike, grave-eyed, dignified, -green-turbaned, and dependable. Hammer concluded that John Solomon -knew what he was about, after all. - -His only business ashore was to get the two Afghans, and with them he -returned to the waiting launch, provisioned and manned by Solomon's -four Arabs, for the run up-coast. - -He did not go near the club, and saw no one he knew until reaching -the wharf. Here, however, he ran into a little Cockney, a waiter at -the club the evening he had so gloriously awakened Mombasa. - -Finding the man staring at him, he nodded and would have passed on, -but the fellow plucked his sleeve. - -"Beg pardon, guv'nor, but you'd best cut and run for it. I heard two -o' them nigger bobbies sayin' as 'ow they was lookin' for you -up-town." - -"Eh? I guess you've made a mistake, my man!" exclaimed the American. -The other winked and sidled away hastily. - -"Just a tip, guv'nor. Don't wyste no time----" and he was gone. - -Laughing over the occurrence, and thinking that the man was drunk, -Hammer dropped into the launch and the wharf was soon left behind. - -He had decided not to go up on the _Juba_, as the launch would be of -use to them and he could make a quicker run up in her. Solomon had a -launch hired at Melindi, but another would not come amiss, he -thought. Nor did it, as events proved. - -The run to Melindi was uneventful in the extreme, and they made the -river-mouth shortly after nine in the evening. Bidding the Arabs and -Afghans come to the plantation with him, where there were a number of -buildings in which they could find shelter. Hammer led the way at -once. - -To his surprise, the plantation-house was dark save for the servants' -quarters, nor was there anyone to greet him. - -Mystified and no little startled by the empty rooms, the American lit -some of the lamps and soon had the house-boys on the jump. - -The only information that he could elicit from them was that Potbelly -had come that morning, and Solomon and Sara Helmuth had gone shortly -after luncheon--where, no one knew or would say. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -UNDER SUSPICION - -Irritated almost beyond control by Solomon's exasperating method of -playing his hand in the dark, Hammer passed a very bad night. - -More than once he was on the point of sending a boy to Melindi for -the district commissioner and of putting the whole case into the -hands of the authorities, and only his promise to Harcourt restrained -him, for he had come to look upon that promise as a personal pledge, -to be carried out by himself alone. - -Why had Solomon gone off without leaving him any word, and why had he -taken Sara Helmuth with him? Perhaps the latter query worried the -American more than the former. - -He overlooked the facts that Sara Helmuth was quite competent so far -as taking care of herself was concerned; that she had as much or more -interest in the entire affair than he had, and that she was not the -kind of person to sit idly by while Solomon worked in her behalf. - -Evidently Potbelly's tidings had in some way drawn them off the -original plan, though Hammer could not see how. - -The Hazrami, who was masquerading as a Kiswahili, must have brought -back important news to bestir Solomon to such rapid action, for at -dawn no move had been contemplated till Hammer's return. Besides, -Solomon had no taste for hurry, as the American knew. - -The two Afghans and the four Arabs had received the news of Solomon's -absence with grave acquiescence, departing to the rooms assigned them -by the house servants, who were all Kiswahili. Akhbar Khan had -carried a small roll of sheepskin, the only baggage of the two, and -this he had taken with him. - -But when Hammer descended to breakfast both Akhbar Khan and Yar -Hussein had vanished bodily, sheepskin and all. The four Arabs could -tell nothing of them, and, although Hammer expended all his store of -Arabic upon the house servants, he elicited nothing but the -surprising information that the two visitors must have been djinns, -since they had flown away in the night, even as they had come. - -So the American cursed them all impartially in the name of Allah and -bade them leave him alone, which they did willingly. There being -nothing better to do, he gave himself up to waiting; but an hour -later he was pleasurably surprised by the arrival of no less a person -than Potbelly himself. - -Now, however, he came in his own guise. No longer a Kiswahili, he -had doffed his pseudo-mission clothes and came in all the stately -pride of a Hazrami, an Arab of the Arabs, masterless, and bowing to -no man. - -Yet, in spite of his white burnoose and green turban of the -pilgrimage, he was weary and in much need of repair, having plainly -come through the bush. He insisted on speaking French, also, to the -further annoyance of Hammer, though the American could understand him -well enough. - -"It's about time you came, Potbelly," grunted Hammer ungraciously. -"What's your news? Where's Solomon?" - -For answer the Arab settled himself on a rug, clapped his hands, and -demanded coffee from the boy who came, and then saw to it that his -proper self made a proper impression on Hammer. - -"I am no longer Potbelly, _m'sieu'_, but the Hajj Omar ibn Kasim el -Hamumi----" - -"I don't care a whoop who you are!" exclaimed Hammer angrily. "Give -me your message or get out of here!" - -A wounded look from Omar ibn Kasim was followed promptly by his news, -as he met the eye of Hammer, and saw fury smouldering there. - -But, mindful of the words of John Solomon, the American forced -himself to restraint and let Omar tell the tale in his own fashion, -which consisted largely in dwelling on every little circumstance to -the full, and lauding his own efforts with great self-satisfaction. - -The gist of the tale, as Hammer finally extracted it, was that Omar -had held Dr. Krausz and his men helpless until Hammer and Sara -Helmuth had obtained a good start on any possible pursuit. - -Then, knowing that he had no retreat by sea, he had shouted to Miss -Helmuth's mission-boys to join him in the jungle, and had plunged -into the midst of it, chancing upon the real ruins of the fort. - -At this point his story was full of fanciful interpolations, as -Hammer termed them, concerning monkeys who threw skulls at him, and -pits full of snakes. After weird and wholly impossible adventures he -had met Solomon's party of Arabs, who were later joined by Sara -Helmuth's mission-boys. - -Since the Arabs, whom he wrathfully described as "men without shame", -were determined to carry out Solomon's orders, and laughed at his -stories of the ruins, he had come on to Melindi with the mission-boys. - -Midway, however, he had come down with fever, which explained his -delay. The mission-boys had cared for him, and Hammer shrewdly -judged that he had made the most of his illness, for at present he -displayed no great signs of emaciation. - -On the day before, as he was coming into town, he had seen a party of -nine men leaving; of these stalwart Masai _askaris_, bearing the -eagle of the German Consulate on the collars of their tunics. Here -the American interrupted wrathfully: - -"What manner of lie is this, Omar ibn Kasim? How should these men -get here from Mombasa?" - -"Did not the _Juba_ arrive the day before yesterday, and does it not -arrive again to-morrow, Yaum el Ahad?" - -"Yes, to-morrow is Sunday," retorted the American, "but that doesn't -explain how Jenson could have fetched those _askaris_ from Mombasa." - -"A week has passed, _effendi_," and the other struck into Arabic. -"Am I a liar, then? _Al Nar wa la al Ar_! May fire seize on me, but -not shame! If I lie, _effendi_, may I be childless, may my----" - -"Oh, cut it out and go on!" groaned Hammer wearily, recognizing his -want of tact in dealing with the man. "You are more truthful than -the Koran, Omar Ibn Kasim, so finish the story and I will doubt no -more." - -Mollified, the Arab told how he had brought the news to Solomon, and -how that individual had at once set out after Jenson, taking him for -guide. - -Miss Helmuth had gone with them, with enough boys from the plantation -to make a respectable safari. As they had failed to come up with -Jenson by nightfall, in the morning Solomon had despatched the Arab -to bring up Hammer. - -"Then it's time we started," growled the latter, angry at Solomon, -Omar, himself, and everyone else. "If we had only got the -authorities after the fellow," he thought, "it would have been all -over by this time. Confound Solomon! It's too late now." - -He questioned Omar about the two Afghans, but the latter knew nothing -of them. Neither did he have any inclination to hurry forth into the -jungle again, and said so plainly as he sipped his coffee. - -Hammer, exasperated by the coolness and almost contempt of the man, -could restrain himself no longer. Starting from his seat, he grasped -the arm of Omar with a wrench that sent the man to his back on the -rug. - -"Now," and he glared at the angry Arab with his grey eyes hard and -cold, "I've had enough of your insolence, my friend, and I don't give -a hang whether you're a Hajj or a Hazrami or Mohammed himself. -You're going to lead me to John Solomon, and do it on the -jump--understand?" - -This was exactly the action required. Omar looked up at him for a -moment, then his dark face cleared, and he stated that he understood -and would do exactly as the _effendi_ ordered, though he was dying -for lack of food. - -"That's all right," and Hammer released him. "Do all the dying you -want to but not until you have led me to Solomon _Effendi_. Now, get -out and see that you have some boys ready to start within an hour, -else I go alone and spread the story of your shame through all the -coast. Jump!" - -Omar jumped, and, with the four Arab soldiers to help him, he -speedily raised a force of twenty boys from the plantation quarters. - -As Hammer knew where Solomon's stores of chop-boxes and supplies were -located, he broke into the storehouse without scruple and left Omar -getting the loads ready. - -Though he searched every room in the main house, he could find no -arms save the weapons adorning the walls, and these were handsome but -useless to him. - -Evidently Solomon had small use for weapons, so he was forced to bide -content with his own two revolvers. Meanwhile, the problem of Jenson -and the consulate _askaris_ was worrying him. - -There was no doubt that the secretary had swum ashore, either -frightened or wounded by Sara Helmuth's bullet, the night he had -stabbed Mohammed Bari in the launch. He had met Harcourt the next -morning, probably after hiding on the wharf all night; and where had -he been during the intervening week? - -Remembering the _askaris_, Hammer whistled softly and consulted Omar -ibn Kasim, who replied to his questions with the information that the -German Consul in Mombasa did not have _askaris_, requiring no -protection; but that all the Consulates in Zanzibar did, and, -further, that if a man was fool enough to be in a hurry he could get -to Zanzibar from Mombasa and back in a couple of days, more or less. - -This, then, explained the actions of Jenson fairly well. Immediately -after his stabbing Harcourt he must have gone aboard the _Juba_ to -Mombasa--but would he have the influence and authority to command -_askaris_? Also, he was taking them to Fort St. Thomas, a thing he -would never dare do on his own initiative. This compelled a -readjustment. - -Evidently, then, Jenson had gone to Dr. Krausz, either overland or by -launch. This could be verified by ascertaining in Melindi if he had -hired a launch at the time in question; yet he must have done so to -account for his other movements. - -Armed with letters from Krausz, the American reflected, he had caught -the _Juba_ on her next trip, connected at Mombasa for Zanzibar, and -hurried back with the _askaris_. Krausz evidently wanted men who -could shoot, as these Masai could. - -Hammer strongly doubted whether it was legal or not to bring the -Consulate guards from Zanzibar up here into British East Africa. -Certainly, the German Consul would take no such risk, for the thing -would be sure to demand investigation if illegal, as Hammer thought -it was. - -How, then, had Jenson secured the men? Probably by -misrepresentations, or else by actual lies; and if this was the case -Hammer felt that he had Krausz cornered at last. - -Omar had met the party leaving Melindi, however, and if Jenson acted -thus openly the presence of the _askaris_ must be unquestioned. - -The best thing to do was to see the district commissioner about it, -thought the American, and with this thought he issued from the house -and sought out Omar. - -The latter was ready to start, as was his safari, and from somewhere -the Arab had dug up an ancient Snider rifle and bandolier, which -Hammer eyed with some disfavour. As he gave the order to march, -however, a Kiswahili boy ran up with word that Bwana Somebody was -coming, whereat all save Omar seemed to be affected with sudden -fright. - -The American got them into shape with much expenditure of Arabic, and -as he did so became aware of a little party coming down the -track--for the plantation of Solomon, being away from those of the -East African Corporation, did not have the benefit of any road. - -The party, as he saw at a glance, consisted of a very trim and spruce -officer of police, a sergeant, and four men, and that they were -coming here he had no doubt. So, bidding the natives wait, he -advanced to meet them. - -"Good afternoon," the officer responded curtly to his greeting. "Is -there a Mr. Hammer anywhere about?" - -"I am Mr. Hammer," replied the American, surprised. "Sure you want -me!" - -"Well, rather!" snapped out the other, curtly. "Sergeant, arrest -this man." - -Before the amazed Hammer knew what was happening there was a -policeman on each side of him, and the officer's eye had lighted on -Omar. - -"Here, you! Have you a permit to carry that _bunduki_?" - -The officer was somewhat taken aback when Omar, grinning, held out a -folded paper and replied in English: - -"Yes, sar. Licensed to carry one gun, sar." - -"Humph!" By the time the officer had glanced over the permit and -returned it with a bad grace, Hammer had recovered his power of -speech. He knew that something was radically wrong, but that if he -resisted it would be more wrong still, so he restrained his anger and -spoke with what seemed to him remarkable coolness. - -"I'd like to know what this means, lieutenant! How dare you arrest -me, and on what charge? What----" - -"Whatever you say will be used against you," replied the officer. -"You are under arrest for murder, sir, and I warn you not to resist. -I just got here in time evidently; you slipped out of Mombasa pretty -neatly, 'pon my word!" - -"Slipped your grandmother!" retorted Hammer with some heat. "I'm not -in the habit of slipping out of anywhere, you impertinent young -puppy! I want to know----" - -"See here, Hammer," and the officer, for all his youth, showed -determination, "I'd advise you to keep your mouth closed unless you -want it closed for you. If you can't help talking, wait till you get -closeted with the district commissioner. I'll warrant you'll get a -mouthful from him, my man, and no mistake, but in the meantime I'll -thank you not to discuss this affair with me. I've no bally use for -a man of your stamp, and the less you say the better for you. All -ready, sergeant?" - -The sergeant was, and so was Hammer. Furious but helpless, he -clearly perceived that there was no use resisting, and that argument -with this business-like young officer was worse than futile. - -He was but obeying orders, after all, and the only thing to do was to -have it out with the district commissioner. - -So, angry at the mere senselessness of the arrest, the American fell -in between the two men and followed the sergeant, his face pale and -hard. - -As he went he saw that Omar ibn Kasim, after a quick order in Arabic -which he did not catch, was starting after him. Struck by a sudden -thought, Hammer held up the hand on which glittered Solomon's ring. - -Omar stopped, waved a hand, and departed by another path in all -haste, while Hammer proceeded with more calmness. He was suddenly -aware that he had great confidence in John Solomon, and, whatever -this situation was into which he had stumbled, the pudgy little man -would find some loophole. - -Then he remembered the Cockney whom he had met on the Mombasa wharf, -and realized that the thing must be serious indeed if the Mombasa -police were after him. They had notified Melindi by wire of course; -but of what had they notified? What was the cause of the whole -business? - -Hammer racked his brains vainly. He might have been arrested for the -death of Baumgardner, although no hue and cry had been raised over -finding any such body along the beach. Besides, the testimony of -Sara Helmuth would have cleared him of that, and Solomon had -accounted to the authorities for the death of Mohammed Bari in some -manner or other. - -It must be some trumped-up charge brought against him by Krausz, he -considered. The scientist had no knowledge or fear of John Solomon's -activities, and he was probably trying to get Hammer out of his way, -believing him the only champion of Sara Helmuth. - -The reason was plain, for with the persistent American safely -disposed of, pending trial, the doctor and his aides could get hold -of the treasure and get it stowed away where Sara Helmuth would never -find it. - -At this reasoning, which proved correct enough in its way, Hammer -chuckled and began to feel relieved. Krausz would have a hard job -finding any treasure in the place he was looking for it, that was -sure. - -As for himself, he would be freed just as soon as he had had a talk -with this asinine district commissioner, or as soon as Solomon came -to the rescue. And with that Jenson would be tracked down in short -order. - -"By Godfrey, he's going to swing for that murder!" Hammer swore -savagely to himself, almost forgetting his own plight. The party had -swung into the road by this time, passing old and new cotton -plantations on every hand, for Melindi threatened to become a big -cotton-producing centre in no long while. - -On whatever evidence Krausz had trumped up this charge against him, -thought the American, he was reasonably sure of getting off in a day -or two, and it would be more than a day or two ere Jenson got out of -the country. He was not greatly concerned whether he brought the man -to justice or killed him himself, and rather preferred the latter, -for feud was strong in his heart. - -"I suppose I'll have a preliminary hearing?" he asked the officer. - -The latter nodded curtly. "I suppose so. You must be formally -identified." - -Hammer asked no more questions. Ahead of him were the two small -corrugated iron bungalows, with the flag fluttering gaily before them -and the police huts at one side, while the natives stared in high -glee at a white man being brought to justice. - -The American grinned cheerfully as he caught sight of the planter who -had assisted him on his first arrival at Melindi standing in the -doorway of a store; but to his surprise his grin was not answered in -kind. Instead, the planter darted him a black look, and Hammer could -almost hear the curse that left his lips as he turned on his heel and -vanished. - -He had small time to wonder at this, however, for he was led into one -of the iron bungalows which mark the limitations of British rule in -all torrid lands, and found himself in the presence of the district -commissioner. The latter was a red-faced young man who sat at a -table writing, with a whisky bottle on the shelf behind him; two more -of the police were sitting on a bench inside the door, and these rose -in salute as the squad marched Hammer inside. - -"This is our man, Mr. Smith!" exclaimed the police lieutenant, -saluting. - -Commissioner Smith looked at Hammer from a pair of narrow set eyes -and pulled a paper in front of him with a weary air. - -"You are Cyrus Hammer, first mate of the yacht _Daphne_?" - -"You bet I am!" shot back Hammer, irritated by the man's air. "And I -demand to know why I am under arrest?" - -"For murder," came the laconic answer, accompanied by a stare of mild -surprise. "Don't come that, my man! Can't get away with it, really, -don't you know!" - -"Confound it, who have I murdered, you blithering ass?" - -"Why--er--oh, yes--Frederick R. C. Harcourt, your owner and captain. -And no more insolence, you cur, or I'll put you in irons, you know." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -ACCUSED AND ACCUSER - -It was perhaps unfortunate that District Commissioner Smith had very -recently been transferred from Nairobi for his sins, inasmuch as he -knew not the gods of Melindi and cared not to know them. - -He was utterly bored by the place, and showed it plainly: he disliked -Americans by instinct and training and Hammer saw that the question -of his guilt or innocence was of the utmost indifference to his -inquisitor. - -"Do you plead innocent or guilty to this charge Mr.--er--Hammer?" - -The American tried to collect himself, for the charge had struck him -like a bolt from the blue. Preposterous as it was, the very -absurdity of it shocked him into quiet coolness. - -If it was the work of Krausz, as he had conjectured, then he would -eventually hold the whip-hand, through the testimony of Solomon and -Sara Helmuth; but in the meantime it would do no good to try and -bluster out his innocence. - -"Not guilty, of course. I trust that you'll note that I gave myself -up without making a fight? Does that look as if I was a murderer, -Mr. District Commissioner?" - -Smith made an entry on the sheet before him, then looked up. - -"You'll please bear in mind, Hammer, that you're not here to ask -questions, but to answer them. Where were you on the morning of the -14th instant?" - -"The 14th?" Hammer thought back desperately--ah, that was the -morning of Harcourt's murder! - -"I was aboard the _Daphne_, ill with fever." - -"You deny the fact, then, that you were on the wharf that morning?" - -"Of course I do! I was brought ashore that day unconscious, and can -bring witnesses to prove it." - -"Ah!" For the first time Smith began to show a trace of interest. -"Their names?" - -"John Solomon for one. Miss Sara Helmuth for another, the doctor who -attended me, natives---- - -"Testimony of natives not allowed." The commissioner glanced at his -police officer. "Who is this--er--this John Solomon, lieutenant?" - -The officer hesitated, for he knew Solomon of old. - -"He is a planter, Mr. Smith. His place is about a mile outside town. -I would suggest, sir, that he be----" - -"Kindly bear in mind that I am conducting this examination, -lieutenant." - -The latter bit his lip and flushed. It was plain that he had no -great love for his superior. The commissioner turned languidly to -Hammer. - -"Where is this Mr. Solomon?" - -"Out in the jungle somewhere--search me. But he'll be in soon." - -"Oh, very good! Lieutenant, you will see that he appears. Now, -Hammer, what physician--er--attended you?" - -"I don't know, but he was the same who signed Harcourt's -death-certificate." - -"Ah, Dr. Fargo--at present with the _Juba_ at Mombasa. Very good. -Well, Hammer, I can't see that you have any case whatever. Cheek, I -call it. However, they can settle it at Nairobi, and be blessed. -Lieutenant, put the prisoner in the----" - -"Look here," Hammer broke out furiously, "I've had about enough of -this farce, Mr. Smith! Now you bear in mind that I'm an American -citizen. Also that I plead not guilty. You hand out what testimony -you have against me or I'll make it hot for you in darned short -order; and if I can't I'll bet a dollar John Solomon can!" - -The commissioner gazed at him mildly, then shifted his look to his -lieutenant. What he saw in the latter's face may have decided him, -for with an air of boredom he shuffled the papers before him, fixed -on the right one, and nodded. - -"Very good. You are probably aware of the fact that according to the -death certificate of Mr. Harcourt he died from a stab at the hands of -persons unknown, complicated by fever. - -"Since that time it has been reported to the authorities at Mombasa -that you inflicted the wound, later getting away in the crowd. It is -also known that you benefited largely by his death, since by his will -you were given ownership of the yacht _Daphne_. Yesterday, you -visited Mombasa, getting away--er--secretly before you could be -apprehended." - -"See here, Mr. Smith," exclaimed Hammer earnestly, "this charge is -absolutely absurd. Not only was Mr. Harcourt my best friend, but I -was ill and unconscious at the time----" - -"Just a moment--I overlooked that scar on your forehead," broke in -the commissioner, looking up from his papers. Hammer put up a hand -to the scar which had resulted from the fight aboard the launch, -"Yes, that is it. These papers state that--er--it is the result of a -blow struck you by Mr. Harcourt as you stabbed him." - -"Confound it all," exclaimed the enraged American, "who's bringing -all these charges, anyway? Dr. Krausz?" - -For answer the commissioner glanced at his police officer. - -"You detained those fellows, lieutenant?" - -"I did, sir, against their protest." - -"Damn their protest, my dear chap! Bring 'em in. Since you persist -in going through with this ruddy mess, Hammer, I'll give you all you -want of it." - -The American asked nothing better, and began to think that the -commissioner was not so bad after all, having probably been -prejudiced against him from the start. The police officer, with his -sergeant and two men, left the room, Hammer watching the door eagerly -for their return. - -Who were these unknown persons? Whoever they were, he reflected, -they had done their work well. The devilish ingenuity of it all was -amazing, and as Hammer never doubted that Krausz was behind the -thing, he began to score up an ugly debt against the scientist. - -Except for the evidence which could be brought by Solomon, Sara -Helmuth, and the doctor of the _Juba_, all of whom would not be -suspected by Krausz, the identity of Harcourt's murderer was unknown. - -Counting on this fact, Krausz must have worked out the case against -Hammer to the last detail--even to that scar on his forehead. - -There was no ultimate danger, of course, but that was not the fault -of Krausz; he must have reasoned that if Harcourt had disclosed the -name of his attacker before he died, it would have set the -commissioner after Jenson. - -Therefore he had not disclosed it, and therefore it was perfectly -safe to make out the case against the American--and with a -plausibility which was startling to Hammer himself, certain as he was -of disproving the charge absolutely, on the return of Solomon. - -Yet, was Krausz so wholly to blame after all? Could he have known -those little things, such as the scar, and Hammer's ownership of the -yacht? He had been miles away all this time, and while he must have -furnished Jenson with letters to the German Consul, in order to get -the _askaris_, the little secretary must have acted on his own -initiative in regard to this charge. - -Krausz was no saint, but he was a sinner only because of his -life-work, his science; he was no plotter in the dark, and the very -theft which had brought him here, which had made him bring Sara -Helmuth with him as a sop to a guilty conscience, was attributable to -the secretary, who was his evil genius. And that Jenson could act on -his own initiative had been shown after Schlak's murder. - -Yes, concluded Hammer grimly, he had a godly score to settle with -Jenson. Solomon could handle Krausz, for he had long since -constituted himself the companion of Miss Helmuth, but Jenson was his -own peculiar affair. And, _askaris_ or no, he was going to the ruins -and get Jenson---- - -At this juncture the door opened. Behind the policeman entered two -of the German sailors from the _Daphne_, and behind him Adolf Jenson. - -Hammer said nothing. Thoroughly master of himself by now, he knew -the futility of threats, nor did he want to show Jenson his hand -unless it was necessary. But he soon found that it was highly -necessary for his own safety. - -"You are Adolf Jenson?" demanded the commissioner brusquely. - -"Yes, sir," and the secretary, more pallid-faced than ever, let his -eyes rest on Hammer's grim face, caught the flame in the American's -eyes, and shifted his gaze abruptly. - -Hammer remembered that the lieutenant had stated that Jenson had -remained only under protest. This, then, was why Solomon had not -found him with the _askaris_ in the bush. The two seamen gazed -stolidly at the commissioner. - -"You came ashore with Mr. Harcourt from the _Daphne_ the morning of -the 14th instant, according to your evidence sworn to at Mombasa?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Who else was with you in the boat?" - -"These two men, sir, as well as two more, who are now in camp with -Dr. Krausz, my master." - -"State what happened on the wharf." - -Jenson licked his lips nervously, but the sight of Hammer under -arrest seemed to give him courage. He had a red weal across one -cheek, which the American took to be the mark of Sara Helmuth's -bullet, fired during the struggle aboard the launch. - -"Why, sir, Captain Harcourt had just stepped ashore. I was right -behind him, sir, and there was a crowd of Arabs and natives all about -for the _Juba_ had just come in, and a number of surf-boats had come -ashore from her." - -He paused, the telling of the story being plainly distasteful to him. -Commissioner Smith nodded his head, reading one of the papers before -him. - -"The captain was a little ahead of me, for I had turned to see that a -man was left in the boat. I saw a man wearing a white burnoose step -close to Mr. Harcourt, and the next minute he had drawn a knife, sir. - -"Before any of us knew what was happening, he had stabbed Mr. -Harcourt. The hood of his burnoose fell off, and I recognized Mr. -Hammer there; then the captain grappled with him and struck him. -That's the mark over his eye, sir. It was made by a heavy ring that -the captain always wore." - -Jenson was an accomplished liar, thought Hammer grimly. Harcourt had -indeed worn a heavy seal ring. Again the man paused, licking his -lips, his face ghastly, and again the commissioner encouraged him -with a nod. - -"Go on." - -"He had the hood on again in a minute, sir, but not before we knew -who he was. As Mr. Harcourt fell I tried to reach him, but Mr. -Hammer's knife touched my cheek, just here, sir"--and Jenson -indicated the red weal under his eye. "Then, before we could do -anything more, he had slipped away into the crowd. That's all, I -think, sir." - -Jenson stepped back toward the door, in evident relief that his story -was done with. Except for the two native policemen on the bench, he -had the open doorway to himself, since the lieutenant had taken his -stand behind Hammer, one hand on his holstered revolver. - -The American eyed Jenson grimly enough, but still in silence. The -thought that was in his mind, occurred to the commissioner at the -same instant. - -"Look here, Jenson," said Smith, looking up for the first time, "your -story agrees with the facts as brought out by the inquiry at the -time, except that no such evidence was then given my assistant, who -made the inquiry. I'd like to know why you and these two men, who I -see gave their testimony in German, went down to the German Consulate -at Mombasa after a week had passed, instead of coming to me on the -spot and accusing the murderer?" - -"We were frightened, sir," returned Jenson promptly. "Mr. Hammer -threatened us a little later on, when he found that we had recognized -him. It wouldn't have mattered so much to me, sir, but the two men -here are members of the crew, and without their testimony mine would -not have been believed, I thought. - -"Mr. Hammer threatened to kill them if they said a word, sir. I went -to the camp of Dr. Krausz, who sent us at once to Mombasa, and then -to Zanzibar, where we produced a number of _askaris_ to guard the -camp, as you know, sir." - -"Yes, and I've taken that up with Nairobi, by Jove!" Smith seemed to -wake into life suddenly. "It's a deucedly funny affair that I have -to see German soldiers walk into my district to protect a man! If -Mombasa people hadn't agreed to it not one of 'em would have set foot -in Melindi, and if they aren't kicked out of here inside of two days -I'll hand in my resignation. Confound the insolence of you Germans!" - -He glared at Jenson, who cringed abjectly. Hammer, who had only been -forestalled by the commissioner's questions in regard to the delay in -giving evidence, smiled grimly across the stuffy little room at -Jenson, and the smile seemed to discourage the secretary entirely. -Shrinking back, he pointed at the American, his voice shrill. - -"I want you to protect me, sir! He's threatened to kill me before -now, and he carries revolvers----" - -"Did you search that man, lieutenant?" asked Smith sharply. - -Before the officer could reply Hammer drew the two revolvers from his -pocket and laid them on the table, still smiling. - -"Kindly observe that they are loaded," he said contemptuously; "also -that if I had desired to make any resistance it could have been done -very easily." - -Smith cast a single glance at his officer, who bit his lip again, for -he had evidently forgotten about searching his prisoner for weapons. - -The Commissioner forbore to make any observation, however, being -plainly highly incensed over Jenson's action in bringing the -_askaris_ into his district. - -"Look here, my man, I've a deuced good notion to send you after those -_askaris_ and ship the lot of you out of here to Mombasa! Confound -it, this isn't your bally German East Africa by a long shot, and if -you think you can carry things with a high hand in my district, -either you or I go, by Jove!" - -Jenson did not reply, save by an inarticulate mutter, and shifted his -gaze out of the open doorway, the two seamen consistently inspecting -the boards of the floor. Smith turned to Hammer, gathering up the -papers before him as if his task were done. - -"Well, Hammer, I trust you are satisfied that you will get justice -done you? And let us hear no more 'American citizen' talk----" - -"Is it customary here to allow an accused man to be heard in his own -defence?" broke in Hammer quietly. He saw that he had started off -badly, and that while Smith did not care a snap about the outcome of -the case, he did care about the dignity of his position and the brand -of justice which he was there to dispense. - -"I'm sorry if I offended you at first, Mr. Smith, but I didn't quite -understand the situation and was naturally indignant." - -"Why--er--of course, Hammer," assented the other, still with his air -of boredom, as he prepared to write. "Anything you may say, of -course. No deuced use, though, I'll say frankly: you're bound to go -to Nairobi for this thing----" - -"Oh, then my accusers will go, too, of course?" - -"Naturally," came the dry response. "And under the circumstances I'd -advise you to change your plea there, Hammer." - -"Thanks," smiled the American. Jenson, uneasy, was darting swift -little glances at him, but he paid no heed to the secretary. "But -I'd like to go on record as denying the whole affair, Mr. Smith. -When does the _Juba_ come in, may I ask?" - -"She's due to-morrow night, and you'll go back on her the next -morning." - -Much as he disliked to show Jenson his cards, Hammer saw that he had -no other choice. He did not want to leave on the _Juba_, and he -hoped to delay matters until the arrival of Solomon, with Sara -Helmuth. - -If only Potbelly, or Omar ibn Kasim, rather, had understood that last -signal of his! Surely Solomon could not be so very far away by now. - -"You still deny the accusation, then?" the commissioner was asking, -with some surprise in his tone. - -"Most certainly, sir. Not only do I deny the charge, but through the -evidence of Mr. Solomon, Miss Helmuth, and Dr. Fargo of the _Juba_, -who stayed over here, as you are aware, to attend Mr. Harcourt, I am -prepared to prove that not only was I unconscious at the time of the -attack on Mr. Harcourt, but that I was on board the _Daphne_. - -"If necessary, Roberts, the yacht's steward, can be brought out from -England to testify to that fact, since he caught the first steamer -home with certain of Mr. Harcourt's personal possessions. -Furthermore, through the same evidence----" - -Hammer paused, unwilling to lay out his whole hand as yet. The -commissioner was staring at him in blank amazement, while Jenson, -more pallid-faced than ever, was still looking nervously out the -doorway. Smith laughed as the American stopped speaking. - -"That's a poor game, don't you know, Hammer!" he said incredulously. -"You can't produce your witnesses, it seems, and you're making a play -for time that'll do you no good in the end. Now----" - -Suddenly Jenson interrupted, coming a pace forward. - -"Beg pardon, sir, but if you think it would be a good plan I can get -a launch at the wharfs and fetch these other two witnesses of mine, -sir, in time to catch the _Juba_. Their testimony would clinch -matters, sir." - -"Yes," and Smith nodded, pursing up his lips. "That's a good plan. -Go ahead----" - -"Stop him!" cried Hammer sharply, as Jenson sidled toward the door. -He could not make out the secretary's purpose, but it was clear that -Jenson was anxious to get away. "I charge that man with being Mr. -Harcourt's murderer----" - -"Enough, Hammer," ordered the commissioner coldly. "Another word and -you go in handcuffs. Get your witnesses, Jenson, and be back here by -to-morrow night at latest." - -Furious, barely able to restrain himself, the American saw Jenson -flit hastily from the door, leaving his two Germans still on the spot. - -From his position he was unable to see the street, and five minutes -had elapsed during which time Smith was giving instructions as to the -care of the two seamen and preparing his papers, until he ordered -Hammer taken to the little corrugated iron prison. - -He stopped the officer to order him to get John Solomon as a witness -when Hammer heard the sentry outside halt some person. - -"See who it is, sergeant," commanded Smith impatiently. - -The sergeant went out, but came back hurriedly. - -"Mr. John Solomon, sar." - -And a moment later the overjoyed American saw the pudgy form of -Solomon enter, with the grinning Omar Ibn Kasim at his heels like a -faithful watchdog. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -OFF AT LAST - -"Dang it, but it be a mortal 'ot day!" - -Solomon, with his mild observation, paused to mop his brow with a -flaming red handkerchief. Instantly offended, Smith snapped out a -curt question. - -"Your business with me, sir?" - -Solomon looked up, his blue eyes widening in surprise. - -"Why, dang it, if it ain't the new commissioner as I 'aven't met yet! -Werry pleased I am to meet you, sir, and 'ere's 'oping as 'ow we'll -get on well in future, as the old gent said to the new 'ousemaid. Me -name's Solomon, sir, John Solomon." - -"So I understand. Your business?" - -Solomon once more seemed surprised, then looked around and nodded to -Hammer. - -"Why, sir, I 'eard as 'ow me friend, Mr. 'Ammer, was 'ere, so I says -to meself: 'John,' says I, 'don't refuse a 'elping 'and to a friend! -'Elping 'ands is cheap,' I says; 'but friends is werry 'ard to find.' -So 'ere I be, sir, 'oping as 'ow you'll see fit to let Mr. 'Ammer go -with me." - -"You're a very innocent person," came the brusque reply. "Mr. Hammer -is accused of murder, and does not go _with_ you." - -"Lud! Murder! And who's 'e been and murdered, if I may make so -bold, sir?" - -Hammer grinned to himself, though inwardly worried over Jenson. Had -the man seen Solomon coming? - -"He's accused of murdering Mr. Harcourt, who died at your house not -long ago." - -"Lud! To think o' that!" Solomon fixed the commissioner with his -wide blue stare, seemingly as harmless as a baby's, then shifted it -to the officer. "Your servant, lieutenant, sir! Mr. Smith, might I -'ave bit o' speech with you in the other room, sir?" - -"You may not. By the way, lieutenant, better make sure of getting -Mr. Solomon as witness in this case I----" - -"Beggin' your pardon, sir; but if so be as you 'as the time, I'd like -a bit o' speech with you in the other room." - -Smith looked up, raging at Solomon's calm persistency. - -"Confound your deuced insolence, sir!" he began. "Do you think----" - -"Did you ever 'appen to 'ear, sir," and the wide blue eyes narrowed a -trifle, "as 'ow this station come wacant? Werry unforchnit it was, -sir, for the gentleman as was 'ere before you. Lieutenant, your -servant; if so be as you'd say a word to Mr. Smith----" - -"I really think, sir," said the police officer dryly, "that it would -be wise to grant Mr. Solomon's request." - -Smith glared from one to the other, while Hammer chuckled. Then, as -Solomon very calmly drew out clay pipe and plug, the commissioner -sprang to his feet and whirled into the other room. - -"Very well, Solomon." - -"Thank you, sir," and as Solomon passed the lieutenant of police, -Hammer caught an almost imperceptible wink. - -What transpired in the other room Hammer never knew. For a long ten -minutes those in the outer room listened to the hum of voices; then -the commissioner reappeared, his face very red indeed. - -"Lieutenant, put those two Dutchmen in cells and keep them there," he -ordered succinctly, and sat down at his table while Solomon came out. -For another few moments he wrote rapidly, then passed the paper to -Solomon, who scrutinized it carefully and signed. - -"I'm sorry this mistake occurred, Mr. Hammer," and the commissioner -turned to him with extended hand, which the American grasped. -"You'll have to go to Nairobi, of course; but I've accepted Mr. -Solomon's bond for your appearance there. By Jove! Sergeant, take -two men and get down to the wharfs; stop that fellow Jenson and bring -him up here. We'll land him for perjury, Solomon!" - -"Werry good, sir; and if so be as all's well, Mr. 'Ammer and I will -bid you good day. We'll be back werry shortly, I 'opes, sir." - -Once more in the free air, Hammer's first thought was for Jenson. As -he started after the sergeant Solomon stopped him with a quiet -chuckle and pointed out to a dot at the river-mouth. - -"Too late, sir. But there ain't no 'urry, Mr. 'Ammer. There's a -mortal lot in what the Arabs say about fate, sir; and if so be as a -man's turned to evil ways, sir, then 'e's got to run 'is course, I -says. Don't you fret, Mr. 'Ammer, we're a-going to send that 'ound -to 'ell, sir." - -To his surprise, the pudgy man led the way to the river, with Omar -trailing after them, and, as they went, Solomon explained matters -somewhat. - -When he had left with Omar, the day before, he had missed the trail -of Jenson and the _askaris_, owing to the fact that Jenson had been -fetched back to Melindi by the police. - -The _askaris_ had perforce come with him, but had been sent on to the -camp by launch, with a native for guide. Solomon had left no word of -his whereabouts because he wanted Hammer at the plantation house -where he could find him at a moment's notice. - -No such restrictions had been placed on the two Afghans, however, -since he was anxious to see them. Accordingly, having found out from -the servants the direction in which Solomon had started, they had -slipped out during the night and come to meet him. - -Not until after sending Omar to bring Hammer did Solomon find out -from a party of natives that he was on the wrong scent, so he had -promptly turned back, to be joined by Omar and brought to the -commissioner's office in the nick of time. - -"No such thing," returned Solomon to a remark by Hammer--"no such -thing as coincidence, Mr. 'Ammer. Just the way things work out, I -say. When the time comes to get that 'ound Jenson, why, we'll get -'im, sir, and not till then." - -"Where's Sara Helmuth?" asked the American. - -"Right 'ere, sir," and Solomon pointed to the wharf ahead. Then -Hammer saw that his own _Daphne_ launch and another were lying ready, -filled with Arabs; in the first was seated Sara Helmuth, who left the -shade of the awning to meet them as they came down the wharf. - -"A fair jewel, the missus is," but Solomon lowered his tone as he -went on. "I came to get you off, sir, while she took charge o' this -'ere. And werry well done it is, sir! Off we goes after Jenson." - -Few words passed between Hammer and the girl, to whom the story was -told as they chugged out into the lines of surf and headed to the -north. Quiet and self-contained as always, she had brought down the -men and provisioned the launches while Solomon had gone on to the -commissioner's. - -With the three of them beneath the awning sat the two Afghans, who -greeted Hammer with grave dignity, while Omar had taken command of -the other launch. - -In all, there were some fifteen Arabs in both craft--and after -leaving Melindi behind, fifteen very excellent Winchester rifles -mysteriously appeared, with all the appurtenances belonging thereto. - -Hammer suddenly appreciated the fact that these men were very -different from the chattering natives, and were apt to be dangerous. -When Solomon explained that his plan was to land Sara Helmuth and -five men a mile this side of the ruins that they might join the Arabs -behind the doctor's party, while he and Hammer would go straight for -the camp with the other ten, the American voiced his thoughts. - -"All very well, John; but wait a minute. Those two Germans back -there at Melindi were the same two I kicked off the yacht. Jenson -found them and didn't have much trouble persuading them to swear to -his lies, evidently. But that only goes to show what a hold he and -Krausz have on their men. There are eight _askaris_ and six seamen -up at the ruins now--fourteen in all, with Krausz and Jenson. - -"I'm not afraid of being outnumbered, since we've got it all over -them there; but I am afraid of a general row, and no mistake. If we -get into a shooting scrape and half a dozen men get laid out, these -Britishers will give it to us hot and heavy for going after Jenson on -our own hook, to say nothing of the danger to Sara----" - -"One minute, Mr. 'Ammer, sir. I'm werry strong wi' the governor, -sir, and the government generally, so to speak, so I wouldn't worry -none about a-shooting of all fourteen o' them 'ere men, wi' the -doctor into the bargain, sir." - -"Mind, I don't say to 'unt any such mess, Mr. 'Ammer; but if it -comes--why, I says to meet it half-way. This 'ere's a partnership -deal, sir--you for Jenson and me for the doctor; but so be as 'e gets -out peaceable, why, let 'im go. What be you a-going to do wi' this -Jenson?" - -"Take him back to the _Daphne_ and string him up, and explain to the -authorities afterward," announced Hammer. "I'd have brought the -engine-room crew if I'd known we were to go after Krausz hammer and -tongs, like this. If Jenson resists, I'll shoot him." - -To which intention Sara Helmuth made no objection whatsoever. - -Now for the first time Solomon had a chance to interview his Afghans, -for they had all been too worn out the night before to have any talk. -The result of their mission, which Yar Hussein announced with no -little pride, was embodied in the little sheepskin packet he had -carried. - -This, being opened, proved to contain some very well-copied plans -which Akhbar Khan had located among the archives--though he did not -say where or how. He was the locater and Yar Hussein the draftsman, -it seemed, and the work had been copied line for line and word for -word, even to the early seventeenth-century Portuguese text. - -Solomon held them in his lap, Sara Helmuth and Hammer leaning over -his shoulders as they inspected the plans and he explained them. The -first was a rude map of the coast, which clearly showed the location -of the fort and storehouses and barracoons; when erected, the latter -buildings had been well defended by the position of the fort itself, -though the coast seemed to have changed greatly. - -There were three others showing the Melindi--spelled -"Maleenda"--buildings, which Solomon tossed aside, but at the fifth -and last he uttered a grunt of satisfaction. This, to Hammer's -surprise, was labelled Fort San Joao. - -"That 'ere was its first name," explained Solomon knowingly. -"Accordin' to them papers o' Professor 'Elmuth's, it was changed to -Fort St. Thomas after its destruction. You see, sir and miss, some -o' them 'ere relics belonged to Saint Thomas--Didymus, I doubt it -was--and as they was never dug up again the name just stuck to the -place, so to speak. This 'ere'd be the place for Jenson, Mr. -'Ammer," and he chuckled again as he laid his finger on one of the -squares in the corner of the plan. - -As Solomon had told them before, the fort was merely a group of -buildings with a wall around, much as were the barracoons and -warehouses for less valuable goods. The corner to which he pointed -was that farthest away from shore, and seemed to be separated from -the fort proper by the angle of the corner bastion. - -"Why?" asked the girl. "What was that, John?" - -"This 'ere, miss, was a little room set above the ground, according -to the plan. It was a prison--them Portuguese were main cruel, which -was why they didn't last--and under this 'ere room was a stone pit -full o' puff-adders." - -Solomon went on to say that he had not seen this room when there -before, as there was too much jungle to inspect the place closely; -but the text, with the plans, explained its purpose fully. - -In fact, it was not until a native king had perished in this -snake-pit that the place was finally attacked and razed, with the -help of the fleet from Muscat which had already taken Port Jesus, or -Mombasa. - -Suddenly, Hammer recollected Omar's wild tales about monkeys throwing -skulls at him and pits full of snakes, and related what he could of -the man's story. - -Solomon nodded gravely, saying that there might still be snakes -there, though the monkeys were probably imagination, and fully -reassured Sara Helmuth that she would be in no danger through joining -his Arabs and making camp in the ruins; and, in any case, puff-adders -would hardly be encountered outside the pit. - -Upon which, with the air of a man who has played his part exceeding -well, Solomon stated that he was in need of rest and would take a nap -until the run was finished. - -Hammer had seen no sign of Jenson's launch ahead, for he had no -glasses, and the secretary had obtained a good start. When Solomon -had curled up on the bottom beneath the thwarts the American sat -beside Sara Helmuth in the stern, as they had sat on that eventful -night that seemed ages ago, when Baumgardner had paid for treachery -with his life. - -"Talk about Arabian Nights," laughed Hammer grimly, glancing back at -Omar's launch in their wake, "I guess this is the limit, Sara! I've -half a notion to use that snake-pit on Jenson after----" - -"Don't, please!" She shivered despite the heat, then met his gaze -and smiled. "I know you didn't mean it, Hammer, but it sounded -anything but nice. Now tell me--I have been thinking about something -during the past few days, and I wonder if--if this man Jenson could -have had anything to do with my father's death?" - -Hammer stared at her, trouble in his eyes. - -"I don't know. The man is a regular viper; but though it has -occurred to me, also, I rather fancy that he's not guilty of that, -Sara. You see, he's hardly the sort of man who commits murder except -when he's panic-stricken--a cornered rat, exactly, even to his face. -He murdered Mohammed Bari in the hope of getting away from me, and he -murdered Harcourt in blind panic, thinking he was discovered." - -The girl looked pensive, and said: - -"I'm glad you think that, Hammer; because, while I'm afraid I hate -the man as much as you do, if I thought he had injured father in any -way, I don't know just what I would do. No, I think you're right. -He started out by lying about that horrible murder on board your -yacht, didn't he? And he just got in deeper and deeper through his -desperate efforts to get out until----" - -"Until he's in too deep to ever get out now," concluded Hammer. -"Shouldn't wonder if John's right in his doctrine of Kismet. -Jenson's whole life, little and mean and full of lies, has been -leading him up to this very point, it would seem. He hasn't met his -punishment yet, but it's mighty close, seems to me." - -"Yes. But isn't that always the way, Hammer? Isn't a man's life, -and a woman's, always slowly leading up to some great moment? It has -always seemed to me like a mosaic, in which every little action fits -like a stone--insignificant in itself, and yet giving its tiny detail -to the making of the whole, until the great moment of highest power -or highest failure comes. - -"It may not be very high, but I think it comes to everyone, banker or -grocer's clerk, and whether it is power or failure depends largely on -the structure of the mosaic. How do you like my philosophy?" - -"I'm afraid it's very true," returned Hammer slowly, his voice low, -his eyes gazing straight over the bow of the launch. Something in -his tone struck the girl, for the underlying earnestness in her own -voice crept into her eyes as she watched him. - -The American's thoughts were not pleasant. It came to him that this -argument of hers was indeed very sound, and he quailed before it. -Jenson's whole life had been leading up to his greatest villainy; his -own entire life had been leading up to--what? So with other men he -knew, and women. - -So with his own wife--her life a tissue of trifles, of petty vanities -and unworthy ambitions, until it had culminated in finding a man -after her own stamp, and her preferment of him to her husband. - -Little things, all of them, yet when united all led irrevocably to -some great valley of decision. Why, this serious-eyed girl had hit -to the very heart of things! - -So, never looking at her, he told her his story. - -She listened, half-fascinated by the virility of him, half-awed by -the fact that she had pierced to his soul unthinkingly. She watched -the fine-lined face, whose rare smiles swept away its harshness; the -clear eyes that frowned into the blaze of afternoon sun; the firm, -almost too firm, mouth and chin and nose. - -And as she watched, harkening to his low words, the faintest trace of -a smile touched her lips, though in her eyes there was only a great -compassion. - -"So, you see, you hit near home, Sara," he concluded. "What my great -moment will be there is no telling; but if it were to come soon I -would be afraid--yes, afraid to meet it, I think. Harcourt met his -great moment with a clean heart, like the splendid man he was; but my -little moments have not been so good, so open to all the world, so -fearless and honest as his." - -She was silent an instant; then, "But they have been strong, Hammer! -And better a devil than a fool! No; when that great moment of yours -arrives I think it will be one of power, not of failure; I would like -to see what happens when it does come." - -A sudden blaze outbroke in the man, and he turned; but the words on -his lips were interrupted. - -"'Ere! 'Ere! Dang it, you've been and passed the place!" - -Startled, he looked around to see Solomon awakened and hastily -gaining his feet. It seemed that Hammer had passed the intended -landing-place of Sara Helmuth by a good half-mile, very nearly -reaching that of himself and Solomon, in fact; for, looking ahead, he -could see a launch anchored and rocking lazily to the swells, while -on the shore was the deserted boat. - -He swept his launch around, bidding Omar shut oft power and wait -where he was. As they had no boat, Solomon went into the bow and -conned the shoal-water until, at his cry, Hammer shut off the engine. - -A swift order sent five of the men over the side, up to their knees -in water; and these took up Sara Helmuth and carried her to shore, -where all vanished amid the trees a moment later, after a last wave -of the hand. - -"All right, Mr. 'Ammer!" cried Solomon, relaxing. "They'll be in -camp in an hour, God willing." - -"And in less than that time we'll either have our friend Jenson ready -for the rope, or else we'll have a sweet scrap on our hands," added -the American. But he was now thankful to John Solomon, for that -sudden awakening had saved him from words which he might have sorely -regretted. - -Five minutes later the launch was at anchor, and Hammer, lowering -himself from the arms of his bearers, saw the path to the ruins -directly ahead of him. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -DR. KRAUSZ PROVES OBSTINATE - -Hammer was by no means certain as to the attitude of Dr. Sigurd -Krausz, and he was very certain indeed as to the attitude of the -British East African officials. He knew that if he played a waiting -game for a day or so, District Commissioner Smith would see to it -that the scientist's force was disrupted and the _askaris_ -transported home, and his recent elbow-brush with the law had shown -him very vividly that men do not die in East Africa without -investigations, and reasonably thorough ones at that. - -Wherefore, with the flame of vengeance no whit undimmed, but burning -in the lamp of caution, he waited for Solomon to land the rest of the -Arabs and the two Afghans, who had also been given rifles. - -"Going to take the men up with us, John? It might be wiser not to -make any display of arms until we see what Krausz intends to do." - -Solomon nodded, and spoke in Arabic: - -"Keep the men here, Omar. We'll be back before sunset." - -"And if you do not come, _effendi_!" - -"Then see that no one from the other party reaches their boats, but -do not fire the first shot. If there is a fight, your task will be -to cut them off from escape." - -Mopping his streaming brow--for there was not a breath of -wind--Solomon turned to the American. - -"If so be as you're ready, sir? It don't seem as 'ow there'd be any -trouble, Mr. 'Ammer; so we'll not take any arms, if it's the same to -you, sir. Guns is all werry well in their place, I says; but if men -wasn't so danged anxious to be carryin' of 'em there wouldn't be so -many cartridges wasted, says I. So we'll go gentle like and meet the -doctor 'alf-way, so to speak." - -Hammer handed back the rifle he had taken from Yar Hussein, and -nodded. Knowing the path up to the ruins, he plunged into the -opening; but Solomon insisted on going ahead, fearing that Jenson -might be lying in wait and might go crazed with fear again at sight -of the American. - -The latter laughed, and gave way, and he was surprised at the agility -with which Solomon clambered along, for the pudgy little man gave no -great evidence of bodily activity to a casual eye. Remembering the -episode of Hans Schlak, however, Hammer decided to suspend judgement. -He had already found John Solomon highly surprising in more ways than -one. - -Though he watched the jungle keenly as they proceeded, he could -detect no sign of danger. But surely Jenson must have known that he -would be followed, and Krausz would not be fool enough to put out no -sentries! - -Nor was he, as the American found out soon enough. They had covered -perhaps half the trail, and had just crossed an open space amid the -bamboo thickets, when Solomon, four yards ahead of Hammer, vanished -around an abrupt turn in the trail. - -The American pushed hastily after him, and upon rounding the same -bend was brought up in startling fashion. - -Solomon had halted, and directly in front of him Hammer saw Dr. -Krausz calmly seated on a camp-stool, with that murderous, -double-barrelled shot-gun of his covering the approach. So, then, -their launch had been seen! Behind the doctor stood two gigantic -Masai _askaris_, their black faces stolid. - -For a moment, Krausz looked at the two men before him, his heavy face -impassive, but that ribbon of muscle beating, beating, beating -endlessly on his brow. He was perfectly sober, the American was glad -to note, though none the less dangerous on that account; and when at -last he broke the silence his voice was impassive as his face, as -though he were exercising a great restraint upon himself. - -"So you have come back, Mr. Hammer! And what are you doing in this -man's company, Mr. Solomon--you who used to work for Professor -Helmuth, yess?" - -In his last words contempt flashed out, but Solomon's eyes only -opened a trifle wider as he met the sullen, menacing gaze of Krausz. -By tacit consent Hammer allowed his companion to do the talking. - -Solomon's answer was characteristic, however. Before replying, he -put a hand inside his coat, paying no heed to the swift movement of -the doctor's shot-gun, and drew out his red, morocco-bound notebook. -Then, wetting his thumb, he opened it and shuffled over the leaves -until he found the place desired. - -"Ah, 'ere it be, all ship-shape and proper!" He held it out, and -Krausz took it, but without relaxing his vigilance. At a word from -him the two Masai brought up their rifles while he glanced down at -the notebook. - -"Werry sorry I am, Dr. Krausz, sir," went on the little man -apologetically, "for to bring this 'ere account to your notice, but -you asked a question, sir, and so I answers according. If a man -can't tell 'is business honest like, I says, why, 'e ain't no -business 'aving any business, says I. If you'll just turn over the -page, sir, I made so bold as to set down Mr. 'Ammer's account wi' -Jenson, keepin' same separate _and_ distinct from the account o' -Solomon and 'Elmuth." - -But Krausz was paying no heed to the words. As he read, his heavy -jaw snapped shut, and a dark flush rose slowly to his brow, where the -muscle was pulsating terribly. - -Deeper and deeper grew the flush, though he forced himself to turn -over the page and read to the end; then, with a swift movement, he -dashed the notebook down and sprang up with fists extending and -shaking, the shot-gun slipping unheeded to the ground. - -"Swine!" he roared, furious almost beyond control. "Swine!" - -Hammer prepared for anything as Krausz advanced, for one blow from -the big man would put him or Solomon in hospital. The latter, -however, only gave Krausz a reproachful glance and bent over to pick -up the notebook, without heeding the great fists which waved about -his head. The action seemed to both puzzle and calm the infuriated -archaeologist. - -"It iss foolishness!" he foamed, yet looked curiously at Solomon. -"Thiss Professor Helmuth, she iss crazy, no?" - -"No, sir," retorted Solomon simply; "no more'n I be, sir. You see, -doctor, I was in partnership with 'er father, in a manner o' -speakin', and 'e wrote me a letter before 'e went and died, 'e did." - -"What?" Krausz controlled himself, swept the brutishness out of his -face, and concentrated his keen energies on John Solomon's -personality. "You were my supercargo, yess? Then you were a spy, -also!" - -"Yes, sir, so to speak. I----" - -Krausz interrupted with a brusk gesture as he turned his broad back. - -"Come." - -Solomon and Hammer followed him, the two _askaris_ falling in behind. -Hammer was not at all convinced that Krausz did not intend treachery, -but there was no help for it, and he followed, wondering if Sara -Helmuth had by this time joined forces with Solomon's Arabs behind -the camp. - -He could not know what was in Krausz's mind, or if the scientist had -by this time heard of Harcourt's death. It was possible, indeed, -that Jenson had carried his trickery through to the extent of -deceiving his master, though Krausz was not a man to be easily -deceived. - -Now the camp hove in sight ahead, and to his surprise Hammer saw that -work on the ruins had been abandoned. More, the hastily-constructed -huts of the natives seemed deserted, while the sailor-overseers were -sitting idly beneath a large tree. - -But, on the hill-top above, he could see an _askari_ standing -sentinel, while five more were scattered about the camp. Of Jenson -there was no sign, and Hammer guessed rightly enough that the -secretary was inside the doctor's tent. - -"This is great state in which to receive poor wayfarers," said Hammer -dryly. "Ready for our ultimatum, doctor?" - -The other strode on without answering, curtly bade them wait, -disappeared within his own tent, and emerged a moment later with one -of his black panatelas smoking mightily. - -Already irritated by the manner of their reception, the American -suddenly found himself furiously angry, and flung off the hand of the -ever-watchful Solomon without ceremony. - -"No, you've said your say, John, and got nothing for it. I'll talk -to this brute and show him that we mean business." - -With which he strode up to Krausz grimly and delivered his -"ultimatum" without any preliminaries. - -"You mind your eye, Krausz! You're here after stealing a girl's -property and trying to bluff her with threats, but I'm not calling -you to account for that. You're shielding a murderer here, and I -want him. You tried to shelter him once before and got what was -coming to you, but you hand over Jenson now or you'll learn what's -what in a very different way." - -"Who hass he murdered?" The other eyed him, puffing calmly. - -"Captain Harcourt, and I guess you know it!" - -"And," Solomon came forward with something in his manner that was -almost boldness, surprising Hammer greatly, "I'd like to say, doctor, -as 'ow you'd better move out of 'ere werry quick, like. A man as'll -steal from a lady, I says, ain't to be trusted nohow. It's 'uman -nature to steal, I says, but----" - -"Be quiet!" broke out Krausz, losing his calm. "How iss thiss? You -say that Jenson killed Mr. Harcourt? That iss a lie! A damnable -lie!" He glared at them, overlooking entirely the charges of Solomon. - -"Well, do something," suggested the American challengingly. "Hand -him over or refuse, one of the two." - -"Wait," and Krausz pointed to the tent of Sara Helmuth. "Go in -there, both of you, and in the morning----" - -"Not on your life," and Hammer took a step forward threateningly. -"You make up your mind right here and now, Krausz. I don't give a -whoop which you do--all I want to know is----" - -"Go," repeated the other, displaying no other emotion than the -pulsating ribbon of muscle. "Go, or my _askaris_ take their whips to -you, and shoot if you refuse, yess! Now go." - -Hammer, breathing hard, saw an _askari_ approach, trailing the long -lash of a rhinoceros-hide whip behind him, two others standing with -rifles ready. - -"Then you will give us your decision in the morning, doctor?" asked -Solomon rather humbly. Krausz flung him a swift look of contempt. - -"Yess, to you and Mr. Hammer both. Go!" - -Solomon turned and went. Hammer hesitated, but seeing that they were -practically prisoners, turned and followed. - -At anyrate, thought the angry American, the enemy had taken the -offensive and had only himself to blame for what followed. - -An escape that night, or a signal to the Arabs, who were, no doubt, -aware of what was forward, and Krausz would find himself up against -something solid. - -But Solomon had no intention of either escaping or signalling, as he -flatly stated when Hammer had exhausted his arguments. The other, -sucking his clay pipe, accepted the situation very complacently. - -"What better could we 'ave asked, Mr. 'Ammer? ''Ere,' says 'e, 'I'll -give you me answer in the morning.' 'Werry good,' says I. 'E can't -get away, nor can Jenson. Nor, for the matter o' that, can we; but -'e thinks as 'ow our men are down by the shore and 'e don't know -about them as Miss 'Elmuth 'as. It wasn't worry as made Methusalum -live longer'n most men, sir, as the Good Book says." - -Hammer grunted, but knowing the hopelessness of trying to shake -Solomon's conviction, said no more. His eagerness to get hold of the -man was accentuated a thousandfold by Jenson's nearness, yet he could -see that there was some reason in Solomon's argument. - -Also, two _askaris_ brought in their supper before long, and since -they were to eat alone, Hammer pitched in and made a good meal, -feeling more comfortable over a pipe afterward. - -In any case, they had Krausz on the hip, what with the men watching -the boats and the second party in the ruins of the real fort. - -For that matter, he need not be made to move; they could settle down -and dig up the treasure, as Solomon had hinted, without the Germans -knowing anything at all about it. - -What Hammer did not know was that the reading of that notebook and -Solomon's words about stealing from a lady had sent a desperate and -terrible fear through the big Saxon. - -It was not the fear of bodily ill, but it was the fear of the -scientist who sees that thing for which he has worked and planned and -bartered his soul suddenly about to be snatched from him. - -It is a bad fear to have place in a man's heart, but worse when that -man is able and determined and when he has staked much upon the issue. - -"What's become of the natives?" asked Hammer when they were about to -turn in. "Krausz had about two hundred of 'em the last time I was -here." - -Solomon chuckled. "I sent 'em word to be gone 'ome, sir. They -worship some kind o' snake god 'ereabouts, Mr. 'Ammer, so I sent 'em -a quiet 'int that the doctor 'e was a-goin' to sacrifice some of 'em. -That settled it." - -"Snake god?" repeated the American thoughtfully. "Anything to do -with that den of snakes we were talking about?" - -"Not as I knows on, sir. To be downright frank, it's some years -since I've been and lived 'ere, sir, and I ain't kept in touch -rightly wi' things. 'Owsoever, it may be, though I 'as me doubts." - -"Snakes don't live without food," retorted Hammer. "They might have -a sort of voodoo business along here, which would explain their snake -god and also why the snakes had kept alive--for I guess Omar ibn -Kasim was telling the truth after all, in part." - -Leaving to the morning the question whether they were to be hostages -or captives or free men, Hammer slept the sleep of the just that -night. They were wakened to receive an early breakfast, which was -soon followed by the intimation that "Bwana Krausz" wished to see -them in the other tent. Solomon nodded, but stopped Hammer as the -latter was preparing to follow the Masai. - -"Just a minute, sir. It strikes me that you 'ave a way to make 'im -give up Jenson, if so be as 'e refuses, Mr. 'Ammer." - -"Eh? How's that?" - -"Why, 'e don't know about the real fort, and no more 'e don't know as -Jenson 'as 'fessed up to Miss 'Elmuth about them there papers 'e -stole from 'er father. Jenson 'asn't been and told 'im, you can lay -to that, sir! 'E'll be fair mad when 'e finds it out." - -"Oh, if it comes to that, we'll make him give in," returned the -American slowly. "But I don't fancy the method, John, and that's a -fact. I'm sore at that big Dutchman for his general conduct, and I'd -like to make him crawl without using any such side-issues. But we'll -see what turns up; it's certainly a good card to hold." - -They found Krausz seated at the table in his own tent, two _askaris_ -at the door, and two more of the seamen within call. At one side sat -Jenson, who was very plainly possessed by one of his cowardly fits, -and who contented himself with darting a venomous glance at the two -as they entered. - -Krausz motioned Solomon to one side and transfixed Hammer with a -baleful stare, at which the American grew angry instantly. - -"Well?" he rasped out, "what have you to say?" - -"Thiss, my friend. I have found out who killed Mr. Harcourt. He -wass a good man, and a good captain, and I am sorry. Adolf did not -kill him, but you did, and for that you shall hang by the neck, yess. -Ass for taking Adolf away, that iss foolishness. Adolf shall take -you, yess." - -Hammer collected himself, for he had half-expected such a counter -accusation from the secretary, who was desperately endeavouring to -weave such a network of lies about the death of Harcourt that he -might be able ultimately to wriggle out through some loophole. Angry -as the American was, he laughed shortly. - -"Suit yourself, Krausz. Adolf never goes away from here except in -irons, though. So, now that you've settled me so neatly, what about -Mr. Solomon?" - -Krausz turned to Solomon, who looked very wide-eyed at him. - -"As for you, Mr. Solomon, I do not like people with notebooks, no. -You also are a very big liar, and to a bad end you will come. I -might prosecute you for blackmail, but no. Out you shall go, but do -not think you can----" - -"_Bwana_!" - -A sudden disturbance arose outside, followed by a shout in German. -One of the seamen entered and made a hurried speech in that language, -to which the doctor nodded, looking slightly surprised. The man -hurried out again. - -"Ah! I thought we saw you land Miss Helmuth yesterday, yess!" He -beamed on the American, caressing the thin cigar in his mouth, and -his face was cruel. "Also I thought she would not stay out in the -jungle long, for here she iss!" - -Hammer started. Was Sara really coming, then? She or Omar must have -seen that he and Solomon were prisoners, of course, but it was a mad -thing to come in and throw away their best chance of rescue! - -He flung a despairing glance at Solomon, which fetched a chuckle from -Krausz, but Solomon merely stared like a surprised baby and kept -silence. - -Of course the girl would lead out her men and make what show of force -she could, thought Hammer, edging around to get a view of the ground -immediately outside the tent. - -With fifteen men here, and ten more under Omar against his fourteen, -even the stubborn Saxon must see that he was outnumbered. An instant -later the American felt dismay tugging at his heart. - -For Sara Helmuth came in alone, with neither Afghan nor Arab behind -her, but with an _askaris_ and a seaman conducting her. With a -glance at Hammer and Solomon she walked up to Krausz, who doffed his -sun-helmet for a wonder, and opened fire. - -"What does this mean, doctor? Are my friends your prisoners?" - -"Not at all, dear lady," he beamed, putting forward a camp-chair, -which she ignored. "Thiss Mr. Hammer iss a murderer, and later on -Adolf takes him back to justice, yess! Thiss Mr. Solomon is an -impudent little fat man, who gets turned out in the jungle to -starve--but away from hiss men, yess, away from hiss men. Not on the -seaward side, you understand!" - -He smirked knowingly, and the anger in the girl flashed out. - -"You scoundrel! For a man of your position to stoop so low as to -steal and lie! Oh, I know the whole story now! You stole those -papers from my father, your friend, as he was dying; but you didn't -steal them all, Dr. Sigurd Krausz! Poor fool of a thief that you -are, not even to know a fort from a slave barracoon--and yet you call -yourself an archaeologist! Why, you don't even know what the -treasure is yet, the best part of it, nor where it is, nor where the -real fort is! And you never will know. Now, either send Mr. Hammer -and Mr. Solomon safely out with me, or I'll----" - -"Beggin' your pardon, miss, but if so be as I could smoke it'd be a -mortal help!" - -The words were a desperate effort on the part of Solomon to save the -situation. So rapidly had the furious girl poured out her -denunciation that before Hammer realized what she was saying, before -any one could intervene, she had given away the secret. - -Solomon's words, however, and the look that he flashed her, saved her -from letting Krausz know any more. It was all-important that he -should not know that they had men in the jungle ready to spring at -his throat. - -As she realized what she had said she went deadly pale; but there was -no wavering in her eyes, and Hammer, dismayed though he was, could -not but approve her for it. Krausz, too, caught the meaning of her -words, but more slowly. - -As he grasped their import his face changed from red to white, and a -snarl came into his eyes; then he sank into his camp-chair, gazing -steadily at her as he forced himself into control and tried to read -meaning into her words. - -"You know the whole story now--so! And they were not all stolen, -yess? But what iss thiss--that I do not know a fort from a slave -barracoon--_Himmel_! That iss why we found nothing! And, _fräulein_, -you know all these things, yess?" - -"I do, and you shall not know them." - -"Listen, _fräulein_!" He leaned forward, sweat dripping from his -face, and earnestness in every feature, while the ribbon of muscle on -his brow pounded furiously. - -"You know thiss, and I do not, _hein_? What will you take that you -shall tell me? It iss nothing to you, it iss everything to me!" - -"Tell you?" And the scorn in her voice lashed him like a whip. -"Thief and liar that you are! Tell you? I would sooner tell that -man Jenson there than you!" - -"Ah, yess! Jenson!" Still he gazed at her, fighting himself hard. -"I have made a mistake, then? Thiss iss not the fort, but I knew -that much already, _fräulein_! And this Mr. Hammer iss your -friend--_Ach, mein Gott_! It wass you who told about the papers, -Jenson!" - -The big Saxon whirled in his chair, his hand shot out, and Jenson, -clutched by the shoulder, was dragged bodily over the table into the -group. The fellow was too frightened even to whimper, and the blaze -in the eyes of Krausz seemed to paralyse him. - -"So, it wass you who told, while you were away! You told, swine! -Listen, _fräulein_! Tell me what you know, and we shall be partners, -yess! Tell me, and this Mr. Hammer he shall take Adolf with him! -Perhaps it wass Adolf who killed Captain Harcourt, after----" - -Quick as Jenson was, the scientist was quicker, his foot shooting out -with the swiftness of light. Hammer fancied that Jenson's wrist was -broken by the kick, for he screamed once, horribly, even before the -knife fell to the ground. Krausz flung him to the seamen with an -order in German, and a moment later Hammer was seized and his hands -bound before he could resist. - -The incident aroused all the brute in Krausz and he stood glaring -around for a moment, Sara Helmuth instinctively shrinking before him. - -"You, _fräulein_, you know me! Yess, the papers were stolen, but I -did not come to the right place? Then you shall tell me where that -place it iss. - -"I will not," came her firm answer. - -Krausz turned and snapped out an order in German, pointing to Hammer. -The American saw one of the sailors snatch the rhinoceros-hide whip -from the _askari_, but the girl's face had gone white. - -"Stop!" she almost screamed. "I'll tell--I'll take you there; but -not that!" - -"Good," grunted the Saxon, watching her malevolently. Jenson, bound -and writhing impotently, was laid on the ground, and he took the whip -from the seaman. - -"Get up, Jenson." A stroke of the whip and Jenson rose; what with -the whip and his arm, the man was in agony, and Hammer almost pitied -him. - -A few orders from Krausz, and Solomon was bidden go where he -willed--on the landward side of camp; two _askaris_ forced Jenson and -Hammer along, two more followed, and with Krausz and Sara Helmuth -walking side by side the party proceeded up the hill toward the -jungle and the ruins beyond, while John Solomon looked after them for -an instant and then incontinently took to his heels. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE PLACE OF SKULLS - -Cyrus Hammer, as he was forced along beside Jenson, was aware that -the crisis had come in the twinkling of an eye and that he had proven -wanting. Sara Helmuth had met it in his place--and Krausz had proven -victor. - -On the surface, at least. But, as he heard Sara Helmuth telling the -scientist the tale of the real fort, Hammer smiled to himself. She -might reveal the secret of the fort and treasure and all else--for -Krausz had done the very thing which Hammer had never for an instant -dreamed that he would do in releasing John Solomon. - -The American recollected that, to Krausz, Solomon was no more than a -mere pudgy little man who had shoved himself into the affairs of -others, and for whom a day of wandering in the jungle would be -veritable torture. - -Krausz had woven his own net, for the only man there able to warn him -against Solomon was Jenson, and from Jenson he would receive no -warning. Moreover, Hammer saw that vengeance was like to be taken -from his hands, since Jenson's punishment was slowly but surely -drawing in upon him. - -His exultation did not last long, however. He soon saw that, short -of a murderous volley which would cut down all four _askaris_ and -Krausz with them, Solomon could not do much to help them just at -present. - -The girl was telling Krausz of the treasure now as they stood among -the trenches on the hill, where tools lay flung about as the natives -had deserted them. - -Krausz had done a good deal, thought Hammer; in that week he had -found out for himself that he was on a false scent--and that despite -Solomon's prediction to the contrary. - -Behind them the camp lay quiet, smoke curling up from the fires, the -seamen and the four remaining _askaris_ looking after the party. In -front stretched the jungle, deep green and yellow tangles of vines -and trees and bamboos. The girl turned to Hammer. - -"Do you know just how to get in there, Hammer?" she said wearily. -"I've promised to guide the doctor there, and----" - -He saw that she was trying not to betray the secret of the camp from -which she had come, but with Solomon gone to his men, as he plainly -was, there was naught to be feared. - -"Lead us by the path you came," he reassured her, Krausz paying no -heed, but searching the jungle with eager eyes. "The ruins ought to -be straight back from these, about two hundred yards or so." - -She caught the meaning of his words and his quick smile and, with an -answering flash in her eyes, turned back to Krausz, who still bore -the whip taken from the _askari_. Though he carried no gun, Hammer -caught a bulge in the coat-pocket of the big Saxon and knew that he -was not unarmed. - -Now, without further hesitation, Sara Helmuth led the way across the -half-trenched lines of ruins. The American saw that when she had -come to the camp that morning out of the jungle-hid fort it had been -with little fear of such a result as this. - -Perhaps trusting in John Solomon or himself, perhaps determined, if -necessary, to force the doctor's hand by threat of exposure--any one -of a hundred reasons flashed through Hammer's mind; but the central -thought was that she had borne herself far better than had he. - -Bound, helpless, marched at the side of the staggering, moaning -Jenson, he found himself forced into a narrow path, and the jungle -closed around them. - -Krausz was not careless, however. Finding that the path was actually -walled in by trees, bamboos, and creepers, and doubtless suspicious -at seeing it recently cleared, he sent an _askari_ ahead, then Sara -Helmuth, and followed himself, with another _askari_ behind, his long -whip ready for action, and ordered Hammer and his guard immediately -behind, while Jenson and the fourth Masai brought up the rear. - -Barely had they got well in shelter of the jungle than Hammer, with -Jenson's moans coming from behind like the inarticulate cries of a -trapped beast, felt the hand of his guard fumbling with the cords -that bound his wrists. - -He half-turned in surprise, when a hand on his shoulder pressed him -about again; with the fingers of his other hand the Masai tapped -gently on the little silver ring Hammer still wore, and the latter -understood. - -This Masai fighting man, brought by Jenson from Zanzibar to defend -Krausz, with the German eagle on tunic and fez, had recognized the -sign of John Solomon, and had made answer to it! - -Almost as the unbelievable thought found its way into his brain he -felt that his bonds were loosened; a warning hand pressed his wrist -again, and was gone. He comprehended that for the present he was not -to free himself, and though the impulse was in him to leap on Krausz -from behind, he held it in check and followed blindly. - -In one respect at least the scientist seemed sincere, and that was in -his belief, inspired by Jenson, that Hammer had stabbed Harcourt. -Indeed, in matters foreign to his calling Krausz was probably all -that could be wished. - -But he, too, beginning at the comparatively innocuous point of taking -the papers belonging to the dying Helmuth, had been wound in the -skein of cumulative wrong-doing, reflected Hammer. He was not weak -like Jenson, however; his wrong-doing was aggressive, determined, -positive, while that of Jenson was decidedly negative. - -Where the hiding-place of the relics and papers was the American -himself did not know, though Solomon and the girl did. Now Krausz -knew as well, or soon would, for Hammer divined Sara's intention -perfectly. - -She would give up all in order to appease the Saxon, depending on -Solomon to eventually overpower the latter, if he did not first -prevent the disclosure of the secret. - -Hammer spared no thought on himself. That he was in any present -danger did not occur to him, since he could not suspect the thoughts -behind the doctor's heavy-lidded eyes and throbbing band of muscle. - -For the jungle smell had entered into the nostrils of the -scientist--and whether it be in jungle or forest or sand reaches, no -man can taste the loneliness of Nature and hold to his veneer of -man-learning. - -It is the same whether he be beside the Mackenzie or the Mahakkam, -under Kilimanjaro or Tacoma. Once away from his kind, man forgets -his kind, for the despotism of the wild overbears all else. - -It was so with Krausz and, to a certain sense, with Sara Helmuth; it -was so with Hammer, though he did not comprehend it; but if it was so -with John Solomon no man could say. - -"We are here," exclaimed the girl dully. - -The party halted. Without perceiving it in the half-gloom of the -overhanging masses of vegetation, they had suddenly come among -half-fallen walls, ruined stone structures that loomed far up and -were held in place by thigh-thick vines. - -Through some had pierced old trees and limbs of trees, yet the walls -still held in grotesque mimicry; no roofs were there, but only walls -and ruins of walls. And over the place brooded silence, with never a -chattering of monkey or parrot's screech to quiver hollowly up. - -Hammer felt a twitch at his arm, but shook off the hand of the -_askari_. If the man thought he was going to run for it and leave -Sara Helmuth in the lurch, he was much mistaken. Slowly, very -slowly, the American saw that men had been here not long before, -since in amid the ruins were evidences of clearing--lopped branches -piled up in places, flickering shadow-gleams of sunlight that -filtered down from somewhere above, and queer white fragments that -strewed the ground in spots. - -If Krausz saw this, however, he paid small heed, but clambered over a -smoothed-out pile of stones, the others following. - -"_Gott_! Truly thiss iss the real place!" - -He stood looking around, caressing the handle of the whip with his -fingers. On three sides towered walls and trees and vines, -inextricable and undefined; where walls ended and trees began it was -impossible to say, for the growth of two hundred jungle years is not -to be lightly set aside by a few Arabs in a week's time. Jenson sank -down where he stood, cowed into silence by the silence around. - -Suddenly, as if the echoes of the doctor's words had worked through -the interstices of the leafy roof, a great burst of shrill chattering -arose somewhere overhead. - -Hammer jumped, startled; at the same instant two or three white -objects shot down from nowhere, apparently. Two burst into shreds, -the other struck a mossy wall and rebounded to the feet of Krausz, -who leaped back in alarm. - -One half-stifled shriek burst from the first _askari_ and stilled the -clamour above. Sara Helmuth stared at the thing, as did everyone -else, her face very pale; and Hammer knew, at last, that Omar ibn -Kasim had spoken truth indeed--for the object was a skull. - -An oath from Krausz recalled the frightened _askaris_ to their -vigilance. He stood mopping his brow and staring from the unbroken -skull to the trees above, and, as Hammer glanced up, he saw one or -two dark forms flitting about the top of the nearest wall and -vanishing in the trees. - -"Monkeys!" exclaimed Sara Helmuth, her eyes unnaturally large, but -her voice firm. "Are you afraid of monkeys and skulls, Herr Doctor?" - -For answer Krausz snorted and picked up the skull. He flung it away -instantly. - -"Pah! It iss mouldy--it hass been the ground in. Monkeys--pigs of -scavengers! Yess, thiss iss the place." - -For a moment he stood silent. Then, for the gruesome thing must have -wakened the depths of him, he swiftly changed the whip to his left -hand, drew a revolver with the other, and turned on the group behind -him. - -Hammer started at the change in the man. His great brow was mottled, -as were his cheeks, save for the panting band of muscle that stood -out deep red, and his black eyes gleamed with something that was near -akin to ferocity. Never had Hammer seen such a face on a man, and -now, for the first time, a strange alarm stirred within him. - -Krausz tried to speak, but could not for a moment; lips and tongue -were dry, and his voice came in a hoarse growl that betrayed how that -monkey-flung skull had got on his nerves. - -"You tricked me, yess!" he cried at length. "You tricked me, Sigurd -Krausz! You, _fräulein_, you, and Adolf here! But no more shall you -trick me, no. I----" - -He paused quickly, plainly fighting for his lost self-control, -meeting the firm eyes of Sara Helmuth. Hammer, fearing that the man -would break out into violence, tensed his muscles and measured the -distance between them, but Krausz lowered his revolver as slow sanity -crept back into his eyes. - -The girl still faced him, though she had shrunk back before that mad -outburst, and in reply her voice came low, but with a note that -seemed to calm his rage, so cold and self-contained was it. Hammer -noted that she made no gesture as for a weapon; she must have come -unarmed, probably on the impulse of the moment. - -"Yes, you were tricked, Her Doctor--tricked by a girl. And you are -called the greatest archaeologist in Europe! Dresden will laugh when -it hears the story, doctor--the story of how you dug for a week in -the ruins of a storehouse, while the fort you were in search of lay -under your nose here. And then the treasure! - -"Now free me and Mr. Hammer there, and I promise you that this shall -never be known in Europe, Dr. Krausz. If the story came out it would -blast your reputation, and you know it well." - -Krausz looked at her, frowning as if in hard thought. Hammer saw -that the strain was telling heavily upon her, and breathed a sigh of -relief when the scientist replied: - -"Yess, it would my reputation blast, _fräulein_. That iss very -right--very. But listen. You have told me that the treasure was in -two parts, yess, and the relics and papers, I do not know where they -are. But you know, _fräulein_. Now tell me, take me to thiss place -also, then will I free you and Mr. Hammer and Adolf--yess, you shall -go free with Adolf, both of you!" - -As he made this offer, there was something about the narrowed eyes of -the man that Hammer did not like. Sara Helmuth studied him for a -moment, but she was plainly weakening fast. - -Something of the fetid aspect of the place seemed to be in the face -of Krausz, and she palpably distrusted him; but he forced quietude -into his features and stared stolidly at her, waiting. - -Another white object fluttered down from above with a chattering that -floated away amid the tree-tops, and the girl shuddered as the skull -struck the wall behind her and shivered rottenly. - -"How--how if I refuse?" - -"If you refuse, _fräulein_, the whip--and no promise." - -He gestured with his hand toward Hammer. The girl flung the latter -one helpless glance, and bowed her head as she turned. - -"Come." - -Krausz, with triumph beaming from his massive features, motioned the -others to fall in line, and they went as at first, out across the -fallen wall. To the American the place was shapeless, formless, but -Krausz cast quick nodding glances about him, and Sara Helmuth did not -hesitate. - -Hammer felt his heart throbbing--the atmosphere of the jungle-hid -ruins was oppressive, stultifying. The girl led them across fallen -walls and past cleared spaces to a great heap of ruins overgrown -thickly. - -Through it led a hard-beaten path, and with half-darkness about them -she paused at what seemed to be a square hole in the ground, perhaps -a dozen feet across, with trees roofing all in overhead. Here the -path ended. - -"It is there," she said simply. - -Krausz growled something at the _askaris_, and went forward. Hammer, -watching, saw him stop suddenly as though listening. Then, at the -edge of the hole, he laid down revolver and whip and went to his -knees, and so flat on his belly, his hands gripping roots on either -side of him. - -Here he stayed motionless for what seemed ages to the overwrought -American. When, at last, he crawled upright, his hands were shaking -tremulously, his face was ghastly white, and he clutched at a near-by -tree for support. - -"_Mein Gott_!" he said thickly, staring at the girl. "_Mein Gott_! -_Mein Gott_!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE PIT OF ADDERS - -Hammer could not understand himself. He was practically free, he -realized fully that this was the time to act, when Krausz was -unarmed, and yet his brain was dulled and refused to impart movement -to his limbs. He stared at Krausz, fascinated by the least movement -of the man, utterly unable to do a thing. - -Whether it was auto-hypnotism, or whether the terrible deadening -influence that had come upon him was caused by the noxious jungle -bringing back his fever, the American never knew. - -Jenson had ceased to moan, and crouched at one side by his guard, -cowed. The Masai cast uneasy glances about and at each other, but -still Krausz stared at Sara Helmuth, who seemed to droop under his -gaze. - -"You knew, yess?" he muttered finally. - -She nodded listlessly. - -"Yes. I stayed near here last night. I was here." - -The colour flowed back into the face of the scientist little by -little. Turning his back on the party, he stooped and picked up -revolver and whip, then stood looking down at that which lay in the -blackness of the hole. - -Hammer wanted to scream, but he could not, for some unseen power had -paralysed his muscles. He wondered, idly, what lay in that hole, but -he was more interested in watching the big Saxon. He had never seen -Krausz so completely overcome before, he thought, and it made him -want to laugh. - -"By Godfrey!" He shook himself, conquering that terrible apathy. -"You've got to quit this, old man, or God knows what'll happen. That -chap is breeding trouble and first thing you know he'll spring -something bad." - -Why the thought came to him he could not tell, but come it did. -Krausz turned, with a nervous glance around at the silent trees, but -there was no danger in his face, save that the tell-tale ribbon of -muscle was pounding madly. - -Then once more the scientist went to the brink of the hole and looked -down. It was as if he were reflecting on something, weighing -something over in his mind before coming to a decision. - -A half-sound caught Hammer's attention and he looked at Sara Helmuth. -She had turned partly aside, her head was down in her two hands, and -her shoulders were shaking softly as she stood. Overcome by the -horror of the place, she had given way at last, and the sight was too -much for Hammer. - -As if by magic he felt himself once more, with all his old quickness -of thought and vigour of action returned to him. Solomon had failed -them and they were alone, and the thought brought responsibility back -to him. - -Quietly slipping his hands free of the loosened cords, he strode over -to the girl's side, none hindering him, and in the face of the jungle -horror about them he put an arm about her shoulders, drawing her head -to his breast. - -"Quiet, Sara," and he patted her back in a clumsy effort to soothe -her. "It's all right, girl--don't cry. We'll get out of this place -and forget about it----" - -For several weeks now Sara Helmuth had forced herself into the -position of a man among men, playing a lone hand in the dark, and -while friendship had come to her in the guise of Solomon and Hammer, -her woman's soul had craved sympathy as a child craves its mother's -arms. - -Furthermore, the place in which they stood mirrored dread into her -soul, for only the evening before she had stood at the edge of that -hole and gazed down while the Arabs held torches aloft and looked -grimly at each other. So, but chiefly because of Hammer's actions -and words, she smiled once and fainted. - -The American felt frightened for a moment, then relief came to him. -The burden had been put on his shoulders, and, allowing the girl to -slip to the ground, he turned to find Krausz looking at them and -frowning, blackness brooding in his eyes and an evil twist to his -heavy jaw. - -"She hass fainted? That iss good." - -"Yes, she's fainted: but you'll notice that she kept her word first." -Hammer's anger turned cold within him, for as he wondered what -frightful thing lay in that hole he remembered the story of the pit -of snakes--and he dreaded snakes as he dreaded no other thing on -earth. - -"She's kept her word, Krausz, so I guess it's up to you to keep -yours. You lend me a couple of these _askaris_ to carry Miss Helmuth -and we'll be going." - -"Wait." - -The scientist seemed oddly apprehensive, seemed as if he were trying -to say something which could not find utterance. He looked at -Hammer, then at the _askaris_, then at the jungle above and around, -and finally beckoned. - -"Come--look at thiss thing." - -Hammer did not want to look, yet it seemed as though some force drew -him to follow the other to the edge of that black hole. Now he knew -why the horror had come upon him, the snake-fear which lies at the -bottom of many men's souls and which is not to be explained or -reasoned away. - -"_Mein Gott_--look at them!" - -The American obeyed with cold chills gripping his spine. Yet he -could see little. The pit was deep, very deep. As his eyes searched -the darkness of it he guessed that the bottom was twenty feet away. - -Then a soft, slithering sound broke the dead stillness, and a low -"his-s-s" which there was no mistaking. - -"Adders," stated the doctor decidedly. "Puff-adders, my friend, and -a bite it iss death, yess!" - -Hammer did not know a puff-adder from a black snake, but he did know -why the other had gazed so long into that pit of darkness, for there -was a deadly fascination about it that compelled his eyes despite his -loathing. - -"If the treasure iss there, it can wait, yess!" exclaimed the -scientist. - -The American mentally added that it could wait until what Sherman -said war was froze over, for all of him; but he still looked down -until gradually the thing took shape before him. - -The sides of the pit were straight and well paved, slimy, mossy, with -never a break in the stones. Far down something scintillated for an -instant, then again, and the slithering noise went rustling faintly -without cessation. Hammer was aware that Krausz had come to his side -and was pointing down. - -"There--look at that. It iss a platform, no?" - -With the words the scientist scraped a match and flung it down. The -American got a glimpse of a small jutting-out stone, some two feet -square, half-way down the pit, and below that a twining, shuddering -mass of something that drove him reeling back with sickness strong -upon him. - -"That's enough," he gasped, wiping the cold sweat from his face. -"I'll get out of here and stay gone, don't worry----" - -"Stop!" - -There was a new note in the voice of Krausz, and it brought Hammer -around instantly. The other had followed him back from the hole, and -was glaring at him with such mad eyes that instinctively the American -took a step backward. - -"You are not going away," said the big Saxon slowly, his eyes burning -into those of Hammer. The band of muscle was deep crimson, and it -was pulsating like a wild thing against the man's white brow. -Hammer's foot struck against the limp form of Sara Helmuth, and the -touch restored him from his panic. - -"Eh? What's that?" he exclaimed, unbelieving. - -"I say you are not going away--you and Adolf and Professor Helmuth, -yess!" - -"What's the matter with you?" demanded Hammer, thoroughly angry. -"You promised that when----" - -"Yess, and my promise I shall keep--but thiss way." Krausz gestured -with his whip toward the hole. "I promised to set you free, _nein_?" - -Between anger at the man and fear of what lay behind him, Hammer -stared at him astounded. It had not occurred to him that Krausz -would not perform his part of the agreement--but what did he mean by -"thiss way"? - -The big Saxon went on, his jaw pushed forward aggressively, his eyes -fastened banefully on Hammer: - -"Fools! Did you think that I would let you go, yess, to make of me a -joke before all Europe? _Ach_, no! Am I, Sigurd Krausz, to be -tricked and made a fool?" - -He turned swiftly to the nearest _askari_--the same who had freed -Hammer. - -"Go back to the camp and bring a rope--quick, you black swine!" - -The man saluted, flung Hammer a helpless look, and disappeared. The -other three watched, leaning on their rifles. - -"What do you mean?" began the American, aghast before the terrible -thought that had leaped into his brain. Krausz flung about on him, -raging. - -"Mean? What do I mean? American pig! Iss my work to be spoiled by -thiss _fräulein_? No! _Ach_, but Adolf iss a devil! He betrays -everyone, but he shall not betray Sigurd Krausz. No, nor you, -American. I meant to kill you all, but now I have a better way, -yess, and I shall my promise keep. Later I will come back, yess, and -get the treasure and give it to the world--my treasure, my papers, my -relics! - -"Never hass so great a chance come--and it iss not to be perilled by -you. So I tell you plainly, American, you shall not play with Sigurd -Krausz." - -Then, too late, Hammer realized that the look in the other's eyes was -little short of madness. He cast a look around, but the jungle -hedged them in, silent and merciless, with no sign of Solomon or aid. - -But--what did the madman mean to do? He was crazed on the subject of -his work, that was plain, and whether the jungle mania had unbalanced -him or not, there was a fury in his eyes. - -"What do you mean?" asked Hammer again. "Don't think you can get -away with any dirty work, Krausz, or Solomon----" - -"Bah! Do not joke with me. Listen--you saw that platform, American? -Then I tell you that you and Adolf Jenson and Professor Helmuth, you -shall stand there until you get tired. You shall be free, yess--but -you cannot get up, and when you go down you will not play with Sigurd -Krausz any----" - -Hammer saw red and struck. The whole insane scheme darted clear to -his mind, and he drove his fist home into that mocking face with a -furious curse. Krausz flung up his revolver-hand, but Hammer dashed -it aside and the weapon fell; he saw Krausz reel back and knew he had -crushed the man's nose with his first blow, but he followed with -relentless fury in his heart. - -Krausz tried to fight him off, and he saw the three _askaris_ closing -in on him; then he felt the whip curl about him, sending a terrible -red wale over his cheek and biting into his body; but time and again -those fists which had won him his name stabbed into the face of the -big Saxon--until the _askaris_ ground him to the earth by main weight -and tied him. - -The American glared up, still raging in his helplessness. Krausz had -dropped his whip and was clinging to a long vine that trailed down -across the body of Jenson, who had not moved. - -The fight had hardly lasted a minute, but Hammer had learned his -trade in a hard school. The heavy features of Krausz were crushed -into a red mass, for the first blow of Hammer's had splintered his -nose; yet, for all the pain he must have been suffering, Krausz said -no word. - -Groping for his handkerchief, he slowly wiped the blood from his -eyes, then stooped and picked up his pith helmet and put it on, -carefully letting down the mosquito-gauze about his features. - -There was something in the action, something of iron tenacity, that -made Hammer hold his breath, waiting for he knew not what. With that -crimsoned visage masked from sight, Sigurd Krausz appeared even more -formidable. Hammer knew that his outburst had effected nothing. - -Yet it had been half panic. The scientist's fiendish plan had sent a -shudder of abhorrence through him; the very odour of that pit -nauseated him, and he had lashed out in a frenzy of mingled fear and -rage. Then the memory of that narrow shelf of rock---- - -"By Godfrey!" thought the American desperately, "if Solomon doesn't -show up in a hurry it's all off! That ledge won't hold more than one -person, that's sure." - -Panic-stricken, he watched the Saxon. Krausz took a step, and -stumbled across Jenson, all but falling. At the same moment the -_askari_ who had been sent to camp returned, panting, carrying a -length of rope. - -Krausz seized it from him and bent the end around under Jenson's -arms. From where he stood Hammer could see how the secretary -trembled, and a moment later he shrank away from Krausz, scrambling -desperately to regain his feet, screaming. - -"Don't!" The wail shrilled up. "Don't! Oh--God----" - -Krausz had signalled to the _askaris_, who shut off Jenson's screams -with grins of delight. It was not the sort of work they usually did -for white people, but to Masai hearts it was glorious. Hammer -realized that the one friendly man could do nothing for him, and his -cheeks blanched. - -He watched Jenson carried to the edge of the pit and carefully -lowered. A jerk or two freed the rope, and since no sound came -forth, Hammer supposed that the man had reached the ledge in safety. -Krausz turned to where Sara Helmuth lay, still senseless. - -Then the American knew that there was no hope, that this fiend would -actually carry out his threat, and he felt his flesh creep at the -thought. - -He pictured to himself that narrow ledge, with Jenson already -there--ready to fight off whomever came next. - -If the girl was sent down alone, unconscious as she was, what little -chance she had would be gone, while he, Hammer, was whimpering up -here! - -He slowly got to his feet, the _askari_ who stood over him pulling -him up, and, as Krausz leaned over the girl with the rope ready, -Hammer knew that he had become himself once more. He might die, but -he would die like a man. - -"Put that rope around me, Krausz," he said calmly. "I'll take her in -my arms, if you'll untie my wrists." - -The other straightened up, turning toward him, and Hammer saw the -little dribble of blood that trickled down the front of his khaki -coat from beneath the helmet-gauze. He noted, too, that Krausz -feared to trust him, and added desperately: - -"I'll give you my word, doctor, to make no trouble. Let's have it -over with decency." - -"Good!" came the rumbling response, with a gesture to one of the -Masai. The latter cut Hammer's bonds, and the American strode to the -side of Sara, lifting her in his arms. Then, with firm step but -ghastly face, for the feeling of revulsion was almost too strong to -be endured, he walked to the brink of the pit, and waited. - -"Hurry, for God's sake!" he gasped. - -The rope was put around him, under his shoulders; he did not feel how -it cut into him as his weight came upon it. He knew only that -terrible darkness was rising up at him, that the nightmare had begun, -that slimy mossy stones were all about him. - -He strove for a footing with his hanging feet, but to no avail. The -walls were smooth, fissureless; he could not look down because of the -body of the girl who lay in his arms. And it was as well that he -could not, for an instant later his foot struck something soft. - -He almost screamed at the touch, having forgotten Jenson for a -moment; then he remembered. What next happened he could not tell; he -felt himself swinging on the rope, and a great fear surged into him -that the Masai had dropped him. - -Then he knew that Jenson was beating against his legs, trying to -drive him off with his beast-like, wordless whimpers. - -He felt that he was kicking out in desperation, and his foot landed -once; then from below came a single strangled cry, followed by a soft -thud, and an instant later he was afoot on the rock ledge. - -How long he stood there holding Sara Helmuth he never knew, for he -was battling with all his will-power to get control of the awful -horror that was over him. The snake-fear had gripped him, and the -very rock at his back seemed to be a living thing that was pressing -him forward, trying to fling him to the things below. This must have -been the rope loosening from him, however, for presently he had -conquered himself and the rope was gone from about him. - -For a little space he did not realize that he was in any great -danger. He was a good ten feet above the things that crawled down -there and as much below the surface; he thought of Jenson, but spared -no pity on the man; and the remembrance of his own words regarding -the snake-pit and Jenson even brought the faintest flicker of a smile -to his tense lips. Yet in his bitterest moments he could not have -wished the man such agony as was now his own. - -He listened for some sound from above, but none came. Had Krausz -departed to cure his own hurts or was he waiting for some word from -his victims? Hammer compressed his lips tighter; at least, the Saxon -would not have the satisfaction of hearing him whimper, he thought. -He was thankful that the girl showed no signs of wakening from her -swoon. - -But how was Solomon to know where they were? He could not have been -watching, or he would have prevented the terrible deed at all costs; -of that Hammer was assured. - -If he did not shout for aid--but what good would shouting do him? -The sound would be lost in the pit or in the leafy roof above; he -could not have pierced that mass of vegetation if he had had the -lungs of Stentor. - -It occurred to him that if he set the girl down on the ledge at his -feet he might be able to get out in some way. There was only a -ten-foot wall above him, and even the mosses would give him foothold. - -Besides, her weight was beginning to tell on his arms, and he could -not hold her for ever. He felt gingerly forward with one foot--and -cold fear struck him to the heart. - -Now he knew why Jenson had slipped away, and how. In the darkness of -the pit, looking down from above, the ledge had seemed fairly wide; -as a matter of fact, it jutted straight out from the wall for a scant -foot; then the upper part of the stone broke and shelved down on all -sides to the under part. - -On that foot square of rock it was possible for one person to stand; -it was possible for him to stand so long as he could hold the girl's -weight in his arms, but there was not foothold for two persons--and -he could not hold Sara Helmuth much longer. As it was, his arms were -tiring rapidly. - -Hammer's face clenched into a grimace of pure agony as the tremendous -temptation swept over him--all the more powerful because of his -inborn dread of what lay below. The girl was unconscious; she would -never know! Was it not more merciful, after all, to give her to -death now than to leave her precariously hanging on that foot-square -ledge until she wakened, moved, and--dropped? - -"Oh, God!" he muttered, Jenson's cry on his lips, and repeated it -over and over. How could he save his own worthless life at the -expense of hers? A terrible convulsion seized him; he tottered, and -only recovered his balance by a miracle. The danger sickened him, -but it also woke latent words in his brain. - -"--I think it will be one of power, not of failure. I would like to -be there----" - -He groaned, and it was as if the groan had been wrenched out of his -soul, for he knew that his great moment had arrived. And he knew -that, despite himself, it would be one of power--nay it was one of -power! - -Though half of his soul fought against the other half, trying to -loose his arms, it was in vain; sophistry was swept aside, and he -felt that he must do his utmost, even though it might be useless. He -would go to join Jenson, and he must go soon, lest his strength fail. - -Feeling about with his feet, he found the last inch of rock that -would hold him up, and slowly bent downward. Twice he had to shift -his position laboriously because of the wall behind him; once again -he tottered, his foot slipped, and only a desperate effort recovered -him. - -After he had laid the girl across that ledge he could never get -upright again without standing on her body--and, harmless though that -might have been to her, it never came into his head. - -He lowered her to his knees, twisting about, and inch by inch bent -downward until she lay across his feet and ankles in safety. Only -his grip on her body held him on the ledge now, and the physical -torture of his position sent the sweat running down his face in -streams. - -His will-power all but failed him in that last instant. With -infinite pains he drew one foot free, then the other, and went to his -knees. But they slipped on the slant of broken rock-face--and, -bending swiftly, he touched his lips to hers as he went down. - -He seemed to fall for miles and miles through space. From somewhere -above came a dull report, and a second; then a shock, and he landed -feet first on something soft, and felt great shapes twining around -him. He screamed--and fell asleep. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -"THAHABU!" - -"I did, miss." - -Who did what? Dull mutters and echoings pierced into Hammer's brain, -as if voices that he used to know were whispering in the distance. -They swelled and died away and swelled again, reminding him vaguely -of the bells he had heard one evening in Venice. - -There it was again--there--that was the clear silver of San Giorgio's -Campanile, with the deeper tones of Giovanni e Paolo dipping down -through the silver, then Santa Maria Formosa dropped in her liquid -notes, with, over all, far-flung cadences drifting faintly down on -the sea-wind from the Frari until the great dome of the Salute spoke -to the sunset, and all the myriad others---- - -No, it was nothing but Harcourt talking, talking to his mother! That -was odd: Harcourt was five miles out at sea, and his mother had been -dead for twenty years, he was quite sure. - -Ah, he was wrong after all! It was only John Solomon and Sara -Helmuth talking together. At that he opened his eyes, caught a faint -flicker of light--and remembered. - -A violent nausea swept over him, but he conquered it, lying with -clenched fists. He recalled what a dying man had once whispered to -him aboard the cattle boat--"I wonder what the other place is -like?"--and he repeated it over and over in his mind, for it was a -good joke. - -"I wonder what the other place is like!" - -It was his own voice speaking, and he laughed, a dry cackle of a -laugh that struck the other voices dead. Where was he? - -"I'll lay odds that it's hell----" - -Something cool touched his brow and he jerked away sharply, every -nerve in his body twinging. Then he realized that the thing was a -hand, and heard that queer laughter of his ring out again, though he -had not meant to laugh at all. - -"Best let 'im be, miss. 'E ought to be waked by now, but 'e'll come -up all right-o. Dang it, I don't know as I blames 'im much. It was -a mortal bad place." - -"Hello, John!" Hammer made a great effort and forced himself to -speak. "What are you doing on the other side, as the spiritualists -say! Who's that devil got his hand on me? Take him off, darn it!" - -The hand was withdrawn, and he heard Solomon chuckle. - -"'E's come through, miss, but 'e don't know it. 'Ey, you, Mr. -'Ammer! Sit up and take a werry good look at this 'ere devil 'o -yours--beggin' your pardon, miss." - -The startled American felt himself pulled to a sitting position, and -blinked. The flickering light was from a fire, and he seemed to be -sitting on a cot in a tent; also, the tent looked oddly like that of -Dr. Krausz's. - -That was hardly possible, of course, but John Solomon was standing in -front of him and smoking his vile black tobacco, while it was -indubitably Sara Helmuth at his side. - -"Why--why, what's--where--" he stammered confusedly. Then a cry of -mortal agony broke from him. "Good God, don't play with me like -this!" - -He tried to shut out the vision, his hands over his eyes; as he sank -back on the cot he felt other hands on his, pulling them away, and -something warm and wet splashed on his face. - -"Hammer! Don't, please! It's all right, really! Hammer, dear--oh, -John, can't you do something?" - -"Ay, miss, if you'll stand aside." - -Something struck him, and he heard a cry, then came more blows that -knocked him back; furious, he struggled up to see the girl forcing -the laughing Solomon back. - -"Stop that, John! Don't be cruel----" - -"Say, what do you think I am--a punching-bag?" - -The angry American leaped up, and instantly Sara Helmuth was holding -to his arms, half-laughing, half-crying as she looked up at him. -Solomon chuckled. - -"I thought as 'ow that'd fetch 'im about, miss! Sit down, sit down, -Mr. 'Ammer. It's only John Solomon, a-'itting of you flat-'anded. -Sit down, sir." - -Hammer obeyed, utterly bewildered, still holding the girl's hands. -The hysterical seizure passed and and left him very weak. - -"Then I'm not dead, Sara?" - -"Not as anybody knows on, sir," returned Solomon cheerfully, and his -voice changed suddenly. "Miss, leave us alone for a minute, if you -please." - -Obediently, the girl rose, and stepped outside the tent, Hammer -looking after in terror lest it was all a dream. Solomon came and -sat beside him, gripping his hand. - -"'Ere, buck up, sir! I'm sorry there ain't a drop o' liquor, but -there ain't. Now you brace up ship-shape and proper, Mr. 'Ammer--you -'ear me? Buck up, I say! You ain't 'urt and you ain't dead, and if -I punches you one in the eye you'll know it. Beggin' your pardon, -sir, but don't be a----" - -And there came a flood of low-pitched but biting words that effected -their purpose. Hammer forced control over himself with a shudder and -gripped back at Solomon's hand. - -"'I'm all right, John," he said shakily. "But--but it's hard--to -realize. Call Sara, will you?" - -She must have been listening, for she was at his side immediately, -and when he had her hands in his again it seemed to Hammer that all -was right with the world. - -"Now tell me about it," he said, his flagging interest reviving -before the wonder of it all. "Didn't the--the adders--puff-adders, -Krausz said they were----" - -"No, sir, they didn't," broke in John. "They didn't, 'cause why, -they wasn't nothing of the sort, sir. I dessay the doctor thought as -'ow they was puff-adders, and for the matter o' that so did I till I -got down and 'ad a good look at 'em as I was a-slipping of the rope -on you----" - -"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hammer sharply. "Do you mean to say you -went down in there after me? And you thought they were adders----" - -"Lud!" And for the first and last time in his life Hammer saw John -Solomon blush in the firelight. "Don't take on so, Mr. 'Ammer--you -see, the Arabs wouldn't do it, so it was werry plain it 'ad to be -done, and----" - -The American put out a hand, his voice husky. - -"Thank you, John," he said simply. "I--I think you understand." - -"Yes, sir. And now if you'll be letting me tell my story, sir--well, -it was like this. I got there too late, what wi' losing some o' me -men and one thing and another, and the doctor 'e was a-looking down -the 'ole, so I knowed where you was. It fair druv me mad for a bit, -sir, and I ups and lets drive. Werry sorry I am to say it, but I -missed, not 'aving used a gun for a long time. - -"'Owsoever, we potted three o' them danged _askaris_, the fourth -bein' me own man, but the doctor's got clean off. It give me quite a -turn, Mr. 'Ammer, it did that, when I come to the edge o' that there -'ole and looked down. The two Afghans was after the doctor, and the -Arabs wouldn't go down, so I 'ad to. - -"We got the missus up first-off, but when I went down again for you, -sir, it near give me the jumps to see you a laying across Jenson's -body----" - -"What!" broke in Hammer. "Jenson dead? I thought you said they -weren't----" - -"So I did, sir; so I did; and quite right they weren't. Near as we -could figure it out, sir, Jenson died o' fright, and a good job, I -says. So we got you up, and wi' that I went for the doctor and druv -him clean into the jungle, I was that worked up. Werry sorry I am to -say it, but where 'e is I don't know, and what's more, I don't care. -We made a good job o' them _askaris_, though, and took two o' them -Dutchmen alive. So there you be, Mr. 'Ammer, all ship-shape and -proper." Silence settled inside the tent, broken only by the choking -bubble of Solomon's ancient pipe. Hammer realized that it had all -taken place that afternoon, and this was evening; but the snakes were -not deadly after all---- - -"I made a blessed fool of myself, then!" He looked up and caught his -words, wondering if they knew, by any chance. Well, since the girl -had been unconscious and Jenson dead, they didn't. "However, no -matter about----" - -"Yes, Hammer, it does matter." Sara spoke gravely, her eyes -glistening. "You see, after we brought you here you were out of your -head, like you were back there at the plantation, and you went over -and over that horrible scene--oh, Hammer dear!" There was a catch in -her voice. "Didn't--didn't I tell you once upon a time that when the -great moment came----" - -"Don't, Sara!" begged Hammer earnestly, trying to smile and failing -dismally. "Yes, you were right, and it doesn't matter whether I made -a fool of myself or not. I----" - -"Beggin' your pardon, sir and miss," broke in Solomon hastily, as he -rose, "I'd better see as them Arabs put out a guard in case----" - -But neither of them heard him, for they were looking into each -other's eyes, and Hammer suddenly found that words would not come to -him. - -"Sara, I--I'm afraid--I love you." - -He dared not move, for he had blurted the words out before he -thought, and now fear nestled in his heart. Then a soft hand touched -the red whip-wale on his cheek, and---- - -"Hammer, dear, I--I'm glad, I love you!" - -But, as John Solomon remarked to the Southern Cross--having forgotten -what he went out to do--"Dang it! 'Uman nature is 'uman nature, I -says. If so be as a man 'as a 'eart like gold there ain't no woman -too good for 'im, as the old gent said to the actress lady." - -Which, taking it by and large, may be accepted as a true statement of -fact. - -Now, it is commonly said of novelists and magazines that a man in the -first transports of requited love feels forgiveness for all his -enemies; nay, the hero, in the magnanimity caused by owning the earth -and the seven heavens, all too frequently sends his deadliest foe -packing with the confident trust that he, the foe, will go and sin no -more. - -That makes good Sabbath-day reading, but it makes nothing else. A -man strong enough to have a great enemy may be strong enough to -forgive that enemy, but it is much more likely that he is not, has no -desire to be, and would not if he could. - -Cyrus Hammer expressed himself to this effect at breakfast the next -morning. Sara Helmuth was still sleeping, and he and Solomon, with -Omar and the two Afghans, discussed the probable future of Dr. Sigurd -Krausz, archaeologist. - -"He's dangerous," declared Hammer with decision. "I'd say, send out -all the men after him, John, and if he comes willingly, then all -right. If not, fetch him, anyway. The poor devil must be in bad -shape, what with that nose of his; but after yesterday I'll be -blessed if I'm not set on giving him the limit!" - -Solomon looked at the Afghans. Akhbar Khan exchanged glances with -his cousin, and the two men rose, bowed in a silent salaam, and -stalked off with their rifles under their arms. - -Solomon looked at Omar, and the Arab's teeth flashed out as he -followed. And so, for the present, Hammer forgot his enemy, for Sara -Helmuth had emerged from the other tent and now joined them. - -"There's summat as Mr. 'Ammer don't know about yet," remarked Solomon -complacently as the girl sipped her coffee, and she flashed a smile -at him. Save for the circles about her eyes, sleep had removed all -traces of her weariness. "When so be as you're ready, miss, we might -'ave a look at it." - -"Very well," she nodded, then her eyes steadied. "But first, John, I -want it thoroughly understood that I waive all claim to it. By right -it belongs to you and to Hammer--by right of suffering and toil -and----" - -"What is it you're talking about?" demanded the American, frowning. - -"The treasure," she said, and explained. As she had rightly told -Krausz, that part of the treasure which contained the papers, relics, -and gifts from the Viceroy to the King of Portugal, had been placed -in the pit of snakes, and in all likelihood would have remained there -had not Solomon been forced to descend, and so discovered that the -snakes were harmless. - -It had been hauled out and left amid the ruins. The more -intrinsically valuable portions of the treasure were buried -underground in another place, but the girl had by now given up all -hopes of ever getting it. - -"We know where it is," she concluded with a shiver, "but it would -take time, and I wouldn't stay here a minute longer than necessary, -money or no money. You and John, Hammer, can divide----" - -"Hold on there!" exclaimed the American. "I'm not in on this -treasure stunt. It belongs to you, Sara----" - -"Just a minute sir and miss," and Solomon leaned forward earnestly, -waving his empty pipe as he spoke. "O' course, I 'as to go back wi' -you to Mombasa and straighten up this 'ere mess wi' the governor; but -if so as you don't want to wait, I'll come back and dig up the stuff -on me own. I'll chance it if you will, miss; and you Mr. 'Ammer to -take what there is 'ere, me to take what's left." - -"That's fair enough, Sara," put in Hammer quickly. "Only, I've no -right to----" - -"You have!" cried the girl indignantly. "The idea--after all you've -gone through for me! Well, let's have it as John proposes, then; you -and I, Hammer, take the papers and relics, and John can take the gold -for his share. If you don't say yes, I'll--I'll give the whole -business to Potbelly!" - -"All right," laughed the American, who, to tell the truth, had no -great faith in the entire treasure story. "All ready?" - -As only two of the Arabs had remained in camp, Solomon summoned them -with axes, and the five started for the ruins. Hammer could not -enter the tangle of jungle without a shudder, and would greatly have -preferred staying away altogether; but once in for it he patted the -revolver given him by Solomon and determined to see the thing through. - -Fortunately for his peace of mind it appeared that Solomon had left -the treasure in one of the clear spaces of the fort itself, for which -Hammer was devoutly thankful; he sorely doubted his ability to visit -that pit again, for his nerves were still badly shaken. - -They reached the clearing, and in spite of his scepticism, Hammer -felt a thrill at sight of the two coffin-like lead cases that lay -beside the bush-strewn ruins of a wall. Without delay the two Arabs -fell to work with their axes, ripping open one of the cases; and -after half an hour's labour a second case, of heavy wood, was laid -out. - -"Teak," grunted Solomon. "Give that ax 'ere." - -With some care he attacked the locks that rimmed the iron-bound case, -smashing them one after another. When the last had gone he paused, -and beckoned Sara forward. - -"Open it, miss." - -The girl obeyed eagerly. Stooping over, she managed to raise and tip -back the heavy top, and with it a mass of camphor-smelling cloth that -had lain beneath. A gleam of yellow shot up, and Hammer found -himself staring down at a magnificent gold-wrought reliquary. One of -the Arabs gave an exclamation in Kiswahili. - -"_Thahabu_! Gold!" - -At the same instant Hammer's eyes darted up to the bush-strewn wall. -The others had heard nothing, absorbed in the sight of the treasure, -but Hammer caught a dull tan-hued form amid the bushes, and snatched -at his revolver. He perceived a glint of steel, and fired through -his coat pocket. - -"Yess, it iss gold," came a mumble, piercing through the startled cry -of Sara, and the misshapen face of Sigurd Krausz rose amid the bushes. - -A tongue of flame spat back at Hammer, who tried to fire again but -could not. Slowly, yet before the echoes of Krausz's shot had flung -back from the jungle around, the American slipped and went to his -knees. - -He looked up in surprise at Sara Helmuth; then, as her fingers went -out to his, he choked and fell sideways, both hands clutching at his -throat. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE "DAPHNE" AGAIN - -"Er--'pon my word, Mr. Hammer, I'm--er--glad to be able to apologize!" - -"Nonsense, commissioner! Then it's all right with Nairobi?" - -"Perfectly, my dear chap, perfectly! Had a bit of a ragging from the -Germans, but Krausz had misrepresented things fearfully, you know, -and that _askari_ business--er--put the governor in a perfectly -beastly rage, I'm told. He gave 'em the man's body with his -compliments. Ripping morning, isn't it?" - -"Couldn't be better," grinned Hammer cheerfully. He was sitting in a -deck-chair beneath the _Daphne's_ awning, Sara Helmuth on one side -and Commissioner Smith on the other. His throat was swathed in -bandages, and he had lost his healthy tan, but he was undeniably -happy, and showed it. - -"That yarn--er--reminded me of your American tales," went on Smith -rather heavily, as the figure of Solomon appeared coming to join the -group. "Two bad men, don't you know--er--shooting across a bar, and -all that kind of thing. Each one plugs the other--er--double -funeral. Rather exciting thing out here, though, 'pon my word! Very -usual in America, I understand." - -"Oh, yes, very," returned Hammer gravely. "Hello, John! Can I smoke -yet?" - -"Werry sorry, sir, but against orders. Your servant, Mr. Smith and I -'opes as you're quite well?" - -The Commissioner flushed slightly as he shook hands. - -"Quite, thanks, very much. Er--narrow escape Mr. Hammer had, by -Jove!" - -"Quite so, sir. Missed the jugular by a matter of 'airbreadths, the -doctor said. Prowidence is a werry mysterious thing, sir, as the old -gent said when the 'ousemaid saw a mouse." - -"We might show Mr. Smith that reliquary, John," smiled Sara Helmuth, -and her hand stole quite shamelessly over the arm of the deck-chair -to Hammer's. - -The _Daphne_ lay anchored off Melindi. The commissioner's launch lay -at the ladder, its crew of two spruce policemen chatting in Kiswahili -with the Arabs above, while the oily ground-swell lifted the yacht at -her anchor. - -It was two weeks since Hammer had left the jungle behind for ever, as -he devoutly hoped, and with the commissioner's visit the last weight -had been lifted from his mind. - -Not only had he been entirely absolved from any complicity in -Harcourt's death, but Nairobi had been graciously pleased to overlook -entirely the death of Dr. Krausz, and to waive all claims to the -treasure in hand--after the cathedral at Mombasa had been presented -with the relics. - -Hammer had little use for relics, but he had been very careful to say -nothing about the reliquaries. Of these, the finest was that -containing the reputed hand of St. Thomas--indeed, Commissioner Smith -declared it, rather vaguely, to be "perfectly ripping--top hole, -don't you know, in such things!" - -His judgement proved ultimately to be entirely correct, while the -records, historical and otherwise, contained in the cases, were -declared by Sara Helmuth to be worth a good round sum to any library -in Europe. - -As Hammer was not particularly imbued with a love for art, he sold -the three smaller reliquaries to Solomon; and also agreed to carry -that individual back to Port Said on the yacht. - -As Solomon said, the gold had waited two hundred years, and it could -wait another few months very well, while he had important business at -Port Said. A crew of sorts had been shipped at Mombasa, and with -Hammer's recovery the voyage home would begin. - -"You'd better stick around, commissioner," smiled the American as his -visitor rose. "About a week from now the American Consul is coming -up from Mombasa, and there's going to be some doings, as we say in -America." - -"Eh?" Mr. Smith looked blank for a moment, until Sara Helmuth's -blushes proclaimed themselves. Whereupon, being a very observant -young man, his face brightened up, and he seized the American's hand. - -"Er--by Jove, old chap--I congratulate you both, 'pon my word I do! -I say, do let me bring my assistant and the lieutenant, eh what?" - -"Bring your whole constabulary force," grinned Hammer, "and we'll do -the thing up in style! And come out for dinner Sunday night, Smith." - -Quite excited, the commissioner departed. Hand in hand, Hammer and -Sara Helmuth watched his launch puff away toward the green-hilled -shore, until Solomon cleared his throat nosily, and they saw two -Arabs approaching bearing a bulky package. - -"Beggin' your pardon, sir and miss," announced Solomon, "but this -'ere's a bit o' summat as aren't to be shown at the weddin', so to -speak. If I may make so bold, miss, as to be a giving of a weddin' -present before the 'appy moment----" - -A cry of delight broke from the girl, for as the package fell apart -there was displayed that same fawn-coloured rug, with the blue, -white, and gold dragon of five claws, which Hammer had seen when -first he wakened in Solomon's house. - -"It's a rug as you might not care for, first-off," explained Solomon -apologetically, "but it ain't to be bought for money, miss. Where I -got it I 'adn't ought to say, but it 'ad best be kept under cover -till you get out o' these 'ere waters. That's the imperial dragon o' -China, Mr. 'Ammer, and rugs like them ain't made for sale----" - -"Oh, it's beautiful!" cried the delighted Sara, Hammer nodding with -appreciative eyes, for he knew that John Solomon's words were -strictly true. - -As he looked about, however, he saw the pudgy little man bending over -his little red notebook, writing very carefully with his fountain -pen, and forbore to interrupt. - -"Are you glad, girl?" he turned to Sara very soberly, motioning the -Arabs to take away the rug as he did so. - -"Hammer, dear," she whispered, "I'm happy!" - -His face had lost the old lines of hardness and bitterness, and as he -met her eyes and smiled into them with perfect understanding, he -remembered something. - -"But--my name isn't Hammer, dear! You'll have to be Mrs. Cyrus -Murray----" - -"Yes, but you'll be just Hammer, to me!" - -"There!" and Solomon clapped his notebook shut with a very complacent -air. "I'd been and overlooked that 'ere account wi' Dr. Krausz; but -it's all ship-shape and proper now to file away and 'ave done with." - -"Oh, your account!" laughed the American. "That's the one you -presented to him, eh? Do you always keep your accounts, John?" - -"Werry good plan, sir. They come in 'andy, like, mortal often, even -if they're filed away. Howsoever, sir and miss, business is all -werry well in its place, but its place ain't between two young -'earts, I says--and since this 'ere account is closed, I'll just file -it away." - -And as he shuffled off in his carpet-slippers toward his own cabin, -the two who sat side by side gazed after him for a moment, smiling, -and then turned to each other. - - - -THE END - - - -PRINTED BY FISHER, KNIGHT & CO., LTD., LONDON & HARPENDEN - - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN SOLOMON--SUPERCARGO *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |