Part 18 (1/2)
”Why, it's enough to make a cat laugh. Well, I wish you better luck,”
said Anson, ”and if you do catch up to Oliver West I hope you'll slip the handcuffs on him at once and make him part with his smuggled swag.”
”You may trust me for that,” said the superintendent grimly.
”I shall,” said Anson, smiling broadly. ”Glad you came after me, so that I could put you on the right track.”
”So am I,” said the police officer, with a peculiar look.
”And I'm sorry I cut up so rough,” continued Anson, smiling, as he apologised; ”but you know, it isn't nice to be stopped and overhauled as I have been.”
”Of course it isn't,” said the officer drily; ”but in my profession one can't afford to study people's feelings.”
”No, no, of course not. But don't apologise.”
”I was not going to,” said the superintendent; ”I'm sorry, though, to find out that West is such a scamp. Why, Ingleborough must be as bad.”
”Or worse,” said Anson, grinning.
”Yes, because he's older. Why, I quite trusted that fellow.”
”Ah, you're not the first man who has been deceived, sir.”
”Of course not; but by the way, Mr Anson, why didn't you say something of this kind in your defence when Ingleborough charged you before the directors?”
”Why didn't I say something about it? Why, because I didn't know. It only came to me too late. But there, you know now; and, as I said before, I wish you luck and a good haul, only unfortunately they've got a good start and you'll have your work cut out. Going? Goodbye then.”
”Goodbye?” said the superintendent, using the word as a question.
”Yes, of course. I'm going to chance it. I don't suppose we shall meet any Boers.”
”No; I don't think you'll meet any Boers,” said the officer, in so meaning a way that Anson grew uneasy.
”Why do you speak like that?” he said sharply.
”Only that it isn't goodbye, Mr Anson.”
”Not goodbye? Yes, it is. I'm off to the south at once.”
”No, sir; you're going north with me. You area suspected person, Mr Anson. I am not altogether satisfied with my search, nor yet with your very ingenious story.”
”Then search again?” cried Anson excitedly.
”Not here, sir. I'll have a careful look over the wagon when we get back to Kimberley.”
”You don't mean to say you are going to drag me back to Kimberley?”
”I do, sir, and you ought to be thankful, for you'd never pa.s.s through the Boers' lines further south.”