"I do not know his name," continued the witness, when Pharaoh had been suppressed. "Zara never told me; we were only together for twenty minutes."
"Did you see any one about?"
"No; no one."
"Do you know who murdered this gipsy girl?"
"No, sir," said Tera, very earnestly. "How was I to know that she went to meet her death?"
"Where did you go then--to Poldew?"
"No; as I had changed my clothes, I thought it best to avoid Poldew. I walked to the station beyond, and caught the train there. On arriving in London, I went to Captain Jacob, and told him what I had done. He promised to assist me if I would befriend him with my father, Buli, when we returned to Koiau. I consented, and he hid me in the house where his sister lived. I waited in London for some time, until I thought Mr. Johnson would have given up looking for me. Then I asked Captain Jacob to write for Jack. When he came up, the captain brought him to me, and Jack agreed that we should all go back to Koiau. He and Captain Shackel were both anxious to buy a schooner to return in, and to use for trading round the islands. I agreed that he should take my pearls and sell them for that purpose. He got two thousand pounds for them, although they were worth three--but he could not get more. With this money, and Captain Jacob's savings, they together bought the Dayspring. That took all the money, except such small sum as was necessary to man the ship and bring her round here. Jack's object in coming to Grimleigh was to get a sum of money from his uncle, so that we could procure some more sailors, and proper provisions for the voyage, I did not want to come, because I was afraid that Mr. Johnson would get hold of me, and take me away from Jack. But Captain Shackel and Jack arranged that I should stay on board the schooner until they came ashore and got the money; and then I could sail away to Koiau without any one being the wiser. I heard about the murder, but I was frightened to come forward. I knew, of course, that it was Zara who had been killed. Then Jack was arrested, and Captain Shackel told me that he wished me to come and show myself; which I have done," finished Tera, with a glance round the court.
"Ah!" whispered Chard to Jacob, in an angry tone, "so you could read that cypher?"
"You bet," replied Shackel, softly, with a wink; "read it the moment you clapped it on the table. Jack taught it to me; and mighty useful it's been. No, there ain't no fault to find with the cypher."
Here the whispering attracted the attention of the magistrate. He eyed both the inspector and Jacob severely, but proceeded with the case without further rebuke.