“No, Sahib, he went away. He gave me the oilskins when he went. He sailed on a ship, a great black steamer. He went to England.”
“To England? Are you sure it wasn’t Africa?”
“Yes, Sahib, to Africa.”
“What port was she bound for?”
“Sahib, before God, I do not know. I think London.”
“London? You said Africa. Wasn’t it America?”
“The Sahib is right.”
“Or Australia?”
“If the Sahib pleases, it is so,” was the submissive response.
“You old fraud!” said Elliott. “You don’t know where he went. Are you sure he went away at all?”