“Oh, absurd!” cried Wilton.
“P’r’aps so, sir; but look here, he went out with a party of prospectors, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“And he was the only survivor?”
“To be sure; he told Lee so.”
“Well, it’s an old story about the parties of prospectors going out into the desert in search of gold and never coming back.”
“Yes, we have heard it often.”
“Then tell me this, Mr Wilton,” said Griggs sharply. “When a party goes out exploring, what sort of chaps are they?”
“A very brave, enterprising set.”
“Of old men, I s’pose, sir, nearly worn out?”