"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.