He looked up in surprise at Sara Helmuth; then, as her fingers went out to his, he choked and fell sideways, both hands clutching at his throat.
CHAPTER XIX
THE "DAPHNE" AGAIN
"Er—'pon my word, Mr. Hammer, I'm—er—glad to be able to apologize!"
"Nonsense, commissioner! Then it's all right with Nairobi?"
"Perfectly, my dear chap, perfectly! Had a bit of a ragging from the Germans, but Krausz had misrepresented things fearfully, you know, and that askari business—er—put the governor in a perfectly beastly rage, I'm told. He gave 'em the man's body with his compliments. Ripping morning, isn't it?"
"Couldn't be better," grinned Hammer cheerfully. He was sitting in a deck-chair beneath the Daphne's awning, Sara Helmuth on one side and Commissioner Smith on the other. His throat was swathed in bandages, and he had lost his healthy tan, but he was undeniably happy, and showed it.
"That yarn—er—reminded me of your American tales," went on Smith rather heavily, as the figure of Solomon appeared coming to join the group. "Two bad men, don't you know—er—shooting across a bar, and all that kind of thing. Each one plugs the other—er—double funeral. Rather exciting thing out here, though, 'pon my word! Very usual in America, I understand."
"Oh, yes, very," returned Hammer gravely. "Hello, John! Can I smoke yet?"
"Werry sorry, sir, but against orders. Your servant, Mr. Smith and I 'opes as you're quite well?"