“Those hills nearly twenty miles away. Left them at eight in the evening; walked all night.”
“Why?” I said, looking at him.
“Because it seemed as though someone were calling me. To be plain, you, Allan.”
“Oh! you heard about my being here and the trouble?”
“No, heard nothing. Meant to strike out for the coast this morning. Just as I was turning in, at 8.5 exactly, got your message and started. That’s all.”
“My message——” I began, then stopped, and asking to see his watch, compared it with mine. Oddly enough, they showed the same time to within two minutes.
“It is a strange thing,” I said slowly, “but at 8.5 last night I did try to send a message for some help because I thought my mate was dying,” and I jerked my thumb towards the tent. “Only it wasn’t to you or any other man, Brother John. Understand?”
“Quite. Message was expressed on, that’s all. Expressed and I guess registered as well.”
I looked at Brother John and Brother John looked at me, but at the time we made no further remark. The thing was too curious, that is, unless he lied. But nobody had ever known him to lie. He was a truthful person, painfully truthful at times. And yet there are people who do not believe in prayer.
“What is it?” he asked.