"Whose is the country?"
"The Berbers'?" Austin replied with some dryness. "Nominally, the Rio de Oro belt belongs to Spain. France claims the hinterland, the coast south of Rio de Oro and some territory north. However, did you look up the fellow Scot?"
"I tried. He was not at the hotel, and when I went to the house where Wolf's note was sent, the old Spaniard I saw knew nothing about him."
"Where is the house?" Austin asked.
Kit told him and he looked at Jefferson, who knitted his brows.
"Oh, well," said Austin. "Do you know how Scot got hurt?"
Kit took out the bullet. "He couldn't talk, but when we asked about his injury he put this on the table. The boat was rolling and I thought the thing would jump off."
Jefferson examined the bullet and gave it to Austin, who said nothing for a few moments and then lighted a cigarette.
"Strange and perhaps significant!" Austin remarked.
"Why is it strange? We know the man was shot," said Kit.