“Witnesses!” said Verstork. “Who are they?”
Singomengolo cast a crafty look around him ere he replied. He saw Mokesuep quietly entering the little hut. That gentleman had taken advantage of the confusion and had quietly sneaked away, while he had a chance to do so unperceived. He had reasons of his own for so doing; but Singomengolo’s lip curled with a disdainful smile.
“Just now,” quoth he, “there was a Dutch gentleman here.”
“A Dutch gentleman!” echoed Verstork, now quite losing his temper. “A Dutch gentleman! take care what you are saying. Are you trying to make a fool of me? I won’t stand such impudence, do you hear!”
“Muizenkop was here just now,” remarked Grenits interrupting him.
“Muizenkop? why I have seen nothing of him all the morning!”
“I don’t know how it is,” replied Grenits, “he told me something about losing his way.”
“But, what has become of him?” asked the Controller.
“That I don’t know—anyhow, he was standing here a minute ago.”
“But,” continued Verstork speaking to Singomengolo. “You said two witnesses—who is the other?”