THE MOUNTAIN TRACK
The shifty-eyed passenger's words were infectious. At the mere suggestion that the two lads were accomplices, Colin and Tiny were objects of thinly-veiled hostility and suspicion.
Too astounded to say a word, they stood confronting their angry fellow-passengers, until a tanned-featured man—the man who had made the practical suggestion of showing a light on the front of the engineless train—demanded abruptly:
"What have you two to say to this?"
"It is a deliberate lie," replied Tiny.
"That's an easy thing to say," snarled Londray.
"Silence!" exclaimed the other man peremptorily. "I'm taking on this business. If you wish to know, my name is Wynyard, assistant commissioner and magistrate for Nyaruma District. Got that? Right-o!"
With the utmost self-confidence, yet without any suggestion of bombast, Wynyard took command of the situation.
"Now," he continued, addressing Desmond, "I hope you won't object to my asking you a few questions. Have you met or spoken to any of that gang before?"
"Not to my knowledge," replied Tiny, after giving the names of himself and his chum.