"Really," exclaimed Wynyard in surprise. "Well, gentlemen," he added, addressing the other passengers, "I feel certain that this accusation is utterly unfounded, and I am willing to take all responsibility of being answerable for the correctness of Sinclair's and Desmond's answers. If you wish to know the reasons on which I base my assumptions, they are that I am an old boy of Stockmere. All I can suggest as to why these two gentlemen were not plundered like the rest of us was on account of their youth. Apparently the chief bandit was a bit of a sentimentalist. Palaver ended."
Colin and Tiny felt greatly relieved at escaping from what might have been an awkward predicament. They knew—especially the former—that suspicion is "like tar." It sticks, and takes drastic measures to remove it.
Whether the rest of the passengers saw eye to eye with Wynyard did not much matter. They had found a new friend under difficult conditions as strangers in a strange land, and more, there was a strong bond drawing them together—the fact that all three were Old Stockmerians.
No one thought of going to sleep. The passengers, while awaiting the return of the engine, beguiled themselves with talking.
Wynyard eagerly plied the two chums with questions concerning the old school. He had left it fifteen years ago to take up a Civil Service appointment. Dr. Narfield he knew well, but the names of the assistant masters—Collier, Bowser, Blake, and Bridger—were new to him.
"I must make Colonel Herbert Narfield's acquaintance," he observed. "From all accounts, he's a rattling good sort. I'm at Nyaruma. It's only one hundred and fifty miles from Kilembonga, and one hundred and fifty miles in this country is a very small distance, when one's nearest neighbour—not counting the natives—might be twenty or thirty miles away. So when you've a chance, look me up. I may be able to get you some shooting. We've still a few elephants and lions knocking around."
Just as the African dawn was breaking with the rapidity common to the tropics the engine returned. It was running backwards, pushing a couple of large trucks crowded with armed men and horses for the pursuit of the train bandits.
"Don't suppose we stand much chance of following their spoor," remarked one of the armed volunteers. "But we'll try our level best to collar them. You say there were ten? H'm, a big party to make themselves scarce. This is the first occasion we've had an affair like this since we downed Fritz out there at any rate, we'll make the beggars shift. It won't be healthy for them anywhere within a hundred miles of the railway."
At length the tedious, enforced wait came to an end, and the engine, puffing laboriously, resumed its stiff climb into the East African hinterland.
Although the air was still very hot, and the sun glared pitilessly upon the baked earth, Colin and Tiny, tired with excitement, slept heavily.