Farmer Van der Wyck nodded his head gravely, and continued puffing meditatively at his pipe for several seconds before he replied:
"I know of him; but I have never met him, as far as I am aware."
No more was said at the time. Colonel Narfield could form no excuse for asking for further information, and Piet Van der Wyck showed no inclination to speak further about the train bandit.
It was not until two days later that the old farmer himself broached the subject.
"You spoke of Jan Groute," he said. "He is no good. For several years the police have tried to arrest him, but without success. The nearest they did was to shoot him through the leg near Beaufort West. After that he disappeared. I heard it said that he sailed to England or America, taking with him a lot of diamonds, for, besides being a train bandit, he is an I.D.B."
"What's that, Mr. Van der Wyck?" asked Tiny.
"An illicit diamond buyer," explained Colonel Narfield—"a man who buys diamonds from natives instead of through the recognised channels. It's a serious offence in South Africa. But what happened to Jan Groute after his return?"
"Do you know him, Colonel Narfield?" inquired the old farmer pointedly. "You seem much interested."
"Because I fancy he was at work on the Tabora Railway," replied the Colonel. "Colin and Desmond were in a hold-up, and from what they told me the description somewhat points to the fact that the chief robber was Jan Groute."
"When was that?" asked Piet Van der Wyck.