"Well?" exclaimed Wilmshurst interrogatively, as the stalwart blacks stood stiffly to attention.
"Man him gone," declared Tari Barl, with the important air of a person making a momentous statement.
"Yes, I know that, Tarry Barrel," replied the subaltern impatiently. "Is that all?"
"Me find dis in bush, sah," continued the imperturbable Haussa, holding up a small, glittering object for his officer's inspection.
It was a recently-fired rimmed cartridge-case. Holding his electric torch to the base of the case he gave vent to an exclamation of perplexed surprise.
For on it were cut the British Government broad arrow and the Roman numeral V., which showed that the cartridge was similar to those issued to the Waffs on leaving camp at Kilwa.
"Treachery!" muttered Wilmshurst. "I wonder——"