"Good lads!" he said. "Now give me a detailed report of your flight from Washington."
Dave Dawson glanced impulsively at Freddy Farmer, but the English-born air ace shook his head and made a sign for Dave to do the talking. Dave turned to Colonel Welsh and began to relate everything that had happened from the Washington take-off to the moment of the colonel's arrival. He didn't leave out a thing. However, in the event he might have missed something, he shot a questioning look at Freddy Farmer when he had finished.
"No, I can't think of a thing to add," the English youth said. "You've covered everything, I'm sure."
During all the time Dawson was talking, Colonel Welsh sat leaning forward slightly and listening as though his life depended upon every word. Eventually he straightened up and looked at Major Parker.
"Have you anything to add?" he asked.
"Nothing, sir," the major replied. "Dawson covered my end of it all in complete detail."
"You had never seen the dead man before, Parker?" the colonel then asked.
"No, sir," Major Parker replied. Then, with a faint gesture, he added, "I may have seen him, sir, in the course of my work, but the natives here all look more or less alike."
Colonel Welsh grunted, scowled down at the little table in front of him, and suddenly shot a sharp look at Dawson.
"Yes?" he asked. "You've got something on your mind, Dawson?"