"That's right," I said. "He has been with me ever since I came here."
"Do you happen to know where he is now?"
I shook my head. "He went ashore last night without my permission, and so far he hasn't returned."
There was another pause.
"He won't return," said the Sergeant, "and if you want to know the reason why I can tell you, Mr. Dryden. At the present moment he's lying dead in the stable at the Gunner's Arms."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Although I was half prepared for what he said, the announcement left me momentarily dumb.
"Dead!" I repeated at last. "Bascomb dead! How in God's name was he killed?"
The Sergeant looked at me with a certain sympathy in his stolid features.