“No. Mr. Vancouver.”
I had felt it coming. Of course he deserved any risk, any fate, but——
“You are thinking of Annabel,” said Beelo.
“Yes. She is innocent. Unless Lentala can keep him away from the king and save him from harm, I won’t——”
“There, there, Choseph!” sweetly said the boy. “She’ll manage. You’ll send Mr. Vancouver?”
“Yes.”
“Good! That will make the king think you aren’t suspicious. As soon as he has gone with Gato, you and Christopher come here, and then we three will go out of the valley.”
Captain Mason’s heavy hand still lay as a hush on the camp when Gato, the giant leader of the soldiers, arrived an hour later with a band of his men. Christopher and I met him, and he informed us that he had come for the man who was to be taken out. I despatched Christopher for Captain Mason, whom I had informed of the decision to send Mr. Vancouver out. The storm had been gathering with a slowness that indicated destructive preparation. Mr. Vancouver was in his hut with Rawley and Annabel. Rawley’s haggard face peered out at intervals and sent a straining look at me such as I had seen in the faces of the condemned peering through the cell-grate for any messenger that might bear a reprieve. They were not aware of our decision that Mr. Vancouver should go.
The president, cool and serious, came with Christopher.
“Summon Mr. Vancouver,” he said.