Part 26 (1/2)

'She had no notion of foul play?'

'None--that I could see After all, there I was, alive and well'

'But she was re induced you to sail at all that day, and for not having waited to see you arrived safely'

'That's about it'

'Nohat did you say about Cuxhaven?'

'Nothing I let her understand that I went there, and, not finding theed my mind about the shi+p canal'

'Nohat about her voyage back fro? Was she alone?'

'No; the stepmother joined her'

'Did she say she had inquired about you at Brunsbuttel?'

'No; I suppose she didn't like to And there was no need, becausethe Eider explained it'

I reflected 'You're sure she hadn't a notion that you took the short cut?'

'Quite sure; but shethat book'

'Of course she did; but I was thinking of so else There are two stories afloat now--yours to von Bruning, the true one, that you followed the 'Medusa' to the short cut; and Dollmann's to her, that you went round the Scharhorn That's evidently his version of the affair--the version he would have given if you had been drowned and inquiries were ever made; the version he would have sworn his crew to if they discovered the truth'

'But he ain'

'Yes; butsees hiain, and wants to find out the truth about that incident If I were von Bruning I should say, ”By the hat's becolishive his version, and von Bruning, having heard ours, would knoas lying, and had tried to drown you'

'Does it matter? He must know already that Doll; but weWe're still in the dark as to Dollmann's position towards these Gerlish, or they may know that and not know his real name and past What effect your story will have on their relations with hi, that it's our para as we can, to er you ran that day, and act as witnesses in his defence We can't do that if his story and yours don't tally The discrepancy will not only damn him (that may be immaterial), but it will throw doubt on us'

'Why?'

'Because if the short cut was so dangerous that he dared not own to having led you to it, it was dangerous enough to make you suspect foul play; the very supposition ant to avoid We want to be thought mere travellers, with no scores to wipe out, and no secrets to pry after'

'Well, what do you propose?'

'Hitherto I believe we stand fairly well Let's assu at Bensersiel, and base our policy on that assumption It follows that we must show Dollmann at the earliest possible ive him time to revise his tactics before he commits himself Now--'

'But _she'll_ tell him we're back,' interrupted Davies

'I don't think so We've just agreed to keep this afternoon's episode a secret She expects never to see us again'