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Rh been made the scapegoat if I had not appeared so providentially upon the scene?"

"Then you think he may be entirely innocent?"

"It looks like it, but, if so, we've got to find out what he was doing in Marlow. If he's got a reasonable explanation of that, we're on the right tack."

He got up.

"It's past midnight. Turn in, Anne, and get some sleep. Just before dawn I'll take you over in the boat. You must catch the train at Livingstone. I've got a friend there who will keep you hidden away until the train starts. You go to Bulawayo and catch the Beira train there. I can find out from my friend in Livingstone what's going on at the hotel and where your friends are now."

"Beira," I said meditatively.

"Yes, Anne, it's Beira for you. This is man's work. Leave it to me."

We had had a momentary respite from emotion whilst we talked the situation out, but it was on us again now. We did not even look at each other.

"Very well," I said, and passed into the hut.

I lay down on the skin-covered couch, but I didn't sleep, and outside I could hear Harry Rayburn pacing up and down, up and down through the long dark hours. At last he called me:

"Come, Anne, it's time to go."

I got up and came out obediently. It was still quite dark, but I knew that dawn was not far off.

"We'll take the canoe, not the motor-boat" Harry began, when suddenly he stopped dead and held up his hand.

"Hush! What's that?"

I listened, but could hear nothing. His ears were sharper than mine, however, the ears of a man who has lived long in the wilderness. Presently I heard it too