"
"Stripped, rather. They look as if you'd fallen into a fire, or
rowed a fifty-mile race. That message of Mr. Brewster's--See here,
Perkins, you didn't row that over to the mainland? No, you
couldn't. That's absurd. It's too far."
"No; I didn't row it to the mainland."
"But you've been rowing. I'd swear to those hands. Where? The
blockading Dutch warship?"
The other nodded.
"Last night. Yah-h-h!" he yawned. "It makes me sleepy to think of
it."
"Why didn't they blow you out of the water?" "Oh, I was
semiofficially expected. Message from our consul. They transferred
the message by wireless. I'm telling you all this, Mr. Carroll,
because I think you'll get your release within forty-eight hours,
and I want you to see that some of your party keeps constantly in
touch with Mr. Sherwen. It's mighty important that your party
should get out before plague is officially declared."
"Are you going to report this case?"
"All that I know about it."
"But, of course, you can't report officially, not being a
physician," mused the other. "Still, when Dr. Pruyn comes, it will
be evidence for him, won't it?"
"Undoubtedly.
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