But he kept silent. As a matter of fact, he was
wondering how in the world Durrance had ever come to hear of Abou Fatma,
whose name he himself had heard for the first and last time a year ago
upon the verandah of the Palace at Suakin. For he had spoken the truth.
He never had come across Abou Fatma, although Feversham had spoken of
him.
"That makes me still more curious," Durrance continued. "Mather and I
were together on the last reconnaissance in '84, and we found Abou Fatma
hiding in the bushes by the Sinkat fort. He told us about the Gordon
letters which he had hidden in Berber. Ah! you remember his name now."
"I was merely getting my pipe out of my pocket," said Willoughby. "But I
do remember the name now that you mention the letters."
"They were brought to you in Suakin fifteen months or so back. Mather
showed me the paragraph in the _Evening Standard_. And I am curious as
to whether Abou Fatma returned to Berber and recovered them. But since
you have never come across him, it follows that he was not the man."
Captain Willoughby began to feel sorry that he had been in such haste to
deny all acquaintance with Abou Fatma of the Kabbabish tribe.
"No; it was not Abou Fatma," he said, with an awkward sort of
hesitation.
Pages:
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316