"
"And the explanation is quite satisfactory," said Hope smartly.
"I agree," Donna Inez nodded with very bright eyes. "Sir Frank
has explained to me also. He knew nothing of the manuscript."
"And you, sir," said Don Pedro quietly to Captain Hervey,
"apparently did, since you stole it along with the mummy from
Lima."
"I confess the theft, but I didn't know what the manuscript
contained," said the skipper dryly, "or I reckon you wouldn't
have to ask who stole the emeralds. No, sir, I should have
looted them."
"I believe you did, and murdered Bolton," cried Random hotly.
"Shucks!" retorted Hervey, rising with a shrug, "if I had wished
to get rid of Bolton, I'd have yanked him overboard and then
would have written `accident' in my blamed log-book."
Braddock looked at Don Pedro, and Archie at Sir Frank. What the
skipper said was plausible enough. No man would have been such a
fool as to have murdered Bolton ashore, when he could have done
so without suspicion on board the tramp. Moreover, Hervey spoke
with genuine regret, since he had missed the emeralds and
assuredly would not have hesitated to steal them even at the cost
of Bolton's life, had he known of their whereabouts.
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