Although," added Hope, with an
afterthought, "I can't imagine why those two fugitives should
drag that confounded mummy with them."
"But why should the Professor fly?" asked Lucy again. "According
to what Mrs. Jasher writes, he did not strangle poor Sidney."
"No. And I will do him the justice to say that he had no idea of
having his assistant murdered. It was Cockatoo's savage blood
which came out in the deed, and maybe it can be explained by the
Kanaka's devotion to the Professor. It was the same way in the
murder of Mrs. Jasher. By killing Bolton, the Kanaka hoped to
save the emeralds for Braddock: in stabbing Mrs. Jasher, he hoped
to save the Professor's life."
"Oh, Archie, will they hang my father?"
Hope winced.
"Call him your step-father," he said quickly. "No, dear, I do
not think he will be hanged; but as an accessory after the fact
he will certainly be condemned to a long term of imprisonment.
Cockatoo, however, assuredly will be hanged, and a good job too.
He is only a savage, and as such is dangerous in a civilized
community. I wonder where they have gone? Did anyone hear them
going?"
"No," said Lucy unhesitatingly. "Cook came up this morning to my
room, and said that my father--I mean my step-father--had gone
away with Cockatoo and with the green mummy.
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