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Updated: May 23, 2025
This hypothesis is hardly admissible, for if the Count d'Artigas is to be believed, he would in this event have summoned me to attend to the inventor. A little farther on I encounter Engineer Serko. With his inviting manner and usual good-humor this ironical individual smiles when he perceives me, and does not seek to avoid me.
Engineer Serko listens with profound attention, a stern look in his eyes and a frown on his brow; and yet he can have no reason that authorizes him to doubt my word. "You claim that three men threw themselves upon you?" he asks. "Yes. I thought they were some of your people, for I did not see them coming. Who were they?" "Strangers, as you must have known from their language."
"Now," I say to myself, "I know his real name and that of his lair Ker Karraje and Back Cup;" and I surmise that if Engineer Serko has let me into the secret he must have been authorized to do so. Am I not meant to understand from this that I must give up all hope of ever recovering my liberty? Engineer Serko had manifestly remarked the impression created upon me by this revelation.
This mixture strikes me as being suspicious. And that Count d'Artigas, with his Spanish name and Asiatic type, where does he come from? Captain Spade and Engineer Serko continue to converse in a low tone of voice. The former is keeping a sharp eye on the man at the wheel, who does not appear to pay any particular attention to the compass in front of him.
I wonder whether I shall be permitted to communicate with my ward. I walk towards him, and Captain Spade and Engineer Serko watch me. Thomas Roch doesn't see me coming, and I stand beside him. Still he takes no notice of me, and makes no movement. His eyes, which sparkle brightly, wander over the ocean, and he draws in deep breaths of the salt, vivifying atmosphere.
"You?" "My very self, and from that moment I promised myself the pleasure of having you for a fellow-passenger on board the Ebba." I do not recall ever having seen this Serko at Healthful House, but what he says is very likely true. "I hope your whim of having me for a companion will cost you dear, some day or other," I say to myself.
As usual there is nothing for it but to obey. I hasten to comply with the order and clamber over the side. At the same time Thomas Roch appears on deck accompanied by one of the crew. He appears to be very calm, and very indifferent too, and makes no resistance when he is lifted over and lowered into the tug. When he has been taken in, Count d'Artigas and Engineer Serko follow.
When it gets close inshore, an order is given to two men who jump out and haul the dinghy up on a narrow sandy beach out of the reach of wave or weed, and where it will be easily get-at-able when wanted. This done the sailors return to the tug and Engineer Serko signs to me to go below.
The color of their skin shades from white to yellow and black the black peculiar to Australia rather than to Africa. To sum up, they appear for the most part to pertain to the Malay races. I may add that the Count d'Artigas certainly belongs to that particular race which peoples the Dutch isles in the West Pacific, while Engineer Serko must be Levantine and Captain Spade of Italian origin.
Did those brave Englishmen perish in the collision? Are they safe and sound like us for I suppose that Thomas Roch has also survived? The first question that Engineer Serko puts to me is this: "Will you explain to me what happened, Mr. Hart?" Instead of replying it occurs to me to question him myself. "And Thomas Roch?" I inquire. "In good health, Mr. Hart."
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