Herr wachtmeister will take us all back to Luderitzbucht, and on the
way, what is simpler than to again test the rich spots from which you
obtained so easily these thousand carats, hein? If you found these
there there will be others, nicht warum? And then I will say that I am
sorry! And meanwhile the wachtmeister can keep the stones. And I will
answer for this last 'theft' I, whose name is worth more than a
thousand such 'gentlemen' as these! And now, Herr wachtmeister or
rather shall I say my dear pupil of the old Muenchener days? I regret
that I have hurt your throat, but I am sure you would rather that, than
be guilty of shooting an innocent and unarmed man who, I am sure, was
first assaulted by these gentlemen."

"Ja wohl," grumbled the wachtmeister; "that is true, that coward there
struck him after I had seized his arms. Aber donner-wetter, Herr
Professor, why not have told me this there in the tent long ago? It
would have saved me a broken nose from this 'innocent, unarmed'
Englander of yours, and an almost broken neck from yourself! Tausend! I
remember that grip of yours in the gymnasium of old! Lieber Gott! but
the years have not weakened it. And with this devil incarnate of an
Englander to aid you, what had you to fear from six such as these? Why
did you not bundle the whole lot back and have them locked up?"

"They were all armed, and we were not," said the professor.

"Then we will disarm them," said Brandt, and covering them with his
revolver he made Brietmann do so taking away the revolver that each man
carried, and taking not the slightest notice of their protests.

"And now you are under arrest," he told them, "and at any attempt to
escape you will be shot."

Then blowing a whistle, he summoned the camp boys who, in mortal fear
of the police, had obeyed their first order to remain with the horses
some distance away; and who would have seen the white men kill each
other till none were left, before daring to disobey that order and told
them harshly to bury Grosman, and prepare to strike camp and trek
immediately.

Dick, who had stood as one in a dream, and let the professor do all the
talking, now shook himself together sufficiently to hand over the
handcuffs to Brietmann who only glared at him and apologized to Brandt
for the unlucky blow he had given him.

"I bear no malice, friend Englander," said the wachtmeister, "but you
have broken my nose. And some day I should like to meet you in friendly