Then he became grave, and returned to his examination.
'A rising, with diamonds as the sinews of war, and Henriques as the chief agent.

Well and good! But who is to lead, and what are the natives going to rise about ?' 'I know nothing further, but I have made some guesses.' 'Let's hear your guesses,' he said, blowing smoke rings from his pipe.
'I think the main mover is a great black minister who calls himself John Laputa.' Captain Arcoll nearly sprang out of his chair.

'Now, how on earth did you find that out?
Quick, Mr Crawfurd, tell me all you know, for this is desperately important.' I began at the beginning, and told him the story of what happened on the Kirkcaple shore.

Then I spoke of my sight of him on board ship, his talk with Henriques about Blaauwildebeestefontein, and his hurried departure from Durban.
Captain Arcoll listened intently, and at the mention of Durban he laughed.

'You and I seem to have been running on lines which nearly touched.