But you are a friend an' Olaf he depend much upon you an' so I tell you, sair." "You know nothing more than this, Da Costa ?" I asked.

"Nothing of another expedition ?" "No," he shook his head vehemently.

"Nothing more." "Hear the name Throckmartin while you were there ?" I persisted.
"No," his eyes were steady as he answered but the pallor had crept again into his face.
I was not so sure.

But if he knew more than he had told me why was he afraid to speak?
My anxiety deepened and later I sought relief from it by repeating the conversation to O'Keefe.
"A Russian, eh," he said.

"Well, they can be damned nice, or damned--otherwise.