human
It is, in one respect, not exactly your business; but you and I are between us responsible for the tranquillity of the Green River country, and I should be glad of your opinion, sir, he said.
gpt
I don't want to make a mistake just now. There is no doubt that most of the men are in an uncertain temper, and they do not seem pleased with me.
human
I presume you don't want me to go into that?
gpt
No. The fact is, after all, of no great importance. The point is--what do you make of the corporal's story?
human
Not being a detective, I can make nothing at all. I suppose he is trustworthy?
gpt
As reliable a man as there is in the force. Let me try to set out what we know. Tomlinson thrashed Probyn and pitched him into the creek. Neither of them would explain the cause of the trouble, which is a trifle significant; but Tomlinson was heard to say that if the trooper played the same game again he would kill him. He is apparently not an impulsive man, and the corporal seems to think it was a warning and not mere bluster.
human
That, said Coulthurst,
gpt
Then Probyn leaves Sewell's camp, and never comes back. Sewell, Ingleby, and the corporal hear two shots, apparently from the same part of the range.
human
I understand Ingleby does not admit that.
gpt
One would scarcely expect Ingleby to agree with a corporal of police. Still, I may point out that he has been less than a year in the bush, and the corporal has, at least, spent most of his life on the prairie. You know the effect the life my troopers lead has in quickening the perceptions. Most of them could locate and tell you the meaning of a sound I couldn't hear at all.
human
His view is certainly worth a good deal more than Ingleby's. Still, admitting that the two shots were fired from about the same place, it doesn't necessarily follow that they were fired by the same person.
gpt
We know that, leaving out Probyn, Tomlinson and the Indian could have been the only men on that part of the range just then. When Tomlinson appeared he seemed disconcerted to find the corporal there. He also showed signs of embarrassment when questioned about the shots, and persisted that he fired no more than one. When told which way the trooper had gone he stated that he had come in just the opposite one. It is significant that he did not mention where he had been until then. Several hours later Probyn's horse came back grazed by a bullet, and a forty-four cartridge was found beside the trail. That is the size of rifle Tomlinson uses.
human
It seems to me the several hours are the difficulty.
gpt
Not necessarily. Whoever shot Trooper Probyn would naturally be afraid of his horse doing exactly what it did, and fired at it. The wounded beast would probably run as long as it was able. It is evident that it must have smashed through several thickets. Somebody fired at it, and the man who did so was the one who shot Probyn.
human
You don't know he was shot. I'm not sure I should find it necessary to keep quite as tight a hand on your troopers as you do,
gpt
I feel absolutely certain the lad never intended to give us the slip.
human
There were two men in the vicinity about that time,
gpt
Tomlinson was known to have a grievance against Probyn. The Indian, who apparently did not turn up at all, had never seen him. Men do not kill one another without a strong inducement, and nobody would expect to find much money on a police trooper.
human
His carbine, said the major,
gpt
The man had an excellent rifle of his own.
human
Well, said Coulthurst,
gpt
It's rather an important one, said the major gravely.
human
You can't well have a murder without a corpse, you see.
gpt
That is a trifle obvious, sir. You have no advice to offer me?
human
I have. It's good as far as it goes. Lie low, and keep your eyes open until you find Probyn.
gpt
I suppose that is the only thing, after all, though it looks very much like wasting time. I feel quite sure there will be a nicked forty-four bullet in him when I do.