I stood stiffly, still staring at Mick. Then I said:
“You mean that Vennell walked into the wrong spot. Torry thought it was you—”
Mick said grimly: “It was black— and there was wind and rain. Jones made a mistake, that’s all. But he knew it pretty quick.”
I said: “Why didn’t you say something— when we started the search?”
The big fellow shrugged. “I figured maybe Jones had done me a favor,” he said very quietly. “As a matter of fact, Al— I didn’t see Vennell go overboard. I just thought he might have gone.”
I was silent for a few seconds. Then I muttered half to myself:
“Torry Jones, trying for you— and slamming Vennell overboard. That wouldn’t be difficult, in the shape he was in. But he got back—”
Mick said: “We didn’t find him for almost four hours. Where the devil was he?”
I s
