He described Ballantyne's search for the thief.
"And what were you doing," Mr.Travers asked, "whilst the search was being made ?" "I stood by the table holding the despatch-box firmly in my hands as Ballantyne had urgently asked me to do." "Quite so," said Mr.Travers; and the attention of the court was now directed to that despatch-box and the portrait of Bahadur Salak which it contained.

The history of the photograph, its importance at this moment when Salak's trial impended, and Ballantyne's conviction of the extreme danger which its possessor ran--a conviction established by the bold attempt to steal it made under their very eyes--was laid before the stipendiary.

He sent the case to trial as he was bound to do, but the verdict in most people's eyes was a foregone conclusion.

Thresk had supplied a story which accounted for the crime, and cross-examination could not shake him.

It was easy to believe that at the very moment when Thresk was saying goodbye to Captain Ballantyne by the fire on the edge of the camp the thief slipped into the marquee, and when discovered by Ballantyne either on his return or later shot him with Mrs.Ballantyne's rifle.