He was sent to Rio de Janeiro to bring back an absconder of note.
The first Stockbridge case had been in connection with an absconder.
He was still on the absconder's trail, though as yet it had not led him very far.
The first absconder was one Juma, who deserted with half a hundredweight of biscuit that night.
The absconder is often too inarticulate and ill at ease to give a clear picture of what was in his mind when he went away.
And to travel without a passport was to run the risk of being arrested as an absconder.
The law would claim him as an absconder, and would mete out to him such punishment as was fitting.
