The corporal had gathered a handful of sticks together, and he now stooped quietly to rekindle their fire. "So Archie was willing to beat it, and leave you behind to face it out alone," he remarked.
She turned on him with flashing eyes. "He could have done nothing for me by staying," she asserted. "But it was his chance and I persuaded him against his will—to go."
Dexter had taken a slab of bacon from the provision pack, and, wielding a knife in his left hand, he began cutting slices for breakfast. He was unhurried, seemingly unperturbed, and did not act in the least like a policeman who had just discovered that a prisoner was missing.
"You and Archie evidently know the way out of this maze of mountains," he declared casually. "I suppose Stark furnished you with the key to the puzzle, in case you chanced to be thrown upon your own resources. You were studying landmarks last night, and I assume that when Archie stole away, he knew just which course to take to hit the pass. No doubt he'll be with Stark and Crill and the others within a day or two."
"All I can say is, I hope he finds the way," she replied.
"So do I," said Dexter. He speared his bacon strips with a sharpened stick, and as he bent towards the fire, he turned a quizzical glance towards his companion. "I was certain yesterday that Archie knew how to locate the pass. It might take me days to work out the problem. And I can't afford to lose time. So I figured that I might let your brother show me the way. His trail shouldn't be hard to follow."
He smiled thoughtfully as he held his broiling stick over the flame. "I allowed myself to sleep soundly last night, feeling sure that Archie would accept the chance to escape."
CHAPTER XXIX
THE BLAZED ROAD
As Dexter had expected, the boy's departing foot tracks were clearly defined in the wet earth, and after breakfast he packed up and started to follow. Alison seemed rather disquieted by his cool assurance, but she was ready to leave when he gave the word, and for the present, at least, she made no effort to delay him or to interfere with his plans.