“An hour, says Chan Li. Maybe little more. But not much.”
“And is he ready to take us there now?”
Chuba again nodded assent to the question.
“Tell him, then, that we are ready to go right now.”
Chuba spoke to Chan Li. The Chinese replied with a deep bow, and the sweep of one arm, as if to say, “I lead. You follow.”
As if speaking to himself, but in a clear voice, Biff said, “An hour there, an hour with Uncle Charlie, and an hour back—a bit more, perhaps. Four hours at the most.” Biff stressed the words, “four hours.”
He hoped Muscles would understand. He hoped Muscles would know that if they weren’t back in four hours, then something had gone wrong.
With Chan Li in the lead, they headed for the distant foothills.
CHAPTER XVIII
The House of Kwang
Muscles didn’t move. He kept his eyes glued to his watch until ten minutes had passed. Not until then did he think it safe to come out of his hiding place. He had overheard every word. He, too, had been thrilled at hearing that his good friend, Charles Keene, was safe.