Then he seemed to remember that he was watched by several eyes, and he straightened up, passing his hand over his face.
"Jack shall hev a big monumint," he cried. "Tell me whar my old pard is planted."
"That is something I do not know, Mr. Bushnell."
The man was astonished.
"Don't know? Why, how's thet?"
Frank told the entire story of Burk's death and mysterious disappearance, to which Bushnell listened, with breathless interest. When it was finished, the man cried:
"Thet thar beats me! I don't understand it, none whatever."
"No more do I," confessed Frank. "There is no doubt but Burk was dead, and the corpse did not walk away of its own accord. It was my intention to investigate the mystery, but later events prevented."
Frank then explained about the kidnaping of Professor Scotch by the bandits.
While the boy was relating this, Bushnell was closely studying the guide's face, as revealed by the firelight. Frank noted that a strange look seemed to come into the eyes of the Westerner, and he appeared to be holding himself in check.