“That’s it, of course,” said the consul. “Well there is nothing more we can do to-night, but I’ll promise to have the town raked with a fine-tooth comb the first thing in the morning. If they are here, we shall find them before noon.”
“But where can they be to-night?” demanded Mr. Willing anxiously.
The consul shrugged his shoulders.
“Quien sabe? as the natives say,” he replied. “However, you may make sure they are in no danger.”
With this the others were forced to be content, and Edwards led the way back to the consulate. Here he suggested cigars before all should turn in for the night, and they sat down to talk over the situation.
“I’ll have every house in town searched from top to bottom in the morning,” said the consul. “They must be here, so we shall of course find them.”
“I wish there was something we could do to-night,” declared Dick. “This inaction makes me restless.”
“It makes me that way too, young man,” declared Mr. Willing, “but the consul undoubtedly knows best. We shall leave it to him.”
Consul Edwards looked at Dick inquisitively.
“What I would like to have you tell me,” he said, “is why you suspected Hernandez in the first place?”