He handed Bob a letter, written to Mr. Baker, whose name and address Noddy Nixon had supplied. In brief, it demanded that ten thousand dollars be sent to the brigands and left in a lonely spot mentioned, if Mr. Baker did not want to hear of the death of his son. Any attempt to capture the writers, the missive stated, would be met with the instant killing of the boy.
“Sign there,” said Vasco, indicating the place.
Bob did so. At the same time he placed beneath his signature a scrawl and a row of figures.
To the Mexicans figures meant nothing, and it is doubtful if they observed them. But to Mr. Baker they spelled out the message: “Send no money. I can get away.”
They were figures in a secret cypher bank code that Mr. Baker sometimes used, and which Bob had learned.
“I guess that will fool them,” thought the boy, as he saw his captors take away the letter.
For the next few days nothing occurred. Bob was kept a close prisoner in his room, and the only person he saw was the girl who brought him food. He tried to talk to her, but she did not seem to understand English.
The captive was beginning to despair. He feared he would never see his friends again, for he did not believe his father would send the money, and without it he was sure the desperate men would kill him.
His confidence in his ability to escape lessened as the days went by. He tried to pick the lock on his door, and loosen a bar at the window, but without success. It was the fifth day of his captivity and the Mexican girl came to bring him his supper.
To Bob’s surprise, this time she did not hurry away. She set the tray of food down and looked at him anxiously.