“Bandits come, Senor,” the miner informed him with gestures. “They ride off with Senor Corning.”
“And the emeralds?”
“No, Senor. Carlos get nothing. Senor Corning refuse to open safe.”
“That’s funny,” Jack remarked, half to himself. “Rhodes told us Carlos cleaned out the safe. He must have lied.”
“Senor Rhodes lie about many things,” Phillipe muttered. “Old mine—”
The words froze on his lips. Unnoticed, Rhodes had approached and now stood, feet astride, in the open doorway.
Coldly, he addressed Jack. “I figured I’d find you here. Trying to stir trouble among my workers?”
“No such thing,” Jack denied.
“Go to your quarters and remain there for the night! Must I remind you, this is an emerald mining camp and that regulations must be rigid.”
Jack held his tongue, knowing that opposition most certainly would result in a beating for Phillipe. He left with the engineer, separating from him at the cottage. Going on to the Scout camp, he was surprised to find his friends in earnest conversation.