“Where are they?” Jack demanded. “What’s happened to War and Willie?”
“Rhodes must know!” Mr. Livingston asserted, his voice grim. “Come on fellows! We’re going to have a show-down with him right now!”
Chapter 20
THE MISSING SCOUTS
The Scouts found the mining engineer at the cottage, breakfasting with his wife. Though somewhat pale, Rhodes looked much better, and was able to be about. His right arm remained in a splint, but he managed his coffee cup fairly well with his left one.
As the three came to the screen door, the engineer’s first look of shocked surprise revealed very plainly that he had not expected their return so soon.
Quickly recovering, however, he invited them in. “Have some coffee?” he offered with more cordiality than usual.
“No, thanks,” Mr. Livingston spoke shortly. “We’re here to learn what became of War and Willie.”
“Don’t ask me,” the engineer shrugged. “I haven’t seen them since they left camp last night.”
“They didn’t start for Bogota?”
“I wouldn’t know.”