“It’s not like them to start off anywhere without leaving word. Which way did they go?”
“Down the valley.”
“Then they couldn’t have gone off in search of us,” Ken replied. The remark slipped out before he considered how it would be taken.
Rhodes regarded him steadily as he reached for another muffin.
“So you didn’t go off in quest of your friend, Corning after all?” the engineer inquired in a soft, faintly amused tone.
“You know very well where we went!” Jack accused, losing his temper. “You thought you’d arrange things too so we wouldn’t get back until it suited your convenience!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, young man. Suppose you explain.”
“Gladly. You weakened the log bridge so it washed out, leaving us stranded on the other side of the river!”
“And what were you doing over there?” the engineer questioned insolently. “Searching for your friend Corning, I suppose?”
Mr. Livingston had seated himself at the breakfast table, opposite Rhodes and his wife.