Their lagging spirits revived by rolls and hot spiced chocolate, the Scouts set about making arrangements for mules to take them up the zigzag trail to their destination.
From their Indian guide, Jose, Mr. Livingston learned that Appleby Corning had not been seen in the village for many weeks. His absence had occasioned no alarm, for the engineer usually remained secluded at the mine for months at a time.
“Senora come here today,” the guide reported.
“Senora?” Mr. Livingston repeated in surprise. “What Senora, Jose?”
“The Senora that go on to mine. Wife of engineer there.”
“Corning has no wife to my knowledge,” Mr. Livingston replied. “You don’t mean the wife of McClellan Rhodes?”
“Si, Senor.” The little guide pulled his ruana more tightly about his shoulders as protection from the chill wind. “She leave on trail at dawn. Join husband there.”
The information that Mrs. Rhodes had gone ahead of them was most disconcerting to the Scouts. Mr. Livingston was especially troubled to learn that the deposed engineer might be at the mine.
“This may explain though, why Appleby didn’t meet us,” he told the Explorers. “With McClellan Rhodes on the scene, he might hesitate to leave, even for a few days.”
“Mrs. Rhodes sure must have traveled like a house afire to get here ahead of us,” Willie remarked thoughtfully. Turning to Jose, he inquired: “So went on to the mine? Not alone?”