“But how about the platinum?” Jo put in quickly. “I think this guy knows where it is.”
“Well, he doesn’t. There’s been some fluke about that map. I know the fellow Boome found the stuff, all right, so we’ll get men here in the daytime and find the right location,” Cardow told him.
“Suits me. Say, can we eat?”
“Yes, there’s time, and there are a couple of other things we have to do before we start. If you make a fire, be careful that it’s hidden from the sky—”
“Sure.”
“Senor Jim—” Pedro Gonzalas’ coming had been accomplished so quietly that Austin almost jumped out of his skin at the soft call.
“Here.” In a moment Pedro crawled close, wriggling like a snake around the rocks, which were now covered with deep shadows.
“Come,” he urged, so Austin prepared to follow. It seemed to the boy that they went by inches, but presently they had wormed their way back along the ledge, and there he found Arto and Mrs. Gonzalas. He wondered a moment how they had succeeded in getting there, but there was no time to ask questions.
“Step with care,” Arto whispered, and the four started as quickly as possible into a narrow route that zig-zagged behind some of the tallest stones, and presently they reached a thick wood, which they entered. The trees grew tall and close together, but there was little underbrush so they made excellent progress, and finally when they paused for breath, they were some distance from the basin and its murderous occupants.
“Have you a pocket compass?” Pedro asked.