“He is with Maroz and Ceballos.”
“Would they not be likely to place him in charge of the main band, so as to lessen the danger of his rescue.”
“That would be my theory, but I suspect he thinks differently.”
“I have as much faith as you in the woodcraft of Mendez, but I can’t accept that theory.”
Freeman would have been only too glad to believe as did the guide, but the doubt he uttered was that which would have come to any clear-headed man. If Maroz and Ceballos were acting as the rear guard of the hostiles, they could not afford to handicap themselves with the care of a prisoner, the possession of whom, it may be said, was the key to the situation.
If the boy were placed in charge of the stronger party, the two would be untrammeled in the crisis which they had every reason to believe was at hand. This was the situation, as it presented itself to Freeman and Lieutenant Decker, but the latter’s convincing remark was:
“It strikes me as mighty odd, but Mendez wouldn’t believe what he does without the best of reasons.”
“Have you questioned him?”
“I have.”
“What did he say?”