That night his suspicions were confirmed. He and Critch slept together in one of the small tents and as they arranged the mosquito nets for the night Howard paused.
"Say, did you notice anything funny about Cap'n Mac lately?"
"No," replied Burt. "Uncle George is acting kind of funny, though."
"You bet he is," nodded Critch. "He's just about got the goods on Cap'n Mac, too!"
"What!" Burt stared at his chum eagerly. "I knew it! Spit it out, old sport."
"It's that compass business. Anyway, that got your uncle going. When we was ridin' after that hartebeest to-day he comes out with it. This here place ain't on our line o' march at all. We're 'way east of where we ought to be!"
"East!" repeated Burt. "What's that got to do with Cap'n Mac?" He was still ready to stand up for his friend, though Howard's confident air sorely shook his faith.
"Like this. Your uncle says Montenay's been leadin' us wrong. He don't know what for and he's waiting to find out. B'lieve me, I'd hate to be Cap'n Mac when he does find out! Golly, he was mad to-day!"
"Does he think Cap'n Mac swiped our compasses?"
"You bet! Thinks that business with Mgoro was a put-up job, too. When we were out to-day we found a young eland lying dead. It had two o' the blamedest arrows in it you ever seen. Here's the head o' one."