Billie trailed along in the rear. He did not feel wholly at ease, although in the society of his chums, whom he knew to be capable of holding their own with any ordinary peril. But somehow Billie had an idea that they were taking big chances when they accepted the risk of spying on the Witch Doctor. And he wanted to be in a position to render a good account of himself, in case anything happened.
He had slung his little camera over his shoulder by means of the strap attached for this very purpose; and now held his rifle in both hands, feeling very much of responsibility, somehow or other, because he came in the rear, and let them do all the looking for an explanation of the mysterious disappearance of the old Zuni, while he kept his eyes on the alert for trouble.
Just as Donald had so positively said, there were no outlying stones of any size along the base of this cliff. The two boys had even glanced eagerly upwards more than once, half expecting to discover signs that might tell how the mountain here had once been used by some of the cliff dwellers; but so far as they could see there was not a single hole hewn in that blank wall from top to bottom.
Adrian picked up a piece of stone, as though carrying out the little scheme he had suggested
about their pretending to be geologists; and while he and Donald put their heads together, as though they were examining the same, they were exchanging remarks.
“See any sign of the old fraud, Ad?” asked Donald.
“Not around here, that’s flat,” answered the other.
“But we’re directly behind that crooked cedar,” urged the rancher’s son; “and as sure as I’m here, that’s just where I saw him last. And you know as well as I do, Adrian, he couldn’t have slipped away to either side, nor yet climbed the face of this cliff!”
His chum shook his head as he glanced all around; and then stepping closer to the face of the height that arose far above, he scrutinized it carefully.
Then he laughed.