“Yes, that’s possible, uncle,” said Rodd. “And perhaps he has found one.”
“Very likely; and if he has he’ll soon be back to take us on the trail.”
“Perhaps so, uncle,” said Rodd meaningly.
“Why do you speak like that, sir?”
“Because I say he may have found one, uncle.”
“Well—and then?”
“The chimpanzee won’t let him come back.”
“Really, Rodney, you make me very angry sometimes,” cried the doctor. “If ever there happens to be a little hitch of any kind you immediately clap it under your mental microscope and try to make it as large as you possibly can. That’s it for certain, Morny. He wants to keep perfect faith with us, and so he has gone to see whether he can find any signs of these great apes. Well, we won’t let the breakfast spoil, and it would be a sort of madness to go hunting about in the forest for his tracks; so come along. I dare say he’ll be back long before we have done.”
But the breakfast was eaten without any sign of the Spaniard, and now the doctor began to be thoroughly uneasy, for the time was there when they ought to be starting on their backward journey, and minute by minute he grew more impatient.
His excitement was shared by the two lads, and the men were questioned again and again, while all joined in searching round the little encampment as far as was possible; and that was a very short distance, for almost directly after the stretch of sand was passed they came upon dense shrubby growth, and beyond this there were the huge forest trees matted together by vines and lianas into an impassable wall, while as far as could be made out there was no trace of any one having tried to force his way through.