“I don’t know,” said Bob. “But we can puzzle over that later. The first thing is to find out if our suspicions that it was he are correct.”
“You’re right, Bob,” said Frank. “And I’ll go with you, for on a job of this kind two are better than one. Jack in the meantime can carry word to his father and Niellsen.”
CHAPTER XXII
MABELE DISAPPEARS
While Jack hastened away toward the tent shared by the two others, Bob and Frank made their way toward where a blazing camp fire marked the encampment of the seventy-five bearers.
Few of the latter could be seen, not more than a dozen. Could the others have decamped? Had they, perhaps, departed with Mabele? The boys hurried forward, alarm knocking within. But when one of the dozen blacks outstretched near the fire got to his feet on being addressed in the bush English of which all had a smattering, he informed Bob that his comrades had gone to the village to participate in the celebration.
As that was to be expected, Bob’s anxieties in a measure subsided. But when he asked whether Mabele had accompanied the party the man shook his head in denial.
“Mabele him not go ’long,” he said. “No see Mabele long time.”
Quick inspection of the recumbent figures showed Mabele not of the number, and convinced nothing as to his whereabouts was to be learned of their informant the boys turned away. As they passed near the boxes and bales of supplies and of equipment of one sort or another, over which tarpaulins were lashed to protect them from storms, Frank was seized with an idea.
Halting, he laid a hand on Bob’s arm.
“Have we ever used the spare radio transmitting apparatus on this trip out from Kisumu?” he demanded.