"And if I tell you—all?"
"Then, if I believe you, you will be set at liberty."
There was a sneer in the conditional clause that made Bio's blood run cold for an instant; but it seemed his only chance of escape, and he began haltingly but in a tone that they could not doubt was the truth.
"I left the boat far up in Mangrove Creek," he ended. "I think the yanqui señores cannot take her out."
"Tell Morales to have the mules ready at once!" the officer ordered. "The quickest road?" he asked Bio.
The pilot answered without faltering. The road he told them was twice as far as over La colina del sol and through the jungle path.
The officer consulted a few moments with the rurales who had brought Bio in, and then gave his decision.
"My men will not need you. You will be held in camp for one day and then set at liberty. I am a man of my word!"
Bio could hardly believe his good luck, although he frowned anxiously at that one day's detention. Silently he followed his guards; but, as he expected, he found them very lax after the first hour or two. Long before midnight he was snaking his way noiselessly through the underbrush that surrounded the camp.
And in the meantime the rurales were riding furiously along the road that led to Mangrove Creek.