“What has brought you on our trail, Batley?”
The man came toward them with a breathless laugh and sat down.
“It isn’t your trail but Gladwyne’s I’m interested in, and I can’t say that I’ve succeeded in following that. I merely pushed on, until I struck this cañon and as I couldn’t get across, I followed it up.”
“You’re not easily scared,” Lisle commented. “You might have got lost. Guess you had some motive that made you take the risk.”
“I felt pretty safe. You see, I knew I could strike the river, if necessary. At the same time you were right about the motive—in fact, there’s no use in trying to hide it. I may as well confess that I’d sooner keep Gladwyne in sight.”
“Out of regard for his welfare?” Nasmyth asked.
Batley laughed.
“Not altogether. The fact is, he’s carrying a good deal of my money.”
“One should have imagined that you’d have had him well insured.”
“That’s quite correct. If he came to grief in England, I shouldn’t anticipate any trouble, but it would be different out here and, everything considered, I’d rather avoid complications with the insurance companies. Now that I’ve been candid, do you feel inclined to reciprocate?”