Eugene did not know what to think.
“Who first started the story that one of them had run away?” continued Perk.
“Mack started it. He told Walter so.”
“Now I’ll just tell you what’s a fact. Where’s Mack?”
“He borrowed Walter’s horse and gun and went out to catch the Kaffir.”
“Yes, and in the morning we’ll have to send somebody out to catch Mack. I understand now why he didn’t want Archie to go out to look for his horse. He had the animal tied up out there in the woods.”
“No!” exclaimed Eugene.
“Didn’t he ask if there was a rope on him? The horse got away somehow, and Mack being afraid that he had brought the rope back with him, wanted to get hold of him, so that he could take it off before we saw it. He intended to leave the animal out there in the bushes until after dark, when he would jump on him, and ride away; but that plan being knocked in the head, he made up that funny story he told Walter, and got off after all.”
Eugene waited to hear no more. Believing that Perk had made a very shrewd guess, as indeed he had, he rushed into the tent to arouse his uncle, and in doing so awoke all the boys, who, fearing that something dreadful had happened, started up in alarm, and reached hurriedly for their weapons. “Mack’s gone!” was all Eugene could say in reply to their questions.
“I thought so,” exclaimed Walter, who then went on to describe the interview that had taken place between him and the driver.