“I tried that,” Frank answered, “but never succeeded in closing a deal with anyone. Lewiso caused me to be shadowed, and whenever I interested a man in the enterprise he sought him out and discouraged him. At times, until the very last, he would act friendly toward me, but this was only to lead me on to confide in him. He probably followed me when I went to the South Branch pier nights and learned of my desires. Anyway, he heard plenty of talk about going to the Amazon, coming from the Rambler, and doubtless took it for granted that I had joined hands with you, and that we were going after the money.”
“You think he bought the steamer there after hearing of our trip?”
“I am sure of it. He was foolish enough to believe I would lead the way to the gold and let him get it!”
“And now where do these Englishmen come in?” asked Clay, desirous of clearing up the whole mystery at once.
“I never knew them at Cloud island, but it seems that they knew of me. One of them, I am almost certain, was formerly the valet of an English nobleman who visited father at his home on the upper Amazon. He undoubtedly interested the other in the adventure. Where he got the maps the boys secured is more than I know.”
“Are they valuable?”
“Not worth the paper they are drawn on.”
“Still their loss evidently urged the fellows on,” Clay mused. “They seem determined, now, to keep pace with the Señorita, doubtless believing that Lewiso has secured, while shadowing you, the needed information regarding the cavern.”
“Something like that,” Frank replied. “I have often wondered how those two men came to mention Cloud island at Ruination creek that night,” he continued. “I can account for it only on the theory that Ugly, the Indian who was with them there, had been a member of the party which attacked and searched me in that vicinity. They engaged him as guide, and he might have recognized me and told them about my being a member of the other Cloud island party which had stopped there.”
“I guess you have that sized up correctly,” Clay remarked. “I hope,” he went on, with a broad smile, “to be somewhere near when Lewiso and the Englishmen meet! Each one thinks the other has secured from you the important information!”