“All in good time, lad, all in good time!”
“We’re going to move on up the river as soon as you go down,” grunted the other Englishman, looking significantly at Frank.
With this declaration, which seemed to amount to a threat, the fellow turned to his companion and the two, after conferring together in whispers for a short time and giving the Indian instructions in a tongue unknown to Case, plunged into the thicket, taking the general direction in which the Rambler lay.
“Now ask Ugly what this is all about!” directed Case, as the backs of the two men disappeared from the ring of light given out by the fire.
Frank had little trouble in understanding the Indian, and the latter seemed willing to talk, so all the fellow knew of the purposes and movements of the Englishmen was soon in the possession of the boy. But the Indian watched the boys closely as he talked, keeping his automatic trained on them. He evidently stood in deadly fear of the Englishmen, and was resolved to do their bidding, even if murder resulted.
“The Englishmen engaged him as guide,” Frank interpreted to Case, “to take them to Cloud island, at the headwaters of the Amazon. They lost their boat some distance below, and are determined to take possession of the Rambler. He is to shoot us if we try to get away, and is to have his ears cut off and his nose pulled out by the roots if he does not obey orders. That’s all.”
“That’s enough, I think!” Case commented. “But they can’t get the boat! The boys are there, and will put up a fight for it.”
“The Englishmen will do their best, because they want to turn us back. Failing in this, they will kill us if they can.”
“Look here!” Case demanded. “What is this all about? Have you ever seen those men before? Where is Cloud island? What mutual understanding concerning it lies between you and these men? You may as well tell me, for I’ll have it out of you.”
Frank gave unsatisfactory replies, and a sullen silence fell between the two chums.