“Go ahead, I’m all clogged up, mentally,” Case answered. “How any one ever got on the Rambler and got off again without our knowing it, is something I can’t understand. Why, there’s not been a boat in sight all day, unless one came up while we were asleep,” he added, a little sheepishly. “I believe there’s magic in it.”
“Who knew that you had the money, Alex?” asked Clay.
“The Mexicans, and they thought it was in the belt. Don probably thinks it is still in the sand heap, and King never knew I had it.”
“Then we have only three to look after. These are the two Mexicans and Don. The others are out of it,” said Clay.
“But why Don?” asked Case.
“The three I have named would have plenty of reasons for following the boat,” Clay continued. “Now, let us consider their several chances of overtaking us. We have traveled about fifteen miles by river, but we have passed around a long point of land, and are not more than eight miles from the starting point. You can see how it is by looking at the river map.
“Now, the Mexicans would be likely to have horses near at hand, as they had been deputized as special officers to assist in the capture of the boy. They could, by quick action, chase across the point and head us off.
“Now, about Don. He would go back to the levee to look for the package of money and would lose time. Besides, he would have to travel on foot, so that, it seems to me, leaves him out of it. This passes it all up to the two Mexicans. What do you think of my Sherlocking, eh?”
“Unless Teddy shook it out of the package and dropped it overboard, you must be right,” Alex hastened to say. “He was playing with the silk, you remember!”
“Or unless Don ran across the point of land we sailed around and took it,” Case suggested, with a wink. “He might have done so, you know, so that knocks your Sherlocking all out!”