“I’m not going to tell you what there is in the canyons,” was the reply. “Say,” Tom went on, “what do you know about fifty thousand dollars in treasury notes? Ever hear of such a wad as that?”
Clay imagined the truth would have to be told then, but he thought best to put off the evil hour as long as possible, so he said:
“We saw Don down the river, but a deputy chased him away into the mountains. Probably he’ll manage to find us again before long.”
“He was hungry, wasn’t he?” asked Tom, with a wink. “He gets awful hungry sometimes! He’s been out in the desert a long time.”
“Yes, he was some hungry,” Clay replied, with a laugh. “We fed him up on pancakes and honey, and he seemed to like them.”
“You bet he did. He’ll find you again if you remain here a day or two. He’s going up the Colorado river with you. What’s your name? Is it Case, or Clay, or Alex? You see, I know your names!”
“I see you do! Well, I’m Clay, and Case and Alex are asleep.”
“Asleep with the bear and the dog? Well, that’s fine. Only I was scared when the bear came at me. Now, let me tell you, Mr. Clay. If you stay here until to-morrow night Don will find you, and we’ll all go up the river together. He’ll soon be along on some up-river boat.”
Clay was of the opinion, just then, that he would rather not wait for Don! If the meeting could be delayed, he thought, some way of finding the money might be discovered. At least he hoped so with all his heart.
While the boys sat there a river boat came toiling up stream. She puffed past the place where the Rambler lay, dark, and drew up at a little pier some distance up the river. Tom pointed to a number of passengers, outlined against the pier lamps, who were leaving the boat for the shore, and suggested that his brother might be one of the number.