"But we must, Ruggles. Isn't there some way of finding out where the Chief is?"
"You can go and ask the General, and then he'd raise his terms to £12,000."
Will was silent. It seemed, as Ruggles said, that the case was hopeless. For some time he sat thinking, thinking hard. Suddenly he got up.
"Ruggles, I'm going to the hacienda."
"Nonsense! I didn't mean it," said the man.
"I shall go. I got into the house before; I'll do it again."
"But what if you do?"
"I might hear Carabaño talking."
"And you might not. It was a pure fluke before: luck won't play into your hands again."
"Wait a bit. There's Machado. Ten to one he'll be at his cabin sometime to-night waiting for an answer. The General demanded a reply by midnight. If we could only catch Machado we could wring out of him where the Chief is, and I wouldn't stick at a trifle in dealing with the wretch. He's the worst of the lot, playing the traitor in our camp, and torturing José. He deserves to be paid back in his own coin. I'll do it, Ruggles. It's a mercy you are here. I'll take Azito; you bring the hydroplane down with José, and wait at the end of the canal in case we have to dash for it. Once on board the hydroplane we might defy them and chance snags."