“Me see um white boy there, too,” he added. “Same boy hang round hotel at Bomobori all time.”
“Donald Judson!” exclaimed Billy. “How can that be possible? I can’t fit him into this at all.”
“Well, the question is, now that we have tracked the rascals, what’s the next move,” said Captain Sparhawk.
“Me think now good time attack,” counseled Salloo. “They no think anyone near. Give ’em heap big surprise.”
“Begorry, that’s well said, naygur,” approved Muldoon, “I’m aching to git a good crack at thim.”
After some consultation it was decided to make the attack at once. If they delayed they would have to wait till the next night in order to surprise Broom’s band and there was no telling what might happen during the twenty-four hours that would elapse.
Luckily, there was a moon, though it was somewhat obscured by the haze which Salloo had drawn attention to as presaging a storm. The party, piloted by Salloo, started off up the river, which was low, as the weather had been dry and there was plenty of room for them to pass between the bank and the water’s edge.
At last they arrived in sight of the cliff and Raynor’s heart gave a bound. At the top they could see the red glare of the camp fire, though they could not see any of the men.
“There’s one good thing, the ascent of the cliff will be easy,” said Billy, in a whisper, as he drew attention to the knotted and twisted vines that hung down it.
“Yes, we’ll need no scaling ladders,” rejoined Captain Sparhawk.