“Dad will be delighted,” said Walter. “We’ll have her in Louisville on the next up-river boat.”
“Don’t hurry your horses,” said Colonel Crockett, who seemed to be turning the situation over in his mind. “If you do, you’ll wear them out.”
The boys looked at him quickly, for there was something in his voice which caught their attention.
“There is one thing that’s sure,” said the backwoodsman, “and that is that Davidge and Huntley will keep you youngsters in view until they see you have set out for San Antonio. If you stick to the ‘Mediterranean’ all the way down the river, they will too. At New Orleans they’ll follow you; they’ll find out that the girl is there. And so you’ll lose all the advantage which Dolph’s information has given you.”
The point of this argument was plain to both boys.
“What do you think we’d best do?” asked Walter.
“I have a plan,” said the backwoodsman. “Let me carry it out for you.”
Both lads agreed eagerly.
“Very well,” said Colonel Crockett, smiling in his droll way. Then to Captain Cumby and the old Texan, “Wait here a bit for us. We’ll be back.”
With the two boys he started toward the “Mediterranean.”