“Oh, yes they would,” answered Tom. “The Murrays are a desperate gang. Even if they get what they demand they might put him out of the way, but it is my opinion that they will simply set him adrift, in which event we shall find him. How do you communicate, White?” he asked, turning to the guide.
“He wigwags,” spoke up Grace; whereat the guide gave her a quick glance, but the Overland girl’s face told him nothing.
“Please take your flashlight and see if you can pick up a station with it, White. If so, tell them where the boy may possibly be and ask them to send someone after him.”
“Just a moment, Captain. May I speak with you aside?”
Tom stepped away from his companions, and he and the guide held a long whispered conversation. Tom then returned to the others.
“The Flaming Arrow!”
“Mr. White advises against doing as I suggested. He says the rangers are already looking for Stacy, and that to signal would simply be putting the bandits on their guard. There are other reasons which he has given me in confidence. You shall know all about it later on. Now may I see that diary, Miss Briggs?”
“Yes, of course. Throw it away if you like. I never want to see the hateful thing again. What I do think I am entitled to, though, is an explanation from you, Hippy Wingate. When, where and how did you get my bag of gold?”
“Perhaps a good little fairy, knowing my love for the yellow stuff, dropped it into my mess kit so that I might buy gold plates to use at meals in place of the luxurious tin plates that I am now using. How did you get it, J. Elfreda?”