Johnny was struck silent. They were after Baba!
"Come on, kid," the low voice came again, "where's the bear?"
"He ran away." Johnny blurted out the first thing he could think of. "I've had an awful time. We got lost in the jungle and he ran away, right at first. I lit fires to attract attention and keep off animals, and the rains put them out and my matches got wet. I've had an awful time, and...."
"You ain't seen nothing of the bear?" the scar-faced pilot cut in.
Johnny crossed his fingers carefully and looked the big man straight in the eyes.
"Not since right at first!"
The pale eyes bored into his. Johnny's eyes dropped down.
"The kid's lying!" the big man said to the others, and turned back to Johnny. "O.K., kid, let's have it straight now!"
But no matter how much they questioned him or how they threatened, Johnny insisted he did not know where Baba was.
Finally Ed, the blond scar-faced leader, gave up. He turned to the others. "You guys search the ground," he commanded, "while I call in to the boss." He turned and dialed the radio telephone on the instrument board of the 'copter.