He saw at a glance that they were brigands.
Red Muriel rode at their head.
At once Frank’s curiosity was aroused.
Where were the villains going and what were they up to? He was determined to know.
What the fate of the air-ship and the others was Frank did not know, but he lived in the hope that the Kite had outrode the storm and would yet return all safe.
For the nonce the best thing he could do was to follow the brigands and, if possible, learn what disposition they had made of the Incas’ treasure.
So Frank crept cautiously along the edge of the cliff.
He waited until the brigands had turned from the defile into the valley, then he crept down in their rear.
They rode slowly, and it was not difficult for him to keep up with them.
For several miles across the valley he followed them.