“Ee think he’s one of those that have joined the Narugas, lad?”
“I haven’t a doubt of it. Let’s see what the blacks have to say.”
Trim questioned his men and learned from them that although the Narugas’ territory had not been reached, nevertheless they were not many miles from it.
They told him that the place where they expected to make a landing would be reached by another day’s journey.
Further questions brought out the fact that the second expedition of the police against Mulvey and the Narugas had landed at that spot.
“That settles it, then,” said Trim. “We won’t land there.
“By this time Miller certainly has reached them unless he has been prevented from doing so by savage tribes. That isn’t likely, for it looks as if the Massais, at least, had helped him on.
“Now the white men who came to the drunken camp undoubtedly learned that a party of white travelers had been there.
“This fellow off on the hilltop may be the same man. If not he’s at least one of them who is on the lookout and who is therefore aware of our approach.
“That being the case, the most natural thing in the world for Mulvey and his men would be to prepare an ambush at the landing or near it where the second police expedition went ashore.”