It was clear that Calaman did not recognize Leslie Arnold. But Nick Carter was by no means certain that there were not some of the men who had taken Leslie prisoner hidden among the rocks around.
He had not forgotten the Golden Scarab guards who had appeared so suddenly, and then had as abruptly vanished.
Some of them would be likely to recognize the young man. If they did, it was easy to predict what would happen.
Calaman turned his mule around and rode again toward Nick Carter.
“My stranger guest,” began the priest, with much dignity. “I cannot give up the white man to you. It would not be satisfactory to my people.”
“Gee! As if we care for his people!” muttered Patsy.
“We have come to get that white man,” was Nick Carter’s stolid reply to Calaman. “You do not deny that you have him.”
“I do not deny it,” replied Calaman. “One of your race has been in our city of Shangore, that you see across the valley, for five moons past. He cannot get away, and nobody can get to him except through my orders.”
“He’s pretty nearly the whole works, Chick!” whispered Patsy. “I knew that from the first. Now, if I were to plug him, don’t you see that——”
“Hush!” admonished Chick.