Sandy refused to be convinced. “I doubt it,” he said. “Ever notice how Joe moves? He’s as graceful as a cat.”
“You’re right,” Mr. Henderson admitted. “But I just can’t bring myself to call Joe a liar. I’ve known him a long time.”
“What do you think of him?” Mr. Cook demanded.
“As a guide or as a man?”
“Both.”
“As a man I’ve never known him to do a dishonest thing. And as a guide, I’ve never known him to do a foolish one. I’d trust Joe anywhere.”
“So would I,” Mr. Cook agreed. “That’s what makes it so funny. I like him and I trust him and yet....” He shook his head helplessly. “There’s something he’s not telling us.”
“Want me to try to find another guide for you?” Mr. Henderson asked.
Mr. Cook turned to Mike and Sandy. “What do you think, boys?”
“Maybe he is mixed up in something, but I still vote we stick with him,” Mike declared.