"Can any of you work that instrument?"
They shook their heads. So I took it off his back—it was held by shoulder straps—and rolled him over. I splashed green-slimed water in his face. After a while he blinked and gasped.
"How does this thing work?" I asked. He looked at me, then at the malevolent faces of the Old Companions. In a whispering croak he told me how to manipulate the transmitter.
"How many other parties are searching the swamp?"
"One."
"What's the leader's name?"
His eyes flickered for a minute. "Bill Jones," he said weakly. I doubled my fist and regarded his face. After a minute he said, "All right. It's Sam D'Peero."
"Where are they?"
"Took another trail. Off west, I think."
I killed him then. "Deep hole near here?" I asked yellow-hair.