"Let's find Ping," he called back, "and get a report from him. That ought to settle everything."
McGlory and Carl, feeling that something important was about to be accomplished, hurried after Matt as he moved off across the show grounds.
[CHAPTER IX.]
A WAITING GAME.
The Chinese boy was not in evidence anywhere about the camp. After a search in all directions, Matt, McGlory, and Carl, reasoning that Ping's trail had led him to other places outside the show grounds, returned to the calliope tent. There, to their overwhelming surprise, they came upon Dhondaram, sitting nonchalantly on his square of scarlet cloth and smoking a cigarette.
The Hindoo's face lighted up genially at sight of the three boys.
"Salaam, sahibs!" said he in a friendly tone. "I come here to rest. It is permitted? I thought so. Rajah takes work to manage—jee, yes, much work. It tires me. Do you use the little smokes? Take one, sahibs."
Dhondaram offered his little red box of rolled paper poison, only to have his courtesy declined.
Matt was looking around. He was hoping to see the basket, but it was not in sight.