“That’s so,” Nicky agreed. “Then what?”
“Then—still pretending I am Huayca!—I would think they might have climbed out or someone might have helped—the Spaniard, maybe. The high priest might tell me that Pizzara knew about the secret pass or had heard of it. So I would go there.”
“Well,” said Bill, “that all fits in. Pizzara was caught during the night——”
“There!” cried Cliff, eagerly. “That is the point. It was at night! His band was wiped out. Now—if I were Whackey, I think I would go back there in daylight! And——”
“I see!” Tom put in. “Even at night the party could see that stuff was strewn all around. And in daytime—it was gone!”
“That is just what I mean!” Cliff was eager.
“By gravy!” Bill broke in, “I didn’t even think about that. Of course the average Peruvian is no detective and might not go as deep as that. But he would wonder what happened to all the stuff!”
“Huayca was a very intelligent fellow,” Mr. Whitley admitted. “If he did as Cliff said——” He stopped, thinking deeply.
“Then he might gather a party and follow us!” Nicky exclaimed.
“Why haven’t they overtaken us sooner, then?” Bill asked. “They can travel faster than we did.”