“I think the Spaniard would have told Whackey to take both maps,” Nicky said, “It would take less time to grab a paper than to stand and tear it to pieces.”
“Maybe Whackey did that on his own inspiration,” Bill said.
“Then the evidence points more toward the Incas than toward the Spaniard,” Cliff urged, “The Spaniard is cunning enough not to leave anything to be decided by Whackey.”
Bill began to whittle on a stick, thinking. He nodded.
“You may be right,” he agreed, “We must find out which party has the map. If it is the Spaniard we can hide and let him pass and then trail him; but if it is the other side, then we must either take a long chance at finding the one right path or else we must give up the trip.”
Cliff thought of his father. Perhaps he was still alive; unless they completed their plans he might never know.
“Probably we will have to give up,” said Mr. Whitley, “There are so many menacing things: I promised the relatives of our younger members——”
“We can at least be sure which side has the map,” said Cliff, “Before we do give up.”
“How can we find out?” asked Nicky eagerly.
Cliff explained a plan he had worked out. It was very simple, so simple that Bill poked fun at himself because he had not worked it out himself. He agreed, as did Mr. Whitley, that it was worth trying.