They waited, as patiently, as they could, although it was all that Nicky could do to keep still.
“Oh, yes! He said, ‘Ain’t it a shame I was scared to go back and get the rest? I only took one little sack of gold dust—and there was mules loaded with it and it was all safe for me to get, but I was too scared to go and get it.’ That’s what he said.”
“We can help build up what he meant,” suggested Bill. “We were told about the looting of the Dead Hope Mine by bandits and how Mort drove the mules away.” He was about to continue but a warning look from Mr. Gray caused him to let Jack resume his own story.
“He said he’d had a good time on the money but when it ran out—but you know about that!”
They nodded and waited while he reflected.
“Let me see,” he said finally. “Yes, this is the way of it—Mort said if he could find a little girl——”
“What did he call her?” broke in Tom, unable to restrain his eagerness.
“He didn’t call her any name,” answered Jack. “But he said ‘if I could find a little girl that—that the—er—Indians took——”
He broke off and concentrated his mind on what he wanted to recall.
Tom had his lips parted to prompt, and Nicky was fidgeting in his folding chair until it squeaked and almost folded up; but Cliff, with one finger at his ear, caressing it, made a sign that neither chum could ignore—the call of the Mystery Boys’ order for a council. They folded their arms in token of agreement and then Cliff communicated by a touch of one finger on his chin—“Keep quiet!” They nodded.