a lot of time to think
things out. First, it strikes me as best to hide out here one more day
and then, tomorrow night, to make a break for the outside. Personally,
I don't know that I'd be fit for much tonight; it's a good stiff hike
to where we left the _Half Moon_ and I won't be able to keep awake much
longer. Then by tomorrow night, even if Zoraida is as keen as ever to
get us back, I doubt if her men's enthusiasm for vigilance will have
lasted at the first heat. There'll be a better chance for us to slip
through."

Here, again, the responsibility in Betty's way of thinking was his and
she accepted his plan without challenge.

"Another thing I've been thinking of," he went on, "is that queer,
smooth hole in that boulder; where we've our water stored. What have
you made of it?"

"A reservoir," she answered lightly, her spirits risen swiftly with his
coming and a taste of food. "What else?"

"Rios is hard set in his belief that there's ancient treasure nearby.
So is Barlow. So, evidently, was Escobar. If so, what more likely
place than where we are? That hole didn't make itself after that
regular fashion. I don't see just what it has to do with the case,
I'll admit. But somebody made it a long time ago and didn't do it just
for the fun of the job. I've a notion that it has its bearing on the
thing. Somehow."

"It isn't big enough to hold much treasure," said Betty. "Maybe they
didn't finish it?"

But from this they went to other matters. Kendric merely decided that
while they spent a long tomorrow of inaction he would look into the
matter. There was no great temptation to tarry for treasure and the
incentive to be on the way, traveling light, was sufficiently
emphasized. But there was a quiet day to be put in tomorrow, if all
went right, and he was not the man to forget what had brought him
southward.

"We'll both go to sleep," he said presently, "and not do any worrying
about what the other fellow may be doing. With our fire out and a lot
of dead limbs scattered about the entrance to crack under a man's foot,
they'll not surprise us tonight, even if they should know where we are.
Tomorrow we'll keep a watch over the ravine. And tomorrow night I hope
we'll be on the trail toward the gulf. Now do you want to slip out
with me for a goodnight drink of water? Or would you rather wait here
for me?"

Betty was on her feet in a flash.

"I've done enough waiting today to last me the rest of m