Russell to stay here he can,"
he asked.
"Well, I reckon that would be so. Ef ye ask it I reckon I'll have
to," he replied surlily.
Ned and Alan held a brief consultation.
"We have decided to ask the authorities to permit you to remain here
on one condition."
The, intelligent face of Bob took on a quizzical air as he waited to
hear the condition.
"That is," went on Ned, "that you give us your word that you will
not make known anything you have seen here, or of our plans so far
as you may know them."
Bob's answer was immediate.
"I can't do that," he said, "I was sent here to do just that thing,
and as quickly and as fully as I can. You ought to understand, and
do, I think, that I have a duty to perform. I've taken the trouble
to come all the way out here to get a story. I've got it and of
course I'm going to use it. I should be false to my duty, to my
employers and to myself if I promised not to do this."
"But you don't know our story."
"And I'm sorry. But I should have known it all if I had had a
little better luck."
"Then you won't promise?"
"Decidedly not.
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