CHAPTER 20Culver became conscious of the darkening of the sun, and he saw that the trail had entered a great tunnel of green. Huge fronds of palms joined overhead; climbing vines like agile, swiftly twisting snakes, ran up the stems and disappeared; graceful flowing plants hung down from above.
In that pleasant shade he stopped and looked at Sally. She was red-faced and sweating with the hard work of keeping up with his long strides.
“There’s Wiley to think of!” he told her. “You’ve got to go back to him at once. Suppose we meet Valdez? That wouldn’t be the place for you!”
“Suppose you meet Valdez,” said the girl, “what will you do—with your empty hands?”
“I would talk,” said Culver calmly.
“And suppose that there should have to be more than talk? Suppose that Napico took the side of
