“He went behind that twisted cedar, and then seemed to just melt away in thin air,” the other replied, with a vein of wonder in his voice. “Then he _is_ an old wizard after all, ain’t he?” remarked Billie, hearing this. “That remains to be seen,” declared Donald. “Shall we go over there, and take a look around, Ad?” “Sure he ain’t just hidin’ behind some rock?” asked Billie, grown cautious, it appeared, after his recent experiences. “You can see for yourself that the whole face of the cliff looks open, and there isn’t an outlying stone that would shelter a cat, much less a fellow of his heft,” Donald told him; “how about it, Ad?” “If you think it’s right, why let’s walk over, and make out to be interested in the formation of the wall of rock,” replied the other. “If he chances to pop out on us, then we can make him believe we’re geologists, and interested in the history of these old-time hills.” “A good idea, sure it is!” admitted Billie, always wanting to put in his oar, and at the same time willing to give praise where it was due. Donald no doubt thought the same, even if he only smiled, and nodded his head. Having thus decided they stepped out from their place of concealment, and in an apparently careless manner walked toward the cliff that reared its head far above, being fully a hundred feet from base to summit. Billie trailed along in the rear. He did not feel wholly at ease, although in the society of his chums, whom he knew to be capable of holding their own with any ordinary peril. But somehow Billie had an idea that they were taking big chances when they accepted the risk of spying on the Witch Doctor. And he wanted to be in a position to render a good account of himself, in case anything happened. He had slung his little camera over his shoulder by means of the strap attached for this very purpose; and now held his rifle in both hands, feeling very much of responsibility, somehow or other, because he came in the rear, and let them do all the looking for an explanation of the mysterious disappearance of the old Zuni, while he kept his eyes on the alert for trouble. Just as Donald had so positively said, there were no outlying stones of any size along the base of this cliff. The two boys had even glanced eagerly upwards more than once, half expecting to discover signs that might tell how the mountain here had once been used by some of the cliff dwellers; but so far as they could see there was not a single hole hewn in that blank wall from top to bottom. Adrian picked up a piece of stone, as though carrying out the little scheme he had suggested about their pretending to be geologists; and while he and Donald put their heads together, as though they were examining the same, they were exchanging remarks. “See any sign of the old fraud, Ad?” asked Donald. “Not around here, that’s flat,” answered the other.