. So, for the
present, they would assume that he was telling the truth, and that he
could be trusted.

"Is the province peaceful up this way?" Rick asked.

"Oh, yes." Santos replied. "It is usually very peaceful. Sometimes on
the road south there is a holdup, but the Igorots in Bontoc and the
Ifugaos at Banaue cause no trouble."

"Glad to hear it," Scotty said. "When we start digging, some of the
Ifugaos may get upset. I'm glad to hear that they're not often riled
up."

"What are your plans?" Santos asked.

Rick shrugged. "It is hard to know where to begin. Before we plan our
campaign to locate the place where we dig, we must survey the terraces.
Is there any sort of field where I could land at Banaue?"

"No," Santos replied with great positiveness. "Once you see the terraces
you will see for yourself that there is no place."

Rick stood up and Scotty followed suit. "I think perhaps we had better
fly over to Banaue and see the terraces. Then we will have a better
understanding of our problems. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. De
los Santos."

"It is nothing. But tell me. Isn't there another in your party? Another
American?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Oh, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior phoned personally. He
described all of you, and said to do everything possible to make your
visit interesting and successful."

"That was very good of him," Rick said. "We will be back again, perhaps
tomorrow. Will you be here?"

"I believe so. If I am not, it will be because I am inspecting a road
section. Never am I gone long."

Santos lingered to give instructions in the native language to one of
his men, and Rick took advantage of the few seconds to whisper to
Scotty:

"I'll stall him. Get back to the plane. Have Angel make a deal with
those Igorot boys to keep an eye on the road. I want another spy in
Bontoc besides someone we know is Lazada's man. You know what's needed."

Scotty did. He hurried off to do what was necessary. Rick waited for
Santos, then asked the commissioner to point out the road to Banaue. "I
plan to follow the road in my plane. Do you think that is all right?"

Santos did. "You may lose the road in the clouds as you cross the top of
the mountain range that divides the Igorot tribe from the Ifugaos, but
you should then be able to see Banaue. Will you come back here after you
have seen the terraces?"

"Not today. We probably will be back tomorrow in a jeep. The plane is
handy, bu