Then the latter asked: "You are certain you made no mistake ?" The others nodded and pointed at Fremont.
"It is as you commanded," one of them said, in fair English.
Then the big man turned back to the prisoner, an ugly frown on his repulsive face.
"You are not telling me the truth," he said.

"You know well enough where the papers are.

It is useless for you to deny." The leader believed the prisoner to be Nestor.

That was plain now.
And Fremont had been captured by these brigands in the absence of the leader, and he was taking their word that they had abducted the right boy.

This might account for the delay.