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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32038-8.txt b/32038-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43f348c --- /dev/null +++ b/32038-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5460 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Flaming Mountain, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Flaming Mountain + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + +Release Date: April 18, 2010 [EBook #32038] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK, N. Y. +1962 + +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +[Illustration: _Rick swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course that +would take them past the volcano_] + + + + + _THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN_ + + Rock, melting like butter on a hot stove! It is hard to believe, + but that is what happens on San Luz, a small island off the coast + of South America. When Rick Brant and his pal Dan Scott fly to the + famous resort island to join Rick's father, head of the Spindrift + Scientific Foundation, a seemingly inactive volcano is about to + explode in an eruption which could easily blow San Luz off the map. + + The immediate threat is to a small town at the foot of the volcano, + where the air reeks with the fumes of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur + dioxide, and it is here that Rick and Scotty help Dr. Brant and his + scientist associates set up headquarters, in the hope of finding a + way of controlling an eruption that is growing into a certainty + with fantastic speed. + + But their efforts to save the island town are hindered by the + superior forces of nature, the superstitious fatalism of the + people--and sabotage! + + With the earth opening up all around them, Rick, Scotty, and the + scientists have little hope of preventing a catastrophe, until a + decision is made to unleash the awesome power of atomic energy in a + desperate last attempt to fight the volcanic eruption. + + Jam-packed with excitement and swift, tense action, _The Flaming + Mountain_ has all the elements that have made the Rick Brant + Science Adventure series a favorite with boys all over the world. + + + + +Contents + + + I VULCAN'S HAMMER + + II SAN LUZ + + III FIRING PARTIES + + IV SEISMIC TRACINGS + + V DYNAMITE MISSING + + VI DANGEROUS TRAIL + + VII CASA GUEVARA + + VIII THE GOVERNOR VANISHES + + IX THE YELLOW GROUND + + X THE VOLCANIC PIPE + + XI EARTHQUAKE! + + XII THE RISING MAGMA + + XIII ARMED REVOLT + + XIV NIGHT PATROL + + XV STALEMATE + + XVI THE BRANT APPROACH + + XVII SOLUTION: NUCLEAR + + XVIII THE SEABEES + + XIX THE OLD ONE YIELDS + + XX A FEW SOUVENIRS + + + + +List of Illustrations + + +_Rick and Scotty's scale model of San Luz Island_ + +_Spindrift Island_ + +_Rick swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course that would take them +past the volcano_ + +_Connel was alone in the jeep_ + +_The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked away_ + +_"They're shooting at us!" Rick exclaimed, and gave the plane the gun_ + + + + +THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Vulcan's Hammer + + +The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation +gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on +the southeast corner of Spindrift Island. It was unusual for the whole +staff to be called to a meeting. Even more unusual--not a single member +knew what the meeting was about. + +Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson +Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists. +His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions. "Rick, I +want you and Scotty to make a scale model of San Luz Island. It's off +the coast of Venezuela. You'll find it on the sailing chart of the area, +and there are references in the library. Be as complete and detailed as +possible, and have the model ready by Saturday. Pick me up at Newark +Airport Saturday noon. I'll have a guest. Ask Hobart Zircon to call a +full staff meeting for two o'clock Saturday." + +Rick and his pal Don Scott had completed the model, which was now +resting on a table at the front of the lab conference room. One hour ago +he had flown with Scotty in his plane, the Sky Wagon, to Newark Airport +where he had picked up his father and a short, white-haired elderly man +by the name of Dr. Esteben Balgos. + +[Illustration: _Rick and Scotty's scale model of San Luz Island_] + +Rick, a teen-aged version of his long-legged, athletic father, was +consumed with curiosity. He could tell that the scientist was deeply +concerned over something. It seemed likely Dr. Balgos was at least +involved in that concern, if not the actual cause. But Rick still knew +of nothing that would relate Spindrift Island off the coast of New +Jersey to San Luz, an island off the coast of northern South America. + +The Spindrift scientists were gathering, pausing to examine the model on +the table before they took their seats. Hobart Zircon, the huge, bearded +senior physicist and associate director of the Foundation, looked at the +model in company with Tony Briotti, the youthful staff archaeologist. +Dr. Howard Shannon, chief biologist, came in with Julius Weiss, the +famous mathematical physicist. + +A slender, attractive dark-haired girl, Rick's own age, moved through +the crowd to his side. He gave her a smile of welcome. Jan Miller was +the daughter of one of the staff physicists, Dr. Walter Miller. + +"What's all this about, Rick?" Jan asked. "And where are Barby and +Scotty?" + +"I wish I knew what it's all about," Rick replied. "Barby and Scotty are +at the house with Dad's guest, a Dr. Esteben Balgos. We picked Dad and +Balgos up at Newark an hour ago. They'll be over in a few minutes." Rick +had come to the lab ahead of the others to be sure there were sufficient +chairs set up and that the model was in position on the table. + +"You must have some idea," the girl insisted. "You and Scotty made the +model." + +"Sure we did. But we don't know why. Dad called from the University of +Florida and gave instructions, and I didn't have a chance to ask any +questions." + +"It must be important," Jan commented. "The whole staff hasn't been +together since Christmas." + +Rick nodded. That had been a social occasion, not business, and on the +day after Christmas he, Scotty, and Dr. Parnell Winston had taken off +for Cairo where they had become involved in intrigue and a major +scientific mystery. The episode was now referred to as _The Egyptian Cat +Mystery_. The boy wondered if this meeting was a beginning of something +exciting, too, and in the same instant he was sure that it was. + +"Here comes Barby," Jan said suddenly. "Excuse me, Rick." + +Barby Brant, Rick's pretty blond sister, paused in the doorway until she +saw Jan hurrying to meet her. The two girls conferred briefly, then +hurried to take seats in the exact center of the front row. + +It was the custom at Spindrift to include the island's young people in +staff activities, and Rick had been a part of the various projects and +discussions since he could remember. But not until Jan Miller's arrival +on the island, during the adventure of _The Electronic Mind Reader_, had +Barby bothered to attend the scientific discussions. Jan, as bright as +she was attractive, had succeeded in persuading Rick's sister that +science was not only exciting, but understandable. + +The buzz of talk in the room stopped as Hartson Brant and his guest +entered, followed by Scotty. The husky, dark-haired ex-Marine at once +joined Rick. The two had been close friends and constant companions +since the day Scotty joined the staff during _The Rocket's Shadow_ +project. An orphan, Scotty was now a permanent member of the Spindrift +family. + +Hartson Brant did not need to rap for attention. There was an expectant +hush as he began immediately. "Our guest today is Dr. Esteben Balgos, of +whom many of you have heard. Until his retirement a few years ago, he +was considered by his colleagues as the dean of South American +geophysicists. His primary field of interest was--and still +is--volcanology." + +Rick leaned forward. Volcanology, study of volcanoes. The mountain that +formed the backbone of San Luz had once been a volcano, but it had been +dead or inactive since prehistoric times. El Viejo--the Old One--was its +name. Rick wondered if it might not be the connecting link between San +Luz and Spindrift, but he couldn't yet see how. + +"Dr. Balgos reached me at Florida University while I was lecturing +there. We talked, and I agreed that we would examine his problem. It is +so unusual and challenging that I wanted all of you to hear what he has +to say. Rick and Scotty have built a scale model of the island to help +Dr. Balgos describe the problem to us." + +"So that's why we built it," Scotty whispered. "I've been wondering." + +Rick grinned. So had he. + +Dr. Balgos acknowledged Hartson Brant's introduction, took a moment to +wipe his horn-rimmed spectacles, and got down to business, using a +pencil as a pointer. He spoke perfect English with a soft, musical +Spanish accent which Rick found pleasant. + +"This, young ladies and colleagues, is San Luz. I retired to this island +from my native Peru a few years ago, so it is now my home. Its +relationship to South America is the same as that of Bermuda to the east +coast of your country. In other words, it is an island vacation resort. +There are about 32,000 people on San Luz, engaged in caring for +tourists, in fishing, in farming bananas and cacao, and in digging and +exporting pumice." + +Rick knew this from his research. He hoped Dr. Balgos wouldn't linger +too long over descriptions. + +"The tourist facilities are along the south coast, which is one +continuous beach, starting at the main town of Calor, and running to +Redondo, a fishing village at the northern tip of the island. There are +several excellent hotels and guest homes." + +Dr. Balgos pointed with his pencil to a cluster of buildings at the base +of the mountain. "The location of this hotel is an exception. It is +called the Hot Springs Hotel, and it is one of our biggest. It is named +for the hot springs at the base of the mountain. You will see at once +that El Viejo--this mountain--is clearly a volcano. The presence of hot +springs at its base indicates that it is not entirely dead." + +Now they were getting somewhere, Rick thought. + +"Starting a few months ago, earthquakes in the vicinity began to +increase in frequency. Since we are on the edge of a major geological +fault, earthquakes are not at all unusual, and the increase attracted +little attention. However, I have corresponded with seismologists +throughout the area, and it is clear that the increase is due to +activity directly under our island." + +The Peruvian scientist held up his pencil, like a teacher addressing a +class. "I see that you consider this significant. So do I. There is one +other bit of information that is also significant. The flow from the hot +springs has changed in character. There is an occasional outpouring of +hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Also, the average temperature of +the springs has gone up several degrees." + +The area must smell pretty bad, Rick thought. Hydrogen sulfide was what +gave the characteristic aroma to rotten eggs, and sulfur dioxide wasn't +exactly perfume. He wasn't surprised when Dr. Balgos added that the +hotel had been virtually abandoned. + +"My data is not sufficient for any conclusion, but the general one that +some kind of volcanic activity is increasing. However, I'm sure most of +you depend, as I do, on intuition as well as on data. This intuition is +simply the result of years of experience. Mine tells me that El Viejo is +about to become active again." + +There was a murmur from the scientists. + +"I am aware," Balgos went on, "that this is a conclusion which cannot +yet be supported. But I am certain in my own mind that such is the case. +I do not believe the present mild activity causing the earthquakes will +subside. But more than that, I believe the activity will grow in a +particularly disastrous way." + +The scientist pointed to the volcano. "I have examined this cone. It is +ancient, covered with jungle growth. It is clearly stable. The crater is +filled in with compacted, weathered lava. If there should be a normal +eruption, it would have to vent through the hot springs, which is the +only active channel. Notice that the town of Calor would then be right +in line with the eruption." + +Rick could see it clearly. The contours of the terrain were such that a +lava flow of any magnitude would engulf the little city. + +"I believe the volcano will vent through the hot springs," Balgos went +on. "But my examination of the volcano leads me to expect that it will +vent with fantastic violence. The hot-springs channel is purely seepage. +There is no open vent. This means the mountain will resist the growing +forces under it until it is forced to give with great suddenness. To be +as concise as possible, what I see here is another Krakatoa." + +There was a concerted gasp from the assembled group. Rick felt his +scalp prickle. He had expected nothing like this. Krakatoa, he knew from +his reading, had been the greatest cataclysm in recorded history. The +volcano, in the East Indies, had blown up with enormous violence. The +island on which it was located had been literally blasted to bits; +nothing was left. Nearby islands were blazed clean. No one knew how many +people had perished instantly. The blast was felt completely around the +world, and the dust of Krakatoa had so filled the world's skies that the +weather was changed. Winters came earlier and stayed longer, until the +dust settled at last. + +"This is our problem," Balgos said simply. "It is made more difficult by +two things, our people and our politics. The people are superstitious +fatalists. I know them too well to expect that they will move from the +island. And where would they move? San Luz is claimed by three +countries: England, Colombia, and Venezuela. But we consider ourselves +independent. We have our own legislature. We cannot go to any one +country for help without acknowledging its sovereignty over us. We +cannot go to all three at once, because the diplomatic difficulties of +getting three nations together would take too much time. Besides, I do +not know what any nation could do. And so, I come to you, on behalf of +our governor, and of myself." + +There was silence when Balgos finished. Then big Hobart Zircon boomed, +"If we assume your conclusions are correct, what can be done? There is +no way of stopping a volcanic eruption, much less an explosion. Man is +helpless before such natural forces. It would be easier to stop a +hurricane than another Krakatoa." + +Balgos shrugged. "I agree. Yet, can we stand by and wait without even +making an attempt?" + +"Certainly not," Hartson Brant replied. "First, we must develop more +data. Dr. Balgos had said that his conclusions are based on intuition, +and not facts. I, for one, trust his intuition. But we must know the +exact situation before we can even begin to study the possibilities of +doing something." + +Tony Briotti objected. "Even with a study, what can be done? I'm not a +physical scientist, so this is outside of my field. But I've never heard +of anyone even attempting to change the direction of a lava flow, much +less control an eruption." + +Dr. Balgos spread his hands expressively. "In mythology, Vulcan was the +blacksmith, the god of fire and volcanoes. We have grown too wise to +believe in myths, but we do believe in the scientific method. I come to +you, as some of its most famous practitioners. If anything can be +done--and I do not know if it can--then you are the scientific team that +can do it. If you can do nothing, then San Luz will die, violently, +under Vulcan's hammer!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +San Luz + + +Rick Brant awoke slowly. For a moment he lay with eyes closed while he +tried to identify the strange odor that smote his nostrils. It was a +noxious combination of medicine, burned matches, and ancient eggs. Then +he remembered, and sat bolt upright in bed. + +San Luz! The smell of the hot springs burned his nose even through the +air-conditioning system. It must be awful outside, he thought. It had +been bad enough last night. + +He looked over to the other bed in the luxurious room and saw Scotty, +wrapped like a cocoon in sheet and blanket. For a moment he was tempted +to heave a pillow at the ex-Marine, then reconsidered. Scotty needed +sleep. Let him wake up naturally. + +Rick lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes. He could do with a +little more shut-eye himself. So much had happened in the past few days +that he was still spinning from the speed of it. + +The arrival of Dr. Esteben Balgos had upset Spindrift more thoroughly +than anything else Rick could remember. He and Scotty had sat through +hours of argument and heated debate. Jan and Barby had given up when the +scientific arguments got far beyond their ability to understand. Rick +hadn't understood much either, but he had stuck it out to the end. + +The conclusion was that probably nothing could be done. There was simply +no way to check the eruption of a volcano. If El Viejo was going to blow +its top, well . . . that was that. But the Spindrift Scientific +Foundation was not known for its eagerness to drop seemingly insoluble +problems, so the staff had agreed that a study should be made, at the +very least. + +Hartson Brant had chosen Hobart Zircon and Julius Weiss to work with +him, then he had persuaded an old friend, Dr. Jeffrey Williams, to drop +his work for a short time and join the party. Dr. Williams was a noted +seismologist. From the U. S. Geological Survey, Hartson Brant had +borrowed Dr. David Riddle, a geologist with considerable experience in +volcanology. + +The scientific team departed at once for San Luz, leaving Rick and +Scotty to bring up the rear. The boys loaded scientific equipment into +the Sky Wagon and took off for San Luz. It took three days for the +little plane to make the trip, the longest flight of Rick's flying +career. Only once before had he flown so far over water, and then only +to the Virgin Islands. The plane had made it easily, but he and Scotty +had sweated it out. + +Ordinarily, Hartson Brant would have taken the boys by commercial air, +but he wanted Rick's plane on hand. Since the senior scientist did not +know what difficulties the scientists might encounter, he wanted a way +of making aerial surveys and photographs, plus ready communication with +the mainland and nearby islands. + +The boys had arrived early the evening before, only to be whisked to the +Executive Mansion where the governor of San Luz, the Honorable Luis +Montoya, was holding a reception for the visiting scientists. + +The governor, a charming little man who looked like Rick's idea of a +Spanish grandee, knew why the scientists were there, of course. But the +secret was confined to the governor himself and to Balgos. Even Jaime +Guevara, the lieutenant governor, did not know. + +The agreement was that the scientific group would seem to be interested +only in the hot springs. The purpose of their visit, the governor had +announced to the local press and radio, was to investigate the change in +the springs that had ruined a principal San Luz resort hotel. + +By ten o'clock, when the reception ended, the boys were exhausted. But +the end was not yet. They were riding in Zircon's jeep--five jeeps had +been assigned to the party by the governor--and Zircon had to meet the +last member of the party, Bradley Connel, a geologist borrowed from an +oil company in Caracas, Venezuela, by Dr. Balgos. + +It was nearly midnight before the boys got to sleep, after nearly three +days with minimum rest. So, both were tired. In the middle of thinking +how tired he was, Rick dropped off to sleep again. + +He awoke with Scotty's voice in his ears. "Come on, old buddy. Dad's +calling a staff meeting in fifteen minutes." + +Rick sat up. "How do you know?" + +"Didn't you hear the phone ring? Boy, you must be tired! Let's go. Time +for a quick shower and coffee. I've had mine." + +Rick saw that a breakfast tray was on a bedside table. He had slept +through Scotty's arising, shower, and delivery of breakfast. He shook +his head, still groggy. + +A quick shower woke him up. He sipped coffee and ate toast while getting +into his clothes, then the two hurried down the corridor of the luxury +hotel to the conference room Hartson Brant had taken over as +headquarters. + +The scientists were already there, taking seats around the room as the +boys walked in. + +Rick looked at the new faces. It was the first time he had seen them in +daylight. Dr. Jeffrey Williams was a plump, round-faced man with a shock +of pure-white hair. Dr. David Riddle was tall, dark, lean, and heavily +tanned. He looked like a mining engineer, or perhaps a forest ranger. +Bradley Connel was short, heavy set, with straw-colored hair and the +kind of complexion that is always sunburned and peeling so long as the +days are hot--which meant always, this close to the equator. + +"Let's get to work," Hartson Brant said. "It's obvious that visual +inspection is not going to tell us much. We'll have to get tracings +before we have any real idea of what's going on under us. Dave, have you +found anything of importance?" + +David Riddle shook his head. "It's a typical formation. Nothing unusual +about it at all. El Viejo is simply a dead volcano, its cone filled in, +and plenty of jungle on the slopes. The hot springs are just a seepage +point, as Dr. Balgos knows. So far as I can tell, they're the weakest +point, so if the mountain lets go, that is where the blowoff will come. +Of course, this could be wrong and there may be weaker channels we don't +suspect. We'll know when we start shooting." + +Hartson Brant looked at Dr. Williams. "Anything to add, Jeff?" + +"Not much. I've gone over the seismic data Esteben got from the +seismologists in the area, and it's clear that the epicenter of most +recent earthquakes in the area is right under us. Something is happening +down in the earth under the mountain, but I can't say what it is. It may +be volcanism or it may be a fault shifting." + +Rick knew that a fault was like a great crack in the earth's structure, +but he had thought the scientists had agreed that the earthquakes were +caused by volcanic action. He asked, "Sir, doesn't the change in the +springs mean something?" + +"Perhaps, Rick," Dr. Williams answered. "We don't really know. Dr. +Balgos thinks they mean a great deal, and I have respect for his +opinions. But I'm only a seismologist. I have to depend on traces from +earthquakes, and the traces tell us nothing but the single fact that +something is going on far below." + +Hartson Brant nodded. "The answer will depend on more data, so today +we'll start to collect it. Rick and Scotty brought apparatus, and the +governor has supplied us with dynamite and two experienced helpers, Ruiz +and Honorario." + +"How do we split up?" Julius Weiss asked. + +"Into firing and recording teams. Since we have only two recorders, we +can have only two teams for data collection. But we can have three +firing parties. Dave Riddle will work with Honorario, Brad Connel with +Ruiz, and Hobart Zircon with Rick and Scotty. Julius, you and I will +form one recording party, and Esteben and Jeff will form the other. Each +team will have a jeep. Now, if you'll all gather around this model the +boys made, we'll pick approximate locations for stations." + +The boys had brought the model with them. Now the group gathered around +and discussed the best locations for both firing and recording parties. + +Dave Riddle was assigned a station on the slope of El Viejo near the +town of Redondo on the north end of the island. Brad Connel was given a +location on the northwestern slope, and Zircon and the boys were shown a +position on the west near the place where pumice, a foamy volcanic rock, +was mined. Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss were to place one recording +station on the eastern slope of the mountain, while Dr. Williams and +Dr. Balgos were assigned a station on the northern coast. + +Hartson Brant handed a wrist chronometer to each team leader. Each team +was also to have a transit, with which to take bearings for the purpose +of locating the stations with precision. + +"The hotel restaurant has packed lunches for us," Hartson Brant stated. +"If we get under way at once, we can start shooting at one o'clock. +Let's try for three shots each this afternoon. Each firing team will +move one mile in a clockwise direction between shots, and we'll need to +space the shots fifteen minutes apart. Hobart, you'll start shooting at +1:00, Brad at 1:15, Dave at 1:30. At 2:00, we'll start the cycle over +again. That should bring us all back to the hotel by suppertime." + +Big Hobart Zircon clapped the boys on the shoulder. "Let's get going. +Scotty, you pick up our lunches. Rick, we'll load equipment." + +The five jeeps were lined up outside. Rick carried out a transit, the +tripod slung over his shoulder, and found the two local helpers waiting. +Ruiz was a short, swarthy man with gleaming white teeth and a +Mexican-style sombrero. Honorario was only slightly taller, and so thin +a strong breeze would blow him away. The two San Luzians greeted him +courteously. "_Buenos días, señor._" + +Rick knew enough Spanish to be equally polite. "_Buenos días, señores. +Cómo están ustedes?_" + +The two switched to English. Rick hoped it wasn't a reflection on his +Spanish accent, acquired at Whiteside High School the year before. "We +are well, señor," Ruiz answered, and Honorario added, "We hope you will +enjoy San Luz, señor." + +Rick said that he expected to enjoy it very much indeed. He wondered if +the two knew that their mountain was getting ready to blow its top. He +asked, "Do you have the dynamite, _amigos_?" + +"In the shed, señor. Also the caps and the detonators. If you will come, +I will show you." Ruiz gestured toward a concrete shed that stood some +distance away. + +"What was the shed used for?" Rick asked as they walked toward it. + +"It is a shed for a pump, señor. The pump is for the hotel's water, +which must be brought up the hill from Calor." + +In a moment Rick saw for himself. The pump was operating noisily. Along +one wall were shelves, one of which contained two cases of dynamite and +boxes of caps. On another shelf were three detonators. He selected one, +then picked out six sticks of dynamite. He handled the stuff gingerly, +even though he knew it was safe as so much soap. Dynamite, for all its +explosive power, is stable stuff, and difficult to set off by accident. + +The dynamite caps were much less safe, however. Each was packed +carefully in its own protective wrapping, but Rick took no chances. He +put each one in a different pocket. Then, feeling like a keg of +gunpowder with a sputtering fuse, he walked back to the jeep. + +Hobart Zircon and Scotty came out of the hotel as he approached. + +"Stand back," Rick said grimly. "I may go off like the Black Tom +explosion if you touch me." + +Big Hobart Zircon chuckled. "Don't worry, Rick. If you do, we'll go off +with you. Would it make you happier if I carried the explosives?" + +Rick considered. "It doesn't matter," he said. "If the stuff goes off, +we'll all go into orbit at the same time and the jeep will go with us. +Let's go." + +Scotty looked at him curiously. "Where are the caps?" + +Rick patted his pockets one at a time. "One in each breast pocket and +one in my watch pocket. Don't push me around, buddy. I'm loaded." + +Scotty grinned. "I'll keep my distance." + +The rest of the party was loading jeeps now, too. Scotty hoisted the +equipment and lunches into the back of the jeep and got in with them. +Rick climbed gingerly into the front passenger seat and Zircon got ready +to drive. He handed Rick a map. "You navigate. Our first destination is +marked with a cross. We start out on the road leading west from the +hotel. That will take us to the pumice works." + +"Okay," Rick began, but he never finished. The jeep began to rock under +him. For an insane instant he thought it must have a perfectly silent +motor, then he realized Zircon had not yet turned on the ignition +switch. Sudden dizziness made him clutch at the seat, and instinctively +he clapped an arm across his chest to protect the dynamite caps. + +He was vaguely conscious of yells from around him, and he struggled to +sit up straight. His stomach was churning and he felt nauseated. Zircon +let out a bellow like a wounded steer. + +From inside the hotel Rick heard the sudden crash of shattering glass +and gripped the jeep seat tighter with his free hand. + +Then, as suddenly as it had come, it was over. He straightened up, +dizzy. "Wh-what happened?" he asked shakily. + +He heard Dr. Balgos. "A warning, my friends. The most serious one yet." +He pointed up to where the peak of El Viejo loomed. "The Old One must be +working faster than I thought." + +"But what was it?" Rick asked again and at the same time was afraid that +he knew. + +"Earthquake," Zircon boomed. He pointed. + +Rick stared. In a zigzag line across the hotel parking lot was a +fissure, one that hadn't been there a minute before. The concrete gaped +in widths varying from a crack to a few inches. + +The earth had opened up! + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Firing Parties + + +It was a shaken group of scientists that moved off in their jeeps to the +preselected stations. Most of the adults had experienced earthquakes +before, but none had seen the earth split almost at their feet. To Rick, +the sensation had been as upsetting as any he had ever experienced. + +"The one thing we learn to depend on," Zircon said, "is that the earth +under our feet is solid and dependable. When it shakes like a jelly, it +causes a kind of emotional shock, apart from any physical damage it may +do." + +"It certainly did with me," Rick agreed. + +"Ditto," Scotty added. + +Zircon put the jeep in gear and moved away from the hotel. He drove +slowly over the narrow part of the crack in the parking lot, then picked +up speed. Rick looked around. Bradley Connel and Ruiz were following in +their own vehicle. + +Zircon took a blacktop road to the west, close to the base of the +mountain. Fortunately for Rick's peace of mind, the road was fairly +smooth. He had never carried dynamite caps before, but he knew they +contained fulminate of mercury, which is one of the most unstable and +violent chemical substances, pound for pound, ever created. + +The big scientist sensed his uneasiness. "Relax, Rick. Those caps won't +go off without a substantial knock against something. Enjoy the +scenery." + +Rick grinned. "I'll try." + +The scenery was tropical. Once away from the hotel grounds, there was +heavy growth, vines, creepers, and broad-leafed plants. He saw palmetto +and wild banana interspersed with Judas palms and other typical +vegetation. The growth clung to the side of El Viejo like a thick green +carpet. Now and then the jeep passed an open space in the vegetation and +he saw the plains stretching away to the sea on his left. + +The jeep climbed gradually and Rick realized that their direction had +changed. They were now heading on the more northerly course. The +vegetation was thinner, too, and he guessed it was because they were +higher up the mountainside. At a rough estimate, the jeep had climbed +nearly a thousand feet. + +"Pumice quarry ahead," Zircon announced. + +Rick saw ramshackle wooden buildings, then piles of grayish rock. A +hundred yards farther on he saw an open pit. This was where the San +Luzians mined pumice for export. + +"Is there much of a market for it?" Scotty asked. + +"Not as much as there was years ago," Zircon replied. "Pumice, as you +probably know, is volcanic rock. But not an ordinary one. It's a kind of +foamy lava honeycombed with gas bubbles. It's used as an abrasive. +Modern industrial products have replaced it in general use, but +apparently there's still enough demand so that the San Luzians are able +to export a little. Our firing station is about a mile from here." + +Rick looked at the rough terrain. "Think we can get through?" + +"Easily. According to the map, we have an unpaved road part of the way." + +The unpaved road turned out to be a pair of wagon tracks. But at least +there were no trees in the way. Rick held on tight as Zircon shifted +into four-wheel drive and forged ahead. + +The big scientist kept an eye on his odometer, or mileage counter, while +the boys watched for a clearing. It was slightly over a mile before they +found one, and Zircon pulled off the road to let Brad Connel and Ruiz go +by. + +The jeep stopped as the two came abreast and the geologist called, "Want +to trade stations?" + +"We like this one," Zircon replied with a grin. + +"Don't blame you. I have another three miles through this stuff. Well, +so long." + +The jeep started off and was soon lost as the path curved slightly. + +Zircon looked at his watch. "Plenty of time, but we might as well get +ready." + +A few minutes search disclosed a spot far enough away from the clearing +for safety, with no trees to be uprooted by the blast. Zircon took two +of the dynamite sticks Rick carried and one of the caps. He placed the +cap over one stick and used a special tool, like a jar opener, to crimp +it into place. + +"This is the only really delicate part of the operation," he said. "If +the crimpers slip, they could set off the cap and the dynamite. So be +careful when you do it. Keep the crimpers low on the flange of the cap." + +He found a rubber band in his pocket and used it to hold the two sticks +together. A coil of wire was produced next, and the connection made to +the dynamite cap. Zircon dug a shallow hole with his heel and put the +dynamite sticks in, then backed off unwinding wire as he went. + +The detonator had been left in the jeep. Rick got it and carried it to +where Zircon waited with the pair of wires. + +"How does this thing work?" Scotty asked. + +"It's a dynamo," Zircon replied. "When the handle is pushed down it +engages gears that spin a flywheel, which operates the dynamo long +enough to send an electrical charge through the wires." + +"So don't sit on the handle," Rick joked. + +"And don't kick it," Scotty added. + +Zircon connected the wires to a pair of terminals on top of the +detonator, then looked at his watch. "Plenty of time. We might as well +take it easy. Anyone hungry?" + +No one was. It was too soon after breakfast. Instead, Rick took the +opportunity to ask questions. + +"I can understand the general principle of what we're doing, but can you +tell us exactly what happens?" + +"Sure. When the dynamite charge goes off, it sends shock waves through +the earth in all directions. Whenever a shock wave strikes something of +different density, its direction and velocity change. For instance, if +there is denser rock a few hundred feet down, that will cause a change +of both velocity and direction. With me so far?" + +"I think so," Scotty said. "The denser the stuff the wave strikes, the +faster it moves. Like sound waves. I mean, sound moves faster in water +than in air, and faster in a steel rail than in water. Is it the same?" + +"Just about," Zircon agreed. "The shock waves radiate away from us, +through the earth, and eventually reach the recorders on the other side +of the mountain. You can see what happens, I think. Waves will arrive at +different times, depending on the path they took and the kind of +material they went through." + +Rick nodded. "So if there's molten rock, or magma somewhere in the way, +the shock wave that goes through it will slow down and arrive at the +recorder later?" + +"That's it. The tracings we get can be analyzed to give us a kind of +cross-sectional look at the mountain. You see, we know how fast the +waves travel through different kinds of earth structure. Also, we will +know the point of the explosion and the location of the recorder for +each shot. Which reminds me. We'd better get out the equipment and +locate ourselves precisely." + +"How?" Rick asked. "What will we use for landmarks?" + +"The top of the mountain, for one, and if you'll look carefully to a +point slightly south of east between those two banana palms, you'll see +the top of the control tower at the airport." + +Rick shook his head. "Good thing you're with us. I completely forgot to +watch for landmarks." + +"That was the first thing I had in mind in looking for a spot," Zircon +told him. + +The transit gave a precise angle between the two landmarks. Zircon drew +a line on the map connecting the southern tip of the mountain and the +airport tower. Then, with that as his base line, it was easy to draw two +lines at the correct angles from each of the points. The transit's +position was where the two lines intersected. + +By the time the scientist had finished, it was nearly one o'clock. The +three walked to the detonator. "Pull the handle up," Zircon directed. +Rick did so. "I'll count down from ten seconds. Push down on zero." + +It was like the countdown for a rocket firing, Rick thought. Zircon +called out the time starting at one minute, then called off the last ten +seconds. As he reached zero, Rick pushed the handle home. + +The dynamite went off with a roar that sent leaves and dirt flying, and +Rick felt the shock wave slam against his ears with stunning force. + +"Open your mouth next time," Zircon said. "I forgot to warn you." He was +already reeling in the wire. "Let's get going. One mile farther on for +the next shot." + +At the next station the same procedure was repeated, but before it was +time, there was a far-off explosion. Zircon looked at his watch. "Brad +Connel. Right on time." In another fifteen minutes there was an even +more distant sound as David Riddle's first shot went off. They ate their +lunch and listened to the echo off the mountain. + +Zircon and the boys were ready when their time came. Location this time +had been made on sightings toward the mountain, and a flagpole at Cape +San Souci on the western side of the island. + +The road petered out and they were forced to go cross-country to reach +the third shot station. Fortunately, Brad Connel had left a path of +crushed vegetation, so it was only necessary to follow where he had led. + +After the third shot, the three collected their equipment and drove back +to the hotel. + +They were the first back. All three were sticky from the heat, and +somewhat insect bitten. By unanimous consent they headed for the +showers. + +Rick dressed except for his shoes, then stretched out on his bed. He +wondered what the day's work would show. The memory of the earthquake +was still fresh, and he was anxious to see if it had come from rising +magma far below, or from some other source. He had a mental image of +white-hot rock rising sluggishly, melting a path to the surface. Now and +then the magma struck water, or gas-producing minerals, and then there +was a tightly held explosion that made the earth shudder. + +Well, it was probably like that, from what he had read about volcanic +action. Anyway, he could do without earthquakes. They were unnerving. + +Scotty finished dressing, and Rick slipped on his shoes. It was time for +the others to be back. Connel should have arrived only a few minutes +behind them, but it would take longer for the others because they had +gone around the mountain in the other direction. + +The boys walked to the staff conference room and found Hartson Brant and +Julius Weiss. The two were busy unrolling long strips of paper covered +with blue shadings. + +"Find anything yet?" Rick asked his father. + +"No. We're just getting ready to take a look. How did it go?" + +"No trouble. Zircon must still be in the shower. Probably Connel is, +too. He must have been right behind us." + +The scientists started poring over the traces. + +"Here's your first shot," Hartson Brant said. He pointed to where a +series of squiggles began. Rick could see nothing of interest. All the +pen marks looked about the same to him. It would take expert analysis to +make anything out of them. + +The boys left the scientists to their work and wandered out into the +parking lot. "I want to take a closer look at that crack," Rick said. + +"Same here. Suppose it goes to China?" + +Rick grinned at his pal. "That's a myth. If you drilled a hole straight +down through the center of the earth from here you wouldn't come out +anywhere near China. You'd be in the Southern Hemisphere." + +"Don't get technical on me, boy." + +The crack, however, went down only about three feet, gradually narrowing +until it was closed. Even so, it was impressive. Rick knew that the +actual break must continue down into the earth for some distance, +perhaps for hundreds of feet. The force it took to shake the earth like +that was awesome. Again he was reminded sharply of the kind of forces +against which the Spindrift group was trying to contend, and he felt for +the first time that the job was completely hopeless. What could mere men +do? + +A horn honking wildly brought him to quick attention. He turned and saw +a jeep coming along the western road into the parking lot. Brad Connel! +But where was Ruiz? Then, as the jeep neared, Rick saw. The San Luzian +was lashed to an improvised stretcher lying across the back of the jeep! + +The geologist drew to a stop, his face chalky. + +"Get a doctor!" he shouted. "Quickly! Ruiz got caught in the last +explosion. I think he's dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Seismic Tracings + + +Ruiz, the short, friendly San Luzian, was not dead, but he was only +barely alive. Within a half hour he was on his way to the hospital at +Calor, crushed and unconscious. + +Brad Connel was badly shaken. "I thought he was behind me," the +geologist explained. "But he had gone back to check the cap connection. +At least, that's what he must have gone back for. I fired, then turned +around, and he wasn't there. He was blown fifty feet at least. If only I +had checked! But he was there with me, and I just kept my eye on the +chronometer. He didn't say anything. He just walked off." + +There was nothing much to be said. It was the kind of accident that +seems absolutely senseless. Both Connel and Ruiz were old hands with +explosives, yet the San Luzian apparently had wandered back to the +charge just as it went off. + +Rick and Scotty walked toward the hot springs behind the hotel and +talked it over. + +"Pretty stupid thing for anyone to do," Scotty said soberly. + +Rick agreed. "Especially an old hand. Ruiz was supposed to be +experienced, but I can't imagine how a veteran could pull a stunt like +that." + +It made absolutely no sense. Ruiz spoke English. Rick knew that from his +conversation with the San Luzian. So he must have known Connel was +counting down, getting ready to push the plunger home. Why would he walk +into the blast, unless he was tired of living? But he didn't believe +Ruiz would try to get himself killed deliberately. The little San Luzian +had seemed like a sane, happy individual. + +Rick gave up. Maybe when Connel calmed down a little he could shed more +light on the accident. "The smell from the springs is getting pretty +strong," Scotty remarked. + +It certainly was. The wind had been from the hotel toward the hot +springs most of the day, and the odor hadn't been bad. Now, in the +vicinity of the springs, it was making Rick's eyes water and his nose +smart. + +"Think we can get close enough for a look?" Rick asked. + +"We can try. There's the building ahead." + +A cement walk led from the hotel to the springs, rising up a gradual +incline that was not too steep for wheel chairs, or for the elderly. The +boys had heard that many invalids had come here, to bathe in the hot +springs, to drink the mineral water, and to soak in warm mud. + +"How'd you like a nice hot mud bath?" Rick asked. + +Scotty grinned. "Can't say it appeals to me, but there must be something +to it. There are mud baths and hot springs in Europe, too. With plenty +of customers." + +Rick took out his handkerchief and dried eyes that were watering from +the fumes. He doubted that the gases were good for them, but he was +curious. He wanted to see where the volcano would blow its top, if it +was going to. + +In spite of the irritating fumes, they persisted and got a quick look at +the former health area. There was a series of pools for bathers, ranging +from big ones for large groups to individual tublike affairs, all nicely +tiled. There was one area of mud baths. Rick had an impression of two +areas, one of bubbling mud, the other of steaming water. It was enough. +The boys turned and got out of there. + +Back at the hotel, the scientists were working. All were present, except +for Brad Connel, who had asked to be excused. He was in his room, +apparently still badly upset over the accident. + +Dr. Jeffrey Williams had obtained a large sheet of paper and had +sketched an outline of the volcano and the earth under it as seen in +cross section. As Hartson Brant read off data from the day's tracings, +Dr. Williams plotted points far underground. Now and then he connected +points, or put in a light line. + +Rick and Scotty watched with interest. The tracings meant nothing to +them; analysis was a job for trained scientists. But Dr. Williams was +slowly producing a picture on the paper. + +"That's all," Hartson Brant said finally. "How does it look, Jeff?" + +The seismologist shook his head. "Not good." He held his pencil almost +flat to the paper and began shading in an area bounded by the points he +had made. "According to what we have, this is the shape of a magma +front." He drew in other lines, rising vertically through the earth into +the volcano. "Apparently these discontinuities indicate old channels, +now filled in. Notice that the magma is not following the original +channels. This seems to confirm what Esteben has been telling us." + +The volcanologist nodded. "It seems to. Jeff, do you have any doubt +about this area being magma?" + +"I'm afraid not. The data fits. Of course it's still pretty far below +the surface." + +Rick could see that the ominous shading was nearly twice as far +underground as the top of the volcano was above sea level. + +Julius Weiss spoke up. "The next step is to find out how fast the magma +is rising." + +"A series of shots every day for the next few days should tell us that," +Hartson Brant agreed. "Hobart, you've been pretty quiet. Any comments?" + +"None of any importance," the big physicist boomed. "Only this: what can +we possibly do about a situation like this?" + +Hartson Brant shrugged. "I don't know. At least we can keep track of the +magma." + +David Riddle, the geologist, added, "It will allow time to warn the +population. I can see no other means of saving them except to get them +off the island." + +Rick had reached the same conclusion. It didn't take a scientist to +realize the gravity of the situation. El Viejo was getting ready for +something big, unless the magma subsided. Since no one was really sure +about the physics of volcanology, no one had a good guess why the +volcanic action had begun again. No one could be sure it would not +decrease, either. + +"This picture is pretty rough," Dr. Williams said. "I'll refine it a +little after dinner, Hartson. It will give us a better basis for +plotting tomorrow's results." + +"Good idea," Hartson Brant agreed. "And speaking of dinner, it's about +time. Let's wash up and meet in the dining room in a half hour." + +"Better call Brad Connel," Zircon said. "I know how upset he must be, +but it will be better if he joins us and eats something." + +Rick and Scotty returned to their room and washed for dinner. Both were +quiet. The appearance of the magma under them, almost like a mushroom +cloud in shape, was pretty ominous. Like sitting on a volcano, Rick +thought. It was the most appropriate expression he could think of. No +wonder the earth had split. + +Scotty mused aloud. "Rock. Melting like butter on a stove. Thousands of +tons of it. Makes you appreciate natural forces, doesn't it?" + +"Even hydrogen bombs are pretty feeble by comparison," Rick agreed. "It +makes me uneasy to think of all that stuff boiling up under us." + +"I caught myself looking down a couple of times," Scotty said with a +grin. "I wouldn't be surprised to see steam coming up through the rug." + +Rick consulted his watch. "Maybe food will make us feel better. Come on. +It's about time." + +The scientific party was alone in the hotel, except for a reduced staff. +The governor had made arrangements for the hotel to operate so that the +visitors could have service. Rick almost wished they had stayed at a +beach hotel with other people around them. The huge resort was like an +abandoned city, with a few ghosts left in it. + +They walked through the conference room on their way into dinner and +found Connel looking over the sketch Williams had made. He looked up as +they entered and greeted them casually. + +"Hello, Rick, Scotty. I see we do have magma below us." + +"That's what Dr. Williams said," Rick agreed. "How do you feel, Mr. +Connel?" + +The geologist shrugged. "How can I feel? Ruiz was--is--a nice little +guy. I still don't know what happened, why he should walk back to the +charge. I was concentrating on getting the charge off on time, and there +was no reason for him to go back." + +"You said he went to check the cap connection," Scotty reminded. + +"It's the only reason I can think of, and it isn't a very good one. He +made the connection himself. Maybe he wanted another quick look." + +The geologist transferred his attention back to the sketch. "The stuff +is still pretty far down. Good thing, too. That will give time for +evacuating the island. We've probably got several months yet." + +The subject wasn't brought up during dinner, but over coffee Esteben +Balgos commented, "We must keep the governor informed. Jeff, if you will +lend me your sketch, I'll take it to the Executive Mansion first thing +in the morning and bring it back before we begin shooting. I think the +governor will want to start planning for evacuation, if he has not yet +done so." + +Williams nodded. "Help yourself, Esteben. I'll probably have the sketch +in my room. Knock on the door in the morning if you want it." + +The talk turned to heat-transfer mechanisms in the earth, and from there +to the whole problem of solar-energy input and outflow. The subject was +not one in which Rick had any background, and it wasn't long before he +lost interest. Besides, he was still tired from the trip, and the day's +events had added their own burden of fatigue. + +Scotty yawned, and Rick took the opportunity to suggest, "Let's go to +bed." + +"I'm with you." + +The boys excused themselves and in a short time were settled down for +the night. Rick fell asleep almost instantly. + +He awoke with Scotty shouting in his ear. "Let's go, Rick! Trouble!" + +Rick was on his feet, into trousers and shoes before he was fully awake. +Scotty had already dashed into the corridor. Rick joined him and the +rest of the scientists, who were standing in a group in front of Jeffrey +Williams' room. The white-haired scientist was holding a handkerchief to +a bloody bruise on his head. Rick hurried up just in time to hear him +tell the group: + +"I don't know what happened. My door wasn't locked, so anyone could have +come in. I didn't see a soul. I must have dozed off." + +"What's going on?" Rick demanded. + +His father answered. "Someone came into Jeff's room and slugged him, +apparently while he was dozing over the tracings. Both the tracings and +the sketch are gone!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Dynamite Missing + + +"There's only one reason I can think of why anyone would want to steal +the tracings," Rick said. He held on for a moment as Zircon steered the +jeep over a bump in the trail. "If word has leaked out about why we're +really here, maybe someone in the tourist business would steal the +evidence to keep business from being ruined." + +Scotty spoke up from the rear seat. "There's one big fat flaw in that +argument, boy. Would anyone care so much about business that he'd want +to stay and be blown up? Who thinks more of business than he does of his +own skin?" + +Zircon chuckled. "There may be such people, but I suspect they're +scarce." + +Rick had to agree. He stared through the windshield at the tail of Brad +Connel's jeep. The geologist was leading the way to the firing area, and +he was alone. Hartson Brant had tried to assign one of the boys as a +helper, but Connel had balked. He insisted that he did not need a +helper, that he was used to handling charges alone, that he did not want +to take the risk of an accident like that of yesterday. + +"Connel was pretty determined to go it alone," Rick remarked. + +"He's upset over the accident to Ruiz," Zircon pointed out. "He probably +feels bad because he couldn't see Ruiz when he visited the hospital." + +Connel had gone into town with Dr. Balgos, and had paid a call at the +Executive Mansion. While Balgos talked with Governor Montoya, recreating +the stolen sketch from memory, Connel had been taken to the hospital by +Lieutenant Governor Jaime Guevara. The hospital reported that Ruiz was +on the danger list, his condition unchanged. He could have no visitors. +Apparently both Guevara and Governor Montoya had tried to assure Connel +that he should not be so depressed over what was obviously a freak +accident. + +The trio stopped at their first station, and Connel waved, then +continued on his way. Rick watched him out of sight, then turned to go +to work. He remembered what the geologist had said the night before. + +"Connel figures we have months before the volcano blows," he remembered. + +"What?" Zircon looked up sharply. "How did he arrive at that +conclusion?" + +"From Dr. Williams' sketch." + +"Hmmm." The big scientist checked the detonator thoughtfully. "He must +have figured on a straight upward flow of the magma. But from the shape +of the magma front, I think it's highly unlikely that it will progress +in any such regular fashion. Instead, the front probably will increase +erratically, but in a kind of progression. It may double its frontage at +approximately regular periods." + +Scotty scratched his chin. "Double its frontage, huh? What does that +mean?" + +"Maybe four hundred square feet today, eight hundred tomorrow, and +sixteen hundred the day after. We won't know the rate of growth, or the +time scale, until we've watched it for a while. But I talked with Balgos +and Hartson last night at some length, and their opinion is that we +probably have a couple of weeks, maybe even three or four. But not +months." + +Rick whistled. "That fast? When will we be sure?" + +Zircon shrugged. "Can't tell. We'll keep shooting on a daily schedule, +and perhaps in three or four days we'll see enough growth in the front +to make an estimate. But even that can be misleading. If the magma +strikes a softer area, it can grow even more rapidly. Our best bet will +be to keep a daily watch from now on." + +Rick looked up at the extinct cone of El Viejo. In his imagination he +saw the top blow off in an earth-shaking explosion and millions of tons +of white-hot lava spurt high in the air. Then, when the lava came +down ... + +"We'd better get on the ball," he said. "Almost time for our first +shot." + +"Want to connect up?" Zircon asked. + +"I guess so." Rick had never handled dynamite before, but there was no +time like the present to get started. He took sticks from his pocket, +then a cap. Zircon handed him the crimping tool. He put a cap in place; +then, with infinite care, put the crimping tool in position. He took a +deep breath and squeezed. Nothing happened, except that the cap was now +held tightly. + +Rick let his breath out and grinned. Zircon and Scotty grinned back. + +"When you get real salty," Scotty said, "you'll crimp the caps on with +your teeth." + +"Ha!" Rick said. "And blow my head off?" + +"It's possible," Zircon agreed. "It has happened. My advice is, don't +try it. I've seen men do it, but it always gives me the shudders. Come +on. Let's plant the charge and lay the wire." + +The shots went off on schedule, and the party returned to the hotel. +Later, in analyzing the shots and making a new sketch, Jeffrey Williams +thought the magma front had grown slightly from the previous day, but +since the first tracings were gone, there was no way of being sure. + +David Riddle and Brad Connel walked in as he finished. The two, using +respirators, had been to inspect the hot-springs area. + +"Nothing new," Riddle reported. "The only sign of activity is a fresh +outpouring of hydrogen sulfide. It's bubbling up through the mud, and it +could be a pocket of gas that was suddenly released. The springs won't +tell us much." + +Hartson Brant said thoughtfully, "I'm afraid you're right, Dave. +Nothing for it but to keep shooting. And we'll lock up the papers at +night, so we can keep track of what's going on. One thing we'd better do +is start a survey of the entire cone, above the level where our shots +give us information. I'd like to be sure we're not overlooking any new +gaps or fissures in the mountain itself. But can we do it with the +manpower we have available and still keep shooting?" + +Rick spoke up. "I know how we can help, Dad. Scotty and I can handle our +stations alone now. That will leave Dr. Zircon free for other things. +Then, if we change stations with Brad Connel, and he takes the closer +ones, he can get back a good hour earlier and do other work." + +"No!" Brad Connel exploded. + +Hartson Brant and the other scientists looked at him with surprise. "Why +not?" Dr. Brant asked. "It seems like a sensible suggestion, Brad." + +"It is," Connel said hurriedly. "It's just that ... well, maybe I'm +still too upset over that accident, but I know the terrain now, and +these kids don't. They should stick to the stations where they've been +operating, and I'll handle my own. It's just that I don't want any risks +whatever. My own part of the mountain is a lot rougher, and they'd be +carrying dynamite and caps over pretty bouncy trails. I don't like it. I +think we should stick to our own stations." + +The geologist obviously felt strongly about it, and Hartson Brant +agreed. "Since you feel that way, Brad, we'll let things go as they are. +Hobart, can the boys handle the shots?" + +"Sure," Zircon stated. "As long as Rick doesn't crimp caps with his +teeth. Of course if he does we'll still get a reading, but we may lose +Rick." + +"No danger," Rick retorted. "Besides, you wouldn't get a reading because +the shot wouldn't be timed right." + +Hartson Brant saw that the big scientist was joking. "If Rick feels +adventurous he can kick mountain lions for sport instead. I'm told there +are some on the mountain." + +"Jaguars," Dr. Balgos offered. "Not your typical North American cats. +These are much fiercer. They react faster to a kick--if you can get +close enough to kick one." + +Brad Connel laughed heartily. "The boys can lure 'em with catnip," he +said. + +Rick glanced at the geologist. The laugh hadn't rung true. + +"I suggest we also save time by shooting in the early morning," Hartson +Brant added. "That will leave the afternoon for other activities. Jeff, +if you can manage to keep your head out of the way of blunt instruments, +perhaps you'd like to make a better sketch of the magma front. We can +assign the boys as guards, if you like." + +Dr. Williams caressed the bruise on his head. "Not necessary, Hartson. +I'll lock my door and keep my face toward the window. But for now, how +about dinner?" + +There was no disagreement. + +After dinner, Rick and Scotty lingered over coffee with Dr. Balgos, +Julius Weiss, and Hartson Brant. The others had excused themselves and +gone back to their rooms. The boys were trying to learn more about +volcanoes, but the scientists had a tendency to get involved in +discussions of some of the finer points of geophysics and long minutes +would pass before Rick or Scotty could bring them back to the main point +with a question. + +In the midst of an interesting discussion of the Hawaiian volcanoes by +Dr. Balgos, Honorario burst into the dining room and hurried to the +Peruvian scientist. Rick couldn't follow the rapid Spanish, but Balgos +jumped to his feet, his face white, and translated swiftly. + +"Honorario says all the dynamite is gone!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Dangerous Trail + + +The search for the missing dynamite had failed completely. Rick, Scotty, +and the scientists were equally puzzled. Why steal dynamite? What was +there to be gained? + +At a conference early the following morning Hartson Brant voiced the +question. + +Julius Weiss was the first to respond, and his answer was another +question. "What was to be gained by stealing the tracings and Jeff's +sketch? Isn't the theft of the dynamite in the same category?" + +"I suppose it is," Hartson Brant agreed. "I see no motive whatever for +either theft. After all, it was simple enough to make additional +tracings, and it will not be difficult to obtain more dynamite. So I go +back to my original question. What is to be gained by the theft?" + +"Dynamite has some value," Zircon boomed. + +"To be sure. But the tracings had none, except to us." + +Rick said what had been on his mind. "Both thefts resulted in only one +thing . . . delay. The tracings put us a day behind, and the dynamite +might delay us even longer. It depends on how fast we can get more." + +"Maybe Rick has something there," David Riddle said. "But who gains from +a delay in the project?" + +"No one," Brad Connel said testily. "I think we're looking for a motive +that doesn't exist. The tracings probably were stolen by someone on the +hotel staff, because they looked important. Maybe the thief thought they +could be sold. Certainly the dynamite can be sold. What motive do we +need other than the usual profit a thief expects?" + +"Perhaps none," Hartson Brant admitted. "The question is, what now? We +can proceed no further without explosives." + +"I will go to the governor and see if he can obtain more for us," +Esteben Balgos announced. "If he has none here on San Luz, there are +other islands close by. A few telephone calls will locate a supply." + +"Fine. And while you're doing that, there is little the rest of us can +do except relax. Will you let us know by telephone what the governor +says?" + +"Yes, at once. Any of you care to go with me?" + +Williams and Riddle volunteered to go along. Weiss announced that he +wanted to make some calculations and asked Hartson Brant and Zircon to +help him. + +Rick and Scotty, left on their own, considered the possibilities for +amusement and found none except the ocean itself--which was plenty. +They decided on a swim and hurried back to their room to put on trunks +under their slacks. Zircon readily gave permission to use the jeep. + +As they changed clothes, a jeep motor roared into life. Scotty walked to +the window and opened the draperies. "Balgos and the others," he +announced. + +A few minutes later another jeep motor started up. Rick went to the +window and was just in time to see Brad Connel start across the parking +lot in his jeep. He was alone. + +The boy turned away from the window, very thoughtful. "That was Connel. +Wonder where he's going?" + +"Maybe to Calor, for shopping or sightseeing," Scotty replied. "What's +on your mind?" + +"He worries me," Rick said bluntly. "I don't really know why. Only he's +certainly determined to keep us away from his firing stations, isn't +he?" + +"Go on. Something's biting you, and I want to know what it is." + +Rick stared at his dark-haired pal without really seeing him. He +struggled to put into words the vague thoughts in the back of his mind. + +"Well, he acted worried about Ruiz, but I don't really think he was. It +was kind of overdone, you know? His face didn't match his words." + +Scotty shook his head. "You're on thin ice, boy. People don't react to +accidents in a standard way. It might have been overdone, but it might +not, too. What else?" + +"He didn't want us to go along as helpers after Ruiz was hurt. I know +that doesn't mean much, and he said he was just afraid of another +accident, but wouldn't you think he'd like some company? Besides, two +accidents like that just don't happen. Then, when we suggested changing +stations so he could have more time to work on other things, he yelled +pretty fast." + +"Because we don't know his terrain," Scotty pointed out. "At least +that's what he said." + +"Sure. But what's to know about the terrain? All we'd have to do would +be to follow his jeep tracks, and shoot where the ground is already torn +up from his earlier shots. If it's safe for him to carry caps and +dynamite, it's safe for us." + +Scotty scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I see what you mean. But the +evidence isn't very conclusive, is it?" + +"No," Rick admitted. "Only where's he going now? If he planned to go to +town, he'd invite anyone who wanted to go, wouldn't he? That's what most +people would do." + +Scotty chuckled. "One thing I like about you. When you get a notion in +that noggin, it doesn't come out easily. Next you'll be suggesting that +he slugged Williams and stole the dynamite." + +"He could have," Rick pointed out. "Apparently he was alone in his room +both times. At least no one said he was with them." + +Scotty held up his hands in surrender. "Okay. What do we do about it?" + +"Let's see where he's going." + +"I knew it," Scotty said resignedly. "Okay. But we'd better hurry." + +There was a clear view from the front of the hotel down the slopes of +the foothills to the town of Calor. The road wound around and +occasionally vanished from sight in clumps of green growth, but the boys +watched for several minutes and saw no sign of Connel. The jeep with +Balgos and the others was rolling along in the distance, but it was +still close enough to see three occupants. + +"He didn't go to town," Rick said finally, "and there's only one other +road out of here." + +"To the shot stations," Scotty agreed. "Unless he cut off and headed for +San Souci." That was a little fishing village on the west coast. Neither +boy had been there, but they had used a flagpole on the tip of the cape +near the town as a sighting marker. + +"Let's go see," Rick suggested. + +They hurried through the hotel to the parking lot and got into the jeep. +Rick started the vehicle, crossed the fissure in the lot, and took the +road west. According to the map, the road was paved as far as the pumice +works. Beyond that it was graded dirt. If Connel had taken the dirt +road, instead of the trail to the shot stations, they should see dust. + +He kept the jeep rolling at good speed as far as the pumice-works +shacks, then stopped to look for signs of a dust haze. There was none. +At the end of the blacktop, he and Scotty got out and examined the road +surface. There were signs of traffic, but none very recent so far as +they could tell. Rick drove the jeep a few hundred yards along the road, +then got out and looked again. The heavy treads of his vehicle were +clearly visible in the dust. If Connel had gone this way, he would have +left similar marks. + +"He took the trail," Rick said. + +Scotty nodded. "Looks like it. Do we follow?" + +"We sure do. What reason would he have for going to the station without +dynamite?" + +"None that I know of. Let's go." + +Rick turned the jeep into the trail and sped along it as fast as the +ruts allowed. As they reached their third station with no sign of +Connel, Scotty spoke suddenly. "Suppose we find him? How do we explain +why we're following him?" + +Rick considered. He rejected a casual trip as explanation. Connel +wouldn't buy it. + +"We can park the jeep in the jungle," he said finally. "It will be well +hidden. Then we can go on foot. If we see him coming, we can take to the +bush. We'll be invisible a few feet away." + +The jeep was driven into the area where their shots had been set off. It +was invisible from the trail. The boys left it and started hiking. + +It was hard going. The heat and humidity were both high, and they were +sweating before a quarter mile was covered. The film of perspiration +seemed to attract insects, too, and before long the pests were driving +them to distraction. Rick brushed futilely at the shining swarm of gnats +around his head. "I'm not sure it's worth it," he said grimly. + +"Neither am I," Scotty agreed. "But we've started. Let's keep plugging." + +They reached the first of Connel's shot stations without a sign of the +geologist. It was much like their own, a small clearing with the ground +torn by the dynamite. + +The second station, a mile farther on, was similar except that there +were more trees and fewer scrub palms. Rick identified one giant tree as +mahogany. + +They strode up the trail, grimly determined to find the geologist. One +more station remained ahead. Rick doubted that he had gone farther than +that. He wiped his streaming face and squinted his eyes to protect them +from the whining gnats. They swarmed around but didn't seem to sting or +bite. He was grateful for that much. + +Suddenly Scotty let out a warning gasp. The dark-haired boy threw +himself sideways, on top of Rick, and the two of them crashed to the +ground. + +"Roll away," Scotty said urgently. "Back! Hurry!" + +The ground opened up a few feet away. Rick felt a giant hand pick him +up, shake him, then slam him into a palmetto. Bruised and dazed, he +grabbed the palmetto for support and lacerated his hands on the rough +covering. He slid to the ground, consciousness slipping from him. + +For a moment Rick lay slumped at the base of the palmetto. He didn't +lose consciousness completely, but he was stunned and unable to function +either mentally or physically. He had neither sight or hearing for the +first few seconds, then these faculties slowly returned. He became +aware that he was looking down at a broad green leaf, and that the leaf +was gradually turning crimson. + +He watched, his vision clearing, and suddenly realized that the red +pigment was dripping onto the leaf in a steady series of drops that was +almost a stream. At almost the same instant he knew that the red was +blood and that it was his. He shook his head to clear it, and the red +spray flew from side to side. Through the periphery of vision he saw +that it was coming from his nose. + +Rick realized that he was on his hands and knees. He rose to a kneeling +position and fished for his handkerchief. He put it to his nose and it +came away stained red. He sighed with relief. Nosebleed. For a moment he +had wondered. . . . + +A few feet away Scotty was slowly stretching one limb after another, +checking to be sure he was functioning. Satisfied, the ex-Marine sat up, +with some effort. Rick saw that his nose was bleeding, too. + +"You've got a nosebleed," Rick said faintly. + +Scotty touched his nose with the back of his hand and examined the red +trace. "Uhuh," he agreed. + +"What happened?" Rick asked weakly. His voice sounded far away! + +Scotty's answer was barely audible. "We found the missing dynamite. I +saw a length of wire along the trail. Are you okay?" + +"I think so." Rick got to his feet, feeling as though his body were in +sections. "We must have been close when it went off." + +The two held onto each other for mutual support while strength came back +into them. + +"We weren't too close," Scotty said finally. He gestured up the trail. +Rick looked, and saw a gaping hole some distance away. Beyond it, coming +toward them at as high a speed as the trail allowed, was Brad Connel in +his jeep. + +The geologist stopped as he reached the hole, then swung off the trail +and plowed through some scrub and back onto it again. He drew up next to +the boys. + +"So it was you who stole the dynamite!" the geologist said grimly. "What +happened? Did it explode while you were fooling around with it?" + +The boys stared at him, dazed and openmouthed. + +"You're crazy," Rick managed finally. "We didn't steal it, but we almost +got blown up in it. If Scotty hadn't seen the wire, we both would have +been blown to bits." + +The geologist's eyes narrowed. "Do you mean to tell me someone tried to +blow you up? That's nonsense!" + +"That's what happened, nonsense or not," Rick said curtly. + +Scotty added, "And what were you doing here?" + +"Came to get my wallet," the geologist answered readily. "I missed it +and figured I must have dropped it up here. It wasn't anywhere else I'd +been. Better get in and let me take you back. If you were close enough +to get nosebleeds you must be shaken up quite a bit." + +"We're shaken," Rick agreed. "Our jeep is down at our shot station. We +decided to leave it there and take a hike." + +They climbed into the back of Connel's jeep. The nosebleeds had stopped +now, but their faces were smeared with blood. Neither felt like talking, +nor, apparently, did Connel. He stopped at their third station and +asked, "Can you make it? Or do you want to ride back with me?" + +"We can make it," Rick said. "Thanks for the lift." + +"I'd better stay behind you to make sure," Connel stated. + +The boys headed straight back to the hotel, Connel a hundred yards to +their rear. In the parking lot they thanked him again for the lift, then +hurried in to let warm water wash away the traces of their experience. + +Later, stretched out on their beds, they talked it over. + +"You saved our bacon," Rick stated. "But what really happened?" + +"I'm not sure," Scotty replied. "There are two possibilities. One, we +sprung a booby trap. I don't really credit that one much, because we +were rolling away when the stuff let go. If we'd hit a trip wire or +something similar, the dynamite would have gone off right then. So, +second possibility, someone was waiting for us. We jumped back just as +he pushed the plunger. Or, maybe he saw we had spotted the trap and +tried to get us, anyway." + +"Who's he?" Rick asked. + +"Persons unknown," Scotty answered. "Or maybe one person not unknown." + +"Meaning Connel? He could have done it. Suppose he set the trap, then +took his jeep up the hill out of sight. Then he could have walked back, +fired the shot, hurried back for his jeep, and driven down." + +"Could be," Scotty agreed. "Only, did he know we were coming?" + +Rick shrugged. "How can we know that? For all we know, from his third +shot station he might be able to look right down on the trail. He sees +us, hurries into position, fires the charge, and hurries back. We can't +really tell until we get to that third station. Personally, I vote for +Connel." + +"Not proven," Scotty warned. + +Rick knew it. "It may never be proven, on account of no witnesses. But +suppose it was some unknown party? Why wouldn't that party try for +Connel? Why wait until he's passed, and we're coming into position? +Would an unknown thief be that interested in us?" + +"Too many questions," Scotty objected. "I haven't any answers. But you +make a good case for its being Connel. Also, did you notice how he +jumped on us for stealing the dynamite? That probably would have been +his story if we'd been killed. Now tell me what his motive is. Why +should he try to delay the project?" + +Rick had no answer to that. "Makes no sense," he agreed. "Unless there's +something he doesn't want us to see. That dynamite sure discouraged our +trip to his third station!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Casa Guevara + + +The scientific party lost only one day because of the dynamite theft. +Governor Montoya supplied more explosives and the firing schedule +continued. Now, however, the dynamite was guarded by police supplied by +His Excellency. Police also were in evidence around the Hot Springs +Hotel. No more chances were being taken. + +After three days, the scientists began to have a better idea of what was +going on in the earth beneath them, but Rick and Scotty could make +little sense of the mass of data. Even the picture being filled in by +Dr. Williams was confusing. Now, two magma areas were showing where only +one had shown before. + +Esteben Balgos answered Rick's plea for an explanation. Over an +excellent dinner of roast suckling pig and bananas steamed with lemon +juice, the volcanologist took time to answer their questions. + +"There is much we do not know about volcanoes," the Peruvian scientist +began. "For example, we do not know exactly what causes magma to form. +Magma is, in simplest terms, molten rock. Some event takes place far +below, where the earth's crust ends and the mantle begins, and the rock +melts." + +"How far below?" Rick asked. + +"The distance varies. Under the ocean trenches, for example, the mantle +may begin only four miles down. Under some of the mountainous land +masses it may be closer to forty miles." + +Scotty whistled. "That's a whale of a distance. How can you tell how far +down it is?" + +"By the seismic traces from earthquakes, or from explosive shots like +the ones we are shooting. When the shock waves have reached the zone +between the earth's crust and the mantle, we see the results on our +tracings." + +"Is it really a sharp line?" Rick queried. + +"Probably not. No one is sure yet. It may be a kind of transitional +zone, from one kind of material to another, or it may be a distinct +layer. We call it the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, after the Yugoslav +scientist who discovered it by analysis of seismic tracings. At any +rate, it is somewhat above this discontinuity that magma is formed. We +don't know how." + +"Then it rises?" Scotty asked. + +"It forces its way up, by expansion. Sometimes the magma strikes water +and there is an explosion--a steam explosion. But generally the magma +rises through a fairly small channel. It forms a pool under the volcano. +The pool is actually a reservoir of molten rock. Generally it is shaped +like a lens. The magma gathers. Eventually it forces its way to the +surface, again through channels." + +"What kind of channels?" Rick asked. + +"It depends on the kind of volcano. Sometimes the channels are +weaknesses in the whole surrounding earth structure, and the magma flows +through cracks and emerges as sheets of lava. Sometimes there is a +central channel through which the magma can rise." + +"Which do we have?" Scotty wanted to know. + +"Probably neither or perhaps both. There was once a central channel in +El Viejo. It is closed now, and we do not know if it is weaker than the +rest of the mountain. There is a weak fissure under the hot springs. So, +El Viejo can vent either way." + +Rick shook his head. He had learned enough of natural forces to know +there are often no definite answers to questions, but this was critical. + +"So the volcano could blow off on top or side, and we can't guess +which?" + +"That is correct. However, explosive action in a volcano usually comes +when the magma meets enough water to create steam. Now, our closest +magma front is still far below the floor of the surrounding ocean. You +follow me? Good. When the magma rises to the level of the ocean floor, +what do you think will happen?" + +Rick could see the picture in his mind. He said slowly, "It will +probably meet water. Plenty of it, from seepage of the ocean downward +through cracks in the ocean floor. Maybe there are cracks like the one +in the parking lot, caused by earthquakes." + +"Precisely. And when the magma meets the water, then what?" + +"The water turns to steam instantly." Scotty answered grimly. "The steam +expands instantly--and boom!" + +"Boom," Balgos agreed solemnly. "But how big a boom we do not know. It +may blow the top off El Viejo. It may blow a gap along one of the +cracks. We don't know." + +Rick digested this information in silence. The picture was certainly not +a cheerful one. "How far down are the magma fronts?" he asked. + +"As closely as we can tell, the bottom one is right above the +discontinuity, which is about six miles below us at this point. The +upper one is about a mile below the top of El Viejo. This puts it about +a quarter of a mile below the floor of the ocean." + +"Too close," Scotty muttered. "What now?" + +"We keep shooting, to try and keep track of the upper front. Also, we +will place instruments called tiltometers on the mountain slope. These +are devices that really measure tilt. You see, if the lens of magma is +increasing, El Viejo will swell up slightly. The tiltometers will show +it, and we will then have further proof of what is coming." + +"But what can we do about it?" Rick demanded. + +Balgos shrugged. "_Quién sabe?_ The Spanish phrase is a good one, +because it does not only ask 'who knows,' it also carries the meaning of +a kind of resignation. There does not seem to be anything we can do." + +Rick stared across the dining room, eyes unseeing. It was hard to +imagine that molten rock was gathering below them in sufficient quantity +to make a mountain move; but once you succeeded in imagining it, the +picture was terrifying. + +Motion attracted his glance and his eyes focused in time to see Brad +Connel rise from the table and excuse himself. He watched the geologist +walk out of the room and turned to Scotty. His pal nodded. He had seen +Connel leave, too. + +Rick quickly counted noses. All others were present. Connel was the +first to leave. He wondered where the geologist was going, and his eyes +narrowed. + +Connel had been very anxious about his and Scotty's condition, once the +hotel was reached. Rick was sure his anxiety was strictly phony. Both +boys had been stiff and sore, but a medical examination showed nothing +seriously wrong, thanks to Scotty's fast action. Hartson Brant had been +reluctant to accept Rick's opinion that Connel had stolen the dynamite +and booby-trapped them. He pointed out that the geologist had no motive; +he had never even been on San Luz before. + +Rick had to agree. There was no apparent motive, but that didn't mean +Connel was innocent. He might have a motive that no one suspected. + +Scotty cocked an eyebrow at Rick and made a slight motion of his head +toward the door where Connel had vanished. Rick got the signal. He +nodded. + +The boys thanked Dr. Balgos for his explanation, then excused +themselves. They wandered casually from the dining room. + +Once outside, Rick grinned at Scotty. "So you're wondering where Connel +has gone?" + +"Aren't you?" + +"Sure. But why not ask the others what he said when he excused himself?" + +Scotty shook his head. "They didn't think much of our theory about +Connel causing our troubles, did they? If we asked, they'd think we were +pushing the same point too hard." + +Rick agreed. "Where did he go?" + +"I don't know. But if he leaves the hotel, it will be by jeep. There's +nothing within walking distance. If we get out back of the pump shed +we'll see him if he comes out." + +"Aye, aye. And if he jeeps out of here, we'll be on his tail. Roger?" + +"You said a Brantish mouthful. Let's go." + +A quick reconnaissance disclosed no sign of the geologist outside, and +the boys hurried across the dark parking lot to the shadow of the pump +shed. A police officer materialized from the darkness and greeted them +courteously. "Good evening, señores. _A sus órdenes._" + +By placing himself at their orders, the officer was politely asking +their business, Rick knew. He replied, "We came out to see if anyone had +made another try for the dynamite, Señor _Teniente_." Calling the +officer "lieutenant" was a form of flattery. + +"_Sargento, muchas gracias_," the officer replied. White teeth flashed +in a grin. "But who can tell the future? If I capture the thief, it may +soon be lieutenant instead of sergeant." + +"We hope so," Scotty said politely. + +Rick noted that the three were hidden from the parking lot by the pump +house. The position was satisfactory. If Connel was going to take a +jeep, he probably would do so right away. Otherwise, why should he be +the first to leave the dining room? + +"Why would anyone steal dynamite?" Rick asked the police officer. He +wanted only to keep a quiet conversation going behind the pump house. + +The officer had theories. Perhaps revolutionaries had stolen it. Also, +although it was against the law and brought severe punishment, fishermen +were known to dynamite fish. This also was a possibility. But the +explosion of the dynamite on the mountainside was certainly a puzzle. + +Rick didn't think so, but he agreed politely. It was bewildering, he +said. Why steal explosives and then use it on a harmless scientific +group? + +Perhaps fear of discovery caused the thief to set a trap, the officer +guessed. He admitted it wasn't a good guess. + +A jeep roared into life and the boys stiffened. The officer strolled out +of the shadow for a look. "One of your associates is going for a ride," +he said. + +Rick waited until the jeep lights cut across the parking lot and moved +down the western road, then he said, "It's a nice night for a ride, +Scotty. What say we take a jeep and look over the country, too?" + +"Good idea," Scotty agreed readily. + +They bade the officer good night and started to where Zircon's jeep was +parked. It was a temptation to hurry, but they suppressed it and +sauntered to the jeep. Fortunately, no keys were needed. The jeep +ignition was turned on by a simple switch. Rick got into the driver's +seat and started up. He waited, the motor idling, until he was sure +Connel was out of sight around the mountain, then he drove slowly across +the parking lot and followed. + +Fortunately, there was enough moonlight to see the road. Once out of +sight of the hotel, Rick stopped and switched off the lights. As his +eyes adjusted to the dimness he started off again as fast as vision +allowed. + +Once he sighted Connel's lights. They were ahead and higher on the +mountain. He lost sight of them again as foliage blocked the view. +"Suppose he's heading for the shot station?" he asked. + +Scotty shrugged. "We'll soon know." + +They reached the pumice works without seeing the geologist's lights +again, and Rick stopped at the turnoff. "Now what?" he asked. "Did he go +up the trail or not?" + +Scotty sniffed the air. "Smell anything?" + +Rick breathed deeply. There was the odor of rank vegetation, and, very +faintly, the odor of sulfur from the hot springs. But there was another +smell, too. After a moment he identified it. "Dust!" + +"Seems so," Scotty agreed. "Which means he didn't take the trail to the +stations. No dust on those tracks. He must have taken the dirt road to +San Souci." + +"But why?" Rick was already moving ahead to where the pavement ended. +"What's in San Souci?" + +Scotty chuckled. "Ask Connel. Don't ask me." + +"I thought Marines knew everything," Rick gibed. + +"Almost everything," Scotty corrected. + +The jeep moved onto the dirt road and in a moment their own cloud of +dust obscured any slight haze that Connel's passing might have left. +They were in strange territory now, and Rick slowed down somewhat. +Connel had the advantage of lights. They wouldn't be able to gain on +him. + +"He can't get far," Scotty said reassuringly. "The road goes to San +Souci and nowhere else. It can't be much of a town, so we'll find him." + +Scotty was right. San Souci wasn't much of a town. There were a handful +of fishermen's huts, a dock with a number of fishing boats, racks for +drying fish, a single store, and nothing else. There was a paved road +leading from the town to the main city of Calor, but Connel hadn't taken +it. Nor was the jeep in San Souci. + +Rick's halting Spanish was sufficient to communicate with a fisherman +who spoke equally halting English. He had been taking the air all +evening. No other vehicle had come to San Souci. + +"Now what?" Rick asked helplessly. + +"He went somewhere," Scotty responded. "And that somewhere has to be a +turnoff between here and the pumice works. We must have missed it +because we traveled without lights. Let's go back and look." + +"I'm with you," Rick agreed. "But wherever he turned off must be a +trail, because there are no side roads on the map." He swung the jeep +around and started back. He had turned on the headlights as they +approached the fishing village; he kept them on. + +They found the turnoff about a mile from San Souci. The road widened +slightly, and there was an opening in the foliage just wide enough for a +car. Twin gateposts of concrete marked the passage. Rick turned the +jeep, and the headlights picked out a name cut in the concrete pillars: +_Casa Guevara_. + +"Someone's house," Rick said. "Name of Guevara. We can't very well go +rolling up a private driveway, can we?" + +"Especially with that sign," Scotty added. He pointed to a wooden sign +set slightly to one side of the private road just beyond the gate. It +read _No Entrar_. No Trespassing. + +"Question," Rick said thoughtfully. "Did Connel go up this road or is +there another one?" + +"No evidence," Scotty replied. + +Rick pointed to the gatepost. "Who do we know that's named Guevara?" + +Scotty breathed, "Sure! The lieutenant governor!" + +"And he took Connel to the hospital to see Ruiz," Rick reminded, "so +they're acquainted." + +He switched off the lights. "That's probably the answer. Connel was +invited to pay a social call. Why not? This probably has nothing to do +with the project at all." + +Scotty sighed audibly. "The trouble with you is that you come up with +sensible answers. We might as well go on back to the hotel." + +"Might as well . . ." Rick began, then stopped as light appeared dimly +through the foliage up the private driveway. They were headlights! + +"We've got to get out of here," he said, and threw the jeep into gear. +For a moment he hesitated. If he went up the dirt road to the hotel, +Connel would surely see them. If Rick went back toward San Souci and the +oncoming car was not Connel, but someone from Casa Guevara, the car +might also turn toward San Souci, and the boys would be seen. + +Rick thought quickly. About a hundred yards toward San Souci there was a +break in the foliage that he had almost investigated until he saw that +no tracks led into it. He quickly switched into four-wheel drive and +swung the jeep in its own length. The lights were closer now. Rick +accelerated and found the opening through the jungle scrub. The jeep +bounced as he drove into it, then swung until they were behind a screen +of palmetto. He killed the engine. + +Scotty piled out, Rick close behind him. They hurried to the edge of the +highway, careful to keep masked by the palmetto, and watched. + +A jeep emerged from the driveway to Casa Guevara. In the back-scattered +light from its headlights they saw that Connel was the driver. He was +alone. They watched until his taillights flickered out beyond a bend in +the road. + +[Illustration: _Connel was alone in the jeep_] + +"Interesting," Rick said. "Does a social call last for less than a half +hour? Answer: no, not in San Luz. There's Spanish-style hospitality +here, and Connel would have been there for hours." + +"He came on business," Scotty said slowly. "But what kind of business +would he have with the lieutenant governor?" + +"That," Rick said grimly, "is what we need to find out." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Governor Vanishes + + +Far below the surface of San Luz, white-hot rock, flowing like +incandescent molasses, forced its way upward under enormous pressure. +Sometimes the magma remained quiet for hours, pulsing slightly like a +living thing. Then it would melt its way through to a weakness in the +earth's structure, creating a new channel for its upward flow. + +In one new channel was basaltic rock with a higher moisture content than +the magma had encountered before. As the moisture turned instantly to +steam, it expanded with sudden violence, and the earth shook with the +force of the explosion. + +Far above the pocket, Rick Brant felt the earth tremble, and shook his +head. The temblors were increasing in frequency, although none had been +as violent as that first day's earthquake. The boy looked at Scotty. His +pal's face was grim. + +The scientists around the worktable had paused, too, as they felt the +earth tremble. + +Esteben Balgos said quietly, "El Viejo is getting ready. If we are going +to act, it must be soon." + +"Act?" Connel demanded. "How?" + +Balgos shrugged. "That is what we are here to decide." + +Rick watched the geologist's face. He was sure that Connel, for reasons +unknown, was trying to slow down the project. He was satisfied that the +man had stolen both the initial tracings and the dynamite. He also knew +that Connel lied. On their return from trailing him to Casa Guevara, the +boys had found Connel having a cup of coffee in the dining room and had +asked casually where he had gone. He had muttered something about going +into Calor for a supply of cigars. + +Hartson Brant asked, "What do you make of this series of tracings? My +own opinion is that we have found a structural weakness through which +the magma will move. But the weakness does not extend far enough upward +to give any idea of the channel the magma will take to the surface." + +The scientist pointed to a series of blue lines as he spoke. Dr. +Williams examined the lines, then took his pencil and began to sketch +rapidly on his cross-section drawing of the volcano and the earth under +it. Rick watched as the sketch took shape. From the upper lens-shaped +magma front Williams was drawing a series of lines that changed +direction, moving toward the western side of the island. Then, across +the top of the upward-moving lines Williams drew a horizontal line. + +"Those upward strokes are the fissures shown by the tracings," he said. +"Notice that they stop at the horizontal line. My guess is that the +horizontal line represents an unbroken stratum that will probably stop +the magma temporarily. We may even have another one of those lens-shaped +pools develop." + +Big Hobart Zircon poked at the sketch with a huge finger. "Jeff, how far +below the surface is this stratum?" + +"Slightly over a quarter of a mile, I'd guess. It's hard to be accurate +within a few feet. On that side of the mountain the ocean bottom is a +few hundred feet below sea level, and I'd say the hard rock is probably +a thousand feet below that." + +Zircon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If we could somehow breach that +hard rock and allow room for the magma to flow upward, what would +happen?" he inquired. + +Esteben Balgos exclaimed excitedly, "Once through the layer of hard +rock, the magma would encounter plenty of surface water. Look at Jeff's +sketch. Above the hard rock there are many fissures, which must have a +high water content. If the magma reaches those, we will have violent +eruption through the western side of the mountain, probably right about +sea level." + +Rick could see instantly what Balgos meant. "Dad, an eruption on the +west side would be perfect! The mountain itself would protect Calor and +the rest of the island!" + +"That's true, Rick," Hartson Brant agreed. "The problem is, how can we +possibly create a break in a layer of hard rock so far underground?" + +David Riddle answered him. "There's one way. Drive a tunnel down through +it." + +All eyes looked at him. + +"Can it be done?" Julius Weiss demanded. + +"Yes. If there's enough time, enough machinery, and enough manpower. But +look at the problem. Once the magma starts to move upward through those +faults Jeff has drawn, it will move fast. The tunnel would have to be +done before the magma started to move. Otherwise, the heat would be too +great for men to work, and even if they could work they'd be drilling +right into magma." + +"This stuff is beyond me," Connel said. "Let me know what you decide, +will you?" He turned and walked from the room. + +Rick's eyes met Scotty's. The ex-Marine nodded, and in a moment quietly +slipped out of the room. + +Julius Weiss demanded, "Are you seriously proposing that we drive a +tunnel for over a quarter mile, almost straight down, through solid +rock?" + +Riddle shrugged. "Do you know any other way of releasing the magma +safely? I don't." + +"Perhaps it could be done," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "But, as +Dave says, we'd need time, machinery, and manpower. I'm sure we can get +the machinery and the manpower from the governor. But do we have time?" + +Balgos and Williams looked at each other. They were the experts. It was +up to them to say. + +"How long, Jeff?" Balgos asked. + +"I don't know. If we assume the magma will continue rising at roughly +the same rate we've measured during the past few days, I'd guess perhaps +two or three weeks. On the other hand, the magma could find weaknesses +we haven't detected. We may have only a few days." + +"We'll have to try," Hartson Brant stated. "If the governor can give us +the entire labor force of the island, and all available earth-moving +machinery, we have a chance at least. If we do nothing, there's no +chance at all. I think we should pay a visit to the governor right now." + +Scotty came back into the room. "Connel's in his room," he reported. "I +think he made a telephone call, but I can't be sure without checking +with the switchboard. Shall I?" + +"It doesn't matter," Rick told him. "We're on our way to see the +governor. Connel can't stop things now." + +The scientists were already moving through the door and to the jeeps. +Within a few moments the small convoy was moving down the mountainside +toward Calor and the executive offices. + +Inside the cool, white stone building the group waited while Esteben +Balgos went to see if the governor was available. He came out of the +executive suite with a look of concern on his face. + +"The governor is not in," he reported. "His secretary does not know +where he is. The secretary's worried. Montoya didn't show up at all this +morning and his residence says he left at the usual time. I think we'd +better see the lieutenant governor." + +Rick started to speak, but thought better of it. Connel had not come +with them, and his visit to Guevara could mean nothing. + +Jaime Guevara was a tall, thin man with a hawk face and a tiny goatee. +Hartson Brant, as spokesman, got to the point right away. He described +the reason for their coming, and their findings to date. He stressed the +need for fast action. In the governor's absence, he stated, they would +need the active support of Señor Guevara. If he would issue orders at +once, the scientific group would be happy to organize and supervise the +work. + +Guevara listened until the scientists had finished, then he smiled. "A +strange tale," he said. "It is difficult to believe El Viejo is getting +ready to erupt. Surely your imaginations have run away with you." + +"We do not depend on imagination," Balgos said curtly. "We depend on +scientific investigation. The situation is precisely as Dr. Brant +outlined it." + +"No doubt," Guevara said soothingly. "But surely you realize I cannot +disrupt the economy of the entire island simply to dig a hole. Why, the +people would laugh their heads off. No, señores, I am helpless. You had +better see the governor." + +"The governor isn't here and there is no time to lose," Hartson Brant +said flatly. "You must act immediately if the island is to be saved. The +lives of your people are in your own hands." + +"Perhaps the governor will return soon," Guevara said. "He will +doubtless believe your story and take action. I regret that I cannot. +And now, if you will excuse me?" + +"Then you will not move even to save the island?" + +"I do not believe the island is in danger, Dr. Brant," Guevara said +coldly. "Convince the governor--if you can find him. Meanwhile, have the +favor to cease bothering me with your silly tales!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +The Yellow Ground + + +Governor Luis Montoya could not be located. Neither his family nor his +staff knew his whereabouts. There was great alarm over his unexplained +absence. The police were searching for the missing executive, but with +no success. + +Hartson Brant called a council of war and told the scientific group that +his most recent phone call to Guevara had even resulted in a turndown +when he asked for more dynamite. The lieutenant governor evidently was +not content with refusing to help, he was going to obstruct. + +"There is dynamite on Trinidad," Hartson Brant said. "Plenty of it. I +made a phone call to a friend at the U. S. Air Base there, and he agreed +to get it for us. Rick, you and Scotty fly over to Port of Spain right +away. The information is written down here." He handed Rick a slip of +paper. + +"If you leave now, you can get there before dark, spend the night and +come back in the morning. Bring all the dynamite you can carry, with +caps and a few reels of primer cord. We'll need more wire, too. Get +hopping, now." + +"Yes, sir," Rick said. He and Scotty ran to their room for toothbrushes, +stuffed their pockets with extra socks and underwear, and ran to the +parking lot for the jeep. + +The weather was fine and clear, and the flight uneventful. When they +landed at the U. S. base they found that Hartson Brant's friend, Colonel +Tom Markey, had arranged for a full load of dynamite, and full gas tanks +for the plane. The boys spent the night at bachelor officers' quarters +at the base and took off at dawn, the Sky Wagon sluggish from its load +of dynamite cases. + +Back at the Hot Springs Hotel, they unloaded the dynamite from the jeep +and stored it under police protection in the pump house. Then they went +to look for the scientists. + +Hartson Brant, David Riddle, and Julius Weiss were in the conference +room working over drawings. Rick saw that they were sketches of a +tunnel. + +The scientists welcomed them, and Rick asked, "Any progress, Dad?" + +"No, Rick. The governor is still missing. We can't get help until he's +found." + +"Where are the others?" Scotty asked. + +"Placing tiltometers on the mountain," his father told him. "The +instruments were ordered by phone from Caracas right after you left and +got in on the first morning plane." + +Rick glanced at Scotty. He asked, "Exactly where are the others?" + +"Balgos and Connel are at the north end of the mountain, above Redondo. +Williams and Zircon are up above us somewhere. They started the climb +behind the hot springs." + +"I think we'll get a bite to eat," Rick said. "Unless you need us." + +"No. There's nothing for you to do right at the moment, but Balgos wants +you to take some photos from the air later this afternoon." + +"Okay, Dad." Rick gestured, and Scotty followed him out. + +"All's quiet," Rick told his pal. "And a quiet time is a good time to do +a little investigating. Let's go to the kitchen, get a couple of +sandwiches, and eat them on the way." + +"To where?" Scotty asked. He grinned. "Don't tell me. To see what Connel +is hiding over at his stations." + +"On the button. Let's get going." + +There was nothing whatever of interest at Connel's first two stations. +The ground was torn up somewhat from the series of shots, but the boys +could find no trace of anything unusual. They got back into the jeep, +and Rick drove up the trail to the last station. He followed the path of +broken vegetation Connel's jeep had made, noticing that the trail was +dipping downward to a spot lower on the mountain than the other +stations. + +They reached a patch of crushed and yellowed growth where Connel +obviously had parked his jeep. There were oil stains on some of the +broken leaves. + +Scotty pointed to a brown-paper cigarette stub. "Ever see Connel smoke +one of those?" + +Rick hadn't. "He smokes cigars. Where do you suppose that came from?" + +Scotty got out of the jeep and bent over the butt. "The tip is still +damp," he said. "Someone's been here very recently. We'd better keep an +eye open." + +Trampled vegetation showed them the path to the firing place. Moving +cautiously, the boys walked down the path, eyes constantly searching for +signs of movement in the heavy growth. + +The clearing where Connel had placed his shots was only a short distance +down the path. Rick examined it carefully, but it looked like all the +others, except for one thing. The broken earth was yellow, and of a +different texture than the deep jungle loam at the other stations. + +Rick walked into the shattered area and picked up a piece of the yellow +ground. It broke in his hands. "Funny-looking stuff," he said. + +"Yes," Scotty agreed. "Take a look around while I keep a watch. I have a +funny feeling we're not alone here." + +There was a fairly deep crater in the middle of the area. Rick stepped +into it and kicked yellow earth out of his way. He was puzzled. There +was nothing visible in the area except the yellow ground, and there was +nothing about that to give him a clue to Connel's determination to keep +them away. + +His foot dislodged a clump of earth. It rolled to the bottom of the +shot crater, exposing two large crystals. Rick picked them up and rubbed +the dirt off. They felt rather greasy. He didn't think they were quartz. +His mind ranged over the possibilities. Probably datolite, he decided. +The color was about right, and he knew datolite was found in igneous +rocks of volcanic origin. He put the crystals in his pocket. + +A trace of blue caught his eye and he knelt, digging with his hands. He +uncovered a few more of the datolite crystals and put them in his +pocket. They weren't particularly good specimens; he had some in his +rock collection that were perfectly formed and clear, but at least they +were something to take home. + +Digging uncovered a layer of hard blue rock, heavily pockmarked and +filled with the yellow ground. He saw one place where the blue actually +blended in with yellow and decided that the blue and yellow were +probably the same rock. The slaty blue simply turned to yellow when it +was exposed to the air for a while. + +There were loose pieces of blue, broken by the dynamite blasts. He +picked up a couple of smaller pieces, then added a piece of yellow to +his collection. He uncovered another crystal, too, a large one nearly +the size of a golf ball and put that in his pocket. + +Scotty was getting restless. "Let's get going," he said. "I don't like +this." + +Rick had seen enough, and it had told him nothing. He was just as +puzzled over Connel's motive as ever. Obviously, the answer was not +here--or, if it was, they couldn't see it. + +"Okay," he said. "Move out." + +Scotty led the way back to the jeep. Rick got into the driver's seat and +started the motor. He backed and turned in the narrow space Connel's +jeep had created, and finally got his wheels straight for the run back. + +From somewhere behind them a voice called, "_Parada!_" + +"Who's that yelling at us to stop?" Rick asked. + +"I can't see anyone," Scotty replied. His eyes were scanning the jungle. +"But I don't know anyone around here we want to talk to. I've got a +hunch we should get going." + +Rick felt the same. He released the clutch and the jeep moved ahead. + +"_Parada!_" the voice yelled again, and on the echo came the clear crash +of a rifleshot. A jagged star suddenly appeared on the windshield +between them! + +Rick reacted instinctively. He shoved the gas pedal to the floor and +bent low, the skin of his back crawling with the expectation of a rifle +bullet hitting it. The jeep leaped ahead and he steered as best he +could. He shifted into second and the vehicle picked up speed. The rifle +snapped again and he heard the sound of the slug hitting metal in the +rear of the jeep. Then the trail turned and there was heavy jungle +growth between them and the unseen sniper. + +Not until they reached the second station, a mile away, did Rick slow +down. He looked at Scotty, his face grim. "The place was guarded. What +else can you make out of it?" + +"Just that," Scotty agreed. "The guard must have been making a tour +around the shot station. He got back just as we were taking off." + +"Funny he didn't hear the jeep when we came," Rick said. + +"Not very. Sound gets lost pretty fast in this heavy growth. You +couldn't hear us a hundred yards away. Probably there's just the one +guard, and he goes around the station in a big circle." + +"I'll buy it," Rick agreed. "But why? Why guard a chunk of jungle with +nothing in it but some torn up yellow ground?" + +"When I find out," Scotty replied, "I'll let you know first thing." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The Volcanic Pipe + + +Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss were still at work in the conference room +when Rick and Scotty returned. David Riddle had gone, and the others had +evidently not finished placing the tiltometers. + +The two listened to Rick's story in silence, then Hartson Brant sighed. +"I don't know how you do it, Rick. But if there's trouble around, you +and Scotty will find it. Are you sure the rifleman shot at you?" + +"We've got a bullet hole in the windshield and one just under the rear +seat," Scotty said. "One might be an accident, but not two." + +"I agree." Hartson Brant nodded. "Let's see the samples of earth you +brought back, Rick." + +He took both the yellow and blue pieces from his pocket and put them on +the table. Hartson Brant and Weiss examined them with interest. + +"Unusual," Weiss said. "I think you are right in assuming that the +yellow is simply an oxidized form of the blue, Rick. But I can't tell +you what the material is. I've never seen anything like it before." + +"The grain is pretty fine," Hartson Brant added. "It could be igneous or +sedimentary in origin. I'm not enough of a rock hound to know. David +Riddle can tell us when he returns." + +"Connel would know, too," Scotty reminded. "He's a geologist. Wouldn't +you think he would have mentioned an unusual formation like this when he +found it?" + +"Perhaps it's not unusual to a geologist," Weiss pointed out. + +"Where is Riddle?" Rick asked. + +"He went to his room a few minutes ago. He should be back shortly. Rick, +I think you'd better tell us the whole story. Why do you suspect Connel? +Why was it important for you to look at his shot station?" + +Rick started at the beginning. "It wasn't any one thing, it was a series +of little offbeat things. We thought it was funny he didn't even want +company after Ruiz was hurt. Then he reacted so violently when we +proposed swapping stations. It just seemed odd. The theft of the +tracings bothered us, too. No ordinary thief would steal papers and +leave Dr. Williams' wallet in his pocket, or leave his pocket transistor +radio and stuff like that." + +"But you can't connect Connel with the theft of the papers," Weiss +objected. + +"No, sir, we can't. But we almost got caught in the stolen dynamite, and +he could have set that off. It was while we were on the way to his third +station." + +Scotty added, "Today, when we got to the station, I took a look along +the trail. There's only one bend in it. If he was keeping a watch at +the bend, he could have seen us arrive at the second station, hurried +down the trail, set off the charge, then returned through the jungle to +get his jeep." + +"But the fact that he could have, does not mean that he did," Hartson +Brant stated. + +"We can't prove it," Scotty agreed. + +Rick continued. "Then we trailed him to Casa Guevara. He couldn't have +been paying a social call, because he wasn't there long enough. And what +business does he have with Guevara? I don't know, but I'll bet his +business is the reason we can't get Guevara to move." + +"Possibly," Hartson Brant agreed. "I can see the reason for your +suspicions, but you lack proof of anything, Rick. What motive could +Connel have?" + +"We hoped to find out at the shot station," Rick replied. "But we drew a +blank." + +Dr. David Riddle came into the room and joined them. Before anyone could +speak, the geologist spotted the samples on the table and sucked in his +breath sharply. + +"Where did these come from?" he demanded. + +"Connel's third shot station," Rick replied. "Do you know what the stuff +is?" + +Riddle sank into a chair and picked up one of the samples, testing it +between his fingers. "Yes," he said, "I do. I've seen it only once +before, in Africa. It occurs in what is known as a volcanic pipe, +actually an ancient channel that gets filled with the stuff for reasons +we do not know." + +"A volcanic pipe," Hartson Brant said softly. "I'm beginning to see." + +Rick wasn't. "But what is it?" he asked. + +"The most valuable kind of ground in the world," Riddle said. "So far as +anyone knew up to now, such pipes have occurred only in Africa. The one +I saw was at Kimberley. The name came from there. This is kimberlite." + +[Illustration] + +Rick knew of only one kind of valuable that was associated with +Kimberley, and the thought was so staggering that he was almost afraid +to say it out loud. "You mean that this is the stuff diamonds are found +in?" + +"Exactly," Riddle said. + +Rick fished the handful of crystals from his pocket and stared at them +unbelievingly. "Then these," he said hoarsely, "must be diamonds!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Earthquake! + + +"Everything adds up," Rick Brant said grimly. "And it isn't a pretty +picture." + +Hartson Brant agreed. "It certainly seems to add up, Rick. I suggest you +put those crystals in a safe place until we can find out for certain +whether or not there is real value there." + +"Is there any doubt?" Scotty asked. + +David Riddle answered, "Yes, Scotty. There are many grades of diamonds. +Until an expert takes a look at those Rick collected, we won't be sure +that they're of gem quality. He may have industrial grade diamonds, of +the type called bort." + +"Connel may already have had an expert take a look," Weiss pointed out. + +Rick examined the handful of crystals. It was hard to believe he had +simply picked up diamonds like so many pebbles. What's more, he couldn't +be sure whether he held a king's ransom in his hand or a few dollars' +worth of industrial abrasives. + +"Why didn't Connel clean out all diamonds in the area?" he demanded. + +"How could he?" Hartson Brant retorted. "When has he had time for a real +effort? I suspect he has picked up quite a few, but you found those just +by kicking around, which would indicate he hasn't sifted that loose +ground very thoroughly." + +David Riddle frowned. "It's odd that Rick found so many. Perhaps he was +lucky enough to kick open a pocket that Connel missed. Diamonds just +don't occur with such frequency, even in Kimberley." + +"They were pretty close together," Rick remembered. "It may have been a +pocket, all right." + +"There is one other possibility," Riddle added, "and it's staggering to +think of it. These crystals may have come from a single large crystal. +Perhaps the dynamite explosions shattered the big one into a number of +smaller ones." + +Scotty gulped. "But the original crystal would have had to be nearly the +size of a grapefruit!" + +"True, Scotty. There have been crystals that big, or close to it. +Usually the diamond that is cut from such a crystal is much smaller. +There is considerable loss. But it's a possibility." + +Rick said abruptly, "I think we ought to sort of review the situation. +To see where we stand." + +"A good idea," his father agreed. "Suppose you start?" + +Rick considered. "Well, Connel must have discovered the yellow ground +the very first thing, probably while he was kicking a hole to lay the +charge in. The reason I think so is because of Ruiz. That accident has +always bothered me. Ruiz just wouldn't walk back to the charge while +Connel was ready to set it off. He just wouldn't." + +Julius Weiss asked, "Are you implying that Connel deliberately blew Ruiz +up?" + +"What else can we make of it?" Rick replied. "That kind of accident just +doesn't happen. Not to an expert. But if Connel found the yellow ground +while setting the charge, and took time to dig a little and be sure +there was blue ground under it, he would certainly have known that he +was standing on top of a volcanic pipe. He might even have picked up a +crystal." + +"If word got out, he couldn't exploit the pipe," Scotty added. "So, Ruiz +had to be eliminated. It would have been pretty easy. Connel had the +watch. He could have kept track of the time, then asked Ruiz to make a +final check and set the charge off while the poor guy was taking a look +at the connections." + +"It could have happened that way," Hartson Brant agreed. "But I hate to +think any human being could be so ruthless." + +"Connel had to keep others away, too," Rick went on. "Also, he had to +slow things down so he could have time to set something up to exploit +his find. So, he stole the tracings and the dynamite. That bought him a +little time, didn't it? Then he tried to get Scotty and me, because we +were following him and he was afraid we might find out what was going +on." + +"It seems reasonable," Hartson Brant agreed. + +"Connel couldn't develop a diamond field in a foreign place without +help, could he? He had to let someone in on it, locally. He sized up +Guevara and figured the lieutenant governor could certainly help him +out, so he brought Guevara in on it." + +"Pure speculation," Weiss said. + +"Yes, sir. But it fits. Guevara certainly wouldn't want people running +around over there, so it's to his advantage to keep us from operating. +If he thinks there's a fortune in the pipe, it's even to his advantage +to kidnap the governor to make sure we can't follow our plans!" + +David Riddle shook his head. "A man would have to be insane to hold up +an effort to save the island just to make himself rich." + +"He would if he believed the island was in danger," Scotty agreed. "But +suppose he doesn't? I don't think Connel has the true picture. His time +estimate was much longer than yours, and he hasn't been in on many of +the discussions." + +The three scientists looked at each other. "You know," Riddle said, +"Scotty is right. Connel has shown little interest in the magma flux. He +may not have a true understanding of the situation at all!" + +"It's possible." Hartson Brant nodded. "Quite possible. After all, we +borrowed him only to have another experienced man to handle the shots. +His training certainly doesn't qualify him to understand the physics +involved. He has concentrated on locating oil deposits, using standard +data. This kind of thing is new to him." + +"We didn't get him to handle data analysis," Weiss remarked. "There are +enough of us who can do that." + +Rick picked up his argument again. "If Connel doesn't believe there are +only a couple of weeks, he would give the lieutenant governor his views, +and he'd be believed, just because Guevara is so greedy he would believe +anything that will make him rich. Of course I don't know for sure that +Guevara is like that, but he certainly brushed us off, didn't he? And he +didn't seem surprised when you told him about the danger." + +"The thing that bothers me," Scotty stated, "is why Connel and Guevara +haven't started to mine the diamonds." + +"It takes organization," Rick pointed out. "Also, it couldn't be done +while the governor was around, could it? He'd be sure to get wind of it. +Connel and Guevara have to keep this quiet, or there will be a rush that +will make the Klondike look like a picnic." + +Scotty nodded. "That must be why they put a guard up there, too. +Probably just one trusted man, who has to make the rounds alone. We were +lucky he was on his rounds when we got there, or we'd never have had a +chance for a close look." + +"Well," Julius Weiss demanded, "what do we do now?" + +A sudden earth tremor made the group pause. It lasted only a few +seconds. + +"Whatever we do, we'd better do it fast," Hartson Brant stated. + +"Find the governor," Rick said. "That's the first thing. We can't move +unless we have official backing, and we certainly won't get it from +Guevara!" + +Esteben Balgos walked in, closely followed by Brad Connel. "We placed +the instruments without difficulty," Balgos began--and Connel's eye +caught sight of the kimberlite samples on the table. The geologist +realized instantly that his secret was known, and he knew, too, the +conclusions that would be drawn. Among other things, he was guilty of +the attempted murder of Ruiz. + +Connel bolted for the door. + +The geologist was fast, but Scotty was faster. The dark-haired boy +charged across the room, then dove headlong. His extended arms caught +the fleeting geologist around the thighs, then Scotty's shoulder smashed +into him. Connel went down like a tackled ball carrier. Before he could +recover, Scotty had shifted his grip and the geologist was helpless in a +punishing hold. + +The scientists and Rick arrived a split second later. + +"Let him up," Riddle ordered. "But keep a grip on him." + +Scotty did so, and the geologist glared at the group with angry eyes. He +didn't try to bluff; he knew it was useless. + +Rick hurried to find the hotel manager, who directed them to a tool +closet on the outside of the hotel near the parking lot. It had no +windows, a single, small ventilating duct, and only one door. Connel was +pushed inside, and the door locked. Hartson Brant pocketed the key. + +"He'll have to stay there until we find the governor and arrange for +trustworthy policemen," the scientist said. "I'm certain those who have +been guarding the dynamite are all right, but we'd better have the +governor's word for it." + +Rick agreed with the precaution. + +While Esteben Balgos was being briefed on the day's happenings, Zircon +and Williams arrived and had to be briefed, too. Twice, small earth +temblors interrupted the conference. + +"Something is happening below us," Balgos said. "I wish we knew exactly +what!" + +The magma was pushing up relentlessly, melting its way into the channels +Williams had marked on his sketch. In one of the channels was a large +pocket in which water had collected over the centuries. Perhaps there +was enough water to fill a substantial pond, perhaps even a small lake. +There was also room in the porous rock for expansion, because the pocket +was not entirely full. The magma neared the pocket, meeting small +quantities of water on its way. Each meeting resulted in a small +explosion, and a temblor that was felt far above. + +Then--the magma's heat turned the pocket itself to steam. The steam +expanded in a mighty explosion that sent great shock waves smashing +through the earth. + +Rick Brant's chair went over backward and he fell to a floor that was +shaking like soft mud under him. He heard the crashing of glassware and +the sounds of furniture falling. And he heard the ominous rumble of the +building itself, splitting, cracking, falling. + +"Out!" Hartson Brant yelled. "Get outside!" + +Rick scrambled to hands and knees and saw that Scotty was bending to +pick him up. He waved his pal away and got to his feet, fighting to keep +his balance on the shaking floor. He was scared stiff, but far from +paralyzed. Nor did he lose his head. He made sure the scientists were on +their way before he followed them through the nearest door. + +"Back!" Scotty yelled. + +The group paused as a section of building cornice crashed to the ground +just outside. Dust billowed. Scotty sprang through the opening and +looked up. + +"Okay," he called. "Come on!" + +The Spindrifters poured through the doorway out onto the parking lot. +They were in time to see another section of cornice break loose and fall +to the ground. Hotel employees were pouring out, too, gathering in the +parking lot beyond the reach of the crumbling hotel. + +Rick saw a great gap appear in one wall and waited breathlessly for the +wall to fall, but it held. The ground still shook under his feet, and +his insides were producing the queasy symptoms of motion sickness. Then +the earth steadied again, leaving only a mild temblor that soon +vanished. + +The group looked at each other, white-faced. The earthquake had been by +far the worst yet. There was even some doubt that the hotel was still +safe. Rick, seeing the manager busy counting noses to make sure all his +employees were out, gasped, "Connel!" + +Hartson Brant ran for the tool closet, the others behind him. The +scientist reached for the key, ready to let Connel out. + +The wall was tilted crazily. The door had sprung wide open. + +Connel was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Rising Magma + + +The Spindrift group held a council of war in their office-conference +room. Inspection of the hotel had shown that damage was not as serious +as first expected. The cornices, held only by mortar, had fallen, and +the rear exterior wall had lost its brick veneer. The structural part of +the wall, while cracked, was strong enough to hold up. The veneer was +unsafe, however, and it was agreed that all should stay well away from +the area where Connel had been imprisoned. + +"We must begin another series of shots at once," Hartson Brant said. +"It's apparent that the magma has moved, and rapidly. But until we get +more tracings, we won't know in what direction. Meanwhile, we _must_ +find the governor!" + +"How?" Rick asked. "How can we find him?" + +Hartson Brant smiled at his son. "It seems to me that you and Scotty +have acquired considerable reputations as detectives, Rick. I suggest +you earn them. Find the governor for us. We will give you Honorario as +an interpreter, but it will be up to you. The rest of us must operate as +best we can short-handed." + +"How about Connel?" Scotty demanded. + +The scientist shrugged. "He's the least of my worries. Let him develop +his diamond mine. My concern is with this island and the people on it. +If our guess is right, Connel will be lucky to have a few days in which +to work--scarcely enough to do much mining." + +"Any ideas?" Rick asked. + +"Yes. Talk to the governor's family, and to his personal staff. Stay +away from Guevara. Once Connel tells him we know about the diamonds, he +may become dangerous. Do what you can, boys. After all, this isn't a big +island and the governor must be somewhere on it." + +"If he's alive," Scotty added. + +Hartson Brant looked at the boy and his face grew grim. "Yes," he +agreed. "If he's alive." + +Rick and Scotty had always relished the adventure and excitement of +trying to solve a mystery. Sometimes the success or failure of a project +had hung in the balance, but this one was different. The fate of an +island and nearly 32,000 people depended on solving the riddle of the +missing governor. Rick felt the weight of the responsibility. + +The plan he and Scotty developed was simple and logical. They would +start with the governor's movements on the morning of his disappearance +and continue from there. + +At the governor's residence they learned from his butler that Montoya +had left the house promptly at eight o'clock, as he did every morning. +He drove himself, in a small English car that he used for personal +transportation. But, as they knew from the visit to the executive +offices, he had never arrived. + +The next stop was to determine his route. It wasn't difficult; there was +only one main road from the outskirts of Calor into town, although there +were many side streets. + +With Honorario as interpreter, they began the time-consuming job of +questioning householders along the route. + +Honorario was personally interested in the job. He had learned from them +of Connel's perfidy, and he said quietly, "Ruiz is my friend. We do not +yet know if he will live, or, if he lives, if he will be a whole man +again. I owe it to him to do my best in this matter. You may depend on +me." + +Not until they had reached the outskirts of Calor did they find what had +happened. Through Honorario, an old lady who had seen it all through her +window told them the story. + +"A big military truck was across the road," Honorario reported. "It was +keeping cars from passing. The little car of the governor came, and it +had to stop. An officer got in with the governor. The truck moved away +and the governor drove off. The old woman thinks the officer was +pointing a gun at the governor. She did not know it was the governor, +but her words to describe him were enough." + +Rick whistled. "Military? Does that mean the governor got caught by some +kind of revolutionary group?" + +Honorario shrugged. "Who knows? But I have heard of no revolution. The +governor is popular, and the people are satisfied. But you should know, +my friends, that on this island the _comandante_ of our small military +is the lieutenant governor. I think we are not dealing here with +revolution, but with Señor Jaime Guevara!" + +"We're stuck," Scotty said. "I suppose we could keep on asking and try +to get a line on where the governor's car went, but that's pretty +hopeless. Honorario, can we possibly find someone who is loyal to the +governor and who knows the island?" + +Honorario thought it over. "In such a case," he replied, "there is only +one way to be sure. It is, you understand, a matter of family. Among San +Luzians, the family is first and all else is after. So, I think we +should see the nephew of the governor. He is _el capitán_ Ricardo +Montoya, who is deputy of police for the western part of the island." + +Captain Ricardo Montoya was young, capable, and alert. Honorario found +him in the police headquarters in central Calor and invited him to join +the boys for coffee at a nearby café. + +Rick looked the officer over as he entered the restaurant, and he liked +what he saw. Montoya was built like a middleweight fighter, and his +white uniform was spotless. He was lighter in complexion than most San +Luzians, but even the wisp of mustache on his upper lip couldn't +conceal the firmness of his face. + +He greeted them courteously, in good English. "_A sus órdenes, señores._ +This Honorario says you wish to speak with me?" + +"We place ourselves in your hands, Señor _Capitán_," Rick said quietly. +"Because you are the governor's nephew and a police official, we must +assume that you are completely loyal to him." + +The officer's brilliant dark eyes flashed. "It would be a grave insult +to assume otherwise, señor. He is the brother of my father." + +"Good," Rick said. "No insult was intended. I think we had better tell +you the entire story, then we can discuss what must be done." He started +at the beginning, with the arrival of Balgos at Spindrift, and ended +with the day's events. + +"You have cast much light on what has happened," the captain stated. "I +am grateful. Now, señores, you must not believe I have been idle. I had +already discovered how my uncle was kidnaped. It was clear that some +military element was involved, but I rejected the idea of revolution. +The motive puzzled me. It is puzzling no longer, thanks to you. Also, +while I suspected Guevara, there was no proof. My suspicion, you +understand, was based on his character." + +"Have you any idea where the governor was taken?" Scotty asked. + +"I have now," Montoya said grimly. "The best possibility--and about the +only place we have not looked--is Casa Guevara." + +The boys exchanged glances. "Then we ought to make up a party of loyal +people and invade the place," Rick stated. + +"No. If I know this man Guevara, any such move would mean the death of +my uncle, if he still lives. We must find some other way." + +"Can you find loyal people?" Rick asked. + +"A few. You must understand most people do not feel as I do about +Guevara. He is popular. Who knows where the loyalty of the people lies, +between individuals? One cannot be certain. So, I must use only men +loyal to me. There are such." + +Montoya rose. "We will be allies, since we fight for the same thing, +which is San Luz. Let me see what kind of plan can be made. Go back to +your hotel, and I will come for you there. We will work this thing out +together." He shook hands with both boys, turned, and strode from the +restaurant. + +Rick paid for their coffee and the boys joined Honorario, who was +waiting outside in the jeep. "He's a good, tough _hombre_," Rick told +the San Luzian. "You made a good choice." + +"I am glad," Honorario said. "Someday he will be governor, like his +uncle." + +While the boys were in Calor, the scientists had conducted another +series of shots. The tracings were spread out on the table when they +returned, and the group was engrossed in checking them over. + +Rick and Scotty waited, watching. They knew from the quiet voices and +tense attitudes that something serious had been found. Then Williams +began to mark in the data on his sketch. + +"This is where the explosion took place," he said. "Probably the magma +hit a quantity of water as it entered the new channel. Notice that the +channel is one we marked on here earlier as a probable path. So far, +we're guessing right. Now, my estimate is that the magma will move fast, +stopping only when it reaches this dike of solid basalt." + +Hartson Brant wiped his face with his handkerchief. "It looks bad, Jeff. +The magma will reach the solid layer before we could possibly get to it +with a tunnel." + +"What does that mean?" Rick asked. + +Hobart Zircon answered him. "It means, Rick, that we no longer have time +to dig a vent. It means the people of this island will be lucky if they +can get away in time!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Armed Revolt + + +David Riddle had fired the last series of shots from Connel's stations. +By unanimous consent, the last station at the volcanic pipe had been +omitted. Two stations would have to do for now. All agreed it would be +foolish to jeopardize a man by going near the guarded third station. + +Since Riddle had the longest distance to travel, he had not arrived when +the boys returned to the hotel. Now, as Zircon finished his ominous +statement, the government geologist strode into the room. + +"We're in trouble," he stated. "I'm only a few minutes ahead of +soldiers. I came out of the trail onto the road and saw them just coming +off the dirt road onto the pavement. They shouted for me to stop, but I +wasn't of a mind to tangle with troops. I came as fast as I could." + +"Are they coming here?" Hartson Brant asked quickly. + +"They're either coming here or marching into Calor. Those are the only +two places the road leads. My guess is that they're marching here." + +Rick said swiftly, "Connel got to Guevara! And Guevara is going to make +sure we don't spread the word!" + +"Rick is probably right," Zircon snapped. "I suggest we clear out. If +we're captured, we'll be unable to operate at all." + +"Grab the supplies and get into the jeeps," Hartson Brant ordered. +"Quickly! Rick, you and Scotty move fast. Get your stuff into the jeep, +then take as much dynamite as you can. Go up the road to where you have +a good view and act as lookouts. Give us as much warning as you can. +We'll take the rest of the dynamite and the equipment in the other +jeeps!" + +Rick and Scotty dashed to their room. They threw clothes into their +bags, slammed them shut without bothering to pack neatly, and hurried +out into the parking lot. Rick backed the jeep up to the pump shed while +Scotty ran to the door. To the policeman on duty he explained only that +they were in a great hurry. + +The boys took time to load six cases, plus one of the detonators and a +roll of wire, then they got into the jeep and roared off up the road +toward the pumice works. + +"We've probably got ten minutes," Scotty estimated. "If they're marching +at a normal pace, it would take them a little less than a half hour to +walk from the pumice works." + +Rick drove a half mile up the road to where he had a good view of +several hundred yards and stopped the jeep. "We'll be able to spot them +from here." He turned the jeep around, ready to run as soon as the +troops came in sight. "Where do you suppose the soldiers came from?" + +"Probably from a camp near San Souci," Scotty guessed. "Otherwise, +they'd have come up the main road from Calor. There's probably a camp on +the western shore somewhere." + +"Wish we had some way of slowing them down," Rick mused. "We need a +mortar or a few military rockets. But all we've got is some dynamite, +and we can't throw that very far." + +"Why do we have to throw it?" Scotty asked excitedly. "Listen. We'll put +a charge by the side of the road and string wire back a way. Then we can +park the jeep off the road next to the detonator. When they get within +range, we'll push the plunger and run. We can time it so they won't get +blown up, but they may think they're being shelled." + +"That should do it," Rick agreed. He shifted into gear and moved ahead +slowly, searching for a likely spot. There was one a few yards ahead +where a clump of wild banana plants would shield the jeep from view. He +backed the jeep in next to the banana plants and made sure he could get +out again easily, then he took the coil of wire and began unwinding it +along the edge of the road. Scotty took out his scout knife and began to +pry open a case of dynamite. + +Rick fed wire until he reached a spot a hundred yards up the road, then +took out his knife and cut through the thin stuff. He started back to +help Scotty and was just in time to see the dark-haired boy with a stick +of dynamite in his mouth! + +Rick gasped. He started to run toward Scotty, but his pal waved him +back. Then, as Rick watched, horrified, he saw Scotty take the stick out +of his mouth and motion for him to come ahead. + +"What are you doing?" Rick demanded. "I thought for a minute you'd lost +all your buttons and started eating dynamite." + +"We didn't have crimpers," Scotty explained. "The only way I could get +the cap on was to crimp it with my teeth." + +Rick turned white. He gulped. No wonder Scotty looked a little pale! + +"It worked," Scotty said, a little shakily. "But I don't want to do it +as a regular thing." + +"I should hope not!" Rick exclaimed fervently. "Give me that stick. I'll +connect up. Will one be enough?" + +"Plenty," Scotty said. "Get going. I'll connect up the detonator." + +By the time Rick had placed the dynamite and connected the wires, Scotty +was ready, the detonator in the front seat of the jeep between his legs. + +"I wish we had some regular fuse," he said. "Then we could put short +fuses on a few sticks, light them, and throw them." + +Rick stared at him. "And crimp all the caps with your teeth? Boy, I'm +glad we haven't any fuse!" + +Scotty's estimate was two minutes off. It took twelve minutes for the +troops to come into sight. Watching from behind the banana plants, the +boys saw them hiking down the road like a bunch of tenderfeet on their +first five-mile hike. It was obvious that discipline in the San Luzian +army was slack. The men wore sloppy brown uniforms and a variety of +hats. They carried rifles and there were bandoliers of cartridges across +their chests and grenades at their belts. + +"Can you see?" Rick whispered. + +"Fine," Scotty whispered back. + +They sat in the jeep, waiting. Rick kept the motor idling, knowing that +the sound would be inaudible a short distance away. + +The troops reached the point the boys had selected. It was a big papaya +about fifty feet beyond the dynamite. Scotty pushed the plunger. The +dynamite exploded. + +Rick raced the motor, then shifted into gear. Scotty cut the wires loose +with one flick of his knife and Rick lurched onto the road and fled +toward the hotel as fast as he could accelerate. + +Through the rear-view mirror he could see the troops scatter and knew +they had slowed things down for a few minutes at least. The last view he +had was of one man, evidently an officer, trying to rally the troops +again. + +Rick rounded the turn leading to the hotel grounds and saw that the +scientists were waiting in the jeeps, ready to roll. He slowed long +enough to yell, "Let's go," then led the way down the road to the front +of the hotel and into Calor. + +The next problem was to find a place to stay. Honorario advised staying +away from the big hotels on the beach and suggested a smaller but quite +comfortable hostelry on the outskirts of town. Rick was pleased to see +that it was located right on the water, at the point where the long San +Luz beach began. But he doubted there would be time for swimming. + +The Hotel Internationale was comfortable, and more than adequate. The +scientists congratulated each other on being able to get rooms. +Fortunately, as the manager explained, it was not yet full _turista_ +time. If they were prepared to double up, two to a room, he could +accommodate them. + +Rick and Scotty drew a room on the second floor. The bath was down the +hall, but they didn't mind that. Hartson Brant and Hobart Zircon shared +the largest room, and there was a large porch that could be used as a +meeting place. + +The hotel also had a basement room that the manager was glad to turn +over for the equipment--at a slight fee, naturally. But he boggled when +the boys appeared with cases of dynamite on their shoulder. + +"Leave it to me," Honorario suggested. "I will find a place that will be +safe." + +Rick was glad to leave it to Honorario. He was anxious to get in touch +with Montoya, to explain what had happened. The police station was not +far away. He and Scotty hiked over and found the young captain alone in +his office. + +Montoya listened to their story, and his face became stern. "There are +two possibilities," he said finally. "Either Guevara is mounting a big +revolution, or he is interested only in the diamonds. If it is the +diamonds, then he probably will keep the troops near the mountain, and +the city may not be bothered at all." + +"How can we find out?" Rick asked. "Except by waiting to see if troops +show up here." + +Montoya stared through the window at the tiny harbor of Calor. The boys +waited while he thought it over. + +Finally the captain swiveled around and faced them. "We can find out, if +you will take a chance. I do not think it is much of a chance, really, +but it may be. Let us think of things from Guevara's point of view. He +knows that you know of these diamonds. He also knows, because he is +intelligent, that you surely realize the danger of talking about them. +So, what would he do with you if he caught you? Perhaps detain you for a +while, but no more. He knows that harm to foreigners would bring down +trouble he could not handle. We would have Venezuela, Colombia, Great +Britain, and the United States in here. The first three might bring in +troops on the pretext of restoring order, but actually to back up their +claims to the island. The United States would bring great pressure on +all three to do something." + +"It makes sense," Rick agreed. "So you don't think we're in any great +danger from Guevara?" + +"No. If you had been at the hotel, he would have kept you there, I +think. But you were not, so we must see if he is prepared to follow you. +My own opinion is that he wants to be let alone to mine diamonds, while +he has time. It does not take an invasion of Calor to do this." + +"What do you want us to do?" Scotty asked. + +"Simply take a ride to the hotel, or as far as you can go. See what the +situation really is. If I, or my men, should try this it would surely +mean shooting. But you are _extranjeros_,--foreigners. You can get away +with it." + +"You hope," Rick said. + +Montoya's teeth flashed in the first smile they had seen on his face. +"Indeed," he agreed. "I hope." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Night Patrol + + +The jeep rolled out of Calor on the highway back to the Hot Springs +Hotel. Scotty drove, while Rick relaxed in the seat beside him. They had +taken time for a sandwich and coffee, because they were not sure when +they might eat again. + +Hartson Brant and the scientists were at work on detailed analysis of +the day's shots. It would take some time. When Rick told his father +about the conversation with Captain Montoya, the scientist had nodded +agreement. "It sounds like good sense, especially since there has been +no sign of an invasion of the city. The troops could have been here +before this. Go ahead, but be cautious. Always leave your escape route +open." + +It was good advice, and the boys intended to take it. + +Scotty drove in silence for a few minutes, then said, "We're nearly at +the fork in the road. Keep an eye open." + +"Will do," Rick assured him. The left fork was the main, paved road to +San Souci. The right fork led up to the hotel. + +Scotty reached the fork and slowed. + +"There!" Rick pointed. + +Twenty yards up the right fork there was a barricade fence, newly made +of small logs. Lounging against the fence were a half dozen soldiers. + +"We could go left to San Souci, but not to the hotel," Rick said. "Now +what?" + +"Hold on and be ready for a quick take-off," Scotty muttered. He turned +the jeep into the left fork, then shifted and backed around and up the +right fork to where the soldiers waited. + +One soldier, with sergeant's stripes on his sleeve, sauntered over to +them. He carried a rifle, but Rick noted that he didn't hold it at the +ready. The boy called, "Do you speak English, sergeant?" + +"Leetle beet," the soldier replied. He smiled cordially. "What you +weesh, señores?" + +"Can we get to the hotel?" Scotty asked. + +"No can, señor." + +"Why not?" Rick asked. + +"Ees ... how you say? ... big talk at hotel. Ees _el gobernador y_ ... +and ... _el comandante_ Guevara. Also more mens. No one goes to hotel +long time. Maybe when talk feenish." + +"The governor and lieutenant governor are having a big conference at the +hotel?" Rick asked incredulously. + +"Ees so, señor." + +"How long will this conference last?" Scotty asked. + +The sergeant shrugged. "_Quién sabe?_ Maybe two day, maybe two +_semana_ ... how you say?..." + +"Weeks," Rick supplied. "What are they talking about?" + +"Ees ... how you say?... _seguridad nacional_. Thees ees what _el +comandante_ speaks to us." + +Rick glanced at Scotty. "National security conference. Those can last a +long time." He looked at the sergeant again. "We could go to San Souci, +and from there to the hotel, maybe." + +"_Pero no_, señor. That way also ees guard. Ees no way get to hotel. +More good you not try, eh? _Soldados_ at hotel, they maybe shoots." + +"Now we know," Scotty said. "Nothing more to be gained here." + +"Did you see the governor?" Rick asked. + +"No, señor. But I saw _el comandante_ Guevara. But eef he ees here, also +_el gobernador_. _Cómo no?_" + +"I guess so," Rick agreed. "_Mil gracias_, sergeant. _Vaya con Dios._ A +thousand thanks. Go with God." + +"_Y ustedes_," the sergeant returned politely. "And you, señores." + +Scotty let the clutch out and the jeep moved ahead. "Now to call on +Captain Montoya," he said. "Right?" + +"Right," Rick agreed. "Interesting. Guevara tells the troops he and the +governor are having a security conference and should not be interrupted. +So guards are posted to protect the hotel. And none of the poor +_soldados_ realize that blocking the roads also keeps people away from +the volcanic pipe, so Guevara and Connel can start work." + +"With Guevara's own men to do the dirty work," Scotty added. + +"Too true. Maybe they even have soldiers on the job. I know what else +the soldiers are guarding, too. Probably without knowing it." + +Scotty turned to look at him. "You thinking the same thing I am?" + +"Yep. Somewhere behind that guarded perimeter is the governor. And until +we get him out, we're helpless." + +"Then," Scotty announced, "we'll just have to get him out." + +The jeep almost flew down the road to Calor. Scotty wheeled it through +the narrow streets and drew up at the police station. In a moment they +were reporting to Captain Montoya. + +The young officer listened, then smacked a fist into his palm. "_Bueno!_ +This is good, _amigos_. We will let Guevara and your Connel have the +diamonds, eh? They can use the entire army to guard the mine, if they +wish. I hope they do. That means we have the rest of the island in which +to maneuver. I have already sent one of my most trusted men to approach +the diamond pipe from the north, through Redondo. That way we will know +the exact limits." + +"But they've got the army," Rick objected. "Where does that leave us?" + +"Free to operate in other ways," Montoya said. "The army is occupied, +no? Let them stay that way." + +His keen eyes examined the two critically. Rick felt a little +uncomfortable at the penetrating stare. Then Montoya smiled. "I do not +know you," he said flatly. "But I have certain evidence of the kind of +young men you are. First, you came to this island. Why? On a mission of +mercy, in answer to my uncle's call. It was unselfish, and it was also +dangerous. Then, tonight, you took the chance of finding the roadblock. +Also, though this may surprise you, we have heard something of the +Spindrift Scientific Foundation even here on this island." + +Rick was surprised. He knew the Foundation had an international +reputation, but he had thought it was limited to scientists. + +"So, I have some basis for what I now ask of you," Montoya added. "There +is no time to collect those of my men who are completely loyal. It is +because they are scattered, searching for some trace of my uncle. I do +not wish to take time to wait until they report in." + +"What do you want us to do?" Scotty asked. + +"It is simple, and not so simple. A large party cannot invade the +perimeter Guevara has established, but a very few can perhaps do it. We +will be that few. We will go to Casa Guevara. And, if we are lucky, we +will rescue my uncle. What do you say?" + +The boys exchanged glances. Rick spoke for both of them. "We're with +you." + +Montoya didn't have to reply. His warm handshake said everything there +was to say. + +Scotty spoke up. "I've had some experience in nighttime operations. We +will need dark clothes, and something to blacken our faces. We will need +weapons. Not guns. If we get into a shooting scrape it will bring the +whole army down on us." + +"I agree." Montoya opened his desk drawer and drew out a policeman's +night stick. He handed it to Scotty. "How about this?" + +Scotty hefted it, grinned, and handed it to Rick. It was heavy, and +perfectly balanced. Rick guessed it had been drilled and the end filled +with lead. "One good thing about this," he said. "No moving parts to get +out of order." + +Montoya smiled. "True. We will each have one, and I will take my pistol +as a last resort. Let us look at the map and memorize it. We will have +to go through the jungle to reach the house, and it would be disastrous +to lose our way." + +"Get a compass," Scotty requested. "We can set a compass course and hit +it right on the nose." + +Rick looked at his pal. "Marine training?" + +"Nope." Scotty grinned. "Boy Scout. But it will come in handy. I think I +could take you there anyway, but we'd better have a compass to be sure." + +The three bent over the map and worked out the approach to Casa Guevara. +For one thing, they agreed to approach as close as possible by jeep. If +they found the governor, transportation would be needed. He could not be +as fast on foot as might be necessary, because of his age. Besides, they +had no idea of his present physical condition. + +It was dark when they rolled out of Calor, Rick driving. All three were +dressed in dark clothes, and each had a night stick in his belt. +Montoya's pistol was hidden in a shoulder holster. + +At the officer's direction, they turned toward the airport, passed it, +and headed toward the lighthouse at the extreme southern tip of the +island. The road led past the light and along the southern shore, a +hundred yards from the sea. Then, as they reached their first turning +point, Montoya said, "Slowly. It should be about here." + +After a moment he found it, a pair of ruts through the rolling farm +land. Rick knew from his study of the map that it was a road on which +bananas were hauled from the plantations. It cut across to the main road +to San Souci. By taking this route, they would miss the check point near +the hotel. + +The road was bumpy but passable. Rick kept a steady speed in spite of +the jouncing it gave his passengers. They could take it. + +Presently there was blacktop ahead. They had reached the road to San +Souci. Rick pulled a flashlight from his pocket and pointed it at the +odometer, counting off the tenths of a mile as he headed toward the +town. When he reached seven-tenths he stopped the jeep. + +"Turnoff point," he said. "From now on, we steer our way through the +boondocks. Any preferred way, Captain?" + +Montoya shrugged. "There is no road, or even a path. Do what you can." + +"Okay. Scotty, make sure we head due north." + +"Check. Make a 90-degree turn and keep going. I'll correct you." + +Rick had only one real concern, and that was that the jeep lights might +be visible from the higher elevation of Casa Guevara. But it had to be +risked. He thought there wasn't really much of a chance, because the +thick foliage would screen them. Besides, anyone seeing the lights might +assume it was soldiers making their rounds. + +The ground was carpeted with fallen vegetation, but it was the dry +season and the earth under the leaves was firm enough. There was little +danger of the jeep bogging down, especially in four-wheel drive. + +Rick picked his way through the jungle, keeping to clear spots as much +as he could. Once it was necessary to butt down a huge banana plant +before he could continue, but mostly it was a matter of plowing through +scrub. Sometimes a palmetto leaf whipped across his face, and once a +thorny bush caught painfully and drew blood. + +Scotty navigated, keeping track of their direction. Now and then he +spoke. "More to the right when you can. We're about a hundred yards to +the left of our base line." Then, "Straighten out. We're on course +again." + +After what seemed to Rick an eternity of plowing through the heavy +growth, Scotty said quietly, "Pick a place to turn around, then kill the +lights and motor." + +Rick reached a place where there was room, swung the wheels hard, +backed around, and put the jeep in its own tracks facing the other way. +He turned off the lights and cut the motor switch. The silence and +darkness flooded in. + +"Just sit still until our eyes adjust," Scotty said, very quietly. "If +I've figured right, we're about a hundred yards from the dirt road, just +about in front of the Guevara driveway. We'd better walk the rest of the +way, in case of guards." + +Rick waited until the blackness lessened. His pupils were fully dilated +now, and he could see surprisingly well. There was a moon, but at the +moment it was behind a cloud bank. When it emerged, he would be able to +see perfectly. + +"Let's go," Scotty said. "No more talking now. When I hold up my hand, +stop and wait for me." + +The ex-Marine took the lead, Montoya following and Rick bringing up the +rear. He took the night stick from his belt and hefted it. The weight +was comforting in his hand. + +Scotty found his way with the ease that Rick always admired. Their steps +were noiseless on the carpeted jungle floor. Presently Scotty held up +his hand, and Montoya and Rick stopped, waiting. Scotty disappeared +ahead of them. + +The seconds ticked by. Mosquitoes found them and whined around their +heads. Neither moved. + +Scotty returned as silently as he had gone. Beckoning them close, he +whispered, "One guard at the gateposts. Give me one minute, then walk +forward until you reach the road. Call to him in Spanish, Captain. I +want to be sure his attention is on you." + +"I understand," Montoya said softly. + +Rick put a finger on his pulse and began counting. He could tell his +pulse was a little fast. When the count reached ninety he tapped Montoya +on the shoulder. But the officer was already moving. + +Rick followed close behind, the night stick held in a palm that had +grown sweaty with tension. The San Luzian picked his way carefully, but +he moved at a good speed. Then, suddenly, he stopped. Rick peered past +him and saw the lighter color of the dirt road. + +Montoya took a breath, then he called clearly, "_Hola, amigo! Qué +pasa?_" + +Across the way a figure rose, rifle ready. A suspicious voice called, +"_Quién va?_" + +There was a soft but definite sound, like a pumpkin dropping on a hard +floor. The guard crumpled. + +Montoya and Rick moved to Scotty's side with long strides. Scotty was +already tying the guard hand and foot with his own belt and rifle sling. +Then he took out a handkerchief and tied it into place as a gag. The +guard could breathe past it, but yelling would get him little--when he +woke up. + +"Help me get him into the brush," Scotty whispered. In a moment the +guard was out of sight of any casual glance. There wasn't time to hide +him with care. + +"Up the driveway," Scotty whispered. "I'll lead. When we get near the +house, there probably will be other guards, so we'll have to leave the +road and take to the bush again. Let's go." + +It was an eerie walk. Rick kept expecting a challenge from up ahead, but +apparently there was no guard on the driveway itself. It wound through +the jungle for a good quarter of a mile before it began to widen out +into a clearing. + +Scotty motioned and led the way off the road. The march through the +jungle began again. Rick plodded ahead, with complete faith in Scotty. +He knew his pal was taking them in a circle, but he couldn't have said +exactly where they were in relation to the house or the driveway. + +Then, suddenly, there were lights ahead! + +Scotty moved a few feet more, then sank down into the dense cover. Rick +inched to his side, and saw that Montoya was doing the same. + +They had a clear view of the two-story house and the surrounding +clearing. It was a hacienda very much like those Rick had seen in +Mexico, stucco on the outside, probably with heavy brick walls. + +And there were guards! He saw the glow of two cigarette butts on the +front porch, and another toward the rear. Three so far. Then a figure +crossed through the light from a window. Four! + +The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked away. The three +were not alone; hordes of night insects joined them and made the wait +miserable. + +[Illustration: _The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked +away_] + +Scotty drew back until his lips were close to Rick's ear. "I'm going to +circle the house once. Keep watching." + +When Montoya would have followed Scotty, Rick put a hand on his arm and +whispered that they should wait. The two concentrated on watching the +windows and the guards. Rick guessed that Guevara was not at home. So +far as he could tell, no one was inside the house, at least on his side. +There was light in one upstairs window, but the angle was wrong; he +couldn't see inside. + +The two guards on the front porch stayed there. That was probably their +station. Another guard seemed to have the rear corner of the house. The +fourth also seemed to be assigned to the rear, but he moved around more +than his compatriot. Rick could see that the four were not soldiers. At +least they were not in uniform. Probably they were Guevara's personal +employees. Bodyguards, perhaps. + +Scotty returned, silent as a wraith in the night. He sank to the ground +between the two and whispered, "I don't think there's anyone home. Just +the four guards. If the governor is here, he's in that upstairs room." + +"What do we do?" Rick whispered. + +"We'll have to take it from the rear. It will be tough, because there's +not much cover." + +Scotty began to outline his plan, then stopped suddenly. Rick had a +strange feeling in his stomach again, and he realized that the earth was +trembling under him. The tremor grew in strength, and from close by +there was a snapping sound as a dead limb broke under the vibration and +dropped to the jungle floor. + +"Now!" Scotty whispered sibilantly. "Come on!" + +Instantly Rick and Montoya followed the ex-Marine's lead, withdrawing +into the denser brush, then rising and hurrying after him, crouched over +and careful not to make a sound. + +Scotty led them in a wide circle that brought them finally to the rear +of the house. Rick sized up the situation and saw only two trees that +offered any cover. The ground was still trembling, although slightly. +Then, as he crouched, the temblor increased again. + +The guards were disturbed. The two in the rear moved back, away from the +house, as though expecting it to fall on them. One of them spoke in +Spanish and the other replied curtly. + +Montoya sucked in his breath. He whispered, "The first one asked if they +should not get the old man out, and the second said let him fall with +the house." + +The two guards were well back from the house now, staring upward at the +second floor. If the stucco started to go, it would be high on the house +wall at the roof line. + +Scotty touched Rick on the arm, then rose and moved like a dark ghost, +straight across the open glade toward the guards. Scotty reached the +tree nearest the house and slipped into its shadow. + +Rick sized things up. The other tree was perhaps thirty feet away from +Scotty, and about ten feet closer to the jungle's edge. The guards were +still looking at the house. Rick moved, bent low, night stick firmly +clutched in his hand. He sensed that Montoya was close behind him. + +He straightened up in the shadow of the tree, his eyes on Scotty. His +pulse was speeding and his breathing was short and shallow. Montoya +crouched next to him, ready to move. + +Rick saw Scotty bend and pick up something. He saw Scotty wave toward +them, then saw Scotty throw something. The object crashed into the +stucco of the house high on the second floor, then it tumbled to the +ground. Scotty had thrown a rock! + +The guards stiffened, thinking that the sound was the first evidence +that the house was falling. Scotty moved like a streak, and Rick charged +forward with club held high. Montoya was even faster. + +The two guards, interested only in the house, never knew what hit them. +Rick eased one to the ground as his knees crumpled after Montoya's +vicious swing. Scotty had the other; he had knocked him out and caught +him before he fell. + +The three left the guards and hurried to the back door. Montoya +motioned, and took over the lead. He snaked the pistol out of his +shoulder holster and held it ready. + +For an instant they paused in what seemed to be a pantry, then moved +into the kitchen beyond. Rick could see a hallway leading straight to +the front door. The door was solid wood, and it was closed. + +Montoya gestured with the pistol and led the way. Then, motioning the +boys back, he boldly opened the door and strode out. + +The surprised front guards stared into the pistol muzzle. Montoya spoke +in crisp Spanish that Rick couldn't follow, but the meaning was amply +clear. The guards' hands shot high. Montoya stepped aside and the guards +walked into the house like lambs. + +"Tie them!" Montoya snapped. + +A cord from the Venetian blinds was the most convenient tie material. +Scotty cut it loose with a sweep of his scout knife and slashed it into +two pieces. While Montoya held his pistol on the guards the boys tied +their arms behind them, lashing their elbows together. + +"Now," the police captain said, "let us find my uncle." + +The stairs led up from the hallway. Montoya took them two at a time, the +boys close behind. At the top of the stairs, the officer called in +Spanish. There was an answer from a room on the left. + +The door was locked, but the key was hanging from a hook on the wall. In +a moment the two Montoyas were greeting each other with a warm embrace, +and then with a more formal handshake. + +The governor greeted the two Spindrifters with a bow and a handshake, +and then inquired, "What good providence brought you here, nephew mine?" + +"We knew you were here," Montoya said, "because there was no other place +where Guevara could have hid you." + +"Let's discuss it later," Rick urged. "Those guards out back will be +coming to, and we want to be out of here." + +"You are right," Montoya agreed instantly. "We are not yet in the clear, +señor uncle. We must hurry." + +"Into the jungle," Scotty said. "Once in the brush and we're okay. +They'll never catch us then." + +Montoya hefted the pistol he still held in his left hand. + +"It will be better for them if they do not," he said quietly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Stalemate + + +Governor Luis Montoya paced the floor of his office. Seated in the +comfortable chairs were the Spindrift scientists, Captain Montoya, and +the boys. + +"We are in a difficult situation," the governor stated. "Guevara +controls the army, and the army controls the area in which you must +work. We need the army if we are to evacuate the island. My nephew and +his fellow police are efficient, but their number is too small." + +"Is there any possibility of getting outside help?" Hartson Brant asked. + +"I am afraid not. Our difficult political situation makes it almost +impossible to obtain any fast action. We would need to approach three +governments at the same time. They would have to have conferences, to +agree on how the help was to be given. Each would be afraid to let the +other help, you see, for fear of giving up its claim to sovereignty over +us. No, I'm afraid we must find our own solution." + +"You are the governor," Hobart Zircon pointed out. "Wouldn't the troops +respond to your orders?" + +The governor shrugged. "You can be sure our efficient lieutenant +governor has his own men in key positions. But what you suggest has +occurred to me, and I must make the attempt. First, however, I must +alert the people of the island. The danger must be described to them." + +"How?" Julius Weiss asked. + +"By radio. We have our own government radio here. I think Esteben and I +should go on the air at once. He can describe what is going on under El +Viejo. I will ask the people to assemble at the docks." He turned to his +nephew. "Ricardo, send two of your most trusted men to Redondo and San +Souci. They must persuade the fishermen to load their families and +villagers, then come to Calor. We will need to crowd all fishing boats +for many trips if we are to get the people off." + +"At once, señor," Montoya replied. He hurried to the door and gave +orders to the police guard. The handful of police were now the sole +security force of the island. The chief of police was personally +supervising the government's safety, somewhere outside the building. +Only two officers were still on regular police duty. The rest were +either guarding the executive office or awaiting orders. + +"Where can the people be taken?" Balgos asked. + +"I think we will send them to Curaçao and Bonaire. Those islands are +close, and they belong to the Netherlands. The Dutch are hospitable, no? +And we avoid entanglement with England, Venezuela, and Colombia." + +It sounded reasonable to Rick. He asked, "Aren't there ships in the +harbor? I mean, big ships?" + +"One freighter, and two interisland cargo ships of the C-1 class. All +three fly the flag of Panama. We will have the harbor master speak to +their captain and attempt to hire them. I am sure they will co-operate." + +"I'm sure that if you asked for help from the United States they'd send +all available U. S. Navy ships in the area," Dr. David Riddle said. + +The governor smiled warmly. "That is our ace in the hole, as you would +call it, Señor Riddle. The world knows that the Americans are always +ready to help. But perhaps there will be no need. We will see." + +The building shook slightly and Rick waited, holding his breath. But the +temblor subsided. It was the third one within an hour, he thought. The +magma must be moving fast. + +"Now, gentlemen, I must get busy. Ricardo, I leave the details of moving +our people in your hands. I will go to the roadblocks and see if these +soldiers can be persuaded that their governor speaks for the people. But +first, Esteben, you and I will go to the government radio and speak to +the people. Our talk will be put on tape, and repeated over and over. +_Vamos._ Let us go. Time is getting short." + +At Montoya's request, Rick and Scotty had agreed to remain with the +governor, in company with two police sergeants. The scientists returned +to the hotel, to continue their attempts to predict the magma movement +based on data already in hand. New data would be obtained as soon as the +situation cleared up. + +The governor, Balgos, Rick, Scotty, and the governor's secretary drove +in the official car, a huge American import. The two police sergeants +led the way in one of the island's two police cruisers. + +The radio station was only a few blocks away. These were the studios. +The transmitter was on the coast a mile south of Calor. Rick was pleased +to see that the equipment was modern, the staff apparently efficient. + +A musical program was interrupted and the governor and Balgos put on the +air at once. Rick's Spanish was too poor to permit him to follow the +discussion, but he gathered that the governor told the people of the +scientific mission, and then Balgos described the situation. The +governor returned to the mike with a plea for instant evacuation. + +Tape recorders rolled while the speech was on. At the governor's orders, +the tapes would be replayed every hour on the hour from now on. + +It was getting very late. The night was warm and pleasant, and the +clouds had vanished leaving a brilliant moon shining down on San Luz. It +was a lovely island, Rick thought. The greed of two men, Connel and +Guevara, had prevented any possibility of action to save it. Now, +evacuation of the people was the only possibility. + +Ricardo Montoya met the governor's party as they emerged from the +studios. He reported rapidly to his uncle, speaking English in courtesy +to the Americans. + +"Men are on the way to the fishing villages, señor. The harbor master is +speaking to the ships in the harbor, and already one C-1 is agreeing to +take the people. I have spoken with the airlines managers at the +airport, and they are trying to obtain many aircraft from the nearby +cities. Your own aircraft is being made ready for instant take-off." + +It was the first Rick had heard of a government plane. "What kind is +it?" he asked. + +"A very ancient, but very reliable Douglas, of the DC-3 type. We hold it +in reserve, Rick. Your scientists, the governor, and our police will be +the last to leave the island. I have counted the numbers. If you can +carry four, our plane will carry the rest." + +Rick nodded. It was nice to know there would be a way out, even though +he hadn't considered the necessity until that moment. He was glad +Ricardo Montoya was thinking ahead. + +"Now," the governor stated, "I must visit the army." + +"I will go with you," the police captain said instantly. + +"No, Ricardo. There is too much for you to do. I will be safe. There is +no enemy but Guevara. No soldier would harm me." + +Rick admired the little governor's courage, but he wasn't as sure of +their safety as the old man seemed to be. "I think we'd better be +armed," Scotty said. + +Ricardo Montoya had met them in the island's other police cruiser. He +said, "Wait," and hurried to the car. Pulling down the rear seat, he +disclosed a gunrack. From it he drew two riot guns, automatic shotguns +with short barrels. + +"Can you use these?" he asked. + +Scotty nodded an affirmative. "Both Rick and I have fired automatic +shotguns on a skeet range. These can't be much different." + +"They are not. The safety is behind the trigger guard. There is no shell +in the chamber now, but there are nine in the magazine. Go with God, +señores." + +The governor's car with its police escort rolled through the streets of +Calor, en route to the roadblock at the hotel road. Rick and Scotty held +the riot guns, both hoping that they would not be needed. + +The governor chatted calmly, as though this were simply a routine +sightseeing trip. "Few Americans come to San Luz. We had hoped that +perhaps an advertising campaign might bring more of you to our island. +We have much to offer, you will agree. Have you tried our swimming yet? +I appreciate there has been little opportunity for pleasure." + +The boys answered politely, but neither could really get into the swing +of the conversation. It took a kind of experience they did not yet have, +to talk of casual things while en route to what might be genuine danger. + +The governor's secretary called over his shoulder, "There is the +roadblock, señor. How shall I approach?" + +"Drive up to it, Juan. Be very casual." + +Rick fingered the safety on his riot gun. He could see dark figures at +the barricade fence. + +The car drew to a stop. The governor said quietly, "Perhaps you had +better stand by the car. Do not let your guns be seen. If necessary, you +will know what to do." + +One boy got out on either side, leaving the car doors open. The doors +shielded them and the riot guns. The governor got out and walked briskly +to the barricade and spoke in Spanish. + +It was light enough so Rick could see the men at the barricade clearly. +He realized suddenly that they were not dressed as the soldiers had been +earlier; these men seemed to be farmers. But they had rifles, and two +hand grenades hanging from their belts. + +He couldn't follow the exchange in Spanish. The governor was talking in +a quiet voice with one man who was better dressed than the rest. The +man's voice was cultured, but mocking in tone. + +Rick heard the secretary draw in his breath sharply, and he +surreptitiously got ready to pump a shell into the riot gun's chamber. +But nothing happened. Esteben Balgos muttered, "This is unbelievable!" + +Then the governor was coming back. He got into the car and spoke +quietly. "Back to Calor, Juan." + +The boys got in and closed the doors. The secretary swung the big car +around and headed back the way they had come. Governor Montoya took time +to light an aromatic cigar. Only when it was going well did he speak. + +"An interesting talk, señores. Those were not soldiers, but the +peons--how do you say it?--tenant farmers of Jaime Guevara. The man with +whom I talked is his foreman. They have replaced the troops at all +barricades, and their loyalty is only to Guevara." + +"But the troops?" Balgos asked. + +"Either guarding the volcanic pipe or working in it. I am told that +Guevara is now the governor of the island. He has taken over. If I try +to resist, it will mean bloodshed. If I leave the island, all will +remain quiet and peaceful." + +"That's nonsense!" Rick exploded. "Guevara can't get away with it!" + +"No? He is getting away with it, Señor Rick. We have a dozen policemen; +he has the army. He also has his own men, at key points. So what can we +do? We haven't enough force to fight. Besides, there is no time. We +can't arm the people because we have neither weapons nor time." + +"But what can we do?" Scotty demanded. + +"I do not know. At least we can continue our efforts to get the people +off the island. Without the ability to make scientific readings, we +cannot know how much time is left, so we must hurry. We will do the best +we can. After that--well, you had a Spanish song in America that says it +well. You recall the title? '_Qué será será._'" + +Rick remembered. An expression of fatalism. What will be, will be. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Brant Approach + + +The magma drove upward, melting its way through the fractured rock of +the channels under the western side of the island. Now and then it +struck rock with a higher water content, and the island shuddered under +a new explosion as the steam expanded. + +Rick felt the bed shake under him and sat upright. A new day had dawned, +and there was much to do. He and Scotty had volunteered to help Captain +Ricardo Montoya plan the evacuation of the island, and the youthful +officer had accepted with pleasure. He had agreed to meet them for +breakfast. + +The scientists had worked late, trying to extrapolate their data into +some kind of prediction. Rick and Scotty, tired after an exhausting day, +had gone to bed while the light still burned in Hartson Brant's room. + +Scotty awoke as Rick's feet hit the floor. "I'm getting used to these +little earthquakes," he said. "Don't know if I'll be able to sleep on +steady ground after this." + +"The ground is going to get unsteadier," Rick reminded. "Until--boom!" + +"I'm not forgetting," Scotty said grimly. "Let's get dressed and eat. +I'm famished." + +"It's ham and eggs for me," Rick told him. "If I had to watch milk slosh +around in a cereal bowl I'd get seasick." + +The boys dressed rapidly and hurried down to the hotel coffee shop. They +were just in time. Ricardo Montoya walked in just as they were seated. + +The officer joined them. Rick noted that his face was drawn and tired, +and thought Montoya had probably been up a good part of the night. +"How's the evacuation going?" Rick asked. + +Montoya shook his head. "Poorly. My uncle's radio broadcast continued +all night and through the morning hours. A few families have come to the +harbor, and the stevedores are organized now to get them aboard ship. A +few fishing boats have come, with fishermen's families, but there is no +big exodus." + +"Don't they realize the danger?" Scotty exclaimed. + +"Perhaps. You must understand my people. They have lived with +earthquakes all their lives. Not so often, perhaps, but these temblors +are not unusual. What is there to be excited about? Who believes El +Viejo will explode? It never has, so it never will." + +Rick thought it over. "Maybe not enough are hearing the broadcasts." + +"That is possible. I have put volunteers to work going from house to +house, asking people to turn on their radios to hear the governor, and +also to explain the urgency. But it will take a long time, even in +Calor." + +"If we only had the troops," Rick said thoughtfully. "Trained manpower +is what's needed for a job like this." + +"True. And I think if my uncle could only talk to the troops they would +believe him. But he cannot reach them. Guevara's peons would never let +him by." + +The hotel loud-speaker system drowned out his last words as a soft +feminine voice paged someone in Spanish. + +"If only the troops could listen to the radio," Rick commented. "Perhaps +they'd believe him and turn on Guevara." + +"Perhaps. But soldiers cannot afford radios, and they are away from +their barracks now. There is no way for my uncle's voice to reach them." + +There had to be, Rick thought. There had to be some way. The +loud-speaker sounded again, paging a Señor Alvarez. Rick sat bolt +upright. Why not use a loud-speaker? + +"Listen," he said excitedly. "If the government radio station has a +loud-speaker system, or can make one, we can put it in my plane. I can +fly the governor over the troops and he can talk to them direct. My +plane can go slowly enough, and low enough for that!" + +"How about power supply?" Scotty asked. + +"There must be an inverter on the island somewhere. We can use +automobile batteries, and the inverter will give us 110 AC for a while, +until the batteries run down. Just twenty minutes of power would be +enough and we can get that with enough batteries!" + +Scotty chuckled. "The Brant approach," he said. "There always is one. +How about it, Captain?" + +"We will try," Montoya said decisively. "You have not eaten?... Then do +so, while I make a phone call to the radio station. I have had coffee +and rolls, and perhaps there will be time to join you for more breakfast +while the radio engineers get the equipment together." + +The boys were just finishing ham and eggs when Montoya returned. There +was a broad smile on his tired face. + +"The engineers say it can be done. They have a portable loud-speaker +system, and there is an inverter, as you call it, at the transmitter. +What is this inverter?" + +"It's an electric generator," Rick explained. "Battery current turns it, +and it produces 110-volt alternating current. But inverters aren't very +efficient, and they take a lot of battery current. That's why we'll need +as many batteries as we can carry." + +"The chief radio engineer said he understood exactly what was needed. He +will gather the materials and meet us at the airport. Now, I think we +have time for coffee, and perhaps I can follow your example with ham and +eggs. It will take an hour for the equipment to be ready. Also, I called +my uncle. He will be waiting for our call." + +"Did you get any sleep last night?" Scotty asked. + +Montoya smiled. "Sleep? I have forgotten what it is. But perhaps if this +plan of yours works, I will remember, eh? Then I can sleep tonight." + +A check with the hotel desk told Rick that the scientists had left word +that they were not to be disturbed until later in the morning except for +an emergency. They had worked a good part of the night, apparently with +no satisfactory results. + +The boys waited until Ricardo Montoya had breakfasted, then rode with +him to the airport. There was another wait while the radio engineers +arrived, bringing the loud-speaker equipment. + +Rick supervised the placement of the amplifier in the rear seat. The +inverter was placed on the floor, and wedged into place with scrap +lumber. The automobile batteries were put into the luggage compartment +behind the rear seat and were also wedged in place. + +Wires were run from the amplifier through the rear-seat windows, which +were opened just enough to take the thin cables. The leads were then +brought out to the plane's struts. Two large loud-speakers were attached +to the struts. At first there was some difficulty in figuring out a +secure attachment, but the chief engineer, a resourceful type, managed +to find a pair of U bolts somewhere in the hangars. They did the job +nicely. + +The chief engineer connected up, then hung the microphone between the +two front seats. He threw a switch and the inverter started up with a +whine. At the throw of a second switch, the loud-speakers broke into a +hum. The engineer tapped on the microphone, and the tap, greatly +amplified, reverberated across the airstrip. + +"It works!" Rick exclaimed, delighted. + +"_Cómo no?_" the engineer said with a smile. He spoke to Montoya in +Spanish. The officer translated. "There is one more thing. He has rigged +a cable with a switch box so you can operate the controls from the front +seat. When the cable is attached, you will be ready. I will go call my +uncle." + +Rick and Scotty watched as the engineer got busy, hooking the +remote-switch cable into the amplifier. + +"Room for only two," Rick pointed out. "Want to toss for it?" + +Scotty shook his head. "It was your idea. I'll stay on the ground. Take +the governor and talk those troops into submission." + +"Maybe," Rick said. "We'll see. I think it depends on whether or not +they know the real story. If they have any idea there are diamonds +around, they won't be interested in anything else." + +"Guevara wouldn't dare to let them in on it," was Scotty's opinion. +"I'll bet they're just following orders, with no idea what's behind all +this. Most of them probably think there really is a national security +conference going on." + +Rick thought Scotty was probably right. Time would tell. He waited until +the engineer signaled that the job was done, then climbed into the +pilot's seat. He checked the plane over. Plenty of gas. Everything +seemed okay. He tried the loud-speaker switches, then spoke into the +microphone. He could hear his voice boom out with thunderous +amplification and saw Scotty clap his hands to his ears. + +Finally, he started the motor and let the plane warm, keeping an eye on +his gauges. When the manifold temperature got high enough he cut the +switch. He tested the control surfaces and he was satisfied. Now all he +needed was the governor. + +Governor Montoya arrived within ten minutes. He inspected the plane and +its equipment and nodded his approval. "Very ingenious. Shall we try +it?" + +"Yes, sir." Rick helped the governor in, buckled his safety belt, then +ran around and got into the pilot's seat. He started the motor, waved to +Scotty and the others, then taxied out to the runway. The tower gave him +clearance and he took off. + +"We'll make a swing over the area and locate the troops," he explained, +"then I'll slow down as much as I can, and you can talk." + +Rick climbed to a thousand feet and set a course directly for the Hot +Springs Hotel. He asked, "Sir, how many troops are there?" + +"Our army numbers three companies, of about two hundred and fifty men +each. Then we have a few special units, including the transportation +platoons. Perhaps nine hundred in all. We do not need a large army. But +we need some kind of force. These are troubled times, and there is +always some danger that a revolutionary force might consider us an +excellent staging or training base for an invasion of a nearby country. +So, we keep prepared." + +The Sky Wagon was over the hotel within minutes. Rick spotted a large +group of soldiers--he estimated about two hundred--dispersed around the +hotel. They probably thought they were guarding the conference. + +He banked left and followed the contour of the mountain, and found +another group of soldiers camped near the pumice works. + +"That is two companies accounted for, more or less," the governor +stated. "Now, can we find the third?" + +It wasn't difficult. Rick followed the dirt road to San Souci, and found +the third large group marching in the direction of the mountain, +apparently about to join forces with the group at the pumice works. + +"Let's take a look at the diamond pipe," he suggested, and pulled the +Sky Wagon around in a tight circle. He had his bearings, and the third +shot station was not difficult to locate. There was considerable +activity. Earth-moving machinery had been moved into place and was +operating. The yellow ground was already gone, and the equipment was +cutting into the blue kimberlite below. + +Military trucks were lined up, apparently waiting to be loaded with the +blue earth. + +"Where are they taking it?" the governor wondered. + +Rick had talked with David Riddle about the process. "They need water. +The blue earth is run down long wooden tables with cleats on them, like +washing out gold. The table is coated with grease. The diamonds stick in +the grease and the blue earth washes away. They've probably set things +up at the pumice works if there's water there. Otherwise, it may be the +hotel." + +"It has to be the hotel, then," the governor explained. "There would not +be enough water at the pumice plant. Well, I think we have found all our +troops. Those who are not with the three companies are below us, digging +diamonds. I wonder if they know what they are digging?" + +Rick told the governor what Scotty had said. + +"That is probably right," the governor agreed. "Guevara would not dare +to let too many in on the secret. Well, shall we get to work?" + +"Yes, sir," Rick said. He handed the governor the microphone and swung +into position for a run over the troops on the road. He throttled down, +and then gave the plane a few degrees of flaps. He kept an eye on his +air-speed indicator. If he got too slow, the plane would stall and he'd +be too low to recover. "I'll make as tight a circle as I can," he said. +"Be ready." + +The troops came into sight. Rick lost altitude and began a slow circle +only a few hundred feet over the marching soldiers. He turned on the +switches and nodded. + +The governor began to talk in slow, clear Spanish. Rick understood that +he identified himself to the men below, but then he lost the trend of +the talk. He concentrated on flying. The loud-speakers were operating +perfectly, and he knew the troops could hear. + +He could see them looking up and pointing, but they kept marching. +Apparently the governor wasn't making much of an impact. The governor +paused, and Rick cut the switches. + +"Maybe they don't believe it's you," he suggested. + +"Perhaps not. But my voice is well known. I speak over the radio at +least once a week. More likely the whole idea is just too much for them. +Who can believe that mountain over there is about to blow up?" + +"Let's try the troops at the pumice works. Maybe you can tell them that +all who care about their homeland should march at once to Calor." + +"I'll try it," the governor agreed. + +Rick circled low over the pumice works while the loud-speakers blasted +at the troops below. They watched the plane, they pointed, some ran out +for a better look. But when the governor pleaded with them to hurry to +Calor to help save the people of the island, nothing happened. + +"If El Viejo started smoking, they'd move fast enough," Rick said +bitterly. "But then it would be too late. They just don't believe there +is any danger, and maybe they're not sure it's you. I guess no one has +ever given them orders from the air before." + +"They are simple people," the governor agreed. "I think most of them +have never heard of a volcano. They don't even know what an eruption is. +How can they be excited? If I ever succeed in getting good schools here, +this may change. But it won't help us now." + +Rick considered. It would do little good to repeat the announcement to +the soldiers at the hotel. He wondered if Guevara and Connel were +somewhere below, and with that thought he turned toward the diamond +pipe. + +"Let's see if we can do any good with the truckmen," he suggested. "Tell +them the trucks are essential to the safety of their families." + +The governor tried, while Rick held the plane in in a tight circle over +the blue ground. Again, there was interest in the flying loud-speaker +plane itself, but the message made no impact. Then Rick noticed tiny +spurts of fire from one edge of the diamond field and cold sweat started +on his forehead as he suddenly realized what they were. + +"They're shooting at us!" he exclaimed, and gave the plane the gun, +taking evasive action as the distance widened. + +[Illustration: _"They're shooting at us!" Rick exclaimed, and gave the +plane the gun_] + +"I saw," the governor said wearily. "It was not the troops. It was the +peons. Our friend Guevara is down there, I think. But he need not be +afraid of our effect. We have had none." + +Rick had seldom felt so frustrated. He was tempted to call the San +Luzians a stupid bunch of cattle, but he realized the governor had +stated the case accurately. They just didn't understand the danger. What +would they understand? + +His lips formed the word. "Diamonds!" At least they would understand +treasure. + +"Sir," he said excitedly, "we can break this up, at least enough so we +can start collecting data again. If we tell them the whole story, +they'll at least understand that Guevara is after great treasure. +They'll flock to the diamond field and disrupt the operation, and we can +move back in to some of the shot stations. The people won't be any worse +off than they are now, and it will give us a chance to do something!" + +The governor considered. "Perhaps that is the only solution. It will not +get my people to safety, but it will at least give us a chance to find +out the exact situation. When I talked with your father this morning he +said they needed more data or they could tell nothing about the timing +of the eruption. If we get that data, then I will ask the Americans for +troops. If we must, we will take the people off by armed force and save +their lives in spite of themselves!" + +Rick circled and lost altitude again. He got into position over the +marching troops and turned on the switches, then gave the governor the +signal. + +Later, the governor told him what he had said: + +"Soldiers of San Luz! Do you know why you are protecting this area? It +is not because of a great conference. It is because Lieutenant Governor +Guevara has found a great treasure! He is using you to help him to +become the wealthiest man in the world! But what will you get out of +this? Nothing! He will give you nothing! Go for yourself and see the +blue earth. It is found only near mountains like El Viejo. Do you know +what it contains? Diamonds! The most valuable gems in the whole world! +Will you let Guevara use you to make himself rich while you get nothing? +Do not be fools! Help yourselves to this wealth. Look for the crystal +pebbles, the ones like cloudy glass, among the blue stones. Go! You are +soldiers! Take your share!" + +"They're running!" Rick pounded on the control wheel with excitement. +"Look! They're breaking ranks and running!" + +"Excellent," the governor said calmly. "Now the other groups. Then, in +spite of the rifle fire, let us go and tell those at the diamond pipe +what they are doing. They will not hit us with those rifles." + +Rick knew that was true. A lucky shot might hit them, but it took +practice to hit a fast-flying plane, even with automatic weapons. "Let's +go," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Solution: Nuclear + + +San Luz was in a state of complete chaos. The majority of the island +people dropped everything as the word of treasure spread, and the slopes +of El Viejo were covered with treasure hunters using everything from +shovels to pointed sticks in an effort to find _los diamantes_. Only a +bare handful even knew that the diamonds occurred only in a small +volcanic pipe on the western slope. + +If the hunt continued, Rick thought, the slopes would be denuded of +vegetation. + +There was intermittent fighting around the volcanic pipe, the police +reported. Guevara's peons had succeeded in holding the diamond pipe, but +were surrounded by soldiers. Now and then Guevara attempted to clear the +entire area, but with the entire army struggling to dig diamonds he +wasn't having much success. The police officer who investigated also +reported that an American was with Guevara. That would be Connel, of +course. + +The scientists had moved at once to start shooting again, with the +police pushing back the diamond seekers until the dynamite could be set +off in safety. The crazed hunters assumed that the explosions were also +means of seeking the diamonds, and rushed to the craters before the +smoke had cleared. + +No one really cared. The data was being collected, and it showed that +the situation was growing extremely serious. + +"Ten days maximum," Zircon said. "Maybe less. The magma has about +reached that rock dike, and once it melts through, there goes the +mountain." + +"We must get the people off," Governor Montoya insisted. "That is the +first thing. I shall call at once for help from the Americans. They have +forces at the Canal Zone and also in the West Indies. They will send +help." + +"Yes," Hartson Brant agreed. "But first, we have a proposal. We will +need the troops, but we may also need other help." + +Governor Montoya looked at him keenly. "This proposal is perhaps a +solution for El Viejo?" + +"Perhaps. Let me outline the situation." The scientist pointed out the +magma on Dr. Williams' sketch. "This is where the magma is now. Above it +is a very thick layer of rock in which we can find no major weakness. It +may hold the magma for a while. At least it probably will melt slowly." + +He pointed to a little line running from the western slope of the +mountain down to the rock dike. "This was where we wanted to dig a +channel. Now it is too late to go all the way to the rock. The heat +would be too great. But if we could drive a hole through, with great +suddenness, the magma would be released and the eruption would be away +from the island and into the sea." + +"How would you do this?" the governor asked. + +"By getting help from the U. S. government, from Army Engineers and +Seabees, who are U. S. Navy engineers. We would drive the tunnel as far +down as time permitted. Of course we would keep track of the magma +constantly. Then, as time ran out, we would place a charge in the +hole--a shaped charge, as it is called--which would drive the hole most +of the way to the magma. It would also crack the rock dike. The magma +would seek the weakest spots, of course. It is under enormous pressure. +And we would have the result we want." + +"But what kind of explosive would be enough for such an undertaking?" +Montoya demanded. "Not enough dynamite could be packed into the tunnel +to do the work." + +"We weren't thinking of dynamite," Hartson Brant said quietly. "We were +thinking of a nuclear explosion." + +Rick gasped. He had no warning of this. The scientists had evidently +arrived at the conclusion while he was flying around over the diamond +seekers. + +Montoya gasped, too. "But that would kill everyone on the island!" + +"Not at all," Zircon boomed. "It would kill no one. Of course we would +clear the area with troops." + +"But the radioactivity," the governor protested. "I have read it is +deadly!" + +"Only if it can reach people," Hartson Brant explained. "This shot would +be far underground. There would be no fall-out, as it is called, at all. +Of course the earth around the explosion would be greatly radioactive. +Some of the activity would be trapped in the magma. But where would it +come to rest? On the bottom of the sea. There might be some danger to +bottom fish in the vicinity, but I think the water would get so hot from +the lava that fish would avoid it, anyway. And eventually the +radioactivity would decay of itself to low levels. Sir, I see no other +way." + +The governor raised his hands in a gesture of resignation. "I know +nothing of these matters, and it is your business to know. I accept your +assurances without reservation. Now, what do we do?" + +The scientists had not only conceived the solution, but had a detailed +plan of action. Within a half hour, the loud-speaker had been removed +from the plane, and Rick was flying Governor Montoya, Hartson Brant, and +Esteben Balgos to Trinidad. + +Arrangements had been made by phone while they were en route. A car, +sent by the President of the West Indies Federation, picked them up at +the airport and whisked them to the Federation's headquarters. + +The President listened to the story with intense interest, then +summoned the American ambassador and the representatives of Venezuela +and Colombia. + +After a detailed discussion by Hartson Brant of the properties and +limitations of nuclear explosions, the conference agreed. Immediate +action was called for. The Venezuelan and Colombian representatives +hurried off to notify their governments, while the President of the +Federation put in a conference call to the United States, to the +Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Secretary of Defense, the +Secretary of State, and the President's Special Assistant for Science +and Technology, who happened to be an old friend of Hartson Brant's. + +A personal phone call from a head of state was without +precedent--especially a conference call. The U. S. officials were +located within an hour, and the call put through. On the West Indies end +were the Federation's President, the U. S. ambassador, Governor Montoya, +and Hartson Brant, speaking from four different rooms. Rick hung over +his father's chair, listening. + +The Federation's President introduced himself and described the problem +briefly. Then he introduced the governor. Montoya said briefly, +"Gentlemen, we must have help or the island of San Luz will perish. I +ask help on behalf of my 32,000 people." + +The Federation's President then introduced Hartson Brant. Rick gathered +that the U. S. President's Special Assistant and the Chairman of the +Atomic Energy Commission both greeted him warmly as an old friend. + +The scientist outlined the problem and its solution. He continued, +"According to our estimates, we will need ten kilotons in order to have +a margin of safety. It will take as many Seabees or engineers as +necessary to drive a tunnel. The tunnel dimensions will depend on what +machinery you can get to us. I leave that to your experts. We will also +need about five thousand sea-based troops to handle the island +population. We may have to carry them bodily to safety. Now, can it be +done?" + +There was silence as the scientist listened. Rick stood on one foot, +then the other, waiting. He could hear the mumble of voices through the +earphone but could make no sense out of it. + +Presently Hartson Brant said, "Yes. I believe the runway at San Luz +could handle a C-124." There was silence again. Finally, the scientist +said, "I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then." He hung up and +turned to Rick with a grin. + +"Our President will put pressure on the local Venezuelan and Colombian +ambassadors here for an immediate decision from their governments, and +our own Secretary of State will instruct our ambassadors in Venezuela +and Colombia to camp on the doorsteps until they get agreement. He will +also notify the United Nations, and invite observers from the Security +Council. The AEC will fly in a 10-KT nuclear charge and a group of +experts. The Secretary of Defense promised that a battalion of Seabees +with full equipment would arrive in San Luz within twenty-four hours. +The Military Air Transport Service will airlift in enough troops to +handle the crowd. Any questions?" + +Rick grinned back. "It sounds as though everyone's in the act but the +British." + +"Oh, they're in it, too. The Federation's President will represent their +political interests, but we'll also have a British cruiser standing +offshore for help as needed. And I forgot an important addition. Our +President's Assistant for Science and Technology is notifying the proper +committees of the National Academy of Sciences. We'll have a planeload +of geophysicists down here in a few days to get all the scientific data +possible out of this event. So we're well covered." + +"I guess we can relax now," Rick said with relief. "The job is out of +our hands." + +"Not quite," Hartson Brant corrected. "They all agreed that the +Spindrift Foundation should be placed in over-all charge. So we've got +our work cut out for us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Seabees + + +The sea off the west coast of San Luz was alive with ships. Rick counted +up to twenty-five and then gave up. Some of the ships were moving, and +he was sure he had counted the same one three times. He identified +cruisers, destroyers, one aircraft carrier with a squadron of +helicopters aboard, and landing ships of several kinds. + +One huge landing ship was nosed right up to the shore, and +from it rolled tons of heavy equipment. From an attack +transport, the equipment's operators, a U. S. Naval Construction +Battalion--Seabees--were disembarking by the hundreds. + +Scotty asked, "How many different kinds of flags can you see? I've +counted six so far. U. S., British, Dutch, Venezuelan, Colombian, and +Panamanian." + +"It's an international job, all right," Rick agreed. "And when the UN +observers arrive tonight you can run up a few more flags, too." + +"Reminds me of the amphibious exercises we used to have in the +Marines," Scotty commented to Rick. + +Nearby, Hartson Brant and the other scientists were deep in conversation +with a group of civilians and Navy officers. The officers were the +engineers, from the Naval Construction Battalion. Last night had been +spent in working with them on the details of the problem. It would be +their job to drive the big hole down into the earth below El Viejo, +working against time to intercept the rising magma. + +Scientists had arrived, too, and they were taking over much of the +detail of keeping track of the magma. Each scientist had his own special +field of interest, but all were anxious to have the data from tracings. +There were geophysicists, including volcanologists and seismologists; +mineralogists and more geologists. + +"Nothing much left for us to do," Rick said, a little sadly. + +"Except watch," Scotty corrected. "That's enough! Great crumbling +craters, what do you want? A mystery every day?" + +Rick had to grin. "I guess this is enough. But one thing I want to do is +go over to the volcanic pipe and see how Guevara and Connel are making +out." + +"You will have an escort," a voice said from behind them. They turned to +greet Ricardo Montoya. "Now that we can turn our attention to that pair, +I think we should have a talk with them. To make the talk easier, we +will put bars between us." + +"You're going to arrest them?" Rick asked. + +"Of course! What did you think?" + +"Right now?" + +"If you want to come along, join me. Now is as good a time as any. If we +can find them, of course." + +The boys joined Montoya in the front seat of a military vehicle. The +back was loaded with his men. Montoya at once steered for the trail to +the volcanic pipe. It was only a thousand yards to the north from the +point selected for the big hole. Even around the site of the hole there +were diamond seekers, and it was hard to find a piece of ground that had +not been tried with a shovel. + +As they got closer to the diamond field the numbers of treasure hunters +increased until, as Scotty remarked, they were thicker than fleas at a +mutt show. Montoya had to lean on the horn continually, and even then +the San Luzians paid little attention. + +Finally the group got out and walked. It was easier to move on foot +through the frantically digging mob. Strangely, there was little noise. +Each individual seemed intent on his own little hole. But the digging +was futile. There was no yellow ground under the flying shovels. + +Then the group did reach yellow ground, and met rifles in the hands of +Guevara's peons. Evidently Guevara had put a ring of men around the +volcanic pipe and planned to hold it by force of arms. + +Rick looked at Montoya. What would he do now? + +The young officer looked haughtily at the nearest peons and demanded in +Spanish, "Do you know me?" + +One of them nodded respectfully. "_Sí_, Señor Capitán Montoya." + +"Good. You will stand aside. I am inspecting Señor Guevara's mine." He +stalked through as though there was not the slightest question that the +peons would allow it. The boys and the police officers followed on his +heels. + +A shelter had been erected on one side of the volcanic pipe. Only blue +ground showed, and there was a power scoop digging out more. Watching +the shovel were Guevara and Brad Connel. + +Montoya walked up to the pair before they were even aware of his +presence. + +"Good afternoon, señores," he greeted them courteously. + +Guevara snapped, "What are you doing here, Montoya?" + +"Arresting you, señor," Montoya replied calmly. + +Connel looked worried, but Guevara gestured toward the ring of men with +rifles. "Don't be a fool. We outnumber you five to one. You haven't a +chance." + +Captain Montoya smiled affably. "But, señor, it is you who haven't a +chance. Consider, señor. The honor of the Montoyas requires that I take +you to my uncle, eh? Well, I allow the chance that perhaps I will not +survive to take you to my uncle, but I can assure you that you will +become a lifeless body on the instant a rifle is raised. Surely you do +not doubt me, señor?" + +Guevara looked at the officer, looked at the capable hand on the cocked +gun in the holster. Then he looked into the fierce Montoya eyes, and his +swarthy face turned pale. + +"Not even a Montoya would throw his life away for so small a thing," he +said harshly. + +The captain smiled gently. "Call my bluff, señor." + +Rick had no doubt whatever that Montoya was not bluffing. Apparently +Guevara was convinced, too. But he tried once more. "How do you expect +to get us out of here?" + +"Simplicity itself. You will walk to my truck, arm in arm with Señor +Connel. That is all. Of course if you should be so unfortunate as to +have a peon lift his rifle, you would never reach the truck alive. But +perhaps you are lucky. Shall we try, señor?" + +Guevara hesitated, then shrugged. "Very well." + +Connel spoke for the first time. He demanded hoarsely, "Are you going to +let him get away with this when our men have all the rifles?" + +Guevara smiled wryly. "You do not know the Montoyas, Brad. Call his +bluff yourself--only not if you wish to live." + +The ex-lieutenant governor walked slowly toward the ring of men. After a +moment Connel joined him. Montoya stepped behind them as though taking a +stroll through the Calor public gardens. The ring opened and let them +through. Rick breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't been quite as +confident as Ricardo Montoya appeared to be. + +Guevara paused. "May I make an announcement?" he asked. + +"Certainly, señor." + +Guevara called, "_Amigos!_" Montoya translated the Spanish for the boys. +"You know what you have been guarding. Now I must leave. What is left +is yours. Work as fast as you can and find many diamonds. May good +fortune be yours!" + +The ring broke as the peons rushed to grab shovels. Guevara led the way +to the truck. + +It was all so easy, Rick thought later, if you were an aristocratic +Montoya with a code of honor that permitted no yielding, even unto +death. No one else he had ever met could have carried it off quite so +superbly. + +So fast had the Seabees swung into operation that work on the big hole +already was in progress when Montoya dropped the boys off. Pneumatic +drills hammered into the congealed lava, cutting holes in which charges +would be placed. As the boys watched, explosive was thrust into the +holes, a warning was yelled through a portable loud-speaker, and the +charge fired. Tons of rock were loosened. + +Even before the dust had begun to settle, huge machines were lifting the +rock out, or dragging big chunks, and dumping them down the +mountainside. Bulldozers kept the rock moving, keeping the entrance +clear. Within minutes the hole was empty of rock and the pneumatic +drills were hammering again. The cycle was repeated. + +The Seabees joked as they worked, and warned each other against shoving +a hole right through into hot lava, but the pace never slowed for an +instant. + +Hour after hour the big hole deepened until the Seabees ran into noxious +gases. Then they donned gas masks and continued. Deeper and deeper the +hole was driven, until the temperature at the hole's end was over a +hundred degrees. The Seabees merely shortened working time and operated +in relays so efficiently that no time was lost. + +Rick and Scotty got back to the hole as often as they could, but there +was much doing elsewhere. The Hot Springs Hotel swarmed with scientists +and observers, and there were heated conferences and late evaluation +sessions. The Spindrift scientists were always in demand, and their +faces grew gaunt as the days passed. + +The hole gave its own location because of the shock waves it sent +through the earth to the recorders, and even Rick's untrained eye could +see the traces slowly closing with the magma front. + +Earthquakes increased in frequency until Rick and Scotty felt as though +the ground never ceased shuddering. + +The air became noisy with planes as the Military Air Transport Command +began ferrying in troops. Flight after flight of huge transports roared +in for a landing at the Calor airport, discharged the soldiers, and took +off again at once. + +And still the diamond hunt continued. + +Then, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Hartson Brant called a halt. + +"The magma's moving up through the dike," he reported. "It's now or +never. Captain Montoya, we will ask the troops to clear the area. +Commander Jameson, withdraw all men and equipment except those necessary +for the final packing. Dr. Cantrell, please be ready to place the +charge at dawn tomorrow." + +The final phase of the operation swung into action. The troops gathered +at Redondo and marched shoulder to shoulder southward along the mountain +slopes. They herded the diamond seekers before them, sometimes with +enough roughness to overcome protests, but mostly with little +difficulty. They herded the population entirely around El Viejo, and +established a perimeter from Calor northward, with the population +confined to a narrow segment of the island along the seaward side. + +Loud-speaker trucks roamed along the perimeter, reassuring the people. +Military disaster units cooked huge quantities of food and prepared +thousands of gallons of coffee and reconstituted milk. American soldiers +played with cute little San Luzian kids and--after the diamond seekers +became convinced they had never had a chance to find diamonds--the whole +affair became one big picnic. + +But it was a picnic with overtones of fear. + +Rick and Scotty watched the placement of the nuclear explosive--a simple +steel can, from the outside--in the big hole. They watched the remaining +handful of Seabees load tons of rock in after it. Only the wires +connecting the device to a radio firing unit on the beach gave evidence +that an explosion equal to ten thousand tons of TNT was about to take +place. + +Rick asked, "Won't all those rocks keep the volcano from erupting?" + +Hartson Brant smiled. "Rick, compared with the force of the volcano, +that atomic device is like a firecracker compared with a hurricane. But +even to the nuclear explosion those rocks won't mean much. They're just +to confine it a little." + +The night passed. San Souci was empty of people. The Seabees were back +aboard ship. The scientific instruments were in place. Only a small +group of scientists remained, their helicopter standing by. They checked +out the radio firing unit, threw switches according to their check list, +then announced: + +"We're ready!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Old One Yields + + +Rick banked the Sky Wagon over the fleet. Scotty, in the front passenger +seat, had the camera ready. Hartson Brant, in the rear seat, had a +motion-picture camera poised. Governor Montoya, the fourth in the party, +even had his personal camera along. + +Their cameras were not the only ones. Nearly every ship had its official +photographers, and there were photography planes in the air. + +Directly under the Sky Wagon now was a U. S. destroyer. Aboard her was +the nuclear firing party from Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and the +UN Observer Group. On other ships of the fleet were the representatives +of the interested nations and the Seabees. + +Rick turned up the volume of his plane radio. By agreement, the +countdown was to be broadcast to all aircraft over one of the airport +frequencies. + +"Thirty seconds!" the voice said. + +"Won't we need dark glasses?" Scotty asked. + +"No," Hartson Brant replied. "The nuclear fireball won't emerge. If it +gets a little too bright, squint and turn your head." + +"How long after the nuclear shot will the volcano go?" Rick asked. + +"We don't know. Anywhere from seconds to hours. It depends on how much +of a path the nuclear shot cracks." + +"Ten seconds!" + +Rick made sure they had a good view of El Viejo's western slope, and +held the plane on course. + +"Five, four, three, two, one ... + +"Zero!" + +There was an instant of quiet, then dust spurted from the deep hole, +followed by billowing clouds of pulverized rock. Down below, the earth +heaved as though from another earthquake, and a line of waves appeared, +running from shore outward! + +The dust settled slowly, hanging in the air like a great gray ball. + +The nuclear explosion, deep underground, had gone off. + +"Now what?" Rick wondered. + +Hartson Brant said quietly, "We may have to wait a while." + +"That explosion sure didn't look like the pictures I've seen of shots in +Nevada," Rick told him. + +"No, Rick. This was too far underground. They've had those in Nevada, +too, but the pictures don't get much publicity because they're not +spectacular." + +Far below, where the end of the big hole had been, the huge chamber +blown by the atomic explosion was white-hot with trapped heat and +radioactivity. Below the chamber the earth was shattered, with myriad +tiny cracks reaching far down. + +Some cracks reached the white-hot magma. Instantly the magma exploited +the new weakness, pressure was released until ... + +"Look!" Even in the plane Scotty's yell was loud. + +Rick turned in time to see the side of El Viejo blow off in an explosion +that made ten kilotons of fission seem puny indeed. For an instant he +saw thousands of tons of white-hot lava rise into the air, then it fell +into the sea. Instantly steam clouds blanketed the area, but the steam +was mixed with traces of red and gray from the rock carried upward. + +A great boulder, weighing many tons, was hurled high in the air to fall +into the steam cloud. The great rift in the volcano widened, and the +molten lava was visible until steam rose again. + +Under the steam cloud was an inferno, but it was only occasionally +visible as the wind tore rents in the vapor. The noise must be +deafening, Rick knew, but only a low rumble and an occasional hissing +could be heard in the plane. + +"Well," Hartson Brant said wearily, "it worked." + +Governor Luis Montoya spoke gently. "Yes, my friend. It did indeed work. +And it has saved our island. I doubt that a single life was lost, thanks +to you and your associates." + +"We'd better be sure." The scientist smiled. "Rick, suppose you fly us +around the island?" + +"Yes, sir." Rick instantly swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course +that would take them past the erupting volcano and on to the north. He +kept well out to sea, because now and then he could see big rocks flying +through the air as the volcano spouted. + +Only the immediate area was affected. The new outlet was about a half +mile wide, stretching from sea level and possibly below, to about a +quarter mile up the slope. Beyond the crater San Luz seemed normal, +although Rick knew there were no human beings in the area. + +Not until he passed Redondo did signs of life appear, and then the beach +became black with people. The wave of humanity extended inward to the +slopes of El Viejo and along the beach to Calor. Past Calor, at the +airport, troops not needed on the perimeter waited for their planes. +Already there were planes landing. + +Rick completed the circuit of the island, then on impulse moved past the +volcano and took a good look at where the diamond pipe had been. A +momentary wind blew the area clear long enough for him to glimpse +white-hot lava. + +"Well," he remarked, "there go Connel's diamonds. Either buried, or +burned." + +"Cheer up," Scotty said with a grin. "Maybe El Viejo is making some new +ones." + +Governor Montoya added the final word. "I hope not. But if so, I can +only hope they will not be discovered just before the next eruption!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A Few Souvenirs + + +San Luz settled back to normal in an astonishingly short time, a tribute +to the calm nerves of the population. Within recorded island history, +the discovery of diamonds was the sole event that seemed to have excited +most of the islanders. + +The troops left on MATS planes. The ships withdrew, except for two +oceanographic ships sent hurriedly by Columbia University and Woods Hole +Oceanographic Institute. Aboard were not only oceanographers, but marine +biologists experienced in radiation physics. They would keep track of +events in the sea for many months. + +The scientific population of the Hot Springs Hotel did not decrease +appreciably. The combination of advance warning of eruption, a nuclear +explosion, and the eruption itself provided data never before +obtainable. The scientists intended to make the most of it. + +The courts of San Luz went into operation again. Guevara was charged +with treason, Connel with attempted murder. The boys gave +depositions--sworn testimony--to the government attorneys. But Ruiz +would be his own best witness. The doctor promised that he would be able +to testify by the time the case came to trial. + +At a dinner for the Spindrift scientists, the governor presented +certificates of appreciation to each one of the party, including the +boys. Then he made a short speech. + +"I could thank you, but words are inadequate in the face of the deed. An +island and its people have been saved. You did this. What more is there +that can be said? We will not forget. Already, with the help of my good +friend Esteben Balgos, we are planning to erect a permanent volcanic +observatory and laboratory in which scientists can work and learn from +El Viejo. I do not ask your permission--I merely inform you that it is +to be called Spindrift Memorial Laboratory." + +The scientists murmured in protest, but the governor held up his hand. +"I know you do not approve. I do not ask you to. It is accomplished. +Also, we will have a small but imperishable plaque over the door. It +will say simply: 'This laboratory is dedicated to the scientists of the +Spindrift Scientific Foundation. They saved San Luz.' Your names will be +listed." + +The governor was adamant. He said with a twinkle that the scientists +could make representations through formal diplomatic channels to the +governments of Venezuela, Colombia, and Great Britain if they wished, +but so far as he was concerned, the matter was closed. + +It was Rick who changed the subject. He reached into his pocket and drew +out the handful of diamonds that he had carried there since the day he +found out what they were. + +"We have to give these back," he said. "I picked them up, but we have no +more right to them than Connel or Guevara. It wasn't a legal mining +claim, I guess." + +Governor Montoya shook his head. "Rick, who will ever know how many +diamonds were found? Already I hear of several huge crystals among the +people. We have confiscated several times that amount from Guevara and +Connel. Should we penalize you for being honest? I think not. You found +them, and in the finding you were instrumental in saving the island. +They are yours." + +Again the governor was adamant. He simply stated that the matter was +settled, and that was that. + +"Then they're not mine," Rick said finally. "They belong to all of us, +share and share alike. I happened to be the one who picked them up, but +we were all involved with El Viejo, so we share equally. Of course we're +not sure there's anything to share. These may be only of industrial +grade." + +As it happened, Rick was wrong. The diamonds were, for the most part, of +gem grade. Even after paying import duty, they were bought at a handsome +price, uncut, by one of New York's leading diamond importers. + +It was quite a handful of souvenirs, even though the proceeds were +divided equally among the entire Spindrift group, including Honorario +and Ruiz. Most of Rick's share went into his education fund, but he kept +enough out to buy gifts for his mother, Barby, and Jan Miller. And he +kept out enough to buy something he had long wanted ... something that +was to lead him into another adventure-mystery, a story to be told in +THE FLYING STINGAREE. + + + + +_The_ RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE _Stories_ + +BY JOHN BLAINE + +[Illustration] + +Rick Brant is the boy who with his pal Scotty lives on an island called +Spindrift and takes part in so many thrilling adventures and baffling +mysteries involving science and electronics. You can share every one of +these adventures in the pages of Rick's books. They are available at +your book store in handsome, low-priced editions. + + THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + THE LOST CITY + SEA GOLD + 100 FATHOMS UNDER + THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + THE PHANTOM SHARK + SMUGGLERS' REEF + THE CAVES OF FEAR + STAIRWAY TO DANGER + THE GOLDEN SKULL + THE WAILING OCTOPUS + THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + THE SCARLET LAKE MYSTERY + THE PIRATES OF SHAN + THE BLUE GHOST MYSTERY + THE EGYPTIAN CAT MYSTERY + THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Flaming Mountain, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 32038-8.txt or 32038-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/0/3/32038/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Flaming Mountain + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + +Release Date: April 18, 2010 [EBook #32038] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN</h1> + +<h3>A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY</h3> + +<h2>BY JOHN BLAINE</h2> + + +<h4>GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS<br /> +NEW YORK, N. Y.<br /> +1962</h4> + +<h4>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</h4> + +<h4><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Rick swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course that +would take them past the volcano</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + +<blockquote><h4><i>THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN</i></h4> + +<p>Rock, melting like butter on a hot stove! It is hard to believe, +but that is what happens on San Luz, a small island off the coast +of South America. When Rick Brant and his pal Dan Scott fly to the +famous resort island to join Rick's father, head of the Spindrift +Scientific Foundation, a seemingly inactive volcano is about to +explode in an eruption which could easily blow San Luz off the map.</p> + +<p>The immediate threat is to a small town at the foot of the volcano, +where the air reeks with the fumes of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur +dioxide, and it is here that Rick and Scotty help Dr. Brant and his +scientist associates set up headquarters, in the hope of finding a +way of controlling an eruption that is growing into a certainty +with fantastic speed.</p> + +<p>But their efforts to save the island town are hindered by the +superior forces of nature, the superstitious fatalism of the +people—and sabotage!</p> + +<p>With the earth opening up all around them, Rick, Scotty, and the +scientists have little hope of preventing a catastrophe, until a +decision is made to unleash the awesome power of atomic energy in a +desperate last attempt to fight the volcanic eruption.</p> + +<p>Jam-packed with excitement and swift, tense action, <i>The Flaming +Mountain</i> has all the elements that have made the Rick Brant +Science Adventure series a favorite with boys all over the world.</p></blockquote> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="map" id="map"></a> +<img src="images/map.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>Spindrift Island</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Contents</h2> + + + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">Vulcan's Hammer</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">San Luz</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">Firing Parties</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">Seismic Tracings</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Dynamite Missing</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">Dangerous Trail</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">Casa Guevara</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">The Governor Vanishes</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">The Yellow Ground</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">The Volcanic Pipe</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">Earthquake!</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">The Rising Magma</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">Armed Revolt</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">Night Patrol</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Stalemate</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">The Brant Approach</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">Solution: Nuclear</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">The Seabees</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">The Old One Yields</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">A Few Souvenirs</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#The_Rick_Brant_Science-adventure_Stories">The Rick Brant Science-adventure Stories</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + + +<p><a href="#illus1"><i>Rick swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course that would take them +past the volcano</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#map"><i>Spindrift Island</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#map2"><i>Rick and Scotty's scale model of San Luz Island</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2"><i>Connel was alone in the jeep</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3"><i>The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked away</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4"><i>"They're shooting at us!" Rick exclaimed, and gave the plane the gun</i></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>Vulcan's Hammer</h3> + + +<p>The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation +gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on +the southeast corner of Spindrift Island. It was unusual for the whole +staff to be called to a meeting. Even more unusual—not a single member +knew what the meeting was about.</p> + +<p>Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson +Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists. +His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions. "Rick, I +want you and Scotty to make a scale model of San Luz Island. It's off +the coast of Venezuela. You'll find it on the sailing chart of the area, +and there are references in the library. Be as complete and detailed as +possible, and have the model ready by Saturday. Pick me up at Newark +Airport Saturday noon. I'll have a guest. Ask Hobart Zircon to call a +full staff meeting for two o'clock Saturday."</p> + +<p>Rick and his pal Don Scott had completed the model, which was now +resting on a table at the front of the lab conference room. One hour ago +he had flown with Scotty in his plane, the Sky Wagon, to Newark Airport +where he had picked up his father and a short, white-haired elderly man +by the name of Dr. Esteben Balgos.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="map2" id="map2"></a> +<img src="images/map2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Rick and Scotty's scale model of San Luz Island</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Rick, a teen-aged version of his long-legged, athletic father, was +consumed with curiosity. He could tell that the scientist was deeply +concerned over something. It seemed likely Dr. Balgos was at least +involved in that concern, if not the actual cause. But Rick still knew +of nothing that would relate Spindrift Island off the coast of New +Jersey to San Luz, an island off the coast of northern South America.</p> + +<p>The Spindrift scientists were gathering, pausing to examine the model on +the table before they took their seats. Hobart Zircon, the huge, bearded +senior physicist and associate director of the Foundation, looked at the +model in company with Tony Briotti, the youthful staff archaeologist. +Dr. Howard Shannon, chief biologist, came in with Julius Weiss, the +famous mathematical physicist.</p> + +<p>A slender, attractive dark-haired girl, Rick's own age, moved through +the crowd to his side. He gave her a smile of welcome. Jan Miller was +the daughter of one of the staff physicists, Dr. Walter Miller.</p> + +<p>"What's all this about, Rick?" Jan asked. "And where are Barby and +Scotty?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew what it's all about," Rick replied. "Barby and Scotty are +at the house with Dad's guest, a Dr. Esteben Balgos. We picked Dad and +Balgos up at Newark an hour ago. They'll be over in a few minutes." Rick +had come to the lab ahead of the others to be sure there were sufficient +chairs set up and that the model was in position on the table.</p> + +<p>"You must have some idea," the girl insisted. "You and Scotty made the +model."</p> + +<p>"Sure we did. But we don't know why. Dad called from the University of +Florida and gave instructions, and I didn't have a chance to ask any +questions."</p> + +<p>"It must be important," Jan commented. "The whole staff hasn't been +together since Christmas."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. That had been a social occasion, not business, and on the +day after Christmas he, Scotty, and Dr. Parnell Winston had taken off +for Cairo where they had become involved in intrigue and a major +scientific mystery. The episode was now referred to as <i>The Egyptian Cat +Mystery</i>. The boy wondered if this meeting was a beginning of something +exciting, too, and in the same instant he was sure that it was.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Barby," Jan said suddenly. "Excuse me, Rick."</p> + +<p>Barby Brant, Rick's pretty blond sister, paused in the doorway until she +saw Jan hurrying to meet her. The two girls conferred briefly, then +hurried to take seats in the exact center of the front row.</p> + +<p>It was the custom at Spindrift to include the island's young people in +staff activities, and Rick had been a part of the various projects and +discussions since he could remember. But not until Jan Miller's arrival +on the island, during the adventure of <i>The Electronic Mind Reader</i>, had +Barby bothered to attend the scientific discussions. Jan, as bright as +she was attractive, had succeeded in persuading Rick's sister that +science was not only exciting, but understandable.</p> + +<p>The buzz of talk in the room stopped as Hartson Brant and his guest +entered, followed by Scotty. The husky, dark-haired ex-Marine at once +joined Rick. The two had been close friends and constant companions +since the day Scotty joined the staff during <i>The Rocket's Shadow</i> +project. An orphan, Scotty was now a permanent member of the Spindrift +family.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant did not need to rap for attention. There was an expectant +hush as he began immediately. "Our guest today is Dr. Esteben Balgos, of +whom many of you have heard. Until his retirement a few years ago, he +was considered by his colleagues as the dean of South American +geophysicists. His primary field of interest was—and still +is—volcanology."</p> + +<p>Rick leaned forward. Volcanology, study of volcanoes. The mountain that +formed the backbone of San Luz had once been a volcano, but it had been +dead or inactive since prehistoric times. El Viejo—the Old One—was its +name. Rick wondered if it might not be the connecting link between San +Luz and Spindrift, but he couldn't yet see how.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Balgos reached me at Florida University while I was lecturing +there. We talked, and I agreed that we would examine his problem. It is +so unusual and challenging that I wanted all of you to hear what he has +to say. Rick and Scotty have built a scale model of the island to help +Dr. Balgos describe the problem to us."</p> + +<p>"So that's why we built it," Scotty whispered. "I've been wondering."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. So had he.</p> + +<p>Dr. Balgos acknowledged Hartson Brant's introduction, took a moment to +wipe his horn-rimmed spectacles, and got down to business, using a +pencil as a pointer. He spoke perfect English with a soft, musical +Spanish accent which Rick found pleasant.</p> + +<p>"This, young ladies and colleagues, is San Luz. I retired to this island +from my native Peru a few years ago, so it is now my home. Its +relationship to South America is the same as that of Bermuda to the east +coast of your country. In other words, it is an island vacation resort. +There are about 32,000 people on San Luz, engaged in caring for +tourists, in fishing, in farming bananas and cacao, and in digging and +exporting pumice."</p> + +<p>Rick knew this from his research. He hoped Dr. Balgos wouldn't linger +too long over descriptions.</p> + +<p>"The tourist facilities are along the south coast, which is one +continuous beach, starting at the main town of Calor, and running to +Redondo, a fishing village at the northern tip of the island. There are +several excellent hotels and guest homes."</p> + +<p>Dr. Balgos pointed with his pencil to a cluster of buildings at the base +of the mountain. "The location of this hotel is an exception. It is +called the Hot Springs Hotel, and it is one of our biggest. It is named +for the hot springs at the base of the mountain. You will see at once +that El Viejo—this mountain—is clearly a volcano. The presence of hot +springs at its base indicates that it is not entirely dead."</p> + +<p>Now they were getting somewhere, Rick thought.</p> + +<p>"Starting a few months ago, earthquakes in the vicinity began to +increase in frequency. Since we are on the edge of a major geological +fault, earthquakes are not at all unusual, and the increase attracted +little attention. However, I have corresponded with seismologists +throughout the area, and it is clear that the increase is due to +activity directly under our island."</p> + +<p>The Peruvian scientist held up his pencil, like a teacher addressing a +class. "I see that you consider this significant. So do I. There is one +other bit of information that is also significant. The flow from the hot +springs has changed in character. There is an occasional outpouring of +hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Also, the average temperature of +the springs has gone up several degrees."</p> + +<p>The area must smell pretty bad, Rick thought. Hydrogen sulfide was what +gave the characteristic aroma to rotten eggs, and sulfur dioxide wasn't +exactly perfume. He wasn't surprised when Dr. Balgos added that the +hotel had been virtually abandoned.</p> + +<p>"My data is not sufficient for any conclusion, but the general one that +some kind of volcanic activity is increasing. However, I'm sure most of +you depend, as I do, on intuition as well as on data. This intuition is +simply the result of years of experience. Mine tells me that El Viejo is +about to become active again."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur from the scientists.</p> + +<p>"I am aware," Balgos went on, "that this is a conclusion which cannot +yet be supported. But I am certain in my own mind that such is the case. +I do not believe the present mild activity causing the earthquakes will +subside. But more than that, I believe the activity will grow in a +particularly disastrous way."</p> + +<p>The scientist pointed to the volcano. "I have examined this cone. It is +ancient, covered with jungle growth. It is clearly stable. The crater is +filled in with compacted, weathered lava. If there should be a normal +eruption, it would have to vent through the hot springs, which is the +only active channel. Notice that the town of Calor would then be right +in line with the eruption."</p> + +<p>Rick could see it clearly. The contours of the terrain were such that a +lava flow of any magnitude would engulf the little city.</p> + +<p>"I believe the volcano will vent through the hot springs," Balgos went +on. "But my examination of the volcano leads me to expect that it will +vent with fantastic violence. The hot-springs channel is purely seepage. +There is no open vent. This means the mountain will resist the growing +forces under it until it is forced to give with great suddenness. To be +as concise as possible, what I see here is another Krakatoa."</p> + +<p>There was a concerted gasp from the assembled group. Rick felt his +scalp prickle. He had expected nothing like this. Krakatoa, he knew from +his reading, had been the greatest cataclysm in recorded history. The +volcano, in the East Indies, had blown up with enormous violence. The +island on which it was located had been literally blasted to bits; +nothing was left. Nearby islands were blazed clean. No one knew how many +people had perished instantly. The blast was felt completely around the +world, and the dust of Krakatoa had so filled the world's skies that the +weather was changed. Winters came earlier and stayed longer, until the +dust settled at last.</p> + +<p>"This is our problem," Balgos said simply. "It is made more difficult by +two things, our people and our politics. The people are superstitious +fatalists. I know them too well to expect that they will move from the +island. And where would they move? San Luz is claimed by three +countries: England, Colombia, and Venezuela. But we consider ourselves +independent. We have our own legislature. We cannot go to any one +country for help without acknowledging its sovereignty over us. We +cannot go to all three at once, because the diplomatic difficulties of +getting three nations together would take too much time. Besides, I do +not know what any nation could do. And so, I come to you, on behalf of +our governor, and of myself."</p> + +<p>There was silence when Balgos finished. Then big Hobart Zircon boomed, +"If we assume your conclusions are correct, what can be done? There is +no way of stopping a volcanic eruption, much less an explosion. Man is +helpless before such natural forces. It would be easier to stop a +hurricane than another Krakatoa."</p> + +<p>Balgos shrugged. "I agree. Yet, can we stand by and wait without even +making an attempt?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," Hartson Brant replied. "First, we must develop more +data. Dr. Balgos had said that his conclusions are based on intuition, +and not facts. I, for one, trust his intuition. But we must know the +exact situation before we can even begin to study the possibilities of +doing something."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti objected. "Even with a study, what can be done? I'm not a +physical scientist, so this is outside of my field. But I've never heard +of anyone even attempting to change the direction of a lava flow, much +less control an eruption."</p> + +<p>Dr. Balgos spread his hands expressively. "In mythology, Vulcan was the +blacksmith, the god of fire and volcanoes. We have grown too wise to +believe in myths, but we do believe in the scientific method. I come to +you, as some of its most famous practitioners. If anything can be +done—and I do not know if it can—then you are the scientific team that +can do it. If you can do nothing, then San Luz will die, violently, +under Vulcan's hammer!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>San Luz</h3> + + +<p>Rick Brant awoke slowly. For a moment he lay with eyes closed while he +tried to identify the strange odor that smote his nostrils. It was a +noxious combination of medicine, burned matches, and ancient eggs. Then +he remembered, and sat bolt upright in bed.</p> + +<p>San Luz! The smell of the hot springs burned his nose even through the +air-conditioning system. It must be awful outside, he thought. It had +been bad enough last night.</p> + +<p>He looked over to the other bed in the luxurious room and saw Scotty, +wrapped like a cocoon in sheet and blanket. For a moment he was tempted +to heave a pillow at the ex-Marine, then reconsidered. Scotty needed +sleep. Let him wake up naturally.</p> + +<p>Rick lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes. He could do with a +little more shut-eye himself. So much had happened in the past few days +that he was still spinning from the speed of it.</p> + +<p>The arrival of Dr. Esteben Balgos had upset Spindrift more thoroughly +than anything else Rick could remember. He and Scotty had sat through +hours of argument and heated debate. Jan and Barby had given up when the +scientific arguments got far beyond their ability to understand. Rick +hadn't understood much either, but he had stuck it out to the end.</p> + +<p>The conclusion was that probably nothing could be done. There was simply +no way to check the eruption of a volcano. If El Viejo was going to blow +its top, well . . . that was that. But the Spindrift Scientific +Foundation was not known for its eagerness to drop seemingly insoluble +problems, so the staff had agreed that a study should be made, at the +very least.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant had chosen Hobart Zircon and Julius Weiss to work with +him, then he had persuaded an old friend, Dr. Jeffrey Williams, to drop +his work for a short time and join the party. Dr. Williams was a noted +seismologist. From the U. S. Geological Survey, Hartson Brant had +borrowed Dr. David Riddle, a geologist with considerable experience in +volcanology.</p> + +<p>The scientific team departed at once for San Luz, leaving Rick and +Scotty to bring up the rear. The boys loaded scientific equipment into +the Sky Wagon and took off for San Luz. It took three days for the +little plane to make the trip, the longest flight of Rick's flying +career. Only once before had he flown so far over water, and then only +to the Virgin Islands. The plane had made it easily, but he and Scotty +had sweated it out.</p> + +<p>Ordinarily, Hartson Brant would have taken the boys by commercial air, +but he wanted Rick's plane on hand. Since the senior scientist did not +know what difficulties the scientists might encounter, he wanted a way +of making aerial surveys and photographs, plus ready communication with +the mainland and nearby islands.</p> + +<p>The boys had arrived early the evening before, only to be whisked to the +Executive Mansion where the governor of San Luz, the Honorable Luis +Montoya, was holding a reception for the visiting scientists.</p> + +<p>The governor, a charming little man who looked like Rick's idea of a +Spanish grandee, knew why the scientists were there, of course. But the +secret was confined to the governor himself and to Balgos. Even Jaime +Guevara, the lieutenant governor, did not know.</p> + +<p>The agreement was that the scientific group would seem to be interested +only in the hot springs. The purpose of their visit, the governor had +announced to the local press and radio, was to investigate the change in +the springs that had ruined a principal San Luz resort hotel.</p> + +<p>By ten o'clock, when the reception ended, the boys were exhausted. But +the end was not yet. They were riding in Zircon's jeep—five jeeps had +been assigned to the party by the governor—and Zircon had to meet the +last member of the party, Bradley Connel, a geologist borrowed from an +oil company in Caracas, Venezuela, by Dr. Balgos.</p> + +<p>It was nearly midnight before the boys got to sleep, after nearly three +days with minimum rest. So, both were tired. In the middle of thinking +how tired he was, Rick dropped off to sleep again.</p> + +<p>He awoke with Scotty's voice in his ears. "Come on, old buddy. Dad's +calling a staff meeting in fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>Rick sat up. "How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear the phone ring? Boy, you must be tired! Let's go. Time +for a quick shower and coffee. I've had mine."</p> + +<p>Rick saw that a breakfast tray was on a bedside table. He had slept +through Scotty's arising, shower, and delivery of breakfast. He shook +his head, still groggy.</p> + +<p>A quick shower woke him up. He sipped coffee and ate toast while getting +into his clothes, then the two hurried down the corridor of the luxury +hotel to the conference room Hartson Brant had taken over as +headquarters.</p> + +<p>The scientists were already there, taking seats around the room as the +boys walked in.</p> + +<p>Rick looked at the new faces. It was the first time he had seen them in +daylight. Dr. Jeffrey Williams was a plump, round-faced man with a shock +of pure-white hair. Dr. David Riddle was tall, dark, lean, and heavily +tanned. He looked like a mining engineer, or perhaps a forest ranger. +Bradley Connel was short, heavy set, with straw-colored hair and the +kind of complexion that is always sunburned and peeling so long as the +days are hot—which meant always, this close to the equator.</p> + +<p>"Let's get to work," Hartson Brant said. "It's obvious that visual +inspection is not going to tell us much. We'll have to get tracings +before we have any real idea of what's going on under us. Dave, have you +found anything of importance?"</p> + +<p>David Riddle shook his head. "It's a typical formation. Nothing unusual +about it at all. El Viejo is simply a dead volcano, its cone filled in, +and plenty of jungle on the slopes. The hot springs are just a seepage +point, as Dr. Balgos knows. So far as I can tell, they're the weakest +point, so if the mountain lets go, that is where the blowoff will come. +Of course, this could be wrong and there may be weaker channels we don't +suspect. We'll know when we start shooting."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant looked at Dr. Williams. "Anything to add, Jeff?"</p> + +<p>"Not much. I've gone over the seismic data Esteben got from the +seismologists in the area, and it's clear that the epicenter of most +recent earthquakes in the area is right under us. Something is happening +down in the earth under the mountain, but I can't say what it is. It may +be volcanism or it may be a fault shifting."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that a fault was like a great crack in the earth's structure, +but he had thought the scientists had agreed that the earthquakes were +caused by volcanic action. He asked, "Sir, doesn't the change in the +springs mean something?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, Rick," Dr. Williams answered. "We don't really know. Dr. +Balgos thinks they mean a great deal, and I have respect for his +opinions. But I'm only a seismologist. I have to depend on traces from +earthquakes, and the traces tell us nothing but the single fact that +something is going on far below."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant nodded. "The answer will depend on more data, so today +we'll start to collect it. Rick and Scotty brought apparatus, and the +governor has supplied us with dynamite and two experienced helpers, Ruiz +and Honorario."</p> + +<p>"How do we split up?" Julius Weiss asked.</p> + +<p>"Into firing and recording teams. Since we have only two recorders, we +can have only two teams for data collection. But we can have three +firing parties. Dave Riddle will work with Honorario, Brad Connel with +Ruiz, and Hobart Zircon with Rick and Scotty. Julius, you and I will +form one recording party, and Esteben and Jeff will form the other. Each +team will have a jeep. Now, if you'll all gather around this model the +boys made, we'll pick approximate locations for stations."</p> + +<p>The boys had brought the model with them. Now the group gathered around +and discussed the best locations for both firing and recording parties.</p> + +<p>Dave Riddle was assigned a station on the slope of El Viejo near the +town of Redondo on the north end of the island. Brad Connel was given a +location on the northwestern slope, and Zircon and the boys were shown a +position on the west near the place where pumice, a foamy volcanic rock, +was mined. Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss were to place one recording +station on the eastern slope of the mountain, while Dr. Williams and +Dr. Balgos were assigned a station on the northern coast.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant handed a wrist chronometer to each team leader. Each team +was also to have a transit, with which to take bearings for the purpose +of locating the stations with precision.</p> + +<p>"The hotel restaurant has packed lunches for us," Hartson Brant stated. +"If we get under way at once, we can start shooting at one o'clock. +Let's try for three shots each this afternoon. Each firing team will +move one mile in a clockwise direction between shots, and we'll need to +space the shots fifteen minutes apart. Hobart, you'll start shooting at +1:00, Brad at 1:15, Dave at 1:30. At 2:00, we'll start the cycle over +again. That should bring us all back to the hotel by suppertime."</p> + +<p>Big Hobart Zircon clapped the boys on the shoulder. "Let's get going. +Scotty, you pick up our lunches. Rick, we'll load equipment."</p> + +<p>The five jeeps were lined up outside. Rick carried out a transit, the +tripod slung over his shoulder, and found the two local helpers waiting. +Ruiz was a short, swarthy man with gleaming white teeth and a +Mexican-style sombrero. Honorario was only slightly taller, and so thin +a strong breeze would blow him away. The two San Luzians greeted him +courteously. "<i>Buenos días, señor.</i>"</p> + +<p>Rick knew enough Spanish to be equally polite. "<i>Buenos días, señores. +Cómo están ustedes?</i>"</p> + +<p>The two switched to English. Rick hoped it wasn't a reflection on his +Spanish accent, acquired at Whiteside High School the year before. "We +are well, señor," Ruiz answered, and Honorario added, "We hope you will +enjoy San Luz, señor."</p> + +<p>Rick said that he expected to enjoy it very much indeed. He wondered if +the two knew that their mountain was getting ready to blow its top. He +asked, "Do you have the dynamite, <i>amigos</i>?"</p> + +<p>"In the shed, señor. Also the caps and the detonators. If you will come, +I will show you." Ruiz gestured toward a concrete shed that stood some +distance away.</p> + +<p>"What was the shed used for?" Rick asked as they walked toward it.</p> + +<p>"It is a shed for a pump, señor. The pump is for the hotel's water, +which must be brought up the hill from Calor."</p> + +<p>In a moment Rick saw for himself. The pump was operating noisily. Along +one wall were shelves, one of which contained two cases of dynamite and +boxes of caps. On another shelf were three detonators. He selected one, +then picked out six sticks of dynamite. He handled the stuff gingerly, +even though he knew it was safe as so much soap. Dynamite, for all its +explosive power, is stable stuff, and difficult to set off by accident.</p> + +<p>The dynamite caps were much less safe, however. Each was packed +carefully in its own protective wrapping, but Rick took no chances. He +put each one in a different pocket. Then, feeling like a keg of +gunpowder with a sputtering fuse, he walked back to the jeep.</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon and Scotty came out of the hotel as he approached.</p> + +<p>"Stand back," Rick said grimly. "I may go off like the Black Tom +explosion if you touch me."</p> + +<p>Big Hobart Zircon chuckled. "Don't worry, Rick. If you do, we'll go off +with you. Would it make you happier if I carried the explosives?"</p> + +<p>Rick considered. "It doesn't matter," he said. "If the stuff goes off, +we'll all go into orbit at the same time and the jeep will go with us. +Let's go."</p> + +<p>Scotty looked at him curiously. "Where are the caps?"</p> + +<p>Rick patted his pockets one at a time. "One in each breast pocket and +one in my watch pocket. Don't push me around, buddy. I'm loaded."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "I'll keep my distance."</p> + +<p>The rest of the party was loading jeeps now, too. Scotty hoisted the +equipment and lunches into the back of the jeep and got in with them. +Rick climbed gingerly into the front passenger seat and Zircon got ready +to drive. He handed Rick a map. "You navigate. Our first destination is +marked with a cross. We start out on the road leading west from the +hotel. That will take us to the pumice works."</p> + +<p>"Okay," Rick began, but he never finished. The jeep began to rock under +him. For an insane instant he thought it must have a perfectly silent +motor, then he realized Zircon had not yet turned on the ignition +switch. Sudden dizziness made him clutch at the seat, and instinctively +he clapped an arm across his chest to protect the dynamite caps.</p> + +<p>He was vaguely conscious of yells from around him, and he struggled to +sit up straight. His stomach was churning and he felt nauseated. Zircon +let out a bellow like a wounded steer.</p> + +<p>From inside the hotel Rick heard the sudden crash of shattering glass +and gripped the jeep seat tighter with his free hand.</p> + +<p>Then, as suddenly as it had come, it was over. He straightened up, +dizzy. "Wh-what happened?" he asked shakily.</p> + +<p>He heard Dr. Balgos. "A warning, my friends. The most serious one yet." +He pointed up to where the peak of El Viejo loomed. "The Old One must be +working faster than I thought."</p> + +<p>"But what was it?" Rick asked again and at the same time was afraid that +he knew.</p> + +<p>"Earthquake," Zircon boomed. He pointed.</p> + +<p>Rick stared. In a zigzag line across the hotel parking lot was a +fissure, one that hadn't been there a minute before. The concrete gaped +in widths varying from a crack to a few inches.</p> + +<p>The earth had opened up!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>Firing Parties</h3> + + +<p>It was a shaken group of scientists that moved off in their jeeps to the +preselected stations. Most of the adults had experienced earthquakes +before, but none had seen the earth split almost at their feet. To Rick, +the sensation had been as upsetting as any he had ever experienced.</p> + +<p>"The one thing we learn to depend on," Zircon said, "is that the earth +under our feet is solid and dependable. When it shakes like a jelly, it +causes a kind of emotional shock, apart from any physical damage it may +do."</p> + +<p>"It certainly did with me," Rick agreed.</p> + +<p>"Ditto," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>Zircon put the jeep in gear and moved away from the hotel. He drove +slowly over the narrow part of the crack in the parking lot, then picked +up speed. Rick looked around. Bradley Connel and Ruiz were following in +their own vehicle.</p> + +<p>Zircon took a blacktop road to the west, close to the base of the +mountain. Fortunately for Rick's peace of mind, the road was fairly +smooth. He had never carried dynamite caps before, but he knew they +contained fulminate of mercury, which is one of the most unstable and +violent chemical substances, pound for pound, ever created.</p> + +<p>The big scientist sensed his uneasiness. "Relax, Rick. Those caps won't +go off without a substantial knock against something. Enjoy the +scenery."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "I'll try."</p> + +<p>The scenery was tropical. Once away from the hotel grounds, there was +heavy growth, vines, creepers, and broad-leafed plants. He saw palmetto +and wild banana interspersed with Judas palms and other typical +vegetation. The growth clung to the side of El Viejo like a thick green +carpet. Now and then the jeep passed an open space in the vegetation and +he saw the plains stretching away to the sea on his left.</p> + +<p>The jeep climbed gradually and Rick realized that their direction had +changed. They were now heading on the more northerly course. The +vegetation was thinner, too, and he guessed it was because they were +higher up the mountainside. At a rough estimate, the jeep had climbed +nearly a thousand feet.</p> + +<p>"Pumice quarry ahead," Zircon announced.</p> + +<p>Rick saw ramshackle wooden buildings, then piles of grayish rock. A +hundred yards farther on he saw an open pit. This was where the San +Luzians mined pumice for export.</p> + +<p>"Is there much of a market for it?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Not as much as there was years ago," Zircon replied. "Pumice, as you +probably know, is volcanic rock. But not an ordinary one. It's a kind of +foamy lava honeycombed with gas bubbles. It's used as an abrasive. +Modern industrial products have replaced it in general use, but +apparently there's still enough demand so that the San Luzians are able +to export a little. Our firing station is about a mile from here."</p> + +<p>Rick looked at the rough terrain. "Think we can get through?"</p> + +<p>"Easily. According to the map, we have an unpaved road part of the way."</p> + +<p>The unpaved road turned out to be a pair of wagon tracks. But at least +there were no trees in the way. Rick held on tight as Zircon shifted +into four-wheel drive and forged ahead.</p> + +<p>The big scientist kept an eye on his odometer, or mileage counter, while +the boys watched for a clearing. It was slightly over a mile before they +found one, and Zircon pulled off the road to let Brad Connel and Ruiz go +by.</p> + +<p>The jeep stopped as the two came abreast and the geologist called, "Want +to trade stations?"</p> + +<p>"We like this one," Zircon replied with a grin.</p> + +<p>"Don't blame you. I have another three miles through this stuff. Well, +so long."</p> + +<p>The jeep started off and was soon lost as the path curved slightly.</p> + +<p>Zircon looked at his watch. "Plenty of time, but we might as well get +ready."</p> + +<p>A few minutes search disclosed a spot far enough away from the clearing +for safety, with no trees to be uprooted by the blast. Zircon took two +of the dynamite sticks Rick carried and one of the caps. He placed the +cap over one stick and used a special tool, like a jar opener, to crimp +it into place.</p> + +<p>"This is the only really delicate part of the operation," he said. "If +the crimpers slip, they could set off the cap and the dynamite. So be +careful when you do it. Keep the crimpers low on the flange of the cap."</p> + +<p>He found a rubber band in his pocket and used it to hold the two sticks +together. A coil of wire was produced next, and the connection made to +the dynamite cap. Zircon dug a shallow hole with his heel and put the +dynamite sticks in, then backed off unwinding wire as he went.</p> + +<p>The detonator had been left in the jeep. Rick got it and carried it to +where Zircon waited with the pair of wires.</p> + +<p>"How does this thing work?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"It's a dynamo," Zircon replied. "When the handle is pushed down it +engages gears that spin a flywheel, which operates the dynamo long +enough to send an electrical charge through the wires."</p> + +<p>"So don't sit on the handle," Rick joked.</p> + +<p>"And don't kick it," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>Zircon connected the wires to a pair of terminals on top of the +detonator, then looked at his watch. "Plenty of time. We might as well +take it easy. Anyone hungry?"</p> + +<p>No one was. It was too soon after breakfast. Instead, Rick took the +opportunity to ask questions.</p> + +<p>"I can understand the general principle of what we're doing, but can you +tell us exactly what happens?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. When the dynamite charge goes off, it sends shock waves through +the earth in all directions. Whenever a shock wave strikes something of +different density, its direction and velocity change. For instance, if +there is denser rock a few hundred feet down, that will cause a change +of both velocity and direction. With me so far?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," Scotty said. "The denser the stuff the wave strikes, the +faster it moves. Like sound waves. I mean, sound moves faster in water +than in air, and faster in a steel rail than in water. Is it the same?"</p> + +<p>"Just about," Zircon agreed. "The shock waves radiate away from us, +through the earth, and eventually reach the recorders on the other side +of the mountain. You can see what happens, I think. Waves will arrive at +different times, depending on the path they took and the kind of +material they went through."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. "So if there's molten rock, or magma somewhere in the way, +the shock wave that goes through it will slow down and arrive at the +recorder later?"</p> + +<p>"That's it. The tracings we get can be analyzed to give us a kind of +cross-sectional look at the mountain. You see, we know how fast the +waves travel through different kinds of earth structure. Also, we will +know the point of the explosion and the location of the recorder for +each shot. Which reminds me. We'd better get out the equipment and +locate ourselves precisely."</p> + +<p>"How?" Rick asked. "What will we use for landmarks?"</p> + +<p>"The top of the mountain, for one, and if you'll look carefully to a +point slightly south of east between those two banana palms, you'll see +the top of the control tower at the airport."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "Good thing you're with us. I completely forgot to +watch for landmarks."</p> + +<p>"That was the first thing I had in mind in looking for a spot," Zircon +told him.</p> + +<p>The transit gave a precise angle between the two landmarks. Zircon drew +a line on the map connecting the southern tip of the mountain and the +airport tower. Then, with that as his base line, it was easy to draw two +lines at the correct angles from each of the points. The transit's +position was where the two lines intersected.</p> + +<p>By the time the scientist had finished, it was nearly one o'clock. The +three walked to the detonator. "Pull the handle up," Zircon directed. +Rick did so. "I'll count down from ten seconds. Push down on zero."</p> + +<p>It was like the countdown for a rocket firing, Rick thought. Zircon +called out the time starting at one minute, then called off the last ten +seconds. As he reached zero, Rick pushed the handle home.</p> + +<p>The dynamite went off with a roar that sent leaves and dirt flying, and +Rick felt the shock wave slam against his ears with stunning force.</p> + +<p>"Open your mouth next time," Zircon said. "I forgot to warn you." He was +already reeling in the wire. "Let's get going. One mile farther on for +the next shot."</p> + +<p>At the next station the same procedure was repeated, but before it was +time, there was a far-off explosion. Zircon looked at his watch. "Brad +Connel. Right on time." In another fifteen minutes there was an even +more distant sound as David Riddle's first shot went off. They ate their +lunch and listened to the echo off the mountain.</p> + +<p>Zircon and the boys were ready when their time came. Location this time +had been made on sightings toward the mountain, and a flagpole at Cape +San Souci on the western side of the island.</p> + +<p>The road petered out and they were forced to go cross-country to reach +the third shot station. Fortunately, Brad Connel had left a path of +crushed vegetation, so it was only necessary to follow where he had led.</p> + +<p>After the third shot, the three collected their equipment and drove back +to the hotel.</p> + +<p>They were the first back. All three were sticky from the heat, and +somewhat insect bitten. By unanimous consent they headed for the +showers.</p> + +<p>Rick dressed except for his shoes, then stretched out on his bed. He +wondered what the day's work would show. The memory of the earthquake +was still fresh, and he was anxious to see if it had come from rising +magma far below, or from some other source. He had a mental image of +white-hot rock rising sluggishly, melting a path to the surface. Now and +then the magma struck water, or gas-producing minerals, and then there +was a tightly held explosion that made the earth shudder.</p> + +<p>Well, it was probably like that, from what he had read about volcanic +action. Anyway, he could do without earthquakes. They were unnerving.</p> + +<p>Scotty finished dressing, and Rick slipped on his shoes. It was time for +the others to be back. Connel should have arrived only a few minutes +behind them, but it would take longer for the others because they had +gone around the mountain in the other direction.</p> + +<p>The boys walked to the staff conference room and found Hartson Brant and +Julius Weiss. The two were busy unrolling long strips of paper covered +with blue shadings.</p> + +<p>"Find anything yet?" Rick asked his father.</p> + +<p>"No. We're just getting ready to take a look. How did it go?"</p> + +<p>"No trouble. Zircon must still be in the shower. Probably Connel is, +too. He must have been right behind us."</p> + +<p>The scientists started poring over the traces.</p> + +<p>"Here's your first shot," Hartson Brant said. He pointed to where a +series of squiggles began. Rick could see nothing of interest. All the +pen marks looked about the same to him. It would take expert analysis to +make anything out of them.</p> + +<p>The boys left the scientists to their work and wandered out into the +parking lot. "I want to take a closer look at that crack," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Same here. Suppose it goes to China?"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned at his pal. "That's a myth. If you drilled a hole straight +down through the center of the earth from here you wouldn't come out +anywhere near China. You'd be in the Southern Hemisphere."</p> + +<p>"Don't get technical on me, boy."</p> + +<p>The crack, however, went down only about three feet, gradually narrowing +until it was closed. Even so, it was impressive. Rick knew that the +actual break must continue down into the earth for some distance, +perhaps for hundreds of feet. The force it took to shake the earth like +that was awesome. Again he was reminded sharply of the kind of forces +against which the Spindrift group was trying to contend, and he felt for +the first time that the job was completely hopeless. What could mere men +do?</p> + +<p>A horn honking wildly brought him to quick attention. He turned and saw +a jeep coming along the western road into the parking lot. Brad Connel! +But where was Ruiz? Then, as the jeep neared, Rick saw. The San Luzian +was lashed to an improvised stretcher lying across the back of the jeep!</p> + +<p>The geologist drew to a stop, his face chalky.</p> + +<p>"Get a doctor!" he shouted. "Quickly! Ruiz got caught in the last +explosion. I think he's dead!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>Seismic Tracings</h3> + + +<p>Ruiz, the short, friendly San Luzian, was not dead, but he was only +barely alive. Within a half hour he was on his way to the hospital at +Calor, crushed and unconscious.</p> + +<p>Brad Connel was badly shaken. "I thought he was behind me," the +geologist explained. "But he had gone back to check the cap connection. +At least, that's what he must have gone back for. I fired, then turned +around, and he wasn't there. He was blown fifty feet at least. If only I +had checked! But he was there with me, and I just kept my eye on the +chronometer. He didn't say anything. He just walked off."</p> + +<p>There was nothing much to be said. It was the kind of accident that +seems absolutely senseless. Both Connel and Ruiz were old hands with +explosives, yet the San Luzian apparently had wandered back to the +charge just as it went off.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty walked toward the hot springs behind the hotel and +talked it over.</p> + +<p>"Pretty stupid thing for anyone to do," Scotty said soberly.</p> + +<p>Rick agreed. "Especially an old hand. Ruiz was supposed to be +experienced, but I can't imagine how a veteran could pull a stunt like +that."</p> + +<p>It made absolutely no sense. Ruiz spoke English. Rick knew that from his +conversation with the San Luzian. So he must have known Connel was +counting down, getting ready to push the plunger home. Why would he walk +into the blast, unless he was tired of living? But he didn't believe +Ruiz would try to get himself killed deliberately. The little San Luzian +had seemed like a sane, happy individual.</p> + +<p>Rick gave up. Maybe when Connel calmed down a little he could shed more +light on the accident. "The smell from the springs is getting pretty +strong," Scotty remarked.</p> + +<p>It certainly was. The wind had been from the hotel toward the hot +springs most of the day, and the odor hadn't been bad. Now, in the +vicinity of the springs, it was making Rick's eyes water and his nose +smart.</p> + +<p>"Think we can get close enough for a look?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"We can try. There's the building ahead."</p> + +<p>A cement walk led from the hotel to the springs, rising up a gradual +incline that was not too steep for wheel chairs, or for the elderly. The +boys had heard that many invalids had come here, to bathe in the hot +springs, to drink the mineral water, and to soak in warm mud.</p> + +<p>"How'd you like a nice hot mud bath?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "Can't say it appeals to me, but there must be something +to it. There are mud baths and hot springs in Europe, too. With plenty +of customers."</p> + +<p>Rick took out his handkerchief and dried eyes that were watering from +the fumes. He doubted that the gases were good for them, but he was +curious. He wanted to see where the volcano would blow its top, if it +was going to.</p> + +<p>In spite of the irritating fumes, they persisted and got a quick look at +the former health area. There was a series of pools for bathers, ranging +from big ones for large groups to individual tublike affairs, all nicely +tiled. There was one area of mud baths. Rick had an impression of two +areas, one of bubbling mud, the other of steaming water. It was enough. +The boys turned and got out of there.</p> + +<p>Back at the hotel, the scientists were working. All were present, except +for Brad Connel, who had asked to be excused. He was in his room, +apparently still badly upset over the accident.</p> + +<p>Dr. Jeffrey Williams had obtained a large sheet of paper and had +sketched an outline of the volcano and the earth under it as seen in +cross section. As Hartson Brant read off data from the day's tracings, +Dr. Williams plotted points far underground. Now and then he connected +points, or put in a light line.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty watched with interest. The tracings meant nothing to +them; analysis was a job for trained scientists. But Dr. Williams was +slowly producing a picture on the paper.</p> + +<p>"That's all," Hartson Brant said finally. "How does it look, Jeff?"</p> + +<p>The seismologist shook his head. "Not good." He held his pencil almost +flat to the paper and began shading in an area bounded by the points he +had made. "According to what we have, this is the shape of a magma +front." He drew in other lines, rising vertically through the earth into +the volcano. "Apparently these discontinuities indicate old channels, +now filled in. Notice that the magma is not following the original +channels. This seems to confirm what Esteben has been telling us."</p> + +<p>The volcanologist nodded. "It seems to. Jeff, do you have any doubt +about this area being magma?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not. The data fits. Of course it's still pretty far below +the surface."</p> + +<p>Rick could see that the ominous shading was nearly twice as far +underground as the top of the volcano was above sea level.</p> + +<p>Julius Weiss spoke up. "The next step is to find out how fast the magma +is rising."</p> + +<p>"A series of shots every day for the next few days should tell us that," +Hartson Brant agreed. "Hobart, you've been pretty quiet. Any comments?"</p> + +<p>"None of any importance," the big physicist boomed. "Only this: what can +we possibly do about a situation like this?"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant shrugged. "I don't know. At least we can keep track of the +magma."</p> + +<p>David Riddle, the geologist, added, "It will allow time to warn the +population. I can see no other means of saving them except to get them +off the island."</p> + +<p>Rick had reached the same conclusion. It didn't take a scientist to +realize the gravity of the situation. El Viejo was getting ready for +something big, unless the magma subsided. Since no one was really sure +about the physics of volcanology, no one had a good guess why the +volcanic action had begun again. No one could be sure it would not +decrease, either.</p> + +<p>"This picture is pretty rough," Dr. Williams said. "I'll refine it a +little after dinner, Hartson. It will give us a better basis for +plotting tomorrow's results."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," Hartson Brant agreed. "And speaking of dinner, it's about +time. Let's wash up and meet in the dining room in a half hour."</p> + +<p>"Better call Brad Connel," Zircon said. "I know how upset he must be, +but it will be better if he joins us and eats something."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty returned to their room and washed for dinner. Both were +quiet. The appearance of the magma under them, almost like a mushroom +cloud in shape, was pretty ominous. Like sitting on a volcano, Rick +thought. It was the most appropriate expression he could think of. No +wonder the earth had split.</p> + +<p>Scotty mused aloud. "Rock. Melting like butter on a stove. Thousands of +tons of it. Makes you appreciate natural forces, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Even hydrogen bombs are pretty feeble by comparison," Rick agreed. "It +makes me uneasy to think of all that stuff boiling up under us."</p> + +<p>"I caught myself looking down a couple of times," Scotty said with a +grin. "I wouldn't be surprised to see steam coming up through the rug."</p> + +<p>Rick consulted his watch. "Maybe food will make us feel better. Come on. +It's about time."</p> + +<p>The scientific party was alone in the hotel, except for a reduced staff. +The governor had made arrangements for the hotel to operate so that the +visitors could have service. Rick almost wished they had stayed at a +beach hotel with other people around them. The huge resort was like an +abandoned city, with a few ghosts left in it.</p> + +<p>They walked through the conference room on their way into dinner and +found Connel looking over the sketch Williams had made. He looked up as +they entered and greeted them casually.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Rick, Scotty. I see we do have magma below us."</p> + +<p>"That's what Dr. Williams said," Rick agreed. "How do you feel, Mr. +Connel?"</p> + +<p>The geologist shrugged. "How can I feel? Ruiz was—is—a nice little +guy. I still don't know what happened, why he should walk back to the +charge. I was concentrating on getting the charge off on time, and there +was no reason for him to go back."</p> + +<p>"You said he went to check the cap connection," Scotty reminded.</p> + +<p>"It's the only reason I can think of, and it isn't a very good one. He +made the connection himself. Maybe he wanted another quick look."</p> + +<p>The geologist transferred his attention back to the sketch. "The stuff +is still pretty far down. Good thing, too. That will give time for +evacuating the island. We've probably got several months yet."</p> + +<p>The subject wasn't brought up during dinner, but over coffee Esteben +Balgos commented, "We must keep the governor informed. Jeff, if you will +lend me your sketch, I'll take it to the Executive Mansion first thing +in the morning and bring it back before we begin shooting. I think the +governor will want to start planning for evacuation, if he has not yet +done so."</p> + +<p>Williams nodded. "Help yourself, Esteben. I'll probably have the sketch +in my room. Knock on the door in the morning if you want it."</p> + +<p>The talk turned to heat-transfer mechanisms in the earth, and from there +to the whole problem of solar-energy input and outflow. The subject was +not one in which Rick had any background, and it wasn't long before he +lost interest. Besides, he was still tired from the trip, and the day's +events had added their own burden of fatigue.</p> + +<p>Scotty yawned, and Rick took the opportunity to suggest, "Let's go to +bed."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you."</p> + +<p>The boys excused themselves and in a short time were settled down for +the night. Rick fell asleep almost instantly.</p> + +<p>He awoke with Scotty shouting in his ear. "Let's go, Rick! Trouble!"</p> + +<p>Rick was on his feet, into trousers and shoes before he was fully awake. +Scotty had already dashed into the corridor. Rick joined him and the +rest of the scientists, who were standing in a group in front of Jeffrey +Williams' room. The white-haired scientist was holding a handkerchief to +a bloody bruise on his head. Rick hurried up just in time to hear him +tell the group:</p> + +<p>"I don't know what happened. My door wasn't locked, so anyone could have +come in. I didn't see a soul. I must have dozed off."</p> + +<p>"What's going on?" Rick demanded.</p> + +<p>His father answered. "Someone came into Jeff's room and slugged him, +apparently while he was dozing over the tracings. Both the tracings and +the sketch are gone!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>Dynamite Missing</h3> + + +<p>"There's only one reason I can think of why anyone would want to steal +the tracings," Rick said. He held on for a moment as Zircon steered the +jeep over a bump in the trail. "If word has leaked out about why we're +really here, maybe someone in the tourist business would steal the +evidence to keep business from being ruined."</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up from the rear seat. "There's one big fat flaw in that +argument, boy. Would anyone care so much about business that he'd want +to stay and be blown up? Who thinks more of business than he does of his +own skin?"</p> + +<p>Zircon chuckled. "There may be such people, but I suspect they're +scarce."</p> + +<p>Rick had to agree. He stared through the windshield at the tail of Brad +Connel's jeep. The geologist was leading the way to the firing area, and +he was alone. Hartson Brant had tried to assign one of the boys as a +helper, but Connel had balked. He insisted that he did not need a +helper, that he was used to handling charges alone, that he did not want +to take the risk of an accident like that of yesterday.</p> + +<p>"Connel was pretty determined to go it alone," Rick remarked.</p> + +<p>"He's upset over the accident to Ruiz," Zircon pointed out. "He probably +feels bad because he couldn't see Ruiz when he visited the hospital."</p> + +<p>Connel had gone into town with Dr. Balgos, and had paid a call at the +Executive Mansion. While Balgos talked with Governor Montoya, recreating +the stolen sketch from memory, Connel had been taken to the hospital by +Lieutenant Governor Jaime Guevara. The hospital reported that Ruiz was +on the danger list, his condition unchanged. He could have no visitors. +Apparently both Guevara and Governor Montoya had tried to assure Connel +that he should not be so depressed over what was obviously a freak +accident.</p> + +<p>The trio stopped at their first station, and Connel waved, then +continued on his way. Rick watched him out of sight, then turned to go +to work. He remembered what the geologist had said the night before.</p> + +<p>"Connel figures we have months before the volcano blows," he remembered.</p> + +<p>"What?" Zircon looked up sharply. "How did he arrive at that +conclusion?"</p> + +<p>"From Dr. Williams' sketch."</p> + +<p>"Hmmm." The big scientist checked the detonator thoughtfully. "He must +have figured on a straight upward flow of the magma. But from the shape +of the magma front, I think it's highly unlikely that it will progress +in any such regular fashion. Instead, the front probably will increase +erratically, but in a kind of progression. It may double its frontage at +approximately regular periods."</p> + +<p>Scotty scratched his chin. "Double its frontage, huh? What does that +mean?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe four hundred square feet today, eight hundred tomorrow, and +sixteen hundred the day after. We won't know the rate of growth, or the +time scale, until we've watched it for a while. But I talked with Balgos +and Hartson last night at some length, and their opinion is that we +probably have a couple of weeks, maybe even three or four. But not +months."</p> + +<p>Rick whistled. "That fast? When will we be sure?"</p> + +<p>Zircon shrugged. "Can't tell. We'll keep shooting on a daily schedule, +and perhaps in three or four days we'll see enough growth in the front +to make an estimate. But even that can be misleading. If the magma +strikes a softer area, it can grow even more rapidly. Our best bet will +be to keep a daily watch from now on."</p> + +<p>Rick looked up at the extinct cone of El Viejo. In his imagination he +saw the top blow off in an earth-shaking explosion and millions of tons +of white-hot lava spurt high in the air. Then, when the lava came +down ...</p> + +<p>"We'd better get on the ball," he said. "Almost time for our first +shot."</p> + +<p>"Want to connect up?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>"I guess so." Rick had never handled dynamite before, but there was no +time like the present to get started. He took sticks from his pocket, +then a cap. Zircon handed him the crimping tool. He put a cap in place; +then, with infinite care, put the crimping tool in position. He took a +deep breath and squeezed. Nothing happened, except that the cap was now +held tightly.</p> + +<p>Rick let his breath out and grinned. Zircon and Scotty grinned back.</p> + +<p>"When you get real salty," Scotty said, "you'll crimp the caps on with +your teeth."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" Rick said. "And blow my head off?"</p> + +<p>"It's possible," Zircon agreed. "It has happened. My advice is, don't +try it. I've seen men do it, but it always gives me the shudders. Come +on. Let's plant the charge and lay the wire."</p> + +<p>The shots went off on schedule, and the party returned to the hotel. +Later, in analyzing the shots and making a new sketch, Jeffrey Williams +thought the magma front had grown slightly from the previous day, but +since the first tracings were gone, there was no way of being sure.</p> + +<p>David Riddle and Brad Connel walked in as he finished. The two, using +respirators, had been to inspect the hot-springs area.</p> + +<p>"Nothing new," Riddle reported. "The only sign of activity is a fresh +outpouring of hydrogen sulfide. It's bubbling up through the mud, and it +could be a pocket of gas that was suddenly released. The springs won't +tell us much."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant said thoughtfully, "I'm afraid you're right, Dave. +Nothing for it but to keep shooting. And we'll lock up the papers at +night, so we can keep track of what's going on. One thing we'd better do +is start a survey of the entire cone, above the level where our shots +give us information. I'd like to be sure we're not overlooking any new +gaps or fissures in the mountain itself. But can we do it with the +manpower we have available and still keep shooting?"</p> + +<p>Rick spoke up. "I know how we can help, Dad. Scotty and I can handle our +stations alone now. That will leave Dr. Zircon free for other things. +Then, if we change stations with Brad Connel, and he takes the closer +ones, he can get back a good hour earlier and do other work."</p> + +<p>"No!" Brad Connel exploded.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant and the other scientists looked at him with surprise. "Why +not?" Dr. Brant asked. "It seems like a sensible suggestion, Brad."</p> + +<p>"It is," Connel said hurriedly. "It's just that ... well, maybe I'm +still too upset over that accident, but I know the terrain now, and +these kids don't. They should stick to the stations where they've been +operating, and I'll handle my own. It's just that I don't want any risks +whatever. My own part of the mountain is a lot rougher, and they'd be +carrying dynamite and caps over pretty bouncy trails. I don't like it. I +think we should stick to our own stations."</p> + +<p>The geologist obviously felt strongly about it, and Hartson Brant +agreed. "Since you feel that way, Brad, we'll let things go as they are. +Hobart, can the boys handle the shots?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," Zircon stated. "As long as Rick doesn't crimp caps with his +teeth. Of course if he does we'll still get a reading, but we may lose +Rick."</p> + +<p>"No danger," Rick retorted. "Besides, you wouldn't get a reading because +the shot wouldn't be timed right."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant saw that the big scientist was joking. "If Rick feels +adventurous he can kick mountain lions for sport instead. I'm told there +are some on the mountain."</p> + +<p>"Jaguars," Dr. Balgos offered. "Not your typical North American cats. +These are much fiercer. They react faster to a kick—if you can get +close enough to kick one."</p> + +<p>Brad Connel laughed heartily. "The boys can lure 'em with catnip," he +said.</p> + +<p>Rick glanced at the geologist. The laugh hadn't rung true.</p> + +<p>"I suggest we also save time by shooting in the early morning," Hartson +Brant added. "That will leave the afternoon for other activities. Jeff, +if you can manage to keep your head out of the way of blunt instruments, +perhaps you'd like to make a better sketch of the magma front. We can +assign the boys as guards, if you like."</p> + +<p>Dr. Williams caressed the bruise on his head. "Not necessary, Hartson. +I'll lock my door and keep my face toward the window. But for now, how +about dinner?"</p> + +<p>There was no disagreement.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Rick and Scotty lingered over coffee with Dr. Balgos, +Julius Weiss, and Hartson Brant. The others had excused themselves and +gone back to their rooms. The boys were trying to learn more about +volcanoes, but the scientists had a tendency to get involved in +discussions of some of the finer points of geophysics and long minutes +would pass before Rick or Scotty could bring them back to the main point +with a question.</p> + +<p>In the midst of an interesting discussion of the Hawaiian volcanoes by +Dr. Balgos, Honorario burst into the dining room and hurried to the +Peruvian scientist. Rick couldn't follow the rapid Spanish, but Balgos +jumped to his feet, his face white, and translated swiftly.</p> + +<p>"Honorario says all the dynamite is gone!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>Dangerous Trail</h3> + + +<p>The search for the missing dynamite had failed completely. Rick, Scotty, +and the scientists were equally puzzled. Why steal dynamite? What was +there to be gained?</p> + +<p>At a conference early the following morning Hartson Brant voiced the +question.</p> + +<p>Julius Weiss was the first to respond, and his answer was another +question. "What was to be gained by stealing the tracings and Jeff's +sketch? Isn't the theft of the dynamite in the same category?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is," Hartson Brant agreed. "I see no motive whatever for +either theft. After all, it was simple enough to make additional +tracings, and it will not be difficult to obtain more dynamite. So I go +back to my original question. What is to be gained by the theft?"</p> + +<p>"Dynamite has some value," Zircon boomed.</p> + +<p>"To be sure. But the tracings had none, except to us."</p> + +<p>Rick said what had been on his mind. "Both thefts resulted in only one +thing . . . delay. The tracings put us a day behind, and the dynamite +might delay us even longer. It depends on how fast we can get more."</p> + +<p>"Maybe Rick has something there," David Riddle said. "But who gains from +a delay in the project?"</p> + +<p>"No one," Brad Connel said testily. "I think we're looking for a motive +that doesn't exist. The tracings probably were stolen by someone on the +hotel staff, because they looked important. Maybe the thief thought they +could be sold. Certainly the dynamite can be sold. What motive do we +need other than the usual profit a thief expects?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps none," Hartson Brant admitted. "The question is, what now? We +can proceed no further without explosives."</p> + +<p>"I will go to the governor and see if he can obtain more for us," +Esteben Balgos announced. "If he has none here on San Luz, there are +other islands close by. A few telephone calls will locate a supply."</p> + +<p>"Fine. And while you're doing that, there is little the rest of us can +do except relax. Will you let us know by telephone what the governor +says?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, at once. Any of you care to go with me?"</p> + +<p>Williams and Riddle volunteered to go along. Weiss announced that he +wanted to make some calculations and asked Hartson Brant and Zircon to +help him.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty, left on their own, considered the possibilities for +amusement and found none except the ocean itself—which was plenty. +They decided on a swim and hurried back to their room to put on trunks +under their slacks. Zircon readily gave permission to use the jeep.</p> + +<p>As they changed clothes, a jeep motor roared into life. Scotty walked to +the window and opened the draperies. "Balgos and the others," he +announced.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later another jeep motor started up. Rick went to the +window and was just in time to see Brad Connel start across the parking +lot in his jeep. He was alone.</p> + +<p>The boy turned away from the window, very thoughtful. "That was Connel. +Wonder where he's going?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe to Calor, for shopping or sightseeing," Scotty replied. "What's +on your mind?"</p> + +<p>"He worries me," Rick said bluntly. "I don't really know why. Only he's +certainly determined to keep us away from his firing stations, isn't +he?"</p> + +<p>"Go on. Something's biting you, and I want to know what it is."</p> + +<p>Rick stared at his dark-haired pal without really seeing him. He +struggled to put into words the vague thoughts in the back of his mind.</p> + +<p>"Well, he acted worried about Ruiz, but I don't really think he was. It +was kind of overdone, you know? His face didn't match his words."</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "You're on thin ice, boy. People don't react to +accidents in a standard way. It might have been overdone, but it might +not, too. What else?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't want us to go along as helpers after Ruiz was hurt. I know +that doesn't mean much, and he said he was just afraid of another +accident, but wouldn't you think he'd like some company? Besides, two +accidents like that just don't happen. Then, when we suggested changing +stations so he could have more time to work on other things, he yelled +pretty fast."</p> + +<p>"Because we don't know his terrain," Scotty pointed out. "At least +that's what he said."</p> + +<p>"Sure. But what's to know about the terrain? All we'd have to do would +be to follow his jeep tracks, and shoot where the ground is already torn +up from his earlier shots. If it's safe for him to carry caps and +dynamite, it's safe for us."</p> + +<p>Scotty scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I see what you mean. But the +evidence isn't very conclusive, is it?"</p> + +<p>"No," Rick admitted. "Only where's he going now? If he planned to go to +town, he'd invite anyone who wanted to go, wouldn't he? That's what most +people would do."</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "One thing I like about you. When you get a notion in +that noggin, it doesn't come out easily. Next you'll be suggesting that +he slugged Williams and stole the dynamite."</p> + +<p>"He could have," Rick pointed out. "Apparently he was alone in his room +both times. At least no one said he was with them."</p> + +<p>Scotty held up his hands in surrender. "Okay. What do we do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Let's see where he's going."</p> + +<p>"I knew it," Scotty said resignedly. "Okay. But we'd better hurry."</p> + +<p>There was a clear view from the front of the hotel down the slopes of +the foothills to the town of Calor. The road wound around and +occasionally vanished from sight in clumps of green growth, but the boys +watched for several minutes and saw no sign of Connel. The jeep with +Balgos and the others was rolling along in the distance, but it was +still close enough to see three occupants.</p> + +<p>"He didn't go to town," Rick said finally, "and there's only one other +road out of here."</p> + +<p>"To the shot stations," Scotty agreed. "Unless he cut off and headed for +San Souci." That was a little fishing village on the west coast. Neither +boy had been there, but they had used a flagpole on the tip of the cape +near the town as a sighting marker.</p> + +<p>"Let's go see," Rick suggested.</p> + +<p>They hurried through the hotel to the parking lot and got into the jeep. +Rick started the vehicle, crossed the fissure in the lot, and took the +road west. According to the map, the road was paved as far as the pumice +works. Beyond that it was graded dirt. If Connel had taken the dirt +road, instead of the trail to the shot stations, they should see dust.</p> + +<p>He kept the jeep rolling at good speed as far as the pumice-works +shacks, then stopped to look for signs of a dust haze. There was none. +At the end of the blacktop, he and Scotty got out and examined the road +surface. There were signs of traffic, but none very recent so far as +they could tell. Rick drove the jeep a few hundred yards along the road, +then got out and looked again. The heavy treads of his vehicle were +clearly visible in the dust. If Connel had gone this way, he would have +left similar marks.</p> + +<p>"He took the trail," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. "Looks like it. Do we follow?"</p> + +<p>"We sure do. What reason would he have for going to the station without +dynamite?"</p> + +<p>"None that I know of. Let's go."</p> + +<p>Rick turned the jeep into the trail and sped along it as fast as the +ruts allowed. As they reached their third station with no sign of +Connel, Scotty spoke suddenly. "Suppose we find him? How do we explain +why we're following him?"</p> + +<p>Rick considered. He rejected a casual trip as explanation. Connel +wouldn't buy it.</p> + +<p>"We can park the jeep in the jungle," he said finally. "It will be well +hidden. Then we can go on foot. If we see him coming, we can take to the +bush. We'll be invisible a few feet away."</p> + +<p>The jeep was driven into the area where their shots had been set off. It +was invisible from the trail. The boys left it and started hiking.</p> + +<p>It was hard going. The heat and humidity were both high, and they were +sweating before a quarter mile was covered. The film of perspiration +seemed to attract insects, too, and before long the pests were driving +them to distraction. Rick brushed futilely at the shining swarm of gnats +around his head. "I'm not sure it's worth it," he said grimly.</p> + +<p>"Neither am I," Scotty agreed. "But we've started. Let's keep plugging."</p> + +<p>They reached the first of Connel's shot stations without a sign of the +geologist. It was much like their own, a small clearing with the ground +torn by the dynamite.</p> + +<p>The second station, a mile farther on, was similar except that there +were more trees and fewer scrub palms. Rick identified one giant tree as +mahogany.</p> + +<p>They strode up the trail, grimly determined to find the geologist. One +more station remained ahead. Rick doubted that he had gone farther than +that. He wiped his streaming face and squinted his eyes to protect them +from the whining gnats. They swarmed around but didn't seem to sting or +bite. He was grateful for that much.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Scotty let out a warning gasp. The dark-haired boy threw +himself sideways, on top of Rick, and the two of them crashed to the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Roll away," Scotty said urgently. "Back! Hurry!"</p> + +<p>The ground opened up a few feet away. Rick felt a giant hand pick him +up, shake him, then slam him into a palmetto. Bruised and dazed, he +grabbed the palmetto for support and lacerated his hands on the rough +covering. He slid to the ground, consciousness slipping from him.</p> + +<p>For a moment Rick lay slumped at the base of the palmetto. He didn't +lose consciousness completely, but he was stunned and unable to function +either mentally or physically. He had neither sight or hearing for the +first few seconds, then these faculties slowly returned. He became +aware that he was looking down at a broad green leaf, and that the leaf +was gradually turning crimson.</p> + +<p>He watched, his vision clearing, and suddenly realized that the red +pigment was dripping onto the leaf in a steady series of drops that was +almost a stream. At almost the same instant he knew that the red was +blood and that it was his. He shook his head to clear it, and the red +spray flew from side to side. Through the periphery of vision he saw +that it was coming from his nose.</p> + +<p>Rick realized that he was on his hands and knees. He rose to a kneeling +position and fished for his handkerchief. He put it to his nose and it +came away stained red. He sighed with relief. Nosebleed. For a moment he +had wondered. . . .</p> + +<p>A few feet away Scotty was slowly stretching one limb after another, +checking to be sure he was functioning. Satisfied, the ex-Marine sat up, +with some effort. Rick saw that his nose was bleeding, too.</p> + +<p>"You've got a nosebleed," Rick said faintly.</p> + +<p>Scotty touched his nose with the back of his hand and examined the red +trace. "Uhuh," he agreed.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" Rick asked weakly. His voice sounded far away!</p> + +<p>Scotty's answer was barely audible. "We found the missing dynamite. I +saw a length of wire along the trail. Are you okay?"</p> + +<p>"I think so." Rick got to his feet, feeling as though his body were in +sections. "We must have been close when it went off."</p> + +<p>The two held onto each other for mutual support while strength came back +into them.</p> + +<p>"We weren't too close," Scotty said finally. He gestured up the trail. +Rick looked, and saw a gaping hole some distance away. Beyond it, coming +toward them at as high a speed as the trail allowed, was Brad Connel in +his jeep.</p> + +<p>The geologist stopped as he reached the hole, then swung off the trail +and plowed through some scrub and back onto it again. He drew up next to +the boys.</p> + +<p>"So it was you who stole the dynamite!" the geologist said grimly. "What +happened? Did it explode while you were fooling around with it?"</p> + +<p>The boys stared at him, dazed and openmouthed.</p> + +<p>"You're crazy," Rick managed finally. "We didn't steal it, but we almost +got blown up in it. If Scotty hadn't seen the wire, we both would have +been blown to bits."</p> + +<p>The geologist's eyes narrowed. "Do you mean to tell me someone tried to +blow you up? That's nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"That's what happened, nonsense or not," Rick said curtly.</p> + +<p>Scotty added, "And what were you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Came to get my wallet," the geologist answered readily. "I missed it +and figured I must have dropped it up here. It wasn't anywhere else I'd +been. Better get in and let me take you back. If you were close enough +to get nosebleeds you must be shaken up quite a bit."</p> + +<p>"We're shaken," Rick agreed. "Our jeep is down at our shot station. We +decided to leave it there and take a hike."</p> + +<p>They climbed into the back of Connel's jeep. The nosebleeds had stopped +now, but their faces were smeared with blood. Neither felt like talking, +nor, apparently, did Connel. He stopped at their third station and +asked, "Can you make it? Or do you want to ride back with me?"</p> + +<p>"We can make it," Rick said. "Thanks for the lift."</p> + +<p>"I'd better stay behind you to make sure," Connel stated.</p> + +<p>The boys headed straight back to the hotel, Connel a hundred yards to +their rear. In the parking lot they thanked him again for the lift, then +hurried in to let warm water wash away the traces of their experience.</p> + +<p>Later, stretched out on their beds, they talked it over.</p> + +<p>"You saved our bacon," Rick stated. "But what really happened?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure," Scotty replied. "There are two possibilities. One, we +sprung a booby trap. I don't really credit that one much, because we +were rolling away when the stuff let go. If we'd hit a trip wire or +something similar, the dynamite would have gone off right then. So, +second possibility, someone was waiting for us. We jumped back just as +he pushed the plunger. Or, maybe he saw we had spotted the trap and +tried to get us, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Who's he?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Persons unknown," Scotty answered. "Or maybe one person not unknown."</p> + +<p>"Meaning Connel? He could have done it. Suppose he set the trap, then +took his jeep up the hill out of sight. Then he could have walked back, +fired the shot, hurried back for his jeep, and driven down."</p> + +<p>"Could be," Scotty agreed. "Only, did he know we were coming?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "How can we know that? For all we know, from his third +shot station he might be able to look right down on the trail. He sees +us, hurries into position, fires the charge, and hurries back. We can't +really tell until we get to that third station. Personally, I vote for +Connel."</p> + +<p>"Not proven," Scotty warned.</p> + +<p>Rick knew it. "It may never be proven, on account of no witnesses. But +suppose it was some unknown party? Why wouldn't that party try for +Connel? Why wait until he's passed, and we're coming into position? +Would an unknown thief be that interested in us?"</p> + +<p>"Too many questions," Scotty objected. "I haven't any answers. But you +make a good case for its being Connel. Also, did you notice how he +jumped on us for stealing the dynamite? That probably would have been +his story if we'd been killed. Now tell me what his motive is. Why +should he try to delay the project?"</p> + +<p>Rick had no answer to that. "Makes no sense," he agreed. "Unless there's +something he doesn't want us to see. That dynamite sure discouraged our +trip to his third station!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>Casa Guevara</h3> + + +<p>The scientific party lost only one day because of the dynamite theft. +Governor Montoya supplied more explosives and the firing schedule +continued. Now, however, the dynamite was guarded by police supplied by +His Excellency. Police also were in evidence around the Hot Springs +Hotel. No more chances were being taken.</p> + +<p>After three days, the scientists began to have a better idea of what was +going on in the earth beneath them, but Rick and Scotty could make +little sense of the mass of data. Even the picture being filled in by +Dr. Williams was confusing. Now, two magma areas were showing where only +one had shown before.</p> + +<p>Esteben Balgos answered Rick's plea for an explanation. Over an +excellent dinner of roast suckling pig and bananas steamed with lemon +juice, the volcanologist took time to answer their questions.</p> + +<p>"There is much we do not know about volcanoes," the Peruvian scientist +began. "For example, we do not know exactly what causes magma to form. +Magma is, in simplest terms, molten rock. Some event takes place far +below, where the earth's crust ends and the mantle begins, and the rock +melts."</p> + +<p>"How far below?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"The distance varies. Under the ocean trenches, for example, the mantle +may begin only four miles down. Under some of the mountainous land +masses it may be closer to forty miles."</p> + +<p>Scotty whistled. "That's a whale of a distance. How can you tell how far +down it is?"</p> + +<p>"By the seismic traces from earthquakes, or from explosive shots like +the ones we are shooting. When the shock waves have reached the zone +between the earth's crust and the mantle, we see the results on our +tracings."</p> + +<p>"Is it really a sharp line?" Rick queried.</p> + +<p>"Probably not. No one is sure yet. It may be a kind of transitional +zone, from one kind of material to another, or it may be a distinct +layer. We call it the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, after the Yugoslav +scientist who discovered it by analysis of seismic tracings. At any +rate, it is somewhat above this discontinuity that magma is formed. We +don't know how."</p> + +<p>"Then it rises?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"It forces its way up, by expansion. Sometimes the magma strikes water +and there is an explosion—a steam explosion. But generally the magma +rises through a fairly small channel. It forms a pool under the volcano. +The pool is actually a reservoir of molten rock. Generally it is shaped +like a lens. The magma gathers. Eventually it forces its way to the +surface, again through channels."</p> + +<p>"What kind of channels?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"It depends on the kind of volcano. Sometimes the channels are +weaknesses in the whole surrounding earth structure, and the magma flows +through cracks and emerges as sheets of lava. Sometimes there is a +central channel through which the magma can rise."</p> + +<p>"Which do we have?" Scotty wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Probably neither or perhaps both. There was once a central channel in +El Viejo. It is closed now, and we do not know if it is weaker than the +rest of the mountain. There is a weak fissure under the hot springs. So, +El Viejo can vent either way."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. He had learned enough of natural forces to know +there are often no definite answers to questions, but this was critical.</p> + +<p>"So the volcano could blow off on top or side, and we can't guess +which?"</p> + +<p>"That is correct. However, explosive action in a volcano usually comes +when the magma meets enough water to create steam. Now, our closest +magma front is still far below the floor of the surrounding ocean. You +follow me? Good. When the magma rises to the level of the ocean floor, +what do you think will happen?"</p> + +<p>Rick could see the picture in his mind. He said slowly, "It will +probably meet water. Plenty of it, from seepage of the ocean downward +through cracks in the ocean floor. Maybe there are cracks like the one +in the parking lot, caused by earthquakes."</p> + +<p>"Precisely. And when the magma meets the water, then what?"</p> + +<p>"The water turns to steam instantly." Scotty answered grimly. "The steam +expands instantly—and boom!"</p> + +<p>"Boom," Balgos agreed solemnly. "But how big a boom we do not know. It +may blow the top off El Viejo. It may blow a gap along one of the +cracks. We don't know."</p> + +<p>Rick digested this information in silence. The picture was certainly not +a cheerful one. "How far down are the magma fronts?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"As closely as we can tell, the bottom one is right above the +discontinuity, which is about six miles below us at this point. The +upper one is about a mile below the top of El Viejo. This puts it about +a quarter of a mile below the floor of the ocean."</p> + +<p>"Too close," Scotty muttered. "What now?"</p> + +<p>"We keep shooting, to try and keep track of the upper front. Also, we +will place instruments called tiltometers on the mountain slope. These +are devices that really measure tilt. You see, if the lens of magma is +increasing, El Viejo will swell up slightly. The tiltometers will show +it, and we will then have further proof of what is coming."</p> + +<p>"But what can we do about it?" Rick demanded.</p> + +<p>Balgos shrugged. "<i>Quién sabe?</i> The Spanish phrase is a good one, +because it does not only ask 'who knows,' it also carries the meaning of +a kind of resignation. There does not seem to be anything we can do."</p> + +<p>Rick stared across the dining room, eyes unseeing. It was hard to +imagine that molten rock was gathering below them in sufficient quantity +to make a mountain move; but once you succeeded in imagining it, the +picture was terrifying.</p> + +<p>Motion attracted his glance and his eyes focused in time to see Brad +Connel rise from the table and excuse himself. He watched the geologist +walk out of the room and turned to Scotty. His pal nodded. He had seen +Connel leave, too.</p> + +<p>Rick quickly counted noses. All others were present. Connel was the +first to leave. He wondered where the geologist was going, and his eyes +narrowed.</p> + +<p>Connel had been very anxious about his and Scotty's condition, once the +hotel was reached. Rick was sure his anxiety was strictly phony. Both +boys had been stiff and sore, but a medical examination showed nothing +seriously wrong, thanks to Scotty's fast action. Hartson Brant had been +reluctant to accept Rick's opinion that Connel had stolen the dynamite +and booby-trapped them. He pointed out that the geologist had no motive; +he had never even been on San Luz before.</p> + +<p>Rick had to agree. There was no apparent motive, but that didn't mean +Connel was innocent. He might have a motive that no one suspected.</p> + +<p>Scotty cocked an eyebrow at Rick and made a slight motion of his head +toward the door where Connel had vanished. Rick got the signal. He +nodded.</p> + +<p>The boys thanked Dr. Balgos for his explanation, then excused +themselves. They wandered casually from the dining room.</p> + +<p>Once outside, Rick grinned at Scotty. "So you're wondering where Connel +has gone?"</p> + +<p>"Aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. But why not ask the others what he said when he excused himself?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "They didn't think much of our theory about +Connel causing our troubles, did they? If we asked, they'd think we were +pushing the same point too hard."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed. "Where did he go?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. But if he leaves the hotel, it will be by jeep. There's +nothing within walking distance. If we get out back of the pump shed +we'll see him if he comes out."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye. And if he jeeps out of here, we'll be on his tail. Roger?"</p> + +<p>"You said a Brantish mouthful. Let's go."</p> + +<p>A quick reconnaissance disclosed no sign of the geologist outside, and +the boys hurried across the dark parking lot to the shadow of the pump +shed. A police officer materialized from the darkness and greeted them +courteously. "Good evening, señores. <i>A sus órdenes.</i>"</p> + +<p>By placing himself at their orders, the officer was politely asking +their business, Rick knew. He replied, "We came out to see if anyone had +made another try for the dynamite, Señor <i>Teniente</i>." Calling the +officer "lieutenant" was a form of flattery.</p> + +<p>"<i>Sargento, muchas gracias</i>," the officer replied. White teeth flashed +in a grin. "But who can tell the future? If I capture the thief, it may +soon be lieutenant instead of sergeant."</p> + +<p>"We hope so," Scotty said politely.</p> + +<p>Rick noted that the three were hidden from the parking lot by the pump +house. The position was satisfactory. If Connel was going to take a +jeep, he probably would do so right away. Otherwise, why should he be +the first to leave the dining room?</p> + +<p>"Why would anyone steal dynamite?" Rick asked the police officer. He +wanted only to keep a quiet conversation going behind the pump house.</p> + +<p>The officer had theories. Perhaps revolutionaries had stolen it. Also, +although it was against the law and brought severe punishment, fishermen +were known to dynamite fish. This also was a possibility. But the +explosion of the dynamite on the mountainside was certainly a puzzle.</p> + +<p>Rick didn't think so, but he agreed politely. It was bewildering, he +said. Why steal explosives and then use it on a harmless scientific +group?</p> + +<p>Perhaps fear of discovery caused the thief to set a trap, the officer +guessed. He admitted it wasn't a good guess.</p> + +<p>A jeep roared into life and the boys stiffened. The officer strolled out +of the shadow for a look. "One of your associates is going for a ride," +he said.</p> + +<p>Rick waited until the jeep lights cut across the parking lot and moved +down the western road, then he said, "It's a nice night for a ride, +Scotty. What say we take a jeep and look over the country, too?"</p> + +<p>"Good idea," Scotty agreed readily.</p> + +<p>They bade the officer good night and started to where Zircon's jeep was +parked. It was a temptation to hurry, but they suppressed it and +sauntered to the jeep. Fortunately, no keys were needed. The jeep +ignition was turned on by a simple switch. Rick got into the driver's +seat and started up. He waited, the motor idling, until he was sure +Connel was out of sight around the mountain, then he drove slowly across +the parking lot and followed.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, there was enough moonlight to see the road. Once out of +sight of the hotel, Rick stopped and switched off the lights. As his +eyes adjusted to the dimness he started off again as fast as vision +allowed.</p> + +<p>Once he sighted Connel's lights. They were ahead and higher on the +mountain. He lost sight of them again as foliage blocked the view. +"Suppose he's heading for the shot station?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Scotty shrugged. "We'll soon know."</p> + +<p>They reached the pumice works without seeing the geologist's lights +again, and Rick stopped at the turnoff. "Now what?" he asked. "Did he go +up the trail or not?"</p> + +<p>Scotty sniffed the air. "Smell anything?"</p> + +<p>Rick breathed deeply. There was the odor of rank vegetation, and, very +faintly, the odor of sulfur from the hot springs. But there was another +smell, too. After a moment he identified it. "Dust!"</p> + +<p>"Seems so," Scotty agreed. "Which means he didn't take the trail to the +stations. No dust on those tracks. He must have taken the dirt road to +San Souci."</p> + +<p>"But why?" Rick was already moving ahead to where the pavement ended. +"What's in San Souci?"</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "Ask Connel. Don't ask me."</p> + +<p>"I thought Marines knew everything," Rick gibed.</p> + +<p>"Almost everything," Scotty corrected.</p> + +<p>The jeep moved onto the dirt road and in a moment their own cloud of +dust obscured any slight haze that Connel's passing might have left. +They were in strange territory now, and Rick slowed down somewhat. +Connel had the advantage of lights. They wouldn't be able to gain on +him.</p> + +<p>"He can't get far," Scotty said reassuringly. "The road goes to San +Souci and nowhere else. It can't be much of a town, so we'll find him."</p> + +<p>Scotty was right. San Souci wasn't much of a town. There were a handful +of fishermen's huts, a dock with a number of fishing boats, racks for +drying fish, a single store, and nothing else. There was a paved road +leading from the town to the main city of Calor, but Connel hadn't taken +it. Nor was the jeep in San Souci.</p> + +<p>Rick's halting Spanish was sufficient to communicate with a fisherman +who spoke equally halting English. He had been taking the air all +evening. No other vehicle had come to San Souci.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Rick asked helplessly.</p> + +<p>"He went somewhere," Scotty responded. "And that somewhere has to be a +turnoff between here and the pumice works. We must have missed it +because we traveled without lights. Let's go back and look."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you," Rick agreed. "But wherever he turned off must be a +trail, because there are no side roads on the map." He swung the jeep +around and started back. He had turned on the headlights as they +approached the fishing village; he kept them on.</p> + +<p>They found the turnoff about a mile from San Souci. The road widened +slightly, and there was an opening in the foliage just wide enough for a +car. Twin gateposts of concrete marked the passage. Rick turned the +jeep, and the headlights picked out a name cut in the concrete pillars: +<i>Casa Guevara</i>.</p> + +<p>"Someone's house," Rick said. "Name of Guevara. We can't very well go +rolling up a private driveway, can we?"</p> + +<p>"Especially with that sign," Scotty added. He pointed to a wooden sign +set slightly to one side of the private road just beyond the gate. It +read <i>No Entrar</i>. No Trespassing.</p> + +<p>"Question," Rick said thoughtfully. "Did Connel go up this road or is +there another one?"</p> + +<p>"No evidence," Scotty replied.</p> + +<p>Rick pointed to the gatepost. "Who do we know that's named Guevara?"</p> + +<p>Scotty breathed, "Sure! The lieutenant governor!"</p> + +<p>"And he took Connel to the hospital to see Ruiz," Rick reminded, "so +they're acquainted."</p> + +<p>He switched off the lights. "That's probably the answer. Connel was +invited to pay a social call. Why not? This probably has nothing to do +with the project at all."</p> + +<p>Scotty sighed audibly. "The trouble with you is that you come up with +sensible answers. We might as well go on back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>"Might as well . . ." Rick began, then stopped as light appeared dimly +through the foliage up the private driveway. They were headlights!</p> + +<p>"We've got to get out of here," he said, and threw the jeep into gear. +For a moment he hesitated. If he went up the dirt road to the hotel, +Connel would surely see them. If Rick went back toward San Souci and the +oncoming car was not Connel, but someone from Casa Guevara, the car +might also turn toward San Souci, and the boys would be seen.</p> + +<p>Rick thought quickly. About a hundred yards toward San Souci there was a +break in the foliage that he had almost investigated until he saw that +no tracks led into it. He quickly switched into four-wheel drive and +swung the jeep in its own length. The lights were closer now. Rick +accelerated and found the opening through the jungle scrub. The jeep +bounced as he drove into it, then swung until they were behind a screen +of palmetto. He killed the engine.</p> + +<p>Scotty piled out, Rick close behind him. They hurried to the edge of the +highway, careful to keep masked by the palmetto, and watched.</p> + +<p>A jeep emerged from the driveway to Casa Guevara. In the back-scattered +light from its headlights they saw that Connel was the driver. He was +alone. They watched until his taillights flickered out beyond a bend in +the road.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Connel was alone in the jeep</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>"Interesting," Rick said. "Does a social call last for less than a half +hour? Answer: no, not in San Luz. There's Spanish-style hospitality +here, and Connel would have been there for hours."</p> + +<p>"He came on business," Scotty said slowly. "But what kind of business +would he have with the lieutenant governor?"</p> + +<p>"That," Rick said grimly, "is what we need to find out."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>The Governor Vanishes</h3> + + +<p>Far below the surface of San Luz, white-hot rock, flowing like +incandescent molasses, forced its way upward under enormous pressure. +Sometimes the magma remained quiet for hours, pulsing slightly like a +living thing. Then it would melt its way through to a weakness in the +earth's structure, creating a new channel for its upward flow.</p> + +<p>In one new channel was basaltic rock with a higher moisture content than +the magma had encountered before. As the moisture turned instantly to +steam, it expanded with sudden violence, and the earth shook with the +force of the explosion.</p> + +<p>Far above the pocket, Rick Brant felt the earth tremble, and shook his +head. The temblors were increasing in frequency, although none had been +as violent as that first day's earthquake. The boy looked at Scotty. His +pal's face was grim.</p> + +<p>The scientists around the worktable had paused, too, as they felt the +earth tremble.</p> + +<p>Esteben Balgos said quietly, "El Viejo is getting ready. If we are going +to act, it must be soon."</p> + +<p>"Act?" Connel demanded. "How?"</p> + +<p>Balgos shrugged. "That is what we are here to decide."</p> + +<p>Rick watched the geologist's face. He was sure that Connel, for reasons +unknown, was trying to slow down the project. He was satisfied that the +man had stolen both the initial tracings and the dynamite. He also knew +that Connel lied. On their return from trailing him to Casa Guevara, the +boys had found Connel having a cup of coffee in the dining room and had +asked casually where he had gone. He had muttered something about going +into Calor for a supply of cigars.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant asked, "What do you make of this series of tracings? My +own opinion is that we have found a structural weakness through which +the magma will move. But the weakness does not extend far enough upward +to give any idea of the channel the magma will take to the surface."</p> + +<p>The scientist pointed to a series of blue lines as he spoke. Dr. +Williams examined the lines, then took his pencil and began to sketch +rapidly on his cross-section drawing of the volcano and the earth under +it. Rick watched as the sketch took shape. From the upper lens-shaped +magma front Williams was drawing a series of lines that changed +direction, moving toward the western side of the island. Then, across +the top of the upward-moving lines Williams drew a horizontal line.</p> + +<p>"Those upward strokes are the fissures shown by the tracings," he said. +"Notice that they stop at the horizontal line. My guess is that the +horizontal line represents an unbroken stratum that will probably stop +the magma temporarily. We may even have another one of those lens-shaped +pools develop."</p> + +<p>Big Hobart Zircon poked at the sketch with a huge finger. "Jeff, how far +below the surface is this stratum?"</p> + +<p>"Slightly over a quarter of a mile, I'd guess. It's hard to be accurate +within a few feet. On that side of the mountain the ocean bottom is a +few hundred feet below sea level, and I'd say the hard rock is probably +a thousand feet below that."</p> + +<p>Zircon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If we could somehow breach that +hard rock and allow room for the magma to flow upward, what would +happen?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>Esteben Balgos exclaimed excitedly, "Once through the layer of hard +rock, the magma would encounter plenty of surface water. Look at Jeff's +sketch. Above the hard rock there are many fissures, which must have a +high water content. If the magma reaches those, we will have violent +eruption through the western side of the mountain, probably right about +sea level."</p> + +<p>Rick could see instantly what Balgos meant. "Dad, an eruption on the +west side would be perfect! The mountain itself would protect Calor and +the rest of the island!"</p> + +<p>"That's true, Rick," Hartson Brant agreed. "The problem is, how can we +possibly create a break in a layer of hard rock so far underground?"</p> + +<p>David Riddle answered him. "There's one way. Drive a tunnel down through +it."</p> + +<p>All eyes looked at him.</p> + +<p>"Can it be done?" Julius Weiss demanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes. If there's enough time, enough machinery, and enough manpower. But +look at the problem. Once the magma starts to move upward through those +faults Jeff has drawn, it will move fast. The tunnel would have to be +done before the magma started to move. Otherwise, the heat would be too +great for men to work, and even if they could work they'd be drilling +right into magma."</p> + +<p>"This stuff is beyond me," Connel said. "Let me know what you decide, +will you?" He turned and walked from the room.</p> + +<p>Rick's eyes met Scotty's. The ex-Marine nodded, and in a moment quietly +slipped out of the room.</p> + +<p>Julius Weiss demanded, "Are you seriously proposing that we drive a +tunnel for over a quarter mile, almost straight down, through solid +rock?"</p> + +<p>Riddle shrugged. "Do you know any other way of releasing the magma +safely? I don't."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it could be done," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "But, as +Dave says, we'd need time, machinery, and manpower. I'm sure we can get +the machinery and the manpower from the governor. But do we have time?"</p> + +<p>Balgos and Williams looked at each other. They were the experts. It was +up to them to say.</p> + +<p>"How long, Jeff?" Balgos asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. If we assume the magma will continue rising at roughly +the same rate we've measured during the past few days, I'd guess perhaps +two or three weeks. On the other hand, the magma could find weaknesses +we haven't detected. We may have only a few days."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to try," Hartson Brant stated. "If the governor can give us +the entire labor force of the island, and all available earth-moving +machinery, we have a chance at least. If we do nothing, there's no +chance at all. I think we should pay a visit to the governor right now."</p> + +<p>Scotty came back into the room. "Connel's in his room," he reported. "I +think he made a telephone call, but I can't be sure without checking +with the switchboard. Shall I?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter," Rick told him. "We're on our way to see the +governor. Connel can't stop things now."</p> + +<p>The scientists were already moving through the door and to the jeeps. +Within a few moments the small convoy was moving down the mountainside +toward Calor and the executive offices.</p> + +<p>Inside the cool, white stone building the group waited while Esteben +Balgos went to see if the governor was available. He came out of the +executive suite with a look of concern on his face.</p> + +<p>"The governor is not in," he reported. "His secretary does not know +where he is. The secretary's worried. Montoya didn't show up at all this +morning and his residence says he left at the usual time. I think we'd +better see the lieutenant governor."</p> + +<p>Rick started to speak, but thought better of it. Connel had not come +with them, and his visit to Guevara could mean nothing.</p> + +<p>Jaime Guevara was a tall, thin man with a hawk face and a tiny goatee. +Hartson Brant, as spokesman, got to the point right away. He described +the reason for their coming, and their findings to date. He stressed the +need for fast action. In the governor's absence, he stated, they would +need the active support of Señor Guevara. If he would issue orders at +once, the scientific group would be happy to organize and supervise the +work.</p> + +<p>Guevara listened until the scientists had finished, then he smiled. "A +strange tale," he said. "It is difficult to believe El Viejo is getting +ready to erupt. Surely your imaginations have run away with you."</p> + +<p>"We do not depend on imagination," Balgos said curtly. "We depend on +scientific investigation. The situation is precisely as Dr. Brant +outlined it."</p> + +<p>"No doubt," Guevara said soothingly. "But surely you realize I cannot +disrupt the economy of the entire island simply to dig a hole. Why, the +people would laugh their heads off. No, señores, I am helpless. You had +better see the governor."</p> + +<p>"The governor isn't here and there is no time to lose," Hartson Brant +said flatly. "You must act immediately if the island is to be saved. The +lives of your people are in your own hands."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the governor will return soon," Guevara said. "He will +doubtless believe your story and take action. I regret that I cannot. +And now, if you will excuse me?"</p> + +<p>"Then you will not move even to save the island?"</p> + +<p>"I do not believe the island is in danger, Dr. Brant," Guevara said +coldly. "Convince the governor—if you can find him. Meanwhile, have the +favor to cease bothering me with your silly tales!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>The Yellow Ground</h3> + + +<p>Governor Luis Montoya could not be located. Neither his family nor his +staff knew his whereabouts. There was great alarm over his unexplained +absence. The police were searching for the missing executive, but with +no success.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant called a council of war and told the scientific group that +his most recent phone call to Guevara had even resulted in a turndown +when he asked for more dynamite. The lieutenant governor evidently was +not content with refusing to help, he was going to obstruct.</p> + +<p>"There is dynamite on Trinidad," Hartson Brant said. "Plenty of it. I +made a phone call to a friend at the U. S. Air Base there, and he agreed +to get it for us. Rick, you and Scotty fly over to Port of Spain right +away. The information is written down here." He handed Rick a slip of +paper.</p> + +<p>"If you leave now, you can get there before dark, spend the night and +come back in the morning. Bring all the dynamite you can carry, with +caps and a few reels of primer cord. We'll need more wire, too. Get +hopping, now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Rick said. He and Scotty ran to their room for toothbrushes, +stuffed their pockets with extra socks and underwear, and ran to the +parking lot for the jeep.</p> + +<p>The weather was fine and clear, and the flight uneventful. When they +landed at the U. S. base they found that Hartson Brant's friend, Colonel +Tom Markey, had arranged for a full load of dynamite, and full gas tanks +for the plane. The boys spent the night at bachelor officers' quarters +at the base and took off at dawn, the Sky Wagon sluggish from its load +of dynamite cases.</p> + +<p>Back at the Hot Springs Hotel, they unloaded the dynamite from the jeep +and stored it under police protection in the pump house. Then they went +to look for the scientists.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant, David Riddle, and Julius Weiss were in the conference +room working over drawings. Rick saw that they were sketches of a +tunnel.</p> + +<p>The scientists welcomed them, and Rick asked, "Any progress, Dad?"</p> + +<p>"No, Rick. The governor is still missing. We can't get help until he's +found."</p> + +<p>"Where are the others?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Placing tiltometers on the mountain," his father told him. "The +instruments were ordered by phone from Caracas right after you left and +got in on the first morning plane."</p> + +<p>Rick glanced at Scotty. He asked, "Exactly where are the others?"</p> + +<p>"Balgos and Connel are at the north end of the mountain, above Redondo. +Williams and Zircon are up above us somewhere. They started the climb +behind the hot springs."</p> + +<p>"I think we'll get a bite to eat," Rick said. "Unless you need us."</p> + +<p>"No. There's nothing for you to do right at the moment, but Balgos wants +you to take some photos from the air later this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Okay, Dad." Rick gestured, and Scotty followed him out.</p> + +<p>"All's quiet," Rick told his pal. "And a quiet time is a good time to do +a little investigating. Let's go to the kitchen, get a couple of +sandwiches, and eat them on the way."</p> + +<p>"To where?" Scotty asked. He grinned. "Don't tell me. To see what Connel +is hiding over at his stations."</p> + +<p>"On the button. Let's get going."</p> + +<p>There was nothing whatever of interest at Connel's first two stations. +The ground was torn up somewhat from the series of shots, but the boys +could find no trace of anything unusual. They got back into the jeep, +and Rick drove up the trail to the last station. He followed the path of +broken vegetation Connel's jeep had made, noticing that the trail was +dipping downward to a spot lower on the mountain than the other +stations.</p> + +<p>They reached a patch of crushed and yellowed growth where Connel +obviously had parked his jeep. There were oil stains on some of the +broken leaves.</p> + +<p>Scotty pointed to a brown-paper cigarette stub. "Ever see Connel smoke +one of those?"</p> + +<p>Rick hadn't. "He smokes cigars. Where do you suppose that came from?"</p> + +<p>Scotty got out of the jeep and bent over the butt. "The tip is still +damp," he said. "Someone's been here very recently. We'd better keep an +eye open."</p> + +<p>Trampled vegetation showed them the path to the firing place. Moving +cautiously, the boys walked down the path, eyes constantly searching for +signs of movement in the heavy growth.</p> + +<p>The clearing where Connel had placed his shots was only a short distance +down the path. Rick examined it carefully, but it looked like all the +others, except for one thing. The broken earth was yellow, and of a +different texture than the deep jungle loam at the other stations.</p> + +<p>Rick walked into the shattered area and picked up a piece of the yellow +ground. It broke in his hands. "Funny-looking stuff," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Scotty agreed. "Take a look around while I keep a watch. I have a +funny feeling we're not alone here."</p> + +<p>There was a fairly deep crater in the middle of the area. Rick stepped +into it and kicked yellow earth out of his way. He was puzzled. There +was nothing visible in the area except the yellow ground, and there was +nothing about that to give him a clue to Connel's determination to keep +them away.</p> + +<p>His foot dislodged a clump of earth. It rolled to the bottom of the +shot crater, exposing two large crystals. Rick picked them up and rubbed +the dirt off. They felt rather greasy. He didn't think they were quartz. +His mind ranged over the possibilities. Probably datolite, he decided. +The color was about right, and he knew datolite was found in igneous +rocks of volcanic origin. He put the crystals in his pocket.</p> + +<p>A trace of blue caught his eye and he knelt, digging with his hands. He +uncovered a few more of the datolite crystals and put them in his +pocket. They weren't particularly good specimens; he had some in his +rock collection that were perfectly formed and clear, but at least they +were something to take home.</p> + +<p>Digging uncovered a layer of hard blue rock, heavily pockmarked and +filled with the yellow ground. He saw one place where the blue actually +blended in with yellow and decided that the blue and yellow were +probably the same rock. The slaty blue simply turned to yellow when it +was exposed to the air for a while.</p> + +<p>There were loose pieces of blue, broken by the dynamite blasts. He +picked up a couple of smaller pieces, then added a piece of yellow to +his collection. He uncovered another crystal, too, a large one nearly +the size of a golf ball and put that in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Scotty was getting restless. "Let's get going," he said. "I don't like +this."</p> + +<p>Rick had seen enough, and it had told him nothing. He was just as +puzzled over Connel's motive as ever. Obviously, the answer was not +here—or, if it was, they couldn't see it.</p> + +<p>"Okay," he said. "Move out."</p> + +<p>Scotty led the way back to the jeep. Rick got into the driver's seat and +started the motor. He backed and turned in the narrow space Connel's +jeep had created, and finally got his wheels straight for the run back.</p> + +<p>From somewhere behind them a voice called, "<i>Parada!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Who's that yelling at us to stop?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"I can't see anyone," Scotty replied. His eyes were scanning the jungle. +"But I don't know anyone around here we want to talk to. I've got a +hunch we should get going."</p> + +<p>Rick felt the same. He released the clutch and the jeep moved ahead.</p> + +<p>"<i>Parada!</i>" the voice yelled again, and on the echo came the clear crash +of a rifleshot. A jagged star suddenly appeared on the windshield +between them!</p> + +<p>Rick reacted instinctively. He shoved the gas pedal to the floor and +bent low, the skin of his back crawling with the expectation of a rifle +bullet hitting it. The jeep leaped ahead and he steered as best he +could. He shifted into second and the vehicle picked up speed. The rifle +snapped again and he heard the sound of the slug hitting metal in the +rear of the jeep. Then the trail turned and there was heavy jungle +growth between them and the unseen sniper.</p> + +<p>Not until they reached the second station, a mile away, did Rick slow +down. He looked at Scotty, his face grim. "The place was guarded. What +else can you make out of it?"</p> + +<p>"Just that," Scotty agreed. "The guard must have been making a tour +around the shot station. He got back just as we were taking off."</p> + +<p>"Funny he didn't hear the jeep when we came," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Not very. Sound gets lost pretty fast in this heavy growth. You +couldn't hear us a hundred yards away. Probably there's just the one +guard, and he goes around the station in a big circle."</p> + +<p>"I'll buy it," Rick agreed. "But why? Why guard a chunk of jungle with +nothing in it but some torn up yellow ground?"</p> + +<p>"When I find out," Scotty replied, "I'll let you know first thing."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>The Volcanic Pipe</h3> + + +<p>Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss were still at work in the conference room +when Rick and Scotty returned. David Riddle had gone, and the others had +evidently not finished placing the tiltometers.</p> + +<p>The two listened to Rick's story in silence, then Hartson Brant sighed. +"I don't know how you do it, Rick. But if there's trouble around, you +and Scotty will find it. Are you sure the rifleman shot at you?"</p> + +<p>"We've got a bullet hole in the windshield and one just under the rear +seat," Scotty said. "One might be an accident, but not two."</p> + +<p>"I agree." Hartson Brant nodded. "Let's see the samples of earth you +brought back, Rick."</p> + +<p>He took both the yellow and blue pieces from his pocket and put them on +the table. Hartson Brant and Weiss examined them with interest.</p> + +<p>"Unusual," Weiss said. "I think you are right in assuming that the +yellow is simply an oxidized form of the blue, Rick. But I can't tell +you what the material is. I've never seen anything like it before."</p> + +<p>"The grain is pretty fine," Hartson Brant added. "It could be igneous or +sedimentary in origin. I'm not enough of a rock hound to know. David +Riddle can tell us when he returns."</p> + +<p>"Connel would know, too," Scotty reminded. "He's a geologist. Wouldn't +you think he would have mentioned an unusual formation like this when he +found it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's not unusual to a geologist," Weiss pointed out.</p> + +<p>"Where is Riddle?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"He went to his room a few minutes ago. He should be back shortly. Rick, +I think you'd better tell us the whole story. Why do you suspect Connel? +Why was it important for you to look at his shot station?"</p> + +<p>Rick started at the beginning. "It wasn't any one thing, it was a series +of little offbeat things. We thought it was funny he didn't even want +company after Ruiz was hurt. Then he reacted so violently when we +proposed swapping stations. It just seemed odd. The theft of the +tracings bothered us, too. No ordinary thief would steal papers and +leave Dr. Williams' wallet in his pocket, or leave his pocket transistor +radio and stuff like that."</p> + +<p>"But you can't connect Connel with the theft of the papers," Weiss +objected.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, we can't. But we almost got caught in the stolen dynamite, and +he could have set that off. It was while we were on the way to his third +station."</p> + +<p>Scotty added, "Today, when we got to the station, I took a look along +the trail. There's only one bend in it. If he was keeping a watch at +the bend, he could have seen us arrive at the second station, hurried +down the trail, set off the charge, then returned through the jungle to +get his jeep."</p> + +<p>"But the fact that he could have, does not mean that he did," Hartson +Brant stated.</p> + +<p>"We can't prove it," Scotty agreed.</p> + +<p>Rick continued. "Then we trailed him to Casa Guevara. He couldn't have +been paying a social call, because he wasn't there long enough. And what +business does he have with Guevara? I don't know, but I'll bet his +business is the reason we can't get Guevara to move."</p> + +<p>"Possibly," Hartson Brant agreed. "I can see the reason for your +suspicions, but you lack proof of anything, Rick. What motive could +Connel have?"</p> + +<p>"We hoped to find out at the shot station," Rick replied. "But we drew a +blank."</p> + +<p>Dr. David Riddle came into the room and joined them. Before anyone could +speak, the geologist spotted the samples on the table and sucked in his +breath sharply.</p> + +<p>"Where did these come from?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Connel's third shot station," Rick replied. "Do you know what the stuff +is?"</p> + +<p>Riddle sank into a chair and picked up one of the samples, testing it +between his fingers. "Yes," he said, "I do. I've seen it only once +before, in Africa. It occurs in what is known as a volcanic pipe, +actually an ancient channel that gets filled with the stuff for reasons +we do not know."</p> + +<p>"A volcanic pipe," Hartson Brant said softly. "I'm beginning to see."</p> + +<p>Rick wasn't. "But what is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The most valuable kind of ground in the world," Riddle said. "So far as +anyone knew up to now, such pipes have occurred only in Africa. The one +I saw was at Kimberley. The name came from there. This is kimberlite."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus" id="illus"></a> +<img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Rick knew of only one kind of valuable that was associated with +Kimberley, and the thought was so staggering that he was almost afraid +to say it out loud. "You mean that this is the stuff diamonds are found +in?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly," Riddle said.</p> + +<p>Rick fished the handful of crystals from his pocket and stared at them +unbelievingly. "Then these," he said hoarsely, "must be diamonds!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>Earthquake!</h3> + + +<p>"Everything adds up," Rick Brant said grimly. "And it isn't a pretty +picture."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant agreed. "It certainly seems to add up, Rick. I suggest you +put those crystals in a safe place until we can find out for certain +whether or not there is real value there."</p> + +<p>"Is there any doubt?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>David Riddle answered, "Yes, Scotty. There are many grades of diamonds. +Until an expert takes a look at those Rick collected, we won't be sure +that they're of gem quality. He may have industrial grade diamonds, of +the type called bort."</p> + +<p>"Connel may already have had an expert take a look," Weiss pointed out.</p> + +<p>Rick examined the handful of crystals. It was hard to believe he had +simply picked up diamonds like so many pebbles. What's more, he couldn't +be sure whether he held a king's ransom in his hand or a few dollars' +worth of industrial abrasives.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't Connel clean out all diamonds in the area?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"How could he?" Hartson Brant retorted. "When has he had time for a real +effort? I suspect he has picked up quite a few, but you found those just +by kicking around, which would indicate he hasn't sifted that loose +ground very thoroughly."</p> + +<p>David Riddle frowned. "It's odd that Rick found so many. Perhaps he was +lucky enough to kick open a pocket that Connel missed. Diamonds just +don't occur with such frequency, even in Kimberley."</p> + +<p>"They were pretty close together," Rick remembered. "It may have been a +pocket, all right."</p> + +<p>"There is one other possibility," Riddle added, "and it's staggering to +think of it. These crystals may have come from a single large crystal. +Perhaps the dynamite explosions shattered the big one into a number of +smaller ones."</p> + +<p>Scotty gulped. "But the original crystal would have had to be nearly the +size of a grapefruit!"</p> + +<p>"True, Scotty. There have been crystals that big, or close to it. +Usually the diamond that is cut from such a crystal is much smaller. +There is considerable loss. But it's a possibility."</p> + +<p>Rick said abruptly, "I think we ought to sort of review the situation. +To see where we stand."</p> + +<p>"A good idea," his father agreed. "Suppose you start?"</p> + +<p>Rick considered. "Well, Connel must have discovered the yellow ground +the very first thing, probably while he was kicking a hole to lay the +charge in. The reason I think so is because of Ruiz. That accident has +always bothered me. Ruiz just wouldn't walk back to the charge while +Connel was ready to set it off. He just wouldn't."</p> + +<p>Julius Weiss asked, "Are you implying that Connel deliberately blew Ruiz +up?"</p> + +<p>"What else can we make of it?" Rick replied. "That kind of accident just +doesn't happen. Not to an expert. But if Connel found the yellow ground +while setting the charge, and took time to dig a little and be sure +there was blue ground under it, he would certainly have known that he +was standing on top of a volcanic pipe. He might even have picked up a +crystal."</p> + +<p>"If word got out, he couldn't exploit the pipe," Scotty added. "So, Ruiz +had to be eliminated. It would have been pretty easy. Connel had the +watch. He could have kept track of the time, then asked Ruiz to make a +final check and set the charge off while the poor guy was taking a look +at the connections."</p> + +<p>"It could have happened that way," Hartson Brant agreed. "But I hate to +think any human being could be so ruthless."</p> + +<p>"Connel had to keep others away, too," Rick went on. "Also, he had to +slow things down so he could have time to set something up to exploit +his find. So, he stole the tracings and the dynamite. That bought him a +little time, didn't it? Then he tried to get Scotty and me, because we +were following him and he was afraid we might find out what was going +on."</p> + +<p>"It seems reasonable," Hartson Brant agreed.</p> + +<p>"Connel couldn't develop a diamond field in a foreign place without +help, could he? He had to let someone in on it, locally. He sized up +Guevara and figured the lieutenant governor could certainly help him +out, so he brought Guevara in on it."</p> + +<p>"Pure speculation," Weiss said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. But it fits. Guevara certainly wouldn't want people running +around over there, so it's to his advantage to keep us from operating. +If he thinks there's a fortune in the pipe, it's even to his advantage +to kidnap the governor to make sure we can't follow our plans!"</p> + +<p>David Riddle shook his head. "A man would have to be insane to hold up +an effort to save the island just to make himself rich."</p> + +<p>"He would if he believed the island was in danger," Scotty agreed. "But +suppose he doesn't? I don't think Connel has the true picture. His time +estimate was much longer than yours, and he hasn't been in on many of +the discussions."</p> + +<p>The three scientists looked at each other. "You know," Riddle said, +"Scotty is right. Connel has shown little interest in the magma flux. He +may not have a true understanding of the situation at all!"</p> + +<p>"It's possible." Hartson Brant nodded. "Quite possible. After all, we +borrowed him only to have another experienced man to handle the shots. +His training certainly doesn't qualify him to understand the physics +involved. He has concentrated on locating oil deposits, using standard +data. This kind of thing is new to him."</p> + +<p>"We didn't get him to handle data analysis," Weiss remarked. "There are +enough of us who can do that."</p> + +<p>Rick picked up his argument again. "If Connel doesn't believe there are +only a couple of weeks, he would give the lieutenant governor his views, +and he'd be believed, just because Guevara is so greedy he would believe +anything that will make him rich. Of course I don't know for sure that +Guevara is like that, but he certainly brushed us off, didn't he? And he +didn't seem surprised when you told him about the danger."</p> + +<p>"The thing that bothers me," Scotty stated, "is why Connel and Guevara +haven't started to mine the diamonds."</p> + +<p>"It takes organization," Rick pointed out. "Also, it couldn't be done +while the governor was around, could it? He'd be sure to get wind of it. +Connel and Guevara have to keep this quiet, or there will be a rush that +will make the Klondike look like a picnic."</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. "That must be why they put a guard up there, too. +Probably just one trusted man, who has to make the rounds alone. We were +lucky he was on his rounds when we got there, or we'd never have had a +chance for a close look."</p> + +<p>"Well," Julius Weiss demanded, "what do we do now?"</p> + +<p>A sudden earth tremor made the group pause. It lasted only a few +seconds.</p> + +<p>"Whatever we do, we'd better do it fast," Hartson Brant stated.</p> + +<p>"Find the governor," Rick said. "That's the first thing. We can't move +unless we have official backing, and we certainly won't get it from +Guevara!"</p> + +<p>Esteben Balgos walked in, closely followed by Brad Connel. "We placed +the instruments without difficulty," Balgos began—and Connel's eye +caught sight of the kimberlite samples on the table. The geologist +realized instantly that his secret was known, and he knew, too, the +conclusions that would be drawn. Among other things, he was guilty of +the attempted murder of Ruiz.</p> + +<p>Connel bolted for the door.</p> + +<p>The geologist was fast, but Scotty was faster. The dark-haired boy +charged across the room, then dove headlong. His extended arms caught +the fleeting geologist around the thighs, then Scotty's shoulder smashed +into him. Connel went down like a tackled ball carrier. Before he could +recover, Scotty had shifted his grip and the geologist was helpless in a +punishing hold.</p> + +<p>The scientists and Rick arrived a split second later.</p> + +<p>"Let him up," Riddle ordered. "But keep a grip on him."</p> + +<p>Scotty did so, and the geologist glared at the group with angry eyes. He +didn't try to bluff; he knew it was useless.</p> + +<p>Rick hurried to find the hotel manager, who directed them to a tool +closet on the outside of the hotel near the parking lot. It had no +windows, a single, small ventilating duct, and only one door. Connel was +pushed inside, and the door locked. Hartson Brant pocketed the key.</p> + +<p>"He'll have to stay there until we find the governor and arrange for +trustworthy policemen," the scientist said. "I'm certain those who have +been guarding the dynamite are all right, but we'd better have the +governor's word for it."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed with the precaution.</p> + +<p>While Esteben Balgos was being briefed on the day's happenings, Zircon +and Williams arrived and had to be briefed, too. Twice, small earth +temblors interrupted the conference.</p> + +<p>"Something is happening below us," Balgos said. "I wish we knew exactly +what!"</p> + +<p>The magma was pushing up relentlessly, melting its way into the channels +Williams had marked on his sketch. In one of the channels was a large +pocket in which water had collected over the centuries. Perhaps there +was enough water to fill a substantial pond, perhaps even a small lake. +There was also room in the porous rock for expansion, because the pocket +was not entirely full. The magma neared the pocket, meeting small +quantities of water on its way. Each meeting resulted in a small +explosion, and a temblor that was felt far above.</p> + +<p>Then—the magma's heat turned the pocket itself to steam. The steam +expanded in a mighty explosion that sent great shock waves smashing +through the earth.</p> + +<p>Rick Brant's chair went over backward and he fell to a floor that was +shaking like soft mud under him. He heard the crashing of glassware and +the sounds of furniture falling. And he heard the ominous rumble of the +building itself, splitting, cracking, falling.</p> + +<p>"Out!" Hartson Brant yelled. "Get outside!"</p> + +<p>Rick scrambled to hands and knees and saw that Scotty was bending to +pick him up. He waved his pal away and got to his feet, fighting to keep +his balance on the shaking floor. He was scared stiff, but far from +paralyzed. Nor did he lose his head. He made sure the scientists were on +their way before he followed them through the nearest door.</p> + +<p>"Back!" Scotty yelled.</p> + +<p>The group paused as a section of building cornice crashed to the ground +just outside. Dust billowed. Scotty sprang through the opening and +looked up.</p> + +<p>"Okay," he called. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters poured through the doorway out onto the parking lot. +They were in time to see another section of cornice break loose and fall +to the ground. Hotel employees were pouring out, too, gathering in the +parking lot beyond the reach of the crumbling hotel.</p> + +<p>Rick saw a great gap appear in one wall and waited breathlessly for the +wall to fall, but it held. The ground still shook under his feet, and +his insides were producing the queasy symptoms of motion sickness. Then +the earth steadied again, leaving only a mild temblor that soon +vanished.</p> + +<p>The group looked at each other, white-faced. The earthquake had been by +far the worst yet. There was even some doubt that the hotel was still +safe. Rick, seeing the manager busy counting noses to make sure all his +employees were out, gasped, "Connel!"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant ran for the tool closet, the others behind him. The +scientist reached for the key, ready to let Connel out.</p> + +<p>The wall was tilted crazily. The door had sprung wide open.</p> + +<p>Connel was gone!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>The Rising Magma</h3> + + +<p>The Spindrift group held a council of war in their office-conference +room. Inspection of the hotel had shown that damage was not as serious +as first expected. The cornices, held only by mortar, had fallen, and +the rear exterior wall had lost its brick veneer. The structural part of +the wall, while cracked, was strong enough to hold up. The veneer was +unsafe, however, and it was agreed that all should stay well away from +the area where Connel had been imprisoned.</p> + +<p>"We must begin another series of shots at once," Hartson Brant said. +"It's apparent that the magma has moved, and rapidly. But until we get +more tracings, we won't know in what direction. Meanwhile, we <i>must</i> +find the governor!"</p> + +<p>"How?" Rick asked. "How can we find him?"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant smiled at his son. "It seems to me that you and Scotty +have acquired considerable reputations as detectives, Rick. I suggest +you earn them. Find the governor for us. We will give you Honorario as +an interpreter, but it will be up to you. The rest of us must operate as +best we can short-handed."</p> + +<p>"How about Connel?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>The scientist shrugged. "He's the least of my worries. Let him develop +his diamond mine. My concern is with this island and the people on it. +If our guess is right, Connel will be lucky to have a few days in which +to work—scarcely enough to do much mining."</p> + +<p>"Any ideas?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Talk to the governor's family, and to his personal staff. Stay +away from Guevara. Once Connel tells him we know about the diamonds, he +may become dangerous. Do what you can, boys. After all, this isn't a big +island and the governor must be somewhere on it."</p> + +<p>"If he's alive," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant looked at the boy and his face grew grim. "Yes," he +agreed. "If he's alive."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty had always relished the adventure and excitement of +trying to solve a mystery. Sometimes the success or failure of a project +had hung in the balance, but this one was different. The fate of an +island and nearly 32,000 people depended on solving the riddle of the +missing governor. Rick felt the weight of the responsibility.</p> + +<p>The plan he and Scotty developed was simple and logical. They would +start with the governor's movements on the morning of his disappearance +and continue from there.</p> + +<p>At the governor's residence they learned from his butler that Montoya +had left the house promptly at eight o'clock, as he did every morning. +He drove himself, in a small English car that he used for personal +transportation. But, as they knew from the visit to the executive +offices, he had never arrived.</p> + +<p>The next stop was to determine his route. It wasn't difficult; there was +only one main road from the outskirts of Calor into town, although there +were many side streets.</p> + +<p>With Honorario as interpreter, they began the time-consuming job of +questioning householders along the route.</p> + +<p>Honorario was personally interested in the job. He had learned from them +of Connel's perfidy, and he said quietly, "Ruiz is my friend. We do not +yet know if he will live, or, if he lives, if he will be a whole man +again. I owe it to him to do my best in this matter. You may depend on +me."</p> + +<p>Not until they had reached the outskirts of Calor did they find what had +happened. Through Honorario, an old lady who had seen it all through her +window told them the story.</p> + +<p>"A big military truck was across the road," Honorario reported. "It was +keeping cars from passing. The little car of the governor came, and it +had to stop. An officer got in with the governor. The truck moved away +and the governor drove off. The old woman thinks the officer was +pointing a gun at the governor. She did not know it was the governor, +but her words to describe him were enough."</p> + +<p>Rick whistled. "Military? Does that mean the governor got caught by some +kind of revolutionary group?"</p> + +<p>Honorario shrugged. "Who knows? But I have heard of no revolution. The +governor is popular, and the people are satisfied. But you should know, +my friends, that on this island the <i>comandante</i> of our small military +is the lieutenant governor. I think we are not dealing here with +revolution, but with Señor Jaime Guevara!"</p> + +<p>"We're stuck," Scotty said. "I suppose we could keep on asking and try +to get a line on where the governor's car went, but that's pretty +hopeless. Honorario, can we possibly find someone who is loyal to the +governor and who knows the island?"</p> + +<p>Honorario thought it over. "In such a case," he replied, "there is only +one way to be sure. It is, you understand, a matter of family. Among San +Luzians, the family is first and all else is after. So, I think we +should see the nephew of the governor. He is <i>el capitán</i> Ricardo +Montoya, who is deputy of police for the western part of the island."</p> + +<p>Captain Ricardo Montoya was young, capable, and alert. Honorario found +him in the police headquarters in central Calor and invited him to join +the boys for coffee at a nearby café.</p> + +<p>Rick looked the officer over as he entered the restaurant, and he liked +what he saw. Montoya was built like a middleweight fighter, and his +white uniform was spotless. He was lighter in complexion than most San +Luzians, but even the wisp of mustache on his upper lip couldn't +conceal the firmness of his face.</p> + +<p>He greeted them courteously, in good English. "<i>A sus órdenes, señores.</i> +This Honorario says you wish to speak with me?"</p> + +<p>"We place ourselves in your hands, Señor <i>Capitán</i>," Rick said quietly. +"Because you are the governor's nephew and a police official, we must +assume that you are completely loyal to him."</p> + +<p>The officer's brilliant dark eyes flashed. "It would be a grave insult +to assume otherwise, señor. He is the brother of my father."</p> + +<p>"Good," Rick said. "No insult was intended. I think we had better tell +you the entire story, then we can discuss what must be done." He started +at the beginning, with the arrival of Balgos at Spindrift, and ended +with the day's events.</p> + +<p>"You have cast much light on what has happened," the captain stated. "I +am grateful. Now, señores, you must not believe I have been idle. I had +already discovered how my uncle was kidnaped. It was clear that some +military element was involved, but I rejected the idea of revolution. +The motive puzzled me. It is puzzling no longer, thanks to you. Also, +while I suspected Guevara, there was no proof. My suspicion, you +understand, was based on his character."</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea where the governor was taken?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"I have now," Montoya said grimly. "The best possibility—and about the +only place we have not looked—is Casa Guevara."</p> + +<p>The boys exchanged glances. "Then we ought to make up a party of loyal +people and invade the place," Rick stated.</p> + +<p>"No. If I know this man Guevara, any such move would mean the death of +my uncle, if he still lives. We must find some other way."</p> + +<p>"Can you find loyal people?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"A few. You must understand most people do not feel as I do about +Guevara. He is popular. Who knows where the loyalty of the people lies, +between individuals? One cannot be certain. So, I must use only men +loyal to me. There are such."</p> + +<p>Montoya rose. "We will be allies, since we fight for the same thing, +which is San Luz. Let me see what kind of plan can be made. Go back to +your hotel, and I will come for you there. We will work this thing out +together." He shook hands with both boys, turned, and strode from the +restaurant.</p> + +<p>Rick paid for their coffee and the boys joined Honorario, who was +waiting outside in the jeep. "He's a good, tough <i>hombre</i>," Rick told +the San Luzian. "You made a good choice."</p> + +<p>"I am glad," Honorario said. "Someday he will be governor, like his +uncle."</p> + +<p>While the boys were in Calor, the scientists had conducted another +series of shots. The tracings were spread out on the table when they +returned, and the group was engrossed in checking them over.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty waited, watching. They knew from the quiet voices and +tense attitudes that something serious had been found. Then Williams +began to mark in the data on his sketch.</p> + +<p>"This is where the explosion took place," he said. "Probably the magma +hit a quantity of water as it entered the new channel. Notice that the +channel is one we marked on here earlier as a probable path. So far, +we're guessing right. Now, my estimate is that the magma will move fast, +stopping only when it reaches this dike of solid basalt."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant wiped his face with his handkerchief. "It looks bad, Jeff. +The magma will reach the solid layer before we could possibly get to it +with a tunnel."</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon answered him. "It means, Rick, that we no longer have time +to dig a vent. It means the people of this island will be lucky if they +can get away in time!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>Armed Revolt</h3> + + +<p>David Riddle had fired the last series of shots from Connel's stations. +By unanimous consent, the last station at the volcanic pipe had been +omitted. Two stations would have to do for now. All agreed it would be +foolish to jeopardize a man by going near the guarded third station.</p> + +<p>Since Riddle had the longest distance to travel, he had not arrived when +the boys returned to the hotel. Now, as Zircon finished his ominous +statement, the government geologist strode into the room.</p> + +<p>"We're in trouble," he stated. "I'm only a few minutes ahead of +soldiers. I came out of the trail onto the road and saw them just coming +off the dirt road onto the pavement. They shouted for me to stop, but I +wasn't of a mind to tangle with troops. I came as fast as I could."</p> + +<p>"Are they coming here?" Hartson Brant asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"They're either coming here or marching into Calor. Those are the only +two places the road leads. My guess is that they're marching here."</p> + +<p>Rick said swiftly, "Connel got to Guevara! And Guevara is going to make +sure we don't spread the word!"</p> + +<p>"Rick is probably right," Zircon snapped. "I suggest we clear out. If +we're captured, we'll be unable to operate at all."</p> + +<p>"Grab the supplies and get into the jeeps," Hartson Brant ordered. +"Quickly! Rick, you and Scotty move fast. Get your stuff into the jeep, +then take as much dynamite as you can. Go up the road to where you have +a good view and act as lookouts. Give us as much warning as you can. +We'll take the rest of the dynamite and the equipment in the other +jeeps!"</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty dashed to their room. They threw clothes into their +bags, slammed them shut without bothering to pack neatly, and hurried +out into the parking lot. Rick backed the jeep up to the pump shed while +Scotty ran to the door. To the policeman on duty he explained only that +they were in a great hurry.</p> + +<p>The boys took time to load six cases, plus one of the detonators and a +roll of wire, then they got into the jeep and roared off up the road +toward the pumice works.</p> + +<p>"We've probably got ten minutes," Scotty estimated. "If they're marching +at a normal pace, it would take them a little less than a half hour to +walk from the pumice works."</p> + +<p>Rick drove a half mile up the road to where he had a good view of +several hundred yards and stopped the jeep. "We'll be able to spot them +from here." He turned the jeep around, ready to run as soon as the +troops came in sight. "Where do you suppose the soldiers came from?"</p> + +<p>"Probably from a camp near San Souci," Scotty guessed. "Otherwise, +they'd have come up the main road from Calor. There's probably a camp on +the western shore somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Wish we had some way of slowing them down," Rick mused. "We need a +mortar or a few military rockets. But all we've got is some dynamite, +and we can't throw that very far."</p> + +<p>"Why do we have to throw it?" Scotty asked excitedly. "Listen. We'll put +a charge by the side of the road and string wire back a way. Then we can +park the jeep off the road next to the detonator. When they get within +range, we'll push the plunger and run. We can time it so they won't get +blown up, but they may think they're being shelled."</p> + +<p>"That should do it," Rick agreed. He shifted into gear and moved ahead +slowly, searching for a likely spot. There was one a few yards ahead +where a clump of wild banana plants would shield the jeep from view. He +backed the jeep in next to the banana plants and made sure he could get +out again easily, then he took the coil of wire and began unwinding it +along the edge of the road. Scotty took out his scout knife and began to +pry open a case of dynamite.</p> + +<p>Rick fed wire until he reached a spot a hundred yards up the road, then +took out his knife and cut through the thin stuff. He started back to +help Scotty and was just in time to see the dark-haired boy with a stick +of dynamite in his mouth!</p> + +<p>Rick gasped. He started to run toward Scotty, but his pal waved him +back. Then, as Rick watched, horrified, he saw Scotty take the stick out +of his mouth and motion for him to come ahead.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" Rick demanded. "I thought for a minute you'd lost +all your buttons and started eating dynamite."</p> + +<p>"We didn't have crimpers," Scotty explained. "The only way I could get +the cap on was to crimp it with my teeth."</p> + +<p>Rick turned white. He gulped. No wonder Scotty looked a little pale!</p> + +<p>"It worked," Scotty said, a little shakily. "But I don't want to do it +as a regular thing."</p> + +<p>"I should hope not!" Rick exclaimed fervently. "Give me that stick. I'll +connect up. Will one be enough?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty," Scotty said. "Get going. I'll connect up the detonator."</p> + +<p>By the time Rick had placed the dynamite and connected the wires, Scotty +was ready, the detonator in the front seat of the jeep between his legs.</p> + +<p>"I wish we had some regular fuse," he said. "Then we could put short +fuses on a few sticks, light them, and throw them."</p> + +<p>Rick stared at him. "And crimp all the caps with your teeth? Boy, I'm +glad we haven't any fuse!"</p> + +<p>Scotty's estimate was two minutes off. It took twelve minutes for the +troops to come into sight. Watching from behind the banana plants, the +boys saw them hiking down the road like a bunch of tenderfeet on their +first five-mile hike. It was obvious that discipline in the San Luzian +army was slack. The men wore sloppy brown uniforms and a variety of +hats. They carried rifles and there were bandoliers of cartridges across +their chests and grenades at their belts.</p> + +<p>"Can you see?" Rick whispered.</p> + +<p>"Fine," Scotty whispered back.</p> + +<p>They sat in the jeep, waiting. Rick kept the motor idling, knowing that +the sound would be inaudible a short distance away.</p> + +<p>The troops reached the point the boys had selected. It was a big papaya +about fifty feet beyond the dynamite. Scotty pushed the plunger. The +dynamite exploded.</p> + +<p>Rick raced the motor, then shifted into gear. Scotty cut the wires loose +with one flick of his knife and Rick lurched onto the road and fled +toward the hotel as fast as he could accelerate.</p> + +<p>Through the rear-view mirror he could see the troops scatter and knew +they had slowed things down for a few minutes at least. The last view he +had was of one man, evidently an officer, trying to rally the troops +again.</p> + +<p>Rick rounded the turn leading to the hotel grounds and saw that the +scientists were waiting in the jeeps, ready to roll. He slowed long +enough to yell, "Let's go," then led the way down the road to the front +of the hotel and into Calor.</p> + +<p>The next problem was to find a place to stay. Honorario advised staying +away from the big hotels on the beach and suggested a smaller but quite +comfortable hostelry on the outskirts of town. Rick was pleased to see +that it was located right on the water, at the point where the long San +Luz beach began. But he doubted there would be time for swimming.</p> + +<p>The Hotel Internationale was comfortable, and more than adequate. The +scientists congratulated each other on being able to get rooms. +Fortunately, as the manager explained, it was not yet full <i>turista</i> +time. If they were prepared to double up, two to a room, he could +accommodate them.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty drew a room on the second floor. The bath was down the +hall, but they didn't mind that. Hartson Brant and Hobart Zircon shared +the largest room, and there was a large porch that could be used as a +meeting place.</p> + +<p>The hotel also had a basement room that the manager was glad to turn +over for the equipment—at a slight fee, naturally. But he boggled when +the boys appeared with cases of dynamite on their shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Leave it to me," Honorario suggested. "I will find a place that will be +safe."</p> + +<p>Rick was glad to leave it to Honorario. He was anxious to get in touch +with Montoya, to explain what had happened. The police station was not +far away. He and Scotty hiked over and found the young captain alone in +his office.</p> + +<p>Montoya listened to their story, and his face became stern. "There are +two possibilities," he said finally. "Either Guevara is mounting a big +revolution, or he is interested only in the diamonds. If it is the +diamonds, then he probably will keep the troops near the mountain, and +the city may not be bothered at all."</p> + +<p>"How can we find out?" Rick asked. "Except by waiting to see if troops +show up here."</p> + +<p>Montoya stared through the window at the tiny harbor of Calor. The boys +waited while he thought it over.</p> + +<p>Finally the captain swiveled around and faced them. "We can find out, if +you will take a chance. I do not think it is much of a chance, really, +but it may be. Let us think of things from Guevara's point of view. He +knows that you know of these diamonds. He also knows, because he is +intelligent, that you surely realize the danger of talking about them. +So, what would he do with you if he caught you? Perhaps detain you for a +while, but no more. He knows that harm to foreigners would bring down +trouble he could not handle. We would have Venezuela, Colombia, Great +Britain, and the United States in here. The first three might bring in +troops on the pretext of restoring order, but actually to back up their +claims to the island. The United States would bring great pressure on +all three to do something."</p> + +<p>"It makes sense," Rick agreed. "So you don't think we're in any great +danger from Guevara?"</p> + +<p>"No. If you had been at the hotel, he would have kept you there, I +think. But you were not, so we must see if he is prepared to follow you. +My own opinion is that he wants to be let alone to mine diamonds, while +he has time. It does not take an invasion of Calor to do this."</p> + +<p>"What do you want us to do?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Simply take a ride to the hotel, or as far as you can go. See what the +situation really is. If I, or my men, should try this it would surely +mean shooting. But you are <i>extranjeros</i>,—foreigners. You can get away +with it."</p> + +<p>"You hope," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Montoya's teeth flashed in the first smile they had seen on his face. +"Indeed," he agreed. "I hope."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>Night Patrol</h3> + + +<p>The jeep rolled out of Calor on the highway back to the Hot Springs +Hotel. Scotty drove, while Rick relaxed in the seat beside him. They had +taken time for a sandwich and coffee, because they were not sure when +they might eat again.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant and the scientists were at work on detailed analysis of +the day's shots. It would take some time. When Rick told his father +about the conversation with Captain Montoya, the scientist had nodded +agreement. "It sounds like good sense, especially since there has been +no sign of an invasion of the city. The troops could have been here +before this. Go ahead, but be cautious. Always leave your escape route +open."</p> + +<p>It was good advice, and the boys intended to take it.</p> + +<p>Scotty drove in silence for a few minutes, then said, "We're nearly at +the fork in the road. Keep an eye open."</p> + +<p>"Will do," Rick assured him. The left fork was the main, paved road to +San Souci. The right fork led up to the hotel.</p> + +<p>Scotty reached the fork and slowed.</p> + +<p>"There!" Rick pointed.</p> + +<p>Twenty yards up the right fork there was a barricade fence, newly made +of small logs. Lounging against the fence were a half dozen soldiers.</p> + +<p>"We could go left to San Souci, but not to the hotel," Rick said. "Now +what?"</p> + +<p>"Hold on and be ready for a quick take-off," Scotty muttered. He turned +the jeep into the left fork, then shifted and backed around and up the +right fork to where the soldiers waited.</p> + +<p>One soldier, with sergeant's stripes on his sleeve, sauntered over to +them. He carried a rifle, but Rick noted that he didn't hold it at the +ready. The boy called, "Do you speak English, sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"Leetle beet," the soldier replied. He smiled cordially. "What you +weesh, señores?"</p> + +<p>"Can we get to the hotel?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"No can, señor."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Ees ... how you say? ... big talk at hotel. Ees <i>el gobernador y</i> ... +and ... <i>el comandante</i> Guevara. Also more mens. No one goes to hotel +long time. Maybe when talk feenish."</p> + +<p>"The governor and lieutenant governor are having a big conference at the +hotel?" Rick asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"Ees so, señor."</p> + +<p>"How long will this conference last?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>The sergeant shrugged. "<i>Quién sabe?</i> Maybe two day, maybe two +<i>semana</i> ... how you say?..."</p> + +<p>"Weeks," Rick supplied. "What are they talking about?"</p> + +<p>"Ees ... how you say?... <i>seguridad nacional</i>. Thees ees what <i>el +comandante</i> speaks to us."</p> + +<p>Rick glanced at Scotty. "National security conference. Those can last a +long time." He looked at the sergeant again. "We could go to San Souci, +and from there to the hotel, maybe."</p> + +<p>"<i>Pero no</i>, señor. That way also ees guard. Ees no way get to hotel. +More good you not try, eh? <i>Soldados</i> at hotel, they maybe shoots."</p> + +<p>"Now we know," Scotty said. "Nothing more to be gained here."</p> + +<p>"Did you see the governor?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"No, señor. But I saw <i>el comandante</i> Guevara. But eef he ees here, also +<i>el gobernador</i>. <i>Cómo no?</i>"</p> + +<p>"I guess so," Rick agreed. "<i>Mil gracias</i>, sergeant. <i>Vaya con Dios.</i> A +thousand thanks. Go with God."</p> + +<p>"<i>Y ustedes</i>," the sergeant returned politely. "And you, señores."</p> + +<p>Scotty let the clutch out and the jeep moved ahead. "Now to call on +Captain Montoya," he said. "Right?"</p> + +<p>"Right," Rick agreed. "Interesting. Guevara tells the troops he and the +governor are having a security conference and should not be interrupted. +So guards are posted to protect the hotel. And none of the poor +<i>soldados</i> realize that blocking the roads also keeps people away from +the volcanic pipe, so Guevara and Connel can start work."</p> + +<p>"With Guevara's own men to do the dirty work," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>"Too true. Maybe they even have soldiers on the job. I know what else +the soldiers are guarding, too. Probably without knowing it."</p> + +<p>Scotty turned to look at him. "You thinking the same thing I am?"</p> + +<p>"Yep. Somewhere behind that guarded perimeter is the governor. And until +we get him out, we're helpless."</p> + +<p>"Then," Scotty announced, "we'll just have to get him out."</p> + +<p>The jeep almost flew down the road to Calor. Scotty wheeled it through +the narrow streets and drew up at the police station. In a moment they +were reporting to Captain Montoya.</p> + +<p>The young officer listened, then smacked a fist into his palm. "<i>Bueno!</i> +This is good, <i>amigos</i>. We will let Guevara and your Connel have the +diamonds, eh? They can use the entire army to guard the mine, if they +wish. I hope they do. That means we have the rest of the island in which +to maneuver. I have already sent one of my most trusted men to approach +the diamond pipe from the north, through Redondo. That way we will know +the exact limits."</p> + +<p>"But they've got the army," Rick objected. "Where does that leave us?"</p> + +<p>"Free to operate in other ways," Montoya said. "The army is occupied, +no? Let them stay that way."</p> + +<p>His keen eyes examined the two critically. Rick felt a little +uncomfortable at the penetrating stare. Then Montoya smiled. "I do not +know you," he said flatly. "But I have certain evidence of the kind of +young men you are. First, you came to this island. Why? On a mission of +mercy, in answer to my uncle's call. It was unselfish, and it was also +dangerous. Then, tonight, you took the chance of finding the roadblock. +Also, though this may surprise you, we have heard something of the +Spindrift Scientific Foundation even here on this island."</p> + +<p>Rick was surprised. He knew the Foundation had an international +reputation, but he had thought it was limited to scientists.</p> + +<p>"So, I have some basis for what I now ask of you," Montoya added. "There +is no time to collect those of my men who are completely loyal. It is +because they are scattered, searching for some trace of my uncle. I do +not wish to take time to wait until they report in."</p> + +<p>"What do you want us to do?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"It is simple, and not so simple. A large party cannot invade the +perimeter Guevara has established, but a very few can perhaps do it. We +will be that few. We will go to Casa Guevara. And, if we are lucky, we +will rescue my uncle. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>The boys exchanged glances. Rick spoke for both of them. "We're with +you."</p> + +<p>Montoya didn't have to reply. His warm handshake said everything there +was to say.</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "I've had some experience in nighttime operations. We +will need dark clothes, and something to blacken our faces. We will need +weapons. Not guns. If we get into a shooting scrape it will bring the +whole army down on us."</p> + +<p>"I agree." Montoya opened his desk drawer and drew out a policeman's +night stick. He handed it to Scotty. "How about this?"</p> + +<p>Scotty hefted it, grinned, and handed it to Rick. It was heavy, and +perfectly balanced. Rick guessed it had been drilled and the end filled +with lead. "One good thing about this," he said. "No moving parts to get +out of order."</p> + +<p>Montoya smiled. "True. We will each have one, and I will take my pistol +as a last resort. Let us look at the map and memorize it. We will have +to go through the jungle to reach the house, and it would be disastrous +to lose our way."</p> + +<p>"Get a compass," Scotty requested. "We can set a compass course and hit +it right on the nose."</p> + +<p>Rick looked at his pal. "Marine training?"</p> + +<p>"Nope." Scotty grinned. "Boy Scout. But it will come in handy. I think I +could take you there anyway, but we'd better have a compass to be sure."</p> + +<p>The three bent over the map and worked out the approach to Casa Guevara. +For one thing, they agreed to approach as close as possible by jeep. If +they found the governor, transportation would be needed. He could not be +as fast on foot as might be necessary, because of his age. Besides, they +had no idea of his present physical condition.</p> + +<p>It was dark when they rolled out of Calor, Rick driving. All three were +dressed in dark clothes, and each had a night stick in his belt. +Montoya's pistol was hidden in a shoulder holster.</p> + +<p>At the officer's direction, they turned toward the airport, passed it, +and headed toward the lighthouse at the extreme southern tip of the +island. The road led past the light and along the southern shore, a +hundred yards from the sea. Then, as they reached their first turning +point, Montoya said, "Slowly. It should be about here."</p> + +<p>After a moment he found it, a pair of ruts through the rolling farm +land. Rick knew from his study of the map that it was a road on which +bananas were hauled from the plantations. It cut across to the main road +to San Souci. By taking this route, they would miss the check point near +the hotel.</p> + +<p>The road was bumpy but passable. Rick kept a steady speed in spite of +the jouncing it gave his passengers. They could take it.</p> + +<p>Presently there was blacktop ahead. They had reached the road to San +Souci. Rick pulled a flashlight from his pocket and pointed it at the +odometer, counting off the tenths of a mile as he headed toward the +town. When he reached seven-tenths he stopped the jeep.</p> + +<p>"Turnoff point," he said. "From now on, we steer our way through the +boondocks. Any preferred way, Captain?"</p> + +<p>Montoya shrugged. "There is no road, or even a path. Do what you can."</p> + +<p>"Okay. Scotty, make sure we head due north."</p> + +<p>"Check. Make a 90-degree turn and keep going. I'll correct you."</p> + +<p>Rick had only one real concern, and that was that the jeep lights might +be visible from the higher elevation of Casa Guevara. But it had to be +risked. He thought there wasn't really much of a chance, because the +thick foliage would screen them. Besides, anyone seeing the lights might +assume it was soldiers making their rounds.</p> + +<p>The ground was carpeted with fallen vegetation, but it was the dry +season and the earth under the leaves was firm enough. There was little +danger of the jeep bogging down, especially in four-wheel drive.</p> + +<p>Rick picked his way through the jungle, keeping to clear spots as much +as he could. Once it was necessary to butt down a huge banana plant +before he could continue, but mostly it was a matter of plowing through +scrub. Sometimes a palmetto leaf whipped across his face, and once a +thorny bush caught painfully and drew blood.</p> + +<p>Scotty navigated, keeping track of their direction. Now and then he +spoke. "More to the right when you can. We're about a hundred yards to +the left of our base line." Then, "Straighten out. We're on course +again."</p> + +<p>After what seemed to Rick an eternity of plowing through the heavy +growth, Scotty said quietly, "Pick a place to turn around, then kill the +lights and motor."</p> + +<p>Rick reached a place where there was room, swung the wheels hard, +backed around, and put the jeep in its own tracks facing the other way. +He turned off the lights and cut the motor switch. The silence and +darkness flooded in.</p> + +<p>"Just sit still until our eyes adjust," Scotty said, very quietly. "If +I've figured right, we're about a hundred yards from the dirt road, just +about in front of the Guevara driveway. We'd better walk the rest of the +way, in case of guards."</p> + +<p>Rick waited until the blackness lessened. His pupils were fully dilated +now, and he could see surprisingly well. There was a moon, but at the +moment it was behind a cloud bank. When it emerged, he would be able to +see perfectly.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," Scotty said. "No more talking now. When I hold up my hand, +stop and wait for me."</p> + +<p>The ex-Marine took the lead, Montoya following and Rick bringing up the +rear. He took the night stick from his belt and hefted it. The weight +was comforting in his hand.</p> + +<p>Scotty found his way with the ease that Rick always admired. Their steps +were noiseless on the carpeted jungle floor. Presently Scotty held up +his hand, and Montoya and Rick stopped, waiting. Scotty disappeared +ahead of them.</p> + +<p>The seconds ticked by. Mosquitoes found them and whined around their +heads. Neither moved.</p> + +<p>Scotty returned as silently as he had gone. Beckoning them close, he +whispered, "One guard at the gateposts. Give me one minute, then walk +forward until you reach the road. Call to him in Spanish, Captain. I +want to be sure his attention is on you."</p> + +<p>"I understand," Montoya said softly.</p> + +<p>Rick put a finger on his pulse and began counting. He could tell his +pulse was a little fast. When the count reached ninety he tapped Montoya +on the shoulder. But the officer was already moving.</p> + +<p>Rick followed close behind, the night stick held in a palm that had +grown sweaty with tension. The San Luzian picked his way carefully, but +he moved at a good speed. Then, suddenly, he stopped. Rick peered past +him and saw the lighter color of the dirt road.</p> + +<p>Montoya took a breath, then he called clearly, "<i>Hola, amigo! Qué +pasa?</i>"</p> + +<p>Across the way a figure rose, rifle ready. A suspicious voice called, +"<i>Quién va?</i>"</p> + +<p>There was a soft but definite sound, like a pumpkin dropping on a hard +floor. The guard crumpled.</p> + +<p>Montoya and Rick moved to Scotty's side with long strides. Scotty was +already tying the guard hand and foot with his own belt and rifle sling. +Then he took out a handkerchief and tied it into place as a gag. The +guard could breathe past it, but yelling would get him little—when he +woke up.</p> + +<p>"Help me get him into the brush," Scotty whispered. In a moment the +guard was out of sight of any casual glance. There wasn't time to hide +him with care.</p> + +<p>"Up the driveway," Scotty whispered. "I'll lead. When we get near the +house, there probably will be other guards, so we'll have to leave the +road and take to the bush again. Let's go."</p> + +<p>It was an eerie walk. Rick kept expecting a challenge from up ahead, but +apparently there was no guard on the driveway itself. It wound through +the jungle for a good quarter of a mile before it began to widen out +into a clearing.</p> + +<p>Scotty motioned and led the way off the road. The march through the +jungle began again. Rick plodded ahead, with complete faith in Scotty. +He knew his pal was taking them in a circle, but he couldn't have said +exactly where they were in relation to the house or the driveway.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, there were lights ahead!</p> + +<p>Scotty moved a few feet more, then sank down into the dense cover. Rick +inched to his side, and saw that Montoya was doing the same.</p> + +<p>They had a clear view of the two-story house and the surrounding +clearing. It was a hacienda very much like those Rick had seen in +Mexico, stucco on the outside, probably with heavy brick walls.</p> + +<p>And there were guards! He saw the glow of two cigarette butts on the +front porch, and another toward the rear. Three so far. Then a figure +crossed through the light from a window. Four!</p> + +<p>The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked away. The three +were not alone; hordes of night insects joined them and made the wait +miserable.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked +away</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>Scotty drew back until his lips were close to Rick's ear. "I'm going to +circle the house once. Keep watching."</p> + +<p>When Montoya would have followed Scotty, Rick put a hand on his arm and +whispered that they should wait. The two concentrated on watching the +windows and the guards. Rick guessed that Guevara was not at home. So +far as he could tell, no one was inside the house, at least on his side. +There was light in one upstairs window, but the angle was wrong; he +couldn't see inside.</p> + +<p>The two guards on the front porch stayed there. That was probably their +station. Another guard seemed to have the rear corner of the house. The +fourth also seemed to be assigned to the rear, but he moved around more +than his compatriot. Rick could see that the four were not soldiers. At +least they were not in uniform. Probably they were Guevara's personal +employees. Bodyguards, perhaps.</p> + +<p>Scotty returned, silent as a wraith in the night. He sank to the ground +between the two and whispered, "I don't think there's anyone home. Just +the four guards. If the governor is here, he's in that upstairs room."</p> + +<p>"What do we do?" Rick whispered.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to take it from the rear. It will be tough, because there's +not much cover."</p> + +<p>Scotty began to outline his plan, then stopped suddenly. Rick had a +strange feeling in his stomach again, and he realized that the earth was +trembling under him. The tremor grew in strength, and from close by +there was a snapping sound as a dead limb broke under the vibration and +dropped to the jungle floor.</p> + +<p>"Now!" Scotty whispered sibilantly. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>Instantly Rick and Montoya followed the ex-Marine's lead, withdrawing +into the denser brush, then rising and hurrying after him, crouched over +and careful not to make a sound.</p> + +<p>Scotty led them in a wide circle that brought them finally to the rear +of the house. Rick sized up the situation and saw only two trees that +offered any cover. The ground was still trembling, although slightly. +Then, as he crouched, the temblor increased again.</p> + +<p>The guards were disturbed. The two in the rear moved back, away from the +house, as though expecting it to fall on them. One of them spoke in +Spanish and the other replied curtly.</p> + +<p>Montoya sucked in his breath. He whispered, "The first one asked if they +should not get the old man out, and the second said let him fall with +the house."</p> + +<p>The two guards were well back from the house now, staring upward at the +second floor. If the stucco started to go, it would be high on the house +wall at the roof line.</p> + +<p>Scotty touched Rick on the arm, then rose and moved like a dark ghost, +straight across the open glade toward the guards. Scotty reached the +tree nearest the house and slipped into its shadow.</p> + +<p>Rick sized things up. The other tree was perhaps thirty feet away from +Scotty, and about ten feet closer to the jungle's edge. The guards were +still looking at the house. Rick moved, bent low, night stick firmly +clutched in his hand. He sensed that Montoya was close behind him.</p> + +<p>He straightened up in the shadow of the tree, his eyes on Scotty. His +pulse was speeding and his breathing was short and shallow. Montoya +crouched next to him, ready to move.</p> + +<p>Rick saw Scotty bend and pick up something. He saw Scotty wave toward +them, then saw Scotty throw something. The object crashed into the +stucco of the house high on the second floor, then it tumbled to the +ground. Scotty had thrown a rock!</p> + +<p>The guards stiffened, thinking that the sound was the first evidence +that the house was falling. Scotty moved like a streak, and Rick charged +forward with club held high. Montoya was even faster.</p> + +<p>The two guards, interested only in the house, never knew what hit them. +Rick eased one to the ground as his knees crumpled after Montoya's +vicious swing. Scotty had the other; he had knocked him out and caught +him before he fell.</p> + +<p>The three left the guards and hurried to the back door. Montoya +motioned, and took over the lead. He snaked the pistol out of his +shoulder holster and held it ready.</p> + +<p>For an instant they paused in what seemed to be a pantry, then moved +into the kitchen beyond. Rick could see a hallway leading straight to +the front door. The door was solid wood, and it was closed.</p> + +<p>Montoya gestured with the pistol and led the way. Then, motioning the +boys back, he boldly opened the door and strode out.</p> + +<p>The surprised front guards stared into the pistol muzzle. Montoya spoke +in crisp Spanish that Rick couldn't follow, but the meaning was amply +clear. The guards' hands shot high. Montoya stepped aside and the guards +walked into the house like lambs.</p> + +<p>"Tie them!" Montoya snapped.</p> + +<p>A cord from the Venetian blinds was the most convenient tie material. +Scotty cut it loose with a sweep of his scout knife and slashed it into +two pieces. While Montoya held his pistol on the guards the boys tied +their arms behind them, lashing their elbows together.</p> + +<p>"Now," the police captain said, "let us find my uncle."</p> + +<p>The stairs led up from the hallway. Montoya took them two at a time, the +boys close behind. At the top of the stairs, the officer called in +Spanish. There was an answer from a room on the left.</p> + +<p>The door was locked, but the key was hanging from a hook on the wall. In +a moment the two Montoyas were greeting each other with a warm embrace, +and then with a more formal handshake.</p> + +<p>The governor greeted the two Spindrifters with a bow and a handshake, +and then inquired, "What good providence brought you here, nephew mine?"</p> + +<p>"We knew you were here," Montoya said, "because there was no other place +where Guevara could have hid you."</p> + +<p>"Let's discuss it later," Rick urged. "Those guards out back will be +coming to, and we want to be out of here."</p> + +<p>"You are right," Montoya agreed instantly. "We are not yet in the clear, +señor uncle. We must hurry."</p> + +<p>"Into the jungle," Scotty said. "Once in the brush and we're okay. +They'll never catch us then."</p> + +<p>Montoya hefted the pistol he still held in his left hand.</p> + +<p>"It will be better for them if they do not," he said quietly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>Stalemate</h3> + + +<p>Governor Luis Montoya paced the floor of his office. Seated in the +comfortable chairs were the Spindrift scientists, Captain Montoya, and +the boys.</p> + +<p>"We are in a difficult situation," the governor stated. "Guevara +controls the army, and the army controls the area in which you must +work. We need the army if we are to evacuate the island. My nephew and +his fellow police are efficient, but their number is too small."</p> + +<p>"Is there any possibility of getting outside help?" Hartson Brant asked.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not. Our difficult political situation makes it almost +impossible to obtain any fast action. We would need to approach three +governments at the same time. They would have to have conferences, to +agree on how the help was to be given. Each would be afraid to let the +other help, you see, for fear of giving up its claim to sovereignty over +us. No, I'm afraid we must find our own solution."</p> + +<p>"You are the governor," Hobart Zircon pointed out. "Wouldn't the troops +respond to your orders?"</p> + +<p>The governor shrugged. "You can be sure our efficient lieutenant +governor has his own men in key positions. But what you suggest has +occurred to me, and I must make the attempt. First, however, I must +alert the people of the island. The danger must be described to them."</p> + +<p>"How?" Julius Weiss asked.</p> + +<p>"By radio. We have our own government radio here. I think Esteben and I +should go on the air at once. He can describe what is going on under El +Viejo. I will ask the people to assemble at the docks." He turned to his +nephew. "Ricardo, send two of your most trusted men to Redondo and San +Souci. They must persuade the fishermen to load their families and +villagers, then come to Calor. We will need to crowd all fishing boats +for many trips if we are to get the people off."</p> + +<p>"At once, señor," Montoya replied. He hurried to the door and gave +orders to the police guard. The handful of police were now the sole +security force of the island. The chief of police was personally +supervising the government's safety, somewhere outside the building. +Only two officers were still on regular police duty. The rest were +either guarding the executive office or awaiting orders.</p> + +<p>"Where can the people be taken?" Balgos asked.</p> + +<p>"I think we will send them to Curaçao and Bonaire. Those islands are +close, and they belong to the Netherlands. The Dutch are hospitable, no? +And we avoid entanglement with England, Venezuela, and Colombia."</p> + +<p>It sounded reasonable to Rick. He asked, "Aren't there ships in the +harbor? I mean, big ships?"</p> + +<p>"One freighter, and two interisland cargo ships of the C-1 class. All +three fly the flag of Panama. We will have the harbor master speak to +their captain and attempt to hire them. I am sure they will co-operate."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that if you asked for help from the United States they'd send +all available U. S. Navy ships in the area," Dr. David Riddle said.</p> + +<p>The governor smiled warmly. "That is our ace in the hole, as you would +call it, Señor Riddle. The world knows that the Americans are always +ready to help. But perhaps there will be no need. We will see."</p> + +<p>The building shook slightly and Rick waited, holding his breath. But the +temblor subsided. It was the third one within an hour, he thought. The +magma must be moving fast.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, I must get busy. Ricardo, I leave the details of moving +our people in your hands. I will go to the roadblocks and see if these +soldiers can be persuaded that their governor speaks for the people. But +first, Esteben, you and I will go to the government radio and speak to +the people. Our talk will be put on tape, and repeated over and over. +<i>Vamos.</i> Let us go. Time is getting short."</p> + +<p>At Montoya's request, Rick and Scotty had agreed to remain with the +governor, in company with two police sergeants. The scientists returned +to the hotel, to continue their attempts to predict the magma movement +based on data already in hand. New data would be obtained as soon as the +situation cleared up.</p> + +<p>The governor, Balgos, Rick, Scotty, and the governor's secretary drove +in the official car, a huge American import. The two police sergeants +led the way in one of the island's two police cruisers.</p> + +<p>The radio station was only a few blocks away. These were the studios. +The transmitter was on the coast a mile south of Calor. Rick was pleased +to see that the equipment was modern, the staff apparently efficient.</p> + +<p>A musical program was interrupted and the governor and Balgos put on the +air at once. Rick's Spanish was too poor to permit him to follow the +discussion, but he gathered that the governor told the people of the +scientific mission, and then Balgos described the situation. The +governor returned to the mike with a plea for instant evacuation.</p> + +<p>Tape recorders rolled while the speech was on. At the governor's orders, +the tapes would be replayed every hour on the hour from now on.</p> + +<p>It was getting very late. The night was warm and pleasant, and the +clouds had vanished leaving a brilliant moon shining down on San Luz. It +was a lovely island, Rick thought. The greed of two men, Connel and +Guevara, had prevented any possibility of action to save it. Now, +evacuation of the people was the only possibility.</p> + +<p>Ricardo Montoya met the governor's party as they emerged from the +studios. He reported rapidly to his uncle, speaking English in courtesy +to the Americans.</p> + +<p>"Men are on the way to the fishing villages, señor. The harbor master is +speaking to the ships in the harbor, and already one C-1 is agreeing to +take the people. I have spoken with the airlines managers at the +airport, and they are trying to obtain many aircraft from the nearby +cities. Your own aircraft is being made ready for instant take-off."</p> + +<p>It was the first Rick had heard of a government plane. "What kind is +it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A very ancient, but very reliable Douglas, of the DC-3 type. We hold it +in reserve, Rick. Your scientists, the governor, and our police will be +the last to leave the island. I have counted the numbers. If you can +carry four, our plane will carry the rest."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. It was nice to know there would be a way out, even though +he hadn't considered the necessity until that moment. He was glad +Ricardo Montoya was thinking ahead.</p> + +<p>"Now," the governor stated, "I must visit the army."</p> + +<p>"I will go with you," the police captain said instantly.</p> + +<p>"No, Ricardo. There is too much for you to do. I will be safe. There is +no enemy but Guevara. No soldier would harm me."</p> + +<p>Rick admired the little governor's courage, but he wasn't as sure of +their safety as the old man seemed to be. "I think we'd better be +armed," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>Ricardo Montoya had met them in the island's other police cruiser. He +said, "Wait," and hurried to the car. Pulling down the rear seat, he +disclosed a gunrack. From it he drew two riot guns, automatic shotguns +with short barrels.</p> + +<p>"Can you use these?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded an affirmative. "Both Rick and I have fired automatic +shotguns on a skeet range. These can't be much different."</p> + +<p>"They are not. The safety is behind the trigger guard. There is no shell +in the chamber now, but there are nine in the magazine. Go with God, +señores."</p> + +<p>The governor's car with its police escort rolled through the streets of +Calor, en route to the roadblock at the hotel road. Rick and Scotty held +the riot guns, both hoping that they would not be needed.</p> + +<p>The governor chatted calmly, as though this were simply a routine +sightseeing trip. "Few Americans come to San Luz. We had hoped that +perhaps an advertising campaign might bring more of you to our island. +We have much to offer, you will agree. Have you tried our swimming yet? +I appreciate there has been little opportunity for pleasure."</p> + +<p>The boys answered politely, but neither could really get into the swing +of the conversation. It took a kind of experience they did not yet have, +to talk of casual things while en route to what might be genuine danger.</p> + +<p>The governor's secretary called over his shoulder, "There is the +roadblock, señor. How shall I approach?"</p> + +<p>"Drive up to it, Juan. Be very casual."</p> + +<p>Rick fingered the safety on his riot gun. He could see dark figures at +the barricade fence.</p> + +<p>The car drew to a stop. The governor said quietly, "Perhaps you had +better stand by the car. Do not let your guns be seen. If necessary, you +will know what to do."</p> + +<p>One boy got out on either side, leaving the car doors open. The doors +shielded them and the riot guns. The governor got out and walked briskly +to the barricade and spoke in Spanish.</p> + +<p>It was light enough so Rick could see the men at the barricade clearly. +He realized suddenly that they were not dressed as the soldiers had been +earlier; these men seemed to be farmers. But they had rifles, and two +hand grenades hanging from their belts.</p> + +<p>He couldn't follow the exchange in Spanish. The governor was talking in +a quiet voice with one man who was better dressed than the rest. The +man's voice was cultured, but mocking in tone.</p> + +<p>Rick heard the secretary draw in his breath sharply, and he +surreptitiously got ready to pump a shell into the riot gun's chamber. +But nothing happened. Esteben Balgos muttered, "This is unbelievable!"</p> + +<p>Then the governor was coming back. He got into the car and spoke +quietly. "Back to Calor, Juan."</p> + +<p>The boys got in and closed the doors. The secretary swung the big car +around and headed back the way they had come. Governor Montoya took time +to light an aromatic cigar. Only when it was going well did he speak.</p> + +<p>"An interesting talk, señores. Those were not soldiers, but the +peons—how do you say it?—tenant farmers of Jaime Guevara. The man with +whom I talked is his foreman. They have replaced the troops at all +barricades, and their loyalty is only to Guevara."</p> + +<p>"But the troops?" Balgos asked.</p> + +<p>"Either guarding the volcanic pipe or working in it. I am told that +Guevara is now the governor of the island. He has taken over. If I try +to resist, it will mean bloodshed. If I leave the island, all will +remain quiet and peaceful."</p> + +<p>"That's nonsense!" Rick exploded. "Guevara can't get away with it!"</p> + +<p>"No? He is getting away with it, Señor Rick. We have a dozen policemen; +he has the army. He also has his own men, at key points. So what can we +do? We haven't enough force to fight. Besides, there is no time. We +can't arm the people because we have neither weapons nor time."</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>"I do not know. At least we can continue our efforts to get the people +off the island. Without the ability to make scientific readings, we +cannot know how much time is left, so we must hurry. We will do the best +we can. After that—well, you had a Spanish song in America that says it +well. You recall the title? '<i>Qué será será.</i>'"</p> + +<p>Rick remembered. An expression of fatalism. What will be, will be.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>The Brant Approach</h3> + + +<p>The magma drove upward, melting its way through the fractured rock of +the channels under the western side of the island. Now and then it +struck rock with a higher water content, and the island shuddered under +a new explosion as the steam expanded.</p> + +<p>Rick felt the bed shake under him and sat upright. A new day had dawned, +and there was much to do. He and Scotty had volunteered to help Captain +Ricardo Montoya plan the evacuation of the island, and the youthful +officer had accepted with pleasure. He had agreed to meet them for +breakfast.</p> + +<p>The scientists had worked late, trying to extrapolate their data into +some kind of prediction. Rick and Scotty, tired after an exhausting day, +had gone to bed while the light still burned in Hartson Brant's room.</p> + +<p>Scotty awoke as Rick's feet hit the floor. "I'm getting used to these +little earthquakes," he said. "Don't know if I'll be able to sleep on +steady ground after this."</p> + +<p>"The ground is going to get unsteadier," Rick reminded. "Until—boom!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not forgetting," Scotty said grimly. "Let's get dressed and eat. +I'm famished."</p> + +<p>"It's ham and eggs for me," Rick told him. "If I had to watch milk slosh +around in a cereal bowl I'd get seasick."</p> + +<p>The boys dressed rapidly and hurried down to the hotel coffee shop. They +were just in time. Ricardo Montoya walked in just as they were seated.</p> + +<p>The officer joined them. Rick noted that his face was drawn and tired, +and thought Montoya had probably been up a good part of the night. +"How's the evacuation going?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Montoya shook his head. "Poorly. My uncle's radio broadcast continued +all night and through the morning hours. A few families have come to the +harbor, and the stevedores are organized now to get them aboard ship. A +few fishing boats have come, with fishermen's families, but there is no +big exodus."</p> + +<p>"Don't they realize the danger?" Scotty exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. You must understand my people. They have lived with +earthquakes all their lives. Not so often, perhaps, but these temblors +are not unusual. What is there to be excited about? Who believes El +Viejo will explode? It never has, so it never will."</p> + +<p>Rick thought it over. "Maybe not enough are hearing the broadcasts."</p> + +<p>"That is possible. I have put volunteers to work going from house to +house, asking people to turn on their radios to hear the governor, and +also to explain the urgency. But it will take a long time, even in +Calor."</p> + +<p>"If we only had the troops," Rick said thoughtfully. "Trained manpower +is what's needed for a job like this."</p> + +<p>"True. And I think if my uncle could only talk to the troops they would +believe him. But he cannot reach them. Guevara's peons would never let +him by."</p> + +<p>The hotel loud-speaker system drowned out his last words as a soft +feminine voice paged someone in Spanish.</p> + +<p>"If only the troops could listen to the radio," Rick commented. "Perhaps +they'd believe him and turn on Guevara."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. But soldiers cannot afford radios, and they are away from +their barracks now. There is no way for my uncle's voice to reach them."</p> + +<p>There had to be, Rick thought. There had to be some way. The +loud-speaker sounded again, paging a Señor Alvarez. Rick sat bolt +upright. Why not use a loud-speaker?</p> + +<p>"Listen," he said excitedly. "If the government radio station has a +loud-speaker system, or can make one, we can put it in my plane. I can +fly the governor over the troops and he can talk to them direct. My +plane can go slowly enough, and low enough for that!"</p> + +<p>"How about power supply?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"There must be an inverter on the island somewhere. We can use +automobile batteries, and the inverter will give us 110 AC for a while, +until the batteries run down. Just twenty minutes of power would be +enough and we can get that with enough batteries!"</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "The Brant approach," he said. "There always is one. +How about it, Captain?"</p> + +<p>"We will try," Montoya said decisively. "You have not eaten?... Then do +so, while I make a phone call to the radio station. I have had coffee +and rolls, and perhaps there will be time to join you for more breakfast +while the radio engineers get the equipment together."</p> + +<p>The boys were just finishing ham and eggs when Montoya returned. There +was a broad smile on his tired face.</p> + +<p>"The engineers say it can be done. They have a portable loud-speaker +system, and there is an inverter, as you call it, at the transmitter. +What is this inverter?"</p> + +<p>"It's an electric generator," Rick explained. "Battery current turns it, +and it produces 110-volt alternating current. But inverters aren't very +efficient, and they take a lot of battery current. That's why we'll need +as many batteries as we can carry."</p> + +<p>"The chief radio engineer said he understood exactly what was needed. He +will gather the materials and meet us at the airport. Now, I think we +have time for coffee, and perhaps I can follow your example with ham and +eggs. It will take an hour for the equipment to be ready. Also, I called +my uncle. He will be waiting for our call."</p> + +<p>"Did you get any sleep last night?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Montoya smiled. "Sleep? I have forgotten what it is. But perhaps if this +plan of yours works, I will remember, eh? Then I can sleep tonight."</p> + +<p>A check with the hotel desk told Rick that the scientists had left word +that they were not to be disturbed until later in the morning except for +an emergency. They had worked a good part of the night, apparently with +no satisfactory results.</p> + +<p>The boys waited until Ricardo Montoya had breakfasted, then rode with +him to the airport. There was another wait while the radio engineers +arrived, bringing the loud-speaker equipment.</p> + +<p>Rick supervised the placement of the amplifier in the rear seat. The +inverter was placed on the floor, and wedged into place with scrap +lumber. The automobile batteries were put into the luggage compartment +behind the rear seat and were also wedged in place.</p> + +<p>Wires were run from the amplifier through the rear-seat windows, which +were opened just enough to take the thin cables. The leads were then +brought out to the plane's struts. Two large loud-speakers were attached +to the struts. At first there was some difficulty in figuring out a +secure attachment, but the chief engineer, a resourceful type, managed +to find a pair of U bolts somewhere in the hangars. They did the job +nicely.</p> + +<p>The chief engineer connected up, then hung the microphone between the +two front seats. He threw a switch and the inverter started up with a +whine. At the throw of a second switch, the loud-speakers broke into a +hum. The engineer tapped on the microphone, and the tap, greatly +amplified, reverberated across the airstrip.</p> + +<p>"It works!" Rick exclaimed, delighted.</p> + +<p>"<i>Cómo no?</i>" the engineer said with a smile. He spoke to Montoya in +Spanish. The officer translated. "There is one more thing. He has rigged +a cable with a switch box so you can operate the controls from the front +seat. When the cable is attached, you will be ready. I will go call my +uncle."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty watched as the engineer got busy, hooking the +remote-switch cable into the amplifier.</p> + +<p>"Room for only two," Rick pointed out. "Want to toss for it?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "It was your idea. I'll stay on the ground. Take +the governor and talk those troops into submission."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Rick said. "We'll see. I think it depends on whether or not +they know the real story. If they have any idea there are diamonds +around, they won't be interested in anything else."</p> + +<p>"Guevara wouldn't dare to let them in on it," was Scotty's opinion. +"I'll bet they're just following orders, with no idea what's behind all +this. Most of them probably think there really is a national security +conference going on."</p> + +<p>Rick thought Scotty was probably right. Time would tell. He waited until +the engineer signaled that the job was done, then climbed into the +pilot's seat. He checked the plane over. Plenty of gas. Everything +seemed okay. He tried the loud-speaker switches, then spoke into the +microphone. He could hear his voice boom out with thunderous +amplification and saw Scotty clap his hands to his ears.</p> + +<p>Finally, he started the motor and let the plane warm, keeping an eye on +his gauges. When the manifold temperature got high enough he cut the +switch. He tested the control surfaces and he was satisfied. Now all he +needed was the governor.</p> + +<p>Governor Montoya arrived within ten minutes. He inspected the plane and +its equipment and nodded his approval. "Very ingenious. Shall we try +it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Rick helped the governor in, buckled his safety belt, then +ran around and got into the pilot's seat. He started the motor, waved to +Scotty and the others, then taxied out to the runway. The tower gave him +clearance and he took off.</p> + +<p>"We'll make a swing over the area and locate the troops," he explained, +"then I'll slow down as much as I can, and you can talk."</p> + +<p>Rick climbed to a thousand feet and set a course directly for the Hot +Springs Hotel. He asked, "Sir, how many troops are there?"</p> + +<p>"Our army numbers three companies, of about two hundred and fifty men +each. Then we have a few special units, including the transportation +platoons. Perhaps nine hundred in all. We do not need a large army. But +we need some kind of force. These are troubled times, and there is +always some danger that a revolutionary force might consider us an +excellent staging or training base for an invasion of a nearby country. +So, we keep prepared."</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon was over the hotel within minutes. Rick spotted a large +group of soldiers—he estimated about two hundred—dispersed around the +hotel. They probably thought they were guarding the conference.</p> + +<p>He banked left and followed the contour of the mountain, and found +another group of soldiers camped near the pumice works.</p> + +<p>"That is two companies accounted for, more or less," the governor +stated. "Now, can we find the third?"</p> + +<p>It wasn't difficult. Rick followed the dirt road to San Souci, and found +the third large group marching in the direction of the mountain, +apparently about to join forces with the group at the pumice works.</p> + +<p>"Let's take a look at the diamond pipe," he suggested, and pulled the +Sky Wagon around in a tight circle. He had his bearings, and the third +shot station was not difficult to locate. There was considerable +activity. Earth-moving machinery had been moved into place and was +operating. The yellow ground was already gone, and the equipment was +cutting into the blue kimberlite below.</p> + +<p>Military trucks were lined up, apparently waiting to be loaded with the +blue earth.</p> + +<p>"Where are they taking it?" the governor wondered.</p> + +<p>Rick had talked with David Riddle about the process. "They need water. +The blue earth is run down long wooden tables with cleats on them, like +washing out gold. The table is coated with grease. The diamonds stick in +the grease and the blue earth washes away. They've probably set things +up at the pumice works if there's water there. Otherwise, it may be the +hotel."</p> + +<p>"It has to be the hotel, then," the governor explained. "There would not +be enough water at the pumice plant. Well, I think we have found all our +troops. Those who are not with the three companies are below us, digging +diamonds. I wonder if they know what they are digging?"</p> + +<p>Rick told the governor what Scotty had said.</p> + +<p>"That is probably right," the governor agreed. "Guevara would not dare +to let too many in on the secret. Well, shall we get to work?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Rick said. He handed the governor the microphone and swung +into position for a run over the troops on the road. He throttled down, +and then gave the plane a few degrees of flaps. He kept an eye on his +air-speed indicator. If he got too slow, the plane would stall and he'd +be too low to recover. "I'll make as tight a circle as I can," he said. +"Be ready."</p> + +<p>The troops came into sight. Rick lost altitude and began a slow circle +only a few hundred feet over the marching soldiers. He turned on the +switches and nodded.</p> + +<p>The governor began to talk in slow, clear Spanish. Rick understood that +he identified himself to the men below, but then he lost the trend of +the talk. He concentrated on flying. The loud-speakers were operating +perfectly, and he knew the troops could hear.</p> + +<p>He could see them looking up and pointing, but they kept marching. +Apparently the governor wasn't making much of an impact. The governor +paused, and Rick cut the switches.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they don't believe it's you," he suggested.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not. But my voice is well known. I speak over the radio at +least once a week. More likely the whole idea is just too much for them. +Who can believe that mountain over there is about to blow up?"</p> + +<p>"Let's try the troops at the pumice works. Maybe you can tell them that +all who care about their homeland should march at once to Calor."</p> + +<p>"I'll try it," the governor agreed.</p> + +<p>Rick circled low over the pumice works while the loud-speakers blasted +at the troops below. They watched the plane, they pointed, some ran out +for a better look. But when the governor pleaded with them to hurry to +Calor to help save the people of the island, nothing happened.</p> + +<p>"If El Viejo started smoking, they'd move fast enough," Rick said +bitterly. "But then it would be too late. They just don't believe there +is any danger, and maybe they're not sure it's you. I guess no one has +ever given them orders from the air before."</p> + +<p>"They are simple people," the governor agreed. "I think most of them +have never heard of a volcano. They don't even know what an eruption is. +How can they be excited? If I ever succeed in getting good schools here, +this may change. But it won't help us now."</p> + +<p>Rick considered. It would do little good to repeat the announcement to +the soldiers at the hotel. He wondered if Guevara and Connel were +somewhere below, and with that thought he turned toward the diamond +pipe.</p> + +<p>"Let's see if we can do any good with the truckmen," he suggested. "Tell +them the trucks are essential to the safety of their families."</p> + +<p>The governor tried, while Rick held the plane in in a tight circle over +the blue ground. Again, there was interest in the flying loud-speaker +plane itself, but the message made no impact. Then Rick noticed tiny +spurts of fire from one edge of the diamond field and cold sweat started +on his forehead as he suddenly realized what they were.</p> + +<p>"They're shooting at us!" he exclaimed, and gave the plane the gun, +taking evasive action as the distance widened.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3> <i>"They're shooting at us!" Rick exclaimed, and gave the +plane the gun</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"I saw," the governor said wearily. "It was not the troops. It was the +peons. Our friend Guevara is down there, I think. But he need not be +afraid of our effect. We have had none."</p> + +<p>Rick had seldom felt so frustrated. He was tempted to call the San +Luzians a stupid bunch of cattle, but he realized the governor had +stated the case accurately. They just didn't understand the danger. What +would they understand?</p> + +<p>His lips formed the word. "Diamonds!" At least they would understand +treasure.</p> + +<p>"Sir," he said excitedly, "we can break this up, at least enough so we +can start collecting data again. If we tell them the whole story, +they'll at least understand that Guevara is after great treasure. +They'll flock to the diamond field and disrupt the operation, and we can +move back in to some of the shot stations. The people won't be any worse +off than they are now, and it will give us a chance to do something!"</p> + +<p>The governor considered. "Perhaps that is the only solution. It will not +get my people to safety, but it will at least give us a chance to find +out the exact situation. When I talked with your father this morning he +said they needed more data or they could tell nothing about the timing +of the eruption. If we get that data, then I will ask the Americans for +troops. If we must, we will take the people off by armed force and save +their lives in spite of themselves!"</p> + +<p>Rick circled and lost altitude again. He got into position over the +marching troops and turned on the switches, then gave the governor the +signal.</p> + +<p>Later, the governor told him what he had said:</p> + +<p>"Soldiers of San Luz! Do you know why you are protecting this area? It +is not because of a great conference. It is because Lieutenant Governor +Guevara has found a great treasure! He is using you to help him to +become the wealthiest man in the world! But what will you get out of +this? Nothing! He will give you nothing! Go for yourself and see the +blue earth. It is found only near mountains like El Viejo. Do you know +what it contains? Diamonds! The most valuable gems in the whole world! +Will you let Guevara use you to make himself rich while you get nothing? +Do not be fools! Help yourselves to this wealth. Look for the crystal +pebbles, the ones like cloudy glass, among the blue stones. Go! You are +soldiers! Take your share!"</p> + +<p>"They're running!" Rick pounded on the control wheel with excitement. +"Look! They're breaking ranks and running!"</p> + +<p>"Excellent," the governor said calmly. "Now the other groups. Then, in +spite of the rifle fire, let us go and tell those at the diamond pipe +what they are doing. They will not hit us with those rifles."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that was true. A lucky shot might hit them, but it took +practice to hit a fast-flying plane, even with automatic weapons. "Let's +go," he said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>Solution: Nuclear</h3> + + +<p>San Luz was in a state of complete chaos. The majority of the island +people dropped everything as the word of treasure spread, and the slopes +of El Viejo were covered with treasure hunters using everything from +shovels to pointed sticks in an effort to find <i>los diamantes</i>. Only a +bare handful even knew that the diamonds occurred only in a small +volcanic pipe on the western slope.</p> + +<p>If the hunt continued, Rick thought, the slopes would be denuded of +vegetation.</p> + +<p>There was intermittent fighting around the volcanic pipe, the police +reported. Guevara's peons had succeeded in holding the diamond pipe, but +were surrounded by soldiers. Now and then Guevara attempted to clear the +entire area, but with the entire army struggling to dig diamonds he +wasn't having much success. The police officer who investigated also +reported that an American was with Guevara. That would be Connel, of +course.</p> + +<p>The scientists had moved at once to start shooting again, with the +police pushing back the diamond seekers until the dynamite could be set +off in safety. The crazed hunters assumed that the explosions were also +means of seeking the diamonds, and rushed to the craters before the +smoke had cleared.</p> + +<p>No one really cared. The data was being collected, and it showed that +the situation was growing extremely serious.</p> + +<p>"Ten days maximum," Zircon said. "Maybe less. The magma has about +reached that rock dike, and once it melts through, there goes the +mountain."</p> + +<p>"We must get the people off," Governor Montoya insisted. "That is the +first thing. I shall call at once for help from the Americans. They have +forces at the Canal Zone and also in the West Indies. They will send +help."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Hartson Brant agreed. "But first, we have a proposal. We will +need the troops, but we may also need other help."</p> + +<p>Governor Montoya looked at him keenly. "This proposal is perhaps a +solution for El Viejo?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. Let me outline the situation." The scientist pointed out the +magma on Dr. Williams' sketch. "This is where the magma is now. Above it +is a very thick layer of rock in which we can find no major weakness. It +may hold the magma for a while. At least it probably will melt slowly."</p> + +<p>He pointed to a little line running from the western slope of the +mountain down to the rock dike. "This was where we wanted to dig a +channel. Now it is too late to go all the way to the rock. The heat +would be too great. But if we could drive a hole through, with great +suddenness, the magma would be released and the eruption would be away +from the island and into the sea."</p> + +<p>"How would you do this?" the governor asked.</p> + +<p>"By getting help from the U. S. government, from Army Engineers and +Seabees, who are U. S. Navy engineers. We would drive the tunnel as far +down as time permitted. Of course we would keep track of the magma +constantly. Then, as time ran out, we would place a charge in the +hole—a shaped charge, as it is called—which would drive the hole most +of the way to the magma. It would also crack the rock dike. The magma +would seek the weakest spots, of course. It is under enormous pressure. +And we would have the result we want."</p> + +<p>"But what kind of explosive would be enough for such an undertaking?" +Montoya demanded. "Not enough dynamite could be packed into the tunnel +to do the work."</p> + +<p>"We weren't thinking of dynamite," Hartson Brant said quietly. "We were +thinking of a nuclear explosion."</p> + +<p>Rick gasped. He had no warning of this. The scientists had evidently +arrived at the conclusion while he was flying around over the diamond +seekers.</p> + +<p>Montoya gasped, too. "But that would kill everyone on the island!"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Zircon boomed. "It would kill no one. Of course we would +clear the area with troops."</p> + +<p>"But the radioactivity," the governor protested. "I have read it is +deadly!"</p> + +<p>"Only if it can reach people," Hartson Brant explained. "This shot would +be far underground. There would be no fall-out, as it is called, at all. +Of course the earth around the explosion would be greatly radioactive. +Some of the activity would be trapped in the magma. But where would it +come to rest? On the bottom of the sea. There might be some danger to +bottom fish in the vicinity, but I think the water would get so hot from +the lava that fish would avoid it, anyway. And eventually the +radioactivity would decay of itself to low levels. Sir, I see no other +way."</p> + +<p>The governor raised his hands in a gesture of resignation. "I know +nothing of these matters, and it is your business to know. I accept your +assurances without reservation. Now, what do we do?"</p> + +<p>The scientists had not only conceived the solution, but had a detailed +plan of action. Within a half hour, the loud-speaker had been removed +from the plane, and Rick was flying Governor Montoya, Hartson Brant, and +Esteben Balgos to Trinidad.</p> + +<p>Arrangements had been made by phone while they were en route. A car, +sent by the President of the West Indies Federation, picked them up at +the airport and whisked them to the Federation's headquarters.</p> + +<p>The President listened to the story with intense interest, then +summoned the American ambassador and the representatives of Venezuela +and Colombia.</p> + +<p>After a detailed discussion by Hartson Brant of the properties and +limitations of nuclear explosions, the conference agreed. Immediate +action was called for. The Venezuelan and Colombian representatives +hurried off to notify their governments, while the President of the +Federation put in a conference call to the United States, to the +Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Secretary of Defense, the +Secretary of State, and the President's Special Assistant for Science +and Technology, who happened to be an old friend of Hartson Brant's.</p> + +<p>A personal phone call from a head of state was without +precedent—especially a conference call. The U. S. officials were +located within an hour, and the call put through. On the West Indies end +were the Federation's President, the U. S. ambassador, Governor Montoya, +and Hartson Brant, speaking from four different rooms. Rick hung over +his father's chair, listening.</p> + +<p>The Federation's President introduced himself and described the problem +briefly. Then he introduced the governor. Montoya said briefly, +"Gentlemen, we must have help or the island of San Luz will perish. I +ask help on behalf of my 32,000 people."</p> + +<p>The Federation's President then introduced Hartson Brant. Rick gathered +that the U. S. President's Special Assistant and the Chairman of the +Atomic Energy Commission both greeted him warmly as an old friend.</p> + +<p>The scientist outlined the problem and its solution. He continued, +"According to our estimates, we will need ten kilotons in order to have +a margin of safety. It will take as many Seabees or engineers as +necessary to drive a tunnel. The tunnel dimensions will depend on what +machinery you can get to us. I leave that to your experts. We will also +need about five thousand sea-based troops to handle the island +population. We may have to carry them bodily to safety. Now, can it be +done?"</p> + +<p>There was silence as the scientist listened. Rick stood on one foot, +then the other, waiting. He could hear the mumble of voices through the +earphone but could make no sense out of it.</p> + +<p>Presently Hartson Brant said, "Yes. I believe the runway at San Luz +could handle a C-124." There was silence again. Finally, the scientist +said, "I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then." He hung up and +turned to Rick with a grin.</p> + +<p>"Our President will put pressure on the local Venezuelan and Colombian +ambassadors here for an immediate decision from their governments, and +our own Secretary of State will instruct our ambassadors in Venezuela +and Colombia to camp on the doorsteps until they get agreement. He will +also notify the United Nations, and invite observers from the Security +Council. The AEC will fly in a 10-KT nuclear charge and a group of +experts. The Secretary of Defense promised that a battalion of Seabees +with full equipment would arrive in San Luz within twenty-four hours. +The Military Air Transport Service will airlift in enough troops to +handle the crowd. Any questions?"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned back. "It sounds as though everyone's in the act but the +British."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they're in it, too. The Federation's President will represent their +political interests, but we'll also have a British cruiser standing +offshore for help as needed. And I forgot an important addition. Our +President's Assistant for Science and Technology is notifying the proper +committees of the National Academy of Sciences. We'll have a planeload +of geophysicists down here in a few days to get all the scientific data +possible out of this event. So we're well covered."</p> + +<p>"I guess we can relax now," Rick said with relief. "The job is out of +our hands."</p> + +<p>"Not quite," Hartson Brant corrected. "They all agreed that the +Spindrift Foundation should be placed in over-all charge. So we've got +our work cut out for us!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>The Seabees</h3> + + +<p>The sea off the west coast of San Luz was alive with ships. Rick counted +up to twenty-five and then gave up. Some of the ships were moving, and +he was sure he had counted the same one three times. He identified +cruisers, destroyers, one aircraft carrier with a squadron of +helicopters aboard, and landing ships of several kinds.</p> + +<p>One huge landing ship was nosed right up to the shore, and +from it rolled tons of heavy equipment. From an attack +transport, the equipment's operators, a U. S. Naval Construction +Battalion—Seabees—were disembarking by the hundreds.</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, "How many different kinds of flags can you see? I've +counted six so far. U. S., British, Dutch, Venezuelan, Colombian, and +Panamanian."</p> + +<p>"It's an international job, all right," Rick agreed. "And when the UN +observers arrive tonight you can run up a few more flags, too."</p> + +<p>"Reminds me of the amphibious exercises we used to have in the +Marines," Scotty commented to Rick.</p> + +<p>Nearby, Hartson Brant and the other scientists were deep in conversation +with a group of civilians and Navy officers. The officers were the +engineers, from the Naval Construction Battalion. Last night had been +spent in working with them on the details of the problem. It would be +their job to drive the big hole down into the earth below El Viejo, +working against time to intercept the rising magma.</p> + +<p>Scientists had arrived, too, and they were taking over much of the +detail of keeping track of the magma. Each scientist had his own special +field of interest, but all were anxious to have the data from tracings. +There were geophysicists, including volcanologists and seismologists; +mineralogists and more geologists.</p> + +<p>"Nothing much left for us to do," Rick said, a little sadly.</p> + +<p>"Except watch," Scotty corrected. "That's enough! Great crumbling +craters, what do you want? A mystery every day?"</p> + +<p>Rick had to grin. "I guess this is enough. But one thing I want to do is +go over to the volcanic pipe and see how Guevara and Connel are making +out."</p> + +<p>"You will have an escort," a voice said from behind them. They turned to +greet Ricardo Montoya. "Now that we can turn our attention to that pair, +I think we should have a talk with them. To make the talk easier, we +will put bars between us."</p> + +<p>"You're going to arrest them?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course! What did you think?"</p> + +<p>"Right now?"</p> + +<p>"If you want to come along, join me. Now is as good a time as any. If we +can find them, of course."</p> + +<p>The boys joined Montoya in the front seat of a military vehicle. The +back was loaded with his men. Montoya at once steered for the trail to +the volcanic pipe. It was only a thousand yards to the north from the +point selected for the big hole. Even around the site of the hole there +were diamond seekers, and it was hard to find a piece of ground that had +not been tried with a shovel.</p> + +<p>As they got closer to the diamond field the numbers of treasure hunters +increased until, as Scotty remarked, they were thicker than fleas at a +mutt show. Montoya had to lean on the horn continually, and even then +the San Luzians paid little attention.</p> + +<p>Finally the group got out and walked. It was easier to move on foot +through the frantically digging mob. Strangely, there was little noise. +Each individual seemed intent on his own little hole. But the digging +was futile. There was no yellow ground under the flying shovels.</p> + +<p>Then the group did reach yellow ground, and met rifles in the hands of +Guevara's peons. Evidently Guevara had put a ring of men around the +volcanic pipe and planned to hold it by force of arms.</p> + +<p>Rick looked at Montoya. What would he do now?</p> + +<p>The young officer looked haughtily at the nearest peons and demanded in +Spanish, "Do you know me?"</p> + +<p>One of them nodded respectfully. "<i>Sí</i>, Señor Capitán Montoya."</p> + +<p>"Good. You will stand aside. I am inspecting Señor Guevara's mine." He +stalked through as though there was not the slightest question that the +peons would allow it. The boys and the police officers followed on his +heels.</p> + +<p>A shelter had been erected on one side of the volcanic pipe. Only blue +ground showed, and there was a power scoop digging out more. Watching +the shovel were Guevara and Brad Connel.</p> + +<p>Montoya walked up to the pair before they were even aware of his +presence.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, señores," he greeted them courteously.</p> + +<p>Guevara snapped, "What are you doing here, Montoya?"</p> + +<p>"Arresting you, señor," Montoya replied calmly.</p> + +<p>Connel looked worried, but Guevara gestured toward the ring of men with +rifles. "Don't be a fool. We outnumber you five to one. You haven't a +chance."</p> + +<p>Captain Montoya smiled affably. "But, señor, it is you who haven't a +chance. Consider, señor. The honor of the Montoyas requires that I take +you to my uncle, eh? Well, I allow the chance that perhaps I will not +survive to take you to my uncle, but I can assure you that you will +become a lifeless body on the instant a rifle is raised. Surely you do +not doubt me, señor?"</p> + +<p>Guevara looked at the officer, looked at the capable hand on the cocked +gun in the holster. Then he looked into the fierce Montoya eyes, and his +swarthy face turned pale.</p> + +<p>"Not even a Montoya would throw his life away for so small a thing," he +said harshly.</p> + +<p>The captain smiled gently. "Call my bluff, señor."</p> + +<p>Rick had no doubt whatever that Montoya was not bluffing. Apparently +Guevara was convinced, too. But he tried once more. "How do you expect +to get us out of here?"</p> + +<p>"Simplicity itself. You will walk to my truck, arm in arm with Señor +Connel. That is all. Of course if you should be so unfortunate as to +have a peon lift his rifle, you would never reach the truck alive. But +perhaps you are lucky. Shall we try, señor?"</p> + +<p>Guevara hesitated, then shrugged. "Very well."</p> + +<p>Connel spoke for the first time. He demanded hoarsely, "Are you going to +let him get away with this when our men have all the rifles?"</p> + +<p>Guevara smiled wryly. "You do not know the Montoyas, Brad. Call his +bluff yourself—only not if you wish to live."</p> + +<p>The ex-lieutenant governor walked slowly toward the ring of men. After a +moment Connel joined him. Montoya stepped behind them as though taking a +stroll through the Calor public gardens. The ring opened and let them +through. Rick breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't been quite as +confident as Ricardo Montoya appeared to be.</p> + +<p>Guevara paused. "May I make an announcement?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, señor."</p> + +<p>Guevara called, "<i>Amigos!</i>" Montoya translated the Spanish for the boys. +"You know what you have been guarding. Now I must leave. What is left +is yours. Work as fast as you can and find many diamonds. May good +fortune be yours!"</p> + +<p>The ring broke as the peons rushed to grab shovels. Guevara led the way +to the truck.</p> + +<p>It was all so easy, Rick thought later, if you were an aristocratic +Montoya with a code of honor that permitted no yielding, even unto +death. No one else he had ever met could have carried it off quite so +superbly.</p> + +<p>So fast had the Seabees swung into operation that work on the big hole +already was in progress when Montoya dropped the boys off. Pneumatic +drills hammered into the congealed lava, cutting holes in which charges +would be placed. As the boys watched, explosive was thrust into the +holes, a warning was yelled through a portable loud-speaker, and the +charge fired. Tons of rock were loosened.</p> + +<p>Even before the dust had begun to settle, huge machines were lifting the +rock out, or dragging big chunks, and dumping them down the +mountainside. Bulldozers kept the rock moving, keeping the entrance +clear. Within minutes the hole was empty of rock and the pneumatic +drills were hammering again. The cycle was repeated.</p> + +<p>The Seabees joked as they worked, and warned each other against shoving +a hole right through into hot lava, but the pace never slowed for an +instant.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour the big hole deepened until the Seabees ran into noxious +gases. Then they donned gas masks and continued. Deeper and deeper the +hole was driven, until the temperature at the hole's end was over a +hundred degrees. The Seabees merely shortened working time and operated +in relays so efficiently that no time was lost.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty got back to the hole as often as they could, but there +was much doing elsewhere. The Hot Springs Hotel swarmed with scientists +and observers, and there were heated conferences and late evaluation +sessions. The Spindrift scientists were always in demand, and their +faces grew gaunt as the days passed.</p> + +<p>The hole gave its own location because of the shock waves it sent +through the earth to the recorders, and even Rick's untrained eye could +see the traces slowly closing with the magma front.</p> + +<p>Earthquakes increased in frequency until Rick and Scotty felt as though +the ground never ceased shuddering.</p> + +<p>The air became noisy with planes as the Military Air Transport Command +began ferrying in troops. Flight after flight of huge transports roared +in for a landing at the Calor airport, discharged the soldiers, and took +off again at once.</p> + +<p>And still the diamond hunt continued.</p> + +<p>Then, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Hartson Brant called a halt.</p> + +<p>"The magma's moving up through the dike," he reported. "It's now or +never. Captain Montoya, we will ask the troops to clear the area. +Commander Jameson, withdraw all men and equipment except those necessary +for the final packing. Dr. Cantrell, please be ready to place the +charge at dawn tomorrow."</p> + +<p>The final phase of the operation swung into action. The troops gathered +at Redondo and marched shoulder to shoulder southward along the mountain +slopes. They herded the diamond seekers before them, sometimes with +enough roughness to overcome protests, but mostly with little +difficulty. They herded the population entirely around El Viejo, and +established a perimeter from Calor northward, with the population +confined to a narrow segment of the island along the seaward side.</p> + +<p>Loud-speaker trucks roamed along the perimeter, reassuring the people. +Military disaster units cooked huge quantities of food and prepared +thousands of gallons of coffee and reconstituted milk. American soldiers +played with cute little San Luzian kids and—after the diamond seekers +became convinced they had never had a chance to find diamonds—the whole +affair became one big picnic.</p> + +<p>But it was a picnic with overtones of fear.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty watched the placement of the nuclear explosive—a simple +steel can, from the outside—in the big hole. They watched the remaining +handful of Seabees load tons of rock in after it. Only the wires +connecting the device to a radio firing unit on the beach gave evidence +that an explosion equal to ten thousand tons of TNT was about to take +place.</p> + +<p>Rick asked, "Won't all those rocks keep the volcano from erupting?"</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant smiled. "Rick, compared with the force of the volcano, +that atomic device is like a firecracker compared with a hurricane. But +even to the nuclear explosion those rocks won't mean much. They're just +to confine it a little."</p> + +<p>The night passed. San Souci was empty of people. The Seabees were back +aboard ship. The scientific instruments were in place. Only a small +group of scientists remained, their helicopter standing by. They checked +out the radio firing unit, threw switches according to their check list, +then announced:</p> + +<p>"We're ready!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>The Old One Yields</h3> + + +<p>Rick banked the Sky Wagon over the fleet. Scotty, in the front passenger +seat, had the camera ready. Hartson Brant, in the rear seat, had a +motion-picture camera poised. Governor Montoya, the fourth in the party, +even had his personal camera along.</p> + +<p>Their cameras were not the only ones. Nearly every ship had its official +photographers, and there were photography planes in the air.</p> + +<p>Directly under the Sky Wagon now was a U. S. destroyer. Aboard her was +the nuclear firing party from Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and the +UN Observer Group. On other ships of the fleet were the representatives +of the interested nations and the Seabees.</p> + +<p>Rick turned up the volume of his plane radio. By agreement, the +countdown was to be broadcast to all aircraft over one of the airport +frequencies.</p> + +<p>"Thirty seconds!" the voice said.</p> + +<p>"Won't we need dark glasses?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"No," Hartson Brant replied. "The nuclear fireball won't emerge. If it +gets a little too bright, squint and turn your head."</p> + +<p>"How long after the nuclear shot will the volcano go?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"We don't know. Anywhere from seconds to hours. It depends on how much +of a path the nuclear shot cracks."</p> + +<p>"Ten seconds!"</p> + +<p>Rick made sure they had a good view of El Viejo's western slope, and +held the plane on course.</p> + +<p>"Five, four, three, two, one ...</p> + +<p>"Zero!"</p> + +<p>There was an instant of quiet, then dust spurted from the deep hole, +followed by billowing clouds of pulverized rock. Down below, the earth +heaved as though from another earthquake, and a line of waves appeared, +running from shore outward!</p> + +<p>The dust settled slowly, hanging in the air like a great gray ball.</p> + +<p>The nuclear explosion, deep underground, had gone off.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Rick wondered.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant said quietly, "We may have to wait a while."</p> + +<p>"That explosion sure didn't look like the pictures I've seen of shots in +Nevada," Rick told him.</p> + +<p>"No, Rick. This was too far underground. They've had those in Nevada, +too, but the pictures don't get much publicity because they're not +spectacular."</p> + +<p>Far below, where the end of the big hole had been, the huge chamber +blown by the atomic explosion was white-hot with trapped heat and +radioactivity. Below the chamber the earth was shattered, with myriad +tiny cracks reaching far down.</p> + +<p>Some cracks reached the white-hot magma. Instantly the magma exploited +the new weakness, pressure was released until ...</p> + +<p>"Look!" Even in the plane Scotty's yell was loud.</p> + +<p>Rick turned in time to see the side of El Viejo blow off in an explosion +that made ten kilotons of fission seem puny indeed. For an instant he +saw thousands of tons of white-hot lava rise into the air, then it fell +into the sea. Instantly steam clouds blanketed the area, but the steam +was mixed with traces of red and gray from the rock carried upward.</p> + +<p>A great boulder, weighing many tons, was hurled high in the air to fall +into the steam cloud. The great rift in the volcano widened, and the +molten lava was visible until steam rose again.</p> + +<p>Under the steam cloud was an inferno, but it was only occasionally +visible as the wind tore rents in the vapor. The noise must be +deafening, Rick knew, but only a low rumble and an occasional hissing +could be heard in the plane.</p> + +<p>"Well," Hartson Brant said wearily, "it worked."</p> + +<p>Governor Luis Montoya spoke gently. "Yes, my friend. It did indeed work. +And it has saved our island. I doubt that a single life was lost, thanks +to you and your associates."</p> + +<p>"We'd better be sure." The scientist smiled. "Rick, suppose you fly us +around the island?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Rick instantly swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course +that would take them past the erupting volcano and on to the north. He +kept well out to sea, because now and then he could see big rocks flying +through the air as the volcano spouted.</p> + +<p>Only the immediate area was affected. The new outlet was about a half +mile wide, stretching from sea level and possibly below, to about a +quarter mile up the slope. Beyond the crater San Luz seemed normal, +although Rick knew there were no human beings in the area.</p> + +<p>Not until he passed Redondo did signs of life appear, and then the beach +became black with people. The wave of humanity extended inward to the +slopes of El Viejo and along the beach to Calor. Past Calor, at the +airport, troops not needed on the perimeter waited for their planes. +Already there were planes landing.</p> + +<p>Rick completed the circuit of the island, then on impulse moved past the +volcano and took a good look at where the diamond pipe had been. A +momentary wind blew the area clear long enough for him to glimpse +white-hot lava.</p> + +<p>"Well," he remarked, "there go Connel's diamonds. Either buried, or +burned."</p> + +<p>"Cheer up," Scotty said with a grin. "Maybe El Viejo is making some new +ones."</p> + +<p>Governor Montoya added the final word. "I hope not. But if so, I can +only hope they will not be discovered just before the next eruption!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>A Few Souvenirs</h3> + + +<p>San Luz settled back to normal in an astonishingly short time, a tribute +to the calm nerves of the population. Within recorded island history, +the discovery of diamonds was the sole event that seemed to have excited +most of the islanders.</p> + +<p>The troops left on MATS planes. The ships withdrew, except for two +oceanographic ships sent hurriedly by Columbia University and Woods Hole +Oceanographic Institute. Aboard were not only oceanographers, but marine +biologists experienced in radiation physics. They would keep track of +events in the sea for many months.</p> + +<p>The scientific population of the Hot Springs Hotel did not decrease +appreciably. The combination of advance warning of eruption, a nuclear +explosion, and the eruption itself provided data never before +obtainable. The scientists intended to make the most of it.</p> + +<p>The courts of San Luz went into operation again. Guevara was charged +with treason, Connel with attempted murder. The boys gave +depositions—sworn testimony—to the government attorneys. But Ruiz +would be his own best witness. The doctor promised that he would be able +to testify by the time the case came to trial.</p> + +<p>At a dinner for the Spindrift scientists, the governor presented +certificates of appreciation to each one of the party, including the +boys. Then he made a short speech.</p> + +<p>"I could thank you, but words are inadequate in the face of the deed. An +island and its people have been saved. You did this. What more is there +that can be said? We will not forget. Already, with the help of my good +friend Esteben Balgos, we are planning to erect a permanent volcanic +observatory and laboratory in which scientists can work and learn from +El Viejo. I do not ask your permission—I merely inform you that it is +to be called Spindrift Memorial Laboratory."</p> + +<p>The scientists murmured in protest, but the governor held up his hand. +"I know you do not approve. I do not ask you to. It is accomplished. +Also, we will have a small but imperishable plaque over the door. It +will say simply: 'This laboratory is dedicated to the scientists of the +Spindrift Scientific Foundation. They saved San Luz.' Your names will be +listed."</p> + +<p>The governor was adamant. He said with a twinkle that the scientists +could make representations through formal diplomatic channels to the +governments of Venezuela, Colombia, and Great Britain if they wished, +but so far as he was concerned, the matter was closed.</p> + +<p>It was Rick who changed the subject. He reached into his pocket and drew +out the handful of diamonds that he had carried there since the day he +found out what they were.</p> + +<p>"We have to give these back," he said. "I picked them up, but we have no +more right to them than Connel or Guevara. It wasn't a legal mining +claim, I guess."</p> + +<p>Governor Montoya shook his head. "Rick, who will ever know how many +diamonds were found? Already I hear of several huge crystals among the +people. We have confiscated several times that amount from Guevara and +Connel. Should we penalize you for being honest? I think not. You found +them, and in the finding you were instrumental in saving the island. +They are yours."</p> + +<p>Again the governor was adamant. He simply stated that the matter was +settled, and that was that.</p> + +<p>"Then they're not mine," Rick said finally. "They belong to all of us, +share and share alike. I happened to be the one who picked them up, but +we were all involved with El Viejo, so we share equally. Of course we're +not sure there's anything to share. These may be only of industrial +grade."</p> + +<p>As it happened, Rick was wrong. The diamonds were, for the most part, of +gem grade. Even after paying import duty, they were bought at a handsome +price, uncut, by one of New York's leading diamond importers.</p> + +<p>It was quite a handful of souvenirs, even though the proceeds were +divided equally among the entire Spindrift group, including Honorario +and Ruiz. Most of Rick's share went into his education fund, but he kept +enough out to buy gifts for his mother, Barby, and Jan Miller. And he +kept out enough to buy something he had long wanted ... something that +was to lead him into another adventure-mystery, a story to be told in +THE FLYING STINGAREE.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Rick_Brant_Science-adventure_Stories" id="The_Rick_Brant_Science-adventure_Stories"></a><i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Rick Brant Science-adventure</span> <i>Stories</i></h2> + +<h3>BY JOHN BLAINE</h3> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/ad.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<p>Rick Brant is the boy who with his pal Scotty lives on an island called +Spindrift and takes part in so many thrilling adventures and baffling +mysteries involving science and electronics. You can share every one of +these adventures in the pages of Rick's books. They are available at +your book store in handsome, low-priced editions.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Rocket's Shadow</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Lost City</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Sea Gold</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">100 Fathoms Under</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Whispering Box Mystery</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Phantom Shark</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Smugglers' Reef</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Caves of Fear</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Stairway To Danger</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Golden Skull</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Wailing Octopus</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Electronic Mind Reader</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Scarlet Lake Mystery</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Pirates of Shan</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Blue Ghost Mystery</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Egyptian Cat Mystery</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Flaming Mountain</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Flaming Mountain, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 32038-h.htm or 32038-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/0/3/32038/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Flaming Mountain + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + +Release Date: April 18, 2010 [EBook #32038] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK, N. Y. +1962 + +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +[Illustration: _Rick swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course that +would take them past the volcano_] + + + + + _THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN_ + + Rock, melting like butter on a hot stove! It is hard to believe, + but that is what happens on San Luz, a small island off the coast + of South America. When Rick Brant and his pal Dan Scott fly to the + famous resort island to join Rick's father, head of the Spindrift + Scientific Foundation, a seemingly inactive volcano is about to + explode in an eruption which could easily blow San Luz off the map. + + The immediate threat is to a small town at the foot of the volcano, + where the air reeks with the fumes of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur + dioxide, and it is here that Rick and Scotty help Dr. Brant and his + scientist associates set up headquarters, in the hope of finding a + way of controlling an eruption that is growing into a certainty + with fantastic speed. + + But their efforts to save the island town are hindered by the + superior forces of nature, the superstitious fatalism of the + people--and sabotage! + + With the earth opening up all around them, Rick, Scotty, and the + scientists have little hope of preventing a catastrophe, until a + decision is made to unleash the awesome power of atomic energy in a + desperate last attempt to fight the volcanic eruption. + + Jam-packed with excitement and swift, tense action, _The Flaming + Mountain_ has all the elements that have made the Rick Brant + Science Adventure series a favorite with boys all over the world. + + + + +Contents + + + I VULCAN'S HAMMER + + II SAN LUZ + + III FIRING PARTIES + + IV SEISMIC TRACINGS + + V DYNAMITE MISSING + + VI DANGEROUS TRAIL + + VII CASA GUEVARA + + VIII THE GOVERNOR VANISHES + + IX THE YELLOW GROUND + + X THE VOLCANIC PIPE + + XI EARTHQUAKE! + + XII THE RISING MAGMA + + XIII ARMED REVOLT + + XIV NIGHT PATROL + + XV STALEMATE + + XVI THE BRANT APPROACH + + XVII SOLUTION: NUCLEAR + + XVIII THE SEABEES + + XIX THE OLD ONE YIELDS + + XX A FEW SOUVENIRS + + + + +List of Illustrations + + +_Rick and Scotty's scale model of San Luz Island_ + +_Spindrift Island_ + +_Rick swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course that would take them +past the volcano_ + +_Connel was alone in the jeep_ + +_The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked away_ + +_"They're shooting at us!" Rick exclaimed, and gave the plane the gun_ + + + + +THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Vulcan's Hammer + + +The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation +gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on +the southeast corner of Spindrift Island. It was unusual for the whole +staff to be called to a meeting. Even more unusual--not a single member +knew what the meeting was about. + +Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation's director, Dr. Hartson +Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists. +His father had phoned from Florida with brief instructions. "Rick, I +want you and Scotty to make a scale model of San Luz Island. It's off +the coast of Venezuela. You'll find it on the sailing chart of the area, +and there are references in the library. Be as complete and detailed as +possible, and have the model ready by Saturday. Pick me up at Newark +Airport Saturday noon. I'll have a guest. Ask Hobart Zircon to call a +full staff meeting for two o'clock Saturday." + +Rick and his pal Don Scott had completed the model, which was now +resting on a table at the front of the lab conference room. One hour ago +he had flown with Scotty in his plane, the Sky Wagon, to Newark Airport +where he had picked up his father and a short, white-haired elderly man +by the name of Dr. Esteben Balgos. + +[Illustration: _Rick and Scotty's scale model of San Luz Island_] + +Rick, a teen-aged version of his long-legged, athletic father, was +consumed with curiosity. He could tell that the scientist was deeply +concerned over something. It seemed likely Dr. Balgos was at least +involved in that concern, if not the actual cause. But Rick still knew +of nothing that would relate Spindrift Island off the coast of New +Jersey to San Luz, an island off the coast of northern South America. + +The Spindrift scientists were gathering, pausing to examine the model on +the table before they took their seats. Hobart Zircon, the huge, bearded +senior physicist and associate director of the Foundation, looked at the +model in company with Tony Briotti, the youthful staff archaeologist. +Dr. Howard Shannon, chief biologist, came in with Julius Weiss, the +famous mathematical physicist. + +A slender, attractive dark-haired girl, Rick's own age, moved through +the crowd to his side. He gave her a smile of welcome. Jan Miller was +the daughter of one of the staff physicists, Dr. Walter Miller. + +"What's all this about, Rick?" Jan asked. "And where are Barby and +Scotty?" + +"I wish I knew what it's all about," Rick replied. "Barby and Scotty are +at the house with Dad's guest, a Dr. Esteben Balgos. We picked Dad and +Balgos up at Newark an hour ago. They'll be over in a few minutes." Rick +had come to the lab ahead of the others to be sure there were sufficient +chairs set up and that the model was in position on the table. + +"You must have some idea," the girl insisted. "You and Scotty made the +model." + +"Sure we did. But we don't know why. Dad called from the University of +Florida and gave instructions, and I didn't have a chance to ask any +questions." + +"It must be important," Jan commented. "The whole staff hasn't been +together since Christmas." + +Rick nodded. That had been a social occasion, not business, and on the +day after Christmas he, Scotty, and Dr. Parnell Winston had taken off +for Cairo where they had become involved in intrigue and a major +scientific mystery. The episode was now referred to as _The Egyptian Cat +Mystery_. The boy wondered if this meeting was a beginning of something +exciting, too, and in the same instant he was sure that it was. + +"Here comes Barby," Jan said suddenly. "Excuse me, Rick." + +Barby Brant, Rick's pretty blond sister, paused in the doorway until she +saw Jan hurrying to meet her. The two girls conferred briefly, then +hurried to take seats in the exact center of the front row. + +It was the custom at Spindrift to include the island's young people in +staff activities, and Rick had been a part of the various projects and +discussions since he could remember. But not until Jan Miller's arrival +on the island, during the adventure of _The Electronic Mind Reader_, had +Barby bothered to attend the scientific discussions. Jan, as bright as +she was attractive, had succeeded in persuading Rick's sister that +science was not only exciting, but understandable. + +The buzz of talk in the room stopped as Hartson Brant and his guest +entered, followed by Scotty. The husky, dark-haired ex-Marine at once +joined Rick. The two had been close friends and constant companions +since the day Scotty joined the staff during _The Rocket's Shadow_ +project. An orphan, Scotty was now a permanent member of the Spindrift +family. + +Hartson Brant did not need to rap for attention. There was an expectant +hush as he began immediately. "Our guest today is Dr. Esteben Balgos, of +whom many of you have heard. Until his retirement a few years ago, he +was considered by his colleagues as the dean of South American +geophysicists. His primary field of interest was--and still +is--volcanology." + +Rick leaned forward. Volcanology, study of volcanoes. The mountain that +formed the backbone of San Luz had once been a volcano, but it had been +dead or inactive since prehistoric times. El Viejo--the Old One--was its +name. Rick wondered if it might not be the connecting link between San +Luz and Spindrift, but he couldn't yet see how. + +"Dr. Balgos reached me at Florida University while I was lecturing +there. We talked, and I agreed that we would examine his problem. It is +so unusual and challenging that I wanted all of you to hear what he has +to say. Rick and Scotty have built a scale model of the island to help +Dr. Balgos describe the problem to us." + +"So that's why we built it," Scotty whispered. "I've been wondering." + +Rick grinned. So had he. + +Dr. Balgos acknowledged Hartson Brant's introduction, took a moment to +wipe his horn-rimmed spectacles, and got down to business, using a +pencil as a pointer. He spoke perfect English with a soft, musical +Spanish accent which Rick found pleasant. + +"This, young ladies and colleagues, is San Luz. I retired to this island +from my native Peru a few years ago, so it is now my home. Its +relationship to South America is the same as that of Bermuda to the east +coast of your country. In other words, it is an island vacation resort. +There are about 32,000 people on San Luz, engaged in caring for +tourists, in fishing, in farming bananas and cacao, and in digging and +exporting pumice." + +Rick knew this from his research. He hoped Dr. Balgos wouldn't linger +too long over descriptions. + +"The tourist facilities are along the south coast, which is one +continuous beach, starting at the main town of Calor, and running to +Redondo, a fishing village at the northern tip of the island. There are +several excellent hotels and guest homes." + +Dr. Balgos pointed with his pencil to a cluster of buildings at the base +of the mountain. "The location of this hotel is an exception. It is +called the Hot Springs Hotel, and it is one of our biggest. It is named +for the hot springs at the base of the mountain. You will see at once +that El Viejo--this mountain--is clearly a volcano. The presence of hot +springs at its base indicates that it is not entirely dead." + +Now they were getting somewhere, Rick thought. + +"Starting a few months ago, earthquakes in the vicinity began to +increase in frequency. Since we are on the edge of a major geological +fault, earthquakes are not at all unusual, and the increase attracted +little attention. However, I have corresponded with seismologists +throughout the area, and it is clear that the increase is due to +activity directly under our island." + +The Peruvian scientist held up his pencil, like a teacher addressing a +class. "I see that you consider this significant. So do I. There is one +other bit of information that is also significant. The flow from the hot +springs has changed in character. There is an occasional outpouring of +hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Also, the average temperature of +the springs has gone up several degrees." + +The area must smell pretty bad, Rick thought. Hydrogen sulfide was what +gave the characteristic aroma to rotten eggs, and sulfur dioxide wasn't +exactly perfume. He wasn't surprised when Dr. Balgos added that the +hotel had been virtually abandoned. + +"My data is not sufficient for any conclusion, but the general one that +some kind of volcanic activity is increasing. However, I'm sure most of +you depend, as I do, on intuition as well as on data. This intuition is +simply the result of years of experience. Mine tells me that El Viejo is +about to become active again." + +There was a murmur from the scientists. + +"I am aware," Balgos went on, "that this is a conclusion which cannot +yet be supported. But I am certain in my own mind that such is the case. +I do not believe the present mild activity causing the earthquakes will +subside. But more than that, I believe the activity will grow in a +particularly disastrous way." + +The scientist pointed to the volcano. "I have examined this cone. It is +ancient, covered with jungle growth. It is clearly stable. The crater is +filled in with compacted, weathered lava. If there should be a normal +eruption, it would have to vent through the hot springs, which is the +only active channel. Notice that the town of Calor would then be right +in line with the eruption." + +Rick could see it clearly. The contours of the terrain were such that a +lava flow of any magnitude would engulf the little city. + +"I believe the volcano will vent through the hot springs," Balgos went +on. "But my examination of the volcano leads me to expect that it will +vent with fantastic violence. The hot-springs channel is purely seepage. +There is no open vent. This means the mountain will resist the growing +forces under it until it is forced to give with great suddenness. To be +as concise as possible, what I see here is another Krakatoa." + +There was a concerted gasp from the assembled group. Rick felt his +scalp prickle. He had expected nothing like this. Krakatoa, he knew from +his reading, had been the greatest cataclysm in recorded history. The +volcano, in the East Indies, had blown up with enormous violence. The +island on which it was located had been literally blasted to bits; +nothing was left. Nearby islands were blazed clean. No one knew how many +people had perished instantly. The blast was felt completely around the +world, and the dust of Krakatoa had so filled the world's skies that the +weather was changed. Winters came earlier and stayed longer, until the +dust settled at last. + +"This is our problem," Balgos said simply. "It is made more difficult by +two things, our people and our politics. The people are superstitious +fatalists. I know them too well to expect that they will move from the +island. And where would they move? San Luz is claimed by three +countries: England, Colombia, and Venezuela. But we consider ourselves +independent. We have our own legislature. We cannot go to any one +country for help without acknowledging its sovereignty over us. We +cannot go to all three at once, because the diplomatic difficulties of +getting three nations together would take too much time. Besides, I do +not know what any nation could do. And so, I come to you, on behalf of +our governor, and of myself." + +There was silence when Balgos finished. Then big Hobart Zircon boomed, +"If we assume your conclusions are correct, what can be done? There is +no way of stopping a volcanic eruption, much less an explosion. Man is +helpless before such natural forces. It would be easier to stop a +hurricane than another Krakatoa." + +Balgos shrugged. "I agree. Yet, can we stand by and wait without even +making an attempt?" + +"Certainly not," Hartson Brant replied. "First, we must develop more +data. Dr. Balgos had said that his conclusions are based on intuition, +and not facts. I, for one, trust his intuition. But we must know the +exact situation before we can even begin to study the possibilities of +doing something." + +Tony Briotti objected. "Even with a study, what can be done? I'm not a +physical scientist, so this is outside of my field. But I've never heard +of anyone even attempting to change the direction of a lava flow, much +less control an eruption." + +Dr. Balgos spread his hands expressively. "In mythology, Vulcan was the +blacksmith, the god of fire and volcanoes. We have grown too wise to +believe in myths, but we do believe in the scientific method. I come to +you, as some of its most famous practitioners. If anything can be +done--and I do not know if it can--then you are the scientific team that +can do it. If you can do nothing, then San Luz will die, violently, +under Vulcan's hammer!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +San Luz + + +Rick Brant awoke slowly. For a moment he lay with eyes closed while he +tried to identify the strange odor that smote his nostrils. It was a +noxious combination of medicine, burned matches, and ancient eggs. Then +he remembered, and sat bolt upright in bed. + +San Luz! The smell of the hot springs burned his nose even through the +air-conditioning system. It must be awful outside, he thought. It had +been bad enough last night. + +He looked over to the other bed in the luxurious room and saw Scotty, +wrapped like a cocoon in sheet and blanket. For a moment he was tempted +to heave a pillow at the ex-Marine, then reconsidered. Scotty needed +sleep. Let him wake up naturally. + +Rick lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes. He could do with a +little more shut-eye himself. So much had happened in the past few days +that he was still spinning from the speed of it. + +The arrival of Dr. Esteben Balgos had upset Spindrift more thoroughly +than anything else Rick could remember. He and Scotty had sat through +hours of argument and heated debate. Jan and Barby had given up when the +scientific arguments got far beyond their ability to understand. Rick +hadn't understood much either, but he had stuck it out to the end. + +The conclusion was that probably nothing could be done. There was simply +no way to check the eruption of a volcano. If El Viejo was going to blow +its top, well . . . that was that. But the Spindrift Scientific +Foundation was not known for its eagerness to drop seemingly insoluble +problems, so the staff had agreed that a study should be made, at the +very least. + +Hartson Brant had chosen Hobart Zircon and Julius Weiss to work with +him, then he had persuaded an old friend, Dr. Jeffrey Williams, to drop +his work for a short time and join the party. Dr. Williams was a noted +seismologist. From the U. S. Geological Survey, Hartson Brant had +borrowed Dr. David Riddle, a geologist with considerable experience in +volcanology. + +The scientific team departed at once for San Luz, leaving Rick and +Scotty to bring up the rear. The boys loaded scientific equipment into +the Sky Wagon and took off for San Luz. It took three days for the +little plane to make the trip, the longest flight of Rick's flying +career. Only once before had he flown so far over water, and then only +to the Virgin Islands. The plane had made it easily, but he and Scotty +had sweated it out. + +Ordinarily, Hartson Brant would have taken the boys by commercial air, +but he wanted Rick's plane on hand. Since the senior scientist did not +know what difficulties the scientists might encounter, he wanted a way +of making aerial surveys and photographs, plus ready communication with +the mainland and nearby islands. + +The boys had arrived early the evening before, only to be whisked to the +Executive Mansion where the governor of San Luz, the Honorable Luis +Montoya, was holding a reception for the visiting scientists. + +The governor, a charming little man who looked like Rick's idea of a +Spanish grandee, knew why the scientists were there, of course. But the +secret was confined to the governor himself and to Balgos. Even Jaime +Guevara, the lieutenant governor, did not know. + +The agreement was that the scientific group would seem to be interested +only in the hot springs. The purpose of their visit, the governor had +announced to the local press and radio, was to investigate the change in +the springs that had ruined a principal San Luz resort hotel. + +By ten o'clock, when the reception ended, the boys were exhausted. But +the end was not yet. They were riding in Zircon's jeep--five jeeps had +been assigned to the party by the governor--and Zircon had to meet the +last member of the party, Bradley Connel, a geologist borrowed from an +oil company in Caracas, Venezuela, by Dr. Balgos. + +It was nearly midnight before the boys got to sleep, after nearly three +days with minimum rest. So, both were tired. In the middle of thinking +how tired he was, Rick dropped off to sleep again. + +He awoke with Scotty's voice in his ears. "Come on, old buddy. Dad's +calling a staff meeting in fifteen minutes." + +Rick sat up. "How do you know?" + +"Didn't you hear the phone ring? Boy, you must be tired! Let's go. Time +for a quick shower and coffee. I've had mine." + +Rick saw that a breakfast tray was on a bedside table. He had slept +through Scotty's arising, shower, and delivery of breakfast. He shook +his head, still groggy. + +A quick shower woke him up. He sipped coffee and ate toast while getting +into his clothes, then the two hurried down the corridor of the luxury +hotel to the conference room Hartson Brant had taken over as +headquarters. + +The scientists were already there, taking seats around the room as the +boys walked in. + +Rick looked at the new faces. It was the first time he had seen them in +daylight. Dr. Jeffrey Williams was a plump, round-faced man with a shock +of pure-white hair. Dr. David Riddle was tall, dark, lean, and heavily +tanned. He looked like a mining engineer, or perhaps a forest ranger. +Bradley Connel was short, heavy set, with straw-colored hair and the +kind of complexion that is always sunburned and peeling so long as the +days are hot--which meant always, this close to the equator. + +"Let's get to work," Hartson Brant said. "It's obvious that visual +inspection is not going to tell us much. We'll have to get tracings +before we have any real idea of what's going on under us. Dave, have you +found anything of importance?" + +David Riddle shook his head. "It's a typical formation. Nothing unusual +about it at all. El Viejo is simply a dead volcano, its cone filled in, +and plenty of jungle on the slopes. The hot springs are just a seepage +point, as Dr. Balgos knows. So far as I can tell, they're the weakest +point, so if the mountain lets go, that is where the blowoff will come. +Of course, this could be wrong and there may be weaker channels we don't +suspect. We'll know when we start shooting." + +Hartson Brant looked at Dr. Williams. "Anything to add, Jeff?" + +"Not much. I've gone over the seismic data Esteben got from the +seismologists in the area, and it's clear that the epicenter of most +recent earthquakes in the area is right under us. Something is happening +down in the earth under the mountain, but I can't say what it is. It may +be volcanism or it may be a fault shifting." + +Rick knew that a fault was like a great crack in the earth's structure, +but he had thought the scientists had agreed that the earthquakes were +caused by volcanic action. He asked, "Sir, doesn't the change in the +springs mean something?" + +"Perhaps, Rick," Dr. Williams answered. "We don't really know. Dr. +Balgos thinks they mean a great deal, and I have respect for his +opinions. But I'm only a seismologist. I have to depend on traces from +earthquakes, and the traces tell us nothing but the single fact that +something is going on far below." + +Hartson Brant nodded. "The answer will depend on more data, so today +we'll start to collect it. Rick and Scotty brought apparatus, and the +governor has supplied us with dynamite and two experienced helpers, Ruiz +and Honorario." + +"How do we split up?" Julius Weiss asked. + +"Into firing and recording teams. Since we have only two recorders, we +can have only two teams for data collection. But we can have three +firing parties. Dave Riddle will work with Honorario, Brad Connel with +Ruiz, and Hobart Zircon with Rick and Scotty. Julius, you and I will +form one recording party, and Esteben and Jeff will form the other. Each +team will have a jeep. Now, if you'll all gather around this model the +boys made, we'll pick approximate locations for stations." + +The boys had brought the model with them. Now the group gathered around +and discussed the best locations for both firing and recording parties. + +Dave Riddle was assigned a station on the slope of El Viejo near the +town of Redondo on the north end of the island. Brad Connel was given a +location on the northwestern slope, and Zircon and the boys were shown a +position on the west near the place where pumice, a foamy volcanic rock, +was mined. Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss were to place one recording +station on the eastern slope of the mountain, while Dr. Williams and +Dr. Balgos were assigned a station on the northern coast. + +Hartson Brant handed a wrist chronometer to each team leader. Each team +was also to have a transit, with which to take bearings for the purpose +of locating the stations with precision. + +"The hotel restaurant has packed lunches for us," Hartson Brant stated. +"If we get under way at once, we can start shooting at one o'clock. +Let's try for three shots each this afternoon. Each firing team will +move one mile in a clockwise direction between shots, and we'll need to +space the shots fifteen minutes apart. Hobart, you'll start shooting at +1:00, Brad at 1:15, Dave at 1:30. At 2:00, we'll start the cycle over +again. That should bring us all back to the hotel by suppertime." + +Big Hobart Zircon clapped the boys on the shoulder. "Let's get going. +Scotty, you pick up our lunches. Rick, we'll load equipment." + +The five jeeps were lined up outside. Rick carried out a transit, the +tripod slung over his shoulder, and found the two local helpers waiting. +Ruiz was a short, swarthy man with gleaming white teeth and a +Mexican-style sombrero. Honorario was only slightly taller, and so thin +a strong breeze would blow him away. The two San Luzians greeted him +courteously. "_Buenos dias, senor._" + +Rick knew enough Spanish to be equally polite. "_Buenos dias, senores. +Como estan ustedes?_" + +The two switched to English. Rick hoped it wasn't a reflection on his +Spanish accent, acquired at Whiteside High School the year before. "We +are well, senor," Ruiz answered, and Honorario added, "We hope you will +enjoy San Luz, senor." + +Rick said that he expected to enjoy it very much indeed. He wondered if +the two knew that their mountain was getting ready to blow its top. He +asked, "Do you have the dynamite, _amigos_?" + +"In the shed, senor. Also the caps and the detonators. If you will come, +I will show you." Ruiz gestured toward a concrete shed that stood some +distance away. + +"What was the shed used for?" Rick asked as they walked toward it. + +"It is a shed for a pump, senor. The pump is for the hotel's water, +which must be brought up the hill from Calor." + +In a moment Rick saw for himself. The pump was operating noisily. Along +one wall were shelves, one of which contained two cases of dynamite and +boxes of caps. On another shelf were three detonators. He selected one, +then picked out six sticks of dynamite. He handled the stuff gingerly, +even though he knew it was safe as so much soap. Dynamite, for all its +explosive power, is stable stuff, and difficult to set off by accident. + +The dynamite caps were much less safe, however. Each was packed +carefully in its own protective wrapping, but Rick took no chances. He +put each one in a different pocket. Then, feeling like a keg of +gunpowder with a sputtering fuse, he walked back to the jeep. + +Hobart Zircon and Scotty came out of the hotel as he approached. + +"Stand back," Rick said grimly. "I may go off like the Black Tom +explosion if you touch me." + +Big Hobart Zircon chuckled. "Don't worry, Rick. If you do, we'll go off +with you. Would it make you happier if I carried the explosives?" + +Rick considered. "It doesn't matter," he said. "If the stuff goes off, +we'll all go into orbit at the same time and the jeep will go with us. +Let's go." + +Scotty looked at him curiously. "Where are the caps?" + +Rick patted his pockets one at a time. "One in each breast pocket and +one in my watch pocket. Don't push me around, buddy. I'm loaded." + +Scotty grinned. "I'll keep my distance." + +The rest of the party was loading jeeps now, too. Scotty hoisted the +equipment and lunches into the back of the jeep and got in with them. +Rick climbed gingerly into the front passenger seat and Zircon got ready +to drive. He handed Rick a map. "You navigate. Our first destination is +marked with a cross. We start out on the road leading west from the +hotel. That will take us to the pumice works." + +"Okay," Rick began, but he never finished. The jeep began to rock under +him. For an insane instant he thought it must have a perfectly silent +motor, then he realized Zircon had not yet turned on the ignition +switch. Sudden dizziness made him clutch at the seat, and instinctively +he clapped an arm across his chest to protect the dynamite caps. + +He was vaguely conscious of yells from around him, and he struggled to +sit up straight. His stomach was churning and he felt nauseated. Zircon +let out a bellow like a wounded steer. + +From inside the hotel Rick heard the sudden crash of shattering glass +and gripped the jeep seat tighter with his free hand. + +Then, as suddenly as it had come, it was over. He straightened up, +dizzy. "Wh-what happened?" he asked shakily. + +He heard Dr. Balgos. "A warning, my friends. The most serious one yet." +He pointed up to where the peak of El Viejo loomed. "The Old One must be +working faster than I thought." + +"But what was it?" Rick asked again and at the same time was afraid that +he knew. + +"Earthquake," Zircon boomed. He pointed. + +Rick stared. In a zigzag line across the hotel parking lot was a +fissure, one that hadn't been there a minute before. The concrete gaped +in widths varying from a crack to a few inches. + +The earth had opened up! + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Firing Parties + + +It was a shaken group of scientists that moved off in their jeeps to the +preselected stations. Most of the adults had experienced earthquakes +before, but none had seen the earth split almost at their feet. To Rick, +the sensation had been as upsetting as any he had ever experienced. + +"The one thing we learn to depend on," Zircon said, "is that the earth +under our feet is solid and dependable. When it shakes like a jelly, it +causes a kind of emotional shock, apart from any physical damage it may +do." + +"It certainly did with me," Rick agreed. + +"Ditto," Scotty added. + +Zircon put the jeep in gear and moved away from the hotel. He drove +slowly over the narrow part of the crack in the parking lot, then picked +up speed. Rick looked around. Bradley Connel and Ruiz were following in +their own vehicle. + +Zircon took a blacktop road to the west, close to the base of the +mountain. Fortunately for Rick's peace of mind, the road was fairly +smooth. He had never carried dynamite caps before, but he knew they +contained fulminate of mercury, which is one of the most unstable and +violent chemical substances, pound for pound, ever created. + +The big scientist sensed his uneasiness. "Relax, Rick. Those caps won't +go off without a substantial knock against something. Enjoy the +scenery." + +Rick grinned. "I'll try." + +The scenery was tropical. Once away from the hotel grounds, there was +heavy growth, vines, creepers, and broad-leafed plants. He saw palmetto +and wild banana interspersed with Judas palms and other typical +vegetation. The growth clung to the side of El Viejo like a thick green +carpet. Now and then the jeep passed an open space in the vegetation and +he saw the plains stretching away to the sea on his left. + +The jeep climbed gradually and Rick realized that their direction had +changed. They were now heading on the more northerly course. The +vegetation was thinner, too, and he guessed it was because they were +higher up the mountainside. At a rough estimate, the jeep had climbed +nearly a thousand feet. + +"Pumice quarry ahead," Zircon announced. + +Rick saw ramshackle wooden buildings, then piles of grayish rock. A +hundred yards farther on he saw an open pit. This was where the San +Luzians mined pumice for export. + +"Is there much of a market for it?" Scotty asked. + +"Not as much as there was years ago," Zircon replied. "Pumice, as you +probably know, is volcanic rock. But not an ordinary one. It's a kind of +foamy lava honeycombed with gas bubbles. It's used as an abrasive. +Modern industrial products have replaced it in general use, but +apparently there's still enough demand so that the San Luzians are able +to export a little. Our firing station is about a mile from here." + +Rick looked at the rough terrain. "Think we can get through?" + +"Easily. According to the map, we have an unpaved road part of the way." + +The unpaved road turned out to be a pair of wagon tracks. But at least +there were no trees in the way. Rick held on tight as Zircon shifted +into four-wheel drive and forged ahead. + +The big scientist kept an eye on his odometer, or mileage counter, while +the boys watched for a clearing. It was slightly over a mile before they +found one, and Zircon pulled off the road to let Brad Connel and Ruiz go +by. + +The jeep stopped as the two came abreast and the geologist called, "Want +to trade stations?" + +"We like this one," Zircon replied with a grin. + +"Don't blame you. I have another three miles through this stuff. Well, +so long." + +The jeep started off and was soon lost as the path curved slightly. + +Zircon looked at his watch. "Plenty of time, but we might as well get +ready." + +A few minutes search disclosed a spot far enough away from the clearing +for safety, with no trees to be uprooted by the blast. Zircon took two +of the dynamite sticks Rick carried and one of the caps. He placed the +cap over one stick and used a special tool, like a jar opener, to crimp +it into place. + +"This is the only really delicate part of the operation," he said. "If +the crimpers slip, they could set off the cap and the dynamite. So be +careful when you do it. Keep the crimpers low on the flange of the cap." + +He found a rubber band in his pocket and used it to hold the two sticks +together. A coil of wire was produced next, and the connection made to +the dynamite cap. Zircon dug a shallow hole with his heel and put the +dynamite sticks in, then backed off unwinding wire as he went. + +The detonator had been left in the jeep. Rick got it and carried it to +where Zircon waited with the pair of wires. + +"How does this thing work?" Scotty asked. + +"It's a dynamo," Zircon replied. "When the handle is pushed down it +engages gears that spin a flywheel, which operates the dynamo long +enough to send an electrical charge through the wires." + +"So don't sit on the handle," Rick joked. + +"And don't kick it," Scotty added. + +Zircon connected the wires to a pair of terminals on top of the +detonator, then looked at his watch. "Plenty of time. We might as well +take it easy. Anyone hungry?" + +No one was. It was too soon after breakfast. Instead, Rick took the +opportunity to ask questions. + +"I can understand the general principle of what we're doing, but can you +tell us exactly what happens?" + +"Sure. When the dynamite charge goes off, it sends shock waves through +the earth in all directions. Whenever a shock wave strikes something of +different density, its direction and velocity change. For instance, if +there is denser rock a few hundred feet down, that will cause a change +of both velocity and direction. With me so far?" + +"I think so," Scotty said. "The denser the stuff the wave strikes, the +faster it moves. Like sound waves. I mean, sound moves faster in water +than in air, and faster in a steel rail than in water. Is it the same?" + +"Just about," Zircon agreed. "The shock waves radiate away from us, +through the earth, and eventually reach the recorders on the other side +of the mountain. You can see what happens, I think. Waves will arrive at +different times, depending on the path they took and the kind of +material they went through." + +Rick nodded. "So if there's molten rock, or magma somewhere in the way, +the shock wave that goes through it will slow down and arrive at the +recorder later?" + +"That's it. The tracings we get can be analyzed to give us a kind of +cross-sectional look at the mountain. You see, we know how fast the +waves travel through different kinds of earth structure. Also, we will +know the point of the explosion and the location of the recorder for +each shot. Which reminds me. We'd better get out the equipment and +locate ourselves precisely." + +"How?" Rick asked. "What will we use for landmarks?" + +"The top of the mountain, for one, and if you'll look carefully to a +point slightly south of east between those two banana palms, you'll see +the top of the control tower at the airport." + +Rick shook his head. "Good thing you're with us. I completely forgot to +watch for landmarks." + +"That was the first thing I had in mind in looking for a spot," Zircon +told him. + +The transit gave a precise angle between the two landmarks. Zircon drew +a line on the map connecting the southern tip of the mountain and the +airport tower. Then, with that as his base line, it was easy to draw two +lines at the correct angles from each of the points. The transit's +position was where the two lines intersected. + +By the time the scientist had finished, it was nearly one o'clock. The +three walked to the detonator. "Pull the handle up," Zircon directed. +Rick did so. "I'll count down from ten seconds. Push down on zero." + +It was like the countdown for a rocket firing, Rick thought. Zircon +called out the time starting at one minute, then called off the last ten +seconds. As he reached zero, Rick pushed the handle home. + +The dynamite went off with a roar that sent leaves and dirt flying, and +Rick felt the shock wave slam against his ears with stunning force. + +"Open your mouth next time," Zircon said. "I forgot to warn you." He was +already reeling in the wire. "Let's get going. One mile farther on for +the next shot." + +At the next station the same procedure was repeated, but before it was +time, there was a far-off explosion. Zircon looked at his watch. "Brad +Connel. Right on time." In another fifteen minutes there was an even +more distant sound as David Riddle's first shot went off. They ate their +lunch and listened to the echo off the mountain. + +Zircon and the boys were ready when their time came. Location this time +had been made on sightings toward the mountain, and a flagpole at Cape +San Souci on the western side of the island. + +The road petered out and they were forced to go cross-country to reach +the third shot station. Fortunately, Brad Connel had left a path of +crushed vegetation, so it was only necessary to follow where he had led. + +After the third shot, the three collected their equipment and drove back +to the hotel. + +They were the first back. All three were sticky from the heat, and +somewhat insect bitten. By unanimous consent they headed for the +showers. + +Rick dressed except for his shoes, then stretched out on his bed. He +wondered what the day's work would show. The memory of the earthquake +was still fresh, and he was anxious to see if it had come from rising +magma far below, or from some other source. He had a mental image of +white-hot rock rising sluggishly, melting a path to the surface. Now and +then the magma struck water, or gas-producing minerals, and then there +was a tightly held explosion that made the earth shudder. + +Well, it was probably like that, from what he had read about volcanic +action. Anyway, he could do without earthquakes. They were unnerving. + +Scotty finished dressing, and Rick slipped on his shoes. It was time for +the others to be back. Connel should have arrived only a few minutes +behind them, but it would take longer for the others because they had +gone around the mountain in the other direction. + +The boys walked to the staff conference room and found Hartson Brant and +Julius Weiss. The two were busy unrolling long strips of paper covered +with blue shadings. + +"Find anything yet?" Rick asked his father. + +"No. We're just getting ready to take a look. How did it go?" + +"No trouble. Zircon must still be in the shower. Probably Connel is, +too. He must have been right behind us." + +The scientists started poring over the traces. + +"Here's your first shot," Hartson Brant said. He pointed to where a +series of squiggles began. Rick could see nothing of interest. All the +pen marks looked about the same to him. It would take expert analysis to +make anything out of them. + +The boys left the scientists to their work and wandered out into the +parking lot. "I want to take a closer look at that crack," Rick said. + +"Same here. Suppose it goes to China?" + +Rick grinned at his pal. "That's a myth. If you drilled a hole straight +down through the center of the earth from here you wouldn't come out +anywhere near China. You'd be in the Southern Hemisphere." + +"Don't get technical on me, boy." + +The crack, however, went down only about three feet, gradually narrowing +until it was closed. Even so, it was impressive. Rick knew that the +actual break must continue down into the earth for some distance, +perhaps for hundreds of feet. The force it took to shake the earth like +that was awesome. Again he was reminded sharply of the kind of forces +against which the Spindrift group was trying to contend, and he felt for +the first time that the job was completely hopeless. What could mere men +do? + +A horn honking wildly brought him to quick attention. He turned and saw +a jeep coming along the western road into the parking lot. Brad Connel! +But where was Ruiz? Then, as the jeep neared, Rick saw. The San Luzian +was lashed to an improvised stretcher lying across the back of the jeep! + +The geologist drew to a stop, his face chalky. + +"Get a doctor!" he shouted. "Quickly! Ruiz got caught in the last +explosion. I think he's dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Seismic Tracings + + +Ruiz, the short, friendly San Luzian, was not dead, but he was only +barely alive. Within a half hour he was on his way to the hospital at +Calor, crushed and unconscious. + +Brad Connel was badly shaken. "I thought he was behind me," the +geologist explained. "But he had gone back to check the cap connection. +At least, that's what he must have gone back for. I fired, then turned +around, and he wasn't there. He was blown fifty feet at least. If only I +had checked! But he was there with me, and I just kept my eye on the +chronometer. He didn't say anything. He just walked off." + +There was nothing much to be said. It was the kind of accident that +seems absolutely senseless. Both Connel and Ruiz were old hands with +explosives, yet the San Luzian apparently had wandered back to the +charge just as it went off. + +Rick and Scotty walked toward the hot springs behind the hotel and +talked it over. + +"Pretty stupid thing for anyone to do," Scotty said soberly. + +Rick agreed. "Especially an old hand. Ruiz was supposed to be +experienced, but I can't imagine how a veteran could pull a stunt like +that." + +It made absolutely no sense. Ruiz spoke English. Rick knew that from his +conversation with the San Luzian. So he must have known Connel was +counting down, getting ready to push the plunger home. Why would he walk +into the blast, unless he was tired of living? But he didn't believe +Ruiz would try to get himself killed deliberately. The little San Luzian +had seemed like a sane, happy individual. + +Rick gave up. Maybe when Connel calmed down a little he could shed more +light on the accident. "The smell from the springs is getting pretty +strong," Scotty remarked. + +It certainly was. The wind had been from the hotel toward the hot +springs most of the day, and the odor hadn't been bad. Now, in the +vicinity of the springs, it was making Rick's eyes water and his nose +smart. + +"Think we can get close enough for a look?" Rick asked. + +"We can try. There's the building ahead." + +A cement walk led from the hotel to the springs, rising up a gradual +incline that was not too steep for wheel chairs, or for the elderly. The +boys had heard that many invalids had come here, to bathe in the hot +springs, to drink the mineral water, and to soak in warm mud. + +"How'd you like a nice hot mud bath?" Rick asked. + +Scotty grinned. "Can't say it appeals to me, but there must be something +to it. There are mud baths and hot springs in Europe, too. With plenty +of customers." + +Rick took out his handkerchief and dried eyes that were watering from +the fumes. He doubted that the gases were good for them, but he was +curious. He wanted to see where the volcano would blow its top, if it +was going to. + +In spite of the irritating fumes, they persisted and got a quick look at +the former health area. There was a series of pools for bathers, ranging +from big ones for large groups to individual tublike affairs, all nicely +tiled. There was one area of mud baths. Rick had an impression of two +areas, one of bubbling mud, the other of steaming water. It was enough. +The boys turned and got out of there. + +Back at the hotel, the scientists were working. All were present, except +for Brad Connel, who had asked to be excused. He was in his room, +apparently still badly upset over the accident. + +Dr. Jeffrey Williams had obtained a large sheet of paper and had +sketched an outline of the volcano and the earth under it as seen in +cross section. As Hartson Brant read off data from the day's tracings, +Dr. Williams plotted points far underground. Now and then he connected +points, or put in a light line. + +Rick and Scotty watched with interest. The tracings meant nothing to +them; analysis was a job for trained scientists. But Dr. Williams was +slowly producing a picture on the paper. + +"That's all," Hartson Brant said finally. "How does it look, Jeff?" + +The seismologist shook his head. "Not good." He held his pencil almost +flat to the paper and began shading in an area bounded by the points he +had made. "According to what we have, this is the shape of a magma +front." He drew in other lines, rising vertically through the earth into +the volcano. "Apparently these discontinuities indicate old channels, +now filled in. Notice that the magma is not following the original +channels. This seems to confirm what Esteben has been telling us." + +The volcanologist nodded. "It seems to. Jeff, do you have any doubt +about this area being magma?" + +"I'm afraid not. The data fits. Of course it's still pretty far below +the surface." + +Rick could see that the ominous shading was nearly twice as far +underground as the top of the volcano was above sea level. + +Julius Weiss spoke up. "The next step is to find out how fast the magma +is rising." + +"A series of shots every day for the next few days should tell us that," +Hartson Brant agreed. "Hobart, you've been pretty quiet. Any comments?" + +"None of any importance," the big physicist boomed. "Only this: what can +we possibly do about a situation like this?" + +Hartson Brant shrugged. "I don't know. At least we can keep track of the +magma." + +David Riddle, the geologist, added, "It will allow time to warn the +population. I can see no other means of saving them except to get them +off the island." + +Rick had reached the same conclusion. It didn't take a scientist to +realize the gravity of the situation. El Viejo was getting ready for +something big, unless the magma subsided. Since no one was really sure +about the physics of volcanology, no one had a good guess why the +volcanic action had begun again. No one could be sure it would not +decrease, either. + +"This picture is pretty rough," Dr. Williams said. "I'll refine it a +little after dinner, Hartson. It will give us a better basis for +plotting tomorrow's results." + +"Good idea," Hartson Brant agreed. "And speaking of dinner, it's about +time. Let's wash up and meet in the dining room in a half hour." + +"Better call Brad Connel," Zircon said. "I know how upset he must be, +but it will be better if he joins us and eats something." + +Rick and Scotty returned to their room and washed for dinner. Both were +quiet. The appearance of the magma under them, almost like a mushroom +cloud in shape, was pretty ominous. Like sitting on a volcano, Rick +thought. It was the most appropriate expression he could think of. No +wonder the earth had split. + +Scotty mused aloud. "Rock. Melting like butter on a stove. Thousands of +tons of it. Makes you appreciate natural forces, doesn't it?" + +"Even hydrogen bombs are pretty feeble by comparison," Rick agreed. "It +makes me uneasy to think of all that stuff boiling up under us." + +"I caught myself looking down a couple of times," Scotty said with a +grin. "I wouldn't be surprised to see steam coming up through the rug." + +Rick consulted his watch. "Maybe food will make us feel better. Come on. +It's about time." + +The scientific party was alone in the hotel, except for a reduced staff. +The governor had made arrangements for the hotel to operate so that the +visitors could have service. Rick almost wished they had stayed at a +beach hotel with other people around them. The huge resort was like an +abandoned city, with a few ghosts left in it. + +They walked through the conference room on their way into dinner and +found Connel looking over the sketch Williams had made. He looked up as +they entered and greeted them casually. + +"Hello, Rick, Scotty. I see we do have magma below us." + +"That's what Dr. Williams said," Rick agreed. "How do you feel, Mr. +Connel?" + +The geologist shrugged. "How can I feel? Ruiz was--is--a nice little +guy. I still don't know what happened, why he should walk back to the +charge. I was concentrating on getting the charge off on time, and there +was no reason for him to go back." + +"You said he went to check the cap connection," Scotty reminded. + +"It's the only reason I can think of, and it isn't a very good one. He +made the connection himself. Maybe he wanted another quick look." + +The geologist transferred his attention back to the sketch. "The stuff +is still pretty far down. Good thing, too. That will give time for +evacuating the island. We've probably got several months yet." + +The subject wasn't brought up during dinner, but over coffee Esteben +Balgos commented, "We must keep the governor informed. Jeff, if you will +lend me your sketch, I'll take it to the Executive Mansion first thing +in the morning and bring it back before we begin shooting. I think the +governor will want to start planning for evacuation, if he has not yet +done so." + +Williams nodded. "Help yourself, Esteben. I'll probably have the sketch +in my room. Knock on the door in the morning if you want it." + +The talk turned to heat-transfer mechanisms in the earth, and from there +to the whole problem of solar-energy input and outflow. The subject was +not one in which Rick had any background, and it wasn't long before he +lost interest. Besides, he was still tired from the trip, and the day's +events had added their own burden of fatigue. + +Scotty yawned, and Rick took the opportunity to suggest, "Let's go to +bed." + +"I'm with you." + +The boys excused themselves and in a short time were settled down for +the night. Rick fell asleep almost instantly. + +He awoke with Scotty shouting in his ear. "Let's go, Rick! Trouble!" + +Rick was on his feet, into trousers and shoes before he was fully awake. +Scotty had already dashed into the corridor. Rick joined him and the +rest of the scientists, who were standing in a group in front of Jeffrey +Williams' room. The white-haired scientist was holding a handkerchief to +a bloody bruise on his head. Rick hurried up just in time to hear him +tell the group: + +"I don't know what happened. My door wasn't locked, so anyone could have +come in. I didn't see a soul. I must have dozed off." + +"What's going on?" Rick demanded. + +His father answered. "Someone came into Jeff's room and slugged him, +apparently while he was dozing over the tracings. Both the tracings and +the sketch are gone!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Dynamite Missing + + +"There's only one reason I can think of why anyone would want to steal +the tracings," Rick said. He held on for a moment as Zircon steered the +jeep over a bump in the trail. "If word has leaked out about why we're +really here, maybe someone in the tourist business would steal the +evidence to keep business from being ruined." + +Scotty spoke up from the rear seat. "There's one big fat flaw in that +argument, boy. Would anyone care so much about business that he'd want +to stay and be blown up? Who thinks more of business than he does of his +own skin?" + +Zircon chuckled. "There may be such people, but I suspect they're +scarce." + +Rick had to agree. He stared through the windshield at the tail of Brad +Connel's jeep. The geologist was leading the way to the firing area, and +he was alone. Hartson Brant had tried to assign one of the boys as a +helper, but Connel had balked. He insisted that he did not need a +helper, that he was used to handling charges alone, that he did not want +to take the risk of an accident like that of yesterday. + +"Connel was pretty determined to go it alone," Rick remarked. + +"He's upset over the accident to Ruiz," Zircon pointed out. "He probably +feels bad because he couldn't see Ruiz when he visited the hospital." + +Connel had gone into town with Dr. Balgos, and had paid a call at the +Executive Mansion. While Balgos talked with Governor Montoya, recreating +the stolen sketch from memory, Connel had been taken to the hospital by +Lieutenant Governor Jaime Guevara. The hospital reported that Ruiz was +on the danger list, his condition unchanged. He could have no visitors. +Apparently both Guevara and Governor Montoya had tried to assure Connel +that he should not be so depressed over what was obviously a freak +accident. + +The trio stopped at their first station, and Connel waved, then +continued on his way. Rick watched him out of sight, then turned to go +to work. He remembered what the geologist had said the night before. + +"Connel figures we have months before the volcano blows," he remembered. + +"What?" Zircon looked up sharply. "How did he arrive at that +conclusion?" + +"From Dr. Williams' sketch." + +"Hmmm." The big scientist checked the detonator thoughtfully. "He must +have figured on a straight upward flow of the magma. But from the shape +of the magma front, I think it's highly unlikely that it will progress +in any such regular fashion. Instead, the front probably will increase +erratically, but in a kind of progression. It may double its frontage at +approximately regular periods." + +Scotty scratched his chin. "Double its frontage, huh? What does that +mean?" + +"Maybe four hundred square feet today, eight hundred tomorrow, and +sixteen hundred the day after. We won't know the rate of growth, or the +time scale, until we've watched it for a while. But I talked with Balgos +and Hartson last night at some length, and their opinion is that we +probably have a couple of weeks, maybe even three or four. But not +months." + +Rick whistled. "That fast? When will we be sure?" + +Zircon shrugged. "Can't tell. We'll keep shooting on a daily schedule, +and perhaps in three or four days we'll see enough growth in the front +to make an estimate. But even that can be misleading. If the magma +strikes a softer area, it can grow even more rapidly. Our best bet will +be to keep a daily watch from now on." + +Rick looked up at the extinct cone of El Viejo. In his imagination he +saw the top blow off in an earth-shaking explosion and millions of tons +of white-hot lava spurt high in the air. Then, when the lava came +down ... + +"We'd better get on the ball," he said. "Almost time for our first +shot." + +"Want to connect up?" Zircon asked. + +"I guess so." Rick had never handled dynamite before, but there was no +time like the present to get started. He took sticks from his pocket, +then a cap. Zircon handed him the crimping tool. He put a cap in place; +then, with infinite care, put the crimping tool in position. He took a +deep breath and squeezed. Nothing happened, except that the cap was now +held tightly. + +Rick let his breath out and grinned. Zircon and Scotty grinned back. + +"When you get real salty," Scotty said, "you'll crimp the caps on with +your teeth." + +"Ha!" Rick said. "And blow my head off?" + +"It's possible," Zircon agreed. "It has happened. My advice is, don't +try it. I've seen men do it, but it always gives me the shudders. Come +on. Let's plant the charge and lay the wire." + +The shots went off on schedule, and the party returned to the hotel. +Later, in analyzing the shots and making a new sketch, Jeffrey Williams +thought the magma front had grown slightly from the previous day, but +since the first tracings were gone, there was no way of being sure. + +David Riddle and Brad Connel walked in as he finished. The two, using +respirators, had been to inspect the hot-springs area. + +"Nothing new," Riddle reported. "The only sign of activity is a fresh +outpouring of hydrogen sulfide. It's bubbling up through the mud, and it +could be a pocket of gas that was suddenly released. The springs won't +tell us much." + +Hartson Brant said thoughtfully, "I'm afraid you're right, Dave. +Nothing for it but to keep shooting. And we'll lock up the papers at +night, so we can keep track of what's going on. One thing we'd better do +is start a survey of the entire cone, above the level where our shots +give us information. I'd like to be sure we're not overlooking any new +gaps or fissures in the mountain itself. But can we do it with the +manpower we have available and still keep shooting?" + +Rick spoke up. "I know how we can help, Dad. Scotty and I can handle our +stations alone now. That will leave Dr. Zircon free for other things. +Then, if we change stations with Brad Connel, and he takes the closer +ones, he can get back a good hour earlier and do other work." + +"No!" Brad Connel exploded. + +Hartson Brant and the other scientists looked at him with surprise. "Why +not?" Dr. Brant asked. "It seems like a sensible suggestion, Brad." + +"It is," Connel said hurriedly. "It's just that ... well, maybe I'm +still too upset over that accident, but I know the terrain now, and +these kids don't. They should stick to the stations where they've been +operating, and I'll handle my own. It's just that I don't want any risks +whatever. My own part of the mountain is a lot rougher, and they'd be +carrying dynamite and caps over pretty bouncy trails. I don't like it. I +think we should stick to our own stations." + +The geologist obviously felt strongly about it, and Hartson Brant +agreed. "Since you feel that way, Brad, we'll let things go as they are. +Hobart, can the boys handle the shots?" + +"Sure," Zircon stated. "As long as Rick doesn't crimp caps with his +teeth. Of course if he does we'll still get a reading, but we may lose +Rick." + +"No danger," Rick retorted. "Besides, you wouldn't get a reading because +the shot wouldn't be timed right." + +Hartson Brant saw that the big scientist was joking. "If Rick feels +adventurous he can kick mountain lions for sport instead. I'm told there +are some on the mountain." + +"Jaguars," Dr. Balgos offered. "Not your typical North American cats. +These are much fiercer. They react faster to a kick--if you can get +close enough to kick one." + +Brad Connel laughed heartily. "The boys can lure 'em with catnip," he +said. + +Rick glanced at the geologist. The laugh hadn't rung true. + +"I suggest we also save time by shooting in the early morning," Hartson +Brant added. "That will leave the afternoon for other activities. Jeff, +if you can manage to keep your head out of the way of blunt instruments, +perhaps you'd like to make a better sketch of the magma front. We can +assign the boys as guards, if you like." + +Dr. Williams caressed the bruise on his head. "Not necessary, Hartson. +I'll lock my door and keep my face toward the window. But for now, how +about dinner?" + +There was no disagreement. + +After dinner, Rick and Scotty lingered over coffee with Dr. Balgos, +Julius Weiss, and Hartson Brant. The others had excused themselves and +gone back to their rooms. The boys were trying to learn more about +volcanoes, but the scientists had a tendency to get involved in +discussions of some of the finer points of geophysics and long minutes +would pass before Rick or Scotty could bring them back to the main point +with a question. + +In the midst of an interesting discussion of the Hawaiian volcanoes by +Dr. Balgos, Honorario burst into the dining room and hurried to the +Peruvian scientist. Rick couldn't follow the rapid Spanish, but Balgos +jumped to his feet, his face white, and translated swiftly. + +"Honorario says all the dynamite is gone!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Dangerous Trail + + +The search for the missing dynamite had failed completely. Rick, Scotty, +and the scientists were equally puzzled. Why steal dynamite? What was +there to be gained? + +At a conference early the following morning Hartson Brant voiced the +question. + +Julius Weiss was the first to respond, and his answer was another +question. "What was to be gained by stealing the tracings and Jeff's +sketch? Isn't the theft of the dynamite in the same category?" + +"I suppose it is," Hartson Brant agreed. "I see no motive whatever for +either theft. After all, it was simple enough to make additional +tracings, and it will not be difficult to obtain more dynamite. So I go +back to my original question. What is to be gained by the theft?" + +"Dynamite has some value," Zircon boomed. + +"To be sure. But the tracings had none, except to us." + +Rick said what had been on his mind. "Both thefts resulted in only one +thing . . . delay. The tracings put us a day behind, and the dynamite +might delay us even longer. It depends on how fast we can get more." + +"Maybe Rick has something there," David Riddle said. "But who gains from +a delay in the project?" + +"No one," Brad Connel said testily. "I think we're looking for a motive +that doesn't exist. The tracings probably were stolen by someone on the +hotel staff, because they looked important. Maybe the thief thought they +could be sold. Certainly the dynamite can be sold. What motive do we +need other than the usual profit a thief expects?" + +"Perhaps none," Hartson Brant admitted. "The question is, what now? We +can proceed no further without explosives." + +"I will go to the governor and see if he can obtain more for us," +Esteben Balgos announced. "If he has none here on San Luz, there are +other islands close by. A few telephone calls will locate a supply." + +"Fine. And while you're doing that, there is little the rest of us can +do except relax. Will you let us know by telephone what the governor +says?" + +"Yes, at once. Any of you care to go with me?" + +Williams and Riddle volunteered to go along. Weiss announced that he +wanted to make some calculations and asked Hartson Brant and Zircon to +help him. + +Rick and Scotty, left on their own, considered the possibilities for +amusement and found none except the ocean itself--which was plenty. +They decided on a swim and hurried back to their room to put on trunks +under their slacks. Zircon readily gave permission to use the jeep. + +As they changed clothes, a jeep motor roared into life. Scotty walked to +the window and opened the draperies. "Balgos and the others," he +announced. + +A few minutes later another jeep motor started up. Rick went to the +window and was just in time to see Brad Connel start across the parking +lot in his jeep. He was alone. + +The boy turned away from the window, very thoughtful. "That was Connel. +Wonder where he's going?" + +"Maybe to Calor, for shopping or sightseeing," Scotty replied. "What's +on your mind?" + +"He worries me," Rick said bluntly. "I don't really know why. Only he's +certainly determined to keep us away from his firing stations, isn't +he?" + +"Go on. Something's biting you, and I want to know what it is." + +Rick stared at his dark-haired pal without really seeing him. He +struggled to put into words the vague thoughts in the back of his mind. + +"Well, he acted worried about Ruiz, but I don't really think he was. It +was kind of overdone, you know? His face didn't match his words." + +Scotty shook his head. "You're on thin ice, boy. People don't react to +accidents in a standard way. It might have been overdone, but it might +not, too. What else?" + +"He didn't want us to go along as helpers after Ruiz was hurt. I know +that doesn't mean much, and he said he was just afraid of another +accident, but wouldn't you think he'd like some company? Besides, two +accidents like that just don't happen. Then, when we suggested changing +stations so he could have more time to work on other things, he yelled +pretty fast." + +"Because we don't know his terrain," Scotty pointed out. "At least +that's what he said." + +"Sure. But what's to know about the terrain? All we'd have to do would +be to follow his jeep tracks, and shoot where the ground is already torn +up from his earlier shots. If it's safe for him to carry caps and +dynamite, it's safe for us." + +Scotty scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I see what you mean. But the +evidence isn't very conclusive, is it?" + +"No," Rick admitted. "Only where's he going now? If he planned to go to +town, he'd invite anyone who wanted to go, wouldn't he? That's what most +people would do." + +Scotty chuckled. "One thing I like about you. When you get a notion in +that noggin, it doesn't come out easily. Next you'll be suggesting that +he slugged Williams and stole the dynamite." + +"He could have," Rick pointed out. "Apparently he was alone in his room +both times. At least no one said he was with them." + +Scotty held up his hands in surrender. "Okay. What do we do about it?" + +"Let's see where he's going." + +"I knew it," Scotty said resignedly. "Okay. But we'd better hurry." + +There was a clear view from the front of the hotel down the slopes of +the foothills to the town of Calor. The road wound around and +occasionally vanished from sight in clumps of green growth, but the boys +watched for several minutes and saw no sign of Connel. The jeep with +Balgos and the others was rolling along in the distance, but it was +still close enough to see three occupants. + +"He didn't go to town," Rick said finally, "and there's only one other +road out of here." + +"To the shot stations," Scotty agreed. "Unless he cut off and headed for +San Souci." That was a little fishing village on the west coast. Neither +boy had been there, but they had used a flagpole on the tip of the cape +near the town as a sighting marker. + +"Let's go see," Rick suggested. + +They hurried through the hotel to the parking lot and got into the jeep. +Rick started the vehicle, crossed the fissure in the lot, and took the +road west. According to the map, the road was paved as far as the pumice +works. Beyond that it was graded dirt. If Connel had taken the dirt +road, instead of the trail to the shot stations, they should see dust. + +He kept the jeep rolling at good speed as far as the pumice-works +shacks, then stopped to look for signs of a dust haze. There was none. +At the end of the blacktop, he and Scotty got out and examined the road +surface. There were signs of traffic, but none very recent so far as +they could tell. Rick drove the jeep a few hundred yards along the road, +then got out and looked again. The heavy treads of his vehicle were +clearly visible in the dust. If Connel had gone this way, he would have +left similar marks. + +"He took the trail," Rick said. + +Scotty nodded. "Looks like it. Do we follow?" + +"We sure do. What reason would he have for going to the station without +dynamite?" + +"None that I know of. Let's go." + +Rick turned the jeep into the trail and sped along it as fast as the +ruts allowed. As they reached their third station with no sign of +Connel, Scotty spoke suddenly. "Suppose we find him? How do we explain +why we're following him?" + +Rick considered. He rejected a casual trip as explanation. Connel +wouldn't buy it. + +"We can park the jeep in the jungle," he said finally. "It will be well +hidden. Then we can go on foot. If we see him coming, we can take to the +bush. We'll be invisible a few feet away." + +The jeep was driven into the area where their shots had been set off. It +was invisible from the trail. The boys left it and started hiking. + +It was hard going. The heat and humidity were both high, and they were +sweating before a quarter mile was covered. The film of perspiration +seemed to attract insects, too, and before long the pests were driving +them to distraction. Rick brushed futilely at the shining swarm of gnats +around his head. "I'm not sure it's worth it," he said grimly. + +"Neither am I," Scotty agreed. "But we've started. Let's keep plugging." + +They reached the first of Connel's shot stations without a sign of the +geologist. It was much like their own, a small clearing with the ground +torn by the dynamite. + +The second station, a mile farther on, was similar except that there +were more trees and fewer scrub palms. Rick identified one giant tree as +mahogany. + +They strode up the trail, grimly determined to find the geologist. One +more station remained ahead. Rick doubted that he had gone farther than +that. He wiped his streaming face and squinted his eyes to protect them +from the whining gnats. They swarmed around but didn't seem to sting or +bite. He was grateful for that much. + +Suddenly Scotty let out a warning gasp. The dark-haired boy threw +himself sideways, on top of Rick, and the two of them crashed to the +ground. + +"Roll away," Scotty said urgently. "Back! Hurry!" + +The ground opened up a few feet away. Rick felt a giant hand pick him +up, shake him, then slam him into a palmetto. Bruised and dazed, he +grabbed the palmetto for support and lacerated his hands on the rough +covering. He slid to the ground, consciousness slipping from him. + +For a moment Rick lay slumped at the base of the palmetto. He didn't +lose consciousness completely, but he was stunned and unable to function +either mentally or physically. He had neither sight or hearing for the +first few seconds, then these faculties slowly returned. He became +aware that he was looking down at a broad green leaf, and that the leaf +was gradually turning crimson. + +He watched, his vision clearing, and suddenly realized that the red +pigment was dripping onto the leaf in a steady series of drops that was +almost a stream. At almost the same instant he knew that the red was +blood and that it was his. He shook his head to clear it, and the red +spray flew from side to side. Through the periphery of vision he saw +that it was coming from his nose. + +Rick realized that he was on his hands and knees. He rose to a kneeling +position and fished for his handkerchief. He put it to his nose and it +came away stained red. He sighed with relief. Nosebleed. For a moment he +had wondered. . . . + +A few feet away Scotty was slowly stretching one limb after another, +checking to be sure he was functioning. Satisfied, the ex-Marine sat up, +with some effort. Rick saw that his nose was bleeding, too. + +"You've got a nosebleed," Rick said faintly. + +Scotty touched his nose with the back of his hand and examined the red +trace. "Uhuh," he agreed. + +"What happened?" Rick asked weakly. His voice sounded far away! + +Scotty's answer was barely audible. "We found the missing dynamite. I +saw a length of wire along the trail. Are you okay?" + +"I think so." Rick got to his feet, feeling as though his body were in +sections. "We must have been close when it went off." + +The two held onto each other for mutual support while strength came back +into them. + +"We weren't too close," Scotty said finally. He gestured up the trail. +Rick looked, and saw a gaping hole some distance away. Beyond it, coming +toward them at as high a speed as the trail allowed, was Brad Connel in +his jeep. + +The geologist stopped as he reached the hole, then swung off the trail +and plowed through some scrub and back onto it again. He drew up next to +the boys. + +"So it was you who stole the dynamite!" the geologist said grimly. "What +happened? Did it explode while you were fooling around with it?" + +The boys stared at him, dazed and openmouthed. + +"You're crazy," Rick managed finally. "We didn't steal it, but we almost +got blown up in it. If Scotty hadn't seen the wire, we both would have +been blown to bits." + +The geologist's eyes narrowed. "Do you mean to tell me someone tried to +blow you up? That's nonsense!" + +"That's what happened, nonsense or not," Rick said curtly. + +Scotty added, "And what were you doing here?" + +"Came to get my wallet," the geologist answered readily. "I missed it +and figured I must have dropped it up here. It wasn't anywhere else I'd +been. Better get in and let me take you back. If you were close enough +to get nosebleeds you must be shaken up quite a bit." + +"We're shaken," Rick agreed. "Our jeep is down at our shot station. We +decided to leave it there and take a hike." + +They climbed into the back of Connel's jeep. The nosebleeds had stopped +now, but their faces were smeared with blood. Neither felt like talking, +nor, apparently, did Connel. He stopped at their third station and +asked, "Can you make it? Or do you want to ride back with me?" + +"We can make it," Rick said. "Thanks for the lift." + +"I'd better stay behind you to make sure," Connel stated. + +The boys headed straight back to the hotel, Connel a hundred yards to +their rear. In the parking lot they thanked him again for the lift, then +hurried in to let warm water wash away the traces of their experience. + +Later, stretched out on their beds, they talked it over. + +"You saved our bacon," Rick stated. "But what really happened?" + +"I'm not sure," Scotty replied. "There are two possibilities. One, we +sprung a booby trap. I don't really credit that one much, because we +were rolling away when the stuff let go. If we'd hit a trip wire or +something similar, the dynamite would have gone off right then. So, +second possibility, someone was waiting for us. We jumped back just as +he pushed the plunger. Or, maybe he saw we had spotted the trap and +tried to get us, anyway." + +"Who's he?" Rick asked. + +"Persons unknown," Scotty answered. "Or maybe one person not unknown." + +"Meaning Connel? He could have done it. Suppose he set the trap, then +took his jeep up the hill out of sight. Then he could have walked back, +fired the shot, hurried back for his jeep, and driven down." + +"Could be," Scotty agreed. "Only, did he know we were coming?" + +Rick shrugged. "How can we know that? For all we know, from his third +shot station he might be able to look right down on the trail. He sees +us, hurries into position, fires the charge, and hurries back. We can't +really tell until we get to that third station. Personally, I vote for +Connel." + +"Not proven," Scotty warned. + +Rick knew it. "It may never be proven, on account of no witnesses. But +suppose it was some unknown party? Why wouldn't that party try for +Connel? Why wait until he's passed, and we're coming into position? +Would an unknown thief be that interested in us?" + +"Too many questions," Scotty objected. "I haven't any answers. But you +make a good case for its being Connel. Also, did you notice how he +jumped on us for stealing the dynamite? That probably would have been +his story if we'd been killed. Now tell me what his motive is. Why +should he try to delay the project?" + +Rick had no answer to that. "Makes no sense," he agreed. "Unless there's +something he doesn't want us to see. That dynamite sure discouraged our +trip to his third station!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Casa Guevara + + +The scientific party lost only one day because of the dynamite theft. +Governor Montoya supplied more explosives and the firing schedule +continued. Now, however, the dynamite was guarded by police supplied by +His Excellency. Police also were in evidence around the Hot Springs +Hotel. No more chances were being taken. + +After three days, the scientists began to have a better idea of what was +going on in the earth beneath them, but Rick and Scotty could make +little sense of the mass of data. Even the picture being filled in by +Dr. Williams was confusing. Now, two magma areas were showing where only +one had shown before. + +Esteben Balgos answered Rick's plea for an explanation. Over an +excellent dinner of roast suckling pig and bananas steamed with lemon +juice, the volcanologist took time to answer their questions. + +"There is much we do not know about volcanoes," the Peruvian scientist +began. "For example, we do not know exactly what causes magma to form. +Magma is, in simplest terms, molten rock. Some event takes place far +below, where the earth's crust ends and the mantle begins, and the rock +melts." + +"How far below?" Rick asked. + +"The distance varies. Under the ocean trenches, for example, the mantle +may begin only four miles down. Under some of the mountainous land +masses it may be closer to forty miles." + +Scotty whistled. "That's a whale of a distance. How can you tell how far +down it is?" + +"By the seismic traces from earthquakes, or from explosive shots like +the ones we are shooting. When the shock waves have reached the zone +between the earth's crust and the mantle, we see the results on our +tracings." + +"Is it really a sharp line?" Rick queried. + +"Probably not. No one is sure yet. It may be a kind of transitional +zone, from one kind of material to another, or it may be a distinct +layer. We call it the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, after the Yugoslav +scientist who discovered it by analysis of seismic tracings. At any +rate, it is somewhat above this discontinuity that magma is formed. We +don't know how." + +"Then it rises?" Scotty asked. + +"It forces its way up, by expansion. Sometimes the magma strikes water +and there is an explosion--a steam explosion. But generally the magma +rises through a fairly small channel. It forms a pool under the volcano. +The pool is actually a reservoir of molten rock. Generally it is shaped +like a lens. The magma gathers. Eventually it forces its way to the +surface, again through channels." + +"What kind of channels?" Rick asked. + +"It depends on the kind of volcano. Sometimes the channels are +weaknesses in the whole surrounding earth structure, and the magma flows +through cracks and emerges as sheets of lava. Sometimes there is a +central channel through which the magma can rise." + +"Which do we have?" Scotty wanted to know. + +"Probably neither or perhaps both. There was once a central channel in +El Viejo. It is closed now, and we do not know if it is weaker than the +rest of the mountain. There is a weak fissure under the hot springs. So, +El Viejo can vent either way." + +Rick shook his head. He had learned enough of natural forces to know +there are often no definite answers to questions, but this was critical. + +"So the volcano could blow off on top or side, and we can't guess +which?" + +"That is correct. However, explosive action in a volcano usually comes +when the magma meets enough water to create steam. Now, our closest +magma front is still far below the floor of the surrounding ocean. You +follow me? Good. When the magma rises to the level of the ocean floor, +what do you think will happen?" + +Rick could see the picture in his mind. He said slowly, "It will +probably meet water. Plenty of it, from seepage of the ocean downward +through cracks in the ocean floor. Maybe there are cracks like the one +in the parking lot, caused by earthquakes." + +"Precisely. And when the magma meets the water, then what?" + +"The water turns to steam instantly." Scotty answered grimly. "The steam +expands instantly--and boom!" + +"Boom," Balgos agreed solemnly. "But how big a boom we do not know. It +may blow the top off El Viejo. It may blow a gap along one of the +cracks. We don't know." + +Rick digested this information in silence. The picture was certainly not +a cheerful one. "How far down are the magma fronts?" he asked. + +"As closely as we can tell, the bottom one is right above the +discontinuity, which is about six miles below us at this point. The +upper one is about a mile below the top of El Viejo. This puts it about +a quarter of a mile below the floor of the ocean." + +"Too close," Scotty muttered. "What now?" + +"We keep shooting, to try and keep track of the upper front. Also, we +will place instruments called tiltometers on the mountain slope. These +are devices that really measure tilt. You see, if the lens of magma is +increasing, El Viejo will swell up slightly. The tiltometers will show +it, and we will then have further proof of what is coming." + +"But what can we do about it?" Rick demanded. + +Balgos shrugged. "_Quien sabe?_ The Spanish phrase is a good one, +because it does not only ask 'who knows,' it also carries the meaning of +a kind of resignation. There does not seem to be anything we can do." + +Rick stared across the dining room, eyes unseeing. It was hard to +imagine that molten rock was gathering below them in sufficient quantity +to make a mountain move; but once you succeeded in imagining it, the +picture was terrifying. + +Motion attracted his glance and his eyes focused in time to see Brad +Connel rise from the table and excuse himself. He watched the geologist +walk out of the room and turned to Scotty. His pal nodded. He had seen +Connel leave, too. + +Rick quickly counted noses. All others were present. Connel was the +first to leave. He wondered where the geologist was going, and his eyes +narrowed. + +Connel had been very anxious about his and Scotty's condition, once the +hotel was reached. Rick was sure his anxiety was strictly phony. Both +boys had been stiff and sore, but a medical examination showed nothing +seriously wrong, thanks to Scotty's fast action. Hartson Brant had been +reluctant to accept Rick's opinion that Connel had stolen the dynamite +and booby-trapped them. He pointed out that the geologist had no motive; +he had never even been on San Luz before. + +Rick had to agree. There was no apparent motive, but that didn't mean +Connel was innocent. He might have a motive that no one suspected. + +Scotty cocked an eyebrow at Rick and made a slight motion of his head +toward the door where Connel had vanished. Rick got the signal. He +nodded. + +The boys thanked Dr. Balgos for his explanation, then excused +themselves. They wandered casually from the dining room. + +Once outside, Rick grinned at Scotty. "So you're wondering where Connel +has gone?" + +"Aren't you?" + +"Sure. But why not ask the others what he said when he excused himself?" + +Scotty shook his head. "They didn't think much of our theory about +Connel causing our troubles, did they? If we asked, they'd think we were +pushing the same point too hard." + +Rick agreed. "Where did he go?" + +"I don't know. But if he leaves the hotel, it will be by jeep. There's +nothing within walking distance. If we get out back of the pump shed +we'll see him if he comes out." + +"Aye, aye. And if he jeeps out of here, we'll be on his tail. Roger?" + +"You said a Brantish mouthful. Let's go." + +A quick reconnaissance disclosed no sign of the geologist outside, and +the boys hurried across the dark parking lot to the shadow of the pump +shed. A police officer materialized from the darkness and greeted them +courteously. "Good evening, senores. _A sus ordenes._" + +By placing himself at their orders, the officer was politely asking +their business, Rick knew. He replied, "We came out to see if anyone had +made another try for the dynamite, Senor _Teniente_." Calling the +officer "lieutenant" was a form of flattery. + +"_Sargento, muchas gracias_," the officer replied. White teeth flashed +in a grin. "But who can tell the future? If I capture the thief, it may +soon be lieutenant instead of sergeant." + +"We hope so," Scotty said politely. + +Rick noted that the three were hidden from the parking lot by the pump +house. The position was satisfactory. If Connel was going to take a +jeep, he probably would do so right away. Otherwise, why should he be +the first to leave the dining room? + +"Why would anyone steal dynamite?" Rick asked the police officer. He +wanted only to keep a quiet conversation going behind the pump house. + +The officer had theories. Perhaps revolutionaries had stolen it. Also, +although it was against the law and brought severe punishment, fishermen +were known to dynamite fish. This also was a possibility. But the +explosion of the dynamite on the mountainside was certainly a puzzle. + +Rick didn't think so, but he agreed politely. It was bewildering, he +said. Why steal explosives and then use it on a harmless scientific +group? + +Perhaps fear of discovery caused the thief to set a trap, the officer +guessed. He admitted it wasn't a good guess. + +A jeep roared into life and the boys stiffened. The officer strolled out +of the shadow for a look. "One of your associates is going for a ride," +he said. + +Rick waited until the jeep lights cut across the parking lot and moved +down the western road, then he said, "It's a nice night for a ride, +Scotty. What say we take a jeep and look over the country, too?" + +"Good idea," Scotty agreed readily. + +They bade the officer good night and started to where Zircon's jeep was +parked. It was a temptation to hurry, but they suppressed it and +sauntered to the jeep. Fortunately, no keys were needed. The jeep +ignition was turned on by a simple switch. Rick got into the driver's +seat and started up. He waited, the motor idling, until he was sure +Connel was out of sight around the mountain, then he drove slowly across +the parking lot and followed. + +Fortunately, there was enough moonlight to see the road. Once out of +sight of the hotel, Rick stopped and switched off the lights. As his +eyes adjusted to the dimness he started off again as fast as vision +allowed. + +Once he sighted Connel's lights. They were ahead and higher on the +mountain. He lost sight of them again as foliage blocked the view. +"Suppose he's heading for the shot station?" he asked. + +Scotty shrugged. "We'll soon know." + +They reached the pumice works without seeing the geologist's lights +again, and Rick stopped at the turnoff. "Now what?" he asked. "Did he go +up the trail or not?" + +Scotty sniffed the air. "Smell anything?" + +Rick breathed deeply. There was the odor of rank vegetation, and, very +faintly, the odor of sulfur from the hot springs. But there was another +smell, too. After a moment he identified it. "Dust!" + +"Seems so," Scotty agreed. "Which means he didn't take the trail to the +stations. No dust on those tracks. He must have taken the dirt road to +San Souci." + +"But why?" Rick was already moving ahead to where the pavement ended. +"What's in San Souci?" + +Scotty chuckled. "Ask Connel. Don't ask me." + +"I thought Marines knew everything," Rick gibed. + +"Almost everything," Scotty corrected. + +The jeep moved onto the dirt road and in a moment their own cloud of +dust obscured any slight haze that Connel's passing might have left. +They were in strange territory now, and Rick slowed down somewhat. +Connel had the advantage of lights. They wouldn't be able to gain on +him. + +"He can't get far," Scotty said reassuringly. "The road goes to San +Souci and nowhere else. It can't be much of a town, so we'll find him." + +Scotty was right. San Souci wasn't much of a town. There were a handful +of fishermen's huts, a dock with a number of fishing boats, racks for +drying fish, a single store, and nothing else. There was a paved road +leading from the town to the main city of Calor, but Connel hadn't taken +it. Nor was the jeep in San Souci. + +Rick's halting Spanish was sufficient to communicate with a fisherman +who spoke equally halting English. He had been taking the air all +evening. No other vehicle had come to San Souci. + +"Now what?" Rick asked helplessly. + +"He went somewhere," Scotty responded. "And that somewhere has to be a +turnoff between here and the pumice works. We must have missed it +because we traveled without lights. Let's go back and look." + +"I'm with you," Rick agreed. "But wherever he turned off must be a +trail, because there are no side roads on the map." He swung the jeep +around and started back. He had turned on the headlights as they +approached the fishing village; he kept them on. + +They found the turnoff about a mile from San Souci. The road widened +slightly, and there was an opening in the foliage just wide enough for a +car. Twin gateposts of concrete marked the passage. Rick turned the +jeep, and the headlights picked out a name cut in the concrete pillars: +_Casa Guevara_. + +"Someone's house," Rick said. "Name of Guevara. We can't very well go +rolling up a private driveway, can we?" + +"Especially with that sign," Scotty added. He pointed to a wooden sign +set slightly to one side of the private road just beyond the gate. It +read _No Entrar_. No Trespassing. + +"Question," Rick said thoughtfully. "Did Connel go up this road or is +there another one?" + +"No evidence," Scotty replied. + +Rick pointed to the gatepost. "Who do we know that's named Guevara?" + +Scotty breathed, "Sure! The lieutenant governor!" + +"And he took Connel to the hospital to see Ruiz," Rick reminded, "so +they're acquainted." + +He switched off the lights. "That's probably the answer. Connel was +invited to pay a social call. Why not? This probably has nothing to do +with the project at all." + +Scotty sighed audibly. "The trouble with you is that you come up with +sensible answers. We might as well go on back to the hotel." + +"Might as well . . ." Rick began, then stopped as light appeared dimly +through the foliage up the private driveway. They were headlights! + +"We've got to get out of here," he said, and threw the jeep into gear. +For a moment he hesitated. If he went up the dirt road to the hotel, +Connel would surely see them. If Rick went back toward San Souci and the +oncoming car was not Connel, but someone from Casa Guevara, the car +might also turn toward San Souci, and the boys would be seen. + +Rick thought quickly. About a hundred yards toward San Souci there was a +break in the foliage that he had almost investigated until he saw that +no tracks led into it. He quickly switched into four-wheel drive and +swung the jeep in its own length. The lights were closer now. Rick +accelerated and found the opening through the jungle scrub. The jeep +bounced as he drove into it, then swung until they were behind a screen +of palmetto. He killed the engine. + +Scotty piled out, Rick close behind him. They hurried to the edge of the +highway, careful to keep masked by the palmetto, and watched. + +A jeep emerged from the driveway to Casa Guevara. In the back-scattered +light from its headlights they saw that Connel was the driver. He was +alone. They watched until his taillights flickered out beyond a bend in +the road. + +[Illustration: _Connel was alone in the jeep_] + +"Interesting," Rick said. "Does a social call last for less than a half +hour? Answer: no, not in San Luz. There's Spanish-style hospitality +here, and Connel would have been there for hours." + +"He came on business," Scotty said slowly. "But what kind of business +would he have with the lieutenant governor?" + +"That," Rick said grimly, "is what we need to find out." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Governor Vanishes + + +Far below the surface of San Luz, white-hot rock, flowing like +incandescent molasses, forced its way upward under enormous pressure. +Sometimes the magma remained quiet for hours, pulsing slightly like a +living thing. Then it would melt its way through to a weakness in the +earth's structure, creating a new channel for its upward flow. + +In one new channel was basaltic rock with a higher moisture content than +the magma had encountered before. As the moisture turned instantly to +steam, it expanded with sudden violence, and the earth shook with the +force of the explosion. + +Far above the pocket, Rick Brant felt the earth tremble, and shook his +head. The temblors were increasing in frequency, although none had been +as violent as that first day's earthquake. The boy looked at Scotty. His +pal's face was grim. + +The scientists around the worktable had paused, too, as they felt the +earth tremble. + +Esteben Balgos said quietly, "El Viejo is getting ready. If we are going +to act, it must be soon." + +"Act?" Connel demanded. "How?" + +Balgos shrugged. "That is what we are here to decide." + +Rick watched the geologist's face. He was sure that Connel, for reasons +unknown, was trying to slow down the project. He was satisfied that the +man had stolen both the initial tracings and the dynamite. He also knew +that Connel lied. On their return from trailing him to Casa Guevara, the +boys had found Connel having a cup of coffee in the dining room and had +asked casually where he had gone. He had muttered something about going +into Calor for a supply of cigars. + +Hartson Brant asked, "What do you make of this series of tracings? My +own opinion is that we have found a structural weakness through which +the magma will move. But the weakness does not extend far enough upward +to give any idea of the channel the magma will take to the surface." + +The scientist pointed to a series of blue lines as he spoke. Dr. +Williams examined the lines, then took his pencil and began to sketch +rapidly on his cross-section drawing of the volcano and the earth under +it. Rick watched as the sketch took shape. From the upper lens-shaped +magma front Williams was drawing a series of lines that changed +direction, moving toward the western side of the island. Then, across +the top of the upward-moving lines Williams drew a horizontal line. + +"Those upward strokes are the fissures shown by the tracings," he said. +"Notice that they stop at the horizontal line. My guess is that the +horizontal line represents an unbroken stratum that will probably stop +the magma temporarily. We may even have another one of those lens-shaped +pools develop." + +Big Hobart Zircon poked at the sketch with a huge finger. "Jeff, how far +below the surface is this stratum?" + +"Slightly over a quarter of a mile, I'd guess. It's hard to be accurate +within a few feet. On that side of the mountain the ocean bottom is a +few hundred feet below sea level, and I'd say the hard rock is probably +a thousand feet below that." + +Zircon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If we could somehow breach that +hard rock and allow room for the magma to flow upward, what would +happen?" he inquired. + +Esteben Balgos exclaimed excitedly, "Once through the layer of hard +rock, the magma would encounter plenty of surface water. Look at Jeff's +sketch. Above the hard rock there are many fissures, which must have a +high water content. If the magma reaches those, we will have violent +eruption through the western side of the mountain, probably right about +sea level." + +Rick could see instantly what Balgos meant. "Dad, an eruption on the +west side would be perfect! The mountain itself would protect Calor and +the rest of the island!" + +"That's true, Rick," Hartson Brant agreed. "The problem is, how can we +possibly create a break in a layer of hard rock so far underground?" + +David Riddle answered him. "There's one way. Drive a tunnel down through +it." + +All eyes looked at him. + +"Can it be done?" Julius Weiss demanded. + +"Yes. If there's enough time, enough machinery, and enough manpower. But +look at the problem. Once the magma starts to move upward through those +faults Jeff has drawn, it will move fast. The tunnel would have to be +done before the magma started to move. Otherwise, the heat would be too +great for men to work, and even if they could work they'd be drilling +right into magma." + +"This stuff is beyond me," Connel said. "Let me know what you decide, +will you?" He turned and walked from the room. + +Rick's eyes met Scotty's. The ex-Marine nodded, and in a moment quietly +slipped out of the room. + +Julius Weiss demanded, "Are you seriously proposing that we drive a +tunnel for over a quarter mile, almost straight down, through solid +rock?" + +Riddle shrugged. "Do you know any other way of releasing the magma +safely? I don't." + +"Perhaps it could be done," Hartson Brant said thoughtfully. "But, as +Dave says, we'd need time, machinery, and manpower. I'm sure we can get +the machinery and the manpower from the governor. But do we have time?" + +Balgos and Williams looked at each other. They were the experts. It was +up to them to say. + +"How long, Jeff?" Balgos asked. + +"I don't know. If we assume the magma will continue rising at roughly +the same rate we've measured during the past few days, I'd guess perhaps +two or three weeks. On the other hand, the magma could find weaknesses +we haven't detected. We may have only a few days." + +"We'll have to try," Hartson Brant stated. "If the governor can give us +the entire labor force of the island, and all available earth-moving +machinery, we have a chance at least. If we do nothing, there's no +chance at all. I think we should pay a visit to the governor right now." + +Scotty came back into the room. "Connel's in his room," he reported. "I +think he made a telephone call, but I can't be sure without checking +with the switchboard. Shall I?" + +"It doesn't matter," Rick told him. "We're on our way to see the +governor. Connel can't stop things now." + +The scientists were already moving through the door and to the jeeps. +Within a few moments the small convoy was moving down the mountainside +toward Calor and the executive offices. + +Inside the cool, white stone building the group waited while Esteben +Balgos went to see if the governor was available. He came out of the +executive suite with a look of concern on his face. + +"The governor is not in," he reported. "His secretary does not know +where he is. The secretary's worried. Montoya didn't show up at all this +morning and his residence says he left at the usual time. I think we'd +better see the lieutenant governor." + +Rick started to speak, but thought better of it. Connel had not come +with them, and his visit to Guevara could mean nothing. + +Jaime Guevara was a tall, thin man with a hawk face and a tiny goatee. +Hartson Brant, as spokesman, got to the point right away. He described +the reason for their coming, and their findings to date. He stressed the +need for fast action. In the governor's absence, he stated, they would +need the active support of Senor Guevara. If he would issue orders at +once, the scientific group would be happy to organize and supervise the +work. + +Guevara listened until the scientists had finished, then he smiled. "A +strange tale," he said. "It is difficult to believe El Viejo is getting +ready to erupt. Surely your imaginations have run away with you." + +"We do not depend on imagination," Balgos said curtly. "We depend on +scientific investigation. The situation is precisely as Dr. Brant +outlined it." + +"No doubt," Guevara said soothingly. "But surely you realize I cannot +disrupt the economy of the entire island simply to dig a hole. Why, the +people would laugh their heads off. No, senores, I am helpless. You had +better see the governor." + +"The governor isn't here and there is no time to lose," Hartson Brant +said flatly. "You must act immediately if the island is to be saved. The +lives of your people are in your own hands." + +"Perhaps the governor will return soon," Guevara said. "He will +doubtless believe your story and take action. I regret that I cannot. +And now, if you will excuse me?" + +"Then you will not move even to save the island?" + +"I do not believe the island is in danger, Dr. Brant," Guevara said +coldly. "Convince the governor--if you can find him. Meanwhile, have the +favor to cease bothering me with your silly tales!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +The Yellow Ground + + +Governor Luis Montoya could not be located. Neither his family nor his +staff knew his whereabouts. There was great alarm over his unexplained +absence. The police were searching for the missing executive, but with +no success. + +Hartson Brant called a council of war and told the scientific group that +his most recent phone call to Guevara had even resulted in a turndown +when he asked for more dynamite. The lieutenant governor evidently was +not content with refusing to help, he was going to obstruct. + +"There is dynamite on Trinidad," Hartson Brant said. "Plenty of it. I +made a phone call to a friend at the U. S. Air Base there, and he agreed +to get it for us. Rick, you and Scotty fly over to Port of Spain right +away. The information is written down here." He handed Rick a slip of +paper. + +"If you leave now, you can get there before dark, spend the night and +come back in the morning. Bring all the dynamite you can carry, with +caps and a few reels of primer cord. We'll need more wire, too. Get +hopping, now." + +"Yes, sir," Rick said. He and Scotty ran to their room for toothbrushes, +stuffed their pockets with extra socks and underwear, and ran to the +parking lot for the jeep. + +The weather was fine and clear, and the flight uneventful. When they +landed at the U. S. base they found that Hartson Brant's friend, Colonel +Tom Markey, had arranged for a full load of dynamite, and full gas tanks +for the plane. The boys spent the night at bachelor officers' quarters +at the base and took off at dawn, the Sky Wagon sluggish from its load +of dynamite cases. + +Back at the Hot Springs Hotel, they unloaded the dynamite from the jeep +and stored it under police protection in the pump house. Then they went +to look for the scientists. + +Hartson Brant, David Riddle, and Julius Weiss were in the conference +room working over drawings. Rick saw that they were sketches of a +tunnel. + +The scientists welcomed them, and Rick asked, "Any progress, Dad?" + +"No, Rick. The governor is still missing. We can't get help until he's +found." + +"Where are the others?" Scotty asked. + +"Placing tiltometers on the mountain," his father told him. "The +instruments were ordered by phone from Caracas right after you left and +got in on the first morning plane." + +Rick glanced at Scotty. He asked, "Exactly where are the others?" + +"Balgos and Connel are at the north end of the mountain, above Redondo. +Williams and Zircon are up above us somewhere. They started the climb +behind the hot springs." + +"I think we'll get a bite to eat," Rick said. "Unless you need us." + +"No. There's nothing for you to do right at the moment, but Balgos wants +you to take some photos from the air later this afternoon." + +"Okay, Dad." Rick gestured, and Scotty followed him out. + +"All's quiet," Rick told his pal. "And a quiet time is a good time to do +a little investigating. Let's go to the kitchen, get a couple of +sandwiches, and eat them on the way." + +"To where?" Scotty asked. He grinned. "Don't tell me. To see what Connel +is hiding over at his stations." + +"On the button. Let's get going." + +There was nothing whatever of interest at Connel's first two stations. +The ground was torn up somewhat from the series of shots, but the boys +could find no trace of anything unusual. They got back into the jeep, +and Rick drove up the trail to the last station. He followed the path of +broken vegetation Connel's jeep had made, noticing that the trail was +dipping downward to a spot lower on the mountain than the other +stations. + +They reached a patch of crushed and yellowed growth where Connel +obviously had parked his jeep. There were oil stains on some of the +broken leaves. + +Scotty pointed to a brown-paper cigarette stub. "Ever see Connel smoke +one of those?" + +Rick hadn't. "He smokes cigars. Where do you suppose that came from?" + +Scotty got out of the jeep and bent over the butt. "The tip is still +damp," he said. "Someone's been here very recently. We'd better keep an +eye open." + +Trampled vegetation showed them the path to the firing place. Moving +cautiously, the boys walked down the path, eyes constantly searching for +signs of movement in the heavy growth. + +The clearing where Connel had placed his shots was only a short distance +down the path. Rick examined it carefully, but it looked like all the +others, except for one thing. The broken earth was yellow, and of a +different texture than the deep jungle loam at the other stations. + +Rick walked into the shattered area and picked up a piece of the yellow +ground. It broke in his hands. "Funny-looking stuff," he said. + +"Yes," Scotty agreed. "Take a look around while I keep a watch. I have a +funny feeling we're not alone here." + +There was a fairly deep crater in the middle of the area. Rick stepped +into it and kicked yellow earth out of his way. He was puzzled. There +was nothing visible in the area except the yellow ground, and there was +nothing about that to give him a clue to Connel's determination to keep +them away. + +His foot dislodged a clump of earth. It rolled to the bottom of the +shot crater, exposing two large crystals. Rick picked them up and rubbed +the dirt off. They felt rather greasy. He didn't think they were quartz. +His mind ranged over the possibilities. Probably datolite, he decided. +The color was about right, and he knew datolite was found in igneous +rocks of volcanic origin. He put the crystals in his pocket. + +A trace of blue caught his eye and he knelt, digging with his hands. He +uncovered a few more of the datolite crystals and put them in his +pocket. They weren't particularly good specimens; he had some in his +rock collection that were perfectly formed and clear, but at least they +were something to take home. + +Digging uncovered a layer of hard blue rock, heavily pockmarked and +filled with the yellow ground. He saw one place where the blue actually +blended in with yellow and decided that the blue and yellow were +probably the same rock. The slaty blue simply turned to yellow when it +was exposed to the air for a while. + +There were loose pieces of blue, broken by the dynamite blasts. He +picked up a couple of smaller pieces, then added a piece of yellow to +his collection. He uncovered another crystal, too, a large one nearly +the size of a golf ball and put that in his pocket. + +Scotty was getting restless. "Let's get going," he said. "I don't like +this." + +Rick had seen enough, and it had told him nothing. He was just as +puzzled over Connel's motive as ever. Obviously, the answer was not +here--or, if it was, they couldn't see it. + +"Okay," he said. "Move out." + +Scotty led the way back to the jeep. Rick got into the driver's seat and +started the motor. He backed and turned in the narrow space Connel's +jeep had created, and finally got his wheels straight for the run back. + +From somewhere behind them a voice called, "_Parada!_" + +"Who's that yelling at us to stop?" Rick asked. + +"I can't see anyone," Scotty replied. His eyes were scanning the jungle. +"But I don't know anyone around here we want to talk to. I've got a +hunch we should get going." + +Rick felt the same. He released the clutch and the jeep moved ahead. + +"_Parada!_" the voice yelled again, and on the echo came the clear crash +of a rifleshot. A jagged star suddenly appeared on the windshield +between them! + +Rick reacted instinctively. He shoved the gas pedal to the floor and +bent low, the skin of his back crawling with the expectation of a rifle +bullet hitting it. The jeep leaped ahead and he steered as best he +could. He shifted into second and the vehicle picked up speed. The rifle +snapped again and he heard the sound of the slug hitting metal in the +rear of the jeep. Then the trail turned and there was heavy jungle +growth between them and the unseen sniper. + +Not until they reached the second station, a mile away, did Rick slow +down. He looked at Scotty, his face grim. "The place was guarded. What +else can you make out of it?" + +"Just that," Scotty agreed. "The guard must have been making a tour +around the shot station. He got back just as we were taking off." + +"Funny he didn't hear the jeep when we came," Rick said. + +"Not very. Sound gets lost pretty fast in this heavy growth. You +couldn't hear us a hundred yards away. Probably there's just the one +guard, and he goes around the station in a big circle." + +"I'll buy it," Rick agreed. "But why? Why guard a chunk of jungle with +nothing in it but some torn up yellow ground?" + +"When I find out," Scotty replied, "I'll let you know first thing." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The Volcanic Pipe + + +Hartson Brant and Julius Weiss were still at work in the conference room +when Rick and Scotty returned. David Riddle had gone, and the others had +evidently not finished placing the tiltometers. + +The two listened to Rick's story in silence, then Hartson Brant sighed. +"I don't know how you do it, Rick. But if there's trouble around, you +and Scotty will find it. Are you sure the rifleman shot at you?" + +"We've got a bullet hole in the windshield and one just under the rear +seat," Scotty said. "One might be an accident, but not two." + +"I agree." Hartson Brant nodded. "Let's see the samples of earth you +brought back, Rick." + +He took both the yellow and blue pieces from his pocket and put them on +the table. Hartson Brant and Weiss examined them with interest. + +"Unusual," Weiss said. "I think you are right in assuming that the +yellow is simply an oxidized form of the blue, Rick. But I can't tell +you what the material is. I've never seen anything like it before." + +"The grain is pretty fine," Hartson Brant added. "It could be igneous or +sedimentary in origin. I'm not enough of a rock hound to know. David +Riddle can tell us when he returns." + +"Connel would know, too," Scotty reminded. "He's a geologist. Wouldn't +you think he would have mentioned an unusual formation like this when he +found it?" + +"Perhaps it's not unusual to a geologist," Weiss pointed out. + +"Where is Riddle?" Rick asked. + +"He went to his room a few minutes ago. He should be back shortly. Rick, +I think you'd better tell us the whole story. Why do you suspect Connel? +Why was it important for you to look at his shot station?" + +Rick started at the beginning. "It wasn't any one thing, it was a series +of little offbeat things. We thought it was funny he didn't even want +company after Ruiz was hurt. Then he reacted so violently when we +proposed swapping stations. It just seemed odd. The theft of the +tracings bothered us, too. No ordinary thief would steal papers and +leave Dr. Williams' wallet in his pocket, or leave his pocket transistor +radio and stuff like that." + +"But you can't connect Connel with the theft of the papers," Weiss +objected. + +"No, sir, we can't. But we almost got caught in the stolen dynamite, and +he could have set that off. It was while we were on the way to his third +station." + +Scotty added, "Today, when we got to the station, I took a look along +the trail. There's only one bend in it. If he was keeping a watch at +the bend, he could have seen us arrive at the second station, hurried +down the trail, set off the charge, then returned through the jungle to +get his jeep." + +"But the fact that he could have, does not mean that he did," Hartson +Brant stated. + +"We can't prove it," Scotty agreed. + +Rick continued. "Then we trailed him to Casa Guevara. He couldn't have +been paying a social call, because he wasn't there long enough. And what +business does he have with Guevara? I don't know, but I'll bet his +business is the reason we can't get Guevara to move." + +"Possibly," Hartson Brant agreed. "I can see the reason for your +suspicions, but you lack proof of anything, Rick. What motive could +Connel have?" + +"We hoped to find out at the shot station," Rick replied. "But we drew a +blank." + +Dr. David Riddle came into the room and joined them. Before anyone could +speak, the geologist spotted the samples on the table and sucked in his +breath sharply. + +"Where did these come from?" he demanded. + +"Connel's third shot station," Rick replied. "Do you know what the stuff +is?" + +Riddle sank into a chair and picked up one of the samples, testing it +between his fingers. "Yes," he said, "I do. I've seen it only once +before, in Africa. It occurs in what is known as a volcanic pipe, +actually an ancient channel that gets filled with the stuff for reasons +we do not know." + +"A volcanic pipe," Hartson Brant said softly. "I'm beginning to see." + +Rick wasn't. "But what is it?" he asked. + +"The most valuable kind of ground in the world," Riddle said. "So far as +anyone knew up to now, such pipes have occurred only in Africa. The one +I saw was at Kimberley. The name came from there. This is kimberlite." + +[Illustration] + +Rick knew of only one kind of valuable that was associated with +Kimberley, and the thought was so staggering that he was almost afraid +to say it out loud. "You mean that this is the stuff diamonds are found +in?" + +"Exactly," Riddle said. + +Rick fished the handful of crystals from his pocket and stared at them +unbelievingly. "Then these," he said hoarsely, "must be diamonds!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Earthquake! + + +"Everything adds up," Rick Brant said grimly. "And it isn't a pretty +picture." + +Hartson Brant agreed. "It certainly seems to add up, Rick. I suggest you +put those crystals in a safe place until we can find out for certain +whether or not there is real value there." + +"Is there any doubt?" Scotty asked. + +David Riddle answered, "Yes, Scotty. There are many grades of diamonds. +Until an expert takes a look at those Rick collected, we won't be sure +that they're of gem quality. He may have industrial grade diamonds, of +the type called bort." + +"Connel may already have had an expert take a look," Weiss pointed out. + +Rick examined the handful of crystals. It was hard to believe he had +simply picked up diamonds like so many pebbles. What's more, he couldn't +be sure whether he held a king's ransom in his hand or a few dollars' +worth of industrial abrasives. + +"Why didn't Connel clean out all diamonds in the area?" he demanded. + +"How could he?" Hartson Brant retorted. "When has he had time for a real +effort? I suspect he has picked up quite a few, but you found those just +by kicking around, which would indicate he hasn't sifted that loose +ground very thoroughly." + +David Riddle frowned. "It's odd that Rick found so many. Perhaps he was +lucky enough to kick open a pocket that Connel missed. Diamonds just +don't occur with such frequency, even in Kimberley." + +"They were pretty close together," Rick remembered. "It may have been a +pocket, all right." + +"There is one other possibility," Riddle added, "and it's staggering to +think of it. These crystals may have come from a single large crystal. +Perhaps the dynamite explosions shattered the big one into a number of +smaller ones." + +Scotty gulped. "But the original crystal would have had to be nearly the +size of a grapefruit!" + +"True, Scotty. There have been crystals that big, or close to it. +Usually the diamond that is cut from such a crystal is much smaller. +There is considerable loss. But it's a possibility." + +Rick said abruptly, "I think we ought to sort of review the situation. +To see where we stand." + +"A good idea," his father agreed. "Suppose you start?" + +Rick considered. "Well, Connel must have discovered the yellow ground +the very first thing, probably while he was kicking a hole to lay the +charge in. The reason I think so is because of Ruiz. That accident has +always bothered me. Ruiz just wouldn't walk back to the charge while +Connel was ready to set it off. He just wouldn't." + +Julius Weiss asked, "Are you implying that Connel deliberately blew Ruiz +up?" + +"What else can we make of it?" Rick replied. "That kind of accident just +doesn't happen. Not to an expert. But if Connel found the yellow ground +while setting the charge, and took time to dig a little and be sure +there was blue ground under it, he would certainly have known that he +was standing on top of a volcanic pipe. He might even have picked up a +crystal." + +"If word got out, he couldn't exploit the pipe," Scotty added. "So, Ruiz +had to be eliminated. It would have been pretty easy. Connel had the +watch. He could have kept track of the time, then asked Ruiz to make a +final check and set the charge off while the poor guy was taking a look +at the connections." + +"It could have happened that way," Hartson Brant agreed. "But I hate to +think any human being could be so ruthless." + +"Connel had to keep others away, too," Rick went on. "Also, he had to +slow things down so he could have time to set something up to exploit +his find. So, he stole the tracings and the dynamite. That bought him a +little time, didn't it? Then he tried to get Scotty and me, because we +were following him and he was afraid we might find out what was going +on." + +"It seems reasonable," Hartson Brant agreed. + +"Connel couldn't develop a diamond field in a foreign place without +help, could he? He had to let someone in on it, locally. He sized up +Guevara and figured the lieutenant governor could certainly help him +out, so he brought Guevara in on it." + +"Pure speculation," Weiss said. + +"Yes, sir. But it fits. Guevara certainly wouldn't want people running +around over there, so it's to his advantage to keep us from operating. +If he thinks there's a fortune in the pipe, it's even to his advantage +to kidnap the governor to make sure we can't follow our plans!" + +David Riddle shook his head. "A man would have to be insane to hold up +an effort to save the island just to make himself rich." + +"He would if he believed the island was in danger," Scotty agreed. "But +suppose he doesn't? I don't think Connel has the true picture. His time +estimate was much longer than yours, and he hasn't been in on many of +the discussions." + +The three scientists looked at each other. "You know," Riddle said, +"Scotty is right. Connel has shown little interest in the magma flux. He +may not have a true understanding of the situation at all!" + +"It's possible." Hartson Brant nodded. "Quite possible. After all, we +borrowed him only to have another experienced man to handle the shots. +His training certainly doesn't qualify him to understand the physics +involved. He has concentrated on locating oil deposits, using standard +data. This kind of thing is new to him." + +"We didn't get him to handle data analysis," Weiss remarked. "There are +enough of us who can do that." + +Rick picked up his argument again. "If Connel doesn't believe there are +only a couple of weeks, he would give the lieutenant governor his views, +and he'd be believed, just because Guevara is so greedy he would believe +anything that will make him rich. Of course I don't know for sure that +Guevara is like that, but he certainly brushed us off, didn't he? And he +didn't seem surprised when you told him about the danger." + +"The thing that bothers me," Scotty stated, "is why Connel and Guevara +haven't started to mine the diamonds." + +"It takes organization," Rick pointed out. "Also, it couldn't be done +while the governor was around, could it? He'd be sure to get wind of it. +Connel and Guevara have to keep this quiet, or there will be a rush that +will make the Klondike look like a picnic." + +Scotty nodded. "That must be why they put a guard up there, too. +Probably just one trusted man, who has to make the rounds alone. We were +lucky he was on his rounds when we got there, or we'd never have had a +chance for a close look." + +"Well," Julius Weiss demanded, "what do we do now?" + +A sudden earth tremor made the group pause. It lasted only a few +seconds. + +"Whatever we do, we'd better do it fast," Hartson Brant stated. + +"Find the governor," Rick said. "That's the first thing. We can't move +unless we have official backing, and we certainly won't get it from +Guevara!" + +Esteben Balgos walked in, closely followed by Brad Connel. "We placed +the instruments without difficulty," Balgos began--and Connel's eye +caught sight of the kimberlite samples on the table. The geologist +realized instantly that his secret was known, and he knew, too, the +conclusions that would be drawn. Among other things, he was guilty of +the attempted murder of Ruiz. + +Connel bolted for the door. + +The geologist was fast, but Scotty was faster. The dark-haired boy +charged across the room, then dove headlong. His extended arms caught +the fleeting geologist around the thighs, then Scotty's shoulder smashed +into him. Connel went down like a tackled ball carrier. Before he could +recover, Scotty had shifted his grip and the geologist was helpless in a +punishing hold. + +The scientists and Rick arrived a split second later. + +"Let him up," Riddle ordered. "But keep a grip on him." + +Scotty did so, and the geologist glared at the group with angry eyes. He +didn't try to bluff; he knew it was useless. + +Rick hurried to find the hotel manager, who directed them to a tool +closet on the outside of the hotel near the parking lot. It had no +windows, a single, small ventilating duct, and only one door. Connel was +pushed inside, and the door locked. Hartson Brant pocketed the key. + +"He'll have to stay there until we find the governor and arrange for +trustworthy policemen," the scientist said. "I'm certain those who have +been guarding the dynamite are all right, but we'd better have the +governor's word for it." + +Rick agreed with the precaution. + +While Esteben Balgos was being briefed on the day's happenings, Zircon +and Williams arrived and had to be briefed, too. Twice, small earth +temblors interrupted the conference. + +"Something is happening below us," Balgos said. "I wish we knew exactly +what!" + +The magma was pushing up relentlessly, melting its way into the channels +Williams had marked on his sketch. In one of the channels was a large +pocket in which water had collected over the centuries. Perhaps there +was enough water to fill a substantial pond, perhaps even a small lake. +There was also room in the porous rock for expansion, because the pocket +was not entirely full. The magma neared the pocket, meeting small +quantities of water on its way. Each meeting resulted in a small +explosion, and a temblor that was felt far above. + +Then--the magma's heat turned the pocket itself to steam. The steam +expanded in a mighty explosion that sent great shock waves smashing +through the earth. + +Rick Brant's chair went over backward and he fell to a floor that was +shaking like soft mud under him. He heard the crashing of glassware and +the sounds of furniture falling. And he heard the ominous rumble of the +building itself, splitting, cracking, falling. + +"Out!" Hartson Brant yelled. "Get outside!" + +Rick scrambled to hands and knees and saw that Scotty was bending to +pick him up. He waved his pal away and got to his feet, fighting to keep +his balance on the shaking floor. He was scared stiff, but far from +paralyzed. Nor did he lose his head. He made sure the scientists were on +their way before he followed them through the nearest door. + +"Back!" Scotty yelled. + +The group paused as a section of building cornice crashed to the ground +just outside. Dust billowed. Scotty sprang through the opening and +looked up. + +"Okay," he called. "Come on!" + +The Spindrifters poured through the doorway out onto the parking lot. +They were in time to see another section of cornice break loose and fall +to the ground. Hotel employees were pouring out, too, gathering in the +parking lot beyond the reach of the crumbling hotel. + +Rick saw a great gap appear in one wall and waited breathlessly for the +wall to fall, but it held. The ground still shook under his feet, and +his insides were producing the queasy symptoms of motion sickness. Then +the earth steadied again, leaving only a mild temblor that soon +vanished. + +The group looked at each other, white-faced. The earthquake had been by +far the worst yet. There was even some doubt that the hotel was still +safe. Rick, seeing the manager busy counting noses to make sure all his +employees were out, gasped, "Connel!" + +Hartson Brant ran for the tool closet, the others behind him. The +scientist reached for the key, ready to let Connel out. + +The wall was tilted crazily. The door had sprung wide open. + +Connel was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Rising Magma + + +The Spindrift group held a council of war in their office-conference +room. Inspection of the hotel had shown that damage was not as serious +as first expected. The cornices, held only by mortar, had fallen, and +the rear exterior wall had lost its brick veneer. The structural part of +the wall, while cracked, was strong enough to hold up. The veneer was +unsafe, however, and it was agreed that all should stay well away from +the area where Connel had been imprisoned. + +"We must begin another series of shots at once," Hartson Brant said. +"It's apparent that the magma has moved, and rapidly. But until we get +more tracings, we won't know in what direction. Meanwhile, we _must_ +find the governor!" + +"How?" Rick asked. "How can we find him?" + +Hartson Brant smiled at his son. "It seems to me that you and Scotty +have acquired considerable reputations as detectives, Rick. I suggest +you earn them. Find the governor for us. We will give you Honorario as +an interpreter, but it will be up to you. The rest of us must operate as +best we can short-handed." + +"How about Connel?" Scotty demanded. + +The scientist shrugged. "He's the least of my worries. Let him develop +his diamond mine. My concern is with this island and the people on it. +If our guess is right, Connel will be lucky to have a few days in which +to work--scarcely enough to do much mining." + +"Any ideas?" Rick asked. + +"Yes. Talk to the governor's family, and to his personal staff. Stay +away from Guevara. Once Connel tells him we know about the diamonds, he +may become dangerous. Do what you can, boys. After all, this isn't a big +island and the governor must be somewhere on it." + +"If he's alive," Scotty added. + +Hartson Brant looked at the boy and his face grew grim. "Yes," he +agreed. "If he's alive." + +Rick and Scotty had always relished the adventure and excitement of +trying to solve a mystery. Sometimes the success or failure of a project +had hung in the balance, but this one was different. The fate of an +island and nearly 32,000 people depended on solving the riddle of the +missing governor. Rick felt the weight of the responsibility. + +The plan he and Scotty developed was simple and logical. They would +start with the governor's movements on the morning of his disappearance +and continue from there. + +At the governor's residence they learned from his butler that Montoya +had left the house promptly at eight o'clock, as he did every morning. +He drove himself, in a small English car that he used for personal +transportation. But, as they knew from the visit to the executive +offices, he had never arrived. + +The next stop was to determine his route. It wasn't difficult; there was +only one main road from the outskirts of Calor into town, although there +were many side streets. + +With Honorario as interpreter, they began the time-consuming job of +questioning householders along the route. + +Honorario was personally interested in the job. He had learned from them +of Connel's perfidy, and he said quietly, "Ruiz is my friend. We do not +yet know if he will live, or, if he lives, if he will be a whole man +again. I owe it to him to do my best in this matter. You may depend on +me." + +Not until they had reached the outskirts of Calor did they find what had +happened. Through Honorario, an old lady who had seen it all through her +window told them the story. + +"A big military truck was across the road," Honorario reported. "It was +keeping cars from passing. The little car of the governor came, and it +had to stop. An officer got in with the governor. The truck moved away +and the governor drove off. The old woman thinks the officer was +pointing a gun at the governor. She did not know it was the governor, +but her words to describe him were enough." + +Rick whistled. "Military? Does that mean the governor got caught by some +kind of revolutionary group?" + +Honorario shrugged. "Who knows? But I have heard of no revolution. The +governor is popular, and the people are satisfied. But you should know, +my friends, that on this island the _comandante_ of our small military +is the lieutenant governor. I think we are not dealing here with +revolution, but with Senor Jaime Guevara!" + +"We're stuck," Scotty said. "I suppose we could keep on asking and try +to get a line on where the governor's car went, but that's pretty +hopeless. Honorario, can we possibly find someone who is loyal to the +governor and who knows the island?" + +Honorario thought it over. "In such a case," he replied, "there is only +one way to be sure. It is, you understand, a matter of family. Among San +Luzians, the family is first and all else is after. So, I think we +should see the nephew of the governor. He is _el capitan_ Ricardo +Montoya, who is deputy of police for the western part of the island." + +Captain Ricardo Montoya was young, capable, and alert. Honorario found +him in the police headquarters in central Calor and invited him to join +the boys for coffee at a nearby cafe. + +Rick looked the officer over as he entered the restaurant, and he liked +what he saw. Montoya was built like a middleweight fighter, and his +white uniform was spotless. He was lighter in complexion than most San +Luzians, but even the wisp of mustache on his upper lip couldn't +conceal the firmness of his face. + +He greeted them courteously, in good English. "_A sus ordenes, senores._ +This Honorario says you wish to speak with me?" + +"We place ourselves in your hands, Senor _Capitan_," Rick said quietly. +"Because you are the governor's nephew and a police official, we must +assume that you are completely loyal to him." + +The officer's brilliant dark eyes flashed. "It would be a grave insult +to assume otherwise, senor. He is the brother of my father." + +"Good," Rick said. "No insult was intended. I think we had better tell +you the entire story, then we can discuss what must be done." He started +at the beginning, with the arrival of Balgos at Spindrift, and ended +with the day's events. + +"You have cast much light on what has happened," the captain stated. "I +am grateful. Now, senores, you must not believe I have been idle. I had +already discovered how my uncle was kidnaped. It was clear that some +military element was involved, but I rejected the idea of revolution. +The motive puzzled me. It is puzzling no longer, thanks to you. Also, +while I suspected Guevara, there was no proof. My suspicion, you +understand, was based on his character." + +"Have you any idea where the governor was taken?" Scotty asked. + +"I have now," Montoya said grimly. "The best possibility--and about the +only place we have not looked--is Casa Guevara." + +The boys exchanged glances. "Then we ought to make up a party of loyal +people and invade the place," Rick stated. + +"No. If I know this man Guevara, any such move would mean the death of +my uncle, if he still lives. We must find some other way." + +"Can you find loyal people?" Rick asked. + +"A few. You must understand most people do not feel as I do about +Guevara. He is popular. Who knows where the loyalty of the people lies, +between individuals? One cannot be certain. So, I must use only men +loyal to me. There are such." + +Montoya rose. "We will be allies, since we fight for the same thing, +which is San Luz. Let me see what kind of plan can be made. Go back to +your hotel, and I will come for you there. We will work this thing out +together." He shook hands with both boys, turned, and strode from the +restaurant. + +Rick paid for their coffee and the boys joined Honorario, who was +waiting outside in the jeep. "He's a good, tough _hombre_," Rick told +the San Luzian. "You made a good choice." + +"I am glad," Honorario said. "Someday he will be governor, like his +uncle." + +While the boys were in Calor, the scientists had conducted another +series of shots. The tracings were spread out on the table when they +returned, and the group was engrossed in checking them over. + +Rick and Scotty waited, watching. They knew from the quiet voices and +tense attitudes that something serious had been found. Then Williams +began to mark in the data on his sketch. + +"This is where the explosion took place," he said. "Probably the magma +hit a quantity of water as it entered the new channel. Notice that the +channel is one we marked on here earlier as a probable path. So far, +we're guessing right. Now, my estimate is that the magma will move fast, +stopping only when it reaches this dike of solid basalt." + +Hartson Brant wiped his face with his handkerchief. "It looks bad, Jeff. +The magma will reach the solid layer before we could possibly get to it +with a tunnel." + +"What does that mean?" Rick asked. + +Hobart Zircon answered him. "It means, Rick, that we no longer have time +to dig a vent. It means the people of this island will be lucky if they +can get away in time!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Armed Revolt + + +David Riddle had fired the last series of shots from Connel's stations. +By unanimous consent, the last station at the volcanic pipe had been +omitted. Two stations would have to do for now. All agreed it would be +foolish to jeopardize a man by going near the guarded third station. + +Since Riddle had the longest distance to travel, he had not arrived when +the boys returned to the hotel. Now, as Zircon finished his ominous +statement, the government geologist strode into the room. + +"We're in trouble," he stated. "I'm only a few minutes ahead of +soldiers. I came out of the trail onto the road and saw them just coming +off the dirt road onto the pavement. They shouted for me to stop, but I +wasn't of a mind to tangle with troops. I came as fast as I could." + +"Are they coming here?" Hartson Brant asked quickly. + +"They're either coming here or marching into Calor. Those are the only +two places the road leads. My guess is that they're marching here." + +Rick said swiftly, "Connel got to Guevara! And Guevara is going to make +sure we don't spread the word!" + +"Rick is probably right," Zircon snapped. "I suggest we clear out. If +we're captured, we'll be unable to operate at all." + +"Grab the supplies and get into the jeeps," Hartson Brant ordered. +"Quickly! Rick, you and Scotty move fast. Get your stuff into the jeep, +then take as much dynamite as you can. Go up the road to where you have +a good view and act as lookouts. Give us as much warning as you can. +We'll take the rest of the dynamite and the equipment in the other +jeeps!" + +Rick and Scotty dashed to their room. They threw clothes into their +bags, slammed them shut without bothering to pack neatly, and hurried +out into the parking lot. Rick backed the jeep up to the pump shed while +Scotty ran to the door. To the policeman on duty he explained only that +they were in a great hurry. + +The boys took time to load six cases, plus one of the detonators and a +roll of wire, then they got into the jeep and roared off up the road +toward the pumice works. + +"We've probably got ten minutes," Scotty estimated. "If they're marching +at a normal pace, it would take them a little less than a half hour to +walk from the pumice works." + +Rick drove a half mile up the road to where he had a good view of +several hundred yards and stopped the jeep. "We'll be able to spot them +from here." He turned the jeep around, ready to run as soon as the +troops came in sight. "Where do you suppose the soldiers came from?" + +"Probably from a camp near San Souci," Scotty guessed. "Otherwise, +they'd have come up the main road from Calor. There's probably a camp on +the western shore somewhere." + +"Wish we had some way of slowing them down," Rick mused. "We need a +mortar or a few military rockets. But all we've got is some dynamite, +and we can't throw that very far." + +"Why do we have to throw it?" Scotty asked excitedly. "Listen. We'll put +a charge by the side of the road and string wire back a way. Then we can +park the jeep off the road next to the detonator. When they get within +range, we'll push the plunger and run. We can time it so they won't get +blown up, but they may think they're being shelled." + +"That should do it," Rick agreed. He shifted into gear and moved ahead +slowly, searching for a likely spot. There was one a few yards ahead +where a clump of wild banana plants would shield the jeep from view. He +backed the jeep in next to the banana plants and made sure he could get +out again easily, then he took the coil of wire and began unwinding it +along the edge of the road. Scotty took out his scout knife and began to +pry open a case of dynamite. + +Rick fed wire until he reached a spot a hundred yards up the road, then +took out his knife and cut through the thin stuff. He started back to +help Scotty and was just in time to see the dark-haired boy with a stick +of dynamite in his mouth! + +Rick gasped. He started to run toward Scotty, but his pal waved him +back. Then, as Rick watched, horrified, he saw Scotty take the stick out +of his mouth and motion for him to come ahead. + +"What are you doing?" Rick demanded. "I thought for a minute you'd lost +all your buttons and started eating dynamite." + +"We didn't have crimpers," Scotty explained. "The only way I could get +the cap on was to crimp it with my teeth." + +Rick turned white. He gulped. No wonder Scotty looked a little pale! + +"It worked," Scotty said, a little shakily. "But I don't want to do it +as a regular thing." + +"I should hope not!" Rick exclaimed fervently. "Give me that stick. I'll +connect up. Will one be enough?" + +"Plenty," Scotty said. "Get going. I'll connect up the detonator." + +By the time Rick had placed the dynamite and connected the wires, Scotty +was ready, the detonator in the front seat of the jeep between his legs. + +"I wish we had some regular fuse," he said. "Then we could put short +fuses on a few sticks, light them, and throw them." + +Rick stared at him. "And crimp all the caps with your teeth? Boy, I'm +glad we haven't any fuse!" + +Scotty's estimate was two minutes off. It took twelve minutes for the +troops to come into sight. Watching from behind the banana plants, the +boys saw them hiking down the road like a bunch of tenderfeet on their +first five-mile hike. It was obvious that discipline in the San Luzian +army was slack. The men wore sloppy brown uniforms and a variety of +hats. They carried rifles and there were bandoliers of cartridges across +their chests and grenades at their belts. + +"Can you see?" Rick whispered. + +"Fine," Scotty whispered back. + +They sat in the jeep, waiting. Rick kept the motor idling, knowing that +the sound would be inaudible a short distance away. + +The troops reached the point the boys had selected. It was a big papaya +about fifty feet beyond the dynamite. Scotty pushed the plunger. The +dynamite exploded. + +Rick raced the motor, then shifted into gear. Scotty cut the wires loose +with one flick of his knife and Rick lurched onto the road and fled +toward the hotel as fast as he could accelerate. + +Through the rear-view mirror he could see the troops scatter and knew +they had slowed things down for a few minutes at least. The last view he +had was of one man, evidently an officer, trying to rally the troops +again. + +Rick rounded the turn leading to the hotel grounds and saw that the +scientists were waiting in the jeeps, ready to roll. He slowed long +enough to yell, "Let's go," then led the way down the road to the front +of the hotel and into Calor. + +The next problem was to find a place to stay. Honorario advised staying +away from the big hotels on the beach and suggested a smaller but quite +comfortable hostelry on the outskirts of town. Rick was pleased to see +that it was located right on the water, at the point where the long San +Luz beach began. But he doubted there would be time for swimming. + +The Hotel Internationale was comfortable, and more than adequate. The +scientists congratulated each other on being able to get rooms. +Fortunately, as the manager explained, it was not yet full _turista_ +time. If they were prepared to double up, two to a room, he could +accommodate them. + +Rick and Scotty drew a room on the second floor. The bath was down the +hall, but they didn't mind that. Hartson Brant and Hobart Zircon shared +the largest room, and there was a large porch that could be used as a +meeting place. + +The hotel also had a basement room that the manager was glad to turn +over for the equipment--at a slight fee, naturally. But he boggled when +the boys appeared with cases of dynamite on their shoulder. + +"Leave it to me," Honorario suggested. "I will find a place that will be +safe." + +Rick was glad to leave it to Honorario. He was anxious to get in touch +with Montoya, to explain what had happened. The police station was not +far away. He and Scotty hiked over and found the young captain alone in +his office. + +Montoya listened to their story, and his face became stern. "There are +two possibilities," he said finally. "Either Guevara is mounting a big +revolution, or he is interested only in the diamonds. If it is the +diamonds, then he probably will keep the troops near the mountain, and +the city may not be bothered at all." + +"How can we find out?" Rick asked. "Except by waiting to see if troops +show up here." + +Montoya stared through the window at the tiny harbor of Calor. The boys +waited while he thought it over. + +Finally the captain swiveled around and faced them. "We can find out, if +you will take a chance. I do not think it is much of a chance, really, +but it may be. Let us think of things from Guevara's point of view. He +knows that you know of these diamonds. He also knows, because he is +intelligent, that you surely realize the danger of talking about them. +So, what would he do with you if he caught you? Perhaps detain you for a +while, but no more. He knows that harm to foreigners would bring down +trouble he could not handle. We would have Venezuela, Colombia, Great +Britain, and the United States in here. The first three might bring in +troops on the pretext of restoring order, but actually to back up their +claims to the island. The United States would bring great pressure on +all three to do something." + +"It makes sense," Rick agreed. "So you don't think we're in any great +danger from Guevara?" + +"No. If you had been at the hotel, he would have kept you there, I +think. But you were not, so we must see if he is prepared to follow you. +My own opinion is that he wants to be let alone to mine diamonds, while +he has time. It does not take an invasion of Calor to do this." + +"What do you want us to do?" Scotty asked. + +"Simply take a ride to the hotel, or as far as you can go. See what the +situation really is. If I, or my men, should try this it would surely +mean shooting. But you are _extranjeros_,--foreigners. You can get away +with it." + +"You hope," Rick said. + +Montoya's teeth flashed in the first smile they had seen on his face. +"Indeed," he agreed. "I hope." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Night Patrol + + +The jeep rolled out of Calor on the highway back to the Hot Springs +Hotel. Scotty drove, while Rick relaxed in the seat beside him. They had +taken time for a sandwich and coffee, because they were not sure when +they might eat again. + +Hartson Brant and the scientists were at work on detailed analysis of +the day's shots. It would take some time. When Rick told his father +about the conversation with Captain Montoya, the scientist had nodded +agreement. "It sounds like good sense, especially since there has been +no sign of an invasion of the city. The troops could have been here +before this. Go ahead, but be cautious. Always leave your escape route +open." + +It was good advice, and the boys intended to take it. + +Scotty drove in silence for a few minutes, then said, "We're nearly at +the fork in the road. Keep an eye open." + +"Will do," Rick assured him. The left fork was the main, paved road to +San Souci. The right fork led up to the hotel. + +Scotty reached the fork and slowed. + +"There!" Rick pointed. + +Twenty yards up the right fork there was a barricade fence, newly made +of small logs. Lounging against the fence were a half dozen soldiers. + +"We could go left to San Souci, but not to the hotel," Rick said. "Now +what?" + +"Hold on and be ready for a quick take-off," Scotty muttered. He turned +the jeep into the left fork, then shifted and backed around and up the +right fork to where the soldiers waited. + +One soldier, with sergeant's stripes on his sleeve, sauntered over to +them. He carried a rifle, but Rick noted that he didn't hold it at the +ready. The boy called, "Do you speak English, sergeant?" + +"Leetle beet," the soldier replied. He smiled cordially. "What you +weesh, senores?" + +"Can we get to the hotel?" Scotty asked. + +"No can, senor." + +"Why not?" Rick asked. + +"Ees ... how you say? ... big talk at hotel. Ees _el gobernador y_ ... +and ... _el comandante_ Guevara. Also more mens. No one goes to hotel +long time. Maybe when talk feenish." + +"The governor and lieutenant governor are having a big conference at the +hotel?" Rick asked incredulously. + +"Ees so, senor." + +"How long will this conference last?" Scotty asked. + +The sergeant shrugged. "_Quien sabe?_ Maybe two day, maybe two +_semana_ ... how you say?..." + +"Weeks," Rick supplied. "What are they talking about?" + +"Ees ... how you say?... _seguridad nacional_. Thees ees what _el +comandante_ speaks to us." + +Rick glanced at Scotty. "National security conference. Those can last a +long time." He looked at the sergeant again. "We could go to San Souci, +and from there to the hotel, maybe." + +"_Pero no_, senor. That way also ees guard. Ees no way get to hotel. +More good you not try, eh? _Soldados_ at hotel, they maybe shoots." + +"Now we know," Scotty said. "Nothing more to be gained here." + +"Did you see the governor?" Rick asked. + +"No, senor. But I saw _el comandante_ Guevara. But eef he ees here, also +_el gobernador_. _Como no?_" + +"I guess so," Rick agreed. "_Mil gracias_, sergeant. _Vaya con Dios._ A +thousand thanks. Go with God." + +"_Y ustedes_," the sergeant returned politely. "And you, senores." + +Scotty let the clutch out and the jeep moved ahead. "Now to call on +Captain Montoya," he said. "Right?" + +"Right," Rick agreed. "Interesting. Guevara tells the troops he and the +governor are having a security conference and should not be interrupted. +So guards are posted to protect the hotel. And none of the poor +_soldados_ realize that blocking the roads also keeps people away from +the volcanic pipe, so Guevara and Connel can start work." + +"With Guevara's own men to do the dirty work," Scotty added. + +"Too true. Maybe they even have soldiers on the job. I know what else +the soldiers are guarding, too. Probably without knowing it." + +Scotty turned to look at him. "You thinking the same thing I am?" + +"Yep. Somewhere behind that guarded perimeter is the governor. And until +we get him out, we're helpless." + +"Then," Scotty announced, "we'll just have to get him out." + +The jeep almost flew down the road to Calor. Scotty wheeled it through +the narrow streets and drew up at the police station. In a moment they +were reporting to Captain Montoya. + +The young officer listened, then smacked a fist into his palm. "_Bueno!_ +This is good, _amigos_. We will let Guevara and your Connel have the +diamonds, eh? They can use the entire army to guard the mine, if they +wish. I hope they do. That means we have the rest of the island in which +to maneuver. I have already sent one of my most trusted men to approach +the diamond pipe from the north, through Redondo. That way we will know +the exact limits." + +"But they've got the army," Rick objected. "Where does that leave us?" + +"Free to operate in other ways," Montoya said. "The army is occupied, +no? Let them stay that way." + +His keen eyes examined the two critically. Rick felt a little +uncomfortable at the penetrating stare. Then Montoya smiled. "I do not +know you," he said flatly. "But I have certain evidence of the kind of +young men you are. First, you came to this island. Why? On a mission of +mercy, in answer to my uncle's call. It was unselfish, and it was also +dangerous. Then, tonight, you took the chance of finding the roadblock. +Also, though this may surprise you, we have heard something of the +Spindrift Scientific Foundation even here on this island." + +Rick was surprised. He knew the Foundation had an international +reputation, but he had thought it was limited to scientists. + +"So, I have some basis for what I now ask of you," Montoya added. "There +is no time to collect those of my men who are completely loyal. It is +because they are scattered, searching for some trace of my uncle. I do +not wish to take time to wait until they report in." + +"What do you want us to do?" Scotty asked. + +"It is simple, and not so simple. A large party cannot invade the +perimeter Guevara has established, but a very few can perhaps do it. We +will be that few. We will go to Casa Guevara. And, if we are lucky, we +will rescue my uncle. What do you say?" + +The boys exchanged glances. Rick spoke for both of them. "We're with +you." + +Montoya didn't have to reply. His warm handshake said everything there +was to say. + +Scotty spoke up. "I've had some experience in nighttime operations. We +will need dark clothes, and something to blacken our faces. We will need +weapons. Not guns. If we get into a shooting scrape it will bring the +whole army down on us." + +"I agree." Montoya opened his desk drawer and drew out a policeman's +night stick. He handed it to Scotty. "How about this?" + +Scotty hefted it, grinned, and handed it to Rick. It was heavy, and +perfectly balanced. Rick guessed it had been drilled and the end filled +with lead. "One good thing about this," he said. "No moving parts to get +out of order." + +Montoya smiled. "True. We will each have one, and I will take my pistol +as a last resort. Let us look at the map and memorize it. We will have +to go through the jungle to reach the house, and it would be disastrous +to lose our way." + +"Get a compass," Scotty requested. "We can set a compass course and hit +it right on the nose." + +Rick looked at his pal. "Marine training?" + +"Nope." Scotty grinned. "Boy Scout. But it will come in handy. I think I +could take you there anyway, but we'd better have a compass to be sure." + +The three bent over the map and worked out the approach to Casa Guevara. +For one thing, they agreed to approach as close as possible by jeep. If +they found the governor, transportation would be needed. He could not be +as fast on foot as might be necessary, because of his age. Besides, they +had no idea of his present physical condition. + +It was dark when they rolled out of Calor, Rick driving. All three were +dressed in dark clothes, and each had a night stick in his belt. +Montoya's pistol was hidden in a shoulder holster. + +At the officer's direction, they turned toward the airport, passed it, +and headed toward the lighthouse at the extreme southern tip of the +island. The road led past the light and along the southern shore, a +hundred yards from the sea. Then, as they reached their first turning +point, Montoya said, "Slowly. It should be about here." + +After a moment he found it, a pair of ruts through the rolling farm +land. Rick knew from his study of the map that it was a road on which +bananas were hauled from the plantations. It cut across to the main road +to San Souci. By taking this route, they would miss the check point near +the hotel. + +The road was bumpy but passable. Rick kept a steady speed in spite of +the jouncing it gave his passengers. They could take it. + +Presently there was blacktop ahead. They had reached the road to San +Souci. Rick pulled a flashlight from his pocket and pointed it at the +odometer, counting off the tenths of a mile as he headed toward the +town. When he reached seven-tenths he stopped the jeep. + +"Turnoff point," he said. "From now on, we steer our way through the +boondocks. Any preferred way, Captain?" + +Montoya shrugged. "There is no road, or even a path. Do what you can." + +"Okay. Scotty, make sure we head due north." + +"Check. Make a 90-degree turn and keep going. I'll correct you." + +Rick had only one real concern, and that was that the jeep lights might +be visible from the higher elevation of Casa Guevara. But it had to be +risked. He thought there wasn't really much of a chance, because the +thick foliage would screen them. Besides, anyone seeing the lights might +assume it was soldiers making their rounds. + +The ground was carpeted with fallen vegetation, but it was the dry +season and the earth under the leaves was firm enough. There was little +danger of the jeep bogging down, especially in four-wheel drive. + +Rick picked his way through the jungle, keeping to clear spots as much +as he could. Once it was necessary to butt down a huge banana plant +before he could continue, but mostly it was a matter of plowing through +scrub. Sometimes a palmetto leaf whipped across his face, and once a +thorny bush caught painfully and drew blood. + +Scotty navigated, keeping track of their direction. Now and then he +spoke. "More to the right when you can. We're about a hundred yards to +the left of our base line." Then, "Straighten out. We're on course +again." + +After what seemed to Rick an eternity of plowing through the heavy +growth, Scotty said quietly, "Pick a place to turn around, then kill the +lights and motor." + +Rick reached a place where there was room, swung the wheels hard, +backed around, and put the jeep in its own tracks facing the other way. +He turned off the lights and cut the motor switch. The silence and +darkness flooded in. + +"Just sit still until our eyes adjust," Scotty said, very quietly. "If +I've figured right, we're about a hundred yards from the dirt road, just +about in front of the Guevara driveway. We'd better walk the rest of the +way, in case of guards." + +Rick waited until the blackness lessened. His pupils were fully dilated +now, and he could see surprisingly well. There was a moon, but at the +moment it was behind a cloud bank. When it emerged, he would be able to +see perfectly. + +"Let's go," Scotty said. "No more talking now. When I hold up my hand, +stop and wait for me." + +The ex-Marine took the lead, Montoya following and Rick bringing up the +rear. He took the night stick from his belt and hefted it. The weight +was comforting in his hand. + +Scotty found his way with the ease that Rick always admired. Their steps +were noiseless on the carpeted jungle floor. Presently Scotty held up +his hand, and Montoya and Rick stopped, waiting. Scotty disappeared +ahead of them. + +The seconds ticked by. Mosquitoes found them and whined around their +heads. Neither moved. + +Scotty returned as silently as he had gone. Beckoning them close, he +whispered, "One guard at the gateposts. Give me one minute, then walk +forward until you reach the road. Call to him in Spanish, Captain. I +want to be sure his attention is on you." + +"I understand," Montoya said softly. + +Rick put a finger on his pulse and began counting. He could tell his +pulse was a little fast. When the count reached ninety he tapped Montoya +on the shoulder. But the officer was already moving. + +Rick followed close behind, the night stick held in a palm that had +grown sweaty with tension. The San Luzian picked his way carefully, but +he moved at a good speed. Then, suddenly, he stopped. Rick peered past +him and saw the lighter color of the dirt road. + +Montoya took a breath, then he called clearly, "_Hola, amigo! Que +pasa?_" + +Across the way a figure rose, rifle ready. A suspicious voice called, +"_Quien va?_" + +There was a soft but definite sound, like a pumpkin dropping on a hard +floor. The guard crumpled. + +Montoya and Rick moved to Scotty's side with long strides. Scotty was +already tying the guard hand and foot with his own belt and rifle sling. +Then he took out a handkerchief and tied it into place as a gag. The +guard could breathe past it, but yelling would get him little--when he +woke up. + +"Help me get him into the brush," Scotty whispered. In a moment the +guard was out of sight of any casual glance. There wasn't time to hide +him with care. + +"Up the driveway," Scotty whispered. "I'll lead. When we get near the +house, there probably will be other guards, so we'll have to leave the +road and take to the bush again. Let's go." + +It was an eerie walk. Rick kept expecting a challenge from up ahead, but +apparently there was no guard on the driveway itself. It wound through +the jungle for a good quarter of a mile before it began to widen out +into a clearing. + +Scotty motioned and led the way off the road. The march through the +jungle began again. Rick plodded ahead, with complete faith in Scotty. +He knew his pal was taking them in a circle, but he couldn't have said +exactly where they were in relation to the house or the driveway. + +Then, suddenly, there were lights ahead! + +Scotty moved a few feet more, then sank down into the dense cover. Rick +inched to his side, and saw that Montoya was doing the same. + +They had a clear view of the two-story house and the surrounding +clearing. It was a hacienda very much like those Rick had seen in +Mexico, stucco on the outside, probably with heavy brick walls. + +And there were guards! He saw the glow of two cigarette butts on the +front porch, and another toward the rear. Three so far. Then a figure +crossed through the light from a window. Four! + +The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked away. The three +were not alone; hordes of night insects joined them and made the wait +miserable. + +[Illustration: _The three invaders waited while the long minutes ticked +away_] + +Scotty drew back until his lips were close to Rick's ear. "I'm going to +circle the house once. Keep watching." + +When Montoya would have followed Scotty, Rick put a hand on his arm and +whispered that they should wait. The two concentrated on watching the +windows and the guards. Rick guessed that Guevara was not at home. So +far as he could tell, no one was inside the house, at least on his side. +There was light in one upstairs window, but the angle was wrong; he +couldn't see inside. + +The two guards on the front porch stayed there. That was probably their +station. Another guard seemed to have the rear corner of the house. The +fourth also seemed to be assigned to the rear, but he moved around more +than his compatriot. Rick could see that the four were not soldiers. At +least they were not in uniform. Probably they were Guevara's personal +employees. Bodyguards, perhaps. + +Scotty returned, silent as a wraith in the night. He sank to the ground +between the two and whispered, "I don't think there's anyone home. Just +the four guards. If the governor is here, he's in that upstairs room." + +"What do we do?" Rick whispered. + +"We'll have to take it from the rear. It will be tough, because there's +not much cover." + +Scotty began to outline his plan, then stopped suddenly. Rick had a +strange feeling in his stomach again, and he realized that the earth was +trembling under him. The tremor grew in strength, and from close by +there was a snapping sound as a dead limb broke under the vibration and +dropped to the jungle floor. + +"Now!" Scotty whispered sibilantly. "Come on!" + +Instantly Rick and Montoya followed the ex-Marine's lead, withdrawing +into the denser brush, then rising and hurrying after him, crouched over +and careful not to make a sound. + +Scotty led them in a wide circle that brought them finally to the rear +of the house. Rick sized up the situation and saw only two trees that +offered any cover. The ground was still trembling, although slightly. +Then, as he crouched, the temblor increased again. + +The guards were disturbed. The two in the rear moved back, away from the +house, as though expecting it to fall on them. One of them spoke in +Spanish and the other replied curtly. + +Montoya sucked in his breath. He whispered, "The first one asked if they +should not get the old man out, and the second said let him fall with +the house." + +The two guards were well back from the house now, staring upward at the +second floor. If the stucco started to go, it would be high on the house +wall at the roof line. + +Scotty touched Rick on the arm, then rose and moved like a dark ghost, +straight across the open glade toward the guards. Scotty reached the +tree nearest the house and slipped into its shadow. + +Rick sized things up. The other tree was perhaps thirty feet away from +Scotty, and about ten feet closer to the jungle's edge. The guards were +still looking at the house. Rick moved, bent low, night stick firmly +clutched in his hand. He sensed that Montoya was close behind him. + +He straightened up in the shadow of the tree, his eyes on Scotty. His +pulse was speeding and his breathing was short and shallow. Montoya +crouched next to him, ready to move. + +Rick saw Scotty bend and pick up something. He saw Scotty wave toward +them, then saw Scotty throw something. The object crashed into the +stucco of the house high on the second floor, then it tumbled to the +ground. Scotty had thrown a rock! + +The guards stiffened, thinking that the sound was the first evidence +that the house was falling. Scotty moved like a streak, and Rick charged +forward with club held high. Montoya was even faster. + +The two guards, interested only in the house, never knew what hit them. +Rick eased one to the ground as his knees crumpled after Montoya's +vicious swing. Scotty had the other; he had knocked him out and caught +him before he fell. + +The three left the guards and hurried to the back door. Montoya +motioned, and took over the lead. He snaked the pistol out of his +shoulder holster and held it ready. + +For an instant they paused in what seemed to be a pantry, then moved +into the kitchen beyond. Rick could see a hallway leading straight to +the front door. The door was solid wood, and it was closed. + +Montoya gestured with the pistol and led the way. Then, motioning the +boys back, he boldly opened the door and strode out. + +The surprised front guards stared into the pistol muzzle. Montoya spoke +in crisp Spanish that Rick couldn't follow, but the meaning was amply +clear. The guards' hands shot high. Montoya stepped aside and the guards +walked into the house like lambs. + +"Tie them!" Montoya snapped. + +A cord from the Venetian blinds was the most convenient tie material. +Scotty cut it loose with a sweep of his scout knife and slashed it into +two pieces. While Montoya held his pistol on the guards the boys tied +their arms behind them, lashing their elbows together. + +"Now," the police captain said, "let us find my uncle." + +The stairs led up from the hallway. Montoya took them two at a time, the +boys close behind. At the top of the stairs, the officer called in +Spanish. There was an answer from a room on the left. + +The door was locked, but the key was hanging from a hook on the wall. In +a moment the two Montoyas were greeting each other with a warm embrace, +and then with a more formal handshake. + +The governor greeted the two Spindrifters with a bow and a handshake, +and then inquired, "What good providence brought you here, nephew mine?" + +"We knew you were here," Montoya said, "because there was no other place +where Guevara could have hid you." + +"Let's discuss it later," Rick urged. "Those guards out back will be +coming to, and we want to be out of here." + +"You are right," Montoya agreed instantly. "We are not yet in the clear, +senor uncle. We must hurry." + +"Into the jungle," Scotty said. "Once in the brush and we're okay. +They'll never catch us then." + +Montoya hefted the pistol he still held in his left hand. + +"It will be better for them if they do not," he said quietly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Stalemate + + +Governor Luis Montoya paced the floor of his office. Seated in the +comfortable chairs were the Spindrift scientists, Captain Montoya, and +the boys. + +"We are in a difficult situation," the governor stated. "Guevara +controls the army, and the army controls the area in which you must +work. We need the army if we are to evacuate the island. My nephew and +his fellow police are efficient, but their number is too small." + +"Is there any possibility of getting outside help?" Hartson Brant asked. + +"I am afraid not. Our difficult political situation makes it almost +impossible to obtain any fast action. We would need to approach three +governments at the same time. They would have to have conferences, to +agree on how the help was to be given. Each would be afraid to let the +other help, you see, for fear of giving up its claim to sovereignty over +us. No, I'm afraid we must find our own solution." + +"You are the governor," Hobart Zircon pointed out. "Wouldn't the troops +respond to your orders?" + +The governor shrugged. "You can be sure our efficient lieutenant +governor has his own men in key positions. But what you suggest has +occurred to me, and I must make the attempt. First, however, I must +alert the people of the island. The danger must be described to them." + +"How?" Julius Weiss asked. + +"By radio. We have our own government radio here. I think Esteben and I +should go on the air at once. He can describe what is going on under El +Viejo. I will ask the people to assemble at the docks." He turned to his +nephew. "Ricardo, send two of your most trusted men to Redondo and San +Souci. They must persuade the fishermen to load their families and +villagers, then come to Calor. We will need to crowd all fishing boats +for many trips if we are to get the people off." + +"At once, senor," Montoya replied. He hurried to the door and gave +orders to the police guard. The handful of police were now the sole +security force of the island. The chief of police was personally +supervising the government's safety, somewhere outside the building. +Only two officers were still on regular police duty. The rest were +either guarding the executive office or awaiting orders. + +"Where can the people be taken?" Balgos asked. + +"I think we will send them to Curacao and Bonaire. Those islands are +close, and they belong to the Netherlands. The Dutch are hospitable, no? +And we avoid entanglement with England, Venezuela, and Colombia." + +It sounded reasonable to Rick. He asked, "Aren't there ships in the +harbor? I mean, big ships?" + +"One freighter, and two interisland cargo ships of the C-1 class. All +three fly the flag of Panama. We will have the harbor master speak to +their captain and attempt to hire them. I am sure they will co-operate." + +"I'm sure that if you asked for help from the United States they'd send +all available U. S. Navy ships in the area," Dr. David Riddle said. + +The governor smiled warmly. "That is our ace in the hole, as you would +call it, Senor Riddle. The world knows that the Americans are always +ready to help. But perhaps there will be no need. We will see." + +The building shook slightly and Rick waited, holding his breath. But the +temblor subsided. It was the third one within an hour, he thought. The +magma must be moving fast. + +"Now, gentlemen, I must get busy. Ricardo, I leave the details of moving +our people in your hands. I will go to the roadblocks and see if these +soldiers can be persuaded that their governor speaks for the people. But +first, Esteben, you and I will go to the government radio and speak to +the people. Our talk will be put on tape, and repeated over and over. +_Vamos._ Let us go. Time is getting short." + +At Montoya's request, Rick and Scotty had agreed to remain with the +governor, in company with two police sergeants. The scientists returned +to the hotel, to continue their attempts to predict the magma movement +based on data already in hand. New data would be obtained as soon as the +situation cleared up. + +The governor, Balgos, Rick, Scotty, and the governor's secretary drove +in the official car, a huge American import. The two police sergeants +led the way in one of the island's two police cruisers. + +The radio station was only a few blocks away. These were the studios. +The transmitter was on the coast a mile south of Calor. Rick was pleased +to see that the equipment was modern, the staff apparently efficient. + +A musical program was interrupted and the governor and Balgos put on the +air at once. Rick's Spanish was too poor to permit him to follow the +discussion, but he gathered that the governor told the people of the +scientific mission, and then Balgos described the situation. The +governor returned to the mike with a plea for instant evacuation. + +Tape recorders rolled while the speech was on. At the governor's orders, +the tapes would be replayed every hour on the hour from now on. + +It was getting very late. The night was warm and pleasant, and the +clouds had vanished leaving a brilliant moon shining down on San Luz. It +was a lovely island, Rick thought. The greed of two men, Connel and +Guevara, had prevented any possibility of action to save it. Now, +evacuation of the people was the only possibility. + +Ricardo Montoya met the governor's party as they emerged from the +studios. He reported rapidly to his uncle, speaking English in courtesy +to the Americans. + +"Men are on the way to the fishing villages, senor. The harbor master is +speaking to the ships in the harbor, and already one C-1 is agreeing to +take the people. I have spoken with the airlines managers at the +airport, and they are trying to obtain many aircraft from the nearby +cities. Your own aircraft is being made ready for instant take-off." + +It was the first Rick had heard of a government plane. "What kind is +it?" he asked. + +"A very ancient, but very reliable Douglas, of the DC-3 type. We hold it +in reserve, Rick. Your scientists, the governor, and our police will be +the last to leave the island. I have counted the numbers. If you can +carry four, our plane will carry the rest." + +Rick nodded. It was nice to know there would be a way out, even though +he hadn't considered the necessity until that moment. He was glad +Ricardo Montoya was thinking ahead. + +"Now," the governor stated, "I must visit the army." + +"I will go with you," the police captain said instantly. + +"No, Ricardo. There is too much for you to do. I will be safe. There is +no enemy but Guevara. No soldier would harm me." + +Rick admired the little governor's courage, but he wasn't as sure of +their safety as the old man seemed to be. "I think we'd better be +armed," Scotty said. + +Ricardo Montoya had met them in the island's other police cruiser. He +said, "Wait," and hurried to the car. Pulling down the rear seat, he +disclosed a gunrack. From it he drew two riot guns, automatic shotguns +with short barrels. + +"Can you use these?" he asked. + +Scotty nodded an affirmative. "Both Rick and I have fired automatic +shotguns on a skeet range. These can't be much different." + +"They are not. The safety is behind the trigger guard. There is no shell +in the chamber now, but there are nine in the magazine. Go with God, +senores." + +The governor's car with its police escort rolled through the streets of +Calor, en route to the roadblock at the hotel road. Rick and Scotty held +the riot guns, both hoping that they would not be needed. + +The governor chatted calmly, as though this were simply a routine +sightseeing trip. "Few Americans come to San Luz. We had hoped that +perhaps an advertising campaign might bring more of you to our island. +We have much to offer, you will agree. Have you tried our swimming yet? +I appreciate there has been little opportunity for pleasure." + +The boys answered politely, but neither could really get into the swing +of the conversation. It took a kind of experience they did not yet have, +to talk of casual things while en route to what might be genuine danger. + +The governor's secretary called over his shoulder, "There is the +roadblock, senor. How shall I approach?" + +"Drive up to it, Juan. Be very casual." + +Rick fingered the safety on his riot gun. He could see dark figures at +the barricade fence. + +The car drew to a stop. The governor said quietly, "Perhaps you had +better stand by the car. Do not let your guns be seen. If necessary, you +will know what to do." + +One boy got out on either side, leaving the car doors open. The doors +shielded them and the riot guns. The governor got out and walked briskly +to the barricade and spoke in Spanish. + +It was light enough so Rick could see the men at the barricade clearly. +He realized suddenly that they were not dressed as the soldiers had been +earlier; these men seemed to be farmers. But they had rifles, and two +hand grenades hanging from their belts. + +He couldn't follow the exchange in Spanish. The governor was talking in +a quiet voice with one man who was better dressed than the rest. The +man's voice was cultured, but mocking in tone. + +Rick heard the secretary draw in his breath sharply, and he +surreptitiously got ready to pump a shell into the riot gun's chamber. +But nothing happened. Esteben Balgos muttered, "This is unbelievable!" + +Then the governor was coming back. He got into the car and spoke +quietly. "Back to Calor, Juan." + +The boys got in and closed the doors. The secretary swung the big car +around and headed back the way they had come. Governor Montoya took time +to light an aromatic cigar. Only when it was going well did he speak. + +"An interesting talk, senores. Those were not soldiers, but the +peons--how do you say it?--tenant farmers of Jaime Guevara. The man with +whom I talked is his foreman. They have replaced the troops at all +barricades, and their loyalty is only to Guevara." + +"But the troops?" Balgos asked. + +"Either guarding the volcanic pipe or working in it. I am told that +Guevara is now the governor of the island. He has taken over. If I try +to resist, it will mean bloodshed. If I leave the island, all will +remain quiet and peaceful." + +"That's nonsense!" Rick exploded. "Guevara can't get away with it!" + +"No? He is getting away with it, Senor Rick. We have a dozen policemen; +he has the army. He also has his own men, at key points. So what can we +do? We haven't enough force to fight. Besides, there is no time. We +can't arm the people because we have neither weapons nor time." + +"But what can we do?" Scotty demanded. + +"I do not know. At least we can continue our efforts to get the people +off the island. Without the ability to make scientific readings, we +cannot know how much time is left, so we must hurry. We will do the best +we can. After that--well, you had a Spanish song in America that says it +well. You recall the title? '_Que sera sera._'" + +Rick remembered. An expression of fatalism. What will be, will be. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Brant Approach + + +The magma drove upward, melting its way through the fractured rock of +the channels under the western side of the island. Now and then it +struck rock with a higher water content, and the island shuddered under +a new explosion as the steam expanded. + +Rick felt the bed shake under him and sat upright. A new day had dawned, +and there was much to do. He and Scotty had volunteered to help Captain +Ricardo Montoya plan the evacuation of the island, and the youthful +officer had accepted with pleasure. He had agreed to meet them for +breakfast. + +The scientists had worked late, trying to extrapolate their data into +some kind of prediction. Rick and Scotty, tired after an exhausting day, +had gone to bed while the light still burned in Hartson Brant's room. + +Scotty awoke as Rick's feet hit the floor. "I'm getting used to these +little earthquakes," he said. "Don't know if I'll be able to sleep on +steady ground after this." + +"The ground is going to get unsteadier," Rick reminded. "Until--boom!" + +"I'm not forgetting," Scotty said grimly. "Let's get dressed and eat. +I'm famished." + +"It's ham and eggs for me," Rick told him. "If I had to watch milk slosh +around in a cereal bowl I'd get seasick." + +The boys dressed rapidly and hurried down to the hotel coffee shop. They +were just in time. Ricardo Montoya walked in just as they were seated. + +The officer joined them. Rick noted that his face was drawn and tired, +and thought Montoya had probably been up a good part of the night. +"How's the evacuation going?" Rick asked. + +Montoya shook his head. "Poorly. My uncle's radio broadcast continued +all night and through the morning hours. A few families have come to the +harbor, and the stevedores are organized now to get them aboard ship. A +few fishing boats have come, with fishermen's families, but there is no +big exodus." + +"Don't they realize the danger?" Scotty exclaimed. + +"Perhaps. You must understand my people. They have lived with +earthquakes all their lives. Not so often, perhaps, but these temblors +are not unusual. What is there to be excited about? Who believes El +Viejo will explode? It never has, so it never will." + +Rick thought it over. "Maybe not enough are hearing the broadcasts." + +"That is possible. I have put volunteers to work going from house to +house, asking people to turn on their radios to hear the governor, and +also to explain the urgency. But it will take a long time, even in +Calor." + +"If we only had the troops," Rick said thoughtfully. "Trained manpower +is what's needed for a job like this." + +"True. And I think if my uncle could only talk to the troops they would +believe him. But he cannot reach them. Guevara's peons would never let +him by." + +The hotel loud-speaker system drowned out his last words as a soft +feminine voice paged someone in Spanish. + +"If only the troops could listen to the radio," Rick commented. "Perhaps +they'd believe him and turn on Guevara." + +"Perhaps. But soldiers cannot afford radios, and they are away from +their barracks now. There is no way for my uncle's voice to reach them." + +There had to be, Rick thought. There had to be some way. The +loud-speaker sounded again, paging a Senor Alvarez. Rick sat bolt +upright. Why not use a loud-speaker? + +"Listen," he said excitedly. "If the government radio station has a +loud-speaker system, or can make one, we can put it in my plane. I can +fly the governor over the troops and he can talk to them direct. My +plane can go slowly enough, and low enough for that!" + +"How about power supply?" Scotty asked. + +"There must be an inverter on the island somewhere. We can use +automobile batteries, and the inverter will give us 110 AC for a while, +until the batteries run down. Just twenty minutes of power would be +enough and we can get that with enough batteries!" + +Scotty chuckled. "The Brant approach," he said. "There always is one. +How about it, Captain?" + +"We will try," Montoya said decisively. "You have not eaten?... Then do +so, while I make a phone call to the radio station. I have had coffee +and rolls, and perhaps there will be time to join you for more breakfast +while the radio engineers get the equipment together." + +The boys were just finishing ham and eggs when Montoya returned. There +was a broad smile on his tired face. + +"The engineers say it can be done. They have a portable loud-speaker +system, and there is an inverter, as you call it, at the transmitter. +What is this inverter?" + +"It's an electric generator," Rick explained. "Battery current turns it, +and it produces 110-volt alternating current. But inverters aren't very +efficient, and they take a lot of battery current. That's why we'll need +as many batteries as we can carry." + +"The chief radio engineer said he understood exactly what was needed. He +will gather the materials and meet us at the airport. Now, I think we +have time for coffee, and perhaps I can follow your example with ham and +eggs. It will take an hour for the equipment to be ready. Also, I called +my uncle. He will be waiting for our call." + +"Did you get any sleep last night?" Scotty asked. + +Montoya smiled. "Sleep? I have forgotten what it is. But perhaps if this +plan of yours works, I will remember, eh? Then I can sleep tonight." + +A check with the hotel desk told Rick that the scientists had left word +that they were not to be disturbed until later in the morning except for +an emergency. They had worked a good part of the night, apparently with +no satisfactory results. + +The boys waited until Ricardo Montoya had breakfasted, then rode with +him to the airport. There was another wait while the radio engineers +arrived, bringing the loud-speaker equipment. + +Rick supervised the placement of the amplifier in the rear seat. The +inverter was placed on the floor, and wedged into place with scrap +lumber. The automobile batteries were put into the luggage compartment +behind the rear seat and were also wedged in place. + +Wires were run from the amplifier through the rear-seat windows, which +were opened just enough to take the thin cables. The leads were then +brought out to the plane's struts. Two large loud-speakers were attached +to the struts. At first there was some difficulty in figuring out a +secure attachment, but the chief engineer, a resourceful type, managed +to find a pair of U bolts somewhere in the hangars. They did the job +nicely. + +The chief engineer connected up, then hung the microphone between the +two front seats. He threw a switch and the inverter started up with a +whine. At the throw of a second switch, the loud-speakers broke into a +hum. The engineer tapped on the microphone, and the tap, greatly +amplified, reverberated across the airstrip. + +"It works!" Rick exclaimed, delighted. + +"_Como no?_" the engineer said with a smile. He spoke to Montoya in +Spanish. The officer translated. "There is one more thing. He has rigged +a cable with a switch box so you can operate the controls from the front +seat. When the cable is attached, you will be ready. I will go call my +uncle." + +Rick and Scotty watched as the engineer got busy, hooking the +remote-switch cable into the amplifier. + +"Room for only two," Rick pointed out. "Want to toss for it?" + +Scotty shook his head. "It was your idea. I'll stay on the ground. Take +the governor and talk those troops into submission." + +"Maybe," Rick said. "We'll see. I think it depends on whether or not +they know the real story. If they have any idea there are diamonds +around, they won't be interested in anything else." + +"Guevara wouldn't dare to let them in on it," was Scotty's opinion. +"I'll bet they're just following orders, with no idea what's behind all +this. Most of them probably think there really is a national security +conference going on." + +Rick thought Scotty was probably right. Time would tell. He waited until +the engineer signaled that the job was done, then climbed into the +pilot's seat. He checked the plane over. Plenty of gas. Everything +seemed okay. He tried the loud-speaker switches, then spoke into the +microphone. He could hear his voice boom out with thunderous +amplification and saw Scotty clap his hands to his ears. + +Finally, he started the motor and let the plane warm, keeping an eye on +his gauges. When the manifold temperature got high enough he cut the +switch. He tested the control surfaces and he was satisfied. Now all he +needed was the governor. + +Governor Montoya arrived within ten minutes. He inspected the plane and +its equipment and nodded his approval. "Very ingenious. Shall we try +it?" + +"Yes, sir." Rick helped the governor in, buckled his safety belt, then +ran around and got into the pilot's seat. He started the motor, waved to +Scotty and the others, then taxied out to the runway. The tower gave him +clearance and he took off. + +"We'll make a swing over the area and locate the troops," he explained, +"then I'll slow down as much as I can, and you can talk." + +Rick climbed to a thousand feet and set a course directly for the Hot +Springs Hotel. He asked, "Sir, how many troops are there?" + +"Our army numbers three companies, of about two hundred and fifty men +each. Then we have a few special units, including the transportation +platoons. Perhaps nine hundred in all. We do not need a large army. But +we need some kind of force. These are troubled times, and there is +always some danger that a revolutionary force might consider us an +excellent staging or training base for an invasion of a nearby country. +So, we keep prepared." + +The Sky Wagon was over the hotel within minutes. Rick spotted a large +group of soldiers--he estimated about two hundred--dispersed around the +hotel. They probably thought they were guarding the conference. + +He banked left and followed the contour of the mountain, and found +another group of soldiers camped near the pumice works. + +"That is two companies accounted for, more or less," the governor +stated. "Now, can we find the third?" + +It wasn't difficult. Rick followed the dirt road to San Souci, and found +the third large group marching in the direction of the mountain, +apparently about to join forces with the group at the pumice works. + +"Let's take a look at the diamond pipe," he suggested, and pulled the +Sky Wagon around in a tight circle. He had his bearings, and the third +shot station was not difficult to locate. There was considerable +activity. Earth-moving machinery had been moved into place and was +operating. The yellow ground was already gone, and the equipment was +cutting into the blue kimberlite below. + +Military trucks were lined up, apparently waiting to be loaded with the +blue earth. + +"Where are they taking it?" the governor wondered. + +Rick had talked with David Riddle about the process. "They need water. +The blue earth is run down long wooden tables with cleats on them, like +washing out gold. The table is coated with grease. The diamonds stick in +the grease and the blue earth washes away. They've probably set things +up at the pumice works if there's water there. Otherwise, it may be the +hotel." + +"It has to be the hotel, then," the governor explained. "There would not +be enough water at the pumice plant. Well, I think we have found all our +troops. Those who are not with the three companies are below us, digging +diamonds. I wonder if they know what they are digging?" + +Rick told the governor what Scotty had said. + +"That is probably right," the governor agreed. "Guevara would not dare +to let too many in on the secret. Well, shall we get to work?" + +"Yes, sir," Rick said. He handed the governor the microphone and swung +into position for a run over the troops on the road. He throttled down, +and then gave the plane a few degrees of flaps. He kept an eye on his +air-speed indicator. If he got too slow, the plane would stall and he'd +be too low to recover. "I'll make as tight a circle as I can," he said. +"Be ready." + +The troops came into sight. Rick lost altitude and began a slow circle +only a few hundred feet over the marching soldiers. He turned on the +switches and nodded. + +The governor began to talk in slow, clear Spanish. Rick understood that +he identified himself to the men below, but then he lost the trend of +the talk. He concentrated on flying. The loud-speakers were operating +perfectly, and he knew the troops could hear. + +He could see them looking up and pointing, but they kept marching. +Apparently the governor wasn't making much of an impact. The governor +paused, and Rick cut the switches. + +"Maybe they don't believe it's you," he suggested. + +"Perhaps not. But my voice is well known. I speak over the radio at +least once a week. More likely the whole idea is just too much for them. +Who can believe that mountain over there is about to blow up?" + +"Let's try the troops at the pumice works. Maybe you can tell them that +all who care about their homeland should march at once to Calor." + +"I'll try it," the governor agreed. + +Rick circled low over the pumice works while the loud-speakers blasted +at the troops below. They watched the plane, they pointed, some ran out +for a better look. But when the governor pleaded with them to hurry to +Calor to help save the people of the island, nothing happened. + +"If El Viejo started smoking, they'd move fast enough," Rick said +bitterly. "But then it would be too late. They just don't believe there +is any danger, and maybe they're not sure it's you. I guess no one has +ever given them orders from the air before." + +"They are simple people," the governor agreed. "I think most of them +have never heard of a volcano. They don't even know what an eruption is. +How can they be excited? If I ever succeed in getting good schools here, +this may change. But it won't help us now." + +Rick considered. It would do little good to repeat the announcement to +the soldiers at the hotel. He wondered if Guevara and Connel were +somewhere below, and with that thought he turned toward the diamond +pipe. + +"Let's see if we can do any good with the truckmen," he suggested. "Tell +them the trucks are essential to the safety of their families." + +The governor tried, while Rick held the plane in in a tight circle over +the blue ground. Again, there was interest in the flying loud-speaker +plane itself, but the message made no impact. Then Rick noticed tiny +spurts of fire from one edge of the diamond field and cold sweat started +on his forehead as he suddenly realized what they were. + +"They're shooting at us!" he exclaimed, and gave the plane the gun, +taking evasive action as the distance widened. + +[Illustration: _"They're shooting at us!" Rick exclaimed, and gave the +plane the gun_] + +"I saw," the governor said wearily. "It was not the troops. It was the +peons. Our friend Guevara is down there, I think. But he need not be +afraid of our effect. We have had none." + +Rick had seldom felt so frustrated. He was tempted to call the San +Luzians a stupid bunch of cattle, but he realized the governor had +stated the case accurately. They just didn't understand the danger. What +would they understand? + +His lips formed the word. "Diamonds!" At least they would understand +treasure. + +"Sir," he said excitedly, "we can break this up, at least enough so we +can start collecting data again. If we tell them the whole story, +they'll at least understand that Guevara is after great treasure. +They'll flock to the diamond field and disrupt the operation, and we can +move back in to some of the shot stations. The people won't be any worse +off than they are now, and it will give us a chance to do something!" + +The governor considered. "Perhaps that is the only solution. It will not +get my people to safety, but it will at least give us a chance to find +out the exact situation. When I talked with your father this morning he +said they needed more data or they could tell nothing about the timing +of the eruption. If we get that data, then I will ask the Americans for +troops. If we must, we will take the people off by armed force and save +their lives in spite of themselves!" + +Rick circled and lost altitude again. He got into position over the +marching troops and turned on the switches, then gave the governor the +signal. + +Later, the governor told him what he had said: + +"Soldiers of San Luz! Do you know why you are protecting this area? It +is not because of a great conference. It is because Lieutenant Governor +Guevara has found a great treasure! He is using you to help him to +become the wealthiest man in the world! But what will you get out of +this? Nothing! He will give you nothing! Go for yourself and see the +blue earth. It is found only near mountains like El Viejo. Do you know +what it contains? Diamonds! The most valuable gems in the whole world! +Will you let Guevara use you to make himself rich while you get nothing? +Do not be fools! Help yourselves to this wealth. Look for the crystal +pebbles, the ones like cloudy glass, among the blue stones. Go! You are +soldiers! Take your share!" + +"They're running!" Rick pounded on the control wheel with excitement. +"Look! They're breaking ranks and running!" + +"Excellent," the governor said calmly. "Now the other groups. Then, in +spite of the rifle fire, let us go and tell those at the diamond pipe +what they are doing. They will not hit us with those rifles." + +Rick knew that was true. A lucky shot might hit them, but it took +practice to hit a fast-flying plane, even with automatic weapons. "Let's +go," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Solution: Nuclear + + +San Luz was in a state of complete chaos. The majority of the island +people dropped everything as the word of treasure spread, and the slopes +of El Viejo were covered with treasure hunters using everything from +shovels to pointed sticks in an effort to find _los diamantes_. Only a +bare handful even knew that the diamonds occurred only in a small +volcanic pipe on the western slope. + +If the hunt continued, Rick thought, the slopes would be denuded of +vegetation. + +There was intermittent fighting around the volcanic pipe, the police +reported. Guevara's peons had succeeded in holding the diamond pipe, but +were surrounded by soldiers. Now and then Guevara attempted to clear the +entire area, but with the entire army struggling to dig diamonds he +wasn't having much success. The police officer who investigated also +reported that an American was with Guevara. That would be Connel, of +course. + +The scientists had moved at once to start shooting again, with the +police pushing back the diamond seekers until the dynamite could be set +off in safety. The crazed hunters assumed that the explosions were also +means of seeking the diamonds, and rushed to the craters before the +smoke had cleared. + +No one really cared. The data was being collected, and it showed that +the situation was growing extremely serious. + +"Ten days maximum," Zircon said. "Maybe less. The magma has about +reached that rock dike, and once it melts through, there goes the +mountain." + +"We must get the people off," Governor Montoya insisted. "That is the +first thing. I shall call at once for help from the Americans. They have +forces at the Canal Zone and also in the West Indies. They will send +help." + +"Yes," Hartson Brant agreed. "But first, we have a proposal. We will +need the troops, but we may also need other help." + +Governor Montoya looked at him keenly. "This proposal is perhaps a +solution for El Viejo?" + +"Perhaps. Let me outline the situation." The scientist pointed out the +magma on Dr. Williams' sketch. "This is where the magma is now. Above it +is a very thick layer of rock in which we can find no major weakness. It +may hold the magma for a while. At least it probably will melt slowly." + +He pointed to a little line running from the western slope of the +mountain down to the rock dike. "This was where we wanted to dig a +channel. Now it is too late to go all the way to the rock. The heat +would be too great. But if we could drive a hole through, with great +suddenness, the magma would be released and the eruption would be away +from the island and into the sea." + +"How would you do this?" the governor asked. + +"By getting help from the U. S. government, from Army Engineers and +Seabees, who are U. S. Navy engineers. We would drive the tunnel as far +down as time permitted. Of course we would keep track of the magma +constantly. Then, as time ran out, we would place a charge in the +hole--a shaped charge, as it is called--which would drive the hole most +of the way to the magma. It would also crack the rock dike. The magma +would seek the weakest spots, of course. It is under enormous pressure. +And we would have the result we want." + +"But what kind of explosive would be enough for such an undertaking?" +Montoya demanded. "Not enough dynamite could be packed into the tunnel +to do the work." + +"We weren't thinking of dynamite," Hartson Brant said quietly. "We were +thinking of a nuclear explosion." + +Rick gasped. He had no warning of this. The scientists had evidently +arrived at the conclusion while he was flying around over the diamond +seekers. + +Montoya gasped, too. "But that would kill everyone on the island!" + +"Not at all," Zircon boomed. "It would kill no one. Of course we would +clear the area with troops." + +"But the radioactivity," the governor protested. "I have read it is +deadly!" + +"Only if it can reach people," Hartson Brant explained. "This shot would +be far underground. There would be no fall-out, as it is called, at all. +Of course the earth around the explosion would be greatly radioactive. +Some of the activity would be trapped in the magma. But where would it +come to rest? On the bottom of the sea. There might be some danger to +bottom fish in the vicinity, but I think the water would get so hot from +the lava that fish would avoid it, anyway. And eventually the +radioactivity would decay of itself to low levels. Sir, I see no other +way." + +The governor raised his hands in a gesture of resignation. "I know +nothing of these matters, and it is your business to know. I accept your +assurances without reservation. Now, what do we do?" + +The scientists had not only conceived the solution, but had a detailed +plan of action. Within a half hour, the loud-speaker had been removed +from the plane, and Rick was flying Governor Montoya, Hartson Brant, and +Esteben Balgos to Trinidad. + +Arrangements had been made by phone while they were en route. A car, +sent by the President of the West Indies Federation, picked them up at +the airport and whisked them to the Federation's headquarters. + +The President listened to the story with intense interest, then +summoned the American ambassador and the representatives of Venezuela +and Colombia. + +After a detailed discussion by Hartson Brant of the properties and +limitations of nuclear explosions, the conference agreed. Immediate +action was called for. The Venezuelan and Colombian representatives +hurried off to notify their governments, while the President of the +Federation put in a conference call to the United States, to the +Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Secretary of Defense, the +Secretary of State, and the President's Special Assistant for Science +and Technology, who happened to be an old friend of Hartson Brant's. + +A personal phone call from a head of state was without +precedent--especially a conference call. The U. S. officials were +located within an hour, and the call put through. On the West Indies end +were the Federation's President, the U. S. ambassador, Governor Montoya, +and Hartson Brant, speaking from four different rooms. Rick hung over +his father's chair, listening. + +The Federation's President introduced himself and described the problem +briefly. Then he introduced the governor. Montoya said briefly, +"Gentlemen, we must have help or the island of San Luz will perish. I +ask help on behalf of my 32,000 people." + +The Federation's President then introduced Hartson Brant. Rick gathered +that the U. S. President's Special Assistant and the Chairman of the +Atomic Energy Commission both greeted him warmly as an old friend. + +The scientist outlined the problem and its solution. He continued, +"According to our estimates, we will need ten kilotons in order to have +a margin of safety. It will take as many Seabees or engineers as +necessary to drive a tunnel. The tunnel dimensions will depend on what +machinery you can get to us. I leave that to your experts. We will also +need about five thousand sea-based troops to handle the island +population. We may have to carry them bodily to safety. Now, can it be +done?" + +There was silence as the scientist listened. Rick stood on one foot, +then the other, waiting. He could hear the mumble of voices through the +earphone but could make no sense out of it. + +Presently Hartson Brant said, "Yes. I believe the runway at San Luz +could handle a C-124." There was silence again. Finally, the scientist +said, "I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow, then." He hung up and +turned to Rick with a grin. + +"Our President will put pressure on the local Venezuelan and Colombian +ambassadors here for an immediate decision from their governments, and +our own Secretary of State will instruct our ambassadors in Venezuela +and Colombia to camp on the doorsteps until they get agreement. He will +also notify the United Nations, and invite observers from the Security +Council. The AEC will fly in a 10-KT nuclear charge and a group of +experts. The Secretary of Defense promised that a battalion of Seabees +with full equipment would arrive in San Luz within twenty-four hours. +The Military Air Transport Service will airlift in enough troops to +handle the crowd. Any questions?" + +Rick grinned back. "It sounds as though everyone's in the act but the +British." + +"Oh, they're in it, too. The Federation's President will represent their +political interests, but we'll also have a British cruiser standing +offshore for help as needed. And I forgot an important addition. Our +President's Assistant for Science and Technology is notifying the proper +committees of the National Academy of Sciences. We'll have a planeload +of geophysicists down here in a few days to get all the scientific data +possible out of this event. So we're well covered." + +"I guess we can relax now," Rick said with relief. "The job is out of +our hands." + +"Not quite," Hartson Brant corrected. "They all agreed that the +Spindrift Foundation should be placed in over-all charge. So we've got +our work cut out for us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Seabees + + +The sea off the west coast of San Luz was alive with ships. Rick counted +up to twenty-five and then gave up. Some of the ships were moving, and +he was sure he had counted the same one three times. He identified +cruisers, destroyers, one aircraft carrier with a squadron of +helicopters aboard, and landing ships of several kinds. + +One huge landing ship was nosed right up to the shore, and +from it rolled tons of heavy equipment. From an attack +transport, the equipment's operators, a U. S. Naval Construction +Battalion--Seabees--were disembarking by the hundreds. + +Scotty asked, "How many different kinds of flags can you see? I've +counted six so far. U. S., British, Dutch, Venezuelan, Colombian, and +Panamanian." + +"It's an international job, all right," Rick agreed. "And when the UN +observers arrive tonight you can run up a few more flags, too." + +"Reminds me of the amphibious exercises we used to have in the +Marines," Scotty commented to Rick. + +Nearby, Hartson Brant and the other scientists were deep in conversation +with a group of civilians and Navy officers. The officers were the +engineers, from the Naval Construction Battalion. Last night had been +spent in working with them on the details of the problem. It would be +their job to drive the big hole down into the earth below El Viejo, +working against time to intercept the rising magma. + +Scientists had arrived, too, and they were taking over much of the +detail of keeping track of the magma. Each scientist had his own special +field of interest, but all were anxious to have the data from tracings. +There were geophysicists, including volcanologists and seismologists; +mineralogists and more geologists. + +"Nothing much left for us to do," Rick said, a little sadly. + +"Except watch," Scotty corrected. "That's enough! Great crumbling +craters, what do you want? A mystery every day?" + +Rick had to grin. "I guess this is enough. But one thing I want to do is +go over to the volcanic pipe and see how Guevara and Connel are making +out." + +"You will have an escort," a voice said from behind them. They turned to +greet Ricardo Montoya. "Now that we can turn our attention to that pair, +I think we should have a talk with them. To make the talk easier, we +will put bars between us." + +"You're going to arrest them?" Rick asked. + +"Of course! What did you think?" + +"Right now?" + +"If you want to come along, join me. Now is as good a time as any. If we +can find them, of course." + +The boys joined Montoya in the front seat of a military vehicle. The +back was loaded with his men. Montoya at once steered for the trail to +the volcanic pipe. It was only a thousand yards to the north from the +point selected for the big hole. Even around the site of the hole there +were diamond seekers, and it was hard to find a piece of ground that had +not been tried with a shovel. + +As they got closer to the diamond field the numbers of treasure hunters +increased until, as Scotty remarked, they were thicker than fleas at a +mutt show. Montoya had to lean on the horn continually, and even then +the San Luzians paid little attention. + +Finally the group got out and walked. It was easier to move on foot +through the frantically digging mob. Strangely, there was little noise. +Each individual seemed intent on his own little hole. But the digging +was futile. There was no yellow ground under the flying shovels. + +Then the group did reach yellow ground, and met rifles in the hands of +Guevara's peons. Evidently Guevara had put a ring of men around the +volcanic pipe and planned to hold it by force of arms. + +Rick looked at Montoya. What would he do now? + +The young officer looked haughtily at the nearest peons and demanded in +Spanish, "Do you know me?" + +One of them nodded respectfully. "_Si_, Senor Capitan Montoya." + +"Good. You will stand aside. I am inspecting Senor Guevara's mine." He +stalked through as though there was not the slightest question that the +peons would allow it. The boys and the police officers followed on his +heels. + +A shelter had been erected on one side of the volcanic pipe. Only blue +ground showed, and there was a power scoop digging out more. Watching +the shovel were Guevara and Brad Connel. + +Montoya walked up to the pair before they were even aware of his +presence. + +"Good afternoon, senores," he greeted them courteously. + +Guevara snapped, "What are you doing here, Montoya?" + +"Arresting you, senor," Montoya replied calmly. + +Connel looked worried, but Guevara gestured toward the ring of men with +rifles. "Don't be a fool. We outnumber you five to one. You haven't a +chance." + +Captain Montoya smiled affably. "But, senor, it is you who haven't a +chance. Consider, senor. The honor of the Montoyas requires that I take +you to my uncle, eh? Well, I allow the chance that perhaps I will not +survive to take you to my uncle, but I can assure you that you will +become a lifeless body on the instant a rifle is raised. Surely you do +not doubt me, senor?" + +Guevara looked at the officer, looked at the capable hand on the cocked +gun in the holster. Then he looked into the fierce Montoya eyes, and his +swarthy face turned pale. + +"Not even a Montoya would throw his life away for so small a thing," he +said harshly. + +The captain smiled gently. "Call my bluff, senor." + +Rick had no doubt whatever that Montoya was not bluffing. Apparently +Guevara was convinced, too. But he tried once more. "How do you expect +to get us out of here?" + +"Simplicity itself. You will walk to my truck, arm in arm with Senor +Connel. That is all. Of course if you should be so unfortunate as to +have a peon lift his rifle, you would never reach the truck alive. But +perhaps you are lucky. Shall we try, senor?" + +Guevara hesitated, then shrugged. "Very well." + +Connel spoke for the first time. He demanded hoarsely, "Are you going to +let him get away with this when our men have all the rifles?" + +Guevara smiled wryly. "You do not know the Montoyas, Brad. Call his +bluff yourself--only not if you wish to live." + +The ex-lieutenant governor walked slowly toward the ring of men. After a +moment Connel joined him. Montoya stepped behind them as though taking a +stroll through the Calor public gardens. The ring opened and let them +through. Rick breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't been quite as +confident as Ricardo Montoya appeared to be. + +Guevara paused. "May I make an announcement?" he asked. + +"Certainly, senor." + +Guevara called, "_Amigos!_" Montoya translated the Spanish for the boys. +"You know what you have been guarding. Now I must leave. What is left +is yours. Work as fast as you can and find many diamonds. May good +fortune be yours!" + +The ring broke as the peons rushed to grab shovels. Guevara led the way +to the truck. + +It was all so easy, Rick thought later, if you were an aristocratic +Montoya with a code of honor that permitted no yielding, even unto +death. No one else he had ever met could have carried it off quite so +superbly. + +So fast had the Seabees swung into operation that work on the big hole +already was in progress when Montoya dropped the boys off. Pneumatic +drills hammered into the congealed lava, cutting holes in which charges +would be placed. As the boys watched, explosive was thrust into the +holes, a warning was yelled through a portable loud-speaker, and the +charge fired. Tons of rock were loosened. + +Even before the dust had begun to settle, huge machines were lifting the +rock out, or dragging big chunks, and dumping them down the +mountainside. Bulldozers kept the rock moving, keeping the entrance +clear. Within minutes the hole was empty of rock and the pneumatic +drills were hammering again. The cycle was repeated. + +The Seabees joked as they worked, and warned each other against shoving +a hole right through into hot lava, but the pace never slowed for an +instant. + +Hour after hour the big hole deepened until the Seabees ran into noxious +gases. Then they donned gas masks and continued. Deeper and deeper the +hole was driven, until the temperature at the hole's end was over a +hundred degrees. The Seabees merely shortened working time and operated +in relays so efficiently that no time was lost. + +Rick and Scotty got back to the hole as often as they could, but there +was much doing elsewhere. The Hot Springs Hotel swarmed with scientists +and observers, and there were heated conferences and late evaluation +sessions. The Spindrift scientists were always in demand, and their +faces grew gaunt as the days passed. + +The hole gave its own location because of the shock waves it sent +through the earth to the recorders, and even Rick's untrained eye could +see the traces slowly closing with the magma front. + +Earthquakes increased in frequency until Rick and Scotty felt as though +the ground never ceased shuddering. + +The air became noisy with planes as the Military Air Transport Command +began ferrying in troops. Flight after flight of huge transports roared +in for a landing at the Calor airport, discharged the soldiers, and took +off again at once. + +And still the diamond hunt continued. + +Then, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Hartson Brant called a halt. + +"The magma's moving up through the dike," he reported. "It's now or +never. Captain Montoya, we will ask the troops to clear the area. +Commander Jameson, withdraw all men and equipment except those necessary +for the final packing. Dr. Cantrell, please be ready to place the +charge at dawn tomorrow." + +The final phase of the operation swung into action. The troops gathered +at Redondo and marched shoulder to shoulder southward along the mountain +slopes. They herded the diamond seekers before them, sometimes with +enough roughness to overcome protests, but mostly with little +difficulty. They herded the population entirely around El Viejo, and +established a perimeter from Calor northward, with the population +confined to a narrow segment of the island along the seaward side. + +Loud-speaker trucks roamed along the perimeter, reassuring the people. +Military disaster units cooked huge quantities of food and prepared +thousands of gallons of coffee and reconstituted milk. American soldiers +played with cute little San Luzian kids and--after the diamond seekers +became convinced they had never had a chance to find diamonds--the whole +affair became one big picnic. + +But it was a picnic with overtones of fear. + +Rick and Scotty watched the placement of the nuclear explosive--a simple +steel can, from the outside--in the big hole. They watched the remaining +handful of Seabees load tons of rock in after it. Only the wires +connecting the device to a radio firing unit on the beach gave evidence +that an explosion equal to ten thousand tons of TNT was about to take +place. + +Rick asked, "Won't all those rocks keep the volcano from erupting?" + +Hartson Brant smiled. "Rick, compared with the force of the volcano, +that atomic device is like a firecracker compared with a hurricane. But +even to the nuclear explosion those rocks won't mean much. They're just +to confine it a little." + +The night passed. San Souci was empty of people. The Seabees were back +aboard ship. The scientific instruments were in place. Only a small +group of scientists remained, their helicopter standing by. They checked +out the radio firing unit, threw switches according to their check list, +then announced: + +"We're ready!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Old One Yields + + +Rick banked the Sky Wagon over the fleet. Scotty, in the front passenger +seat, had the camera ready. Hartson Brant, in the rear seat, had a +motion-picture camera poised. Governor Montoya, the fourth in the party, +even had his personal camera along. + +Their cameras were not the only ones. Nearly every ship had its official +photographers, and there were photography planes in the air. + +Directly under the Sky Wagon now was a U. S. destroyer. Aboard her was +the nuclear firing party from Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and the +UN Observer Group. On other ships of the fleet were the representatives +of the interested nations and the Seabees. + +Rick turned up the volume of his plane radio. By agreement, the +countdown was to be broadcast to all aircraft over one of the airport +frequencies. + +"Thirty seconds!" the voice said. + +"Won't we need dark glasses?" Scotty asked. + +"No," Hartson Brant replied. "The nuclear fireball won't emerge. If it +gets a little too bright, squint and turn your head." + +"How long after the nuclear shot will the volcano go?" Rick asked. + +"We don't know. Anywhere from seconds to hours. It depends on how much +of a path the nuclear shot cracks." + +"Ten seconds!" + +Rick made sure they had a good view of El Viejo's western slope, and +held the plane on course. + +"Five, four, three, two, one ... + +"Zero!" + +There was an instant of quiet, then dust spurted from the deep hole, +followed by billowing clouds of pulverized rock. Down below, the earth +heaved as though from another earthquake, and a line of waves appeared, +running from shore outward! + +The dust settled slowly, hanging in the air like a great gray ball. + +The nuclear explosion, deep underground, had gone off. + +"Now what?" Rick wondered. + +Hartson Brant said quietly, "We may have to wait a while." + +"That explosion sure didn't look like the pictures I've seen of shots in +Nevada," Rick told him. + +"No, Rick. This was too far underground. They've had those in Nevada, +too, but the pictures don't get much publicity because they're not +spectacular." + +Far below, where the end of the big hole had been, the huge chamber +blown by the atomic explosion was white-hot with trapped heat and +radioactivity. Below the chamber the earth was shattered, with myriad +tiny cracks reaching far down. + +Some cracks reached the white-hot magma. Instantly the magma exploited +the new weakness, pressure was released until ... + +"Look!" Even in the plane Scotty's yell was loud. + +Rick turned in time to see the side of El Viejo blow off in an explosion +that made ten kilotons of fission seem puny indeed. For an instant he +saw thousands of tons of white-hot lava rise into the air, then it fell +into the sea. Instantly steam clouds blanketed the area, but the steam +was mixed with traces of red and gray from the rock carried upward. + +A great boulder, weighing many tons, was hurled high in the air to fall +into the steam cloud. The great rift in the volcano widened, and the +molten lava was visible until steam rose again. + +Under the steam cloud was an inferno, but it was only occasionally +visible as the wind tore rents in the vapor. The noise must be +deafening, Rick knew, but only a low rumble and an occasional hissing +could be heard in the plane. + +"Well," Hartson Brant said wearily, "it worked." + +Governor Luis Montoya spoke gently. "Yes, my friend. It did indeed work. +And it has saved our island. I doubt that a single life was lost, thanks +to you and your associates." + +"We'd better be sure." The scientist smiled. "Rick, suppose you fly us +around the island?" + +"Yes, sir." Rick instantly swung the Sky Wagon onto a northward course +that would take them past the erupting volcano and on to the north. He +kept well out to sea, because now and then he could see big rocks flying +through the air as the volcano spouted. + +Only the immediate area was affected. The new outlet was about a half +mile wide, stretching from sea level and possibly below, to about a +quarter mile up the slope. Beyond the crater San Luz seemed normal, +although Rick knew there were no human beings in the area. + +Not until he passed Redondo did signs of life appear, and then the beach +became black with people. The wave of humanity extended inward to the +slopes of El Viejo and along the beach to Calor. Past Calor, at the +airport, troops not needed on the perimeter waited for their planes. +Already there were planes landing. + +Rick completed the circuit of the island, then on impulse moved past the +volcano and took a good look at where the diamond pipe had been. A +momentary wind blew the area clear long enough for him to glimpse +white-hot lava. + +"Well," he remarked, "there go Connel's diamonds. Either buried, or +burned." + +"Cheer up," Scotty said with a grin. "Maybe El Viejo is making some new +ones." + +Governor Montoya added the final word. "I hope not. But if so, I can +only hope they will not be discovered just before the next eruption!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A Few Souvenirs + + +San Luz settled back to normal in an astonishingly short time, a tribute +to the calm nerves of the population. Within recorded island history, +the discovery of diamonds was the sole event that seemed to have excited +most of the islanders. + +The troops left on MATS planes. The ships withdrew, except for two +oceanographic ships sent hurriedly by Columbia University and Woods Hole +Oceanographic Institute. Aboard were not only oceanographers, but marine +biologists experienced in radiation physics. They would keep track of +events in the sea for many months. + +The scientific population of the Hot Springs Hotel did not decrease +appreciably. The combination of advance warning of eruption, a nuclear +explosion, and the eruption itself provided data never before +obtainable. The scientists intended to make the most of it. + +The courts of San Luz went into operation again. Guevara was charged +with treason, Connel with attempted murder. The boys gave +depositions--sworn testimony--to the government attorneys. But Ruiz +would be his own best witness. The doctor promised that he would be able +to testify by the time the case came to trial. + +At a dinner for the Spindrift scientists, the governor presented +certificates of appreciation to each one of the party, including the +boys. Then he made a short speech. + +"I could thank you, but words are inadequate in the face of the deed. An +island and its people have been saved. You did this. What more is there +that can be said? We will not forget. Already, with the help of my good +friend Esteben Balgos, we are planning to erect a permanent volcanic +observatory and laboratory in which scientists can work and learn from +El Viejo. I do not ask your permission--I merely inform you that it is +to be called Spindrift Memorial Laboratory." + +The scientists murmured in protest, but the governor held up his hand. +"I know you do not approve. I do not ask you to. It is accomplished. +Also, we will have a small but imperishable plaque over the door. It +will say simply: 'This laboratory is dedicated to the scientists of the +Spindrift Scientific Foundation. They saved San Luz.' Your names will be +listed." + +The governor was adamant. He said with a twinkle that the scientists +could make representations through formal diplomatic channels to the +governments of Venezuela, Colombia, and Great Britain if they wished, +but so far as he was concerned, the matter was closed. + +It was Rick who changed the subject. He reached into his pocket and drew +out the handful of diamonds that he had carried there since the day he +found out what they were. + +"We have to give these back," he said. "I picked them up, but we have no +more right to them than Connel or Guevara. It wasn't a legal mining +claim, I guess." + +Governor Montoya shook his head. "Rick, who will ever know how many +diamonds were found? Already I hear of several huge crystals among the +people. We have confiscated several times that amount from Guevara and +Connel. Should we penalize you for being honest? I think not. You found +them, and in the finding you were instrumental in saving the island. +They are yours." + +Again the governor was adamant. He simply stated that the matter was +settled, and that was that. + +"Then they're not mine," Rick said finally. "They belong to all of us, +share and share alike. I happened to be the one who picked them up, but +we were all involved with El Viejo, so we share equally. Of course we're +not sure there's anything to share. These may be only of industrial +grade." + +As it happened, Rick was wrong. The diamonds were, for the most part, of +gem grade. Even after paying import duty, they were bought at a handsome +price, uncut, by one of New York's leading diamond importers. + +It was quite a handful of souvenirs, even though the proceeds were +divided equally among the entire Spindrift group, including Honorario +and Ruiz. Most of Rick's share went into his education fund, but he kept +enough out to buy gifts for his mother, Barby, and Jan Miller. And he +kept out enough to buy something he had long wanted ... something that +was to lead him into another adventure-mystery, a story to be told in +THE FLYING STINGAREE. + + + + +_The_ RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE _Stories_ + +BY JOHN BLAINE + +[Illustration] + +Rick Brant is the boy who with his pal Scotty lives on an island called +Spindrift and takes part in so many thrilling adventures and baffling +mysteries involving science and electronics. You can share every one of +these adventures in the pages of Rick's books. They are available at +your book store in handsome, low-priced editions. + + THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + THE LOST CITY + SEA GOLD + 100 FATHOMS UNDER + THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + THE PHANTOM SHARK + SMUGGLERS' REEF + THE CAVES OF FEAR + STAIRWAY TO DANGER + THE GOLDEN SKULL + THE WAILING OCTOPUS + THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + THE SCARLET LAKE MYSTERY + THE PIRATES OF SHAN + THE BLUE GHOST MYSTERY + THE EGYPTIAN CAT MYSTERY + THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Flaming Mountain, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 32038.txt or 32038.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/0/3/32038/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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