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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 Pirates of Shan + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + +Release Date: April 19, 2010 [EBook #32059] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATES OF SHAN *** + + + + +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 PIRATES OF SHAN</h1> + +<h3>A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY</h3> + +<h2>BY JOHN BLAINE</h2> + + +<h4>GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS<br /> +NEW YORK, N. Y.<br /> +1958</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 wielded the kris with deadly effect</i></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">The Missing Scientists</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">The Hindu Merchant</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">Bagobo Country</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">The Headman's Secret</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Trail of the "Sampaguita"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">The Man in the Red Fez</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">News at Zamboanga</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">The "Swift Arrow"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">The Moro Knives</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">South of Sulu</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">The Dancing Pirates</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">Search the Wide Seas</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">The Two Datus</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">The High Fire</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Plan of Attack</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">The Black Cliff</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">The Radio Link</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">Under Cover of Darkness</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">Chahda Sweeps the Sea</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">The Patrol Takes Over</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 wielded the kris with deadly effect</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1"><i>The warrior shook Rick's hand and smiled</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1"><i>The man's back was tattooed with a strange design</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1">"<i>All hands on deck! Pirates!</i>"</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1"><i>A sudden jerk would attract the guard's attention</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus1"><i>Rick braced himself for the shock</i></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PIRATES OF SHAN</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/map.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>The Missing Scientists</h3> + + +<p>"We'd better do something," Rick Brant stated grimly, "and we'd better +do it fast." He picked up a stone and threw it far out into the green +waters of the Atlantic, a gesture that did little to relieve his worry +and anxiety.</p> + +<p>Don Scott, nicknamed Scotty, said soothingly, "I know how you feel. I +feel the same way. But don't forget that Dad is just as worried as we +are—maybe even more so, because he feels responsible. Besides, I don't +think we have long to wait, not with Colonel Rojas here."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that his dark-haired pal was right, but inaction, even under +ordinary circumstances, made him restless, and now that two staff +scientists had mysteriously disappeared, his normal desire to keep +things moving swiftly was augmented by fear for their safety.</p> + +<p>The Spindrift Scientific Foundation, with headquarters on famed +Spindrift Island off the New Jersey coast, was regarded by most people +as a typical group of scientists, impersonal and efficient, who +sometimes made important discoveries or got involved in scientific +adventures. But the picture of the Foundation, given mostly through +impersonal scientific publications, was wrong.</p> + +<p>The scientific efficiency and purpose of Spindrift could not be denied. +But what the public failed to appreciate was that the staff, headed by +Rick Brant's scientist father, was more like a family than a +corporation. The center of activity was the big Brant house and the +adjoining laboratory on Spindrift Island. The scientists were not only +colleagues, but close personal friends.</p> + +<p>As a consequence, when the staff zoologist, Dr. Howard Shannon, and the +staff archaeologist, Dr. Anthony Briotti, failed to turn up on schedule +from an expedition to the Sulu Sea, the entire Foundation became +personally concerned. All work stopped while the staff speculated on +what might have happened, what course of action to take.</p> + +<p>Rick Brant and his pal Scotty were particularly upset when the days +passed and Hartson Brant failed to decide on a course of action. Rick +knew, of course, that his father was proceeding logically, obtaining +information by cable and phone from the Philippines, but he resented the +passing days.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad Rojas is here," Rick said. "That must mean Dad is making up +his mind. And you know what I hope, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Same as I do. But don't hope too much. Maybe Dad will decide this is a +job for professionals, and not for us."</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant had returned only a few minutes ago from a hurried trip to +New York. He had brought with him Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippines +Constabulary. The tall, slender officer was at present on duty with his +country's United Nations delegation. He was an old friend, dating back +to the adventure of <i>The Golden Skull</i> when Rick, Scotty, Chahda, and +Tony Briotti had gone to the fabulous rice terraces of Ifugao.</p> + +<p>The colonel was having a belated lunch with Dr. and Mrs. Brant, and +Rick's father had indicated politely but firmly that the two boys were +not to broach the subject of the missing scientists until the colonel +had finished eating. Dr. Brant had promised to call them for the meeting +which was to take place immediately after lunch. Both boys were so +impatient for the meeting to begin that it seemed to them the others +were taking an unduly long time to consume the meal.</p> + +<p>"Rick, Scotty. Come on into the library."</p> + +<p>The boys turned swiftly at Hartson Brant's call and hurried from the +waterfront to the big Brant house. As they entered, Hobart Zircon was +just coming down the stairs from his room. The distinguished nuclear +physicist greeted them with a comradely wink. "So you two are attending +the meeting too, eh? I have an idea we may be joining forces again."</p> + +<p>Zircon had shared many adventures with the boys. More than once, his +enormous size and legendary strength had gotten them out of a tight +spot. The physicist was considerably over six feet tall and built like a +fighting bull, and he had a booming voice that fitted his physique.</p> + +<p>Hartson Brant introduced Zircon to Colonel Rojas, waved the group to +seats, and got down to business. He addressed the Filipino officer. +"First, let me say for all of us that we are indebted to you for leaving +your office on such short notice to give us the benefit of your advice +and counsel."</p> + +<p>"It is nothing. If I can be of help, I will be grateful. Perhaps if you +will start at the beginning, it will clarify things."</p> + +<p>The scientist nodded assent. "I'll be glad to. As I told you on the way +over, two of our staff members are missing. You know one of them—Dr. +Anthony Briotti. The other is Dr. Howard Shannon, our zoologist. Tony, +of course, is an archaeologist. They departed for the Sulu Sea several +weeks ago on a joint expedition to try to find new evidence for a theory +of migration of the early peoples in the Pacific."</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon added, "We started on this theory some time ago with a +trip to an island in the western Pacific. Dr. Briotti continued that +work during the rice-terrace expedition. I believe you met him then."</p> + +<p>"I did," Colonel Rojas agreed. "How is the present expedition connected +with your previous work? The combination of an archaeologist and a +zoologist seems unusual."</p> + +<p>"Tony has determined that the origins of the Bajaus, the Sea Gypsies of +Sulu, may be of importance," Hartson Brant explained. "In addition, he +wanted to check some details of Bagobo culture. Dr. Shannon hoped to +contribute some evidence based on the early migration of some animals +from the Asia mainland to the islands."</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas nodded. "I understand. The presence of some animals may +show that a land bridge existed between Sulu and the mainland across +which the early peoples may have migrated."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. I'm sure you also know that our staff has been co-operating +with Dr. Remedios Okola of the University of the Philippines. It was +from him we learned that our friends had vanished, when they failed to +keep an important appointment."</p> + +<p>"You know their itinerary?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They flew to Manila and spent a few days with Dr. Okola. At that +time he persuaded them to revise their schedule, to return to Manila +long enough to join him on a trip to the rice terraces. They flew to +Zamboanga, chartered a boat of some sort, and sailed to Davao by way of +Cotabato. They were supposed to leave the boat at Davao and fly back to +Manila to take the trip with Okola, after which they would return to +Davao, pick up the boat, and go into the Sulu Sea." The scientist's lips +tightened, then he added, "They never kept the appointment with Okola!"</p> + +<p>"What did Okola do about it?"</p> + +<p>"He got in touch with the constabulary and asked for a check on their +whereabouts, thinking they might have been delayed. The constabulary at +Davao reported that Shannon and Briotti had reached Davao and hired a +truck to take them to a Bagobo village. The truck driver let them off at +a foot trail to the village. No one has seen them since."</p> + +<p>Rojas rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You have heard from the American +consulate at Manila?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, by phone, on the same day I talked with Okola. The consulate has +asked your government for help. However, yesterday I received a cable +stating that a second investigation has uncovered nothing new. It +appears that both our governments have done all they can, but obviously +we cannot stop there. So I have decided to send Dr. Zircon, with Rick +and Scotty, to hunt for our friends."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty exchanged relieved glances. It was what they had hoped +and expected.</p> + +<p>The colonel nodded. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Zircon +until now, but I have seen Rick and Scotty in action. They are +resourceful, and they are lucky—two necessary qualities for a +expedition such as this. Do you also plan to use their Hindu friend, +Chahda?"</p> + +<p>Rick leaned forward anxiously. He had suggested getting Chahda to help +out several days ago, but his father was at that time waiting for +further word from the American consulate. Chahda, a one-time Bombay +beggar boy, had been a close friend since the Tibet relay expedition. He +was a real wizard at uncovering information.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Hartson Brant replied. "I have sent him a cable, through his +organization, but he has not yet replied."</p> + +<p>Chahda was now a combination assistant and secretary to the chief Far +East agent for JANIG, the secret government agency charged with the +protection of United States top secrets. The Hindu boy's boss, Carl +Bradley, was an old friend of Hartson Brant. Rick knew that Bradley +would release Chahda at once, if assistance to Spindrift was involved, +not only because of his friendship for the Brants, but because the +island scientists had once helped to solve a case for the Far East +agent. Chahda would be especially helpful in the search for the missing +scientists, because he knew his way around the Philippines and had +friends there. It occurred to Rick that his father had probably wired +Chahda, in care of Bradley, via the Spindrift contact in JANIG—Special +Agent Steve Ames.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas lighted a Manila cigar and settled back in his chair. +"First of all, let us examine the area in which your friends have +disappeared. Davao is on the island of Mindanao, the largest in the +Philippines. It is peaceful, for the most part, even though we have a +mixture of Moros, Christians, and pagans there."</p> + +<p>Rick knew about the Moros, Filipinos of the Moslem faith. They were +known as valiant and deadly fighting men. The pagans were primitive +people, like the Bagobos.</p> + +<p>"Davao is a large, fairly modern city. But once outside of the city +itself, the country becomes wild. Some of the Bagobo villages are quite +close to Davao. They are peaceful folk, and quite harmless, but there +are savages in the back country who may not be."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we should take arms," Zircon said.</p> + +<p>"I would say so. At least a rifle and a sidearm of some kind."</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "I can take my rifle."</p> + +<p>"And I can borrow Hartson's forty-five automatic," Zircon added. "That +should be enough."</p> + +<p>"True," the colonel agreed. "You can always call on the constabulary for +help. I will give you letters to all commanding officers in the area."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that would open many doors, because Rojas was not only a +former commandant of the constabulary, but popular with the entire +force.</p> + +<p>"How about clothing, Colonel?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"I assume you will go by air. That means very little baggage. One +tropical suit and the rest rough clothing would be my suggestion."</p> + +<p>Scotty changed the subject. "Sir, have you any idea what might have +happened to our friends?"</p> + +<p>The officer shrugged. "No more than you have. Scientists generally are +not rich enough to rob, but they are not so poor that they can be harmed +with impunity. Robbery is always possible, although unlikely, with one +exception. Did they have any weapons with them?"</p> + +<p>"Shannon had a hunting bow and arrows," Mr. Brant replied. "He planned +to collect some specimens. Briotti had no weapon at all."</p> + +<p>"Then that eliminates the only robbery possibility I can think of. Had +they been well armed, Moros might have attacked to get their weapons. +The Moro loves weapons of all kinds, and may even kill to get them—a +point you might remember."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "It's hard to imagine why anyone would want to harm +them—if anyone did. I think we'd better get to Mindanao as soon as +possible. When do we leave, Dad?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow night, son. I made reservations for you while I was in New +York this morning."</p> + +<p>"Are we going to take special equipment?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Rick had been thinking about that very point. "I'm planning to take the +Megabuck network. It will be useful if we have to separate."</p> + +<p>The little network of three miniature radio units, transmitters, and +receivers combined, had been of invaluable help in rounding up a group +of foreign agents bent on stealing the plans for a United States +intercontinental ballistic missile.</p> + +<p>The unusual name, Megabuck, had grown out of a joke Rick had conceived +about a "million bucks" television quiz program. Two of the sets were +pocket size, and used hearing-aid-type earphones. The third had been +made in the form of an ornamental hair band for Rick's sister Barby to +wear. The tiny microphone worked by sound induction through the bones of +the head. The earphone was incorporated into one end of the band.</p> + +<p>Zircon and Scotty agreed that the radio units might come in handy, and +the physicist added, "I have a pocket-size, battery-operated wire +recorder I use for making notes. I think I'll take that. It may be +helpful for recording conversations for later translation."</p> + +<p>"A good idea," the colonel approved. "The local dialect is called +Chebucano. Of course many people speak some English. Have you an atlas? +I think it might be useful if we went over a map of Mindanao and the +Sulu Sea area."</p> + +<p>The map study was very helpful. The three absorbed Colonel Rojas' fund +of information about the area. It was a part of the world none of them +had ever seen, located only a few degrees above the Equator in the deep +tropics. To the west of Mindanao was the Sulu Sea, with the Celebes Sea +to the south. The widely scattered centers of civilization had famous, +imagination-stirring names, like Jolo, Tawi Tawi, Cotabato, and +Zamboanga.</p> + +<p>Later, the Filipino officer dictated letters of introduction to Rick's +sister Barby, a pretty blond girl a year younger than her brother. Barby +took the dictation directly on the typewriter. Once the letters were +signed and turned over to Dr. Zircon, Hartson Brant escorted the colonel +to the mainland, where arrangements had been made for a local taxi +service to drive him back to New York. Rojas' parting statement was +"This affair worries me. I shall be most interested in developments, and +you may hear from me sooner than you think."</p> + +<p>Later, Scotty and Rick gathered in the latter's room and talked while +loading the radio units with fresh batteries.</p> + +<p>"Wonder how long it will take to hear from Chahda?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Depends on where he is and how fast Steve Ames can get a message to +him. He'll join us if he can. You can bet on it."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," Rick said thoughtfully. "We'll be in Manila in a couple of +days, and we'll need him. We've got a job ahead of us, because Tony and +Shannon aren't lost. You can be sure of that. They're not the kind to +get lost. And if they had been in an accident of some kind we'd have +heard."</p> + +<p>"Meaning what?"</p> + +<p>Rick's eyes met Scotty's. "That leaves only one logical answer, doesn't +it? They've either been killed or captured!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>The Hindu Merchant</h3> + + +<p>Thirty-six hours later, after a grueling transcontinental—trans-Pacific +flight with only the briefest of stops to change planes, Rick, Scotty, +and Zircon were in Manila. Their stay in Manila only three hours old, +they had already visited the American consulate and found that no new +information on the missing scientists had been received; they had +arranged a luncheon date with Dr. Okola, and had reserved space on +Philippine Airlines to Davao on the following morning.</p> + +<p>Rick paced the floor, sipping a glass of fresh limeade, made with +<i>calamansi</i>, the tiny, pungent local limes. His time for the past three +days had been spent alternately dozing and thinking about the problem of +the missing scientists. The more he wondered about their strange +disappearance, the more worried he became.</p> + +<p>"There's simply no reason for it," he said aloud.</p> + +<p>Scotty looked up from the chair in which he was reading the Manila +<i>Times</i>. The husky ex-Marine didn't have to be told what his pal was +thinking. "No reason we can see," he agreed. "But there has to be a +reason."</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon spoke from the desk where he was writing a note to Hartson +Brant. "You might remember, Rick, that we've been on other expeditions +where the reason for certain events was just as puzzling."</p> + +<p>Rick knew the kind of events the physicist meant. Only a few dozen yards +from this very room, in the ancient walled city across the street, he +and Scotty had been under rifle fire for a reason they couldn't have +guessed at the time.</p> + +<p>"Listen to this," Scotty said suddenly. He read from the newspaper. +"'The American consulate reported today that three members of the +Spindrift Foundation staff have arrived in Manila to begin a search for +the American scientists reported missing a short time ago. The +scientists disappeared north of Davao.' End of item."</p> + +<p>"That's short and to the point," Rick commented a little bitterly. "They +certainly don't make much fuss over two missing Americans, do they?"</p> + +<p>"And it's on page seventeen," Scotty added. He folded the paper back to +the front page. "Look at this headline."</p> + +<p>Across the top of the front page was emblazoned: WHERE IS ELPIDIO +TORRES?</p> + +<p>"Who's he?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"A Filipino kid. He ran away, got lost, or got kidnaped. No one knows +which. His father is a big sugar operator and politician. The kid has +been gone for weeks, but the paper is still playing it up at the top of +page one."</p> + +<p>Rick snorted. "Headlines for one Filipino boy and page seventeen for two +American scientists. Some contrast!"</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon fixed a stamp to his letter and walked over to the boys. +"You're not thinking straight, Rick. Suppose two Filipino scientists +were lost in the Rocky Mountains, and the son of a leading American +citizen was missing. How would our own papers play it?"</p> + +<p>Rick had to grin. "Emphasis on the local boy, I suppose. You're right, +Professor. I'm just upset. I'd hoped for more from the consul this +morning."</p> + +<p>The vice-consul in charge of the case had nothing to add to what they +already knew, and had slim hope of obtaining more information. The +American ambassador had received assurances from the Philippines +government that all possible aid would be given to the Spindrift search +party, and that the constabulary would not give up the hunt. No more +could be done. The American consulate had no resources with which to +conduct a search.</p> + +<p>"Come on," Zircon said. "It's time for lunch. Dr. Okola will be arriving +in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"All right. But I wish we could really get started on our search, or +find someone who could help us. Even Chahda hasn't shown up. We haven't +even had a reply to Dad's message."</p> + +<p>As they went down to the dining room Scotty pointed out that Chahda +might be very hard to reach. "For all we know, he could be in the +interior of Malaya, or some unlikely place. He would come if he could, +Rick."</p> + +<p>Rick knew Scotty was right. Chahda had proved his loyalty and friendship +more than once. Just the same, he had hoped Chahda would come. The Hindu +boy with his "Worrold Alm-in-ack" education, as he called it, could be a +great help. Chahda had not only memorized the entire <i>World Almanac</i>, +but he seemed to have a sixth sense about people and places that was +always a source of amazement to Rick and Scotty.</p> + +<p>Lunch with Dr. Okola was pleasant, even though it did nothing to advance +the search. Rick and Scotty reminisced about <i>The Golden Skull</i> +expedition with the Filipino archaeologist and enjoyed the hour. They +parted with Dr. Okola's assurances that he was ready to help in any way +he could.</p> + +<p>As Rick unlocked the door of their room after lunch, he said, "I guess +it's up to us to..." He stopped with a yell of delight as the door +swung open. Seated by the window, waiting for them, was a slim, +brown-skinned boy in a turban. Chahda!</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy pounded them in glee, then shook hands with Zircon. "It is +good for old friends to meet," Chahda declared, "even in such unhappying +soaking-stances."</p> + +<p>"Circumstances," Rick corrected automatically. "Why didn't you wire? We +thought JANIG hadn't been able to get our message to you."</p> + +<p>"I was in Singapore with my boss, Carl Bradley," Chahda explained. "When +your message comes, he says go now, Chahda. By the time a message back +catches them, so will you. You know, he right? I get here before you, +already two days now."</p> + +<p>"Two days!" Scotty exclaimed. "What have you been doing?"</p> + +<p>Chahda bowed. "Scotty, please to be speckfull. You now speak to Raman +Sunda, salesman of cloths."</p> + +<p>"I'll show proper speck," Scotty said with a grin. "Do you mean +clothes?"</p> + +<p>"Not clothes. Cloths. Tax-tills."</p> + +<p>"Textiles," Zircon boomed. "Chahda, what on earth does a Hindu textile +salesman have to do with finding Briotti and Shannon?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty do with, Professor. In this country is plenty Hindus like me. +Many sell tax-tills. So I travel, and listen. Yes?"</p> + +<p>Rick still didn't get it. "But why, Chahda?"</p> + +<p>"We face fact you like so much, Rick. Okay? This is country of +brown-skinned people, like me. People talk to me when they not talk to +you. So I go alone to Davao, on island of Mindanao. Is big city, says in +'Alm-in-ack.' Has 111,263 peoples. Some maybe know something, so my +friends here, they send me to friend in Davao. He helps me meet people +who can maybe help some more. Okay?"</p> + +<p>"I should have known," Rick said with admiration. "Leave it to you to +dig up an angle."</p> + +<p>Chahda winked. "Among Hindus is always ideas. Now, I go Davao tonight. +You coming too? Okay. You stay at Apo View Hotel. Is very good. I stay +there, too. We not knowing each other for little while, I think. That is +why I come into your room with special key my boss gives me to open many +doors. Better I work alone for now."</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, "How much do you know about our friends' disappearance, +Chahda?"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy launched into a concise and rapid summary. Rick wasn't +surprised to find that Chahda knew everything they had found out.</p> + +<p>"You never fail to amaze me," Zircon boomed.</p> + +<p>Rick went to his suitcase and drew out the unit of the Megabuck network +he had made for Barby. He explained its operation to Chahda, who +promptly slid it under his turban where no one could see it.</p> + +<p>"Sahib Brant plenty smart to make this," Chahda intoned. "Poor native +boy salutes mighty scientist!" He ducked Rick's return swing.</p> + +<p>Dr. Zircon had gone to his own suitcase. He returned with his +pocket-size wire recorder and handed it to Chahda. "I brought this to +record conversations in other languages. I think you might stimulate +more interesting talk than we could, Chahda. It will record for an hour +on a single spool."</p> + +<p>Chahda took the gadget and checked its operation. Rick was amused to see +that the "poor native boy" figured it out in something less than a +minute, and put it casually in his coat pocket.</p> + +<p>"We meet in Davao," Chahda said. He shook hands all around, then paused +at the door. "Please, you good friends. I see you worry plenty. We find +Tony and Dr. Shannon. You see." He opened the door and was gone.</p> + +<p>Rick breathed a sigh of relief. "I feel better," he stated. "Just seeing +him again makes me feel good."</p> + +<p>"I agree," Zircon said, "and so does Scotty. Now, we will do a little +sight-seeing. I haven't been in downtown Manila for twenty years. We'll +only worry and fret if we stay in this hotel room, so let's go."</p> + +<p>The three taxied through the old walled city, then across the Pasig +River and into Manila proper. They inspected the Escolta, principal +street in the shopping area, then headed for Quiapo Square to see the +great cathedral and the shops. Traffic was heavy, so they paid the taxi +driver and got out and walked.</p> + +<p>As they crossed a pedestrian overpass by the cathedral, Scotty said +quietly, "In case you were feeling neglected, you can stop. We're being +tailed." Rick and Zircon were too experienced to pause or show interest. +Scotty added, "There's quite a mob on the sidewalk once we get down from +this bridge. Push right into it. I'll drop out and intercept him. If +we're being tailed, we want to know why."</p> + +<p>The plan was executed smoothly. Rick was never sure when Scotty melted +into a convenient doorway. After a moment he stopped and looked around. +He was in time to see Scotty step from the doorway and confront a small, +poorly dressed man who wore a red fez.</p> + +<p>Rick and Zircon were at Scotty's side in an instant.</p> + +<p>The man in the red fez reached for a pocket, and Rick tensed to swing if +necessary. But the man only drew out a cardboard pillbox. "Plenty +bargain for Americans," he announced. "Me Moro from Sulu. My cousin best +pearl diver in Jolo. He get real pearl, I sell. You look."</p> + +<p>He opened the pillbox. Rick saw a half dozen pearls of assorted sizes.</p> + +<p>"We're not interested," Zircon said flatly. "Sorry. Come on, boys."</p> + +<p>They walked away, leaving the Moro staring after them.</p> + +<p>Zircon chuckled. "A common thing, as I recall it. I also seem to +remember that most of the pearl-selling Moros in Manila are not genuine. +They're Visayans from Cebu trying to sell phony pearls to tourists."</p> + +<p>"But he was trailing us," Scotty insisted.</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt it in the least," Zircon replied. "He was probably sizing +us up to see if we're tourists or local Americans. Is he trailing us +now?"</p> + +<p>Scotty took advantage of a plate-glass window to survey the street +behind them. "Not that I can see," he admitted.</p> + +<p>"All right. Let's not be jumpy, boys. Of course we want to know if, or +why, anyone is shadowing us, but I think we have the answer in this +case. Let's let it go at that."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>Bagobo Country</h3> + + +<p>By ten o'clock on the following morning Rick and his friends were +jouncing along a twisting, bumpy road into the foothills of Mindanao. +They had risen with the dawn and taken Philippines Airlines, PAL for +short, to Davao. On arrival they had checked in at the Apo View Hotel +and had lost no time in finding local constabulary headquarters.</p> + +<p>Major Paulo Lacson, in charge of the detachment, had instantly ordered a +pair of command cars. Before the Spindrifters quite realized it, they +were whisked out of town, en route to the point where Briotti and +Shannon had vanished. Colonel Rojas' letter of introduction had really +worked magic.</p> + +<p>Rick stared out at the tropical landscape, and toward the peak of Mount +Apo, an active volcano over nine thousand feet high, but he didn't +really notice details. In a short while they would be at what he +considered the real start of their search.</p> + +<p>The major drove the lead car, with Zircon in front beside him. Rick and +Scotty occupied the rear seat. In the second car were four armed, +enlisted men. As the small convoy roared toward the town of Calinan, +Major Lacson told them all he knew of the case. It was the same +information the three had already received, naturally enough, since +their information had been based on the officer's reports.</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head worriedly. If Lacson, obviously an intelligent and +efficient officer, could find out no more, how could three strangers?</p> + +<p>The command car whisked by an abacá plantation, with mile after mile of +lush green bananalike abacá plants extending into the foothills.</p> + +<p>"Look." Scotty pointed at drying racks on which Manila hemp fiber, +product of the abacá, was drying. The fiber was a honey blond shade.</p> + +<p>"It's just the color of Barby's hair," Rick exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Major Lacson explained, "Abacá is graded by color. White is best, but +that shade means it is very good. It will bring a good price." Then, as +the command car topped a rise, the major pointed ahead. "There is +Calinan."</p> + +<p>The town was a small one, with stores and houses on both sides of a +single main street. The place had a sleepy air.</p> + +<p>At the edge of town Lacson drew up in front of a house that flew the +flag of the republic. A sergeant ran out, came stiffly to attention, and +saluted. After a brief command from the major, the sergeant ran to climb +into the second car.</p> + +<p>"Juan speaks a little Bagobo," Lacson explained. "He can translate for +us."</p> + +<p>The two cars moved through the town, past a group of colorfully arrayed +people with flat turbans. "There are some Bagobos now," Lacson said. +"They come to town to shop."</p> + +<p>Rick looked with interest. In the few seconds before the car sped out of +sight he saw that the primitives were light of skin, had pierced ears +from which dangled loops, and that the men wore trousers formed of a +single piece of cloth put on like a skirt, then pulled between the legs +and fastened to an ornate belt. Their clothes were brightly colored.</p> + +<p>As Calinan dropped behind, the country turned to tropical forest, with +tall lauan and tanguile trees, the source of so-called Philippine +mahogany. Once Rick saw coffee bushes growing under the trees.</p> + +<p>Then, only a short distance from Calinan, the paved road came to an +abrupt end and narrowed to little more than a dirt trail. The command +car bucked over hummocks of cogon grass while the boys held on to keep +from being tossed out. Finally, in a small clearing, the road petered +out entirely.</p> + +<p>This was the glade, Lacson explained, in which the truck driver had left +Briotti and Shannon. No one had seen them since.</p> + +<p>Towering trees cut off the sun and the air was heavy and damp with the +smell of tropic growth. Mosquitoes whined.</p> + +<p>Lacson handed around a small bottle of insect repellent. "Rub in well," +he directed. "You can leave your coats in the car. It will be a warm +hike."</p> + +<p>Rick shed his coat gladly. They had worn their tropical suits, and +Lacson had rushed them off so fast there had been no chance to change.</p> + +<p>The major gave orders in Chebucano. Two troopers saluted and fell back. +They would stay with the cars. Juan, the trooper from Calinan, took the +lead as the rest started up the trail that led into the jungle from the +clearing.</p> + +<p>"Juan knows the trail," Lacson said. "Also, he is good at spotting +snakes and animals."</p> + +<p>Rick fell into line behind Zircon and Lacson. Scotty walked at his side +while the two enlisted men brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>It was an eerie hike, through growth so thick one couldn't see more than +five paces on either side of the trail. Overhead the foliage met, and +the group walked through a kind of steaming green tunnel. The sun never +penetrated to the jungle floor, where pale plants grew in profusion.</p> + +<p>There was life in the trees overhead, heard but unseen. Once Rick +recognized the howl of monkeys. Again, by the side of the trail, there +was a sudden chittering and a tiny furry form made a fantastic leap to +the safety of a rattan vine. Rick caught a glimpse of a monkeylike face +and huge eyes.</p> + +<p>"A tarsier," Zircon remarked. "Shannon had hoped to collect one."</p> + +<p>Rick wondered whether Shannon and Briotti had hiked up this trail. The +headman of the Bagobo village had told Lacson that the Americans had not +been seen by his people. Might they have vanished on this trail?</p> + +<p>He wiped his face and neck with a sodden handkerchief and plodded ahead +through the green steam bath. Insects formed a cloud around his head, +flew into his eyes and even into his mouth. He bore it stoically. It was +as bad for the others.</p> + +<p>Anyone who walked off the beaten trails would be helplessly lost without +a compass or an experienced guide. A man could wander in the dense +growth until death in some unpleasant form claimed him. One couldn't +even see a trail from more than a few feet away.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, Rick saw that the growth was giving way to a +different kind of jungle forest, as the trail sloped upward. In a short +time they entered a more normal forest of tall, white lauans over a +hundred feet high, with strange roots like flying buttresses.</p> + +<p>Soon the forest gave way to open plain, sparsely dotted with papaya +trees and a lone mango. Lacson called that they were almost at their +destination. Rick wiped his face and was grateful. His clothes hung on +him as though he had been caught in a torrential rain. In spite of the +insect repellent, he had been chewed by assorted bugs.</p> + +<p>He forgot his discomfort at the sight of the village. Apparently +civilization had reached the Bagobos. The huts were of sawed lumber and +tin roofing material. He saw one roof made from an American gasoline +sign.</p> + +<p>In contrast with the drab surroundings, the people were bright spots of +color. They eyed the group with frank curiosity, then followed as Juan +led the way to the headman's hut.</p> + +<p>The headman met them with dignified courtesy. Rick saw that the man was +nearly six feet tall, with a lean, hawklike face, the skin stretched +tightly over high cheekbones. He looked like an American Indian, but his +skin was the color of a white man who has spent his life outdoors in the +tropics. The Bagobos clearly were of a different race than the +Filipinos.</p> + +<p>"That's quite a man," Scotty whispered.</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. He, too, was impressed by the headman, except for one +thing. Although the Bagobo talked freely, through Juan, his eyes never +once met those of any of the party. He looked everywhere but at the +visitors.</p> + +<p>It was out of character, Rick thought. This man, who obviously had a +kind of fierce, barbaric pride, should look any man squarely in the eye.</p> + +<p>The talk went smoothly, and Rick realized the headman had been through +all this before, probably more than once, in interviews with the +constabulary. To each question the Bagobo chieftain answered that he had +seen no Americans, nor had his people. Had they come to the village, he +would know it.</p> + +<p>"We'll get nothing here," Zircon finally said to the major. "Frankly, I +expected nothing. If there was information to be gained from this man, +you could have gotten it."</p> + +<p>Lacson shrugged. "True, perhaps. But I thought you would want to check +for yourself."</p> + +<p>Rick only half listened. He noticed a Bagobo standing nearby, watching +intently, and on impulse walked over to him and held out his hand. The +warrior took it instantly and smiled, his brown eyes on Rick's.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>The warrior shook Rick's hand and smiled</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Rick returned the smile and walked back to his friends, forehead +wrinkled in thought. That had been a straightforward reaction; the +Bagobo had met his eyes squarely and openly.</p> + +<p>On the way back to Davao, Rick pondered the meaning of the headman's +failure to look at any of them. But not until they were cleaning up at +the hotel did he decide to put his thoughts into words.</p> + +<p>"The headman lied," Rick stated. "I can't figure it any other way. It's +easy to see that the Bagobos are a proud race. They're any man's equal, +and they know it. The headman should be the proudest of all, but +instead, he was shifty. He wouldn't look at any of us."</p> + +<p>"That's right," Scotty acknowledged. "He kept his eyes everywhere but on +us."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. "What's more, he's not a shifty type. He looks like a +fierce old eagle who'd stare down a charging elephant. But he couldn't +look at us because he was lying, and he was ashamed of it."</p> + +<p>"You may have something," Zircon agreed after a moment of thought. "I +wasn't that observant, but now that you mention it, I believe the +headman kept his eyes on the ground most of the time. I agree it +certainly seemed out of character."</p> + +<p>"If he was lying, what can we do about it?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Rick wasn't sure, but he had an idea of how to start. Earlier, +immediately on arrival, he had tried to contact Chahda without success. +Now he got a Megabuck unit, put the earplug into place, and tried again.</p> + +<p>"Chahda, this is Rick. Are you on?"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy answered at once, and the signal was loud. He probably was +in the hotel. "Waiting, Rick. Where you been?"</p> + +<p>Rick quickly sketched the day's activities, and Chahda replied that he +had spent time with his Indian contacts but had discovered nothing new.</p> + +<p>"Okay, Rick," Chahda concluded. "I try to find out why headman lies. +Tomorrow I go to Bagobo village to sell tax-tills. Be back noon, meet +you hotel."</p> + +<p>"I hope you find out more than we did," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Chahda urged, "Please not to worry. This good day's work. One man who +lies maybe has keys to many doors!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>The Headman's Secret</h3> + + +<p>On the following morning Major Paulo Lacson joined the Spindrifters for +breakfast at the hotel. The young officer answered questions about the +region for an hour, but Rick refrained from bringing up the subject of +the headman until breakfast was over. But that was deferred when Scotty +asked a startling question.</p> + +<p>"Major, what ever happened to the boat our friends came in?"</p> + +<p>Lacson's eyebrows went up. "Boat? What boat?"</p> + +<p>"You mean you didn't know they came by boat?" Zircon bellowed +incredulously.</p> + +<p>The major shook his head. "This is the first I have heard of a boat. I +assumed they came by air. The instructions I got from Manila were simply +to find two missing Americans, with their names and descriptions. Since +most Americans stay at this hotel I inquired and found they had checked +out. That established their presence in Davao. It didn't occur to me to +be interested in where they had come from, although I knew from my +instructions that it was Zamboanga. Later, I checked the airline to see +if they had left by air, but there was no record."</p> + +<p>It was incredible, but there it was. Rick knew it was the kind of slip +that often happens when the background given with instructions is not +complete.</p> + +<p>"I will get on this right away," Lacson said. "You have a description of +the boat?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not. It was chartered in Zamboanga. Can you get a +description from there?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. It's strange the detail of the boat never came to light. +Why, I even had a full description of their Moro guide."</p> + +<p>"Guide?" The three said it simultaneously. It was their turn to be +astonished. No one had mentioned a third person in the party.</p> + +<p>"You didn't know?" Lacson clapped a hand to his forehead in a gesture of +chagrin. "The lack of communications is ridiculous! Yes, they had a +guide. Apparently they picked him up in Zamboanga. A young Moro, no +outstanding features, who gave his name as Azid Hajullah. We have not +been able to find out any more about him."</p> + +<p>Lacson rose, to get a message off about the boat, but Rick stopped him +and quickly outlined his conclusion about the headman, and Chahda's trip +to the Bagobo village.</p> + +<p>The major scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "It is just possible you are +right," he said at last. "I myself noted that the old man was not at +ease, but I attributed it to the presence of strange Americans, plus my +own official status. Many primitive peoples are shy in the presence of +authority. However, I agree the headman may have overdone it somewhat. +We will see. I will phone you when I have news of the boat, and perhaps +you will let me know when you hear from this Indian friend of yours."</p> + +<p>The morning dragged on after Lacson's departure. The three walked the +streets of Davao and found it to be quite a modern city with two +newspapers, a radio station, and some good stores. Both Rick and Scotty +had the feeling that they were being watched, but the most careful +observation failed to uncover a tail.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the boys were certain their movements were known to +someone. If only they could discover the invisible watcher, Rick +thought, and squeeze some information out of him....</p> + +<p>The tropical sun grew hot as the day progressed, and the three returned +to the hotel and sat in the small dining room over cold limeades and +chilled mango. Rick had kept the Megabuck earphone in place all morning, +and as he started to order another mango, Chahda's voice sounded in his +ear. "Rick, you there?"</p> + +<p>"Here," he replied swiftly. "Go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Got recording. I think you plenty on ball, Rick. Headman lied like +champ. Meet you hotel room right away. I just driving up. What number +room?"</p> + +<p>Rick told the Hindu boy and signed off. He turned to the others. "Let's +go. Chahda's got something!"</p> + +<p>They hurried to their room, and Zircon at once placed a call to Lacson. +The constabulary office replied that the major was en route to the hotel +and should be there in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>Chahda burst into their room. The Hindu boy was grinning from ear to +ear. He took the tiny recorder from his pocket and handed it to Zircon. +"Plenty hot, you bet. Can I have drink, please?"</p> + +<p>Scotty picked up the telephone and ordered him a double limeade with +plenty of ice.</p> + +<p>"Much thanks, Scotty. Well, this morning at dawn we merchants go to +Bagobo village. Sell plenty cloths, too. You know some Bagobos speak a +little English? Not much, but enough. While I sell, I start asking +questions, but I get no answer. Then, boy my age starts buying cloth for +new turban. We alone, so I try bribe. I say, 'Tell me about missing +Americans and I give cloth for free.' And you know, he starts!"</p> + +<p>"Go on, confound it!" Zircon bellowed. "Don't keep us in suspense like +this."</p> + +<p>"Okay, Professor. I talk fast. This boy gets no chance to say something, +because headman busts in and he shoots words at boy like machine gun. +Boy no more will talk to me, but I give him cloth, anyway. Because all +the time I have wire machine going!"</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" Rick exclaimed. "Now, if we can only get it translated!"</p> + +<p>Scotty opened the door at a knock and admitted Major Lacson. Zircon +introduced Chahda and explained quickly what had happened. He showed the +officer the wire recorder.</p> + +<p>"Good!" Lacson picked up the telephone and made a call. After a brief +exchange in the local dialect he hung up. "We will take it to Davao +University. Dr. Gonzalez, the professor of languages, will translate it. +He speaks Bagobo expertly. Come. My car is outside."</p> + +<p>Chahda hung back. "You go. Better I stay under cover while longer. You +call me on radio when you find something."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed, then followed the others. They piled into Lacson's command +car and headed for the university.</p> + +<p>"I have some news myself," Lacson reported. "Your friends came in a +sloop called the <i>Sampaguita</i>, which is a local flower. They tied up at +a private dock on the waterfront."</p> + +<p>"Where is the boat now?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Lacson shrugged. "Who knows? No one saw it leave, but it was there the +night your friends disappeared, and gone the following morning."</p> + +<p>Rick pondered that bit of information while Lacson and Zircon worked +with Dr. Gonzalez, a short, bald Filipino, on the translation of the +wire recording. Certainly Briotti and Shannon wouldn't have walked back +from the Bagobo village and taken the boat themselves. And if they had +walked to Calinan and obtained a car, Lacson would have found out about +it. There weren't so many people in the area that the rental, or +borrowing of a car, by two Americans couldn't be discovered easily. Had +they hitched a ride Lacson would surely have found that out, too. Few +cars traveled the road to Calinan.</p> + +<p>Rick took Lacson aside and questioned him while Zircon played the wire +over and over again for the Filipino language expert. The major +confirmed that he had checked, and was satisfied that the scientists had +not obtained a ride back from Calinan from any of the local people. +There were no cars to rent, either.</p> + +<p>Rick dropped the subject abruptly as Zircon and Gonzalez finished making +notes and switched off the recorder.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Gonzalez has it," Zircon said with quiet triumph. "The language is +difficult, and the headman was far from the microphone, but the sense of +what is on the tape is clear."</p> + +<p>The boys and Lacson listened closely as the language professor read.</p> + +<p>"'Say nothing, young fool! It is forbidden to speak of the white men. +One word that they were here and the wrath of'—I don't know one word +here—'will fall on the whole village. Do you want to die? Do you want +us all to die? I forbid you to speak on pain of death!'"</p> + +<p>"They <i>were</i> there!" Scotty exclaimed. "Now maybe we can find out what +happened."</p> + +<p>"At once," Major Lacson added grimly. "Doctor, what does the missing +word sound like?"</p> + +<p>The Filipino professor shook his head. "It is a word I've never heard, +Major. It doesn't sound like a Bagobo word at all. It's 'shoon' or +'shawn.' Something like that. It's not clear."</p> + +<p>"Will you come with us to translate, Doctor? Juan speaks enough Bagobo +to get by, but I'd rather have you for this trip. It may be difficult."</p> + +<p>"I'll be glad to. May I have a few moments to change clothing?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. I'll take these gentlemen to the hotel and they can change, +too. We'll pick you up."</p> + +<p>Rick took advantage of the few moments in their hotel room to call +Chahda. The Hindu boy answered at once.</p> + +<p>"The recording had the answer," Rick told him. "That was a good piece of +work, Chahda. We're leaving for the village at once."</p> + +<p>"Good. Something I can do?"</p> + +<p>"Not right now. I'll call when we get back."</p> + +<p>Rick changed swiftly into khaki trail clothes. Their tropical suit +trousers had been cleaned overnight and he didn't want to ruin his +again.</p> + +<p>Outside, Lacson was waiting. Two other command cars had joined him, each +one carrying six armed troopers. The three jumped in with the major and +went past the university to pick up Dr. Gonzalez.</p> + +<p>The caravan broke all speed records getting to Calinan. Juan, the local +trooper, got into the last car in line and they roared off to the road's +end. This time the Spindrifters were dressed for the hike, and were well +sprayed with protection against insects. Each had a hat, and a head net.</p> + +<p>The group traveled at good speed. Then, as they emerged from the jungle +trail into the clearing that led to the village, a squad of four +troopers, under Juan, broke off from the party and started away at a +dogtrot to make a wide circle and approach the village from the opposite +side.</p> + +<p>The rest walked straight ahead, at a slow pace that would give Juan's +squad time to move into position. Rick's party reached the first house +in the village and Major Lacson held up his hand. From the far side of +the village came Juan's whistle blast.</p> + +<p>The major's hand dropped. Troopers with rifles charged into the Bagobo +village, scattering among the houses. Lacson drew his pistol and marched +straight to the headman's house.</p> + +<p>The headman walked to meet them, and his face stiffened as he saw the +pistol. He spoke rapidly.</p> + +<p>Gonzalez translated. "He wants to know why you come with a weapon +pointed at him, and why your men raid his houses."</p> + +<p>"Tell him we come as enemies because he lied. The Americans were here. +My men search for evidence."</p> + +<p>The Filipino professor translated, and the headman made an expressive +gesture with his hands. He sat down on a seat made of a split tanguile +log and stared straight ahead, obviously intending to maintain a stony +silence.</p> + +<p>A trooper ran up, waving a tubular object which he handed to the major. +Rick saw that it was a high-powered telescope, like one Shannon had +owned. His pulse quickened as Scotty removed the protective lens caps +and examined the object.</p> + +<p>"Shannon's," Scotty stated. "His initials are stamped on the side, and +on the front lens cap."</p> + +<p>The headman seemed to wilt.</p> + +<p>Another trooper ran up, and he carried a leather quiver that Rick +recognized instantly. It also was Shannon's. He knew it well, from their +field archery games. In the quiver was the bow, a takedown model, and +three dozen arrows.</p> + +<p>"Major, what are we going to do?"</p> + +<p>For reply, the officer planted himself in front of the headman, his +voice harsh. "Tell him, Professor Gonzalez, that we have evidence +enough. Unless he has a good explanation, we must believe that his +village murdered the Americans. For this, some of his people may pay +with their lives."</p> + +<p>Dr. Gonzalez translated into Bagobo. For long minutes the headman sat +quietly, then he rose to his full height and looked the officer in the +eye.</p> + +<p>"I am caught between a knife and a spear," Dr. Gonzalez translated. +"There is death either way. It is true, the Americans came. We made them +welcome. For one evening they stayed. We gave them and their Moro a +house to sleep in. Then, after it was dark and we slept, men came. The +Americans and the Moro fought, but the men tied them up and carried them +away. Then the men said that if one person in my village spoke of this, +all would die. The two things we found were not taken because they were +in a corner of the hut and were not seen. All else was removed."</p> + +<p>"Ask him who the men were and why he didn't fight for the Americans," +Lacson directed.</p> + +<p>The Filipino language expert posed the question, then translated the +reply. "He does not know the men, or their names. He did not fight +because it was useless. His people would have died and the Americans +would not have been saved."</p> + +<p>"Ask him how he knows this."</p> + +<p>The Bagobo's reply was terse. "He knows," Gonzalez said. "He will say no +more."</p> + +<p>Lacson made a sound of disgust. "He means it, too. Look at him."</p> + +<p>Rick saw what Lacson meant. The stern face and glittering eyes indicated +clearly that the headman would die before he said more about the +attackers.</p> + +<p>"Does he know where the Americans were taken?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>"He does not know. The men took them down the trail. Of course some +Bagobos followed. But at the road the men put the Americans and their +guide into a car and drove away. Apparently there were two or three +cars. The Bagobos could not follow."</p> + +<p>"Then Shannon, Briotti, and their guide were probably on the boat when +it left Davao," Rick said thoughtfully. "But where did the boat go?"</p> + +<p>Major Lacson answered. "We don't know. But it is possible we may find +out. I've sent out an all-points bulletin asking for information. We may +get a lead to its whereabouts."</p> + +<p>"We'd better," Scotty said grimly. "Unless someone has seen it, we have +the whole Sulu Sea to search!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>Trail of the "Sampaguita"</h3> + + +<p>The PAL plane droned westward, over the incredible swamps of the Pulangi +River, toward Cotabato. Rick watched the sweltering marshland unfold +below and caught glimpses of the winding brown river that turned the +countryside into a morass. From Colonel Rojas' briefing he knew that the +countryside was alive with crocodiles and less pleasant creatures.</p> + +<p>In the seat next to Rick, Scotty catnapped. Zircon, across the aisle, +was apparently deep in thought.</p> + +<p>Rick hoped fervently that they weren't on a wild-goose chase. At Davao +they had learned that Briotti, Shannon, and their guide had been +kidnaped by some group the Bagobos feared. The reason for the kidnaping +could not be guessed. No requests for ransom had been made, and the +scientists had no known personal enemies.</p> + +<p>Instead of clearing up the mystery, Rick thought, the little they had +found had only deepened it. His concern for his missing friends had +turned to a deep fear that they might not be found until too late. He +was very conscious of the passage of time. Nearly three weeks had +elapsed since the scientists had been forcefully taken from the Bagobo +village.</p> + +<p>"Think they were taken away on the boat?" Scotty asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>Rick turned quickly. Scotty hadn't been napping after all. "We can't be +sure, but doesn't it seem likely?"</p> + +<p>"It does to me. Of course the kidnapers might have carried them into the +interior, but I can't imagine anyone carrying prisoners over those +jungle trails. Besides, the boat is missing."</p> + +<p>"There are no roads where they could have been taken by car," Rick +agreed. "Lacson will try to find the cars that brought them into Davao, +but even if he succeeds, it won't tell us much." He changed the subject. +"Who could those men have been? They must have been pretty fierce to +frighten the Bagobos. That headman doesn't look like a man who scares +easily."</p> + +<p>"I haven't the glimmer of an idea. Kidnaping two scientists makes no +sense at all."</p> + +<p>"True. But it must have made sense to the kidnapers."</p> + +<p>Scotty didn't comment further. After a while Rick reached under the seat +and drew out Shannon's quiver. He had wrapped it in a plastic bag in +which his trousers had been returned by the dry cleaner.</p> + +<p>The quiver was of soft leather, and made to be slung on the back. It was +compartmented for three kinds of arrows. Rick drew one out and saw that +it was a blunt type for hunting small game. Next to the blunt ones were +razor-sharp broadhead arrows. The third variety was smaller broadheads. +There were a dozen of each.</p> + +<p>On the back of the quiver were two zippered pouches. In the first Rick +found four new bowstrings and beeswax for waxing them, plus a small file +and a whetstone for keeping the broadheads sharp. In the other +compartment were two sets of finger cots, or protectors, and a stiff +leather arm guard. He slipped a protector, made like sections of glove +fingers, on the first three fingers of his right hand. A size too large, +but it would do. The arm guard would be all right when he adjusted it.</p> + +<p>The bow was in its own special compartment. Rick checked and saw that it +was undamaged. It was in two sections, the upper limb made to be fitted +into the handle, which was permanently attached to the lower limb. It +was an excellent bow, not as heavy as some, but a deadly weapon in the +hands of a good shot. It pulled fifty pounds at twenty-eight inches +draw.</p> + +<p>Rick slipped the quiver back under the seat. He planned to carry it when +necessary, so that he, too, would be armed. He was a better than average +bowman. It was one of the few sports in which he could nearly always +beat Scotty, thanks to his own aptitude and Shannon's teaching. He +noticed suddenly that the seat belt light had flashed on. He tightened +his belt as the plane descended into Cotabato.</p> + +<p>He watched as the city came into view. It was a community of small +houses located on a series of rivers or canals. The surrounding +countryside was given over to rice paddies and occasional coconut +groves.</p> + +<p>This was the first step in the backward trail. Rick had no idea what +they might find, but lacking any other course of action they had decided +to go back along the <i>Sampaguita's</i> route hoping to pick up a clue. They +would stay in Cotabato only as long as the plane stopped, just time +enough to meet Tony Briotti's friend, Father Murray, an American +missionary priest.</p> + +<p>As the plane swept in for a landing across the unpaved runway Rick saw +the white robes of a priest and knew that Major Lacson's message to the +Cotabato constabulary detachment asking that the priest meet the plane +had been received.</p> + +<p>Father Murray, a lean, tanned, sun-helmeted man of youthful appearance, +greeted them as they stepped from the plane. Zircon introduced himself +and the boys, and the four retired to the shade of a royal palm to talk.</p> + +<p>"Tony and Howard's disappearance was shocking news," Father Murray +commented. "You have no new information about what happened to them?"</p> + +<p>Zircon told him the little they knew. "We stopped by to see you, hoping +you could shed some light on the kidnaping."</p> + +<p>The priest shook his head. "I haven't the remotest idea. Their visit +here was without incident, except for a robbery attempt. I don't even +recall any conversation that might be helpful. We talked mostly about +their research project."</p> + +<p>"You mentioned a robbery?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the first night they were here. Thieves broke into the <i>convento</i>, +but by good luck, some of my Christian parishioners who live next door +were awake. They hurried to the rescue with guns, and the thieves fled +before they found where we were sleeping. My people said they were +Moros."</p> + +<p>Zircon gestured at a group of Moros lounging in the shade of the wooden +airport building. "You seem to have quite a few of them here."</p> + +<p>Father Murray chuckled. "Indeed we do. This is a Moro province. Both the +mayor and governor are Moros. Christians are few."</p> + +<p>Rick noted the tight trousers and bolero-type vests that exposed +muscular chests. Two of the Moros wore purple velvet caps. The others +wore straw hats of intricately woven design that reminded him of +helmets.</p> + +<p>"Was a Moro guide with our friends?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He seemed like a respectable young man. I saw little of him, +however. He stayed with us, but kept to himself, probably bored with our +talk. Did you know that Tony and I were classmates in high school?"</p> + +<p>The three hadn't known it. No wonder Tony and Shannon had gone so far +out of their way to visit Cotabato.</p> + +<p>"That robbery attempt interests me," Scotty said. "Have you ever had +such an incident before?"</p> + +<p>"Never. The Moros let us alone. Besides, the proverbial church mice +would seem rich compared with us. We have literally nothing worth +robbing."</p> + +<p>The flight was called and the Spindrifters shook hands with Father +Murray. He waved as they boarded the plane and prepared to take off.</p> + +<p>"Not very helpful," Professor Zircon remarked, "although I'm glad we had +a chance to meet Father Murray."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed, but added, "Doesn't it strike you as pretty strange +coincidence that thieves should try to rob him for the first time, on +the night Briotti and Shannon arrived?"</p> + +<p>Scotty saw at once what Rick meant. "You think they might not have been +thieves? That it might have been a kidnap attempt that failed?"</p> + +<p>"It's a possibility," Rick pointed out.</p> + +<p>Zircon leaned across the aisle. "Consider the implications of what +you're saying, Rick. Cotabato is a long way from Davao. Why would a gang +chase our friends across Mindanao?"</p> + +<p>"Why were they kidnaped?" Rick retorted.</p> + +<p>"Obviously, we don't know. If we accept your idea, do we assume it was +the same gang that traveled from Cotabato to Davao? Or, were both groups +local people?"</p> + +<p>Scotty swallowed. "If they were local people, that has to mean some kind +of well-organized syndicate with members in just about every port!"</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. He had seen at once the implications of his idea. "It could +mean that."</p> + +<p>Scotty sank back into his seat. "But whatever it means, it gives no +explanation of why Tony and Shannon were kidnaped."</p> + +<p>"We'll find the explanation somehow," Rick said, with more assurance +than he felt. He added grimly, "We've got to!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>The Man in the Red Fez</h3> + + +<p>The famous tropical port of Zamboanga lived up to its reputation as an +exotic place. As the taxi carried the Spindrifters from the airport past +the waterfront area, Rick saw bright-colored sails mixed with the drab +steel of cargo ships. There were many Moros, but Christian Filipinos +seemed to be in the majority.</p> + +<p>The taxi took them to Bayot's Hotel, a rambling, picturesque affair only +two stories high, noted for the best food in the Sulu Sea region. The +hotel was almost overgrown with orchids and lush tropical creepers.</p> + +<p>As the three checked in, Zircon began asking questions of the man at the +desk. "You had Dr. Briotti and Dr. Shannon as guests, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They stayed here for two days. I read of their disappearance. +Incredible."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell us if they had any visitors?"</p> + +<p>"I recall none."</p> + +<p>Rick asked, "Did anyone show unusual interest in them?"</p> + +<p>"Not that one could notice. You realize, Americans are not an unusual +sight. There are a number who live here."</p> + +<p>"Did you know their Moro guide?" Scotty queried.</p> + +<p>"I did not know him. I saw him, however. He was an unusual type."</p> + +<p>"In what way?" Zircon asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"He spoke no Chebucano. When I asked about this he said he was brought +up in Tawi Tawi where Chebucano is not spoken. I might have believed +this, except for one other thing."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" Zircon prompted.</p> + +<p>"He spoke excellent Spanish, which also is not spoken on Tawi Tawi."</p> + +<p>Rick asked thoughtfully, "You think he might not have been a Moro?"</p> + +<p>The man shrugged. "What is a Moro? It is simply a Filipino, of a +different religion, and to some extent a different way of life. An +educated Moro is like any other educated Filipino. I cannot say if this +guide was a Moro. He said he was."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded his understanding. "Do you know if they hired him here?"</p> + +<p>"They did. I mean in this city, not in my hotel. I believe they met him +on the waterfront."</p> + +<p>Rick had seen at once that the man was not a Filipino, and he thought he +recognized the accent as Spanish. He asked, "Are you the manager?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I may say, these questions you ask have already been answered by +me to Captain Lim of the constabulary. Perhaps he can help you."</p> + +<p>"We intend to see him," Zircon replied. "Is his office nearby?"</p> + +<p>"No, you will need a car, which I will arrange. He is at the fort, +Nuestra Señora Del Pilar. We call it simply Fort Pilar. Now I will show +you to your rooms."</p> + +<p>Zircon had a room to himself, while Rick and Scotty shared one. The +rooms were small, and like all tropic hotel rooms, sparsely furnished +but adequate. The three changed clothes quickly and got into their +comfortable khaki trousers and shirts. When they returned to the lobby, +the manager had a car waiting, with one of the hotel's employees to +drive it.</p> + +<p>Fort Pilar was a tremendous mass of hand-cut stone many feet thick, +pierced for muskets and cannon. It was obviously Spanish in design, and +very old. The walls were covered with creepers, and palms had sprung up +on what had once been a parade ground. Visible beyond the fort were the +clear waters of Basilan Strait.</p> + +<p>A sentry took them to Captain Diosdado Lim, who greeted them courteously +and scanned the letter they had brought from Colonel Rojas.</p> + +<p>"We are at your service," the captain said formally. "This letter makes +you more than guests. You are also friends. I welcome you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain," Zircon replied with equal formality. "You knew of +our coming from Major Lacson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We are prepared. We will send your car back and you will ride into +town with me. I will introduce you to the man from whom the boat was +hired."</p> + +<p>"Any news of the boat?" Rick asked hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Not yet. The seas are big and our outposts are few. But we will hope +for good fortune."</p> + +<p>The captain had a stilted way of speaking, Rick noted. His English was +good, but he obviously didn't speak it often. The officer was young and +dark, and looked more Chinese than Filipino. He was probably a mestizo, +a person of mixed blood.</p> + +<p>Zircon launched into questions as soon as they got underway in the +captain's sedan. It was soon clear that the officer had little to add to +what they already knew. He did say, however, that Azid Hajullah, the +Moro guide, had not been a local young man, and that the detachment on +Tawi Tawi did not know him. No one, apparently, knew where the guide had +come from. It sounded suspicious to Rick. He might have been a plant, to +betray the scientists to the unknown kidnapers.</p> + +<p>Captain Lim took them to the boatyard operated by José Santos, a fat +little Filipino who had once served in the United States Navy. Santos +was friendly, and very sad about the scientists. Rick felt he honestly +was more disturbed about the two men than about his missing boat.</p> + +<p>The <i>Sampaguita</i>, he said, was a thirty-foot auxiliary sloop with white +hull and red sails. It had once been the private yacht of an American +copra planter on Basilan who, alas, had been murdered by his Moro field +hands. Santos had not known the Moro guide, and had noticed nothing +unusual about him. And there the interview ended. Rick shook his head. +They were certainly not making progress.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything I can do?" Captain Lim asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not," Zircon replied. "Thank you, Captain. If you don't +mind, we'll walk back to the hotel. It's only a short distance. And I'm +sure the boys want to see this part of town. I do."</p> + +<p>"Of course. Anyway, you must be my guests for dinner at the hotel. At +ten o'clock."</p> + +<p>"We'll be delighted," Zircon answered. "Will you go back to the fort +now?"</p> + +<p>"No. If you want me I will be at home, behind the hotel. It is the small +white cottage."</p> + +<p>The three waved good-by, then turned toward the teeming wharf area, +which was also the town's market place. Just beyond the breakwater, +native outrigger boats with bright-colored sails in stripes and patterns +swept by in a kind of convoy.</p> + +<p>Scotty asked an elderly Filipino who was watching, "Sir, may I ask the +name of that kind of boat?"</p> + +<p>The Filipino smiled. "Colorful, yes? They are vintas. Moro boats from +Sulu Sea. They come to sell fish."</p> + +<p>Scotty thanked him and the three walked slowly through the market place. +By unspoken consent they said nothing about their problem. All of them +knew they had reached a dead end, and none knew where to go from this +point.</p> + +<p>They stopped once to watch two fighting cocks sparring with shielded +spurs. A few yards away they stopped once more, at a fruit vendor's +stall. Many of the fruits were new and strange. They took a moment to +learn about them from the vendor. There were mangosteens, not related to +mangoes, with red husks and pure-white fruit; lanzones that looked like +clusters of brown plums; foul-smelling but tasty durian; star apples, +and several varieties of banana, none of which looked like the Central +American variety.</p> + +<p>Rick tried a mangosteen. He passed sections of the white fruit to Scotty +and Zircon, then bit into his, It was cool, tart, and delicious, unlike +anything he had ever tasted before. He decided he could become a +mangosteen addict in no time and started back to buy a bagful. A low +comment from Scotty stopped him.</p> + +<p>"We've picked up a friend. He's been with us for the past ten minutes."</p> + +<p>"Let's stop at this stand and look at the baskets," Zircon invited +casually.</p> + +<p>They did so, and pretended great interest in the huge variety of woven +ware while Scotty maneuvered to look back the way they had come. Rick +saw his pal's face change, then Scotty fingered a basket and used it as +a cover while talking.</p> + +<p>"It's nice to find a familiar face in a strange place," Scotty said. +"Believe it or not, it's the man in the red fez who trailed us in +Manila!"</p> + +<p>"Are you certain?" Zircon asked swiftly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. It isn't just the fez, it's the face. Besides, he's wearing the +same clothes."</p> + +<p>Zircon's normally loud voice dropped to a whisper. "Lay a plan, Scotty. +We'll mousetrap him. I have a few questions I'd like to ask."</p> + +<p>"All right. Let's move on and look for a place. This is too crowded."</p> + +<p>They sauntered on, elaborately casual, stopping now and then to examine +goods in an open market stall or to marvel at the colors of fish offered +for sale. Rick wondered about the man in the red fez. Since he had +trailed them in Manila, and had come all the way to Zamboanga, his +interest in them must be linked to the missing scientists. Maybe, if the +man would talk, they could finally learn something of value!</p> + +<p>Rick kept his eyes open, watching for a likely place to set a trap. He +saw that the market place ended in an open park that ran along both +sides of the street leading from the wharves into town. Up the street, +where the park ended, he saw a big warehouse marked with the name MANUAL +WEE SIT & CO.</p> + +<p>"That shed is the best bet," Scotty said softly. "Let's step it up a +little, walk to the end of the warehouse, then go around the corner. +Look for a doorway in which we can wait for him."</p> + +<p>The three walked faster, but only as tourists might do who had left an +interesting area and wanted to go elsewhere. They passed the end of the +warehouse and rounded the corner. There was an open shed-type door +there, and seated in front of it on a nail keg was an elderly Chinese, +smoking his water pipe and getting the afternoon sun. He didn't look up +at the three Americans.</p> + +<p>"Step in the doorway," Scotty said swiftly. "The old man must be +dreaming about something. He won't bother us."</p> + +<p>It was cool and dim in the warehouse. Rick saw flour barrels and case +after case of canned food, many with American brand names.</p> + +<p>Scotty took a position just inside the door where he could watch through +the opening. In a moment he tensed, ready to spring. Rick saw the Moro's +shadow just as Scotty leaped.</p> + +<p>Rick ran out, Zircon right behind him, in time to see Scotty confront +the Moro. The man's eyes widened. His hand flashed to his sash with the +speed of a striking snake and emerged with a short dagger, a vicious +thing with a wavy blade like a kris.</p> + +<p>Scotty didn't hesitate. He let go with a punch that had his powerful +shoulder behind it. But fast as Scotty was, the Moro dodged, then lunged +forward with the knife.</p> + +<p>Rick sprang forward to help, but Scotty was ready. The boy stepped to +one side and in the same motion grabbed the wrist that held the knife. +He doubled the Moro's arm back, twisting at the same time. Rick ran to +pick up the knife as it fell.</p> + +<p>The Moro hadn't given up. He kicked out, his foot catching Scotty under +the armpit, breaking his hold. The Moro broke free and started to run.</p> + +<p>"Get him!" Zircon bellowed.</p> + +<p>Scotty dove, both hands outstretched, with Rick right behind him. One +of Scotty's hands caught the Moro by shirt and jacket, stopping him long +enough for the other hand to get a grip, too. The Moro plunged wildly +and the clothing ripped loose. By then Rick was in position. He +delivered a judo chop to the side of the Moro's neck. The man slumped to +the ground, the red fez dropping into the dust.</p> + +<p>For the first time Rick got a look at the Moro's back, where Scotty's +frantic grab had bared it. The man was tattooed with a strange design. A +Moro kris was crossed with a barong, and both weapons dripped blood. +Above the knives, in bright blue ink, was a symbol composed of a short +horizontal line from which three vertical lines rose. The middle +vertical line was slightly taller than the other two.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>The man's back was tattooed with a strange design</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Sound smote Rick's ears. He turned swiftly and saw that the old Chinese +had come to frightened life. The old man's eyes were open wide, staring +at the tattooed design. His mouth was open, and he was wailing at such +high pitch that Rick flinched.</p> + +<p>Then the old man babbled something and ran like one possessed into the +shelter of the warehouse.</p> + +<p>Scotty stared after him in amazement. "What got into him? He ran as +though he'd got a sudden look at the devil!"</p> + +<p>Zircon hauled the groggy Moro to his feet. "Possibly he did," the +physicist stated. He pointed to the symbol. "This looks like a Chinese +character. Perhaps the old man recognized it."</p> + +<p>Swift excitement ran through Rick. "If he did, maybe we've just hit a +jackpot!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>News at Zamboanga</h3> + + +<p>A crowd of Filipinos, including several Moros, was attracted by the +brief fight. A few departed in a hurry after one look at the captive's +bared back. The rest remained at a distance, talking in the local +dialect. Rick and Scotty kept alert, ready to act if anyone tried to +free the captive. Scotty had tied him up with his own sash. He was +seated against the warehouse wall, sullen and silent.</p> + +<p>Zircon emerged from the warehouse. "I got the captain on the phone. He's +on his way."</p> + +<p>Apparently the captain wasted no time. In less than two minutes his +sedan skidded to a stop and he jumped out. "What is going on?"</p> + +<p>"He was trailing us," Zircon said, indicating the Moro. "He also trailed +us in Manila. We thought it best to try to find out why. Incidentally, +an old Chinese is hiding in the warehouse. He ran when he saw the symbol +on the Moro's back. It may be a Chinese character of some sort."</p> + +<p>Captain Lim inspected the design and nodded. "It is. I know Chinese. +Those lines form the word for 'shan,' which in English is mountain. But +I have no idea why it should frighten the old man. I will ask."</p> + +<p>The three Spindrifters looked at each other, excitement on all of their +faces. "Now we know the word the headman at the Bagobo village used," +Zircon commented. "Shan, or mountain."</p> + +<p>They waited, keeping close watch on the crowd until Captain Lim emerged. +The officer shook his head. "I could get little from him. He fears the +'Pirates of Shan,' of which he says this Moro is a member. He would not +elaborate."</p> + +<p>"Who are the Pirates of Shan?" Rick demanded.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. The phrase is new to me."</p> + +<p>"Silly," Scotty muttered. "Piracy has been dead for a century."</p> + +<p>"Not so," Lim corrected. "Excuse me, but piracy is not uncommon, +especially along the China coast and in the islands south of Borneo. +Only a short time ago Chinese pirates captured an ocean-going cargo +ship."</p> + +<p>"He's right," Zircon confirmed. "I've read of piracy quite recently. And +don't forget, the Moros of Sulu were a pirate nation until Spanish +gunboats and troops cut down the activity, and the Americans finally +stopped it. Piracy is not new to this part of the world."</p> + +<p>Scotty helped Captain Lim put the Moro in the sedan. "I will be +surprised if we get much from this man," Lim said, "but we can try at +the Fort. I will see you at dinner tonight."</p> + +<p>The crowd dispersed and the three walked back to the hotel. Zircon left +them in the lobby. "Be back shortly. I'm going to wire Okola about +pirates."</p> + +<p>In their room the boys took off their outer clothes and sprawled on +their beds in shorts. "This is shaping up to something big," Rick said +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean. Robbery at Cotabato, kidnaping at Davao, and now +this. It must tie together. Apparently some people have heard of the +Pirates of Shan, but most haven't."</p> + +<p>"Strange the constabulary doesn't know about them. But I suppose it's +natural enough in an area like this, with only a few troops and millions +of square miles. But why would pirates take our friends?"</p> + +<p>Scotty didn't even try to guess. "Isn't Chahda due pretty soon?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Not until eight." Rick had given Chahda details of the findings at the +Bagobo village and the Hindu boy had decided to spend another day in +Davao. He would join them at Bayot's.</p> + +<p>"At least we're collecting some pieces that add up," Rick said with more +satisfaction than he had felt in a long time. He closed his eyes and +began to review the information they had obtained. Presently he drifted +off to sleep.</p> + +<p>Scotty woke Rick some time later. "Wake up! Chahda's here."</p> + +<p>Rick sat up, blinking. "What time is it?"</p> + +<p>"After nine. We're due at dinner shortly."</p> + +<p>"Where's Chahda?"</p> + +<p>"Getting cleaned up. He'll be back."</p> + +<p>"Where's Zircon?"</p> + +<p>"Gone out. He had a call from the hotel desk."</p> + +<p>Rick got into the shower for a quick wake-up bath. By the time he was +dressed Zircon had returned, a yellow sheet of paper in his hands. +Chahda arrived a moment later.</p> + +<p>"All here," Chahda said. "Good. Now I tell. You know who got our +friends? Pirates!"</p> + +<p>Rick stared at him in awe. "How did you find that out?"</p> + +<p>"Word you said, one that scared Bagobos. I said it too, in few places at +Davao. I try different ways to say, and I must have said it good one +time. Filipino snapped at me to shut up, because word no good. But did +Chahda shut up?"</p> + +<p>"Never," Scotty said emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Is true. Anyway, Filipino whispers to me about Pirates of Shan. He +knows little. Only that they kill quick, and no one knows who is a +pirate and who is not. Not many have heard of them."</p> + +<p>"Some have," Zircon interjected. He waved the paper. "Okola replied by +return wire. Listen."</p> + +<p>The big physicist read: "'Pirates of Shan date back to seventeenth +century. Originally Chinese Moslems, later joined by Filipino Moslems +and some Malays. Most active around 1800. Shan is from Chinese word for +mountain, but no one knows what mountain. Some believe Shan located near +Borneo coast. Some mention pirates in action against Japanese during +World War Two. No record since. Regret no more available.'"</p> + +<p>"Okola certainly knows his history," Scotty stated. "Well, at least we +have a tag to hang on the enemy. The kidnapers were pirates."</p> + +<p>Zircon agreed. "Being trailed by one certainly seems to tie up with Tony +and Howard's disappearance. And speaking of kidnapers, that Filipino +boy, Elpidio Torres was kidnaped. His folks now have a ransom demand." +He held out a recent newspaper.</p> + +<p>Rick scanned the front-page story. "Think there might be a connection?"</p> + +<p>"Possible, I suppose, but consider the distance. According to the story, +a ransom of one million pesos is to be left on the Batangas coast, south +of Manila."</p> + +<p>Scotty whistled. "Half a million bucks! That would make piracy worth +while!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Manila isn't the Sulu Sea," Zircon pointed out. "Also, there +has been no ransom demand for Tony and Howard. They weren't taken until +some time after the Torres boy vanished."</p> + +<p>"What we do now?" Chahda asked.</p> + +<p>"We eat, with the local constabulary chief," Rick replied. "Think it's +safe to join us?"</p> + +<p>Chahda grinned. "Safe or no, I go. I hungry."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty were hungry, too. The Spanish-Filipino custom of dining +late did not appeal to them. But as it developed, dinner was worth +waiting for. Captain Lim was apparently a gourmet. He had ordered soup +made of smoked oysters from Palawan Island, a second course of delicate +butterfly fish fillets in a marvelous sauce of fresh coconut, a main +course of breasts of chicken boiled in coconut milk, a salad of hearts +of palm, a Spanish dessert called <i>lecheflan</i>, which was a kind of +custard swimming in caramel sauce, and thick, aromatic Batangas coffee.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty ate until they could hold no more, and Chahda groaned, +"Once I read words 'stuffed like Christmas goose.' This now fits me."</p> + +<p>Zircon lighted a Manila cigar and sat back in his chair, a look of pure +contentment on his face. "A wonderful meal, Captain. Thank you, for all +of us. I haven't dined so well in months."</p> + +<p>Captain Lim beamed his pleasure. "Then you may forgive me for failing +with the Moro. He would say nothing. I have no legal grounds on which to +hold him for long, either."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded his understanding. "We expected nothing, but we had to +try. Chahda, tell Captain Lim what you found out in Davao, and I'll give +him Okola's message."</p> + +<p>The exchange of information completed, Zircon changed the subject. The +scientist knew they were in need of something to take their minds off +the search for a while, and he encouraged Captain Lim to tell them about +Zamboanga and its long and sometimes bloody history.</p> + +<p>The officer turned out to be an entertaining story-teller. He kept them +laughing, or on the edges of their chairs until after midnight. Then he +began teaching them the famous song that goes:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>The monkeys have no tails;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>They were bitten off by whales!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Oh, the monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga!</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Spindrifters had just gotten into the swing of the rollicking melody +when a sergeant came in with a message for the captain. Lim tore the +envelope open and read rapidly. Then he slapped his hand on the table. +"Good! This is from Major Lacson. A boat answering the description of +the <i>Sampaguita</i> was seen about four days after the kidnaping, heading +south of the island of Bulan. A fisherman saw it."</p> + +<p>Rick's heart leaped with sudden hope and excitement. "Where is Bulan?"</p> + +<p>"Across the Strait from here is Basilan. Bulan is a small island south +of it."</p> + +<p>Scotty said with relief, "At least we know now which way they're +heading."</p> + +<p>"And we know what to do next," Zircon added.</p> + +<p>"We go after it!" Chahda concluded grimly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>The "Swift Arrow"</h3> + + +<p>José Santos' boatyard was not large, but to Rick it seemed as though the +Filipino boatman had a sample of every kind of craft from a rowboat to a +Chinese junk.</p> + +<p>"We want a boat," Zircon stated. "Not a sailboat. That would be too +slow. We want something reasonably fast, and with enough room for +comfort. We may have to live aboard for some time."</p> + +<p>Santos nodded. "You no care how big?"</p> + +<p>"There are four of us to handle it."</p> + +<p>"Plenty," Santos said. "No more help needed for my <i>Swift Arrow</i>. See +over there?"</p> + +<p>Rick's quick eyes caught the lines of the craft first. He exclaimed, +"Well, I'll be a galloping grampus! It's a torpedo boat!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Santos confirmed, beaming. "Motor torpedo boat. I convert her +myself. Come see."</p> + +<p>Chahda asked, "Rick, what is torpedo boat?"</p> + +<p>"It's a very fast, light boat, designed to launch torpedoes at bigger +ships. It depends on speed for safety. This one must be left over from +World War Two."</p> + +<p>"Plenty old," Chahda said doubtfully.</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "Age doesn't mean anything to a boat if it's well built +and well taken care of. The MTB's were light, but very well built. +You'll see."</p> + +<p>Zircon was well acquainted with boats and Rick and Scotty were not +novices. They went over the <i>Swift Arrow</i> from stem to stern, missing +nothing. The armament had been removed and the original gasoline engines +were gone. Instead, it was operated by a pair of marine diesels. Santos +claimed that the engines were in excellent shape and that the boat could +make a speed of twenty knots even in rough water, with a top speed of +nearly thirty knots in calm seas.</p> + +<p>Scotty checked the engines and confirmed the claim. They ran like Swiss +watches. The boat was fully equipped, even to searchlight, horn, and a +brass saluting cannon that fired blanks much like shotgun shells.</p> + +<p>"We'll take it," Zircon announced. "Fill it with fuel and water, put +charts for the whole area aboard with navigation instruments, and we'll +be back in an hour and get under way." He hastily signed a traveler's +check for the advance fee, then the four hiked back to the hotel and got +down to business.</p> + +<p>They made up a provision list, arranged to rent bed linens and towels +from the hotel, found out where ammunition could be purchased, packed +their bags, and prepared to check out.</p> + +<p>Chahda spoke up. "Where you go first? Jolo, maybe? Suppose I go ahead on +PAL, and snoop round a little. Meet you there."</p> + +<p>Zircon considered. "I suppose Jolo is the logical destination. It's the +capital of the Sulu Archipelago. We'll refuel there, probably by +tomorrow morning."</p> + +<p>Rick thought it was probably a good idea for Chahda to go ahead. He +could use his Indian contacts to pick up any information that might be +available. It would save them time. "I'm for it," he said.</p> + +<p>Zircon made sure Chahda had ample funds, then the three bade him good-by +for the time being and started on their shopping tour.</p> + +<p>Within the promised hour they had their luggage and provisions loaded +aboard and were prepared to cast off. Santos had the boat ready, even to +putting in a box of shells for the saluting cannon.</p> + +<p>Scotty and Rick cast off while Zircon sent the MTB smoothly away from +the dock, through the breakwater and into Basilan Strait. Then Scotty +took over, while Zircon checked the first leg of their course. On the +charts Santos had given them the routes between principal ports were +clearly marked. Zircon found the route from Zamboanga to Jolo and gave +Scotty the first compass setting.</p> + +<p>Scotty opened the throttle wide. The <i>Swift Arrow</i> responded instantly, +planing along at a fast clip. Zircon took sightings with the pelorus, +then calculated his readings.</p> + +<p>Rick watched with interest, anxious to find out what speed they were +making. Finally the big physicist looked up, grinning. "We've picked a +champion. Twenty-eight knots!"</p> + +<p>It was far below the original speed of the craft, but probably far above +the speed of anything else in the Sulu Sea. Rick was satisfied. "I'm +going below. I'll store the chow, then relieve Scotty."</p> + +<p>In a short time, taking turns at the helm, the three had everything +stowed and bunks ready for occupancy. Zircon and Scotty had broken out +the newly purchased ammunition and loaded their weapons. Rick hung +Shannon's quiver on a hook near the bunks.</p> + +<p>The <i>Swift Arrow</i> sped steadily on. Basilan dropped astern as they +negotiated the countless islands of the Pilas Group. Two islands formed +a narrow channel ahead, Rick saw, as he took the wheel from Scotty. Once +through the channel they would be in open water, nothing between them +and Jolo but the Sulu Sea.</p> + +<p>Scotty walked to the bow, to check on the readiness of the anchor. In a +moment he returned and joined Rick. "Must be good fishing country. Lots +of vintas in the channel ahead."</p> + +<p>Rick had noticed. "Must be two dozen." Between the islands, the channel +was dotted with red, purple, green, and brown sails. As the MTB drew +nearer, Rick throttled down a little. He was already traveling at +cruising speed, considerably less than top speed, but he didn't want to +take a chance of ramming one of the Moro craft.</p> + +<p>The distance closed rapidly, and Zircon pointed out that the vintas +seemed to be spreading in a line across the channel, only a boat's +length between them. "Slow down more," he advised. "They may be hauling +a net or something."</p> + +<p>Rick did so, keeping a careful eye out for net floats. "Not much room to +go through. I'll toot the horn."</p> + +<p>He gave the horn a long blast. The Moros paid no attention. Apparently +fishing boats had the right of way, and they didn't intend to move. The +<i>Swift Arrow</i> was close enough now, so he could see the triangular masts +and the booms of the lateen sails. He could make out the crews, too. The +boats seemed to be crowded with men.</p> + +<p>"They're not going to make way!" Zircon exclaimed. The MTB was already +well within the channel.</p> + +<p>"They're intercepting us front and rear!" Scotty yelled. "Look!"</p> + +<p>The vintas on the ends of the line had moved rapidly, and the rest +followed. The MTB would soon be surrounded! Rick spun the wheel and +turned the big boat nearly in its own length, heeling far over. In the +same instant a rifle slug splintered wood on the cabin roof overhead.</p> + +<p>Scotty jumped for his rifle and started firing. Zircon hauled the +automatic from his belt and yelled, "Gun it, Rick!"</p> + +<p>Rick didn't need the advice. He straightened the MTB out and rammed the +throttles to full speed. Slugs smacked into the hull or blossomed as +stars on the glass of the pilothouse. He made the MTB dance through the +water at top speed. His evasive action made it hard for Scotty and +Zircon to fire accurately and they stopped.</p> + +<p>In a few moments they were out of range of the vintas. Zircon called out +a new course that would take them through another channel more to the +west. It was longer, but safer.</p> + +<p>The three remained silent while Rick got on the new course. Attack by +vintas in open water was about the last thing any of them had expected.</p> + +<p>Finally Zircon slipped the clip from his pistol, ejected the shell in +the chamber, and reloaded. The scientist said severely, "Mr. Scott, on a +certain occasion at Zamboanga yesterday, you were heard to make a remark +to the effect that piracy has been dead for a century. In view of our +recent experience, I believe it is only fair to offer an opportunity to +correct the record."</p> + +<p>Scotty bowed ceremoniously. "You are most kind, Dr. Zircon. It would +perhaps be more accurate to state that piracy has not been dead for a +century. My conclusion is entirely empirical, of course, but observation +leads me to conclude that the vintas in the channel may indeed have been +manned by pirates."</p> + +<p>"Handsomely said, Mr. Scott. You have a comment, Mr. Brant?"</p> + +<p>"I concur," Rick said gravely. "Would you care to hazard a surmise about +the identity of these putative pirates?"</p> + +<p>Zircon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We had no opportunity to remove +shirts and examine backs. Yet I must venture the opinion that the men in +the vintas carry the mark of the mountain."</p> + +<p>"And why did they lay in wait for us?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"My surmise," Zircon boomed, "is that we are doing exactly the right +thing. They fear our ultimate success. Ergo, they try to remove us."</p> + +<p>Rick had to grin. "I've always wanted to hear someone say 'ergo.' But +how did they know we were coming?"</p> + +<p>Zircon shook his head. "The islands in the vicinity are too small to +have radio or telephone. However, we've not been too careful about our +plans. The waiter last night, or a houseboy outside our hotel door could +have overheard us, and a vinta could have gotten here in time to lay a +trap."</p> + +<p>"We'll probably never be sure," Rick said. Suddenly he grinned widely. +He had the feeling they were making progress.</p> + +<p>"At least," he stated, "we've met the Pirates of Shan!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>The Moro Knives</h3> + + +<p>Rick walked to the bow as the <i>Swift Arrow</i> approached the harbor of +Jolo in the early-morning hours. He used Shannon's long glass to inspect +some curious-looking houses to the west of the harbor entrance. The +glass showed him they were built on stilts over the water, and connected +by a series of bamboo walkways.</p> + +<p>Zircon joined him and borrowed the glass for a look. "Samal village," he +explained. "I've never seen one, but I spent last night reading a pocket +guide I picked up at Bayot's. The Samals are Moros, noted as fishermen."</p> + +<p>"And pirates?"</p> + +<p>Zircon smiled. "The book didn't say."</p> + +<p>In spite of the primitive Samal village, the dock and the city were +fairly modern. As Scotty took the <i>Swift Arrow</i> closer, Rick and Zircon +looked for a place to tie up.</p> + +<p>Chahda saved them the trouble. The Hindu boy appeared on a bale of abacá +and waved both arms until they saw him, then he motioned them to the +left and ran down the dock. Scotty swung the MTB past the dock and saw a +smaller dock where a few pleasure boats were tied up. In a moment they +were alongside. Chahda caught the line Rick threw and hauled the bow in.</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy jumped aboard as soon as they were tied up. "You early," +he greeted them.</p> + +<p>"We could have been here last night, but we decided to take it easy and +not risk running into vintas and things in the darkness," Rick replied.</p> + +<p>"It was a fine trip," Scotty added. "We met some friends."</p> + +<p>"Friends? You meaning purposies?"</p> + +<p>"Porpoises," Rick corrected. "Not exactly. He means pirates. They took +some shots at us."</p> + +<p>Chahda's wide eyes took in the bullet holes. He muttered to himself in +Hindi.</p> + +<p>"We were a little surprised," Zircon added. "We're not even sure they +were especially after us. They might have been waiting for any craft +that came along. We can't imagine how they could communicate so rapidly, +unless they had advance notice of our plans."</p> + +<p>Chahda shook his head. "Smarter than you think, these Moros. Sometimes +use strange way to get letter far distances. I amazed."</p> + +<p>"What is this strange way?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>"You know there plenty parrots here? Moros teach birds to talk, then +tell message and say, 'Okay bird. You go now and tell Charlie.'"</p> + +<p>Rick and Zircon stared at the Hindu boy incredulously, but Scotty had +been the object of Chahda's humor often enough to recognize it first. He +grabbed the lithe brown boy and held him out over the muddy harbor +waters in spite of his struggles.</p> + +<p>"Take it back!" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Is took!" Chahda yelled. He straightened his shirt as Scotty hauled him +in again, and looked at the dark-haired boy accusingly. "That plenty +good yarn. You just scooptical, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Skeptical," Rick corrected.</p> + +<p>"Is so. Anyway, if parrots don't fly, pigeons do. Sometimes my Indian +friends use pigeons for messages to islands with no radios. So why not +pirates?"</p> + +<p>Why not? Rick thought Chahda very likely had the answer. Carrier pigeons +would serve a useful purpose in a remote place like the Sulu Sea, and +one could have reached the channel from Zamboanga after they departed.</p> + +<p>"Let's go into the cabin," Zircon suggested. The boys followed him and +took seats on the bunks, waiting expectantly.</p> + +<p>"Let's start with Chahda. Learn anything?"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy nodded. "Little. Some peoples here think pirates took +plenty boats now missing. Not many hear of pirates, but more than in +Davao."</p> + +<p>"Any guesses on their hideout?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"None good. Some say far to south, maybe near Tawi Tawi. Plenty small +islands, no people."</p> + +<p>"I agree," Zircon added. "I've studied the chart, and that seems to be +the most likely area. We can go right on to Borneo, if need be. It's +only about a hundred and twenty-five miles from Jolo. It's even possible +the pirate hangout is off the Borneo coast."</p> + +<p>Rick spoke up. "I've been thinking about that pirate attack. Yesterday +we got away through sheer speed, right? Well, word about our speed will +spread. Now, we don't want the pirates to give up because our boat is +too fast for them. We want them to think they can attack us +successfully, because the attacks are our best clue to whether or not +we're on the right track."</p> + +<p>He believed that no further attack would mean they were getting cold, +while increasing attacks would mean they were getting warm, to use the +old game terms. The closer to the pirate stronghold, the more determined +the attacks would be, particularly if the pirates saw a chance of taking +over the MTB.</p> + +<p>Scotty saw what Rick had in mind. "You mean we have to convince them +we're no longer fast?"</p> + +<p>"That's it. There must be pirate spies here in Jolo. Why not plant a +story that one engine is bad?"</p> + +<p>"Very good!" Zircon exclaimed. "We could do it by trying, very publicly, +to get some engine part. Which one, Scotty? It has to be one we won't be +able to get."</p> + +<p>Scotty thought it over while the others watched him anxiously, then +suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Got it. A new timing gear. I'll be +surprised if there's one nearer than Manila. I can juggle the spark, so +the engine sounds as though the timing were off. That will make it more +convincing."</p> + +<p>Zircon rose. "We'll do it. Chahda, you've seen the town. Can you stand +by while the rest of us make a quick trip? We must see the constabulary, +and I have a purchase to make."</p> + +<p>"Gladly do," Chahda assented. "First I go and get suitcase. This time I +stay with you until we find our friends."</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy got his luggage and a paper-wrapped package from the dock +guard's hut. Rick and the others left him to guard the <i>Swift Arrow</i>.</p> + +<p>The main street of Jolo started only a few hundred feet from the dock +area. Wooden stores and houses predominated, but there were a few of +ancient stone. The people were almost entirely Moro, with only a +sprinkling of Christian Filipinos. They saw no other Americans, although +a few lived in the town.</p> + +<p>"Wish we had more time here," Zircon remarked. "After all, Jolo is the +seat of Islam in this part of the world."</p> + +<p>"Of what?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Islam is the proper name for the religion we called Mohammedanism. +Moros are Moslems. The name is from the old Spanish for Moor. This +island—my guidebook says—is the home of the Sultan of Sulu, the +spiritual head of Islam in the Philippines."</p> + +<p>Rick noted a strange pair of men making their way down the street. Their +skins were brown, but their bushy hair was an odd orange red. They +walked with knees bent sharply, as though on the verge of sitting down. +Their legs were spindly, the knees prominent.</p> + +<p>"Bajaus," Zircon said. "Sea gypsies. I recognize them from my talks with +Tony. He was interested in studying them. They spend their entire lives +in vintas, usually in a squatting position. That's the reason for the +odd posture. They have trouble standing upright. Their hair is that +color because sun and salt have bleached it."</p> + +<p>A pair of Moros went by, carrying a bamboo pole from which a dozen small +sharks were suspended by the gills. Rick saw that the fins had been cut +off, probably bought by some Chinese for making soup.</p> + +<p>There were shops everywhere. Zircon looked them over carefully. "Watch +for a hardware store," he requested.</p> + +<p>They reached the constabulary office before finding a hardware store, +however. Rick and Scotty decided to wait outside and enjoy the +interesting street scene while Zircon checked in.</p> + +<p>The boys noted that many Moros were armed, with krises or barongs in +fancy sheaths. Some had small daggers with pistol-grip type handles +tucked in their sashes. While Rick and Scotty watched, they were on the +alert for possible enemies, but so many Moros eyed them curiously, it +was hard to pick out any one of them as being suspicious. Just the same, +both had the feeling of being tailed.</p> + +<p>Zircon emerged shortly. "Lacson and Lim have both sent messages +transmitting what details we have. All detachments in the area have been +alerted to watch for the <i>Sampaguita</i>. Now they'll also be told to keep +a lookout for pirates or information concerning them. Our report on the +attack has gone to Manila already. They wasted no time."</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters resumed their hike up the main street and came upon a +hard-goods store. Inside, Zircon finally succeeded in making his wants +known. To the boys' amazement, he bought ten dozen boxes of ordinary +household tacks! He refused to tell them what the tacks were for.</p> + +<p>"He's going to nail down the facts," Rick suggested.</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "Nope. He thinks we have a sailboat, and anyone +knows sailboats have to tack into the wind."</p> + +<p>Zircon merely grinned and said nothing.</p> + +<p>Visits to four ship supply stores followed. Zircon expressed amazement +at the top of his voice that no timing gear was available. He bemoaned +the loss of one engine unless the gear was forthcoming. He sounded +pretty convincing.</p> + +<p>"We've got it made," Scotty said with satisfaction as the three walked +back to the dock. "Did you know we have a tail? He's good, too. I had +trouble spotting him. You can bet he heard the professor's sad story, +which means the vintas will know about our 'bad engine.'"</p> + +<p>The <i>Swift Arrow</i> was in sight now. Rick stared for a heartbeat, then +broke into a run. "Come on! Chahda's fighting with someone!"</p> + +<p>Rick had seen the Hindu boy dance into sight on the stern of the boat, +then lunge behind the pilot house again, a long knife in his hand.</p> + +<p>The three pounded down the dock and leaped aboard, then stopped short at +the sight on the stern. Chahda had suspended a large bunch of bananas +from a convenient hook and was methodically slicing it to pieces with a +long Moro knife in each hand.</p> + +<p>Rick exploded, "What in the name of an Indian idiot are you doing?"</p> + +<p>Chahda paused in his dancing attack to welcome them aboard with a grin. +"I get in shape. You like my weapons?"</p> + +<p>Rick and the others examined them with considerable interest. One was a +barong, with a heavy blade about two feet long. The blade curved along +the bottom, or cutting edge, but was nearly straight along the top, +which was nearly a quarter of an inch thick. The second weapon was a +kris, about the same length, but with two cutting edges, both of which +were wavy in typical kris fashion. The kris was more swordlike, but it +was a cutting weapon not used for stabbing.</p> + +<p>Chahda proceeded to give a demonstration, a blade in each hand. Rick was +amazed to see that he used both hands equally well.</p> + +<p>"Why all the sudden interest in weapons?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Chahda sent the remainder of the bananas flying with one cut. "We go +after scientists, yes? We find them, too. But, Rick, don't think we get +them back without one big fight!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>South of Sulu</h3> + + +<p>The <i>Swift Arrow</i> rounded the western end of Jolo and headed south +toward the Tapul islands. On the south side of the group was the island +of Siasi where Zircon planned to top off the fuel tanks and check in +with the constabulary again.</p> + +<p>The four set up watches, two to a watch, four hours at a stretch. They +settled down to a long search. At Siasi they would be at the center of +the Sulu Archipelago, and would leave the Sulu Sea behind and enter the +Celebes Sea. The sun blazed down from nearly overhead at noon until the +caulking in the deck bubbled and the sea seemed to steam. They were less +than six degrees above the Equator now.</p> + +<p>Vintas dotted the waters close to the islands, but they were apparently +peaceful Samal fishermen. There was no sign of a pirate fleet.</p> + +<p>"I doubt that the pirates will bother us in these waters," Zircon +remarked. "Too close to islands with civilization on them. We can look +for trouble in the more open waters to the south."</p> + +<p>"They bothered us close to Zamboanga," Rick pointed out.</p> + +<p>"True. However, I suspect it was simply a quick try at getting us before +we were well under way. I'm rather flattered, as a matter of fact. Of +course they know what we're after. It was in the Manila papers. But they +must realize we won't quit until we find Tony and Howard, and they must +be afraid we'll succeed. Otherwise, why attack us?"</p> + +<p>Rick saw the sense of Zircon's reasoning. "Then this mysterious island +may not be hard to find, at least for anyone who's really determined."</p> + +<p>"That's my guess. Anyway, I think we may be attacked when we +accidentally start toward their base. And it will be an accident, since +we have no clues."</p> + +<p>At Siasi the constabulary had no further information of value, except +that the government was showing deep interest and concern about the +pirates. The searchers topped off the fuel and water tanks, and anchored +for the night in the protected harbor. At dawn they hauled anchor and +rounded Siasi.</p> + +<p>Zircon laid a course that took them south-south-west toward the +Kinapusan Islands and cautioned all hands to be on the alert. By noon +they had crossed Taapan Passage.</p> + +<p>Chahda and Rick were in the galley, cooking hamburgers for lunch. Chahda +was explaining the technique of using the Moro blades.</p> + +<p>"Must remember, knife is not just a thing. Is part of your arm. Is +sharp part that just makes arm longer. You no swing knife. You swing +arm, like trying to cut with end of finger. Okay?"</p> + +<p>"I get it," Rick agreed. "Don't think of the knife as something +separate. Think of it as part of your own body."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Chahda assented. "Next, balancing of knife is important. If is +good, is like part of you. If is bad, can never be part of you. Moro +knives well-balanced. You see..."</p> + +<p>Chahda never got a chance to finish.</p> + +<p>"All hands on deck! Pirates!" Scotty yelled.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"<i>All hands on deck! Pirates!</i>"</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Rick and Chahda piled out of the galley at top speed, Rick grabbing +Shannon's quiver from its hook as he passed. He quickly put the bow +together and strung it, then swung the quiver to his back as he reached +the deck.</p> + +<p>Ahead was a line of vintas, already curving in an arc to trap them. Rick +glanced behind and saw that other Moro craft were closing in. They would +be surrounded this time, unless they chose to give up their pretense of +a crippled engine.</p> + +<p>"Chahda!" Scotty called. "Take the wheel so I can use my rifle."</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy checked to be sure his knives were at hand, then took over +from Scotty, who laid out extra clips and got ready to fire.</p> + +<p>Zircon had extra clips for his pistol close at hand. He was watching the +vintas through the long glass.</p> + +<p>Rick put on his arm guard and finger protectors. Since the vintas were +still out of bowshot he took a moment to beeswax his string. Then he +took a small broadhead arrow from the quiver, nocked it, and drew a few +times to unlimber his muscles, being careful not to let the string snap +out of his fingers.</p> + +<p>"What now?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We'll go straight ahead," Zircon answered. "Chahda, use nearly full +speed on one engine. Have the second engine idling, but don't use it +unless we get into serious trouble. Notice that the vintas ahead of us +are running before the wind? If we can get through the line we'll have +the weather gauge of them. In other words, they'll have to tack with the +wind against them. We'll be able to get free easily on one engine."</p> + +<p>Scotty pointed to a gap between a vinta with a solid purple sail and one +with blue-and-white stripes. "There's a hole to go through, Chahda."</p> + +<p>Rick saw that the vintas ahead were closing in. The Moro craft would be +two deep by the time the MTB reached them. He loosened his quiver and +made sure the arrows were free. He might have to shoot pretty fast.</p> + +<p>His senses were unnaturally alert. The water was bluer than blue and the +small patches of fair-weather clouds seemed brilliantly white. The sails +on the Moro craft were gaudy, their crews properly fierce and +picturesque. He was detached from the reality of the scene, as though +this were some movie he was watching.</p> + +<p>Zircon brought him back to reality with a jolt. "Pick off the helmsmen +first!"</p> + +<p>Rick could hear yells now, as the Moros saw that the <i>Swift Arrow</i> was +almost within reach. He ran to the foredeck and knelt on one knee, arrow +nocked and ready. Scotty climbed to the top of the pilothouse and lay +prone, rifle thrust out.</p> + +<p>The pirate yells were louder now, and some Moros brandished barongs or +krises while others waved rifles. Rick suppressed a shudder. If the +pirates got on board with those knives ...</p> + +<p>The pirate fleet opened fire. A slug whined off a ventilator cowl a foot +from Rick's head, but he forced himself to wait. It was still a little +far for bow shooting. It was not too far for Scotty, however. Rick heard +the sharp crack of his pal's rifle, and saw a Moro helmsman slump over +in the nearest vinta. The craft sheered off. Another Moro jumped to take +the helmsman's place and Scotty's second shot splintered the rudder +handle in his hands.</p> + +<p>A vinta closed to within twenty yards, an easy bowshot. Rick mentally +timed the rise and fall of the craft on the swell. Then, as it broached +slightly, he had a clear shot at the helmsman. Kneeling, he drew swiftly +and loosed. The shaft caught the Moro in the hollow of the shoulder and +pinned him back against the stern transom.</p> + +<p>Rick reached for another arrow in the smooth rhythm Shannon had taught +him, but the rhythm was abruptly shattered by a sudden blast almost in +his ear! He whirled swiftly to meet the new threat, just in time to see +Zircon open the breech of the saluting cannon and extract a smoking +shell.</p> + +<p>For an instant Rick wondered if the scientist had taken leave of his +senses. He saw Zircon ram home a blank cartridge and close the breech.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, the action made sense to Rick. For Zircon upended the +cannon muzzle and poured in a box of tacks!</p> + +<p>The scientist depressed the muzzle, sighted calmly, and pulled the +lanyard. A swath of tacks spewed into the bow of the nearest vinta +bringing a chorus of pirate yells. The craft swerved away.</p> + +<p>Shouting with delight at the scientist's ingenuity, Rick jumped to +Zircon's side. Working together, they fired box after box of tacks, and +saw the vintas slowly clear the way.</p> + +<p>The Moros could face cold steel or hot lead without a qualm, but the +fierce, stinging tacks were too much, and too unexpected. They failed to +press the attack at the crucial moment and the <i>Swift Arrow</i> slipped +through the line.</p> + +<p>As Zircon had predicted, one engine gave them enough speed to get clear, +once the Moros had lost the advantage of a favorable wind. Scotty fired +a few more shots at the vintas within range, then dropped to the deck. +The fight was over.</p> + +<p>The four gathered in the pilothouse and the three boys stared at Zircon +with mixed admiration and amusement.</p> + +<p>"It's nothing," the big physicist said modestly. "You see, in my +lifetime I have been an avid reader. At one time, while at the +university, I read of some round-the-world traveler using tacks in a +signal gun. So I disclaim originality."</p> + +<p>"My 'Worrold Alm-in-ack' not saying about this," Chahda said, grinning. +"Is pretty lucky you have good memory for other books, Professor!"</p> + +<p>Rick looked back at the vintas, rapidly falling astern. The pirates were +well beyond gunshot now. "Victory at Sea," he proclaimed. "Thanks to the +professor's college education!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>The Dancing Pirates</h3> + + +<p>The <i>Swift Arrow</i> rode at anchor in the gathering dusk, inside a snug +bay formed by a U-shaped island of the Kinapusan Group. The island was +very small, and uninhabited. It was surrounded by larger islands that +formed a kind of screen.</p> + +<p>"Let's hope we can spend the night undisturbed," Zircon boomed as he +finished the last of his coffee. "I could use a good night's sleep."</p> + +<p>"We all could," Rick agreed. He helped himself to more of the stew +Scotty had concocted. "Funny about a fight. That one was over in a few +minutes, but I feel as though I'd done a day's work at hard labor."</p> + +<p>"A perfectly normal reaction," Zircon replied. "Our minds and bodies are +wonderful things. When we face danger our whole system goes into high +gear, our endocrines pumping fluids that get our bodies ready for fast +action, or for wounds. We operate at top physical efficiency. Then, when +the danger is past and our minds signal that it's time to get back to +normal, we show the effects of our overstimulation by a kind of +lassitude."</p> + +<p>That was true, Rick knew from his own experience. It seemed that he was +always scared stiff before a fight, cool as could be during it, and limp +as boiled lettuce when it was over.</p> + +<p>Zircon changed the subject. "Scotty, when you first spotted the pirates, +from what direction were they coming?"</p> + +<p>The boy thought it over. "From about due south," he said at last. "But +when they spotted us the line shifted to the east, on an interception +course. They came from south originally, though."</p> + +<p>"Not from southwest?" Zircon persisted.</p> + +<p>"No. If anything, it was a little east of south, not west."</p> + +<p>"Uhuh. That was my impression, but I wanted to be sure. Now, according +to the chart, most of the scattered islands of the Tawi Tawi Group lie +more westerly than south of here. If the pirates came from due south, it +means they swung wide to miss the inhabited islands."</p> + +<p>Chahda asked, "What means this to you, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure. I think it means we had better search the seas to the +eastward of the main Tawi Tawi chain. The pirates would certainly have +come from a westerly direction if their headquarters were anywhere near +Tawi Tawi."</p> + +<p>The big scientist rose. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm for +bed. Who has the first watch?"</p> + +<p>"I'm on the eight-to-midnight," Rick replied. "It's after eight now, so +I'll stand by. Chahda relieves me at twelve, you come on at four, and +Scotty finishes the night."</p> + +<p>They had arranged the anchor watches that way because a single guard +would be enough while at anchor, and it would allow each of them a good +night's sleep.</p> + +<p>Zircon and Chahda retired at once, but Scotty lingered. The two sat on +the afterdeck and watched the stars for a few moments.</p> + +<p>"How are we doing?" Scotty asked quietly.</p> + +<p>Rick knew what he meant. "I'm scared," he said. "It's a big ocean, and +we could miss easily. Also, I'm thinking about what Chahda said. Even if +we find Shan, we won't get Tony and Shannon back without a fight. There +must be hundreds of pirates, if the fleets we've seen are a sample." He +was sure that the northern attack had been made by a different group +than the one that attacked earlier in the day.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they're still alive?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"We have to assume they are. What else can we do?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," Scotty replied sensibly. "Except say our prayers faithfully."</p> + +<p>"Amen," Rick said. "Go on to bed. You must be tired."</p> + +<p>"I am. See you in the morning."</p> + +<p>After Scotty had gone below, Rick sat quietly, depending more on ears +than eyes to keep watch. Again and again he reviewed every bit of +information they had obtained, re-examining it to see if any nugget of +value might have been overlooked. At last he decided they had done +everything possible. The rest would be persistence, and luck.</p> + +<p>His thoughts turned to home, and he wondered what his folks were doing. +It was nine o'clock, Manila time. At Spindrift it was eight this +morning. The family would be gathering for breakfast, and Barby would be +slipping Dismal, the family pup, scraps of bacon under the table.</p> + +<p>Rick resolved to send a cable from Tawi Tawi, if they should stop there. +He knew the family would be anxious to know how things were going.</p> + +<p>The watch ticked away without incident. A few minutes before midnight +Rick woke Chahda and joined the Hindu boy in a glass of cold coke. Then +he went to bed and drifted off to sleep immediately.</p> + +<p>Some inner instinct awakened him. For a moment he lay quietly, his heart +pounding, eyes blinking in the darkness. Then he heard the pad of bare +feet as Scotty got to his feet.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" Rick whispered.</p> + +<p>"Just restless, I guess," Scotty whispered back.</p> + +<p>Rick was wide awake now. He slipped into shoes and trousers while Scotty +did the same. A few minutes in the cool air on deck would make him +sleepy again, he thought.</p> + +<p>"On deck!" Chahda gave a wild yell. "Come quick!" The words were +punctuated by gunfire.</p> + +<p>Instantly Zircon leaped to his feet and ran for the door.</p> + +<p>Rick emerged into the lesser darkness of the deck in time to see Chahda +fire at moving shapes on the water. The Hindu boy's shot was answered by +a dozen rifles, and Rick heard Chahda gasp.</p> + +<p>"Pirates!" Chahda yelled. "Where is light?"</p> + +<p>For answer, Scotty switched on the boat's searchlight and swiveled it. +Rick shouted. A dozen vintas were closing rapidly, propelled by paddles. +Fleetingly he thought that some sound or sense of danger must have +awakened him, then he grabbed for Shannon's bow, realized in the same +instant that it would do little good in the darkness, and put it back.</p> + +<p>Zircon took the pistol from Chahda while Scotty found his rifle. The two +started a steady fire that was returned in ragged volleys as the pirates +tried to shoot out the light. They came close, but the light stood +undamaged. Rick thanked his guardian angel that they were poor shots.</p> + +<p>It was obvious that even pistol and rifle fire could not keep the +pirates from boarding. Rick jumped to the controls and started the +engines. If they could only slip the anchor, it might be possible to ram +through the pirate craft and find safety in the open water. But even as +he borrowed Chahda's kris and started to run to the bow to cut the +anchor rope, the first vinta slammed into the torpedo boat.</p> + +<p>Dark figures swarmed up the sides with piercing yells. Rick ran to meet +them, swinging the kris.</p> + +<p>He realized vaguely that the pirate yells had turned somehow to screams +that seemed anguished, but his thoughts were occupied only with getting +the Moros off the deck. In the faint scattered light at the side of the +searchlight beam he saw that they were dancing, wildly, like Indians in +a TV horse opera!</p> + +<p>Scotty joined him in the wild rush up the deck and the two boys hit the +Moros at the same instant. Rick swung the kris like a flail, while the +butt of Scotty's rifle slammed into bodies and heads.</p> + +<p>The Moros turned with one accord and went over the side!</p> + +<p>Zircon yelled, "Another boat back here!"</p> + +<p>But Rick and Scotty had troubles of their own. Moros were pouring onto +the deck from the bow, where another vinta had tied up to the anchor +rope. They ran to meet the new attack, and were astonished to see the +pirates go into the same screaming dance. Then they were fighting again, +Rick wielding the kris with deadly effect, too frantic even to wonder +why the Moros weren't fighting more fiercely.</p> + +<p>From the stern came a wild yell from Zircon, a great bellow that had +overtones of pain. Rick's breath caught. Had the big scientist gone +down?</p> + +<p>But the bellowing roar continued and he knew Zircon was still alive. +Rick could do nothing at the moment anyway, except to swing the kris +until his arm felt as though the muscles were on fire. Next to him, +Scotty slammed home a butt stroke that lifted a pirate high off his feet +and threw him outward into the water. It was an instant before Rick +realized the deck was clear, then he turned and ran to the stern while +Scotty reversed his rifle and shot the vinta clear of pirates in the +glare from the searchlight. From the corner of his eye Rick could see +the Moros from the bow vinta scuttling through the water toward other +boats, and toward land.</p> + +<p>At the stern Zircon towered like a mighty champion of mythology. Rick +saw him lift a pirate bodily, pluck the barong from his hand, and throw +him against two other pirates. At the scientist's side Chahda fought +valiantly with his left hand, his flying barong glittering in the +scattered back light of the searchlight. By the time Rick reached his +friends the deck was clear.</p> + +<p>Chahda ran and swiveled the searchlight, and Rick saw that the vintas +were pulling away, amidst yells of rage from the pirates. Up on the bow, +Scotty was shooting as fast as he could aim and pull trigger, with +pauses only to slap a fresh clip into the rifle. The return fire +continued, but without order or enthusiasm, and in a few moments it +stopped altogether.</p> + +<p>"They're gone," Rick said with relief. "Is anyone hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Little bit," the Hindu boy answered. "When is time, maybe could use +bandage."</p> + +<p>Scotty joined the three on the stern. "I'll get the first-aid kit. +Professor, are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Like fire," Zircon answered grimly. "I'll never be the same again." He +sank down on a convenient seat and began to examine his feet. "But let's +get out of here and attend to Chahda when we're under way. They may +attack again, if they can find shoes."</p> + +<p>The comment baffled Rick, but he didn't stop to question. He hurried +forward to pull in the anchor, and found a vinta still attached to the +rope. For a moment he debated about cutting it loose, then realized that +it would only be picked up by the pirates and used against them. He +untied the vinta line from the anchor rope and temporarily hitched it to +a bitt while he hauled in the anchor.</p> + +<p>The vinta was light and easy to tow. He hauled it to the stern of the +MTB and attached the line to a cleat. Scotty was already at the wheel.</p> + +<p>"Go!" Rick commanded.</p> + +<p>Scotty shot the searchlight beam toward the entrance to the harbor and +put the engines in gear. The MTB moved with gathering speed, following +the clear path indicated by the searchlight. Once the light picked up a +vinta, but off to one side. Scotty gave it a wide berth.</p> + +<p>As they cleared the bay, Rick got the first-aid kit and took Chahda down +into the cabin. The Hindu boy's shoulder was covered with blood. Rick +hurriedly cut way the clothes, afraid of what he might find. Zircon +joined him, watching anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Is not bad," Chahda said. "Just made me stop fighting for a few +minutes."</p> + +<p>Rick saw that the boy was right. A bullet had creased his right +shoulder, digging a deep furrow from which the blood welled. It was +painful, but at least they weren't faced with the problem of getting the +bullet out. He sterilized the wound and bound it tightly with gauze +pads. Then he washed Chahda clean of blood and put him to bed with a +blanket over him in case of shock.</p> + +<p>"How about you, Professor?" Rick asked. "You said something about being +wounded, but I don't see any blood."</p> + +<p>Zircon chuckled grimly. "Not much blood, anyway. How did you happen to +be wearing shoes?"</p> + +<p>Rick explained that he and Scotty had awakened before the attack and had +gotten partially dressed to go on deck.</p> + +<p>"Then you don't know," Zircon said. Suddenly he put his head back and +roared with laughter. "Did you ever see anything weirder than those +pirates dancing? I thought they'd gone insane in wholesale lots!"</p> + +<p>Rick stared at the scientist. "I noticed," he said. "I wondered about +it, too."</p> + +<p>"But you don't know the reason!" Zircon pointed at Chahda, who grinned +weakly from his bunk. "There's the cause of it all. He routed the enemy +with minimum help from us, even after he was wounded."</p> + +<p>Rick turned to stare at Chahda. "What's he talking about?"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy shook his head. "I was sleepy, and I afraid maybe fall +asleep, which big disgrace. So what I do? I fix things to hurt pirates, +but also I hurt Professor Zircon, for which I plenty sorry."</p> + +<p>"But how?" Rick demanded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I remembered that in Jolo I never see Moros wear shoes. Not very +many, anyway."</p> + +<p>Zircon had mentioned shoes, too. Rick groaned with impatience. "What +have shoes to do with it?"</p> + +<p>Chahda grinned. "I borrow the professor's cannon ammunition. All around +edge of deck I sprinkled, so when pirates come, they dance, and soon +they have plenty."</p> + +<p>Rick got it then. He sat down and laughed until Scotty had to stick his +head in to see what was going on.</p> + +<p>Rick pointed at Chahda. "The Hindu wizard!" he roared. "You know what he +did? He sprinkled the deck with tacks! No wonder the pirates danced!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>Search the Wide Seas</h3> + + +<p>There was an atmosphere of rising excitement on the <i>Swift Arrow</i>. Rick +felt it, and knew the others did, too. Little by little they were +narrowing the search. With only a few island groups remaining, he felt +sure it would not be long before the pirate stronghold was located.</p> + +<p>The <i>Swift Arrow</i> had poked its sharp bow into nearly every port in the +vast Tawi Tawi Group, and had put into the port of Dungun on the main +island to refuel. Since the pirate attack of two nights before, the +Spindrifters had practically eliminated the Tawi Tawi islands as +possibilities for the pirate hideout.</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon, checking their progress on the chart, called the boys +together.</p> + +<p>"There's only one island group remaining in this immediate area," Zircon +pointed out, "and I'm not even sure it's in Philippines waters."</p> + +<p>Rick studied the place on the chart indicated by the big scientist. +There were only three tiny islands in the Datu Amman Group.</p> + +<p>"They're pretty far to the southeast," Rick commented. "Just about on +the border of Indonesia and the Philippines. Do we head for them next?"</p> + +<p>Zircon poked a big finger at the chart. "I think we'd better. Then, if +we find nothing, we can head southwest toward Sibutu Island."</p> + +<p>"These Datu Amman islands aren't very big," Rick pointed out. "But +that's the general direction from which the pirates have been coming. We +have to eliminate every island in this area before going on to Sibutu +and Borneo."</p> + +<p>"We've got full tanks," Scotty observed. "Might as well get started."</p> + +<p>"I think this also," Chahda agreed. "We not miss any islands. Besides, +these far out of way, not on ship lanes. Could be good place for +pirates."</p> + +<p>"My thoughts exactly," Zircon stated. "Who has the wheel?... +Chahda?... All right. Head southeast, and I'll plot a course."</p> + +<p>"Why not use both engines?" Rick suggested. "Then we can get there +before dark. If nothing turns up, we can travel all night from there to +Sibutu. It's all open water."</p> + +<p>"If we use both engines, someone had better keep watch from on top of +the pilothouse," Scotty added. "Then, if we see vintas, we can throttle +down. That way, we won't have to give up our disguise of being a partial +cripple."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," Zircon approved. "Suppose you start, Scotty? Rick can +relieve you later."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "That's what you get for having ideas. Tell you what, +I'll toss you. Heads I take the first watch topside, tails I'll start +making lunch."</p> + +<p>"Sold." Scotty produced a centavo and they flipped. Rick won and climbed +to the top of the pilothouse while Scotty went below to prepare +sandwiches.</p> + +<p>Rick sat in a canvas chair Zircon handed up to him and watched the sea, +now and then sweeping the horizon with Shannon's long glass. The <i>Swift +Arrow</i> cut the water cleanly, with both engines roaring at +three-quarters throttle.</p> + +<p>They were cruising the Celebes Sea now, the Sulu Archipelago rapidly +falling astern. It was a calm, clear day without even a single whitecap +to mar the blue perfection of the sea. Now and then a school of flying +fish broke water from under the MTB's bow, and twice Rick spotted +sharks, one of them a hammerhead. There were no vintas in sight.</p> + +<p>Zircon handed up sandwiches and coffee, then relieved Chahda at the +wheel. The Hindu boy's shoulder was healing nicely, but it was still a +little stiff and he was careful not to move his arm more than necessary +for fear of breaking open the wound.</p> + +<p>The afternoon wore on without sign of a sail. Scotty relieved Rick, who +relaxed on the afterdeck. The boy glanced at his watch. They should be +picking up the islands soon.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Scotty sang out, "Sail ho."</p> + +<p>"How many?" Rick called.</p> + +<p>"Just one. On the horizon, off the port bow."</p> + +<p>Rick relieved Chahda at the helm, and the Hindu boy hurried below, +saying that he wanted a cold drink before the fight started. Rick +watched for the vinta sail, but before the craft was visible from his +lower vantage point, Scotty called out again. "Land! Behind the vinta. +Looks like a coral atoll. I can see the tips of palms."</p> + +<p>Zircon checked the chart. "It should be the most westerly of the three +islands," the physicist reported. "Scotty, any more vintas?"</p> + +<p>"Just the one."</p> + +<p>"Head for the island," Zircon instructed Rick. "We'll want a close +look."</p> + +<p>Chahda emerged from the galley with cold cokes for all hands, and they +drank while waiting for the boat to get within examination distance of +the island. It was clearly visible within a short time. As Scotty had +said, it was a coral atoll, the highest point not more than ten feet +above sea level.</p> + +<p>They passed the vinta at a distance of a hundred yards. There were only +three men aboard, and they were fishing. Then Rick cut closer to the +island while Scotty kept a sharp lookout for shoal waters and coral +heads.</p> + +<p>Details were clearly visible now. There were a dozen huts on the island, +and only a handful of people were visible. Zircon took the long glass +from Scotty and inspected carefully, "Apparently it's a small fishing +community. I see nets, and another three vintas pulled up on shore. +There seems to be ... Wait!"</p> + +<p>Rick watched as the scientist swung the long glass into the air, +followed something for a moment, then lowered it, his face grim.</p> + +<p>"I caught a glimpse of a man releasing something into the air, and +managed to pick it up with the glass. It was a pigeon. And you know what +that means!"</p> + +<p>The boys did. "Which way did it go?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Due east."</p> + +<p>Rick swung the MTB onto an easterly course without another word. He knew +from the chart that the biggest island of the three in the Datu Amman +Group lay that way. The third island was about ten miles to the north. +Release of the carrier pigeon could mean only that the island they were +now passing was a lookout position, from which the people on the biggest +island had now been notified of their arrival. And that meant ... what? +Rick had a good idea, which inspection should soon prove!</p> + +<p>"Land ho!" Scotty called down. "It's a peak of some sort."</p> + +<p>Rick saw it a few moments later, a golden glitter on the ocean as the +fast-setting sun struck land.</p> + +<p>The four watched as the land mass slowly took shape. "It's a mountain, +all right," Zircon said, excitement in his booming voice. "Looks like a +volcanic cone. Can you see it clearly, Scotty?"</p> + +<p>"It's a cone, and not much land under it, either. Hey! Vintas ahead! +Must be a hundred of them!"</p> + +<p>Rick felt excitement surge through him. That was too many vintas for a +simple fishing community on an island of small size!</p> + +<p>"They're forming a line between us and the island!" Scotty called down a +moment later.</p> + +<p>Rick could make out the tips of sails, and as the <i>Swift Arrow</i> forged +ahead, the entire fleet slowly came into view. Scotty was right. The +vintas were in a line—like a planned defense!</p> + +<p>The island was almost entirely visible, now. A volcanic cone, perhaps +five hundred feet high, formed most of the island. From the base of the +cone, flat land spread out toward the oncoming MTB, ending in a white +beach.</p> + +<p>"Get within gunshot of the vintas," Zircon directed grimly. "Let's see +if they're really hostile. If they are, we'll know we've found +something. And forget the crippled engine disguise. It's served its +purpose."</p> + +<p>Rick figured his course carefully. He would take the MTB on a gradually +sweeping curve that would place them within gunshot, but in a position +to beat a fast retreat. In a few minutes, now, they would be in +position. He kept his fingers crossed. Things looked promising. If this +were only the end of the search.</p> + +<p>He throttled back a little, in order to keep a good amount of speed in +reserve, and kept the MTB on the course he had planned, sweeping toward +one end of the vinta line. He saw the outrigger craft back their sails +as they turned to intercept him. Then, as the long curve brought him +within rifle range he put the helm hard over, running broadside to the +line of bright sails.</p> + +<p>Scotty called, "Watch it! Heads down!" The boy was flat on the top of +the pilothouse now, his own rifle within reach.</p> + +<p>As an echo to his warning Chahda yelled, "They shoot!"</p> + +<p>Rick couldn't hear the shots above the engine roar, but he took Chahda's +word for it. He put the helm over again, turning the stern toward the +line of boats.</p> + +<p>Scotty jumped to the deck. "They took several shots at us, but none hit. +I saw the muzzle flashes."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded. "I saw muzzle flashes, too. Lads, it looks as though +we've really found something, including a mountain. Now, I suggest we +reconnoiter thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"What's your plan?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Circle the island completely, at close range. Swing wide, to approach +from the north, then go around the island clockwise, staying as close to +shore as safety allows. We can outrun the vintas without trouble. If +necessary, we can even cut inside the line for a close look." The big +physicist was almost trembling with excitement.</p> + +<p>Rick wasted no time in swinging north, away from the vintas. Scotty went +back to the top of the pilothouse to watch for shoal waters. Once he was +far beyond the line of vintas, Rick cut back again, pointing the bow of +the MTB at the northern shore of the island. He took out his +handkerchief to wipe palms that were suddenly damp with nervous +perspiration. This had to be the place!</p> + +<p>He could see now that the volcanic peak occupied the entire eastern part +of the island. It dropped steeply into the ocean on both the eastern and +northern shores. The inhabitable land area was a broad shelf that sloped +from the base of the volcano to the western shore.</p> + +<p>As the MTB plowed toward the island more details became visible. There +was a very small crescent of beach on the northern shore, but black +volcanic rock dropped into the sea in most places.</p> + +<p>"Let's see what the rest of this place looks like," Zircon directed.</p> + +<p>Rick put the MTB on a curving course that would take them completely +around the island, about a hundred yards offshore. They left the +northern coast and passed the eastern edge of the island. Surf broke on +the black volcanic rock on the eastern shore, except at one point where +there appeared to be a fair-sized cove.</p> + +<p>The southern shore was equally forbidding until the volcanic cone was +passed. There was a large cove where the land shelf met the volcano. +Docks could be seen, and a few vintas. Apparently this was the island's +boat anchorage.</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded his satisfaction. "We seem to have something here, boys. +It's an ideal spot for a pirate stronghold. Notice they didn't try to +follow us, or cut us off anywhere except on the west? That's because the +island is a natural fortress, except for the western land slope. They +need only look for trouble from the west."</p> + +<p>The MTB was in sight of the pirate fleet again. They were still in a +battle array to protect the vulnerable western shore. The line of vintas +formed a long curve from a point just off the pirate anchorage around +the western shore to where the volcano rose from the land shelf on the +north.</p> + +<p>"I'll stay out of rifleshot," Rick said. "Take a look at the village +through the long glass, Professor. There may be some sign of Shannon and +Tony."</p> + +<p>"I'm not hopeful about that," Zircon replied. "They'd be under cover."</p> + +<p>The pirates made no move to follow the MTB on its curving course around +their battle line. Apparently the vintas were holding position in a +planned defense. Across the vinta line, Rick could see a field of what +appeared to be grain, separated by a street from a field of what was +certainly corn. The village itself was of nipa shacks on stilts, all of +them located near the volcano. There were a few trees, mostly mango and +avocado.</p> + +<p>"Plenty room for plenty pirates," Chahda commented.</p> + +<p>Rick grinned mirthlessly. "You're so right." The village would provide +housing for three or four hundred, anyway.</p> + +<p>"No sign of volcanic activity," Scotty said. "It must be a dead volcano. +Anyway, I don't think even pirates would be foolish enough to live under +a live one."</p> + +<p>"You're right," Zircon agreed. He waved a hand at the island. "Does +anyone doubt that this is the right place?"</p> + +<p>No one did.</p> + +<p>"I not seeing scientists," Chahda observed.</p> + +<p>"They wouldn't be in the open, anyway. But did anyone see their boat?"</p> + +<p>"All boats were vintas," Rick replied.</p> + +<p>"I thought so, too. However, I wouldn't expect the pirates to keep the +<i>Sampaguita</i> in sight. Head back toward Tawi Tawi, Rick. We've plans to +make!"</p> + +<p>Rick returned the scientist's jubilant grin, then he turned to look back +at the rapidly receding pirate island, the volcano black and forbidding +in the gathering dusk.</p> + +<p>"We'll be back," he promised the invisible scientists. "We'll be back!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>The Two Datus</h3> + + +<p>The <i>Swift Arrow</i> moved slowly through the darkness toward the Tawi Tawi +Group. Chahda was at the helm, while Rick, Scotty, and Zircon held a +council of war in the cabin. The Hindu boy kept popping in and out, +letting the MTB travel with locked rudder for a few minutes at a time so +he could be in on the conference.</p> + +<p>"It has to be Shan," Rick said flatly. "No fishing village ever had that +many vintas. And no peaceful fishermen ever fired on a stranger the way +that mob fired on us. Besides, there's a mountain."</p> + +<p>"I agree." Zircon examined his pistol barrel carefully, then ran a +cleaning rag through it again. "Furthermore, those vintas operated in a +planned defense, in a way no fishermen would ever do. I'm convinced that +it is the right island. The problem now is, what do we do?"</p> + +<p>Scotty paused in reassembling his rifle after a thorough cleaning. "Is +there a choice? We can't rush the village and rescue our friends, even +if we knew where they were. We'll have to get the constabulary, and the +Philippines Naval Patrol, and mount an all-out assault on the place."</p> + +<p>"No!" Rick exclaimed. "We can't do that. If the pirates saw an armed +fleet approaching, they'd kill Tony and Shannon, and get rid of their +bodies. The fleet would find nothing at all."</p> + +<p>Chahda asked in quick alarm, "You think they kill scientists when we +come today?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," Rick explained. "After all, one boat isn't a threat to +them, even a fast one like this one. I think they'd only get rid of Tony +and Shannon if they saw they were going to be invaded."</p> + +<p>"Then what can we do?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure. Anyway, the first thing is to see if our friends are +really there. When we get some more facts, maybe we can work out a +plan."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded. "That's sensible. The question is, how can we reconnoiter +the island? Circling it in the boat again will only tell us what we +already know."</p> + +<p>"Only one way. We go look," Chahda pointed out.</p> + +<p>Rick knew the Hindu boy was right. But getting ashore presented +problems. If the MTB got within swimming distance, the pirates would see +it. Of course they could row ashore by night in the rubber life raft the +big boat carried. He suggested it to the others.</p> + +<p>Chahda leaped at the idea. "Silent boat is good, Rick, but not rubber +boat. You remember we still got vinta?"</p> + +<p>"Of course!" Rick saw that Chahda had hit on the answer. They had left +the captured vinta in a small cove on the shore of an uninhabited island +a few miles to the north. "We can get it and tow it to easy sailing +distance. The pirates won't think anything of a single vinta even if +they see it. There must be boats coming and going all the time."</p> + +<p>"That is what I think too." Chahda ran back to the helm.</p> + +<p>"Won't they recognize the vinta?" Scotty asked, then answered his own +question, "I guess not. I've seen a dozen sails like it, and the hull +looks like all the rest."</p> + +<p>"The plan might work," Zircon agreed. "We'll try it. First we get the +vinta, then head south. By morning we'll be far out in the open sea. We +can then make a wide circle and approach the island from the east. They +won't expect us from that direction. Besides, only the western shore was +guarded, so far as I could see."</p> + +<p>Rick had a picture in his mind of the strip of isolated beach on the +northern shore. If they could land there, no one would see them. Then +they could climb over the stretch of lava between the beach and the +land, or swim around to the point where the land began.</p> + +<p>"I know the place," he volunteered, and told the others his idea, +repeating it for Chahda's benefit as the boy reappeared at the cabin +door.</p> + +<p>Zircon thought it over. "It should work, unless they have a lookout +posted at each side of the island. But we can't know that until we try. +Frankly, I doubt it. I think they believe the island is safe on all +sides except the west. Now, who will go on this reconnaissance?"</p> + +<p>"Rick and me," Chahda said firmly.</p> + +<p>"I'm going," Scotty stated.</p> + +<p>Zircon held up his hand. "Wait. Chahda, from your tone of voice, you +have a reason. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty reason. This small island, so who goes ashore will be seen, I +think. So, must be in Moro clothes. Professor, you and Scotty not good +size for Moro. You too big, and Scotty has too wide shoulders. Rick is +maybe a little tall, but not so wide. He can maybe stoop a little. Me, I +perfect for Moro. Even same color."</p> + +<p>"You're right," Zircon agreed. "No question of it. So curb your +impatience, Scotty. Your turn will come and so will mine. Chahda, you +take the lead in figuring out disguises for you and Rick. Scotty, you +and I will take over the watch and get underway."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>By morning the <i>Swift Arrow</i>, with the vinta in tow, was in Indonesian +waters far from shipping lanes or fishing grounds. Zircon figured their +position as 120 degrees 29 minutes longitude, and 4 degrees 21 seconds +latitude. They had seen no sails for hours.</p> + +<p>The MTB was allowed to drift while the group went about the business of +making ready. Chahda had created a Moro cap for Rick from a piece of +upholstery he had cut from a seat bottom. Rick had cut the seams in a +pair of white duck trousers and laced them with twine from the rope +locker until they fitted as tightly as Moro pants. One of his own +shirts, dirtied up a little and left open at the collar, would complete +his outfit.</p> + +<p>Chahda cut one of his extra turbans in half and made sashes for both of +them, and modified the wrapping of his own turban so that it was more +like the flat Moro variety.</p> + +<p>The only real problem was Rick's color. In spite of his deep tan he +couldn't possibly pass for a Moro. He and Chahda searched the boat for +something that would serve as a stain, then finally took their problem +to the others.</p> + +<p>Scotty had the answer. With a broad grin he went to his suitcase and +drew out a can of brown shoe polish. "Neatness pays," he proclaimed. He +passed it to Chahda with a flourish. "Don't give him too high a gloss +when you polish him."</p> + +<p>"How about shoes?" Zircon asked. "The polish reminded me. The pirates +don't wear any."</p> + +<p>"This pirate does," Rick declared. "I'll rub the shine off, but I can't +go barefoot."</p> + +<p>"Also," Chahda agreed. "Foots too tender. We could not run or fight in +barefoots."</p> + +<p>When everything was in readiness except for the application of polish, +Rick and Chahda took time to eat, then got into the vinta and began +practicing.</p> + +<p>The craft was filthy, from years of accumulated dirt and no cleaning, +and it offended Rick's nose. But more than that, it was hard to handle. +He could sail in conventional craft, but the outrigger design had its +own peculiarities.</p> + +<p>Slowly, as the day wore on, the two boys learned the Moro craft's ways +until they could handle it fairly well. There were paddles, in case the +wind failed, and Rick thought they might end up using the paddles, +anyway.</p> + +<p>As they tied up after the last practice run Zircon called them to eat, +then instructed them to get some sleep. None of the four had slept more +than an hour at a time since the previous morning, but the big scientist +and Scotty had decided to handle the MTB themselves on the way to the +pirate island, so Rick and Chahda could be fresh for the night's +adventure.</p> + +<p>After a meal of hot soup and crackers, the two boys climbed into their +bunks and drifted off to sleep. Zircon and Scotty had already started +the run toward Shan.</p> + +<p>Rick awoke with Scotty shaking him. "Time to rise, old son."</p> + +<p>The boy swung to the deck. "Where are we?"</p> + +<p>"About five miles east of the island." Scotty shook Chahda and told the +Hindu boy it was time to get up, then he sat down next to Rick. "I feel +funny, not going with you. Maybe I'd better go along. I could stay in +the vinta, and be ready in case of trouble."</p> + +<p>Rick gave his pal a sympathetic grin. He knew how Scotty felt. "Look at +it this way. If Chahda and I get caught, that leaves only you and +Zircon. And you couldn't give up, even with us out of the picture."</p> + +<p>"I guess so." Scotty gave in reluctantly. "Come on. Coffee and +sandwiches waiting. I'll go topside and help the professor keep a +lookout."</p> + +<p>Rick and Chahda got into their outfits, then the Hindu boy carefully +rubbed in polish on Rick's face, neck, arms, and hands, and his chest +where it showed through the open shirt.</p> + +<p>Finally the Hindu boy stood back and admired his handiwork. "Plenty +good. You make fine Moro, Rick."</p> + +<p>Rick adjusted Chahda's kris in his sash. "So are you. You'd fool the +Sultan of Sulu himself."</p> + +<p>"We be two Datus," Chahda said, grinning. "Datu Rick and Datu Chahda."</p> + +<p>"What's this date business?" Scotty asked as he came down from the +pilothouse.</p> + +<p>"Is Datu, not date. Datu is what Moros call Chiefs. We Datus."</p> + +<p>"Okay, Datus. The professor wants a look at you. I'll go take the wheel +while he comes down. We're blacked out topside, just in case there's a +lookout on this side of the island."</p> + +<p>In a moment Zircon came down and inspected them carefully. "You'd never +pass in daylight, Rick," he said finally. "But at night there should be +no trouble unless someone gives you a close inspection—in which case +you'd be caught, anyway. Now, have some coffee and sandwiches while +Scotty and I move the boat in closer."</p> + +<p>Rick said doubtfully, "Isn't it dangerous to get too close?"</p> + +<p>Chahda chimed in. "In 'Worrold Alm-in-ack,' says can see pretty far at +sea. Volcano is maybe five hundred feet. Man on top can maybe see 25.6 +ocean miles, says 'Alm-in-ack.'"</p> + +<p>"True." Zircon smiled. "But that would be in daylight, with absolutely +clear visibility. You recall that we didn't see the island yesterday +until we were perhaps ten miles away? Water vapor in the air cuts down +visibility here, and at night of course it's even less. If we're blacked +out, I think we can get within two miles with safety. Fortunately, the +moon set shortly after sunset. So our principal problem will be guessing +how far away we can be heard. At low speed, on only one engine, I think +two miles will be safe."</p> + +<p>The professor had been figuring things out, Rick realized. He nodded +approval. "All right. We'll be ready by the time you're in position. +I'll leave my Megabuck unit on the boat, and we'll depend on Chahda's. +Then, if we get caught, you and Scotty will still have two sets."</p> + +<p>"You won't get caught," Zircon stated emphatically. "Don't even +entertain the idea. I'm sure you can outrun the pirates. If you're +spotted, call us, then get to the shore. We'll come roaring in. Also, I +want you to take the pistol and extra clips. Then, if need be, you can +hold off the mob for the few minutes it will take us to get there."</p> + +<p>"All right." Rick didn't really believe they would be caught. Chahda +was an expert at reconnoitering, and he had had plenty of experience +himself. Besides, it was good to be moving into action, no matter what +the danger. They had searched for a long time. Now, their missing +friends were within reach. He had to believe that because the +alternative was to think they were dead.</p> + +<p>"Let's eat, Chahda," he said. "Almost time to go."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>The High Fire</h3> + + +<p>The Celebes Sea was dark, with a low swell but no chop. There was just +enough wind to fill the vinta's sail, which suited Rick. At this stage +in the proceedings he was more concerned about silence and safety than +speed. Zircon and Scotty had moved another mile seaward as soon as the +vinta was launched. That was to avoid anyone on the island hearing the +engines in case a sudden onshore wind came up.</p> + +<p>Up ahead, Chahda was a dark blur against the sail, trimming it for +maximum efficiency. Presently the Hindu boy came back to the tiller and +sat down near Rick.</p> + +<p>Shan's volcanic cone blotted out the stars ahead. There were no lights +of any kind on the mountain itself, and the number of lights in the +village was gradually diminishing.</p> + +<p>The water splashed a little under the rudder, and the cordage holding +the mast and sail creaked as a vagrant breeze caught the vinta. +Otherwise, there was no sound. Once a fish jumped nearby, and Rick was +halfway to his feet, hand going to the pistol at his belt, before he +realized what it was. He smiled at his own tenseness.</p> + +<p>Rick wiped moist palms on the thighs of his tight pants and strained to +see the first sign of the beach on which he and Chahda would land. +Chahda, according to plan, moved to the bow of the Moro craft in order +to keep a lookout.</p> + +<p>The timing was all right, Rick thought. There were still lights in the +village, but not many. Early, when too many pirates were out of doors, +would not be a good time. Later, when perhaps only guards were moving +around, would be even worse. They had tried to time their reconnaissance +for an in-between period, and it looked as though the selection of the +hour was good. Most villagers were in bed, but enough kerosene lamps and +candles burned to show that the two of them probably would not attract +special attention by being out so late.</p> + +<p>Chahda came back and whispered, "We drop sail now."</p> + +<p>"Okay." Rick was careful to keep his voice at a whisper. He knew sound +carried across the water.</p> + +<p>The boys let the sail down and lashed it just enough to keep a sudden +breeze from tangling the lines, then took paddles and steered for the +small crescent of beach that made a light streak between the sea and the +black rock of the volcano. The lights of the village were gradually lost +as the jutting rock between the beach and the western land slope blocked +their view.</p> + +<p>Rick and Chahda timed their paddle strokes to catch a low wave as it +sped to shore, and in a moment the vinta's bow grated on sand. Chahda +jumped to shore, carrying the craft's anchor—a block of stone with a +hole in it for the rope—and hauled the vinta's bow up on dry coral +sand. Rick stepped to the sand and paused, ears tuned for any unusual +noise. He heard nothing except the sharp barking of a dog in the +village.</p> + +<p>"If this is like most Asiatic villages, there'll be enough mutts to make +it a dog catcher's paradise," he whispered in Chahda's ear. "They'll +give us away sure!"</p> + +<p>Chahda shook his head. "Leave to me. Have plenty sad experience with +dogs. I come ready for them."</p> + +<p>Rick wondered how the Hindu boy was prepared, but he realized this was +no time for questions. He put his lips close to the hidden radio unit +under Chahda's turban and called softly, "Rick to home base."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead, Rick," Zircon's voice said faintly through the heavy folds of +turban.</p> + +<p>"We're on the beach, about to leave the vinta."</p> + +<p>"Good luck. We're standing by for a fast run if needed. Be careful."</p> + +<p>"We will," Rick promised. "Off for now." He drew the automatic from his +sash, pulled back the slide, and let it carry a round into the chamber. +Then he lowered the hammer to half cock and made sure the safety was on. +He tucked the pistol into his sash, and loosened the kris in its +sheath.</p> + +<p>Chahda drew his barong and made a few practice swings. The blade gleamed +in the starlight.</p> + +<p>Rick led the way, westward along the beach to where the black lava rock +lay in tumbled masses. If they could climb across the tongue of lava, +all would be well. If not, they would have to return to the beach and +swim around it.</p> + +<p>The lava was in big chunks, and there were ample hand and footholds. It +was an easy climb to the top of the flow, only about twenty feet above +sea level, and an easy climb down again. The only hard part was moving +across the top of the flow, through the mass of lava boulders.</p> + +<p>Presently the two boys stood on soil, still hidden among lava +outcroppings. The village was to their left. In front of them, to the +west, was a cornfield. Rick wasn't surprised to see the corn. He knew +that from the central Philippines south to Sulu there was more corn +eaten than rice.</p> + +<p>"Keep an eye open for a guard," he whispered to Chahda. "We'll wait a +few minutes to see if one shows up. Then, if it seems clear, we'll move +along the edge of the cornfield toward the village."</p> + +<p>"Good plan," Chahda agreed.</p> + +<p>Rick strained to catch sound or motion. When his luminous watch dial +told him five minutes had elapsed, he leaned toward Chahda. "No sign of +a guard. Let's go."</p> + +<p>Apparently the pirates were sure attack could come only from the west, +as Zircon had thought.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly they had lookouts on the western shore.</p> + +<p>Rick led the way, keeping close to the abrupt rise of the volcanic cone. +He saw there were plenty of gaps and holes in the lava into which they +could duck, as well as the cornfield. Knowing they could be out of sight +in a matter of seconds gave him confidence, and he moved rapidly ahead.</p> + +<p>A slight breeze brought him the scent—or rather stench—of the village. +He wrinkled his nose and suppressed a sneeze. Wow! If the pirates +possessed any virtues, cleanliness was not one of them.</p> + +<p>The cornfield ran right up to the edge of the village, which was nestled +under a point where the volcano dropped steeply for perhaps a hundred +feet. It was a good defensive position, Rick saw. The black lava cliff +probably could be climbed, and would offer a wonderful location for +riflemen. Even heavy weapons would have a hard time dislodging them.</p> + +<p>Ahead was a kind of street, a wide gap between rows of houses. Some of +the houses showed the yellow flickering light of candles or kerosene +lamps, but most were dark. The houses were raised up on piles, in the +fashion common throughout the Philippines, and most of them offered +little obstruction to the view.</p> + +<p>Rick shrank back as a man walked down the street, turned, and went up a +ladder into one of the houses. In the dim light Rick could see that he +had tight pants, a flat turban, and a rifle in his hand. The boy +shuddered. There probably were enough deadly weapons in the village to +outfit a regimental combat team. One slip and those weapons would be +turned on them.</p> + +<p>Chahda put his lips close to Rick's ear. "What we do now?"</p> + +<p>"Look for a house with guards, I guess."</p> + +<p>It seemed the only possibility. If Tony and Shannon were in the village, +they would almost certainly be guarded. Guards probably would be the +only clue to their presence.</p> + +<p>For long moments Rick debated on how best to approach the problem. There +wasn't any easy way. He tapped Chahda on the shoulder. "Let's go."</p> + +<p>The two boys stepped out from their concealment against the volcanic +wall and walked boldly into the village.</p> + +<p>Rick had his fingers crossed for luck, but he was ready to uncross them +in a hurry and go for the pistol in his sash. Their disguises had to +protect them from casual viewers. He had confidence that the deep +shadows of the village would conceal the fact that they were strangers, +unless they came face to face with someone.</p> + +<p>The street paralleled the face of the volcano, with houses on both +sides. For the first few steps they saw no one, then far down the street +a Moro crossed, and it took all of Rick's courage to keep walking +casually ahead.</p> + +<p>Nearby a dog barked, and the noise sent a stream of sweat dripping down +Rick's back. The barking continued, drew nearer. Rick half drew his +kris, but Chahda whispered hoarsely, "Wait!"</p> + +<p>A mongrel of indiscriminate breed sidled up to them, hackles raised, +teeth gleaming faintly in a snarl. Chahda bent low and murmured. The dog +leaped frantically, and Rick's heart caught in his throat. Then the +Hindu boy miraculously was petting the vicious mutt.</p> + +<p>"What did you do?" Rick demanded in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"You remember canned hombargers? I open can and put some in my pocket. +Feed one to dog. He our friend now. Come on."</p> + +<p>Rick had to grin. The mysterious Hindu! Behind the mystery was a +practical solution to problems. Just stick a couple of "hombargers" in +the pocket.</p> + +<p>The boy led the way again, Chahda hurrying to catch up. Beside them, the +once-fierce dog gamboled like a puppy, hoping for another handout.</p> + +<p>In a few moments Rick saw that the two streets of the town formed a huge +T, with the stem starting under the mountain and running toward the +west. He had an idea that Tony and Shannon would be near the center of +the village, in the most protected position—simply because it would be +easier to guard them that way. That meant they would be close to the +intersection where he and Chahda now stood.</p> + +<p>A poke in the ribs from Chahda took his mind off the problem in a hurry, +and put it on a new and immediate one. A man was walking directly +toward them, coming from the direction of the western shore. Rick +couldn't see him clearly; it was too dark in the village. But he could +see enough to know that the pirate carried a rifle and had a barong +tucked into his belt.</p> + +<p>Rick's hand started for the pistol, then paused. He couldn't shoot now. +It would bring the whole village down on them. For a moment he nearly +panicked, then with a nod to Chahda he walked directly toward the man. +The bold approach was the best one, he figured. To run was to bring a +shot. He had a vague idea of getting within range, then jumping the +Moro. Certainly they couldn't stop and talk with him; neither of them +knew the language.</p> + +<p>The pirate didn't seem uncertain, or alarmed. He walked toward the two +boys casually, obviously not yet recognizing them as strangers. He would +soon, Rick knew. It was important to get the jump on the Moro first, and +prevent him yelling, if possible.</p> + +<p>Then, as Rick prepared for a wild spring and a roundhouse punch, Chahda +whispered, "Be ready," and lifted his hand in salute. The Moro lifted +his hand, too, and said something in the native tongue. It might have +been a greeting; neither boy ever knew for sure.</p> + +<p>Chahda walked right up to him, muttering something that was probably +Hindu double talk. The Indian boy moved so that the Moro swung around, +trying to understand what Chahda was saying.</p> + +<p>For an instant the pirate's back was to Rick. He moved like a charging +panther. The pistol came out of his sash and descended barrel first, all +his desperate strength behind it. He felt it slam down on the pirate's +turban and connect solidly with the head underneath.</p> + +<p>Chahda caught the man as he fell, and in an instant the two boys had +hauled him under the nearest house.</p> + +<p>Rick found the man's pulse and breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. It +was thready and slow, but it was there. The pirate would wake up, but +not for some time. The dog sniffed inquiringly at the fallen Moro, but +made no noise. Rick took Chahda by the arm and pulled him out into the +street again, pausing anxiously to see if the brief and violent meeting +had attracted attention. Apparently it hadn't. There were no signs of +life in nearby houses, and no one looked out of those with lights +farther along the street.</p> + +<p>Rick decided they had better conduct their search with all possible +speed. The boys moved rapidly along the street at the top of the T, +toward the waterfront on the south. The dog trotted alongside, their +firm friend now. Rick knew the boat dock must be at the end of the +street. That would certainly mean guards, and it wouldn't be wise to go +too close.</p> + +<p>He had a sudden thought that the scientists might be prisoners on one of +the vintas, then rejected it. No vinta they had seen was big enough to +serve as a prison, and there had been no sign of the boat the missing +men had rented. That could also mean the scientists weren't even on the +island. But if not, where could they be?</p> + +<p>Chahda's hand on his arm stopped Rick. He saw that they had nearly +completed their inspection of this particular street. The masts of +vintas and the sheen of water among the pirate craft were visible +directly ahead.</p> + +<p>He put his lips close to Chahda's ear and whispered, "Let's cut west, +through the houses."</p> + +<p>Rick's idea was to go through the quadrant of town they were now +traversing, until he saw the waterfront on the west. Then they could +cross the street that he pictured as the stem of the "T" and turn back +toward the mountain, going through the town on the other side. That way, +if any trouble developed, they would be only a few yards from the +cornfield, and could certainly lose themselves until Zircon and Scotty +could come roaring in.</p> + +<p>They passed under a lighted house, and through the split bamboo floor +laths they could see two men drinking <i>basi</i>, or some other native +beverage, from sections of bamboo. Now and then the two men talked in +casual, drowsy tones.</p> + +<p>Nowhere was there a sign of guards until Rick and Chahda passed +completely through the village and emerged under the great branches of a +mango tree. Ahead of them was a field of grain, probably millet, and +beyond it was the western shore of the island. As they watched, two men +walked along the shore toward each other, met, chatted for a moment, +then turned and walked away from each other again.</p> + +<p>"Guards," Rick said softly. "Walking their patrols along the beach."</p> + +<p>It was as he suspected. The two guards, patrolling the beach, could see +everything that offered danger by walking from where they had met to +points roughly halfway around the island.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they see us in the vinta," Chahda whispered. "But maybe they no +think much about it."</p> + +<p>Rick thought he might be right, but the greater probability was that +they hadn't been seen at all, especially if they had approached the +shore while the guards were walking toward each other near the western +end of the island.</p> + +<p>"We'll be a little more cautious on the way back," Rick returned softly.</p> + +<p>"Is so," Chahda agreed. "What we do now?"</p> + +<p>Rick motioned toward the street that led from the volcano to the western +shore. "Cross that and look at the houses on the other side. Come on."</p> + +<p>With a quick look around to be sure no one was watching, or showing any +undue interest in them, he moved out from the shadow of the mango tree +and headed past the irregularly placed houses to where the wide strip of +yellow dust marked the street.</p> + +<p>They reached the street's edge without incident, and paused for another +quick look before crossing. As Rick glanced up the street a flicker of +yellow high in the air caught his eye. He lifted his head and stared +directly at it. A fire! It was high up on the face of the cliff behind +the village, where they couldn't have seen it from the street under the +cliff.</p> + +<p>He wondered. Was it a beacon for pirates who might be out in the vintas? +Apparently it was on a shelf of some sort more than a hundred feet above +the village.</p> + +<p>Then, as he watched, a tall, thin figure passed in front of the fire and +was silhouetted briefly against the flames.</p> + +<p>He grabbed for Chahda. That was no Moro, not with those long legs and +arms! And no Moro on this island would wear thick glasses, from which +the firelight had glinted momentarily.</p> + +<p>That was Howard Shannon!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>Plan of Attack</h3> + + +<p>The boys crossed the street, crept past several houses, and gained the +safety of the cornfield. Slowly, so that rustling leaves and stalks +would not give them away, they crossed the cornfield. To Rick, at least, +it was a terribly long and slow journey. He wanted to give a yell of joy +and triumph. He wanted to call Zircon immediately and pass on the good +news. But he knew silence was important, and he kept his exultation +locked inside.</p> + +<p>As they reached the lava flow Chahda gave the now-faithful pirate dog +the last of his hamburgers, and the boys climbed across the lava to the +beach. Only then did Rick dare to stop long enough to call the <i>Swift +Arrow</i>.</p> + +<p>"We found Shannon," he said triumphantly. "Now we have to get out of +here. We'll give you the details later."</p> + +<p>The boys pushed off in the vinta and paddled toward the east in order to +get farther away from the guards before putting up the sail. Then, +because the slight breeze had shifted, it was necessary to tack the +cranky craft until dawn was pale in the east before they reached the +<i>Swift Arrow</i>.</p> + +<p>As the MTB moved quietly south, out of danger, Rick reported. "We saw +Shannon, as I told you on the radio. I'm sure it was he. They're on the +cliff at the back of the village. I'd guess the shelf where we saw the +fire is over a hundred feet up."</p> + +<p>"No sign of Briotti?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>"None at all. Of course we couldn't see onto the shelf. There wasn't +enough light and it was too high."</p> + +<p>Scotty rubbed his chin. "How did they get up there?"</p> + +<p>"Must be ladder," Chahda answered.</p> + +<p>"A pretty good prison," Zircon commented. "No danger of escape, once the +ladder or steps were removed, and the whole village serves as guard. The +big question is, how do we get them out of there?"</p> + +<p>Rick had thought about it during the tedious trip back. He had turned +over every possibility in his mind and eliminated all but one. What's +more, he wasn't sure that would work.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea," he explained, "but it depends on a daytime look at the +island."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded. "All right. We'll take a look. Now, tell us about the +village. Any trouble?"</p> + +<p>The two boys gave Zircon and Scotty a quick account of their +reconnaissance, and both chuckled at Chahda's trick of feeding the dog.</p> + +<p>"He'll probably be standing on the beach waiting when you get back," +Scotty said with a grin. "Bet it's the first hamburger the pooch ever +had. That pirate you belted with the pistol bothers me, though. Won't he +set off an alarm that will put the whole mob on the alert?"</p> + +<p>"I hope not. There's a chance he might think it was someone in the +village who has a grudge against him."</p> + +<p>Zircon shrugged. "One way or another, there's nothing we can do about it +now. We'll have to assume the whole place is alerted."</p> + +<p>"How about some sleep?" Scotty suggested.</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. The first part of his plan had to be put into +operation immediately. "It's only a little while to dawn. By sunrise we +have to be east of the island."</p> + +<p>He explained quickly. For a safe, undetected look at the areas of the +island he wanted to see, they would have to depend on the sun for a +shield. They could proceed immediately on a roundabout course that would +bring them to the east of the island just as the sun was rising. Hidden +in the sun's glare, they would have a few minutes in which to examine +the eastern slope of the volcano.</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to see your plan," Zircon said. "Then what?"</p> + +<p>"Then we go into safe waters for the day. At sunset we hide in the sun +again, while we look at the island from the west. We'll wait until the +sun is low enough, so no one on the island will be looking into it, then +we'll use it for a shield and take a good look at Shannon's cliff +dwelling through the long glass."</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "But we already know what's on the eastern and +western shores. Why go to all this trouble?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know much about the terrain. If it looks possible, you and I +go climbing tonight. We land on the eastern shore, climb the volcano, go +over the top and down the western side until we come out right above the +shelf where the scientists are held prisoner. Then we haul them up on a +rope."</p> + +<p>Scotty stared at his pal. "Wow! We take them out by the back door, huh?"</p> + +<p>Zircon held up his hand. "Not so fast. The plan is a good one, Rick. I +won't mention my natural dislike of being dismissed from the scheme +without being consulted, because you and Scotty are the logical ones to +go for a reconnaissance of this kind. But I'll buy only this: You and +Scotty will look over the terrain tonight. If possible, you will deliver +a Megabuck radio unit to Shannon and Briotti. Then you will return +without attracting attention. That will be time enough for us to plan +the rescue, in conjunction with our friends on the cliff."</p> + +<p>Rick had to admit Zircon's plan made better sense, even though he +disliked the idea of another day's delay in rescuing their friends. He +nodded.</p> + +<p>Scotty rose, his pleasure at the plan evident in his wide grin. "Let's +go!"</p> + +<p>Fifteen hours later the <i>Swift Arrow</i> withdrew to the open waters to the +south as the sun slowly fell below the horizon. The four adventurers +gathered around the chart table and studied the island of Shan, +comparing notes.</p> + +<p>Zircon used a pair of dividers as a pointer. "This cove on the eastern +shore looks like the best possibility for anchoring the vinta, and I'd +say the climb up the volcano from there is no harder than from any other +place."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed. "It looked that way to me, too. We'll call that cove our +back door. The only real puzzle is, does the volcano have a crater? If +so, we'll have to go around it. Climbing down into the crater and up +again would use up too much time."</p> + +<p>Zircon shrugged. "We have no way of telling. Did anyone notice a +preferred way around the cone?"</p> + +<p>"The southern slope looks a little less steep," Scotty volunteered.</p> + +<p>Chahda nodded agreement. "I also think this. To me, big trouble is place +right above cliff. Is pretty steep, I think."</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy was right as usual, Rick thought. He had seen through the +long glass that the area above the steep cliff was only slightly less +vertical than the cliff itself, with an occasional shelf of rock. Not +only would that be the hardest part of the trip, he guessed, but the +most dangerous, since they would be in sight of the village part of the +time.</p> + +<p>"It's steep," Scotty agreed. "I'd say it's not a place to pick for a +casual stroll, but I can't think of any other way to get our friends off +that shelf. Can you?"</p> + +<p>The others shook their heads. They had discussed it at length during the +daylight hours while they floated patiently in the waters south of Shan, +alternately sleeping and preparing for the night's work. Since no other +plan seemed even remotely feasible, Rick and Scotty were to make the +first try in about two hours.</p> + +<p>The time passed swiftly with last-minute preparations. The boys carried +rope, heavy spikes to be used as pitons on particularly difficult +places, flashlights taped so only a pinpoint of light could emerge, cans +of water from the emergency rations, work gloves from the clothing +locker, and candy bars for quick-energy rations.</p> + +<p>In addition, Rick had Zircon's pistol, a takedown fishing rod, with reel +and line, a radio unit, and the long glass. Scotty had his rifle, a +small first-aid kit, and a wooden caulking mallet.</p> + +<p>The two boys were having a last cup of coffee when Chahda came down from +the upper deck. "Is time," the Hindu boy told them. "We two miles east +of Shan. Good wind. You make good time going in, not so good coming +back."</p> + +<p>The boys finished their coffee and went on deck. The four shook hands +all around, and Zircon cautioned, "Give yourselves plenty of time for +the return trip. Remember that if you're late, you'll have to hide on +the volcano all day!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>The Black Cliff</h3> + + +<p>Heavy seas broke against the rocky base of the island. Rick surveyed the +cove they had chosen with some misgiving. The vinta wouldn't be safe if +tied to shore. The breaking surf would batter it to bits before they +could get back.</p> + +<p>Scotty moved to his side. "Now what?"</p> + +<p>"Swim," Rick said grimly. "Around that point looks like the most +sheltered place, but it isn't good. The wind blows these waves halfway +around the world, and they've got plenty of steam."</p> + +<p>"Have to chance it," Scotty stated.</p> + +<p>They maneuvered the cranky craft into the meager shelter of the point +Rick had indicated, then dropped the stone anchor. It dragged along the +bottom briefly, then caught in a cleft between two underwater rocks. It +would hold unless the rope broke.</p> + +<p>The boys took their belongings and bundled them in their clothes, along +with shoes and weapons. Then, holding the bundles high with one hand, +they slipped into the water. In a few moments the two were rubbing +themselves dry and putting their clothes on again.</p> + +<p>Rick tried the radio unit while they rested. "Rick to Zircon."</p> + +<p>"Standing by, Rick. Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"Ashore." He described the situation briefly.</p> + +<p>"I should have thought of that," Zircon replied. "The eastern shore is +to windward. You were bound to have surf. Are you all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We're starting out now. We'll talk to you from on top, if it's +safe." He hung the little radio around his neck by its lanyard, and +stood up. "Ready to climb Mount Everest, brother Scott?"</p> + +<p>Scotty stared up at the slope of the volcano. "If you are, brother +Brant."</p> + +<p>Neither boy was an experienced mountaineer, but both knew the principles +of operation. They roped together and started the long climb. It was +easy at first. The slopes low down were not steep, and the broken lava +gave plenty of hand and footholds. But as they reached a point Rick +estimated to be about two hundred feet above the water, the slope +steepened sharply.</p> + +<p>"Rest a moment," Scotty suggested. "We'll last longer if we take a +breather once in a while."</p> + +<p>Rick knew Scotty was right, but he resented the need for sitting idly +for even a few minutes. He used the five-minute rest period to report to +Zircon that all was well.</p> + +<p>Rick led the way again as soon as the luminous dial of his wrist watch +showed that five minutes had elapsed. Twice he and Scotty were stalled +for a brief time, but finally found a route and improved it by hammering +the steel spikes in clefts in the rock. With the hammer padded, the +sound was muffled to a point where it couldn't be heard more than a few +feet away. The spikes could be used to belay their rope on the way down.</p> + +<p>The last stage of the upward journey was to the top of the cone. It was +nearly vertical, but wide cracks made it less difficult than some of the +areas below. Scotty was leading now. He reached the top, then waited for +Rick to join him.</p> + +<p>Silently the two boys looked out over the dark sea, and Rick wished for +a moment that he could see the view by daylight.</p> + +<p>"Let's check the crater," Scotty suggested. He drew his flashlight, then +inched forward across the rubble of the rim. Rick stayed beside him.</p> + +<p>"Any danger of the beam being seen?" Scotty asked softly.</p> + +<p>"No. The angle is wrong. If you keep it directed toward the crater, it +will be invisible from the sea."</p> + +<p>Rick watched as Scotty switched the light on. The pencil of light swept +downward, and finally lost itself in nothingness.</p> + +<p>The two boys stared at each other.</p> + +<p>"The whole island's hollow!" Rick breathed. "I'll say this thing has a +crater!"</p> + +<p>"Plenty deep," Scotty agreed. "Well, that tears it. Nothing to do but go +around. You lead the way."</p> + +<p>Rick felt his way down until at last he was standing on the shoulder of +the ancient volcano just below the final sweep upward to the crest. In a +moment Scotty joined him. Slowly and carefully they started the long +journey around, taking the southern slope as previously agreed.</p> + +<p>It was hard going. In spots the lava was crumbly and gave under foot or +hand. In others it was dense as steel slag.</p> + +<p>When Rick estimated that over half the distance around the volcano had +been covered he called Zircon and reported, then told the big scientist +it would be their last contact for a while.</p> + +<p>Within a hundred feet the lights of the village came in sight far below. +The boys paused to survey the situation, and to examine the western part +of the island. Most of it was visible from their vantage point. Only the +cove where the vintas were kept and the section of village closest to +the cliff were out of sight. Rick could see the beach clearly, and +wondered if the guards were looking their way.</p> + +<p>"Go carefully," Scotty whispered. "This is no time to start a +landslide."</p> + +<p>"Good advice," Rick whispered back. "But which way do we go now?"</p> + +<p>"The slope to the left looks pretty good," Scotty answered softly. "We +can cut back when we get down a little."</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the slope, they found another drift that angled away +toward the north. By the time they reached the bottom of it, Rick +whispered that they must be directly above the cave. He could see the +lighter path of the street that ran from below the shelf toward the +western end of the island. Now all that remained was to make their way +down to within reach of the scientists.</p> + +<p>They moved with extreme caution, fearful that the slightest noise would +give them away, or that a wrong step would start a rockslide. It was +painful work, going down backward most of the way. Once they reached +what seemed to be a dead end, and lay on their stomachs surveying a +sheer wall nearly twelve feet high.</p> + +<p>Rick solved the problem by finding a lava boulder big enough and stable +enough to serve as a rope anchor. They took an extra length of line +Scotty carried and made it fast, then went down the rope hand over hand.</p> + +<p>The whole village was spread before them now. Rick could even see the +cross street that ran below the base of the cliff, and he knew they must +be nearly within sight of the shelf on which the scientists were +imprisoned.</p> + +<p>"Tough section below," Scotty whispered so low that Rick could barely +hear him. "I think it drops off sheer."</p> + +<p>Another dozen feet of slow progress proved that Scotty was right. There +was a small shelf, then the slope dropped away abruptly. Both boys lay +flat, and slowly inched up to the drop and looked over.</p> + +<p>Rick felt Scotty's hand grip his arm like an iron clamp at the same +moment that he realized that another shelf was directly below, a tiny +campfire burning on it!</p> + +<p>But that wasn't what Scotty had seen. At a point off to their right, and +only slightly below them was a second, smaller shelf. On it sat a pirate +guard, rifle across his knees, staring out to sea.</p> + +<p>Rick swallowed his heart, which had climbed into his throat. They were +in plain sight of the guard, or at least their heads were. He backed +away as rapidly as the rough surface allowed, until the guard was no +longer in sight. He and Scotty held a whispered exchange, their voices +no louder than a zephyr.</p> + +<p>"Keep your eyes off him," Rick said. "He may feel someone looking at +him."</p> + +<p>"Right. He's in a wonderful position. He looks down on the shelf where +the fire is located. Did you see the ladder?"</p> + +<p>Rick hadn't.</p> + +<p>"It leads from his perch to the shelf. I suppose ladders lead down to +the ground from there."</p> + +<p>The guard was an obstacle Rick hadn't expected. He wondered if the guard +on duty last night had seen him slug the pirate, and he decided it +didn't make much difference. As Zircon had said, they had to assume the +whole colony was alerted.</p> + +<p>"Let's look out one at a time," he whispered. "I didn't see anyone on +the ledge."</p> + +<p>He inched forward once more and put his head over the edge of the drop. +The fire on the rocky shelf was a small one, probably only a cooking +fire. There wasn't anyone in sight. He guessed the scientists must be +in a cave under the rock on which he crouched. He could only hope they +were awake.</p> + +<p>Rick estimated the situation. It was perhaps thirty feet down to the +shelf. The guard was ten feet below, and twenty feet to his right. He +noticed that the guard didn't look down at the shelf. He was awake, but +his attention was focused outward. In all probability he was a lookout +rather than a guard, watching for signs of ship movement to the west, +the direction from which danger to the pirates might be expected to +come.</p> + +<p>The boy withdrew and joined Scotty. "No sign of anyone on the shelf. I'm +going to lower the radio unit, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Okay. Let's get the rod out."</p> + +<p>Rick had carried the rod-section case on his back, tied to shoulders and +belt with line. He untied the line swiftly and assembled the rod. Scotty +helped him put the reel in place and feed the line through the guides. +Then Rick carefully wrapped the radio unit in his handkerchief, and put +the whole thing in a black denim ditty bag borrowed from Chahda for the +purpose. He secured the drawstring of the ditty bag to the end of the +fishing line and inched forward again. Scotty moved forward, too, his +rifle unslung and ready for action.</p> + +<p>Rick hadn't even bothered with a note. Both Shannon and Briotti would +recognize the radio unit instantly. There were no others like it outside +of Spindrift. They would immediately put it to use and be talking to +Zircon before the two boys had moved away from the position over their +heads.</p> + +<p>Carefully Rick pushed the tip of the rod out far enough so the ditty bag +would clear all obstructions on the way down, then he swung the bag +clear and began to feed out the line.</p> + +<p>The bag went down an inch at a time, while he concentrated on keeping +the motion slow but steady. A sudden jerk might attract the guard's +attention, but very slow motion probably wouldn't.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus5" id="illus5"></a> +<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>A sudden jerk would attract the guard's attention</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>He was sweating profusely by the time the bag got within reach of the +shelf below. He began to worry. He had seen no one. Had the pirates +removed the scientists, leaving the lookout in his usual position?</p> + +<p>He kept the bag moving until suddenly strain went off the line and he +knew it was down. He could see it in the faint glow from the fire, lying +motion-less on the rock below. Long moments ticked by and he felt the +trickle of sweat down his face, the sweat of apprehension. Why didn't +someone show up?</p> + +<p>And then, as though in answer to the frantic thought, a man stepped into +view below, and casually dropped his coat over the ditty bag.</p> + +<p>Rick almost sobbed with relief. Tony Briotti! The familiar crew cut had +grown long, but it was Tony!</p> + +<p>Swiftly the boy drew his knife and cut the line, letting the loose end +tumble down. Then, careful of the fishing rod, he withdrew from the edge +and touched Scotty to indicate he should withdraw, too.</p> + +<p>For a few seconds they just lay there, weak with relief. Then Rick +disassembled the rod and restowed it. Scotty reslung his rifle. On hands +and knees, the two started their retreat. Not until they were certain +that the guard could no longer see them did they stand upright and begin +to move more rapidly.</p> + +<p>Their mission was a success, but perhaps the plan was not. Rick was no +longer filled with enthusiasm for his scheme. The guard had changed all +that.</p> + +<p>How were they going to get the scientists out with a guard watching +them?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>The Radio Link</h3> + + +<p>Dawn was showing its first pale light in the east when Rick and Scotty +tied the vinta at the stern of the <i>Swift Arrow</i> and climbed aboard. +Hobart Zircon and Chahda greeted them with relief.</p> + +<p>"We thinking you lost or caught," Chahda said happily. "Glad we wrong."</p> + +<p>Zircon added, "We were about to make a run toward shore, hoping to see +you."</p> + +<p>"It was the wind," Scotty said wearily. "We had to beat to windward all +the way back. Did you ever try tacking a vinta for hours against a stiff +breeze?"</p> + +<p>Rick slumped down on a convenient bench. "Save the talk for later. We'd +better get out of here. It's nearly daylight."</p> + +<p>"You're right!" Zircon hurried to the controls and headed the <i>Swift +Arrow</i> south. Gradually he opened the throttles until, at a safe +distance from the island, the MTB was moving at full-cruising speed. +Only then did the four take time to talk.</p> + +<p>"Any radio contact?" Rick demanded.</p> + +<p>Zircon's wide grin answered him.</p> + +<p>"Are they all right?" Scotty yelled.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Want to say hello?"</p> + +<p>Rick jumped for the radio unit the scientist held out, and plugged in +the earphone. Scotty took Chahda's set.</p> + +<p>"Rick and Scotty here," Rick called. "Do you hear us?"</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti's familiar voice answered. "Rick and Scotty! You two young +cliff hangers! What took you so long to get back? Zircon kept us posted, +and we were worried sick. We kept watching the village, expecting you to +be hauled in as prisoners."</p> + +<p>Rick explained about the unfavorable wind, and Scotty added, "Besides, +we took it easy crossing the volcano. We hammered spikes in a few rough +places to make it easier when we come back for you."</p> + +<p>"You can't," Tony said swiftly. "Boys, believe me, we're grateful for +the attempt, but you can't get away with it. There's a lookout in +position to see us at all times, and there's no way you can sneak up on +him. I've told Zircon this. You must not try!"</p> + +<p>"How is Dr. Shannon?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Fine. We're all fine, although we could use a bath and some home +cooking. But don't try to change the subject, Rick. You must not try to +get us out of here. You'd end up in this prison, if not dead."</p> + +<p>Rick could see that the conversation was leading nowhere, and he knew +now that the scientists were all right. "We're tired, Tony," he said +wearily. "It's been a rough night."</p> + +<p>"All right, boys. One of us will be awake at all times, so call us +whenever you wish."</p> + +<p>Zircon looked at them anxiously as they put the radio units away. "How +about it? Is Tony right?"</p> + +<p>"Right as radishes," Rick assented. "The lookout is where we can't reach +him, except with a gun, and the noise of a shot would defeat us. I'm +sure there's some way out of this, but I can't think straight. I'm too +tired."</p> + +<p>"Below and into your bunks, both of you," Zircon commanded. "Chahda and +I will stand by until we're in safe waters, then we can all get some +sleep."</p> + +<p>Rick needed no second invitation. He was asleep in five minutes. Hours +later a ray of sun through the porthole woke him out of deep, dreamless +slumber. He stretched luxuriously. A wash and a cold drink would be just +right, he decided, and wondered how long he had been asleep. His watch +told him it was two thirty in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>He got to his feet and saw that Scotty was out of his bunk, probably on +deck. Chahda was sleeping quietly, even though the swinging quiver Rick +had placed on a hook near the bunk struck him in the elbow every time +the boat rolled.</p> + +<p>Rick lifted the quiver down and started to hang it where Chahda wouldn't +be bothered. He paused, brows furrowed. He had the answer to their +problem in his hands. An arrow was silent.</p> + +<p>He shook his head and put the quiver away. It would mean putting a +hunting arrow through the guard's head without warning. He knew +perfectly well he was incapable of killing a man in cold blood, no +matter what the provocation. It would be an easy shot, but one he would +never make.</p> + +<p>Zircon and Scotty were relaxed on deck when Rick joined them after a +quick shower. They greeted him soberly.</p> + +<p>"Did you dream the right answer?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Didn't dream at all," he retorted. "I've had only one idea, and it +won't do." He told them about the bow.</p> + +<p>Zircon smiled understandingly. "I quite agree, Rick. I couldn't do it +either, even if I had the skill." He changed the subject. "I talked with +Howard while you were sleeping. He agrees with Tony. We must not make +the try."</p> + +<p>"Let's not give up," Scotty pleaded. "We haven't explored every possible +idea."</p> + +<p>"True," Zircon agreed. "Rick, you don't know all that Tony and Howard +told us. It seems there was a reason behind their kidnaping after all."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Remember the missing Filipino boy from Manila? Elpidio Torres? +Seems he's a young naturalist. He ran away from home to join Shannon and +Briotti when he read of their expedition in the papers. And how do you +suppose he did it?"</p> + +<p>The light dawned. "Of course! The young Moro guide!" Rick exclaimed. "I +get it now. The pirates weren't after our boys at all. They were after +the Torres kid. Only to get him, they had to grab Briotti and Shannon, +too!"</p> + +<p>"Exactly right. Tony and Howard didn't even know who he was. They hired +him in good faith. Then, when the pirates showed up in the Bagobo +village, they tried to defend the boy and got taken, too. They were +brought here in the rented sailboat, along with the Torres boy. The +sailboat was repainted and taken into Indonesia to be sold. Now, Tony +says, the pirates are getting restless. If the ransom for the Torres boy +isn't forthcoming in a few days, they may all vanish for good."</p> + +<p>Rick swallowed hard. There must be a way to get that guard! He looked at +Scotty. "Could you bean that lookout with a stone from a sling?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "Angle and range are wrong. I might be lucky, but +I might not. If not, there goes the ball game. Of course I could make a +sling easily enough."</p> + +<p>The boys referred to the ancient variety of sling, rather than the +modern slingshot. Both were adept in its use, although Scotty was the +better shot.</p> + +<p>Scotty continued, "Why does a bowshot have to be lethal? You've got some +blunt arrows."</p> + +<p>The moment the words "blunt arrows" were spoken Rick's mind went into +high gear. The arrows in the quiver wouldn't do; at that range, with so +powerful a bow, even a blunt arrow in the head would kill. But if he +could somehow give the arrow a broader and blunter head, so the impact +would be spread over a greater area, it could stun without killing.</p> + +<p>"Professor, get the details on when the lookout is changed and anything +else that might be useful," Rick said quickly. "I think I've got an idea +that will work, thanks to Scotty's comment."</p> + +<p>He hurried below, went forward, and rummaged around in the rope locker. +He moved to the paint locker and examined everything within reach. There +was nothing suitable. Disappointed, he went on deck and examined the +superstructure. A wooden barrel plug would be ideal, but they didn't +have a barrel aboard. There was only a fifty-gallon steel drum used as a +spare fuel supply. If worst came to worst, he could fashion a head from +a piece of the fender board. Then his eyes suddenly fell on the +flagstaff astern and he let out a yell of delight.</p> + +<p>Scotty and Zircon watched as he unshipped the staff from its holder and +pulled it down. It had a gilded sphere about the size of a baseball on +top. Rick tested it anxiously. It was glued tightly.</p> + +<p>"Scotty!" Zircon bellowed. "There's a saw in the tool chest, and I +believe I saw a brace and bits."</p> + +<p>Both Scotty and Zircon had seen instantly what Rick was after. The +large, smooth ball would spread the arrow's impact over a greater area. +Scotty returned in a moment with the tools, and sawed the ball off. Then +Rick got a blunt arrow from the quiver and cut the metal tip off with +his knife. He bored a hole of the proper size in the base of the ball. +The arrow fitted perfectly.</p> + +<p>Rick tested the balance of the now-ungainly arrow and shook his head. +"I'm not sure I can hit anything with it."</p> + +<p>"Get the bow!" Zircon commanded. "Scotty, put a screw through the base +of the ball to hold it on the shaft. I'm going to rig a backstop so Rick +can practice."</p> + +<p>The scientist found a tarpaulin and strung it up like a curtain across +the stern. At the center of the tarpaulin he pinned a work glove.</p> + +<p>Rick studied the setup. The canvas would give, absorbing the shock of +the arrow and allowing it to fall on deck. It would be all right. He +didn't want to chance losing the ball.</p> + +<p>He consulted with Scotty, and they paced off the approximate distance he +would have to shoot, then he climbed on the pilothouse roof to get the +proper elevation. Spreading the bow a few times to loosen his muscles, +he began to practice.</p> + +<p>The arrow was terribly nose heavy, and its whole response to the bow was +changed. At first he missed by two or three feet. Then, as he continued +to practice, his accuracy began to improve.</p> + +<p>He stopped after a while and had a coke. "I'll never be able to shoot a +normal arrow again," he complained.</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "Make this shot and you'll never have to shoot again."</p> + +<p>By the time Chahda emerged, rubbing sleep from his eyes, Rick was on +target. Four out of five shots hit the glove. Then, nine out of ten were +in the palm.</p> + +<p>Zircon called a halt, took the glove from the tarp, and slipped it on. +He tucked a folded handkerchief into the glove, then stood with hand +outstretched before the tarp. "Hit it," he invited.</p> + +<p>"I'll hurt you," Rick objected.</p> + +<p>"No. My hand will give with the arrow. I want an idea of the impact."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. He nocked the arrow, took a firm stance, and drew. For an +instant he held, then loosed smoothly.</p> + +<p>The ball smacked into the scientist's hand. The scientist swung lightly +with the blow and stood grinning, the ball and its projecting shaft held +firmly in his hand.</p> + +<p>"A real beanball," Zircon boomed. "It will do, Rick. Now check your +equipment and put it away. We have to make plans."</p> + +<p>Rick realized the professor had chosen an apt simile when he said +beanball. Like a fast ball hurled by a big-league pitcher, the arrow +could be caught in the hand, but would knock for a loop anyone it hit in +the head. Now all he had to do was shoot straight just one time.</p> + +<p>Zircon gathered the boys around him. "Tony says the lookout changes at +sundown, and again sometime near dawn. So, if we make our try as soon +after dark as possible, we'll have until dawn to return. And this time, +there will be no beating to windward with the vinta. We'll take it in as +you did last night. But when it's time to leave, Chahda will come after +us in the big boat. Meanwhile, we say nothing to Tony and Howard. We'll +explain after we've landed."</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy looked pained. "I not go?"</p> + +<p>Zircon put a hand gently on the boy's wounded shoulder. "You can't climb +without opening that shoulder, Chahda. So you're elected to operate the +boat. You'll keep your own radio set and we'll call you in when we're +ready to be taken off. And when we call, come a-running!"</p> + +<p>"That I will do," Chahda promised.</p> + +<p>"Right. Now, from your description of the climb, boys, I think we need a +few rope ladders. Let's get started making them!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>Under Cover of Darkness</h3> + + +<p>Hobart Zircon's usually booming voice couldn't have been heard more than +two yards away as he spoke into the tiny Megabuck radio unit.</p> + +<p>"We're starting down the western slope of the volcano. How are things, +Tony?"</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty, their ears close to the tiny earphone Zircon held out, +heard Briotti's reply. The kidnaped scientists had given up trying to +dissuade them.</p> + +<p>"Everything normal, Hobart. The lookout is settling down now. He's one +of the regulars. He relaxes completely as a sleeping cat, but he's wide +awake. Don't let his appearance deceive you."</p> + +<p>"We won't," Zircon promised. "We'll call you again as we get into the +danger zone. Chahda?"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy answered instantly. "Here."</p> + +<p>"Fine. Keep listening and you'll know how we're doing."</p> + +<p>"Will do. Tell Rick shoot straight."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. It was good advice. Nevertheless, apprehension had kept +him in a sweat. He had never before been in a position where success or +failure—and probably all their lives—hung on a single shot.</p> + +<p>Scotty put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "This is just another +shot, old son. You've made far tougher ones on the course back home."</p> + +<p>"He's right." Hobart Zircon added. "You showed this afternoon that you +could hit a small target with that unwieldy club you invented. Let's +go."</p> + +<p>Scotty took the lead, following the route he and Rick had explored the +night before. Rick followed close on his heels, and Zircon brought up +the rear. In spite of his bulk, the scientist was light-footed and +silent.</p> + +<p>They reached a point where the boys had tied a rope to a boulder the +night before and now they paused to attach the rope ladder Rick carried. +It was one of four they had fashioned. Two already had been placed. +Zircon carried the last one. Scotty went down first, with Zircon +following cautiously.</p> + +<p>The ropes creaked, but held. Zircon stepped to firm ground and Rick +followed down the ladder. They negotiated a bend in the trail, then +Scotty stopped and held up his hand.</p> + +<p>Rick took Shannon's bow from the quiver. While he was getting ready, +Zircon made a last check with Tony and Chahda. When Rick signaled, +Scotty led the way down the last few dozen yards of steep lava to the +final shelf.</p> + +<p>There, just out of sight of the guard, Scotty unslung his rifle. The +dark-haired boy went forward and peered over the edge of rock that +shielded them. For a long moment he surveyed the scene below, then +backed away. Rick caught his gesture. It was time.</p> + +<p>He had planned how he would do this. He couldn't shoot in a lying-down +position, and kneeling would expose him to the guard just as surely as +standing upright would do—if the guard happened to be looking. So, he +would shoot while standing erect. His accuracy would be better that way.</p> + +<p>Rick fitted the arrow's nock to the bowstring, got his fingers in +position to draw, and flexed the bow slightly. Then, taking a deep +breath, he stepped calmly forward to the edge of rock.</p> + +<p>It took only three steps to bring him within sight of the guard. He had +a quick vision of a black velvet cap, hunched shoulders, and a rifle +held casually across the knees. He drew smoothly, held for the briefest +instant, and released the shaft.</p> + +<p>Scotty was at his side, rifle ready, the moment the shaft left the bow.</p> + +<p>It wasn't necessary. Rick had an instant's impression of sound, like a +baseball slapping into a catcher's mitt. The guard didn't even move from +his position. His shoulders slumped a little more and his head went +forward between his knees. He stayed that way. The arrow skittered +across the stone shelf and stopped.</p> + +<p>Rick knew his aim had been a little off. The ball had caught the guard +behind the ear, instead of directly in the back of the head. Cold sweat +bathed the boy at the nearness of it. He had almost missed!</p> + +<p>But there wasn't time to think about that now. Scotty and Zircon were +already moving into action. The big scientist unwound the rope ladder +from around his waist while Scotty drove spikes into a cleft in the +lava. His wooden mallet, muffled with cloth padding, made only a dull, +almost inaudible sound.</p> + +<p>Zircon secured the end of the ladder to the spikes, then put his weight +on it, testing. It held. He moved forward, and lowered the free end over +the cliff.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty stood by to give a hand to the men on the ledge below. +They were already on their way, Howard Shannon first.</p> + +<p>Rick eyed the village anxiously. He was sure they were practically +invisible against the dark lava, but he wouldn't feel secure until they +had moved out of sight.</p> + +<p>Shannon reached the top, and Rick and Scotty helped him over. A Filipino +boy was next up, and Rick knew this must be the famous Elpidio Torres. +The boy came up the ladder like a sailor and scrambled over the top +without help.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti was last. The youthful archaeologist wasted no time in +swarming up the ladder to the top, and in a moment the six of them were +shaking hands in silent glee.</p> + +<p>Scotty pulled the ladder up, so it wouldn't be seen dangling, then +whispered urgently, "Let's get going."</p> + +<p>By prearrangement, Scotty led the way with Zircon next in line, followed +by Shannon, Briotti, and the Filipino boy, with Rick bringing up the +rear. He paused long enough to unstring the bow and put it back in the +quiver.</p> + +<p>As the group paused before making the difficult stage of the journey +around the cone, Rick took the Megabuck unit from Tony. In the +excitement no one had called Chahda.</p> + +<p>"On our way back now, Chahda," Rick said calmly. "All six of us."</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy's yell of triumph and relief almost shattered Rick's +eardrum. He whispered, "Stow it, you wild Indian. You'll ruin my +hearing."</p> + +<p>"Sorry," Chahda said, but he didn't sound it. "Hurry back now. I wait +for word to come."</p> + +<p>Rick followed as the group started off again. He wondered how the guard +was doing. By all reckoning, the man should still be unconscious. He'd +better be!</p> + +<p>The party reached the eastern slope of the volcano, directly under the +cone, and started the last descent. The rope ladders made the trip +comparatively easy, except for the final drop before the ground leveled +off somewhat. It was a rough stretch, too long for a ladder. A single +rope had been saved for the purpose. Rick took it from Scotty and made +it fast around a spike they had driven earlier. Zircon was the first to +use it. He went down swiftly, keeping hold of the rope in case of a +slip.</p> + +<p>Scotty followed, then Shannon. The lanky zoologist was halfway down when +Rick felt the rope tighten with a jerk and he heard Shannon's choked +cry of pain. Rick rechecked to be sure the rope was secure, then +motioned to Briotti and the Filipino boy. "Go on. We've got to get down +to him."</p> + +<p>Scotty and Zircon, climbing back from below, reached Shannon's side +before Rick and the others could get there. In a few moments the six +were clustered together.</p> + +<p>"A rock turned under me," Shannon explained. "I felt the bone snap in my +leg. You'd better go on. You can send help back to me later."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," Zircon grated. "Boys, what can we use for a splint?"</p> + +<p>Rick was already pulling arrows out of the quiver. "These are Dr. +Shannon's. I'm sure he won't mind if we use them."</p> + +<p>"You have my permission," Shannon said with a painful chuckle.</p> + +<p>The blunt-headed arrows were quickly lashed into two bundles. Rick and +Scotty shed their light jackets and Scotty's knife flashed in the faint +starlight as he sliced them into padding. Rick took the extra bowstrings +from the quiver and handed them to Zircon. The bowstrings would make +ideal ties. Within a short time Shannon's leg was securely splinted and +Zircon was giving instructions.</p> + +<p>"Scotty, go untie the rope and bring it down. You and Rick will hold +from above, while Tony and I carry Howard. You, Mr. Torres, will please +stay directly in front of us to test the footing and warn us of loose +stones."</p> + +<p>"Of course, sir," the Filipino boy replied quickly.</p> + +<p>Scotty returned from his climb with the rope coiled. He made several +turns around Shannon's waist, pulled the rope up under his armpits, and +secured it with a bowline.</p> + +<p>"Slow and easy does it," Zircon directed.</p> + +<p>Slow was the key word. Rick and Scotty kept the safety line taut while +Briotti and Zircon moved the injured man an inch at a time, bracing +themselves against the rock and feeling for each step. Zircon, the most +powerful of them all, had to carry most of the scientist's weight.</p> + +<p>Rick was worried. The trip across the volcano had taken quite a while +and now time was running out on them. He looked at the luminous dial of +his watch and realized with a sudden chill that dawn was only a half +hour away. "We've got to hurry," he said.</p> + +<p>"They change the lookout just before dawn," Tony said. "Even if he's +still unconscious we won't have much time once they find him!"</p> + +<p>"You're right." Zircon stopped and began untying the rope that secured +Shannon.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" Scotty asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Changing methods," Zircon said grimly. He handed the rope to Scotty. +"Cut off a length and tie Howard to me. Then secure the remainder under +my armpits."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that it would be a terrible strain on the big scientist, but +it would be faster—if his strength held out.</p> + +<p>Zircon picked Shannon up in his arms, and Scotty lashed them together, +making a kind of sling that would help support Shannon's weight. Then he +tied one end of the remaining rope around Zircon's barrel chest, up +under his armpits.</p> + +<p>Rick, Scotty, Briotti, and the Filipino boy grasped the rope and held it +firmly while the big scientist walked upright down the remaining slope, +one slow step after another, the others following but always keeping the +rope tight in case he started to fall.</p> + +<p>They negotiated the hardest part of the slope, then Zircon leaned back +against a boulder and rested for a moment. The final hundred yards +wasn't steep, but it was strewn with loose boulders and lava chunks. +Zircon wouldn't be able to speed up much. Rick looked at his watch +again, then at the sky. He didn't say anything. The big physicist was +doing more than any man should be asked to do. He couldn't do it any +faster.</p> + +<p>Scotty moved to his side. "Got arrows left?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Most of the big broadheads and half a dozen of the small +broadheads. Why?"</p> + +<p>"We may need them. I'm scared. The guard's relief must know by now that +his pal got conked."</p> + +<p>"We're both scared," Rick corrected. "But what can we do?"</p> + +<p>"Be ready to fight."</p> + +<p>Zircon called hoarsely, "Let's go!"</p> + +<p>They were off again, the scientist plodding slowly ahead, down the last +stretch to the cove. About half of the distance had been covered when +Rick saw the first sail. It was close to shore, near the cove where +they had anchored the vinta.</p> + +<p>Zircon saw it, too. He called softly, "Scotty! Leave the rope to the +others. Get ahead of me and cover us. But don't shoot until they start +something."</p> + +<p>Scotty moved ahead, unslinging his rifle as he went.</p> + +<p>Zircon speeded up as much as possible. Fortunately, the going was easier +now and the big scientist could make better time. Rick helped to keep +the rope braced, and tried to divide his attention between watching the +uncertain footing and looking for other sails.</p> + +<p>The first pirate vinta was nosing into the cove when two others came +into sight. And, at nearly the same moment, Zircon reached the small +patch of level ground at the cove's edge.</p> + +<p>Rick dropped the rope and hurried to the big scientist's side, drawing +his knife. He cut the ropes that bound Shannon to Zircon, and they +lowered the injured zoologist to a sitting position with a big rock at +his back.</p> + +<p>Dawn was breaking fast now. Already Rick could see details more clearly +and he knew it was only minutes to practically full daylight. The +Spindrift group could see the pirate vintas clearly now against the sea, +but the pirates could not yet see them because they were still in +shadow, dark rock at their backs. Still, the pirates would try the cove +first. It was the logical place.</p> + +<p>He estimated their chances quickly, and saw that the situation was +hopeless. There was no chance of getting their vinta past the pirates. +They would have to fight. He drew the bow sections out of the quiver and +got ready. Next to him, Zircon was checking the clip in his pistol.</p> + +<p>Rick took the Megabuck network unit from his pocket and called softly, +"Chahda!"</p> + +<p>"Here, Rick. Long time wait. How things go?"</p> + +<p>"Not good. Shannon broke a leg. Also, we're at the cove, which is +filling up with pirate vintas. We're cut off."</p> + +<p>Chahda whistled. "I say plenty no good! Look, you figure way to get to +clear water. I figure way to pick you up. Starting right now!"</p> + +<p>"Okay," Rick said, without knowing how it could be done. "Come on in, +but don't get trapped!"</p> + +<p>There was a sudden chorus of pirate yells, then one of the Moros fired a +shot. Scotty's rifle snapped, and pirate rifles answered. The fight was +on! Rick grabbed a broadhead arrow from the quiver and hurried forward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>Chahda Sweeps the Sea</h3> + + +<p>The exchange of rifleshots lasted only a few moments without causing +casualties to either side. Scotty had fired more in warning than to +score a hit. The Spindrifters had taken cover behind the rocks, and the +protection had been enough.</p> + +<p>Rick sized up the situation. More vintas were crowding into the cove. +There were so many now they got in each other's way. Before long the +entire cove would be jammed with vintas and the Moros would come +swarming ashore. Unfortunately, the sea was calm, with only low surf on +the eastern shore. Heavy breakers would have been helpful in keeping the +pirates busy, Rick thought.</p> + +<p>One thing was clear as glass. They couldn't wait for the pirates to +overrun them. Rick hurried to Zircon's side. "Professor, can you carry +Shannon? We've got to get to the other side of the cove, then across the +rocks to the sea. It's a better position to defend, and we might have a +chance to get to the water when Chahda comes. I've called him. He's on +the way in."</p> + +<p>"Rick's right," Scotty chimed in. "Get going and I'll cover you."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded without speaking. He stepped swiftly to Shannon's side and +picked the zoologist up. Then he followed Rick to the end of the cove +and started the climb over the tiny spit of land that separated the cove +from the open sea.</p> + +<p>It was rough going. Tony Briotti gave Zircon a hand over the roughest +places, while Rick and Elpidio Torres stood by to assist where needed. +Scotty stayed at the edge of the cove, rifle at the ready.</p> + +<p>The pirates hadn't gotten organized yet. The Spindrifters were still in +deep shadow and not clearly visible. Now and then a pirate took a +rifleshot, but that was more from lack of discipline than a target at +which to shoot.</p> + +<p>Rick hoped that the Spindrift group could reach the seaward side of the +spit they were now climbing before the pirates swarmed ashore. There was +a good chance of defending the spit, particularly with Scotty's rifle.</p> + +<p>Zircon reached the top and went over, and Rick called, "Scotty! Come +on!"</p> + +<p>Scotty instantly turned and ran.</p> + +<p>A hail of badly aimed rifle slugs spattered off the rock across an area +forty feet wide as the pirates shot at the sound of Rick's voice. None +came near the mark. Then, a few pirates, smarter than the rest, realized +what was going on. As Tony Briotti and the Torres boy were silhouetted +briefly against the sky at the top of the rise, the handful of alert +pirates fired. Most shots missed, but Rick heard the Filipino boy gasp.</p> + +<p>Scotty reached Rick's side and said softly, "Let's go, and slide over +the top on your stomach."</p> + +<p>Rick didn't need the advice. He had no intention of letting the pirates +catch him in silhouette. He crouched low and moved the few feet to the +top, found a boulder, and slipped quickly around it. Scotty followed a +moment later.</p> + +<p>"I'm staying here at the top," Scotty said. "If any pirates try to come +after us, I'll have a clear shot. And when they get wise and come around +to the sea side, I can shoot down on them. How are we going to get out +of this?"</p> + +<p>"You tell me," Rick suggested. "I don't know."</p> + +<p>The pirates hadn't been long in catching on. A few vintas were already +rounding the cove point heading for the party now huddled behind +boulders on a ledge just above the sea. Rick hurried down to join the +others, leaving Scotty to guard the rear.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti greeted him. "Look."</p> + +<p>Rick's eyes followed the archaeologist's pointing finger. Off to the +southeast, on a sea tinted pink from the rising sun, he saw the low +lines of the <i>Swift Arrow</i>. Chahda was on his way!</p> + +<p>Zircon bellowed, "Watch it!" He echoed his words with the flat slap of a +pistol shot. The first vinta had reached the group and was standing only +a few feet offshore. Others were crowding in behind it. Rick got ready +to shoot again, and saw that the Torres boy, a bloody handkerchief tied +around his upper arm, was throwing rocks with his good hand. Tony +Briotti followed suit, picking up large chunks of lava and slamming them +into the pirate craft.</p> + +<p>Rick spotted a rifleman in the nearest vinta and sent a broadhead arrow +at him. The arrow passed between the pirate's arm and side, but pinned +him by his shirt to the vinta mast. Rick quickly nocked another arrow +and waited for a clear shot.</p> + +<p>Behind him, Scotty's rifle spoke once, twice, then a third time. Yells +from beyond the spit of land showed that the pirates had tried to come +at them overland. Rick hoped Scotty's single rifle would be enough. At +least his pal was shooting from cover, while the pirates were in the +open.</p> + +<p>A vinta tried to approach and Rick sent an arrow into the helmsman's +shoulder. The vinta sheered off and collided with another.</p> + +<p>It was only a question of time before the pirates were forced ashore by +their very numbers. Rick knew that his small group wouldn't last long, +not against barongs and krises. He shot again, and took a pirate +rifleman out of the action. Zircon's heavy automatic picked off the +first pirate that tried to climb ashore, and slammed him back onto his +fellows.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti aided the sudden pile-up of pirates with a chunk of lava +the size of a basketball. Sudden screams of pain and rage came from the +mass of struggling Moros.</p> + +<p>Other vintas had pulled into shore farther away and Rick saw pirates +scrambling up the rock unhindered. He got two with arrows, then Scotty +fired from his vantage point and drove them to cover.</p> + +<p>Above the Moro battle cries and screams of rage Rick suddenly heard the +horn blast of the <i>Swift Arrow</i>. He looked up in time to see Chahda +driving at full speed, parallel with the beach. As the Hindu boy drew +close, the <i>Swift Arrow's</i> saluting cannon suddenly erupted a load of +tacks into the cluster of vintas. The pirates scrambled to cover against +this new menace as the MTB swept by. The terrific bow wave lifted the +vintas high and sent them crashing into one another. Two of them turned +over.</p> + +<p>Rick fell back and grabbed his radio unit, quickly plugging in the +earphone. "Chahda! That was great!"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy sounded excited. "I make short turn now, do same thing +again, only closer. You get ready. When I toot horn, you get to water +somehow. Okay?"</p> + +<p>"We'll try," Rick answered grimly. He beckoned to Scotty, who came down +to join him, keeping a watchful eye to the rear in case a pirate tried +to come over the rise. The two hurried to Zircon's side. Rick said +swiftly, "We've got to get to the water. Chahda's coming back right now. +We have to be ready when he toots."</p> + +<p>Zircon handed Tony the pistol. "Keep their heads down, Tony. I'm going +to take Howard up the shore to that nearest vinta. The rest of you come +after me. Hurry it up! We'll have to swim for it, unless we can grab the +vinta."</p> + +<p>The big scientist reached Shannon's side just as Chahda started his +second run. Again the Hindu boy opened with a blast from the saluting +cannon, then crowded close inshore, letting his bow wave drive the +vintas hard against each other and the shore. The crashing vintas sent +their crews down in heaps. The MTB was so close to shore that Rick could +see the string Chahda had rigged to trigger the cannon by remote +control.</p> + +<p>The pirates were too busy to worry about the Spindrifters for the +moment. Zircon scooped Shannon up and hurried along the shore, ignoring +the wash from the MTB that lashed over the rocks. Rick and Scotty were +right behind him, weapons ready.</p> + +<p>A vinta with only two pirates aboard was scraping back down over the +rock. The rest of its crew were struggling in the water.</p> + +<p>"Get them!" Zircon yelled.</p> + +<p>Rick caught one with an arrow just as the man rose to a sitting position +on the gunwale. The heavy shaft carried him over the side. Scotty's +rifle sent the other one to the bottom of the vinta in a heap.</p> + +<p>The boys moved fast, grabbing the vinta before the retreating waves +carried it away. Zircon jumped in, turning as he did so. He fell, the +zoologist in his arms. The mast took the blow of the scientist's great +weight and broke off short, leaving a tangle of sail, mast, and boom.</p> + +<p>"Get in!" Scotty yelled at Tony and Torres. His rifle barked at the +pirates further up the beach, driving them to cover again. Zircon put +Shannon down and heaved the pirate Scotty had wounded onto the shore.</p> + +<p>Rick followed Tony and Torres into the boat, then yelled for Scotty to +push off. He grabbed the radio unit again and called, "Chahda! What do +we do now?"</p> + +<p>"Get little way from shore and go into water. Catch rope when I come. +All must catch! You watch when I toot horn, and you see."</p> + +<p>Rick yelled the instructions to the others, then stuffed the set back +into his pocket, dropped his bow, and took a paddle. Scotty knelt beside +him, a length of board in his hand. "Let's go, boy," he said urgently.</p> + +<p>Under the impetus of Scotty's initial shove and the boys' paddles the +vinta moved slowly out until it was a good thirty feet from shore. The +nearest of the pirate craft moved to intercept it, four Moros at the +paddles.</p> + +<p>Scotty stopped paddling and started shooting. The pirates dropped +paddles and dove to the bottom of the vinta.</p> + +<p>Rick looked about anxiously. Where was Chahda?</p> + +<p>Then he saw the MTB making a sweeping turn at the northern tip of the +island. As he watched, Chahda straightened out and the bow wave of the +MTB curled as he picked up speed.</p> + +<p>"Better get in the water!" Rick called. "Tony, give me the pistol, and +take Shannon's bow and quiver. Better hang them both on your back. +Scotty and I will stay in the vinta and cover you!"</p> + +<p>Tony nodded and exchanged weapons. "I'll help Zircon with Shannon. Come +on, Pete. Over the side and swim out a little way."</p> + +<p>The Torres boy responded at once, diving headlong into the water. Tony +followed and took Shannon as Zircon handed the injured man down. Then +Zircon got into the water, too, and led the four away from the vinta.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty watched the tangle of pirate craft, waiting for the next +pirate boat to get untangled and make a try for them. Chahda's bow wave +had left the pirate fleet in a shambles, some of the vintas turned over, +nearly all with sails and booms in a heap on deck or over the pirates.</p> + +<p>One vinta extricated itself and the pirates suddenly located the boys. A +Moro raised his rifle to fire and found it smashed in his hands as +Scotty snapped off a shot. The pirate's stock splintered and the force +of the slug smashed the barrel across his face. He went down.</p> + +<p>Then one of the pirates on shore made a try. He stood upright, rifle +poised. Rick fired with the heavy automatic. He missed. The pirate +looked at the silvery spatter of lead on a rock two inches from his +right knee and dove for cover.</p> + +<p>Chahda flashed by, and the bow wave lifted Rick and Scotty high into the +air. They grabbed at the vinta with their free hands and had to grip +tightly to keep from being thrown as it rolled wildly. Rick snapped the +safety on and lowered the hammer to half cock, then tucked the pistol +securely in his belt. For a moment he hung on with both hands, then +called to Scotty.</p> + +<p>"Let's hit the drink!"</p> + +<p>Scotty was trying to sling his rifle on his back while holding on with +one hand. He gave it up and went over the side. Once in the sea, he rose +to the surface and got the rifle sling into position. Rick waited until +the vinta was on the downward slope of the backwash from the shore, then +went in headfirst. The cool water engulfed him and he twisted upward and +broke the surface.</p> + +<p>Scotty was waiting. The two of them swam outward, to where the other +four were treading water, waiting for Chahda.</p> + +<p>Rick heard the MTB's horn let go with a long blast, and he rose high out +of the water to look. For a moment he thought Chahda was out of control, +because the big boat was spinning in a tight circle. That could only be +done by putting one engine in full reverse and the other in full +forward!</p> + +<p>Then the boy saw what Chahda had done. The centrifugal force of the +whirling MTB sent a fifty-gallon drum dancing across the water to the +full length of a long rope. As the barrel swung wide, Chahda +straightened out and put on speed.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" Rick yelled at Scotty. He stretched out in the water for a +fast sprint. Leave it to Chahda! Had he tried to swing the barrel out +while traveling in a straight line, it would merely have fallen astern. +Circling the MTB at a fast speed was the only way to get the rope out +far enough from the boat to give them all a chance of grabbing it.</p> + +<p>Rick looked up and saw that both he and Scotty were just inside the path +that the barrel was traveling. It was falling astern now that Chahda was +on a straight course, but it would still be far enough away from the +side to catch them all.</p> + +<p>He stopped and looked at his friends, and saw that Zircon had locked his +legs around Shannon's chest and was ready. Tony and Torres were facing +the oncoming MTB, ready to grab.</p> + +<p>"Stand by," he called to Scotty.</p> + +<p>"Don't miss it," Scotty called back.</p> + +<p>Chahda flashed by.</p> + +<p>Rick had a quick glimpse of Zircon being hauled along like an oversized +surfboard, then the rope was on him. He grabbed with both hands and +braced himself for the shock. The jerk on his arms was tremendous, but +he held tight and flailed his legs to get his head above water. After +one gasping breath he managed to turn himself against the force of the +water and lay flat on his stomach. By arching his back, he brought his +face above water, and in a moment he was planing along like a water ski. +Next to him on the rope Scotty had done the same.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus6" id="illus6"></a> +<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Rick braced himself for the shock</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<p>Rick counted anxiously, then heaved a relieved sigh. All present! But +unless Chahda slowed down soon, Shannon would be in serious trouble. +Apparently the Hindu boy was keeping a close watch on his catch. He +dropped his speed until he was barely making headway, giving Zircon a +chance to pull Shannon up to the rope where the injured man could help +himself.</p> + +<p>Then Chahda hauled in on the rope until Zircon was directly alongside. +The Hindu boy had thrown over the ship's boarding ladder. Zircon grabbed +it and held.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty left the rope and swam rapidly toward the boat. Both had +realized that Zircon would need help. So had Tony, who was already +helping Shannon to the ladder.</p> + +<p>Chahda lowered a line with a bowline in the end, and Zircon slipped the +loop over Shannon's shoulders and made sure it was secure under his +arms. Then the big scientist hurried up the ladder and called down, +"Hold him away from the side! Rick, get on the ladder. Scotty, come help +me. Tony, keep his feet clear."</p> + +<p>In a moment all hands were in position. Rick wrapped one leg around a +wooden rung and slipped one arm behind the ropes. Then, as Scotty and +Zircon hauled, he held Shannon out from the boat so the injured leg +could not strike the side or a rung.</p> + +<p>As soon as Shannon's shoulders were at the railing, Tony went by Rick +and helped pull the scientist aboard. Rick waited to give Torres a hand, +noting as the Filipino boy climbed up that the rough bandage on his +wounded arm was stained with fresh blood. The boy gave him a wide grin +as he climbed to safety.</p> + +<p>A rifle slug interrupted Rick's answering grin. It slapped into the hull +only a few feet away. With his free hand he found his knife and severed +the rope that held the barrel, then he called, "Go, Chahda! Get out of +here!"</p> + +<p>The roar of the twin engines was his answer. By the time he had climbed +over the side and hauled in the ladder, the MTB was reaching top speed +as Chahda put the pirate island astern.</p> + +<p>Rick glanced back. The pirate vintas were still clustered around the +shore near the cove. Far above them, the black rock of the volcano was +pink with the rays of the newly risen sun.</p> + +<p>For long moments Rick stared at Shan, then he turned with a grin to +shake hands with his friends.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>The Patrol Takes Over</h3> + + +<p>Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippines Constabulary paced the deck of +the <i>Swift Arrow</i> while he listened to the story related by the +Spindrifters. Next to the MTB was a gunboat of the Philippines Naval +Patrol, and beyond that a destroyer-escort loaded to the gunwales with +constabulary troopers.</p> + +<p>Rick and his friends had arrived at the port of Dalun, on Tawi Tawi, +just in time to catch the two-ship convoy that was about to leave in +search of them. The presence of Colonel Rojas was a surprise, but, as he +explained, once reports of the pirates reached him, he had taken the +next plane home to assume command.</p> + +<p>The group in the pilothouse of the MTB was complete, except for Shannon +and Elpidio Torres who were receiving medical treatment on the gunboat.</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon covered the story from the point of view of the searchers, +then Tony Briotti filled in the details of what had happened to him, +Shannon, and "Pete" Torres.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas listened without interruption, then shook his head. "I +can't understand it. The pirates didn't want you and Dr. Shannon. They +wanted the Torres boy. Why didn't they simply kill the two of you?"</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti shrugged. "It wasn't simple humanity, believe me. They have +none. I think they realized that Pete Torres had to be returned alive. +His father is too important a man in this country for Pete to be harmed. +It would mean that the entire armed forces of the country would be +turned loose to hunt the pirates down. So, if they planned to send Pete +home after getting the ransom, they also had to return us."</p> + +<p>"Because young Torres would have reported your deaths, and the +Philippines armed forces would probably be augmented by American +warships," Colonel Rojas finished. "That's as good a reason as any. +We'll accept it for lack of anything else."</p> + +<p>Rick spoke up. "There's one hole in Tony's reasoning. They also had to +assume that once the prisoners were released, the authorities would have +a description of the island. So it would only be a matter of time before +the pirate hangout was located."</p> + +<p>"Sorry, Rick," Tony corrected. "None of us had the remotest idea of +where we were, or what the island looked like. We were brought in by +night, blindfolded, and taken to the cliff cave. From there we could see +only the western shore. Why, we didn't even know we were on the side of +a volcano until you took us off."</p> + +<p>"That gives your reason even greater acceptance," Zircon boomed. +"Actually, what puzzles me is why the pirates kept you so long. Usually, +if ransom isn't forthcoming pretty fast, the victims are never seen +alive."</p> + +<p>Rojas answered, "That's generally true, I'm sure. But we have to +remember the distances and lack of communications in this part of the +world. Also, the ransom was a million pesos. No one has that much in +cash, even a wealthy man like Torres. He had sent word that he would +pay, but that it would take many days to raise the cash in small bills. +His deadline was the day after tomorrow."</p> + +<p>The ransom would never be paid now, Rick thought. Cables had been sent +to Manila and Spindrift the very first thing, while Shannon and Torres +were being moved to the gunboat's sick bay.</p> + +<p>Zircon waved a big hand. "Anyway, it's all over now, and reasons become +less important. My question, Colonel Rojas, is what are you going to do +about these pirates? I'm sure you can wipe out the main island, but +there are groups on many other islands."</p> + +<p>The constabulary officer smiled grimly. "We will strike Shan just before +dawn tomorrow. I assure you that my men and the sailors of the patrol +will take pleasure in breaking up that little nest. As for the other +groups, that is a more difficult problem."</p> + +<p>"You need spies," Chahda stated.</p> + +<p>"We do," Rojas agreed. "However, once the main island is taken, the +local groups will have no central leadership. I might add that Paulo +Lacson has already broken up the Davao gang."</p> + +<p>"So fast?" Scotty asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"Three days ago. The Bagobos had reasons to fear reprisals, you see, and +Paulo took no chances. He kept a platoon with full automatic weapons +hidden in the village houses. The pirate gang attacked and got a very +warm reception. Those who survived are prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Good for Major Lacson!" Rick exclaimed. "We were impressed by his +efficiency. You can see why."</p> + +<p>"How about Zamboanga?" Zircon boomed.</p> + +<p>"Apparently there is no gang there. Captain Lim released the Moro you +caught, but he's back in custody again, recaptured by Lim as soon as +orders went out from Manila. Lim believes he's one of the main leaders +of the pirates, partly because he personally checked on you in Manila, +then followed you to Zamboanga. The gang nearest Zamboanga is the one +that tried to get you in the channel. Another gunboat is searching the +area right now, trying to locate an island fishing colony with too many +armed vintas and too many rifles."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you can find pirate pigeons and turn loose," Chahda offered. +"Then planes could follow."</p> + +<p>Rojas stared at the boy thoughtfully. "Now there is a useful idea. I'll +get off a general instruction to look for pigeon cotes."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti chuckled. "He's full of ideas. Now, if he can only get one +about cleaning the polish from Rick's face so we can recognize him +again, we can call this case closed."</p> + +<p>A hail from the gunboat brought the talk to a halt. Shannon and Torres +were ready to rejoin the party. The scientist's broken leg was in a +cast, with a steel brace at the bottom so that he would be able to walk +around, cast and all, in a few days. Pete Torres had a neat bandage on +his arm; apparently the Filipino Naval medico had removed the pirate +rifle slug easily enough.</p> + +<p>Once the group was assembled again, Rojas asked, "What are your plans?"</p> + +<p>"Back to Manila from Zamboanga, and then to Spindrift by the first +plane," Zircon stated.</p> + +<p>"Go if you like," Howard Shannon said calmly. "Tony and I haven't even +started our work here. We're staying."</p> + +<p>"You can't go rambling around with a broken leg," Zircon roared.</p> + +<p>"Whose leg is it? Besides, I work with my head, not my legs."</p> + +<p>Scotty whispered to Rick, "Who's going to win?"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "Shannon. Zircon's yelling too loud. That means he's only +arguing for effect."</p> + +<p>His prediction was right. After a few more exchanges Zircon turned to +the boys. "You want to stay on with these stubborn idiots?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe for a little while," Rick said, and Scotty nodded.</p> + +<p>Zircon threw up his hands. "All right! If we all pitch in, maybe we can +leave sooner."</p> + +<p>Chahda offered, "Pretty good vacation, maybe. I stay a while."</p> + +<p>"If you stay, you'll need a guide, won't you?" Elpidio Torres asked +hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters stared at him, then broke into laughter.</p> + +<p>"That makes it unanimous," Rick said with a grin. "If Pete can get +permission from his father."</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas looked at the group with admiration. "Nothing stops you, +does it? Not even being kidnaped by pirates and held for weeks."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't so bad," Tony Briotti replied. "They fed us, and we weren't +mistreated, except for being knocked around that first night. We're +healthy enough, barring Howard's leg and Pete's arm."</p> + +<p>Zircon sighed. "Well, I suppose we can go back to Zamboanga and start +over again. We'll have to talk with Santos about his missing boat. Let's +hope you can recover it, through diplomatic channels, or something. +Otherwise, I'm sure his insurance will take care of it."</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas coughed. "This expedition against Shan won't take more +than a day or two, and I'm in need of a little rest myself. I may join +you."</p> + +<p>His announcement was greeted with cheers.</p> + +<p>"There's only one thing that bothers me about this plan." Tony Briotti +said, "Howard and I are peaceful folk, on a peaceful mission. But we +know from long experience that when Rick, Scotty, and Chahda walk into +a place, peace flies out the window."</p> + +<p>"It's already flown for this trip," Rick pointed out. "We weren't the +ones who chased it, either."</p> + +<p>"No," Tony said warmly. "If we haven't really thanked you, it's only +because words just aren't adequate. You didn't drive peace away this +time, but you certainly brought it back!"</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> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<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> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Lost City</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Sea Gold</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">100 Fathoms Under</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Whispering Box Mystery</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Phantom Shark</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Smugglers' Reef</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Caves of Fear</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Stairway to Danger</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Golden Skull</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Wailing Octopus</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Electronic Mind Reader</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Scarlet Lake Mystery</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Pirates of Shan</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Blue Ghost Mystery</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Egyptian Cat Mystery</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Flaming Mountain</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Pirates of Shan, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATES OF SHAN *** + +***** This file should be named 32059-h.htm or 32059-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/0/5/32059/ + +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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